EVALUATION OF FUNGAL TREATMENT OF SOME AGRICULTURAL RESIDUES

Agricultural residues and energy crops are promising resources that can be utilized in the pulp and paper industry. This study examines the potential of co-cooking nonwood materials with hardwoods as means to incorporate nonwood material into a paper furnish. Specifically, miscanthus, switchgrass, and corn stover were substituted for poplar hardwood chips in the amounts of 10 wt %, 20 wt %, and 30 wt %, and the blends were subjected to kraft pulping experiments. The pulps were then bleached with an OD(EP)D sequence and then refined and formed into handsheets to characterize their physical properties. Surprisingly, all three co-cooked pulps showed improved strength properties (up to 35%). Sugar measurement of the pulps by high-performance liquid chromatography suggested that the strength increase correlated with enriched xylan content.

Download Full-text

Starch Based Bioplastics Reinforced with Cellulose Nanocrystals from Agricultural Residues

International Conference on Advances in Engineering and Technology (ICAET'2014) March 29-30, 2014 Singapore ◽

10.15242/iie.e0314037 ◽

2014 ◽

Keyword(s):

Cellulose Nanocrystals ◽

Agricultural Residues

Download Full-text

Faculty Opinions recommendation of Degradation of Lignin in Agricultural Residues by locally Isolated Fungus Neurospora discreta.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.727136549.793526724 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Patrick Shiu ◽

Hua Xiao

Keyword(s):

Agricultural Residues

Download Full-text

Soil-Conditioning Properties of Modified Agricultural Residues and Related Materials: I. Aggregate Stabilization as a Function of Type and Extent of Chemical Modification1

Soil Science Society of America Journal ◽

10.2136/sssaj1958.03615995002200050011x ◽

1958 ◽

Vol 22 (5) ◽

pp. 405 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

H. E. Smith ◽

S. M. Schwartz ◽

L. A. Gugliemelli ◽

P. G. Freeman ◽

C. R. Russell

Keyword(s):

Agricultural Residues ◽

Soil Conditioning

Download Full-text

Potential of Biochar Derived from Agricultural Residues for Sustainable Management

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13158147 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (15) ◽

pp. 8147

Author(s):

Sasiwimol Khawkomol ◽

Rattikan Neamchan ◽

Thunchanok Thongsamer ◽

Soydoa Vinitnantharat ◽

Boonma Panpradit ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chemical Properties ◽

Agricultural Residues ◽

Hydroxyl Groups ◽

Asian Countries ◽

Heating Value ◽

Coconut Husk ◽

High Heating Value ◽

Horizontal Drum ◽

Physical And Chemical ◽

And Chemical Properties

A horizontal drum kiln is a traditional method widely used in Southeast Asian countries for producing biochar. An understanding of temperature conditions in the kiln and its influence on biochar properties is crucial for identifying suitable biochar applications. In this study, four agricultural residues (corncob, coconut husk, coconut shell, and rice straw) were used for drum kiln biochar production. The agricultural residues were turned into biochar within 100–200 min, depending on their structures. The suitability of biochar for briquette fuels was analyzed using proximate, ultimate, and elemental analysis. The biochar’s physical and chemical properties were characterized via bulk density, iodine number, pHpzc, SEM, and FTIR measurements. All biochars had low O/C and H/C ratios and negative charge from both carbonyl and hydroxyl groups. Coconut husk and shell biochar had desirable properties such as high heating value and a high amount of surface functional groups which can interact with nutrients in soil. These biochars are thus suitable for use for a variety of purposes including as biofuels, adsorbents, and as soil amendments.

Download Full-text

Toxicity and Biological Effects of Beauveria brongniartii Fe0 Nanoparticles against Spodoptera litura (Fabricius)

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects11120895 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 895

Author(s):

Jing Xu ◽

Kaihui Zhang ◽

Andrew G. S. Cuthbertson ◽

Cailian Du ◽

Shaukat Ali

Keyword(s):

Spodoptera Litura ◽

Insect Pests ◽

Growth Parameters ◽

Uv Spectroscopy ◽

Biological Effects ◽

Fungal Treatment ◽

Beauveria Brongniartii ◽

Sem Images ◽

X Ray ◽

Infection Period

Nanotechnology has clear potential in the development of innovative insecticidal products for the biorational management of major insect pests. Metal-based nanoparticles of different microbial pest control agents have been effective against several pests. Synthesis of Beauveria brongniartii based Fe0 nanoparticles (Fe0NPs) and their bio-efficacy against Spodoptera litura was observed during this study. Beauveria brongniartii conidia were coated with Fe0NPs and characterized by applying a selection of different analytical techniques. Ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy showed the characteristic band of surface plasmon at 430 nm; Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed spherical shaped nanoparticles with a size ranging between 0.41 to 0.80 µm; Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectral analysis revealed characteristic Fe peaks at 6.5 and 7.1 Kev; the X-ray diffractogram showed three strong peaks at 2θ values of 45.72°, 64.47°, and 84.05°. The bioassay studies demonstrated that mortality of 2nd instar S. litura larvae following Fe0NPs treatment increased with increasing concentrations of Fe0NPs at different time intervals. The median lethal concentration (LC50) values of Fe0NPs against S. litura after seven days of fungal treatment was 59 ppm, whereas median survival time (LT50) values for 200 and 500 ppm concentrations of Fe0NPs against S. litura seven days post-treatment were 5.1 and 2.29 days, respectively. Beauveria brongniartii-Fe0NPs caused significant reductions in feeding and growth parameters (relative growth rate, relative consumption rate, and efficiency of conversion of ingested food) of S. litura. Beauveria brongniartii Fe0NPs induced reduction in glutathione-S-transferase activities throughout the infection period whereas activities of antioxidant enzymes decreased during later periods of infection. These findings suggest that B. brongniartii Fe0NPs can potentially be used in biorational S. litura management programs.

Download Full-text

Effects of Clonostachys rosea f. catenula Inoculum on the Composting of Cabbage Wastes and the Endophytic Activities of the Composted Material on Tomatoes and Red Spider Mite Infestation

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9061184 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 1184

Author(s):

Nomfusi Ntsobi ◽

Morris Fanadzo ◽

Marilize Le Roes-Hill ◽

Felix Nchu

Keyword(s):

Seed Germination ◽

Spider Mite ◽

Fungal Treatment ◽

Tomato Seed ◽

Clonostachys Rosea ◽

Tomato Plants ◽

Red Spider Mite ◽

Phytotoxicity Test ◽

The Difference ◽

And Control

Globally, fungal inocula are being explored as agents for the optimization of composting processes. This research primarily evaluates the effects of inoculating organic vegetable heaps with the entomopathogenic fungus Clonostachys rosea f. catenula (Hypocreales) on the biophysicochemical properties of the end-product of composting. Six heaps of fresh cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) waste were inoculated with C. rosea f. catenula conidia and another six were not exposed to the fungus. The composted materials from the fungus- and control-treated heaps were subsequently used as a medium to cultivate tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum). The biophysicochemical characteristics of the composted materials were also assessed after composting. In addition, the protective effect of the fungal inoculum against red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) infestations in the tomatoes was evaluated through the determination of conidial colonization of the plant tissue and the number of plants infested by the insect. Furthermore, phytotoxicity tests were carried out post experiment. There were few significant variations (p < 0.05) in heap temperature or moisture level between treatments based on the weekly data. We found no significant differences in the levels of compost macronutrient and micronutrient constituents. Remarkably, the composted materials, when incorporated into a growth medium from fungus-treated heaps, induced a 100% endophytic tissue colonization in cultivated tomato plants. While fewer red spider mite infestations were observed in tomato plants grown in composted materials from fungus-treated heaps, the difference was not significant (χ2 = 0.96 and p = 0.32). The fungal treatment yielded composted materials that significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced tomato seed germination, and based on the phytotoxicity test, the composted samples from the heaps exposed to the C. rosea f. catenula inoculum were not toxic to tomato seeds and seedlings. In conclusion, this study showed that C. rosea f. catenula improved the quality of composted materials in terms of fungal endophytism and seed germination.

Download Full-text