Maize and pea germination and seedling growth responses to compost generated from biowaste of selected invasive alien plant species

Plant biowaste of alien species represents a potential resource for compost production. This study investigated the seed and seedling responses of maize and pea to composts generated from the biowaste of four invasive species in eThekwini, South Africa: Acacia podalyriifolia, Hedychium gardnerianum, Litsea glutinosa, and Tithonia diversifolia. Except for a 40% concentration of T. diversifolia, leachates of the biowaste from the four species had no marked effects on germination. In seedling growth studies, Berea Red soil (control) was supplemented with composts produced using combinations of the four species (A. podalyriifolia + T. diversifolia [T1], A. podalyriifolia + H. gardnerianum [T2], L. glutinosa + T. diversifolia [T3], and L. glutinosa + H. gardnerianum [T4]), and a commercial compost (T5). Carbon and nitrogen levels of the biowaste composts were higher than the control, while their associated C/N ratios were low enough to encourage microbial growth, facilitate rapid decomposition, and support plant growth. A comparison of percentage seedling production, growth rate, and biomass production between the commercial compost and alien biowaste treatments revealed all parameters to be statistically comparable among T5, T1, and T3 for maize, and between T5 and T1 for pea. These superior biowaste composts did not enhance growth relative to the commercial compost, but supported growth to the same extent. However, N and P levels in T1 and T3 were lower than the commercial compost and appear to have altered biomass allocation patterns in both species relative to the commercial compost. The results suggest that there is potential to use invasive alien plant biowaste to improve soil for agricultural purposes.     

Milk yield estimation of Ogaden cattle breed based on methods of weigh–suckle–weigh and calves’ growth

Daily milk yield of Ogaden cattle was estimated from milk suckled by 269 calves born and maintained between 1994 and 2004 at Haramaya University Beef Farm, Ethiopia. The weigh–suckle–weigh method and the growth of calves were used to estimate the yield. Mean predicted daily milk yield of the breed based on the weigh–suckle–weigh method was 4.39 ± 0.03 kg day⁻¹. Daily milk yield estimated from the growth of calves up to 3 months of age was 4.59 ± 1.43 kg day⁻¹. The milk yield was significantly affected by seasons of calving (p < 0.001), parities of the dams (p < 0.05), weeks of lactation (p < 0.001) and birth weights of calves (p < 0.05). A relatively higher milk yield was observed from cows calved during the long rain season. A higher milk yield was produced by cows in fifth parity. Heavier calves at birth suckled more milk than lighter calves. Daily milk yield was significantly higher in 3–6 weeks of lactation. The result of this study indicated that the milk yield produced by Ogaden breed was relatively higher than the yield of some Zebu breed measured by partial suckling system in Ethiopia and was comparable to the yield from Zebu cattle in the tropics estimated by the same method.     

Assessment of spatial and seasonal changes in groundwater nitrate pollution of agricultural lands through ordinary and indicator kriging techniques

Geostatistical approaches (ordinary kriging (OK) and indicator kriging (IK)) were used in this study to investigate the spatial and temporal variations in groundwater nitrate concentrations in Çar?amba plain of Turkey. Groundwater samples were taken in April 2012, July 2012, September 2012 and March 2013 from 78 groundwater wells. The experimental semivariograms were often fitted well by a Gauss model for April 2012 and September 2012, whereas a spherical model was fitted to experimental semivariograms for July 2012 and March 2013. Spatial distribution maps revealed that groundwater nitrate concentrations were above the threshold value of 50 mg L^?1 specified for drinking water in 4.3% of the study area in April 2012, 40.8% in July 2012, 32.8% in September 2012 and 19.1% in March 2013. Probability maps created with IK showed that 3.1% and 3.2% of the total area had very strong probability (0.8–1.0) of exceeding the threshold nitrate concentration in July 2012 and September 2012, respectively. Current findings revealed that groundwater nitrate concentrations changed seasonally and increased much more in summer. It was concluded that OK and IK may yield significant outcomes for groundwater management, identification of risky sites for potential pollution and identification of the sites with excessive fertilizer uses.     

Liquid penetration of precompressed wood VII: combined treatment of precompression and extraction in hot water on the liquid penetration of wood

The object of this study was to determine the cause of differences in the improvement in liquid penetration of precompressed wood species. The maximum amount of water uptake by the capillary rise method and changes in the aspirated pits seen with scanning electron microscopy before and after of preextraction and precompression were investigated using heartwood samples of four softwoods. The height of penetration and the weight by the capillary rise method for preextractive wood powders are discussed. Three wood species andLarix leptolepis showed marked increases in the amount of solution uptake after precompressed treatment only.Larix leptolepis wood required compression after extraction by boiling in water. These differences among wood species were caused by the accumulation of extractive material. It was also recognized that the accumulative material inLarix wood has plasticity and that inPseudotsuga is brittle. Based on these results it was found that it is difficult to destroy aspirated pits in the former and easy in the latter. On the other hand, the difference in penetration of each wood species was caused by the quantity and quality of the extraction material in addition to the extent of the wettability of the surface of the cell cavity as well as aspirated pit.Part of this report was presented at the 46th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Kumamoto, April 1996     

Effect of several production factors on two varieties of rapeseed in the central United States

Two varieties of winter rapeseed (Brassica napus) (Cobra and Liborius) were planted at Brownstown, IL to evaluate the effect of planting date, nitrogen (N) rate, N application timing, and tillage on grain yield and oil content of the grain, grain moisture, plant lodging, winter survival, and plant N content. Results indicated that planting rapeseed approximately one to two weeks prior to winter wheat in this region is preferable to planting earlier. Grain yield showed a significant linear increase with delayed planting date from 25 August to 24 September. Grain yield also increased quadratically with increasing N rate (with an optimum of about 250 kg N/ha) and increased (0.15 Mg/ha) due to splitting the N fertilizer into two even applications. An increase in grain yield was accompanied by an increase in grain moisture with Liborius (late maturing) having significantly greater grain moisture than Cobra. Winter survival increased linearly with delayed planting date but, was accompanied by a significant quadratic increase in plant lodging. Chisel, as compared to disk tillage, increased plant lodging slightly, but decreased winter survival slightly. Neither delayed planting, N rate, nor splitting of spring N affected oil content. Liborius produced significantly more oil than did Cobra.     

Temperature Differentially Affects Gene Expression in Antarctic Thraustochytrid Oblongichytrium sp. RT2316-13

Oblongichytrium RT2316-13 synthesizes lipids rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The content of these fatty acids in the total lipids depended on growth temperature. Sequencing technology was used in this work to examine the thraustochytrid’s response to a decrease in growth temperature from 15 °C to 5 °C. Around 4% (2944) of the genes were differentially expressed (DE) and only a few of the DE genes (533 upregulated; 206 downregulated) had significant matches to those in the SwissProt database. Most of the annotated DE genes were related to cell membrane composition (fatty acids, sterols, phosphatidylinositol), the membrane enzymes linked to cell energetics, and membrane structure (cytoskeletal proteins and enzymes). In RT2316-13, the synthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids occurred through ω3- and ω6-pathways. Enzymes of the alternative pathways (Δ8-desaturase and Δ9-elongase) were also expressed. The upregulation of the genes coding for a Δ5-desaturase and a Δ5-elongase involved in the synthesis of EPA and DHA, explained the enrichment of total lipid with these two long-chain fatty acids at the low temperature. This molecular response has the potential to be used for producing microbial lipids with a fatty acids profile similar to that of fish oils.     

Haematological and serum biochemical parameters of West African Dwarf goats fed dried cassava leaves-based concentrate diets

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding different levels of dried cassava leaves at 0%, 20%, 40% and 60%, respectively, using guinea grass as basal feed, on the haematological and serum biochemical parameters of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats. The study lasted for 116 days during which haematological and serum biochemical parameters were monitored in 40 male goats before and after, using a completely randomized design. At the start of the experiment, packed cell volume (PCV) ranged from 21.5% to 25.5% while haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and RBC significantly (P < 0.01) ranged from 7.3 to 8.6 g/dl and 10.4 to 13.2 × 10¹²/l, respectively. White blood cells reduced significantly (P < 0.05)) from 16.4 to 11.7 × 10⁹/l) as dried cassava leaves increased in the diets. At the end of the trial, there was a slight increase in the values of PCV and Hb in the diets (P > 0.05). Lymphocyte reduced significantly (P < 0.05) from 50.0% to 63.5% in the diets. Neutrophils, however, increased (P > 0.05) at the 0% to 40% levels and reduced at the 60% level of dried cassava leaves inclusion. At the start of the experiment, values for glucose significantly (P < 0.05) ranged from 40.1 to 56.0 mg/dl. Total protein and albumin values ranged significantly (P < 0.05) from 56.0 to 68.5 g/dl and 30.6 to 38.4 g/dl, respectively. At the end of the experiment, serum creatinine increased significantly (P < 0.05) as the level of dried cassava leaves increased from 0% to 60% in the diets. The study revealed that inclusion of dried cassava leaves in the diets of West African Dwarf goats had no deleterious effects on the haematological and serum biochemical parameters of WAD goats and could therefore be included in ruminant diets up to 60%.     

Traditional knowledge and practices on utilisation and marketing of Yeheb (Cordeauxia edulis) in Ethiopia

Cordeauxia edulis (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae), commonly called Yeheb, is a small nitrogen-fixing tree/shrub species endemic to Ethiopia and Somalia. The tree produces nuts that are consumed as a staple food by the local people and are sold in local markets. Recent reports indicate that Yeheb has vanished from many locations noted by earlier travellers and, as a result, it is considered threatened (Vulnerable A2cd) by IUCN. The present study was conducted in Boh district, in the Somali region of Ethiopia to assess local people’s knowledge and practices on the use and marketing of the species and its products. A total of 182 households and 32 traders were interviewed from ten villages where the remnant populations of Yeheb are currently found. The results of the study suggest that Yeheb plays a significant role in the livelihoods of the local community. Consumption of nuts as a staple food is the major use of Yeheb. The nuts are also sold, generating a significant household income for the local people. The foliage of Yeheb is a major browse for camels and goats, and 90 % of the houses are built from the wood of Yeheb. It is recommended that conservation measures be put in place to protect this important species from extinction.     

Mycorrhizae enhances horticultural plant yield and nutrient uptake under phosphorus deficient field soil condition

Mycorrhizae can enhance plant growth and phosphorus (P) use efficiency in horticultural plants. This research evaluated the effectiveness of mycorrhizae on increasing growth and yield of nine horticultural plants for two different rates of P fertilization under field conditions. The mycorrhizal inoculums increased the root colonization of mycorrhizal horticultural plants compared with the non-inoculated treatments. Mycorrhizal inoculation significantly increased onion, garlic, chickpea, broad bean, carrot, parsley and cress plants. Mycorrhizal effectiveness showed that without P addition the effect of mycorrhizae on plant yield is much higher than that with P fertilizer addition. Under low P fertilization inoculation effectiveness is much higher than P addition treatments. Mycorrhizal inoculums also increased tissue P and zinc (Zn) for horticultural plant. The improved growth, yield, Zn and P uptake in plants demonstrated the potential of mycorrhizal inoculation to reduce the effects P fertilization on horticultural plants grown under field conditions.     

Evaluation of etoxazole toxicity in the liver of Oreochromis niloticus

The effects of etoxazole were evaluated in freshwater fish Oreochromis niloticus from five different sublethal etoxazole concentrations in order to study the biochemical response, photometrically. No changes were observed in the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx, EC 1.11.1.9). These were measured in liver after 1, 7, and 15 days of exposure to sublethal concentrations of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1% of field application rate (134.75 ppm). This study also investigated the levels of neurotoxic effects by the determination of acetylcholine esterase (AChE EC 3.1.1.7) and sodium-potassium adenosine 5^′-triphosphatase (Na⁺K⁺-ATPase, EC 3.6.3.9) activities. The exposure of fish led to sharp depletion in AChE activity while there is no significant alteration in Na⁺K⁺-ATPase activity. Up to 80% decreases were observed in the AChE activity. Since no difference was found in the activity of glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT, EC 2.6.1.2), etoxazole did not show hepatotoxic effect. The results of the present study show that increase in the malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and decrease in the AChE activity can be used as biomarkers for monitoring toxicity in etoxazole exposure.