UF/IFAS Standardized Nutrient Recommendations for Vegetable Crop Production in Florida

This publication presents the fertilization recommendations for vegetable crops based on soil tests performed by the UF/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory (ESTL). It contains the basic information from which ESTL soil test reports and fertilization recommendations are generated. The audiences for this information include commercial and small farmers, crop advisers and consultants, state and local agencies, fertilizer industry, and any interested individuals interested in sustainable nutrient and environmental management. Major revision by Rao Mylavarapu, George Hochmuth, and Guodong Liu; 12 pp. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/cv002

Comparative Assessment of Physico-Chemical Results of Air, Water and Soil Samples Tested at Accredited and Non-accredited Laboratories

There are thousands of results produced by the environmental testing laboratory for the air, water and soil parameters. The results produced by the environmental testing laboratories are always basis of the policy decision on various occasions. The results produced by the environmental testing laboratory provide the basis for the water whether it is fit for drinking purposes or not. The soil of a particular area is fit for specific agriculture or not. Similarly, the air of a specific location is under the permissible limit of the required component or not. Over some time the environmental testing laboratories are increasing in our county and these laboratories can be segregated broadly into two categories namely accredited laboratories and non-accredited laboratories. The accreditation is done by the independent authoritative body as per the international standard ISO/IEC 17025. It is believed that the accredited laboratory has a quality management system and proven technical competence to perform a specific type of testing. This work presents the comparative studies of the physico-chemical results of air, water and soil samples tested by accredited and non-accredited laboratories. In case of soil, the pH and sulfate is tested by the accredited and non-accredited laboratories in the specific environment. Similarly, construction water and drinking water are tested for various parameters as per the relevant standard. The air samples were collected from the same site and analysis was done for the various parameters like PM2.5, PM10 and other toxic gases present in air. It is observed that there is a considerable difference between the results produced by the accredited and non-accredited laboratories. It is believed that the results produced by the accredited laboratory are more reliable in comparison to the non-accredited laboratory.

Use of standard samples for qualification inspections of testing laboratory for analysis safety of meat and meat products

This article provides insights into qualification testing, interlaboratory comparative testing, and qualification testing programs in testing laboratories that analyze the safety of meat and meat products. Samples with codes OK-MB- 21 were used as a model for interlaboratory comparisons. The uniformity and stability of the CC code was assessed in accordance with GOST R 50779.60-2017 “Statistical methods. Application in proficiency testing through interlaboratory testing ”. Seven laboratories participated in the proficiency testing program. The test preparation procedure was described and the test results determined whether each sample tested was satisfactory or questionable. Participants with unsatisfactory results are encouraged to identify the causes of the alarms, take corrective actions and document them, and identify and eliminate the causes of the unsatisfactory results.

Study of microflora change and preservation of vitamins b2 and e of grain in the process of steaming and flaking

The study of the process of moisture-thermal treatment of grain crops: wheat, oats, barley, corn, peas, bran and others was carried out in the work. The drying process examination was done on a drying plant located in the testing laboratory of JSC "Research and Production Center" All-Russian Research Institute of the Feed Industry ". Studies of the grain qualitative characteristics were carried out in the accredited testing laboratory of JSC "RPC" ARSRIFI", which allows carrying physical- and chemical analysis, mycotoxicology and microbiology of plant raw materials.

Toxicity and Antifeedant Activity of Calotropis gigantea L. Leaf Extract Against Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

Many parts of the Calotropis gigantea plant are known to contain bioactive compounds, but leaves contain the most. This study aimed to determine the toxicity and antifeedant activity of C. gigantea leaves against Plutella xylostella. The study was carried out from November 2019 to July 2020. Toxicity was tested using the leaf dipping and spraying methods. Antifeedant activity was tested using a no-choice test and a choice test. Identification of the compound composition of the leaf extract of C. gigantea was carried out at the Integrated Research and Testing Laboratory, Gadjah Mada University. Extract toxicity data obtained were analyzed by Probit analysis. The results showed that the antifeedant activity of C. gigantea leaf extract a no-choice and with choice at each concentration had a significant effect on the consumption of P. xylostella larvae rations. The toxicity (LC50) of the leaf extract of C. gigantea to P. xylostella by the dipping method was 2,958 µgl-1 while the spraying application was 3.944 µgl-1. The composition of chemical compounds contained in the leaf extract of C. gigantea is saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, terpenoids. With the composition of these chemical compounds, the leaf extract of C. gigantea has the potential as a source of vegetable insecticide compounds against P. xylostella.

Community managed Drinking water in Lapalang village: A challenge from Coliform Contamination

The present communication is the result of the analysis of drinking water of Lapalang village in Pynursla Block, East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya performed in order to rule out the unscientific claims by villagers that the village drinking water is likely to have high concentration of lime. Water samples collected from the source (spring), storage tank and tap are analyzed in State food testing laboratory, Directorate of Health Services, Government of Meghalaya. The study shows that spring water is fit for consumption, however the same water supply collected from storage tank and tap is highly contaminated with coliform bacteria.

The formation of metrology as government regulated activity in France

The article has discussed the historical process of development of metrological activity in France. It was revealed that the history of metrology is considered as an auxiliary historical and ethnographic discipline from a social and philosophical point of view as the evolution of scientific approaches to the definition of individual units of physical quantities and branches of metrology. However, in the scientific literature, the little attention is paid to the process of a development of a centralized institutional metrology system that is the organizational basis for ensuring the uniformity of measurements. It was shown that traditionally there are two periods of development of metrology based on the unification of weights and measures: the association under Charlemagne and the introduction of the decimal metric system during the French Revolution. Because this division has a mixed scientific and organizational basis, a new periodization of the development of French metrology from the position of state regulation was proposed. The highlighted stages include the primitive period and the first city-states, the time of the domination of the Roman Empire, the era of the coexistence of many measures, the chapters of Charlemagne, the feudal practices of the Middle Ages, the creation of royal standards under Henry II, the introduction and dissemination of the decimal metric system, the emergence of metrological institutes, laboratories, centers. At the State level the first step in organizing a centralized institutional metrology system was the creation of a testing laboratory, the second was the creation of National Metrological Bureau, national bodies for metrology, and the third was reorganization of the system and appointment of the National Testing Laboratory as the governing metrological body of France. Thus, the French metrology system has experienced many crises and upheavals in the process of its formation. However, France today is one of the most experienced and respected countries in the field of metrology, and at the international level, it was the one who laid the foundations for new metrological agreements, as well as the social, philosophical, scientific, political and geographical area of the new system of measures and weights.

Development of a sand boil testing laboratory and preliminary results

To document the purpose, use, and preliminary results of a full-scale sand boil generator developed at the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory.

Use of Direct PCR Technique Without DNA Extraction in Confirmation Test for Salmonella typhimurium Bacteria on Meatball Samples

The use of direct PCR technique without DNA extraction in the confirmation test for Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 14028 bacteria on meatball samples was carried out in the Food and Drug molecular biology testing laboratory Administration in Gorontalo. The basis of this research is to have an impact on economic value in carrying out the confirmation test for S. typhimurium ATCC 14028, where testing is carried out conventionally, namely DNA extraction, which requires a large amount of money. Hence, it is necessary to innovate to modify the testing phase so that it is more effective and efficient. The purpose of this study was to see whether the direct PCR technique without DNA extraction can be done for the confirmation test of S. typhimurium ATCC 14028 on meatball samples. This study's sample consisted of 20 types of meatball samples spiked with S. typhimurium ATCC 14028 cultures. The method used in this study was qPCR analysis using the SYBR Green method. Data analysis was carried out based on 2 main criteria: (1) Ct analysis and (2) Tm analysis. Real-time PCR analysis results obtained Ct values ​​in the range 14.14 - 15.20 with an average of 14.82 and Tm values ​​85.20 - 86.30 with an average of 85.79. Based on these data, it can be concluded that using direct PCR can be used for testing confirmation of S. typhimurium ATCC 14028 on meatball samples.