Journal of Applied and Natural Science
Not a member yet
2928 research outputs found
Sort by
Biochar: A sustainable tool for soil health, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change
Get PDFThe transformation of agricultural waste into biochar that is both eco-friendly and cost-effective is not only a wise recycling strategy but also a solution to environmental pollution management. Due to its low cost, high efficiency, simplicity of use, ecological sustainability, and reliability in terms of public safety, biochar from agricultural residues can be a useful alternative technique for controlling contaminants. Biochars have achieved significant progress in the following areas: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing soil nutrient dispersion, sequestering atmospheric carbon into the soil, increasing agricultural productivity, and reducing the bioavailability of environmental contaminants. A comprehensive scientific assessment of the relationship between the properties of biochars and their impact on soil properties, environmental pollutant remediation, plant growth, yield, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses is warranted by recent advancements in the understanding of biochars. The primary factors influencing biochar\u27s properties are the feedstock nature, heat transfer rate, residence duration, and pyrolysis temperature. The efficacy of biochar in the management of pollutants is significantly influenced by its elemental composition, ion-exchange capacity, pore size distribution, and surface area, which are contingent upon the nature of the feedstock, preparation conditions, and procedures. The chapter investigated the potential of biochar derived from agricultural refuse as a viable alternative for the long-term application of biochar in the environment, soil conditioning, and the remediation of environmental pollutants.
Dose optimization, frequency and spectrum of Gamma-ray induced chlorophyll mutations in acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia) cv. Agamalai
Get PDFCitrus, one of the most popular fruit crops grown worldwide, has high nutritional, medicinal and commercial value. This experiment aimed to investigate the effects of gamma radiation with various doses, including 0 Gy, 5Gy, 10 Gy, 15 Gy, 20 Gy, 25Gy, 30 Gy, 35 Gy, 40 Gy and 45 Gy of cobalt 60 sources on acid lime variety Agamalai citrus, (Citrus aurantifolia). The study was carried out at the Horticulture College and Research Institute in Periyakulam.The mutagenic efficiency and effectiveness were evaluated using the frequency of chlorophyll mutations and the biological damage in M1 plants. The stomatal index reduces (19.62 %– 13.99%) with increasing treatment dose, compared to control (20.39%), although guard cell dimensions, such as length (6.09 µm) in 15 Gy and breadth (4.56 µm) in 5 Gy increase with higher dose treatment than untreated (3.71 µm,3.54 µm). Identifying the mutagenic efficiency and effectiveness of the mutagen and maximising the lethal dosage is the first stage in any mutagenesis research. This work will serve as a foundation for subsequent gamma-irradiation studies in acidlime to generate desirable mutants.
Effects of different nutrient sources on seed germination and early growth of cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.) and brinjal (Solanum melonjena L.)
Get PDFThe population and food demand are growing at the same rate. Properly applying fertilizers is important to this endeavor, as it is critical in increasing growth, yields, and quality. The filter paper seed germination bioassay will serve as a better alternative to study the direct impact of fertilizers on seed germination because, in soil or culture medium-based studies, various other factors also influence germination and growth. The present study investigated the effect of seven different fertilizers: mineral (Urea, DAP, and combined NPK), organic (Vermicompost + Poultry, Pond slurry, Farmyard manure), and organomineral (Pond slurry + Poultry + Mineral) having four different concentrations (110, 220, 330, 440 mg/L) on seed germination and seedling growth of brinjal and cluster bean while the double distilled water served as blank. Various parameters were recorded, such as the seedling\u27s relative germination ratio, shoot length, root length, fresh weight, and dry weight. Among different fertilizers, organic fertilizers give the best-suited results at 440 mg/L, while mineral fertilizers above 110 mg/L inhibited germination and seedling growth. The best-suited fertilizer combination was organomineral, with a concentration of 220 mg/L. Furthermore, regression analysis depicted a stronger correlation between growth parameters and the N, P, and K content of different fertilizers. This study suggests that higher doses of fertilizers sometimes leads to inhibition of growth and yield. Additionally, organomineral fertilizer served as better alternative because they blend both organic and inorganic nutrients.
Enhancing the biodegradability and environmental impact of microplastics utilizing Eisenia fetida earthworms with treated low-density polyethylene for sustainable plastic management
Get PDFLow-density polyethylene (LDPE) is widely used in food packaging and agricultural mulching, but its disposal generates macro, meso and microplastics that infiltrate the food chain and carry harmful substances. The present study aimed to improve remediation strategies for soils contaminated with LDPE and enhance the survivability of Eisenia fetida. The study dissolved LDPE in trichloroethylene and treated it with starch, hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid and acetic acid, initiating thermo-oxidative reactions. The treatment decreased LDPE\u27s crystallinity index from 48.48% to 44.06% (single treatment), 44.06% to 40.02% (double treatment) and 40.02% to 32.98% (triple treatment), achieving a 15.5% reduction in crystallinity. LDPE microplastics with 40.02% crystallinity showed lower mortality rates in Eisenia fetida earthworms compared to those with 44.06% and 32.98% crystallinity and untreated LDPE. When introduced to E. fetida, microbiota in the earthworm casts included unidentified species from Pseudomonas and Zoopagomycota, known polyethylene degraders. Microbial analysis of treated LDPE microplastics showed changes in gut microbiota, including potential degraders from Aeromonas and Malassezia restricta. XRD (X-ray diffraction techniques analyses) and FTIR(Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) analyses provided insights into distinct LDPE degradation patterns, identifying hydroxyl and carboxylic groups as functional groups. The study also investigated the ability of altered microflora with treated microplastics to degrade LDPE, favouring decreased earthworm mortality rates. The crystallinity index of treated polyethylene further reduced from 40.02% to 23.58% after 21 days of exposure to E. fetida. This research advances the understanding of oxidised plastics\u27 ecological impacts and will help to develop environmentally sustainable and biodegradable LDPE.
Dye wastewater treatment with rice husk-derived silica xerogel: An eco-friendly process
Get PDFRemoval of dye contamination from wastewater is crucial for protecting human health and the environment, and adsorption is considered an effective removal method. In addition, agricultural residues are attractive for use as adsorbents for the adsorption due to their renewability. Therefore, the present work aimed to develop silica xerogel from rice husk (agricultural residue in rice production) into an adsorbent for dye wastewater treatment. In the xerogel synthesis, a non-toxic organic acid (citric acid) was used instead of a toxic inorganic acid for leaching and precipitation steps to lower the environmental impact of the process. It was found that the obtained silica xerogel has physical properties such as a surface area and pore volume, comparable with silica xerogels in other literature. When applying it in the dye (methylene blue) wastewater treatment, the obtained silica xerogel showed better adsorption capacity than unprocessed silica at all studied conditions, i.e. various times, pH and initial concentration. The maximum adsorption capacity of the xerogel and unprocessed silica were 103.45 and 61.78 mg/g, respectively. This indicates the benefit of silica xerogel with low environmental impact when applied in dye wastewater treatment. The adsorption isotherms and kinetic for both types of silica were also conducted. It was found that the adsorption process of methylene blue on the silica fitted the Langmuir adsorption isotherm and followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. This provides valuable information for optimizing the operating parameters for best performance in a given situation.
Probiotic properties of Limosilactobacillus fermentum strain TPGMS1 isolated from gut microflora of Tai-Phake community of Assam
Get PDFProbiotics confer health benefits in the host, such as antimicrobial activity, immune system modulation, reduce metabolic disorder and enhance anticancer activity. Most probiotic microorganisms belong to the Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) group. Human gut is a WHO/FAO recommended source for LAB. This study aimed to evaluate in vitro probiotic properties of LAB isolated from thehuman gut microflora of Tai-Phake community. Among 43 isolated LAB species, 26 were preliminarily selected for their antimicrobial activity. Isolates were evaluated for probiotic characteristics and antimicrobial activities against test microorganisms, Escherichia coli ATCC-10536 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC-BAA-1026, using agar well-diffusion method. Eight of these isolates exhibited antagonistic activity against test microorganisms, which is indicated by zone of inhibition (ZoI) of 1.5 cm against Escherichia coliATCC-10536andZoI of 2.4 cm against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC-BAA-1026.The isolate with the best probiotic properties was identified using 16S rRNA sequencing as Limosilactobacillusfermentum strain TPGMS1. It exhibited high tolerance to low acidic condition (pH 2.0) and high bile salt (0.5% and 1%) concentrations, a significant hydrophobicity at 64 % and auto-aggregation of 58%. The results suggest that Limosilactobacillus fermentum strain TPGMS1 has high probiotic potential and can be further explored for probiotic formulation.
A study on the impact of wastewater on the quality water quality from certain wells in the Oued Amlil region of the Taza province, Morocco
Get PDFOlive mill wastewater, a byproduct of olive oil production, poses a major environmental challenge for Mediterranean countries like Morocco. These residues are rich in polyphenols with notable antimicrobial properties. This study aimed to investigate the impact of anthropogenic factors on the quality of certain wells in the Oued Amlil region of the Taza province, Morocco. It was carried out during two distinct periods by sampling water from six wells: P1, P2, P3, P4, P5 and P6. The first period occurred during the winter season of December 2022, when olive crushing operations for oil production were at their peak. The second period took place in the summer (August 2022), when the activities of the oil mills were stopped. The objective is to assess microbiological quality by determining the microbial load in total germs at 37°C (TG), Fecal Coliforms (FC), Total Coliforms (TC), and Fecal Streptococci (FS), as well as performing a polyphenol assay. The analysis results showed high concentrations of TG (Maximum value = 3100/100ml), FC (Maximum value = 910/100ml), TC (Maximum value = 7120/100ml), and FS (Maximum value = 7000/100ml) in wells P1, P2, and P5, although they are not located on the flow path of groundwater contaminated by the Innaouene River and the local olive oil mills. However, despite their location along this axis, wells P3, P4, and P6 show lower contamination levels. In order to identify similarities between different water sources and/or different points of contamination acquisition, principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to the collected data and showed a significant negative correlation between polyphenols and bacteriological parameters, confirming the hypothesis of polyphenols\u27 bactericidal effect on fecal bacteria. In addition, the degree of contamination varies from one well to another depending on their location with the direction of flow of water in the groundwater and the proximity of sources of pollution
Extraction and evaluation of thyme oil and detection of its heredity effect on the fungus Aspergillus amstelodami
Get PDFThymus vulgaris is considered one of the herbal plants rich in active compounds that have attracted the attention of many scientists and researchers. However, the genetic safety of these compounds must be investigated, as food safety is one of the topics that has recently topped the field of scientific research.The study objectives included obtaining Thyme Essential Oil (TEO) by hydrodistillation extraction , and then analysing by Gas Chromatography technic (GC), all tests were done on the A1 (Wa1) strain of Aspergillus amstelodami . Thyme was collected from local nurseries . The mutagenic effect of four sub-lethal concentrations (0.01 -0.016 – 0.02 – 0.05 ) ml/ml of thyme oil was evaluated by using mutagenesis methods. The results showed that the highest phenolic compounds in (TEO) were Thymol and Carvacrol , with a percentage of 58.89% and 4.11%, respectively. The study also included investigating the ability of thyme oil to cause genetic effects on eukaryotic cells by testing the ability of this oil to induce genetic mutations in the conidia of fungus A. amstelodami by using the mutagenesis methods of pretreatment, plate incorporation and growth-mediated, as the study did not record the presence of any mutagenic effect for the four sub-toxic concentrations (Sub lethal) (0.01 -0.016 – 0.02 – 0.05 ) ml/ml of thyme oil, this confirms its safety genetically and can be used as a herbal food and medicinal plant
Reliability of Nonlinear least square broken stick model in quantifying the effects of temperature and photoperiod on flowering of pigeonpea genotypes (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.)
Get PDFTemperature and photoperiod are two major environmental determinants that affect the flowering time. The information on the effect of temperature and photoperiod on flowering response in pigeonpea is limited and needs updating for new genotypes. The present study aimed to assess the reliability of the Nonlinear least square broken stick model to quantify photothermal effects in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) genotypes. Data at 50 % flowering (FL) from pot, field, and temperature-controlled glasshouse experiments under eight sowing dates were analysed using regression models to describe the individual effect of temperature and photoperiod and photothermal models to quantify the combined effect. The critical photoperiod (Pce)and optimum temperature (To)predicted by the Nonlinear broken stick model for 50 % FL ranged from 12.4 - 13.4 h and 21.0 - 23.5 °C, respectively. The higher Pce reported for extra-early flowering genotype (QPL 1001) indicates that their insensitiveness to a range of photoperiod regimes compared to QPL 941 and ICP 14425 (medium duration). Further, the results also revealed that the time to 50 % FL of genotype QPL 1001 was strongly sensitive to the temperature at sub-optimal range (T < To), with warmer temperatures accelerating reproductive development. In contrast, QPL941 and ICP 14425 were sensitive to supra-optimal temperature (T > To), with flowering being delayed in warmer temperatures. The parameters (To and Pce) derived from Nonlinear least square broken stick model can be used as a proxy to identify photoperiod insensitivity in pigeopea genotypes.
Application of data ratio analysis of lead accumulation in cartilage and bones of goats and chickens in Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Get PDFCartilage and bones (CB) are primary organs for lead accumulation in domestic animals, but very few studies have addressed the occurrence of lead in both organs. CBs, especially from goat and chicken, although classified as non-edible food, are still being consumed by many local communities globally. Male goat and rooster were bought in traditional markets in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Lead in CBs of humerus, radius, femur, and tibia (HRFT) were extracted by aqua regia digestible method and measured by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. A set of data ratios, generated by data ratio analysis (DRA), namely concentration ratio (CR), amounts ratio (AR), variation ratio (VR), coefficient of variation ratio (CVR), joint probability (JP) and conditional probability (CP) based on the AR and CR, were determined to characterize the lead exposure in CB. The means of lead concentrations in CB in goat were 4.9 and 5.2 µg.g-1, and those in chicken were 5.00 and 5.20 µg.g-1, respectively. The CRs in goats and chickens were 0.95 and 0.96, and the ARs in goats and chickens were 1.34 and 1.16, respectively. A high linear relationship was found between Ln VR and Ln CVR, and the JP and CP supported decision-making on CB consumption. By targeting CB as primary organs for lead accumulation, considering its potential exposure for many communities, and comparing its further uses as animal feed, the DRA in this study is useful to provide broadened comparability in bioaccumulation studies.