Performance of starting broiler chicks on sandbox (Hura crepitans) seed meal

A 21-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the feeding value of raw and cooked Sand box (Hura crepitans) seed meal for broiler chickens . Sand box seeds (100kg) were divided into two batches, the first batch was milled raw undicorticated with a hammer mill to produce raw sandbox meal, the second batch was cooked for 60 minutes also undicorticated, sun dried for 48 hours and milled with a hammer mill to produce cooked sandbox meal. Five broiler starter diets were formulated to contain raw and cooked sand box seed meal at 0%, 5% and 10% dietary levels respectively. Two hundred and twenty five (225) 14-day old broiler chicks of Marshal breed were divided into five groups of forty five(45) birds each. Each group was further divided into three (3) replicates of fifteen (15) birds each and randomly assigned to the five treatment diet in a completely randomized design (CRD). Data were collected on feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Dietary treatments significantly (P<0.05) influenced feed intake and body weight gain but had no effect( P>0.05) on feed conversion ratio. The results of these studies suggests that sand box (Hura crepitans) seed meal could enhance the performance of broiler starter chicks at 10% (raw) and 5% (cooked) dietary levels.

Co-inoculation of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Azospirillum brasilense on the physiological quality of soybean seeds

The success of the soybean crop depends on the physiological quality of seeds, which can be favored by beneficial microorganisms, however, it may be impaired by unfavorable environmental conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of co-inoculation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Azospirillum brasilense on the physiological quality of soybean seeds obtained in the 2017/2018 crop season, from a field trial involving 23 cultivars submitted to co-inoculation (in-furrow) or without coinoculation. Plants were assessed for nodulation at R1 and, after harvest at R8, seeds were assessed for concentration of proteins, mass of thousand seeds, and seed physiological quality [(Germination, emergence of seedlings in sand, and Emergence Speed Index (ESI)]. In the average of cultivars, the number of nodules per plant increased from 36.0 in the control to 44.4 nodules with co-inoculation. Increases in the concentration of proteins and in the mass of thousand seeds due to co-inoculation were 5.6% and 34.7%, respectively. Seeds originated from co-inoculated plants had higher germination rate at the first (50% vs. 45.3%) and at the final (87% vs. 79.8%) countings, in addition to higher rate of seedlings emergence in sand box (83.3% vs. 80%), and higher ESI (18.5 vs. 17.4). The benefits of coinoculation were observed in 17 of 23 cultivars (74%) for at least two of the seven assessed variables. Considering only the minimal germination of 80%, the seeds originated from 10 non-inoculated cultivars could not be used, whereas for the co-inoculated plants this number fell to four.

A Penetrometer for Quantifying the Surface Stiffness of Sport Sand Surfaces

Sand sports include running, volleyball, soccer, beach flags, ironman, and fitness training. An increased amount of soft tissue injuries have been widely reported. A novel technique of determining the surface stiffness of beach sand in-situ used a simple drop-test penetrometer. The relationship between drop height and the depth of penetration squared was linear (Pearson’s correlation coefficient r2 > 0.92). The stiffness ratio between the soft dry sand and ocean-saturated wet sand compacted by eight hours of coastal water exposure was approximately seven, which was similar to previously reported stiffness measurements in a sand box. However, the absolute stiffness values were much smaller. While this technique was manually operated, an automatic system is postulated for future studies.

Germination and Emergence of Digitaria insularis (L.) Fedde Susceptible and Resistant to Glyphosate

To Know the behavior shown in seed germination and emergence of Digitaria insularis (L.) Fedde enables develop strategies to reduce the seed bank in cultivated areas. The aim of this research was to evaluate the germination and emergence of weed biotypes of D. insularis susceptible and resistant to glyphosate in two substrates. The experiment was divided into two stages (germination test in BOD and emergence in sand box). In both phases of the study, it was used a completely randomized experimental design, with two treatments (weed biotypes of D. insularis susceptible and resistant to glyphosate) and ten replications. The work was done in the State University of Western Paraná, Brazil, Post-Graduation in Agronomy, between July 2018 and December 2018. In the two tests the experimental units consisted of 25 seeds of D. insularis, evenly distributed. In the germination test was evaluated the first count and the index of germination speed. In the same way, for the emergency test was evaluated the first count and the index of emergence speed. It was also calculated the germination and the emergence percentage, total number of germinated seeds, total number of emerged plants. Differences were observed in the first count, index of germination speed and germination percentage, seeds of D. insularis susceptible and resistant to glyphosate. During the first count, susceptible biotype showed higher germination, with 78% of compared to resistant. Similar behavior was observed for the index of germination speed and for the germination percentage, in which the susceptible biotype surpassed in 80.4% and 47%, respectively, the resistant biotype. Conclusion: The selection of D. insularis biotypes resistant to glyphosate affects the germination and emergence, the species in relation to the original population of susceptible biotypes. For each 100 seeds of the biotype resistant to glyphosate 53 seeds of them germinate and 32.6 seeds can emerge.

A laboratory apparatus to study Thermal Response Test in the presence of groundwater flow

The standard approach to Thermal Response Test, based on conduction heat transfer in the ground, turns out to be unsuccessful under significant groundwater flow. The applicability of the Moving Infinite Line Source model to interpret the TRT in this case still needs to be proved. In order to study the TRT in the presence of a groundwater flow, an original laboratory apparatus has been developed. The Sand Box design is based on a heat transfer similitude between the real scale TRT problem and the laboratory scale one. The Sand Box sizes (1,2 m x 0.6 m x 1.0 m) are then set in order to keep the boundaries unaffected by the heat source during the TRT. The U-pipe heat exchanger is reproduced through a twocables electrical resistance 1 m long. A hydraulic loop with a peristaltic pump allows to obtain a Darcy velocity across the sandy soil up to 6,7510-5 m/s. The measurement system consists in several thermocouples in the porous medium and in a flow meter. The TRT results at null groundwater velocity allow to derive a reference thermal conductivity. The first tests with groundwater flow show the suitability of the apparatus and allow to derive some preliminary considerations.