scholarly journals Growth and nitrogen accumulation assessment of banana (Musa acuminata) after exposure to hydroquinone in a charcoal-ultisol mix

Author(s):  
Beckley Ikhajiagbe ◽  
Marychoice N. Ebinum

Abstract The present study investigates plant growth and nitrogen accumulation assessment of young banana plant (Musa acuminata) after exposure to hydroquinone (a mutagen) in a charcoal-ultisol mix. Charcoal was obtained from the wood of Pentaclethra macrophylla aerobically, and was crushed into a smooth powdered form. This was mixed with an ultisol obtained from the University of Benin Botanic garden. Different levels of the soil-charcoal mix were prepared as follows; 100% charcoal, 75% charcoal-25% soil, 50% charcoal-50% soil, 25% charcoal- 75% soil, and 100% sand. The charcoal-ultisol mix was then amended with 5ppm hydroquinone one week before propagating young banana suckers. Results showed that sprouting began fifteen days after propagation. There were also different changes in plant height in the various soil treatments; the lowest was reported in the 75-25 charcoal ultisol mix (10.50cm), compared to 45.83cm in plants sown in 100% charcoals. Foliar yield was lowest in the 75-25 charcoal-ultisol mix (8.55 grams per plant), compared to 29.15 grams per plant in the 100% charcoal. The below ground morphological characteristics test plant revealed that there were significant differences between the growth parameters. Nitrate nitrogen, Ammonia Nitrogen and total nitrogen were significantly accumulated on the leaves of plant. However, higher nitrogen accumulation in the leaves was found in treatment with high charcoal percentage.

2015 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 304-310
Author(s):  
Piotr Wrzesiński

Abstract This study examines the influence on growth parameters, in particular the morphological features of the root system, of 1-year-old European beech seedlings cultivated in containers with two different densities. The experiment was conducted in the container nursery in Skierdy (Forest District of Jabłonna) in spring 2011. After 10 months of cultivation in Hiko polyethylene containers, above- and below-ground parts of the seedlings were measured. The measurements of the root system were conducted with a scanner and the WinRHIZO software. No influence due to the seedling density on either shoot height or thickness was observed, but instead the research showed that different seedling densities affected the development of root systems. The mean root thickness and dry mass of the European beech seedlings were significantly higher at the lower density. The influence of seedling density on the development of root mass deserves special attention as it is the most important factor affecting future growth of the seedlings during cultivation. This tendency also suggests that the amount of nutrients allocated to shoot development may be higher in order to improve the efficiency of photosynthesis. At both densities, differences in biomass accumulation affected the root-toshoot ratio. In seedlings cultivated at the lower density, the increased dry root matter of the seedlings resulted in a significant increase in the root-to-shoot ratio. This may cause a potential growth advantage of these seedlings after they are planted and may thus result in a more productive cultivation.


Author(s):  
Daryl A. Cornish ◽  
George L. Smit

Oreochromis mossambicus is currently receiving much attention as a candidater species for aquaculture programs within Southern Africa. This has stimulated interest in its breeding cycle as well as the morphological characteristics of the gonads. Limited information is available on SEM and TEM observations of the male gonads. It is known that the testis of O. mossambicus is a paired, intra-abdominal structure of the lobular type, although further details of its characteristics are not known. Current investigations have shown that spermatids reach full maturity some two months after the female becomes gravid. Throughout the year, the testes contain spermatids at various stages of development although spermiogenesis appears to be maximal during November when spawning occurs. This paper describes the morphological and ultrastructural characteristics of the testes and spermatids.Specimens of this fish were collected at Syferkuil Dam, 8 km north- west of the University of the North over a twelve month period, sacrificed and the testes excised.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-42
Author(s):  
B. Ikhajiagbe ◽  
V. D. Odenore ◽  
E. O. Umeokeke ◽  
E. S. Ahanor ◽  
O. Amadin ◽  
...  

The influence of humans on biodiversity at the genetic, species, community, and ecosystem levels is enormous. This is even more impactful on plant populations, which, being immobile, are at the mercy of their immediate environment. Digitaria horizontalis is a very common grass species in Benin City. Its ruderal nature accounts mostly for its widespread. The current study investigated the existence of possible genetic diversity of the grass in built environment in Benin City. Plant samples were randomly collected from 21 built environment locations within 6 Local Government Council Areas that make up Benin City. Test plants were allowed to acclimatize in experimental bowls and then allowed to grow for 4 weeks after which morphological characteristics were determined. Genetic diversity was determined by Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA. Significant differences in plant height (33.0 – 59.0 cm) occurred when plants were compared based on location of collection. Changes in patterns of the association with weeds within the vicinity of the test plant was observed. The most prevalent plant species associated with the test plant was Pennisetum purpureum with a 12.18% prevalence. RAPD analysis using primer OPA 04 revealed a locus (about 600bp) that was absent in one or more of the locations with minimum disturbance. This 600pb fragment was however observed in most samples from highly built up and trampled environments. Primer OPA 03 showed monomorphic bands in 2 test samples with a band size of 400bp. It is therefore reported that there is an existence of the genetic diversity in a landscape of grass species (Digitaria horizontalis) found in different built environment in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.


2020 ◽  
Vol 94 (5) ◽  
pp. 1625-1638
Author(s):  
Andrew L. Thomas ◽  
Robert Kallenbach ◽  
Thomas J. Sauer ◽  
David K. Brauer ◽  
David M. Burner ◽  
...  

Abstract Agroforestry systems that integrate useful long-lived trees have been recognized for their potential in mitigating the accumulation of atmospheric fossil fuel-derived carbon (C). Black walnut (Juglans nigra) is frequently planted and cultivated in North America for its valuable lumber and edible nuts, and is highly amenable to the integration of understory crops or livestock in agroforestry systems. However, little is known about C content in black walnut trees, including the amounts of C assimilated into lignocellulosic tissues within different tree compartments. Therefore, allometric equations for above- and below-ground compartments of 10-year-old black walnut trees across diverse locations were developed. Ten grafted black walnut trees from each of four sites across the midwestern USA were destructively harvested for above- and below-ground biomass, and dry biomass weight (DWw), C (Cw) and nitrogen (N; Nw) stocks were quantified. Soils surrounding the harvested trees were sampled and analyzed for soil organic C (SOC) and total N (TN). Total DWw ranged from 27 to 54 kg tree−1, with woody tissues containing an average of 467 g kg−1 C and 3.5 g kg−1 N. Woody tissues differed in Cw and Nw across location, and above-ground sections contained more C and less N compared with most root tissues. The slopes of the allometric equations did not differ significantly among locations, while intercepts did, indicating that trees only differed in initial size across locations. SOC and TN did not vary in distance from the trees, likely because the trees were not yet old enough to have impacted the surrounding soils. Our results establish a foundation for quantifying C and N stocks in newly established black walnut alley cropping systems across diverse environments.


Nematology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 459-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Yu Min ◽  
Koki Toyota

A total of 12 soils collected from different agricultural fields, having different backgrounds of organic input, were evaluated for their suppressive potential against Meloidogyne incognita. Second-stage juveniles (J2) of M. incognita were inoculated into the soils and their survival was evaluated. The number of M. incognita J2 5 days after inoculation differed depending on soil and was significantly lower in two soils, suggesting higher suppressiveness against M. incognita in these soils. This was confirmed by an experiment using tomato as a test plant, in which the gall formation was significantly lower in the two soils than in other soils. To estimate the contribution of below-ground biota to the suppressiveness, numbers of nematodes (predator, omnivore, bacterivore and fungivore) and other soil fauna such as tardigrades and rotifers, were counted. Some soil chemical and biological properties were also measured. Results from multiple linear regression analysis suggested that the number of rotifers, microbial activity, soil pH and total C may be involved in the suppression. The relationship between the suppressiveness and soil chemical and biological parameters is discussed.


1960 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
SA Waring ◽  
LJH Teakle

The level of mineral nitrogen in the soil under fallow and crop was measured for the years 1951 to 1953. Relationships of mineral nitrogen at planting to yield and nitrogen content of wheat grain and straw were examined. Values for nitrate nitrogen at the end of the fallow period ranged most commonly from 10 to 20 µg/g in the surface 2 ft and from 0 to 10 µg/g at 2-4 ft. Approximately one-third of the sites showed an increase from the third to the fourth foot. One site showed extremely high values throughout the profile, particularly at 3-4 ft where a value of 127 µg/g was recorded. Values for ammonia nitrogen were most commonly in the range of 0-3 µg/g . Under the growing crop, mineral nitrogen declined for most depths in the period from planting up to September or October, after which there was little further change to harvest. Uptake of mineral nitrogen was normally greatest from the surface 2 ft of soil. Below 3 ft there were two groups of sites. One group showed moderate to high uptake and the second group low uptake. The low uptake in the latter group provides a reason for mineral nitrogen accumulation below 3 ft at some sites. Mineral nitrogen to 4 ft at planting averaged 126 lb/ac, excluding the one site with exceptionally high values. This was double the mean value of 63 lb/ac for nitrogen recovered in grain and straw, for crops planted in May-June. These figures, combined with trends in the soil under crop, suggest that most of the nitrogen used by the crop was derived from that in the soil at planting. Correlations between mineral nitrogen at planting and grain yield were mostly non-significant, suggesting that in general nitrogen was not an important factor limiting yield. Low grain yield and protein percentage were recorded at a number of sites which had been cultivated more than 50 years.


2015 ◽  
Vol 1092-1093 ◽  
pp. 933-937
Author(s):  
Xin Ran Jiang ◽  
Li Na Zheng ◽  
Xing Ai ◽  
Lin Zhang ◽  
Wei Nan Wu

Using the mixed filling reaction column, this article examines that the influence of different inlet flow rate on the removal of nitrate nitrogen in groundwater, respectively by 90mL/h, 150 mL/h, 210mL/h velocity, under 30 °C each run five days, comparativly studies the influence of velocity on denitrification. The results show that the flow rate has an important effect on the denitrification of water, when the water inlet velocity decreased from 150mL/h to 90mL/h, the concentration of nitrate nitrogen reaction column effluent decreased gradually, and the denitrification of nitrite nitrogen accumulation system has been in a low level, but the ammonia nitrogen accumulation only in the flow rate of 90mL/h, began when the flow rate decreased significantly; also increased from 90mL/h to 210mL/h, the effluent nitrate nitrogen concentration, nitrite nitrogen concentration and ammonia nitrogen concentration increased significantly.


Author(s):  
M. M. Musuasua ◽  
O. N. Kabena ◽  
L. K. Kalanda ◽  
D. M. Y. Masens ◽  
P.T. Mpiana

Aims: To make an ethnobotanical survey in the province of Kasai Oriental to identify the plant species used in the treatment of bacterial diseases; carry out a floristic analysis and determine their eco-morphological characteristics. Study Design: The surveys were conducted in the villages of all the territories of the Kasai Oriental province in RD CONGO for five years and nine months, from March 2013 to December 2018. The confirmation of the identified species was made at the Laboratory of the ISP Mbujimayi and Herbarium of the ecology laboratory of the Department of Biology of the University of Kinshasa. Place and Duration of Study: The surveys were conducted in the villages of all the territories of the Kasai Oriental province in RD CONGO for five years and nine months, from March 2013 to December 2018. The confirmation of the identified species was made at the Laboratory of the ISP Mbujimayi and Herbarium of the ecology laboratory of the Department of Biology of the University of Kinshasa. Methodology: Pre-established questionnaires were submitted to healers and potential patients living in the region. Data were collected on local phytotherapeutic practices in order to identify indigenous plants used in the treatment of bacterial diseases. The plants listed have been identified and their eco-morphological characteristics were determined. Results: From examination of the responses of 391 traditional healers and 1,485 residents and potential patients questioned, one hundred and sixteen plant species reputed to be effective against bacteriosis were identified. They belong to 19 orders, 39 families and 87 genera. Among these plants, only 6 families (Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Rubiaceae, Phyllanthaceae, Lamiaceae and Moraceae) provide 51.57% of the species used against bacterial pathologies i.e more than half. Woody plants (62.94%) predominate among the species used (27.59% of trees, 27.59% of shrubs). Wild savannah species (44.83%) and pantropical ones (32.76%) are the most numerous among the plants of Kasai Oriental which provide drugs against bacteriosis. Conclusion: The results confirm that several local plant species are commonly used to treat bacterial diseases in Kasai Oriental. Local herbalists use more phanerophyte plants from savannah and especially trees and shrubs.


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