Maximization of Water Productivity and Yield of Two Iceberg Lettuce Cultivars in Hydroponic Farming System Using Magnetically Treated Saline Water

Egypt has limited agricultural land, associated with the scarcity of irrigation water and rapid population growth. Hydroponic farming, seawater desalination and magnetic treatment are among the practical solutions for sustaining rapid population growth. In this regard, the main objective of the present research study was to design and construct a hierarchical engineering unit as a hydroponic farming system (soilless) to produce an iceberg lettuce crop using magnetically treated saline water. The treatments included four types of irrigation water: common irrigation water (IW1) with an electrical conductivity (EC) of 0.96 dS/m as a control treatment, magnetically treated common irrigation water (IW2) with an EC of 0.96 dS/m, saline water (IW3) with an EC of 4.56 dS/m and magnetically treated saline water (IW4) with an EC of 4.56 dS/m; three depletion ratios (DR) of field capacity (DR0 = 50%, DR1 = 60% and DR2 = 70%) and three slopes of hydroponic pipes (S1 = 0.0%, S2 = 0.025% and S3 = 0.075%). The results revealed that seawater contributed 7.15% to produce iceberg lettuce in the hydroponic system. The geometric parameter, the slope of the pipes, influenced the obtained luminous intensity by an average increase of 21% and 71% for S2 and S3, respectively, compared with the zero slope (horizontal pipes). Magnetization of irrigation water increased the total soluble solids (TSS) and enhanced the fresh weight and water productivity of both iceberg lettuce varieties used. The maximum percentages of TSS were 5.20% and 5.10% for lemur and iceberg 077, respectively, for the combination IW4DR2S2. The highest values of fresh weight and water productivity of 3.10 kg/m and 39.15 kg/m3 were recorded with the combinations IW3DR2S3 and IW4DR1S3, respectively, for lemur and iceberg lettuce. The percentages of these increases were 109.46% and 97.78%, respectively, when compared with the combination IW1DR0S1. The highest values of iceberg lettuce 077 fresh weight and water productivity were 2.93 kg/m and 36.15 kg/m3, respectively, which were recorded with the combination IW4DR1S3. The percentages of these increases were 112.32% and 120.56%, respectively, when compared with IW1DR0S1 (the control treatment).

Influence of Vegetable and Fruit Wastes Vermicompost on the Growth and Yield of Black Gram (Vigna mungo L.)

Background: Composting is the process of breaking down of organic matter using living organisms which can be used as manure for soil conditioning. Vermicomposting is the rapid decomposition of biowastes using earthworm species which will enhance the growth and yield of plants. Methods: The vermicomposting of vegetable and fruit wastes was carried out during summer season (May-July) and by using the vermicompost a pot culture experiment was conducted in black gram for three months from August to October, 2019. The treatments consist of combinations of vermicomposted wastes and cowdung along with bioinoculants, Soil served as control. The biometric parameters such as root length, shoot length, fresh weight and dry weight on 15, 35, 55 DAS and yield characters like number of pods/plants, number of seeds/pods, pod length, weight of seed/pod, pod fresh weight and pod dry weight were recorded and statistically analysed. The present study has been attempted to convert the vegetables and fruit waste into compost as manure and analyse its effect on vegetative growth and yield parameters of Black gram (Vigna mungo L.). Result: The highest value of shoot length, root length, fresh weigh and dry weight were noted in fruit waste + cow dung + Pleurotus eous (APK1) + Trichoderma asperelloides + Eudrilus eugeniae on 15, 35 and 55 day after sowing (DAS) and the least was reported in control (only soil). The application of T8 treatment reported the highest yield characters which were followed by other treatments and control on 15, 35 and 55 DAS. The study concluded that T8 (F.W + cow dung + P. eous + T. asperelloides + Eudrilus eugeniae) is an effective biocompost for the growth and yield of black gram (Vigna mungo L.) which is eco-friendly.

Changes of starch and sucrose content and related gene expression during the growth and development of Lanzhou lily bulb

As the main forms of carbohydrates, starch and sucrose play a vital role in the balance and coordination of various carbohydrates. Lanzhou lily is the most popular edible lily in China, mainly distributed in the central region of Gansu. To clarify the relationship between carbohydrate metabolism and bulb development of Lanzhou lily, so as to provide a basis for the promotion of the growth and development in Lanzhou lily and its important economic value, we studied lily bulbs in the squaring stage, flowering stage, half withering stage and withering stage. The plant height, fresh weight of mother and daughter bulbs continued to increase during the whole growth period and fresh weight of stem and leaf began to decrease in the half withering stage. The content of starch, sucrose and total soluble sugar in the lily mother bulb accumulated mostly in the flowering, withering and half withering stages, respectively. Starch, sucrose and total soluble sugar accumulated in the daughter bulb with the highest concentration during the withering stage. In the transcription level, sucrose synthase (SuSy1) and sucrose invertase (INV2) expressed the highest in squaring stage, and the expression was significantly higher in the mother bulb than in the daughter bulb. In flowering stage, the expression levels of soluble starch synthase (SSS1), starch-branching enzyme (SBE) and adenosine diphosphate-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGP1) genes were higher in the mother bulb than in the daughter bulb. Altogether, our results indicate that starch and sucrose are important for the bulb growth and development of Lanzhou lily.

Yield of prickly pear cactus irrigated with saline water in soils of the semi-arid region

Knowing the tolerance of plants grown in the Brazilian semi-arid region to salt stress is of paramount importance for the sustainability of regional agriculture. This study was developed to examine the growth and yield of prickly pear cactus ‘Orelha de Elefante Mexicana’ (Opuntia stricta Haw) irrigated with increasing water salinity levels (0.75, 3.0, 5.25 and 7.50 dS m-1 to 25 ºC) and grown on soils representative of the Brazilian semi-arid region (chromic Luvisol, Solonetz and Fluvisol). Total fresh weight decreased linearly, with a 21.42% reduction when we compare the average fresh weight per plant in the lowest and highest saline level treatments. The chromic Luvisol and Solonetz soils showed the best fresh weight and dry matter yields under the present experimental conditions.

Sterilization protocols and the effect of plant growth regulators on callus induction and secondary metabolites production in in vitro cultures Melia azedarach L.

Melia azedarach L. is a valuable source of antioxidants and secondary metabolites. This study is a first extensive report about the effect of different serialization protocols and plant growth regulators (PGRs) on explant disinfection efficiency, callus induction and secondary metabolites production and accumulation in callus cultures of M. azedarach L. In this regard, the effect of plant growth regulators on callus induction and secondary metabolites production were examined. In addition, different sterilization agents were evaluated for disinfection of chinaberry leaf explants. The results showed that the lowest percentage of explant contamination and browning with the highest percentage of callus induction and callus growth obtained with explants pretreated with benomyl (2 g/L) for 2 h and sterilized with 7% H2O2 for 10 min and NaOCl 2% (without pH adjustment) for 12 min. Although adjusting the pH of NaOCl to pH = 7 and 10 significantly reduced the microbial contamination and increased the percentage of contamination-free cultures of M. azedarach L., adversely influenced the explant viability and callus induction and growth. The highest percentage of callus induction obtained on the MS medium containing 3 mg/L NAA/2,4-D and 1 or 3 mg/L Kin/BAP, and the highest callus yield (1804.833 mg/explant) belonged to the MS medium supplemented with 5 mg/L 2,4-D and 5 mg/L Kin. The callus cultures grown on the MS medium supplemented with 3 mg/L NAA and 1 mg/L Kin produced the highest amount of Quercetin (2.06 mg/g fresh weight), Rutin (5.56 mg/g fresh weight) and Kaempferol (1.84 mg/g fresh weight).

Commercially available organic manures on growth, yield and nutrient content of Burmese Grapes (Baccaurea ramiflora)

A pot experiment was carried out in the net house of the Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka to evaluate the effectS of different organic manures on the growth performance, biomass production, NPKS content in leaf, stem and root of Burmese grapes (Baccaurea ramiflora) and some chemical properties of post- harvest soil. Two-month old Burmese grapes seedlings were planted in different organic manure-treated soils (viz. ACI, BGF, Bhola, Green Life, Kazi, Modern, Mazim, Payel, Payel Earth, and Shebok). A significant variation was observed among the treatments. Compared to control treatment, application of organic manures exhibited a significant influence on the physiological growth, viz. plant height (30.4 - 34.06 cm), leaf area (64.2 - 71.30 cm2/plant), leaf area index (0.17 - 0.19), fresh weight (32.2 - 53.06 g/plant), and dry weight (22.09 - 41.24 g/plant) after 120 days of the experiment. The highest plant height, leaf area, leaf area index, fresh weight, and dry weight were recorded in Kazi, BGF, Payel and Payel Earth, respectively. Similarly, the concentrations of N, P, K, and S in leaf, stem and root, and their uptakes were found significantly higher than the control. The highest N, P, K and S uptake by leaf, stem and root ranged from 37.66 - 41.69 kg/ha, 0.70 - 0.92 g/ha, 66.19 - 84.926 kg/ha and 6.82 - 10.11 kg/ha, respectively. Protein content was the highest in Payel in leaf (8%) and root (5%), and stem (7%) in Modern manure treatment. The overall results revealed that Kazi and Payel manures might be better for raising strong and healthy Burmese grape seedlings. J. Biodivers. Conserv. Bioresour. Manag. 2021, 7(1): 63-72

Effects of Preharvest Methyl Jasmonate and Salicylic Acid Treatments on Growth, Quality, Volatile Components, and Antioxidant Systems of Chinese Chives

Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and salicylic acid (SA) regulate the production of biologically active compounds in plants and stimulate the accumulation of plant aromatic substances. However, the underlying mechanisms of how MeJA and SA influence characteristic flavor compounds and the antioxidant activity of vegetables are poorly understood. Five MeJA and SA concentrations were used to investigate the dose-dependent effects of these phytohormones on the dry and fresh weight; chlorophyll abundance; the contents of vitamin C, soluble protein, and sugar, nitrate, total phenols, flavonoids, volatile components, and enzymatically produced pyruvic acid; and antioxidant activity in Chinese chive. We found that MeJA and SA at concentrations of 500 and 150 μM, respectively, significantly increased the levels of total chlorophyll, phenols and flavonoids, vitamin C, and volatile components and significantly reduced the accumulation of nitrate. In addition, compared with the control, 500 μM of MeJA significantly increased the soluble sugar and protein content, and 150 μM SA significantly increased the dry and fresh weight of Chinese chive. Furthermore, these concentrations of MeJA and SA significantly increased the enzymatic pyruvate content and the amount of sulfide and aromatic volatile compounds and improved the characteristic flavor compounds. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity, Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity, and ferric-reducing antioxidant capacity were significantly improved after a preharvest treatment with 500 μM MeJA and 150 μM SA, which could improve the antioxidant activity, thus improving the postharvest quality and preservation characteristics of Chinese chives. Taken together, a preharvest treatment with 500 μM MeJA and 150 μM SA is optimal to improve the growth, quality, antioxidant activity, and flavor of Chinese chive, thereby enhancing its commercial value.

Effect of different compost concentrations on the growth yield of Bombax Ceiba (Simal)

<i>Bombax ceiba</i> is an important agroforestry tree species widely distributed throughout the world. It has been extensively grown and planted for eras in hot and dry regions and high humidity zones of southern Asia. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the growth response of <i>B. ceiba</i> in response to different compost treatments. Different morphological traits (plant height, stem height, root length) and biomass (shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root fresh weight, root dry weight and root/shoot ratio) were measured. Two experiments (pot experiment = seedlings) and (field experiment = saplings) were conducted simultaneously. Different compost treatments: (T₀) = (Compost 0% + Soil 0%), (T₁) = (Compost 25% + Soil 75%), (T₂) = (Compost 50% + Soil 50%), (T₃) = (Compost 75% + Soil 25%), (T₄) = (Compost 100% + Soil 0%) were applied in the growing media. Results demonstrated that plant growth increased with the increment in compost application. In the pot experiment, <i>B. ceiba</i> exhibited its better growth under 75% of compost application, whereas in the field experiment, 100% compost was helpful for the best production of <i>B. ceiba</i>. Overall, positive effects of compost were observed for the growth of <i>B. ceiba</i>. The plant growth was increased greatly in response to the better content of organic fertilizer, and it was determined that compost enhances soil fertility. It should be implemented as organic fertilizer in agroforestry operations for optimizing plant growth and yield.

Evaluation of radish genotypes with special study on sowing geometry at agricultural research institute, Tarnab, Peshawar

The research was carried out on the “Evaluation of Radish genotypes with special study on sowing geometry at Agricultural Research Institute, Tarnab Peshawar”. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design having three replications. The experiment comprised with two factors, one was sowing dates(19th Oct., 4th., Nov., and 19th Nov) and the other was different genotypes (Mino, Local Red and Local White). The data were recorded on Days to germination, Germination (%), Days to edible maturity, Number of leaves plant-1, Leaf length plant-1 (cm), Root length plant-1 (cm), Root diameter plant-1 (cm), root fresh weight (g), Plot weight (kg) and yield (t ha-1). Sowing dates significantly affected all yield parameters. Sowing of radish on 19th October has more number of Leaves (17.44 leaves) plant-1, Leaf length plant(22.611 cm), root length plant-1(24.058 cm), root diameter plant-1(3.12 cm) fresh root weight (503.95g), the maximum plot weight (50.90 kg plot-1) and higher yield (62.36t ha-1) was observed whereas the crop sown on 19th November showed the minimum days to germination (8.88 days), germination percentage (96.88%) and minimum days to maturity (53 days). Among genotypes Mino take minimum days to germinate(8.22 days), maximum germination percentage (99.22), minimum days to maturity (52.778), maximum number of leaves (19.44 leaves), leaf length (23.422 cm), greater root length (24.588 cm), maximum root diameter (3.53 cm), higher root fresh weight (536.62g), higher weight per plot (52.22 kg) and maximum yield (63.54t ha-1). The results emphasized that the suitable time of sowing for Mino genotype is 19th October for Peshawar.

Humik Asit Uygulamalarının Zambak Bitkisinin Gelişimi, Bitkideki Fenolojik ve Pomolojik Gözlemler Üzerine Etkisi

In this study, a pot study was carried out to reveal the effects of direct and foliar applications of humic acid to the growing medium in addition to basic fertilization on the development and plant quality characteristics of lily plants grown in peat + perlite medium. The experiment was carried out in an unheated greenhouse during the summer, in a greenhouse environment with a shade net on it. In the experiment, in addition to the control, the humic acid doses were 3.5 lt/da from soil, 7.5 lt/da from soil, 1.75 lt/da from leaf, 3.75 lt/da from leaf and soil + 3.5 lt/da from leaf + 1, It was applied 3 times as 75 lt/da. In the pot experiment established in three replications according to the randomized plots trial design, 10 lily bulbs were planted in each pot and humic acid applications were made at two-week intervals following plant emergence. In order to see the effect of the applications when the plant is harvested, the length of the flower stem (mm), the thickness of the flower stem (mm), the fresh weight of the branch (mm), the number of buds (pieces), the bud length (cm), the number of leaves (pieces), Full bloom stem (mm) and vase life (days) were examined. As the doses of humic acid increased, the vegetative weight of the lily plant increased, while the effect of the applications on the investigated properties was different. With the mineral elements, hormones and plant growth regulators in humic acid, it has the feature of promoting the increase of biomass in the plant.