SUBSTRATE MIXING FORMULATIONS FOR CITRUS NURSERY MANAGEMENT

The length of citrus seedling development is determined by several factors, including the physical and chemical qualities of the substrate, which affect rootstock growth and, as a result, the quality of field seedlings. The purpose of this study was to see how the ‘Swingle’ citrumelo rootstock developed with different substrate formulations. The experiment was carried out in a seedling nursery from seeding to grafting, and six treatments were carried out, as follows: 60% peat moss, 30% fine grade horticultural vermiculite, 10% rice hulls (1); 60% peat moss, 30% fine grade horticultural vermiculite, 10% rice hulls (2); 50% peat moss, 30% fine grade horticultural vermiculite, 20% rice hulls (3); 50% peat moss, 30% fine grade horticultural vermiculite, 20% rice hulls (4); 50% peat moss, 20% fine grade horticultural vermiculite, 30% rice hulls (5); 50% peat moss, 20% fine grade horticultural vermiculite, 30% rice hulls (6). In addition, the experiment was divided into two stages: seeding (stage 1) and seedling nursery (stage 2). In a completely randomized design, the experiment has six treatments, four replications, and 51 plants per plot. When container transplanting was performed, the emergence percentage of seedlings was determined; thus, eight plants per plot were examined. For the second stage, was used a completely randomized design with 6 substrate formulations, 4 replications, and 20 seedlings per plot. Stem height, stem diameter, leaf number, area meter, root dry matter, leaf and stem dry matter, and quality index were measured on seedlings every 28 days. All substrate formulations improved seedling development until grafting, except for the 30% rice hulls, which hampered seedling development in ‘Swingle' citrumelo.

Aspergillus oryzae Grown on Rice Hulls Used as an Additive for Pretreatment of Starch-Containing Wastewater from the Pulp and Paper Industry

From an industrial point of view, the use of microorganisms as a wastewater bioremediation practice represents a sustainable and economic alternative for conventional treatments. In this work, we investigated the starch bioremediation of paper mill wastewater (PMW) with Aspergillus oryzae. This amylase-producing fungus was tested in submerged fermentation technology (SmF) and solid-state fermentation (SSF) on rice hulls. The tests were conducted to assay the concentration of the reducing sugars on paper mill wastewater. The bioremediation of starch in the wastewater was carried out by A. oryzae, which proved capable of growing in this complex media as well as expressing its amylase activity.

Growth and yield of beet irrigated with saline water in different types of vegetable mulching

ABSTRACT Vegetal mulching can mitigate the harmful effects of salts present in irrigation water. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of irrigation water salinity and mulching on the growth and yield of beet crops. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at Redenção, Ceará State. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 2 × 4 factorial scheme, with five replicates, composed of two levels of electrical conductivity of irrigation water - ECw: tap water - 0.3 dS m-1 and saline solution - 5.8 dS m-1; and four types of mulching (rice hulls, carnauba bagana, crop residues, and a control treatment without soil cover). The use of vegetal mulching, mitigated the effects of irrigation with saline water on the variables plant height, leaf area, stem diameter, and tuberous root. The increase of the salt concentration in irrigation water negatively affected the number of leaves, length of the tuberous root, and yield. But, it increased the soluble solids in the beet crop.

PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF RICE STARCH AND CORN STARCH BASED BIODEGRADABLE BIOPLASTIC USING VARIOUS PLASTICIZERS AND NATURAL REINFORCING FILLERS

The present study focuses on testing the potential of starch from two different sources: corn and rice, to produce bioplastics, and the impact of natural agricultural waste materials (eggshells and rice hulls) as fillers. Bioplastic samples with different starches, plasticizers and amounts of fillers, in varying combinations, were prepared to determine the feasibility of the produced bioplastics. The physico-chemical properties of the bioplastics, such as moisture content, water absorption, water and alcohol solubility, biodegradability, tensile strength and Young’s modulus, were investigated. FT-IR analysis was also performed. The RTV silicone coating of the samples was tested to induce hydrophobic properties to water-soluble bioplastics. This study demonstrated that the utilization of starches from different sources, various types of plasticizers, as well as filler types and amounts, can have a significant impact on the physico-chemical properties of the bioplastics. Moreover, the bioplastics produced are safe for the environment and biodegradable, so starch-based bioplastics can be a promising environmentally friendly alternative to harmful petroleum-based plastics.

Use of Sawdust- Biochar Amended Wood Pulp as A Substrate for Container Cultivation

Soilless substrates have many advantages over soil based system as they provide optimal conditions for plant growth when compared to soil-based agricultural practices. Different substrates are currently being used as support to the root system of plant. Substrates can be organic such as peat, bark, bagasse, sawdust, rice hulls, wood chips, etc. They can be inorganic mineral based such as sand, gravel, perlite, and stone wool slab. As the second phase of an earlier work by one of the authors on softboard as a novel wood fibre-based substrate for hydroponic systems, the present study was carried out to explore the effects of biochar amendment to wood pulps (or pulp wastes generated from fiberboard factories), on seed germination and seedling growth of Green gram (Phaseolus aureus) crop. The study also included a comparison of seedling growth in hardwood pulp and softwood pulp and to select the most suitable one for container cultivations. Keywords: Sawdust, biochar, wood pulp, green gram, container cultivation

Alternative Bedding Materials for Poultry: Availability, Efficacy, and Major Constraints

The increasing demand of wood shavings (WS) and sawdust (SD) by other industries and growing concerns of potential chemical contaminants from wood products have amplified research interest in alternative bedding materials for commercial poultry. Several alternative materials—corn cob (CC), straws (ST) and hays (HA), sand (SA), shredded papers (SP), rice hulls (RH), peanut hulls (PH), and gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O2)—can replace conventional ones in poultry houses, depending on availability, cost, and ability to absorb and adsorb moisture and provide the birds enough room to exhibit their natural behaviors. Alternative materials hold a brighter future as bedding materials, but more studies about their physicochemical properties and litter management practices for optimum poultry welfare are recommended.

Performance native chicken treated by different stocking density and litter type

This research was aimed to determine the effect of different stocking density and different litter materials on the production performance of native chicken. Material of yhis study was 324-day old chick (DOC) native chickens, reared for 12 weeks. The DOC were randomly devided into 9 treatment groups include a combination of 3 stocking density (8, 12 and 16 bird/m2) and 3 litter materials (rice hulls, wood shavings and corncobs) in 3 replication. A completely randomized factorial design was an applied in the study then followed by Duncan's multiple range tests. The parameters observed were feed consumption (g/bird/12 weeks), body weight gain (g/bird), feed conversion ratio, and mortality (%). The results showed that feed consumption had affected by stocking density (p<0.05), but it had not affected by litter materials type. Feed consumption at densities of 8, 12 and 16 bird/m2 was 3890; 4020 and 4061 g/bird respectively. The highest feed consumption was obtained at a density of 16 bird/m2. Weight gain, feed conversion and mortality had not affected by stocking density and litter material. It can concluded that the body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and mortality is same for stocking density 8,12 and 16 bird/m2 an d same for litter type of rice hulls, wood shaving and corncob.