A comparative approach in the utilisation of rice husk and empty palm bunch in the biomass boiler

Growing world’s population has immense contribution towards world economy and energy utilisation. The enormous usage of conventional fuel has contributed many environmental problems such as greenhouse gas emission (GHG), world climate change, and deterioration of human health. Recent study focuses on the generated power from EPB compared with methane in a typical biomass boiler. Also, there are very limited studies on the Air to Fuel (ATF) ratios value in boiler operation. In this paper, empty palm bunch (EPB) and rice husk (RH) have been selected as biomass fuel in the biomass boiler. The same recommended parameters of boiler and turbine was chosen for both EPB and RH feedstocks from previous study. Overall, the study proven to produce about 33% and 25% of energy from EPB and RH of what a methane (CH4) can produce from the same amount of feeding rate, respectively, with EPB producing 13.31% of higher turbine power than RH. This directly contributes to the technical feasibility and adaptability of environmentally friendly elements by seizing the opportunity of carbon emission of conventional fuel and replacing it with natural resources such as EPB and RH which are part of the biomass fuel replacement regime. However, ATF ratio of RH is significantly minimal of what a CH4 and EPB utilised to burn 1 kg of fuel. Therefore, EPB and RH would be suitable for future renewable biomass feedstock in comparison with conventional fuel for power generation purposes.

Minimum Effective Dose of Chlorantraniliprole and Chromafenozide to Control Oil Palm Bunch Moth Tirathana mundella Walker

The bunch moth, Tirathaba mundella is one of the leading pests in oil palm estates established on peatland. Severely infested male inflorescences usually would fail reaching anthesis. Reduction in the number of inflorescences at anthesis stage would suggest less food source and breeding ground for oil palm pollinating weevils, Elaeidobius kamerunicus, thus, affecting the fruiting percentage of oil palm and its yield. Despite to be less detrimental to the environment, biopesticide usages in the field is losing favour due to its slower rate of kill compared with conventional chemical pesticides, shorter persistence in the environment and susceptibility to unfavourable environmental conditions. The use of high host specificity chemical pesticides, such as chlorantraniliprole and chromafenozide are gaining popularity in pest management regimes. In this study, the optimum dose for chlorantraniliprole and chromafenozide in controlling T. mundella was assessed to provide valuable information for sustainable oil palm pest management. Several dosages of pesticide were evaluated for their effectiveness against T. mundella in a 7-year-old oil palm estate for six months. Based on the results obtained, application of 30 g or 40 g active ingredient (a.i.) per ha chlorantraniliprole were recommended to provide the longest protection period. To make plan for an effective pest management that could reduce material and labour cost per ha as well as the risks in developing pesticide resistance among pest, 30 g a.i per ha of chlorantraniliprole is recommended to be rotated with 25 g a.i. per ha chromafenozide for a total of four rounds in a year.

Nutritional evaluation of differently processed piper (Canavalia plagiosperma) seed meal (CPSM) in broiler starter diets

A feeding trial was conducted with the aim of improving the nutritive value of Canavalia plagiosperma seedmeal (CPSM) for broiler starter rations. One hundred and fifty kilogram (150kg) of Canavalia plagiosperma seeds were cracked and thereafter divided into three batches. Two batches were soaked in water while the third batch was soaked in alkaline solution (2 % palm bunch ash by weight of the cracked seeds) in different plastic containers for 48 hours, before draining off the soaking solutions. The first, second and third batches were boiled in different pots for 1 hour, 2 hours and 1 hour respectively. They were separately sundried for 4-5 days and milled to produce cracked soaked in water and boiled for 1 hour (CSWB1), cracked soaked in water and boiled for 2 hours (CSWB2) and cracked soaked in alkaline and boiled for 1 hour (CSABI), Canavalia plagiosperma seedmeals (CPSM) respectively. The meals were used to formulate seven broiler starter rations at 0%, 10 % and 20% dietary inclusion, levels, respectively (Table 3). Each of the seven broiler starter rations was fed to a group of 42 one-week-old broiler chicks for 28 days, to evaluate the performance of the birds and economic implications. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in daily feed intake, daily body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Results from this trial suggests that CPSM could be included in broiler starter diets up to 20 % without adverse effect if cracked, soaked in water and boiled for an hour:

Qualitative phytochemical and GC-MS analysis of fermented castor seed (Ogiri Igbo)

The aim of this study was to investigate the phytochemicals present in fermented castor seed (ogiri Igbo). 1kg of castor seed was dehulled and cleaned after which seeds were wrapped in banana leaves and boiled for 6-8 h. The boiled seeds which were still wrapped in the leaves were left to ferment for 4-6 days. Later, the seeds were mixed with ash from oil palm bunch and ground into paste. Subsequently, the condiment (ogiri Igbo) formed was wrapped in leaves in small portions.Phytochemical and GC-MS analysis were performed on the condiment using standard methods. Phytochemicals investigated were tannins, saponins, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, phlobactannins, phenols, proteins, reducing sugars and anthraquinones. While steroids, reducing sugars and anthraquinones were absent in the condiment, flavonoids, phlobactannins, and alkaloids were present in abundance (++), the least abundant being the terpenoids, cardiac glycosides and phenols (+) and the most abundant phytochemicals reportedly present in the condiment were saponins and proteins. GC-MS analysis performed on the fermented castor seed (ogiri Igbo) showed that forty eight compounds were present in the said condiment and while the most abundant compound reported was 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-methyl ester (17.43%), the least abundant was 2-t-Butyl-3,6-dimethyl pyrazine (0.35%). In conclusion, although some of the relevant phytochemicals may have been lost to fermentation, the condiment still retains some health aiding phytoconstituents in appreciable amounts.