Development of a Model to Predict Runoff Water Headloss Through Compost Filter Berms

As a part of a larger study designed to develop compost filter berms i.e., an unsupported mound of compost that intercepts surface runoff from a site, suitable for removing nutrients and sediment from agricultural operations, we evaluated the hydraulic behavior of compost buffers with different masses and particle size distributions subjected to varying water flow rates using flume experiments. For each berm combination, the maximum flow rate the compost berm could sustain before a structural failure occurs was determined for different compost particle sizes. These data were used to develop models to predict headloss through a compost berm as a function of the flow rate per unit width, the median particle size of the compost media, and the buffer dimensions. The developed models perform well with R² values ranging from 0.64 to 0.97 with the majority of values greater than 0.9. The effect of presence of sediments in the flow was also quantified. The results show that headloss increased by 1–2 cm as a result of sediment removal, ranging from 5 to 35%, taking up pore space in the compost berm.     

Clonal variation in chemical wood characteristics in Hanönü (Kastamonu) Günlüburun black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold. subsp. Pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe) seed orchard

ABSTRACT

Scientific evidence suggests forest cover across the world is gradually decreasing while the world’s population is rapidly increasing. In line with this, the demand on raw wood is also increasing, making it impossible for the already limited natural resources to meet human needs in proportion to the increasing population size. To counter this, there is a need to increase the variety and availability of timber through genetic improvement. This has been seen in genetic improvement studies in forestry which have resulted in seed orchard establishments; however, the genetic variation in these seed orchards continues to be a topic of debate. This study aims to determine the clonal variation in chemical characteristics in a Hanönü (Kastamonu) Günlüburun black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold. subsp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe) seed orchard. The analysis shows differences between the clones were seen at the 99.9% confidence level. Ash content, NaOH, extractive substance, and hot water solubility exhibited the highest heritability scores, according to the heritability estimates of the clones in the seed orchard. However, hemicellulose content showed an extremely low H₂ (0.1).     

Immunodetection of coproantigens for the diagnosis of amphistomosis in naturally infected Indian Water Buffalo,Bubalus bubalis

The infection of gastrointestinal helminths in livestock is routinely diagnosed by microscopical examination of faecal samples for the presence of ova/eggs but this approach becomes ineffective for the seasonally egg producing trematodes. Therefore, an alternative approach to detect the coproantigens of liver and rumen amphistomes, Gigantocotyle explanatum and Gastrothylax crumenifer respectively, infecting Indian water buffalo Bubalus bubalis, was undertaken using ELISA, immunodot and countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis (CCIEP). The hyperimmune polyclonal antisera were separately raised in rabbits against excretory/secretory (ES) antigens of both the flukes under study. An overall 70% buffalo faecal samples were tested positive for G. crumenifer and 75% for G. explanatum in Aligarh region. The ELISA results reflected higher infection intensity among individual buffaloes that was also observed at necropsy. Using the respective homologous hyperimmune antiserum, 55% buffaloes tested positive for G. crumenifer and 65% positive for G. explanatum in immunodot assay. Further, the faecal samples with high absorbance values in ELISA and strong immunodot reaction tested positive in CCIEP. The analysis of CCIEP result revealed two and one precipitin bands in G. crumenifer and G. explanatum respectively, indicating prominent antigenic differences in the coproantigens of these two parasites. Taken together, it is suggested that polyclonal antibodies could be conveniently used for the detection of coproantigens by ELISA and immunodot methods, particularly during the non-egg producing phase of the seasonally regulated reproductive cycle of the rumen amphistome G. crumenifer. It is concluded that the coproantigen detection is a good alternative over conventional method for the diagnosis of amphistomosis in livestock; however, further studies are required on a larger sample size of field buffaloes to augment the reproducibility of the present results.     

Assessment of inoculation methods to identify resistance to Fusarium crown rot in wheat

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Crown rot, caused by Fusarium culmorum and Fusarium pseudograminearum, is one of the most pervasive diseases of wheat throughout the world. Fusarium...     

Fruit Yield and Quality,and Irrigation Water Use Efficiency of Summer Squash Drip-Irrigated with Different Irrigation Quantities in a Semi-Arid Agricultural Area

Fruit yield, yield components, fruit mineral content, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) of summer squash responses to different irrigation quantities were evaluated with a field study. Irrigations were done when the total evaporated water from a Class A pan was about 30 mm. Different irrigation quantities were adjusted using three different plant-pan coefficients (Kcp, 100% (Kcp1), 85% (Kcp2) and 70% (Kcp3)). Results indicated that lower irrigation quantities provided statistically lower yield and yield components. The highest seasonal fruit yield (80.0 t ha⁻¹) was determined in the Kcp1 treatment, which applied the highest volume of irrigation water (452.9 mm). The highest early fruit yield, average fruit weight and fruit diameter, length and number per plant were also determined in the Kcp1 treatment, with values of 7.25 t ha⁻¹, 264.1 g, 5.49 cm, 19.95 cm and 10.92, respectively. Although the IWUE value was the highest in the Kcp1 treatment (176.6 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹), it was statistically similar to the value for Kcp3 treatment (157.1 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹). Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of fruits was higher in the Kcp1 (44.27 μg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) mg⁻¹ fresh sample) and in the Kcp2 (84.75%) treatments, respectively. Major (Na, N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S) and trace (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn and B) mineral contents of squash fruits were the highest in the Kcp2 treatment, with the exception of P, Ca and Cu. Mineral contents and total phenolic content were significantly affected by irrigation quantities, but antioxidant activity was not affected. It can be concluded that the Kcp1 treatment was the most suitable for achieving higher yield and IWUE. However, the Kcp2 treatment will be the most suitable due to the high fruit quality and relatively high yield in water shortage conditions.     

International Winter Wheat Improvement Program: history,activities, impact and future

International Winter Wheat Improvement Program (IWWIP) was established in 1986 between the Government of Turkey and CIMMYT with three main objectives: (1) develop winter/facultative germplasm for Central and West Asia, (2) facilitate global winter wheat germplasm exchange, and (3) training wheat scientists. ICARDA joined the program in 1991 making it a three-way partnership that continues to work effectively. The germplasm developed by IWWIP as well as the winter wheat cultivars and lines received from global cooperators are assembled into international nurseries. These nurseries are offered annually to public and private entities (IWWIP website) and distributed to more than 100 cooperators in all continents. IWWIP impact has primarily been in new winter wheat cultivars combining broad adaptation, high yield potential, drought tolerance and disease resistance. A total of 93 IWWIP cultivars have been released in 11 countries occupying annually an estimated 2.5–3.0 Mha. IWWIP cooperation with researchers in Turkey, Central and West Asia and several US universities has resulted in a number of publications reviewed in this paper. Important IWWIP impacts include national inventories of wheat landraces in Turkey, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, their collection, characterization, evaluation and utilization.     

Chemical Bonding of Organic Dye onto Cotton Fibers Using Silane as Coupling Agent (I)

A derivative of an optical brightening agent (organic dye), i.e., 2,6-dibromo-4-flouroaniline (synthesized and reported previously) has been chemically bonded to cotton fabrics through a coupling agent, i.e., 3-(2-aminoethylamino)- propyltrimethoxy silane. These chemically treated cotton fabrics have been characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, color observation, tear properties determination, and UV-DRS analysis. The relevant spectra of FTIR confirm chemical bonding of the silane with cotton on one end and with the dye on the other. Comparison of the various treated and untreated cotton samples before and after washing by visual observations confirms the claim of chemical bonding of the dye with the cotton. The consistent decreasing patterns observed in tear strengths of the treated cloths with increase in concentration of the respective chemical validate modification of the cotton cloths. UV-DRS analysis of the modified cotton cloths show that the reflectance decreases with the use of silane.     

Analysis of genetic diversity of soybean germplasm from five different origins using RAPD markers

The pattern of genetic diversity among 92 genotypes of soybean from 5 different origins/sources (Pakistan, the USA, Asian Vegetable Research Development Centre (AVRDC), Japan and North Korea) was analyzed using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA markers. Out of 20 random primers 6 tested, 10 were polymorphic among genotypes and they yielded 107 markers, with an average of 10.7 markers per primer. The proportion of polymorphic bands within genotypes ranged from 0.47 to 0.71 with an average of 0.59. Pakistani and US genotypes exhibited the highest number of polymorphic bands (95%), while North Korean genotypes revealed the lowest (60%). The mean band frequency of the primers among genotypes was 0.57 with a range of 0.08–0.99. The Shannon’s index and Nei’s genetic diversity index revealed that primer OPF-06 showed maximum genetic diversity among the genotypes. Dendrogram constructed using Unweighted Pair Group Mean Average (UPGMA) method divided the genotypes into 5 main groups consisting of 13 clusters. The results of cluster analysis indicated that the genetic diversity between Pakistani and US or AVRDC genotypes is much larger than that between Pakistani and North Korean or Japanese genotypes. The Pakistani genotypes had distinct bands from plant introductions. Therefore, the Pakistani genotypes may be useful to soybean breeders.     

Genetic diversity in sorghum [<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sorghum bicolor</Emphasis> (L.) Moench] germplasm from Southern Africa as revealed by microsatellite markers and agro-morphological traits

Cultivated sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is an important food security crop in the semi-arid regions of the world including Asia and Africa. Its genetic diversity is contained mostly in traditional varieties and modern cultivars used by farmers. In this study, agro-morphological traits and molecular markers were used to assess genetic diversity in 22 accessions of cultivated sorghum from five countries (Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe) in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The study revealed a significant variation among 22 accessions in both qualitative and quantitative morphological traits, indicating the accessions’ promising potential as breeding material. For molecular analysis, 11 microsatellite primer-pairs were used, and generated a total of 70 alleles across 20 accessions. Analysis of molecular variance revealed a high level of genetic variation; 67 % among the accessions and 10 % among the five countries. The patterns of genetic diversity and the relationships observed in this study should provide insights for genetic resource conservation and utilization of sorghum germplasm in the SADC region.     

Effects of vitamin E and selenium on tissue bio-element status in organophosphate toxicity of rats

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of vitamin E (vit E), selenium (Se) and vit E + Se against organophosphate (OP) toxicity in tissues’ trace and major element levels and erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activities of rats. Trace and major element concentrations in the tissues were measured by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. Erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activities were studied by using spectrophotometer. Antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase increased in the fenthion-treated groups (control) more than that of sham group subjects. Heart and pectoral muscle tissue Se and Zn concentrations in the control group were higher than sham group. However, jejunum, kidney, liver and pancreas Se and Zn concentrations in the control group were found to be lower than those in the sham group. The Mn concentrations in the all of the tissues were lower in the control group when compared with the sham group. Brain, heart, jejunum, kidney and pancreas Fe concentrations and heart, jejunum, liver, pectoral muscle and pancreas Cu concentrations were found to be lower in the control group. The treatment of vit E, Se and vit E + Se were increased bio-element levels in the many tissue. In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrate that the tissue trace and major element concentrations and enzymatic antioxidant system were significantly affected OP toxicity. Furthermore, we have shown an association between bio-elements and antioxidant enzymes in OP toxicity. In addition, administration of vit E, Se and vit E + Se might regulate some trace and major element levels in the many tissues.