Comparison of organic substrates in urban rooftop agriculture, towards improving crop production resilience to temporary drought in Mediterranean cities

The expediency of introducing wastewater sediment (WWS) in fresh form together with additional fillers (peat, sawdust, straw) is justified. Field experience was conducted in 2015-2017. using WWS station of treatment facilities in Tver on sod-podzolic sandy loam soil. WWS was applied once during the laying of the experiment together with organic substrates in different proportions with a general application rate of 60 t/ha. For comparative characteristics, the experiment included a variant with compost harvested at the treatment plant, based on WWS and sawdust. The influence of non-traditional types of organic fertilizers on the yield of field crops (vetch-oat mix, winter rye, spring barley), the quality of the resulting product, including the accumulation of heavy metals in it, was revealed. The greatest effect was observed when applying WWS with peat and WWS with sawdust. The study of the ratio of the components of mixtures with WWS showed that the highest productivity and yield increase was ensured by the use of WWS: substrates = 1: 1. A further increase in the participation of sawdust, peat and straw led to a decrease in productivity and quality indicators. WWS, introduced in different ratios together with organic substrates, did not cause excessive accumulation of heavy metals in crop production. The sequence of heavy metals was established: Zn> Cu> Co> Pb> As> Cd, which reflects the degree of their accumulation in the green mass of the vetch-oat mix, winter rye and barley grain. The influence of the studied norms for introducing WWS on the yield and quality of crops is maintained during all three years of the crop rotation link.

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Evaluation of Organic Substrates and Microorganisms as Bio-Fertilisation Tool in Container Crop Production

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy9110705 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 705 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jose Luis Ruiz ◽

Maria del Carmen Salas

Keyword(s):

Energy Source ◽

Crop Production ◽

Azotobacter Vinelandii ◽

Organic Substrates ◽

Irrigation Frequency ◽

Cellular Extract ◽

Culture Substrate ◽

Survival And Development ◽

Substrate Properties ◽

Coconut Fibre

Microorganisms are only effective when adequate conditions for their survival and development are provided. Among the factors that influence its effectiveness includes the type of soil or culture substrate, which works as an energy source reserve. Therefore, a tomato and a melon crop were established in different cycles to assess the effect of the physicochemical properties of organic substrates based on coconut fibre and vermicompost in three proportions, 0:100, 40:60 and 60:40 (% v:v), on the microbial activity in the rhizosphere when the bacteria Azotobacter vinelandii, Bacillus megaterium and Frateuria aurantia were applied. Concentrations of NO3−, H2PO4−, K+ and Ca2+ in the petiole cellular extract (PCE) were quantified at 60, 90 and 120 days after transplantation (DAT) for tomato and 45 and 65 DAT for melon. We analysed dehydrogenase activity (DHA), acid phosphatase activity (FTA) and β-glucosidase activity (β-GLU). In order to maintain optimal volumetric moisture for the survival of microorganisms, automatic control was used to manage the irrigation frequency between 22%–28%. The results showed that physicochemical substrate properties, by incorporating 40% vermicompost into the coconut fibre mixture, increased enzymatic activity. Plants that were inoculated with Azotobacter vinelandii and Frateuria aurantia showed an improvement in NO3− and K+ assimilation achieving highest yields.

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Characterization of substrates of growing media by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy for containerized crop production

Journal of Applied and Natural Science ◽

10.31018/jans.v13isi.2774 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (SI) ◽

pp. 35-42

Author(s):

N. Elakiya ◽

K. Arulmozhiselvan

Keyword(s):

Fourier Transform ◽

Ir Spectroscopy ◽

Crop Production ◽

Fourier Transform Infrared ◽

Organic Substrates ◽

Growing Media ◽

Compost Maturity ◽

Coir Pith ◽

Ft Ir ◽

Ft Ir Spectroscopy

Growing media used in soilless culture systems are those solid substrates, which alone or in mixtures can guarantee better plant growth conditions similar to agricultural soil in one or many aspects. This study was aimed to characterize lignocellulosic organic substances predominant in most available and effective organic substrates viz., coir pith and dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata) powder and compost maturity in vermicompost based on the presence of functional groups by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The dominant downward peaks noted at 3300-3500 cm-1 in coir pith and dhaincha indicate vibration of hydroxyl (OH-) stretch in cellulose structure and presence of alcohols and phenols. Peaks at 2925-2850 cm-1 found prominently in coirpith would be indicative of vibration of C-H bonds showing aliphatic degradation of cellulose, hemicelluloses, lipids, fats, etc. Particularly in dhaincha, vibration at 1733.32 cm-1 would be due to C=O stretch associated with an unconjugated ketone, carbonyl and ester groups. In vermicompost, peak value around 1549.85 cm-1 indicates C=C aromatic structure formed during mineralization of protein, cellulose, and hemicelluloses showing compost maturity. In the present study, FT-IR analysis of organic lignocellulosic substrates confirmed the occurrence of lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose, which are the main characteristics of natural fibers with high water holding and cation exchange capacity. Presence of alcoholic and carboxylic groups indicated stages of compost maturity and stability. Therefore, these renewable and environmentally sustainable lignocellulosic organic materials could be recognized as ideal soilless substrates for preparing grow media for containerized crop production and also recycling organic wastes in an environmentally friendly manner.

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Fractionation of polymethylene chains: An electron crystallographic investigation

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100145315 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 44 ◽

pp. 794-795

Author(s):

Douglas L. Dorset

Keyword(s):

Cross Section ◽

Binary Systems ◽

Linear Chain ◽

Pure Component ◽

Organic Substrates ◽

Crystallographic Investigation ◽

X Ray Diffraction ◽

X Ray ◽

Molecular Sizes ◽

The Stability

A variety of linear chain materials exist as polydisperse systems which are difficultly purified. The stability of continuous binary solid solutions assume that the Gibbs free energy of the solution is lower than that of either crystal component, a condition which includes such factors as relative molecular sizes and shapes and perhaps the symmetry of the pure component crystal structures.Although extensive studies of n-alkane miscibility have been carried out via powder X-ray diffraction of bulk samples we have begun to examine binary systems as single crystals, taking advantage of the well-known enhanced scattering cross section of matter for electrons and also the favorable projection of a paraffin crystal structure posited by epitaxial crystallization of such samples on organic substrates such as benzoic acid.

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Risk perceptions of crop production methods Personal health vs environmental risks and willingness-to-pay

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e683322011-086 ◽

2000 ◽

Author(s):

Colleen F. Moore ◽

Heidi A. Geurkink

Keyword(s):

Willingness To Pay ◽

Risk Perceptions ◽

Crop Production ◽

Environmental Risks ◽

Personal Health ◽

Production Methods

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Bok Choy, an Asian Leafy Green Vegetable Emerging in Florida

EDIS ◽

10.32473/edis-hs1337-2019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 (6) ◽

pp. 5

Author(s):

Hai Liu ◽

Guodong Liu

Keyword(s):

Graduate Students ◽

Crop Production ◽

Health Benefits ◽

Extension Agents ◽

Vegetable Crops ◽

Green Vegetable ◽

General Overview

Asian vegetable crops are rapidly expanding in Florida in the last decade due to their health benefits combined with their high profitability. These crops can help increase vegetable growers’ income and diversify Florida’s crop production, and they are new to most Floridians. This new 5-page article provides a general overview of bok choy for vegetable growers, crop consultants, certified crop advisors, Extension agents, and graduate students. Written by Hai Liu and Guodong Liu and published by the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1337

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