Changes in physico-chemical and biological properties of soil under conservation agriculture based pearl millet – mustard cropping system in rainfed semi-arid region

Background:: Luffa cylindrica is a plant that is widely distributed in Africa and Asia and it can be grown in regions with tropical or subtropical climates. Few patents dealt with Loofah biological properties, including some functional foods formulated from its leaves. Objective:: This study aimed to structurally and functionally characterize the bioactive compounds of L. cylindrica leaves grown in two different environments. Methods:: The extracts of L. cylindrica leaves collected from two Tunisian locations: Essouasi (LE), a semi-arid region and Medenine (LM) an arid region, were investigated for their phenolic compounds and fatty acids using HPLC/TOF-MS and GCMS techniques respectively. Furthermore, the antioxidant capacity was evaluated with DPPH, Chelating effect, Hydroxyl radical and Superoxide anion scavenging activities while the anticancer activity against HeLa cell lines was assessed using xCELLigence real time cell analyzer and lactate dehydrogenase cytotoxicity assay. Results:: The antiproliferative capacity of both extracts was time and dose-dependent with LE presenting the lowest HeLa cell index (CI = 0.035 ± 0.018, 250 μg/ml). LE also showed the best cytotoxic capacity (56.49 ± 0.8%) and antioxidant potential (IC50 = 54.41 ± 1.12 μg/ml for DPPH and 12.12 ± 0.07 μg/ml for chelating effet). 14 phenolic compounds were detected in LE with ferulic acid being the major compound (5128.5 ± 4.09 μg Phenols/g) while LM had only 6 phenolics. GCMS analysis showed the presence of omega-3 fatty acids in LE. Conclusions:: Our findings suggest that L. cylindrica leaves, especially when collected from semi-arid regions, are promising for formulating nutraceuticals of interest.

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Physical, chemical, and mineralogical attributes and organic fractions of biogenic aggregates of earthworms and toposequence of Inceptisol in semi-arid region

Ciência e Agrotecnologia ◽

10.1590/1413-7054202145014721 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 45 ◽

Author(s):

Eula Paula da Silva Santos ◽

Flavia Giglianne Freitas Lima ◽

Eulene Francisco da Silva ◽

Diana Ferreira de Freitas ◽

Eveline de Almeida Ferreira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clay Minerals ◽

Arid Region ◽

Organic Fraction ◽

Neem Tree ◽

Physical Chemical ◽

Organic Fractions ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

Lower Slope ◽

Semi Arid ◽

Properties Of Soil

ABSTRACT Earthworms are known to improve soil fertility by altering the physicochemical properties of soil. However, the changes in properties of biogenic aggregates (produced by earthworms) in regions with different vegetation covers and soils of Inceptisol toposequence in the semi-arid region have not been studied. The objective of this work was to determine the variations of the physical, chemical, and mineralogical attributes and organic fractions of biogenic aggregates of earthworms under different vegetation covers and compare them to an Inceptisol toposequence in the semi-arid region of Pernambuco State, Brazil. For this study, four Inceptisol soil profiles were selected. The sampled points were P1-upper; P2-middle third; P3-middle third; and P4-lower slope, and the soils were collected at a depth of 0-0.20 m. The biogenic aggregates were found in the P3 samples collected from three areas with different vegetation covers: an area with mesquite tree vegetation (Prosopis juliflora [Sw] D.C.); an area with neem tree vegetation (Azadirachta indica A. Juss); and an area with forage palm and mesquite tree vegetation (Opuntia sp. and Nopalea sp.). Results indicate that the biogenic aggregates were in the form of irregular blocks with a size greater than 40 mm. As compared to Inceptisol samples, these aggregates tended to select particles of smaller diameter and exhibited higher concentrations of clay minerals. The chemical and organic fraction analysis revealed that the aggregates exhibited higher Ca2+, total organic carbon (TOC), labile and humic substances, regardless of the vegetation cover. The mineralogical analysis revealed that the action of earthworms did not change the quantity or type of clay minerals.

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Effect of Planting Pattern on Productivity and Water Use Efficiency of Pearl Millet in the Indian Semi-Arid Region

Journal of the Indian Society of Soil Science ◽

10.5958/0974-0228.2015.00035.3 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 63 (3) ◽

pp. 259 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Babloo Sharma ◽

Reena Kumari ◽

Pratibha Kumari ◽

Santosh K. Meena ◽

R.M. Singh

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Pearl Millet ◽

Water Use ◽

Arid Region ◽

Planting Pattern ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

Semi Arid

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Productivity and Profitability of Pearl Millet as Affected by Zinc and Iron Application in Arid and Semi-arid Region

International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Biotechnology ◽

10.30954/0974-1712.03.2021.13 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Moola Ram

Keyword(s):

Pearl Millet ◽

Arid Region ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

Semi Arid

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Physico-chemical characterization of prickly pear (Opunicia Ficus indica) in the semi-arid region of Bahia State, Brazil

African Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.5897/ajar2017.12785 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 12 (51) ◽

pp. 3537-3541 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Xavier Nunes Valtânia ◽

Xavier Nunes Núbia ◽

Nogueira Londe Luciana ◽

Guimarães de Oliveira Carlinne ◽

Akemi Medina Inoue Natália ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Arid Region ◽

Chemical Characterization ◽

Prickly Pear ◽

Physico Chemical ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

Semi Arid

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Zinc biofortification and agronomic indices of pearl millet under semi-arid region

International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Biotechnology ◽

10.5958/2230-732x.2015.00022.4 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 171

Author(s):

Saroj Kumar Prasad ◽

Renu Singh ◽

Manoj Kumar Singh ◽

Amitava Rakshit

Keyword(s):

Pearl Millet ◽

Arid Region ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

Semi Arid

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Agronomic traits, ensilability and nutritive value of five pearl millet cultivars grown in a Brazilian semi-arid region

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859615000908 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 154 (1) ◽

pp. 165-173 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

R. D. DOS SANTOS ◽

A. L. A. NEVES ◽

L. G. R. PEREIRA ◽

L. E. SOLLENBERGER ◽

J. A. S. RODRIGUES ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pearl Millet ◽

Acid Concentration ◽

Arid Region ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Pennisetum Glaucum ◽

High Yield ◽

Arid Zones ◽

Pearl Millet Cultivars ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

Semi Arid

SUMMARYPearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.) could play an important role as a feed source for ruminants in arid and semi-arid zones of the world owing to its high yield and drought tolerance. The current paper assessed the agronomic characteristics, ensilability, intake and digestibility of five Brazilian pearl millet cultivars (IPA Bulk1BF, BRS 1501, CMS-03, CMS-01 and BN-2) in a typical Brazilian northeastern semi-arid climate. Forage was harvested at the dough stage of grain maturity (growth stage 86 according to the BBCH scale) and ensiled under laboratory and farm conditions. Apparent digestibility of the silages was determined using 25 Santa Inês male lambs. The cultivars CMS-01, CMS-03 and BN-2 out-performed the others in terms of dry matter (DM) and digestible DM yield/ha. At DM partitioning among plant tissues, the cultivar IPA Bulk1BF had a greater DM associated with panicles and one of the greatest concentrations of organic matter, lactic acid and in vitro dry matter digestibility among the five cultivars. The cultivar BRS 1501 had greater butyric acid concentration as well as one of the highest pH values. Silage produced from BN-2 not only contained greater acetic acid concentration, but also showed one of the greatest total volatile fatty acid concentrations. There were no differences in feed intake and digestibility of nutrients and fibre fractions across all cultivars. Silage made from BN-2 resulted in greater urinary excretion of nitrogen than those produced from BRS 1501. Under the conditions of the present study, the results obtained for production of DM and digestible dry matter, and the ratio of plant fractions, indicates the possible use of these cultivars for silage production in the Brazilian semi-arid region.

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