Proximate and Mineral Nutrition of Common Bean Genotypes as Influenced by Harvesting Time

Common bean is the most consumed legume by humans and hence significant for global food security and nutritive value mainly iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn). The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of harvesting time and genotypes on proximate and mineral composition of common bean. Two field experiments were carried out in Sebele (24o33′S, 25o54′E, 994 m above sea level) horticultural fields during summer 2018/2019. Treatments included two common bean genotypes DAB 564 (white) or 520 (red) and three harvesting stages as the early, mid and late season harvest. In both seasons, genotype and harvesting time significantly (P < 0.05) influenced proximate, macro and micro mineral composition of common bean seeds. Generally genotypes studied had a sufficient amount of proximate and mineral content with crude protein, iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) content as the most abundant minerals at a range between 20-22%, 33-101 mg g-1 and 41-45 mg g-1, respectively across harvesting times. Genotype DAB 564 (white coloured) significantly (P < 0.05) produced seeds with the highest concentration of proximate and mineral contents especially zinc (45 mg g-1) and iron (70 mg g-1) content irrespective of season. Harvesting common bean seed early or mid-stage produced high seed concentration of proximate, micro and macro mineral content across genotype or season.

Characteristics of soil tillage for rice after alfalfa

The purpose of the research was to study the effect of harvesting time and methods of using alfalfa biomass on soil fertility and rice yield at different times of the main tillage. Field experiments were conducted in the Kizlyar district of the Republic of Dagestan according to the scheme: 1. autumn plowing after harvesting the 3rd mowing of alfalfa 3 years of use, control; 2. the overlapping of chopped green mass of alfalfa-3rd cut alfalfa 3 years of use; 3. spring plowing after harvesting the 1st cut alfalfa 4 years of use; 4. the overlapping of chopped green mass of alfalfa 1st cut alfalfa 4 years of use. The results shown that the best time for cutting the layer of perennial alfalfa is spring plowing of the green mass of alfalfa 1 mowing, which allows you to get a yield of 6 t/ha without reducing the quality indicators of rice grain. The data on the rice yield shows that in the spring tillage the yield was 5.41 t/ha, and in the autumn tillage only 4.91 t/ha. Carrying out sideration at both terms of the main tillage contributed to an increase in yield by 0.81-1.11 t/ha.

Extraction and characterization of 6-shogaol and 6-gingerol from Zingiber officinale var.Bentong

Zingiber officinale Roscoe var. Bentong or locally known as Bentong ginger is exclusively planted and harvested in the district of Bentong, Pahang, Malaysia. The demand for this ginger species has dramatically increased due to its high food and medicinal values, owing to the presence of 6-shogaol and 6-gingerol as active compounds. This study aimed to measure the concentrations of those active compounds with respect to their one-year plantation duration (January - December 2018). The proximate analysis, heavy metals and antioxidant activity were simultaneously determined during the plant growth. 6-gingerol was present in both fresh and dried samples whilst 6-shogaol could only be found in dried samples. Fresh ginger recorded the highest 6-gingerol content (2.09 mg/g) in the seventh month of harvesting time. On the other hand, in the sixth month of harvesting time, dried ginger had the highest concentration of 6-gingerol (0.66 mg/g) and 6-shogaol (1.85 mg/g). Notably, the accumulation of heavy metals such as As, Pb, Cd and Hg in Bentong ginger was relatively low and within the permissible limit. Meanwhile, the total polyphenol and phenolic content of Bentong ginger extract solution were observed to decrease as the ginger was maturing. In conclusion, Z. officinale Roscoe var. Bentong yielded different amounts of active compounds with respect to its harvesting time. Nevertheless, it generally exhibits good values in terms of chemical compositions that can be potentially used as nutraceutical food.

Optimizing Harvest Time Through Absolute and Relative Growth of the Black Clam, Chionista fluctifraga, Cultivated in the Intertidal Along the Southeastern Coast of the Gulf of California

The shell height-body weight relationship of the black clam Chionista fluctifraga cultivated in the intertidal of the southeastern Gulf of California, was evaluated for the first time, to improve the knowledge in determining its harvesting time. Clam seeds (n=900,000; 6.1±1.9 mm) were produced in the laboratory. The culture was divided into pre-fattening in racks on the bottom (2 months) and fattening directly in the bottom (16 months) from May 2018 to October 2019. Each month, 60 (n=1080) clams were randomly selected to stablish the morphometric relationship between shell height (SH) and body weight (BW). The growth rate (mm/d and g/d) was recorded. The SH-BW Interaction in both cultivation phases showed positive allometry. SH in prefattening and fattening registered a growth rate of 0.072 and 0.058 mm/d, respectively. In fattening, the interaction BW-SH displayed a high coefficient of determination (R2=0.99). A final survival rate of 90% was obtained. The results yielded the equations that describe the relative growth of C. fluctifraga for the fattening stage. A harvesting time after 10 months of fattening in the intertidal zone is stablished to reach the commercial size (35 mm, SH).

Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. Fruits: Chromatographic Analysis of Seasonal and Geographical Variation in Bioactive Compounds

Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. (lingonberry) fruits are promising sources of bioactive components with high potential in biomedical applications. Selection in plant breeding, determination of perspective wild clones with optimal growing conditions, and appropriate harvesting time leading to standardized extracts are key factors for achieving phytochemical quality to meet consumer’s needs. In the present study, lingonberry fruits collected along different phenological stages and from different geographical locations were analyzed for the composition of 56 constituents using validated chromatographic techniques. Early stages of lingonberries vegetation were determined as the best stages for obtaining high levels of most phenolics and triterpenoids, while the end of berry vegetation could be chosen as the optimal harvesting time in terms of anthocyanins. Furthermore, intensified continuous biosynthesis of triterpenoids and phenolic acids precursors after vegetation season in the winter sample was observed. Chemodiversity of lingonberries was affected by geographical factors as well as climatic and edaphic conditions, indicating different favorable growing conditions for the accumulation of particular compounds. Present findings could serve for breeders to obtain the highest yields of desirable lingonberry constituents, relevant in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Performance Evaluation of DBSKKV Developed Fruit harvesters for Matured Nutmeg Harvesting

Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) is an important tree spice which produces two different spices. Harvesting should be done at proper stage of maturity in order to maintain their nutrients level as attaining desirable quality. Presently, the method adopted for harvesting nutmeg in Konkan region is done manually. The DBSKKV, Dapoli has developed four different fruit harvesters. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the field performance and check feasibility for harvesting of matured Nutmeg fruits with DBSKKV, Dapoli developed fruit harvesters. The performance of the DBSKKV developed fruit harvesters for matured Nutmeg fruit were evaluated in terms of harvesting capacity (kg/h), damage fruit per cent, total harvesting time (h), labour requirement and economics of Nutmeg harvesting. The average harvesting capacity of Naveen Mango harvester, Nutan Mango harvester, Atul Sapota harvester and Multi fruit harvester foe matured Nutmeg harvesting was found to be 51.33 Nos./h (2.79 kg/h), 61 Nos./h (2.78 kg/h), 51.33 Nos./h (2.92 kg/h) and 144.66 nos./h (5.63 kg/h) respectively. The average damage fruit per cent for Naveen Mango harvester, Nutan Mango harvester, Atul Sapota harvester and Multi fruit harvester for matured Nutmeg harvesting were found to be 25.73%, 25.79%, 17.02% and 7.76% respectively. The cost of operation of Naveen Mango harvester, Nutan Mango harvester, Atul Saopta harvester and Multi fruit harvester for matured Nutmeg harvesting was found to be Rs 18.21/kg, Rs 18.44/kg, Rs 17.53/kg and Rs 9.01/kg respectively. Among the evaluated DBSKKV, Dapoli fruit harvesters for matured Nutmeg harvesting, Multi fruit harvester perform better with minimum damage of fruits.