Effect of different basin materials on the performance of hemispherical distiller with mirrors and energy storage material

Numerous studies are being conducted on solar desalination systems with creating new designs to improve the efficiency and yield of these systems. Hemispherical solar still has a relatively large throughput because of its large exposure and evaporation surface areas compared to the other distiller designs. To get the optimal conditions of the parameters that provide the highest productivity of the hemispherical still, three hemispherical basin stills were fabricated and tested. The experiments were performed in three stages: In the first one, the traditional hemispherical solar still THSS (a reference distiller) was compared by THSS with internal reflective mirrors (THSS-IRM). In the second stage, the effect of using different basin metals (THSS with basin metal of zinc (THSS-IRMZ) and basin metal of copper (THSS-IRMC)) with internal reflective mirrors was studied. In the third stage, the two distillers were investigated under using energy storage medium (30 g/L sand grains for each). The THSS with internal reflective mirrors, basin metal of zinc, and energy storage medium is abbreviated by THSS-IRMZSG. Also, THSS with internal reflective mirrors, basin metal of copper, and energy storage medium is abbreviated by THSS-IRMCSG. Moreover, THSS with internal reflective mirrors and energy storage medium is abbreviated by THSS-IRMSG. The results showed that the combination of using internal reflective mirrors, basin material (copper) and energy storage medium provided the best improvement of hemispherical distillation device. The maximum cumulative yield of THSS-IRMCSG was 11.9 L/m².day, while the reference distillation device gave a total yield of 4.65 L/m².day. So, the productivity was improved by around 156%.

Vermikompost Uygulamalarının San Andreas (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) Çilek Çeşidinin Bazı Verim ve Kalite Değerlerine Etkisi

In this study, in which the effects of different applications of vermicompost on the yield and quality of San Andreas strawberry variety were investigated 15, 30, 45, 60 g vermicompost was applied per plant. First flowering, first and last harvest dates, number of fruits per plant, yield per plant (g/plant), fruit weight (g), fruit flavor, macro and micro nutrient content, organic acid amounts were examined. The results showed that the differences between treatments in yield per plant were statistically significant. The highest total yield per plant was obtained from V45 and V30 applications with 972.8 g and 878.9 g respectively and the lowest yield was obtained from the control application with 384.2 g per plant. The largest fruits were obtained from the V60 (19.5 g) application. It was determined that nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sulfur, manganese, iron, zinc and boron concentrations in the leaves of strawberry plants fertilized with vermicompost were higher than the control. The highest values in organic acid values were determined in oxalic, propionic, malonic, lactic, fumaric and succinic acids in V60 application (5.62, 11.16, 49.00, 104.98 µg/100 g respectively). It seems that the application of vermicompost fertilizer in strawberry cultivation has a positive effect on yield and quality characteristics.

Investigation of Solar Powered Drying System Potential in Niğde Province

Storage of the foods obtained by plant and animal production is as important as their cultivation. Crops cultivated around the world lose 28-36% of total yield during the process from agricultural land to consumption. With the most of this loss occurs after harvest and harvest, it can be reduced by suitable machines and appropriate methods to be used. Niğde is in third place in the list of cities with the highest apple production in Turkey. In addition, it is seen that the potential of the region to benefit from solar energy is quite high with 8.02 hours of daily sunshine duration and 1550-1800 kWh m-2 total solar radiation values. In line with the information given, Niğde province stands out as an important opportunity for apple drying processes using solar-powered drying methods. In this study, suitable drying methods that can be used for agricultural products in general and methods that can be used in Niğde province have been investigated and with the using the information obtained from previous studies related to the region its examined that the solar drying system and machines that can be developed for the province of Niğde are specified.

The effectiveness of the use of Sinorhizobium meliloti in the cultivation of variable alfalfa (Medicago varia Mart.)

As a result of three-year studies, we have established a growth in the yield and feed advantages of variable alfalfa in the variants with inoculation of seeds with virulent active strains of rhizobia. The total yield augmentation of green mass in the experimental variants over the three years of alfalfa life were 6.8–13.7 % compared to the control ones. The positive effect of inoculation with virulent active rhizobia strains on the total collection of dry matter was expressed in its increase in experimental conditions by 12.6–21.7 %. The highest yield of green mass, as well as dry matter was obtained in the variant with the inoculation of alfalfa seeds with the main production strain 425. The researched factor has a positive effect on the collection of feed units, digestible protein and feed protein units from 1 ha. The collection of feed units per hectare in the experimental versions increases by 1.1–1.3 times, the collection of digestible protein – by 1.2–1.4 times. The maximum substance of feed units and digestible protein per hectare was observed in the version with seed inoculation with strain 425a. The provision of a feed unit with digestible protein increases by 10.44–18.18 g or by 6.1–10.6 %.

IMPACT OF ORGANIC AND BIOFERTILIZER APPLICATION ON YIELD AND YIELD ATTRIBUTING CHARACTERS IN LINSEED (Linum usitatissimum L.)

Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) belongs to family Linaceae, is the second most important rabi oilseed crop and stands next to rapeseed – mustard in area of cultivation and seed production in India. Flaxseed is grown as either oil crop or a fibre crop with fibre linen derived from the stem of fibre varieties and oil from the seed of linseed varieties. Several studies have been conducted on effect of fertilizers on growth and yield of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) varieties which revealed their enhancing role on the quality and quantity of flax cultivars. In this regards, a present study was planned and conducted during the Rabi season of 2020-2021 in the Agricultural field of School of Agricultural Sciences, Shri Guru Ram Rai University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India to investigate the effect of organic and biofertilizer and integrated treatment on the growth and yield of Linseed. The findings were reported on important growth and yield attributed parameters such as plant height, total fresh weight, total yield, 1000- seed weight (g), and number of seed / capsules. The maximum growth and yield was reported in T6 treatment where biofertilizer have been applied in consortium form followed by vermicompost. Thus, the findings revealed that all the microbial strains in consortia used as bio fertilizers showed enhanced tern of vegetative growth of plants, total herbage yield and total seed yield at various stages. This may be due to sustained release of nutrients to supply the required elements in microbial strains. The biofertilizers exhibited beneficial effects on plant growth and development either through producing growth hormones like IAA, kinetin and gibberellins, synthesizing atmospheric nitrogen and its increased availability to greater protein synthesis as well as increasing Phosphorus availability to plant communities. Thus, it was concluded that the enhanced expression of yield and its related attributes will have beneficial impact in production of nutraceutical products of commercial importance.

Effect of fermented fish tonic on the growth and yield of Glycine max. (L)

Fermented fish tonic (FFT) help to provide complex arrays of macro and micro nutrients and minerals. The present study was conducted to find out the effect of Fermented fish tonic on the growth and yield of Glycine max. (L) .The experimental design was Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Five treatments were defined with five replications viz. T1: Distilled water (Control), T2: 10, T3: 20, T4: 50 and T5: 100%. FFT. All the other management practices were followed uniformly. Growth and yield parameters were measured and analysed statistically using ANOVA test and means were compared with DMRT. Results proved that, application of 20% FFT significantly increased the plant height (9.6%), chlorophyll content (23.02%), number of leaves (43.66%), leaf area (65%), number of nodules (74.35%), and the total yield (75.28%) compared to the control plants. Therefore, this experiment concluds that application of 20% FFT increases the growth and yield on Glycine max. (L)

Effect of the Biofertilizer (Azolla pinnata) in Combination with Inorganic Fertilizers on Growth and Yield of Rice

This study was conducted at Malaysia Agriculture Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Seberang Perai, Penang (Malaysia), that aims to examine the impacts of the application of Azolla pinnata on the growth and performance of rice of the MR 297 variety. The experiment consisted of five treatments: PK + Azolla (T1); NP + Azolla (T2); NK + Azolla (T3); NPK-Control (T4), and Azolla only (T5). Each treatment had four replicates. The experimental design used was a complete randomized block design (RCBD), and all data collected were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with a statistically significant 0.05% test. For the average soil analysis between the beginning and end, all soil analyses showed decreased soil properties except total N and organic carbon. There is a significant effect on the tiller, panicles, yields, plant height, and SPAD value in crop growth performance. There was no significant effect observed on N and P among plant nutrients. In contrast, there was a significant treatment effect on K. This study concluded that the soil treated with NK + Azolla showed a comparable result with soil treated with inorganic fertilizer only for the total yield.

Isolation of formononetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside from the grass of Ononis arvensis L. and the assessment of its effect on induced platelet activation

Introduction. Analysis of the clinical and laboratory picture of the SARS-CoV-2 infection suggests the presence of microcirculation and oxygen transport disorders, hemolysis of erythrocytes, intra-alveolar fibrin formation and microthrombus formation in the patient’s pathogenesis. Accordingly, the search for potential anticoagulants, erythrocyte antiplatelet agents, membrane stabilizing drugs and mild thrombolytic drugs can prevent the development of life-threatening complications and reduce the mortality of COVID-19 patients.Aim. Isolation of formononetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside from the grass of Ononis arvensis L. and identification of the molecular mechanisms of its effect on platelet activation in vitro, induced by TRAP-6 (Thrombin receptor activated peptide) and ADP (adenosine diphosphate).Materials and methods. Terrestrial parts of Ononis arvensis L. were collected in the SPCPU nursery of medicinal plants (Leningrad region, Vsevolozhsky district, Priozerskoe highway, 38 km). Isolation of formononetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside was carried out by preparative high performance liquid chromatography on a Smartline device (Knauer, Germany) equipped with a spectrophotometric detector. The structure of formononetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside was confirmed by one-dimensional and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy (Bruker Avance III, 400 MHz, Germany), as well as high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) (Bruker Micromass Q-TOF, Germany). The study of the effect of formononetin- 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside on induced platelet activation was carried out on human platelets isolated from the blood of healthy volunteers. To research the effect of formononetin-7-О-β-D-glucopyranoside on platelet aggregation flow cytofluorometry with Cyto-FLEX (Beckman-Coulter, USA) was used.Results and discussion. According to the method of fractionation and purification of the total extract of O. arvensis developed in previous studies, formononetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside was isolated in an individual form for subsequent biological studies with a total yield of 30 % in comparison with its content in the original extract. In samples with formononetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and ADP, there is a pronounced inhibition of platelet activation – the percentage of active platelets ranges from 6.3–6.6 % at doses of formononetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside 1 μM, 3 μM and 30 μM. The inhibitory effect of formononetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside is not dose-dependent (p ≤ 0.05). In samples with formononetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and TRAP, there is also a pronounced inhibition of platelet activation. The percentage of active platelets is 8 % at 1 μM formononetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside doses, 15 % at 3 μM doses, and 16 % at 30 μM doses.Conclusion. Administration of formononetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside at doses of 1 μM, 3 μM, 30 μM strongly inhibits platelet activation induced by ADP and TRAP-6. For ADP, there is no dose-dependent effect, while for TRAP there is a weak dose-dependent effect, the greatest inhibition efficiency is achieved with the minimum investigated dose of 1 μM. In all cases, the results obtained are statistically significant.

Significance of varieties in technology of growing parsley

In order to obtain a significant level of parsley yield in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine, it is necessary to select varieties in accordance with soil and climatic conditions of cultivation. The comparative estimation of productivity of grades of parsley of sheet foreign selection in the specified conditions is carried out. The results of phenological observations of plant development, their biometric parameters depending on the genetic features are presented. The possibility of growing the studied varieties of leaf parsley of foreign selection in the conditions of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine has been established. From the presence of mass shoots to the last harvest, the studied varieties had a growing season of 128–155 days. The first harvest was carried out 61–74 days after the mass germination. Aromatic and Vega varieties proved to be faster growing. The leaf mass of Orpheus and Fest was slightly slower. Vega and Orpheus plants had the lowest height – 23.6 cm and 25.4 cm, respectively. The next to increase the height of the leaf rosette was the Fest variety, whose plants reached 33.9 cm. The plants of the Pione variety were 35.1 cm high. The highest plant height in the experiment was Argon and Aromatnaya – 36.2 cm and 36.4 cm, respectively. Vega and Orpheus plants had the lowest productivity – 114 g and 160 g, respectively. The next variety as the productivity of the plant increased was the variety Argon with an index of 195 g. The plants of the control variety Aromatnaya had a productivity of 227 g. The plants of the varieties Fest and Pione had the highest productivity – 253 g and 255 g, respectively. The total yield of parsley leaf mass in the experiment averaged 5.01–10.20 kg/m2. Vega was the lowest and Fest and Pione the lowest.

Integrating Camelina Into Organic Pig Production—Impact on Growth Performance of Pigs, Costs, and Returns

The sustainability of organic production and cover crops depends on production costs and the economic value of products. Feed cost, contributing 65–75% of the total production cost, has a significant impact on profitability of organic pig farming. Utilizing grains harvested from cover crops as a feed ingredient for organic pigs can potentially protect the environment and increase the economic value of cover crops. This study was the first to evaluate the viability of integrating winter cover crop, camelina, into organic pig production. Winter camelina was grown organically in single or relay with soybeans to increase the total yield per hectare. Camelina yields in monocrop and in relay-crop fields were 1,394 and 684 kg ha−1, respectively. Although the total yield of camelina and soybean (1,894 kg ha−1) in the relay-crop field was higher than camelina yield in the monocrop field, monocropping camelina is more economical than relay-planting with soybeans due to the difference in production costs. Camelina press-cake was supplemented in diets fed to pigs raised under near-organic standards. Supplementing 10% camelina press-cake in diets reduced feed intake, weight gain, final weight at market, carcass weight, and dressing percent of pigs, but did not affect feed efficiency, belly firmness or pork quality. The viability of integrating camelina into organic pig production depends on marketing organic pigs for $2.4 kg−1 of live weight and marketing camelina oil for $3.59 kg−1 or more if monocropping.