Agriculture

Bifid bacterium longum bb536 was prepared from Iranian developed collection of bacteria and fungi. The samples were cultured at 70 ° C and on the De-Man-Rogosa-Sharpe agar (MRSA) medium enriched with 0.5 grams per liter of L-cysteine (HCL and MRSA + cys), and then are incubated at 37 °C. This bacteria was microencapsulated and compared to non-encapsulated form under different population (ml cfu. 6E8, 6E7 and 6E6 and). The results showed that the encapsulated probiotics increased the viability of the bacteria in probiotic orange juice in comparison with their free form. The final numbers of probiotic bacteria in both free and encapsulated ones after twenty-five days of storage at 4 °C of orange juice were more than the minimum amount recommended for therapeutic effects on human health. During the storage phases, the results of colorimetric and Sensory evaluation of probiotic juice showed that encapsulate probiotic Bifidobacterium has a significant difference with not-capsulated one, where the capsulated one was better. Not-encapsulated probiotic significantly sowed a reduce pH in compare to the form of encapsulates bacteria. Bifidobacterium encapsulated form not only affecting physicochemical and sensory properties, did not improve the taste and increase shelf life of probiotic properties in compared with the free form during storage at 4 ° C for 25 days. Therefore, the use of alginate capsules / isolated whey can be a proper carrier for Bifidobacterium longum.

Understanding the response of the rocket crop to different source and salinity levels allows determining the type and level of salt that can be tolerable even where this factor is limiting. We evaluated the effect of different sources and levels of salinity sodium chloride (NaCl) and potassium chloride (KCl) in rocket. The trial was conducted in a greenhouse, throughout completely randomized design in a 2x6x11 factorial scheme, two salt sources (NaCl and KCl), six salinity levels (0, 0.5; 2.0, 3.5, 5.0 and 6.5 dS m-1) and eleven replications. KCl exceeded the NaCl and both did not affect the leaves immersion.

Pollution of ground water with heavy metals from industrial activities has caused a major threat to human life exposing man to series of diseases, crippling disability and death. This study was carried out to determine the concentration of heavy metals leaching into groundwater from the industrial activities and to assess their long term effect on life of the people and the resultant aquifer. The study was carried out at 10 different locations which are all located in Ikeja industrial areas. The water samples collected were subjected to physical, chemical, heavy metal and bacteriological analysis in order to determine their level of pollution. Samples were prepared according to the standard methods using atomic absorption spectrophotometry for heavy metals determination. The result of the analysis shows that heavy metals in water samples had an average pH mean value of 5.20 indicating the acidity of the water sampled, while the average electrical conductivity, temperature and total acidity of were 0.64µs/cm 29.70oC and 29.60 respectively. The average mean concentration of the chemical and heavy metals were 0.132 mg/l, 0.040 mg/l, 0.279 mg/l, 0.148 mg/l, 0.026 mg/l, 0.0055 mg/l, 0.00266 mg/l and 0.0097 mg/l for calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron, cadmium, lead, and chromium respectively. The parameters analysed were at varying concentrations in the groundwater with parameters such as nitrate, phosphate, and pH exceeding the World Health Organization (W.H.O) standard, it was observed that the sample collected from Neimeth pharmaceuticals exceeded the permissible level for iron and lead having the value of 0.0391mg/l and 0.0627mg/l, while most of the water samples analysed falls within the permissible limit in accordance with the WHO standards. Adequate care must be taken for further prevention and handling of chemical discharges from industries. The need for the treatment of the groundwater and control of human activities in the area to prevent further contamination must also be put be in place.

Iron deficiency chlorosis is a common problem for sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) grown on iron deficient calcareous soils. Iron is essential for chlorophyll synthesis and any deficiencies may hinder photosynthetic capabilities of the plant that may result in yield loss. Cultivar selection and/or proper management may reduce yield loss. The objective of this investigation was to identify the cultivars and determine the effect of ameliorative treatment for controlling iron deficiency chlorosis in sugarcane in Tamilnadu, India. A field experiment was conducted for fifteen sugarcane varieties with two treatments (control and amelioration). The leaf greenness was evaluated for chlorosis by SPAD chlorophyll meter readings and also using acetone extraction method. The metabolically active iron content of leaf was analysed by 1,10-orthophenanthroline extract. The ameliorated treatment was consistently better at reducing iron chlorosis scores and yield loss. The resistant genotypes had significantly lower chlorosis scores compared to the susceptible varieties. Iron deficiency chlorosis was adequately controlled by amelioration treatment and/or using resistant genotypes may be the more effective treatment for yield improvement.

Field Studies were conducted in order to determine the component of yield and response of soybean to soil applied Zinc and phosphorus in the Charnockitic soil of Ekiti State Nigeria. Three ZnSO₄ treatments 0,2 and 4kg/ha were applied to soybean in2006-2007 and grain yield was consistently and significantly increased by the 2kg/ha ZnSO₄ treatment. Three phosphorus treatments 0, 30 and 60kg/ha were applied to soybean in 2006-2007, but only 30kg/ha P treatment increased grain yield significantly in 2006-2007. 30kg P/ha applied increased leaf P in the charnockitic soil.

Vegetation and soil management needs a holistic approach which is already devised into the state and transition model and other ecological, while abolished, models. But these models have some disadvantages and limitations that disable them for managerial purposes. Here in this paper, using a case study to prove the idea, another complementary state and transition model is introduced. This model is more comprehensive and gives managers a more wide view into ecological processes undergoing in a site.

Some physical chemical characteristics and heavy metal levels in soil samples (Top and Sub) around dumpsites at Obantoko, Lafenwa, and Olomore vicinities of Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, were analysed in order to assess the effects of the dumps on the soils. Conventional analytical methods were employed for the determination of these physicochemical parameters while heavy metals in the soil samples where analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results of the physicochemical analysis showed that the pH values in all the sites ranged from 8.21 to 8.61 indicating alkalinity of the soils. The Total Organic Carbon values ranged from 1.06 to 2.76 indicating presence of some organic matter and some microbiological activities in the soil samples. Conductivity values ranges from 875 to 1119?s/cm indicated significant presence of some soluble inorganic salts in soils studied. For all the physical chemical values recorded, the soil samples at Lafenwa had slightly higher values than those of Olomore, and Obantoko. The mean concentration level of the three locations for Pb for the top and subsoils in Obantoko, Lafenwa, and Olomore were 13.50 and 11.31, 7.64 and 12.44, 9.90 and 11.06 (mgkg-1) respectively and that of for top and subsoil for same locations were Cr 5.76 and 7.01, 7.64 and 12.44, and 4.65 and 6.86 (mgkg-1) while Pb were not detected at all locations except at Lafenwa L2 where 2.24 mgkg-1 was detected in the subsoil. The levels of the metals at the sub-soil were all higher than the top soil at all the locations, except for Obantoko were the value of Pb at the top soil was greater than the value at the subsoil. A consistent trend showing a decrease in the concentration of heavy metals at the topsoil was observed for soil samples. The results from the study show that leaching occurs at dumpsites from the top to the subsoil which could cause a degree of contamination to ground water and living organims. These soils may therefore constitute a major health risk to the local population, and therefore, need be stringent measures to curtail the adverse effect it may pose to human health and the environment.

The story of agricultural revolution in developed world is incomplete without farm mechanisation. The giant of the world – the United States agricultural success story is also incomplete without farm mechanisation. Feeding a hungry world will be incomplete without farm mechanisation. Nevertheless, farm mechanisation, just like farm pesticides have challenged sustainable agriculture; especially in fragile tropical ecosystem. No matter the level United States has attained in agriculture, it is very difficult for them to fend solely for a world of over 6 billion people, targeted to hit 10 billion by 2050. It calls for collective action of all nations of the world. Farm mechanisation that is tailored to local, regional and national requirements are very crucial to solving world food problems. Farm mechanisation: ecological paradise or disaster ? Is a mind rubbing question that keeps us conscious of limitations and needs in our agricultural systems. An attempt have been made to answer the question in this review.

A study was conducted to determine the content and distribution of total 0.1M HCl and diethylene triamine penta acetic acid (DTPA) extractable zinc (Zn) in the genetic horizons of six (6) profiles formed from Chanockite parent rock in Ekiti State. The content of Total Zn for all the soils varied from 28 to 84mg/kg. Most of the soils had the highest concentration of total Zn in the surface horizons. There was a strong association between total Zn and organic carbon. Available Zn determined with 0.1M HCL extractable was higher than DTPA-extractable Zn. The values from the two extractants show that available Zn is clearly deficient. There would be need for Zn application to the soils for successful and profitable crop production.

Water is one of the important natural resource available to mankind. Proper utilization of this resource requires assessment and management of the quantity and quality both spatially and temporally. A mathematical model provides quantitative mathematical description of the processes which includes a collection of mathematical equations expressing relationships between input and output variables through establishing and estimating the relevant parameters. The ANN models have been used successfully to model the complex non-linear input-output relationship. An ANN can be defined as data processing system consisting of a large number of samples. Artificial neural networks (ANN) have found increasing applications in various aspects of hydrology. The study revealed that a feed-forward artificial neural network with back propagation algorithm having a single hidden layer with two neurons in the hidden layer was able to model the rainfall-runoff transformation quite accurately. The correlation coefficient during the training varies between 0.88 and 0.93 and during testing varies between 0.78 and 0.95 respectively whereas the model efficiency varies between 73.70% and 85.77% with an overall efficiency of 81.18% during training and between 52.62 % and 90.01 % with an overall efficiency of 66.71% during testing.