Comparative analysis of phytolith spectra of steppe and forest phytocoenoses

The primary research goal is to identify differences and diagnostic features of the phytolith spectra of the steppe and forest phytocoenoses. The paper presents the research results of recent soils from various communities. The authors employ the phytolith analysis method. The isolation of phytoliths from recent soils has been carried out with the help of the maceration method and from plants – the dry ashing method. The authors counted the phytoliths using the Olympus BX-51 light microscope. Additionally, the authors have compiled the spectra using the 2C software. The paper compares the phytolith spectra of plain and mountain steppe phytocoenoses. The comparison reveals that the considered plain communities are more similar in phytolith composition than the mountain ones. The following morphotypes are common for all spectra: low conical rondel particles and psilate ribbed particles. These are the forms that characterize steppe communities. Analysis of phytolith spectra of the mountain forest communities demonstrates that the presence of ribbed particles of psilate is common for all spectra. The common feature of all forest spectra is the presence of psilate symmetrical particles, polylobate trapeziforms, lanceolates (trichomes) with a massive base, and trapeziform bilobate (“Stipa-type”) particles. In the spectra of all pine forests, there is a low content or complete absence of needle phytoliths. Diagnostic features of individual phytocoenoses have not been found. The most significant is the ratio of individual phytolith forms in the phytolith spectrum. The comparative analysis of phytolith spectra of the phytocoenoses in the south of western Siberia is carried out for the first time.

Macro and Micro-Nutrients of Azolla pinnata as a Soilless Growth Media

Azolla pinnata is a small floating fern which widely occurs in certain regions such as Southeast Asia. Azolla is utilized in the new plant research on the currently existing products for soilless growth media. Soilless growth media are an alternative component to replace soil for cultivation uses. In urbanization scenario nowadays, most of the flatten open-area soil is used for development, affecting the soil supply for plants. To introduce a new component such as the soilless growth media, it must have the same or more nutrients than soil or other existing soilless growth media. A study found that Azolla is used as a soilless growth media in the nursery for olive trees cultivation. According to the study, the nutrients obtained from Azolla are sufficient to replace soil as a growth media. In this experiment, the Single Dry Ashing, and Kjeldahl and Dummas methods were used to evaluate and compare both macro and micronutrients of Azolla to Midorie Pafcal and Jiffy-7 pallets. Based on the results, the values were 0.94 % (N), 4352.00 ppm (P), and 563.13 ppm (K); compared to 1.35% (N), 377.13 ppm (P), 1512.33 ppm (K); and 0% (N), 563.13 ppm (P), 1343.67 ppm (K), respectively. The results also showed the values of Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), and Zinc (Zn) for Azolla, Midorie Pafcal and Jiffy-7 samples were 15.33 ppm (Cu), 2579.67 ppm (Fe), 93.63 ppm (Zn); 7.53 ppm (Cu), 9988.33 ppm (Fe), 26.77 ppm (Zn); and 13.01 ppm (Cu), 1150.30 (Fe), 12.40 ppm (Zn), respectively. In conclusion, Azolla pinnata is capable of providing the nutrients required for a plant, making it suitable as a soilless growth media for all plants.

Proximate analysis on animal feed granules composed of raw material from fish innards wastes

Introduction: Fish innards contain 14.01% protein, 20% lipid, 4.75% ash, and 60.62% water. Fish innards are formulated into granules for practicality in their application as animal feed. Aim: This research on the proximate analysis of animal feed granules composed of raw material from fish innards wastes used a descriptive quantitative method. Results: The result indicated that the water content measured using the thermogravimetric method was 6.62%, the ash content observed using the dry ashing method was 10.25%, the protein content checked using the biuret method was 37.03%, fat content using the soxhlet method was 6.13%, and carbohydrate content measured using phenol sulfate method was 26.14%. Conclusion: These findings show that nutrient contents in the composition of animal feed granules of raw material from fish innards wastes fulfill the regulation of animal feed content based on SNI-8509-2018.

DETERMINATION OF TRACE ELEMENTS IN SOME BRANDS OF GREEN TEA USING WET DIGESTION, INFUSION AND DRY ASHING METHODS

The concentrations of trace elements (Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn and Ni) in some commercially available brands of green tea sold within Katsina metropolis coded (SGT, HGT, LGT, AGT and GGT) were determined using wet acid digestion, water infusion, and Dry Ashing methods by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Among the trace elements analyzed Nickel and Manganese recorded the highest value ranged 1.0 – 3.5 mg kg-1 and1.0 – 5.5 mg kg-1 in dry ashing and wet digestion respectively. Fortunately, almost all the elements analyzed were within the standard permissible limit of WHO. The content of trace elements was found highest in the Dry Ashing method and lowest values recorded in tea infusion. The contributory factors responsible for the differences found in tea samples could be from a varying concentration of metals in the soil, conditions of cultivation and preparations, and these vary between both countries of origin and for the type of tea. Further work is recommended on these brands to study other important parameters

Analisis Perbandingan Proses Pengolahan Ikan Lele terhadap Kadar Nutrisinya

Telah dilakukan penelitian pengaruh proses pemasakan terhadap kadar kandungan gizi ikan lele. Tujuan dari penelitian ini untuk melihat apakah proses pemasakan yaitu pengukusan dan penggorengan mempengaruhi kandungan zat gizi ikan lele. Metode yang digunakan adalah: analisis kadar air menggunakan Thermogravimetri, kadar abu menggunakan metode Dry Ashing, kadar protein dengan metode Lowry-Folin. Jika dibandingkan dengan ikan lele segar, pada ikan lele yang digoreng, terjadi penurunan kadar air sebesar 32,64%, kadar abu meningkat 1,40% dan kadar protein menurun sebesar 112,97 mg/L. Sementara pada proses pengukusan, perubahan yang cukup besar terdapat pada kadar protein yaitu menurun sebesar 99,58 mg/L dibandingkan ikan lele segar. Penurunan kadar protein pada ikan yang diolah disebabkan karena terjadinya denaturasi protein pada ikan lele oleh pemanasan.

Comparison of Wet Destruction, Dry Ashing, and Acid Homogenic Methods In Determining Na And K in Beef and Chicken Using Flame Photometer

This research was purposed to compare the yield of destruction method in determining sodium (Na) and potassium (K) content in beef and chicken by using flame photometer. The destruction methods used they are wet destruction, dry ashing, and acid homogenic method. In acid homogenic method two types of acid are used as solvents are HCl and HNO3 with concentration variation of 0.5 M; 1 M; and 1.5 M. While the wet destruction method uses a mixture of concentrated HNO3 and HClO4 (1: 2) and the dry ashing method uses only HNO3. The highest Na content obtained from the three methods after being analyzed by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the Smallest Significant Difference (SSD) test was found in the dry ashing method that is 86.33 mg Na in beef, when compare with the literature is around 64 – 69 mg. While the highest K content was found in acid homogenic method using HCl solvent is 618.77 mg K in beef, when compare with the literature is around 334 – 355 mg.