Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Influence of agricultural wastes on larval growth phases of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae): An integrated approach
Get PDFInsects are an effective tool for converting nutrients in agricultural by-products into protein-rich biomass and compost. Black soldier fly (BSF) (Hermetia illucens) larvae are currently one of the insect species widely used as a protein source in aquafeed globally. Although much effort has been spent on the use of BSF in aquafeed, there is not much information on the biology of the insect, especially with the morphology of the BSF. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of various organic wastes, such as fruit wastes (FW) and vegetable wastes (VW), on different growth phases of BSF larva (BSFL), using morphometric and scanning electron microscopic examinations, and the composition of the compost produced, as well as a method for upscaling of larval production of BSFL. Faster growth was observed in BSFL fed with VW substrate (40 days) compared to the FW (46 days). Based on the morphometric measurements such as length, larval head length, total length etc., five larval stages, prepupal and pupal stage of BSFL were differentiated and described. In addition, SEM imaging of BSF mouth parts found that the mouth morphology of the BSF larvae and prepupal stage differed, and the BSF prepupa had reduced mouthparts. Also, the mandibular-maxillary complex was well developed than the BSF prepupa. BSFL larvae have proven to convert fruit and vegetable waste into high-quality residue fertilizer for the soil. The BSF compost showed optimum nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium and sulphur content. This research establishes a baseline knowledge and guidance on the BSF-rearing facilities
Spatial and seasonal fluctuations of Ichthyoplankton assemblage in the Mediterranean coast of Morocco (Southwestern Alboran Sea)
Get PDFIchthyoplankton represent the first life stages of fish. The study of ichthyoplankton is crucial to understanding marine ecosystems and plays an important role in the management and durability of fisheries resources. During March and October of 2019, two oceanographic ichthyoplankton surveys were conducted in the Mediterranean Sea of Morocco from Tanger to Saadia by studying the horizontal structure of the ichthyoplankton species assemblage and its relation to environmental parameters. The average surface water temperature was (15.8°C in spring and 16.4°C in autumn). The fish eggs and larvae were more abundant in March than in October (21268 eggs/10m² and 14084 larvae/10m² in spring and 10094 eggs/10m² and 13796 larvae/10m²). In both seasons, fish eggs from the families Sternoptychidae and Sparidae were dominant (10101 eggs/10m² and 7527 eggs/10m² in spring and 4422 eggs/10m² and 3928 eggs/10m² in fall, respectively). However, Myctophidae larvae were the most abundant in the study area, reaching 7601 larvae/10m² in spring and 11021 larvae/10m² in autumn. The environmental parameters: temperature, salinity and chlorophyll-a (surface) seem to directly influence the spatial distribution of ichtyoplancton. On the other hand, it seems that predation by jellyfish (Pelagia noctiluca)was a very important factor that added to the factors that influenced the distribution of the species of fish eggs and larvae. This work represents the first survey conducted in the southwestern Alboran Sea, which studies the horizontal structure of the ichthyoplankton species assemblage and its relation to environmental factors in the spring and autumn of 2019
Impact of aging on kidneys of male Wistar albino rats: the protective antiaging role of resveratrol
Get PDFBecause aging leads to multiple health problems associated with changes in the structure and functions of a different organ system, this study aimed to assess the effect of aging on the histology of renal tissue in rats of various ages and the possible protective role of resveratrol. In the present study, twenty-four male Wistar albino rats were separated into three groups of eight animals each, including rats adult aged (6 months), and old-aged (24 months old). The elderly resveratrol-treated group was administered 25 mg/kg/day of resveratrol diluted in distilled water orally via gastric tube. The treatment lasted three months. At the end of the experiment, blood was drawn for serum creatinine analysis, the animals were sacrificed, and the kidneys were removed and processed for histological investigation. The findings revealed variable changes in kidney tissue, including glomerulosclerosis, compensatory glomerular hypertrophy, tubulointerstitial fibrosis, thickened glomerular basement membrane, arterial sclerosis, tubular dilatation with cast formation, atrophy of the tubules, infiltration of inflammatory cells, a rise in the rate of apoptotic cells, and a decrease in the glomerular number. These histological changes were associated with increased serum creatinine levels and kidney malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation. The use of RES (Resveratrol) improved the creatinine level with a decrease in the MDA and improved the histological changes of aged kidney. As a result, the progression of aging was accompanied by different histological variations that interfered with the physiological functioning of the kidney, predisposing older persons to renal illnesses. Utilizing RES as a prophylactic and/or therapeutic medicine for aging-related renal changes is also possible
Efficacy of concentrates containing tropical weed Chromolaena odorata, methionine hydroxy analog and palm oils in fattening male Bali cattle: A physiological study
Get PDFChromolaena odorata is a potential feed source but is low in methionine, which might affect the rumen function. Therefore providing efficient nutrient/s might improve rumen function. The study aimed to assess the efficacy of a concentrate containing Chromolaena odorata meal, hydroxy methionine analog (HMA), and palm oil on blood metabolites of fattened cattle. Sixteen Bali cattle (Bos sondaicus) with an average body weight of 130.5kg ± 32.5 were allotted into four dietary treatments (and four replicates) using a Completely Randomized Block Design with 4 cattle in each Group. The treatments were concentrates with no addition of palm oil and/or HMA as the control diet (Group I) , added with 3 g HMA (CMA) (Group II), added with 0.5% palm oil (Group III) and (CPO) added with a combination of 3 g HMA and 0.5% palm oil (CMO) Group IV). The concentrate was offered to the animals at a rate of 2% liveweight, whilst rice straws were provided ad libitum as the source of fiber. The concentrate contained 18% crude protein and 12 MJ ME/kg DM to target a live weight gain of at least 0.6 kg/day. Blood metabolites measured were total cholesterol levels, plasma glucose, plasma proteins, and plasma urea. Collected data were subjected to analysis of variance with the significance level set at an alpha value of ≤ 0.05. The results showed that providing concentrate-containing. C. odorata with or without HMA and/or palm oil (Group IV) only significantly affected blood plasma proteins, whereas other blood metabolites were unaffected. It might be concluded that there is no benefit of adding palm oil or methionine analog to chromolaena-based concentrate for fattened cattle since it will not affect the concentration of blood metabolites
Efficacy of nanomaterials for sustainable crop productivity of Capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.) var. Rani under naturally ventilated polyhouse
Get PDFNanomaterials, as a source of plant nutrients, play a significant role in cellular metabolism and nutrients uptake by plants, so they have the potential to improve the growth and productivity of Capsicum. A replicated field trial was carried out in 3 x 3 factors Randomized Block Design (RBD) with two factors viz., micronutrients (Cu, B and Mn) and nanomaterials (nano-Fe, nano-Zn and nano-Mg) applied at the rate of 1000 ppm to explore efficacy of nanomaterials and micronutrient for enhancing productivity of Capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.) var. Rani. The layout of experimental area was designed to accommodate 9 treatments (3 x 3) and a control (without treating with micronutrients and nanomaterials). Inside the naturally ventilated polyhouse, the raised beds (height-30 cm, length-50 m, width-90 cm and bed spacing-60 cm) were prepared for the transplanting capsicum seedlings. Application of nano-Zn and/or nano-Fe @ 1000 ppm in combination with borax and/or CuSO4 @ 1000 ppm was significant (p<0.05) for improving various plant growth and productivity parameters of Capsicum. The combined application of nano-Zn with borax or CuSO4 and nano-Fe with borax or CuSO4 (@ 1000 ppm each) was the effective approach for improvement in plant height, number of leaves, number of flowers, number of fruits, yield plant-1 and estimated yield hectare-1. The experimental findings of the present study confirm the necessities of nanomaterials as a nutrient source for enhancing capsicum\u27s productivity to achieve food and nutritional security and promote sustainable agriculture, inclusive and sustainable economic growth of the farming community
Effect of Aloe vera on some serum bioactive parameters in male Wistar albino rats
Get PDFFor centuries, Aloe vera has been hailed as a natural remedy with a plethora of health benefits. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of A. vera on their haematological, biochemical, and immunological parameters. Twenty male Wistar albino rats were taken and split into two groups. Group I (Treatment Group)received a prepared aqueous A. vera extract at a concentration of 50 mg/kg of body weight for a full 30 days. Group II (Control Group) was given 0.9% normal saline as a placebo.The study found that the rats that received the A. vera extract had significantly (p<0.05) higher packed cell volume (14.8±1.08) compared to the control group (11.26±0.45). However, there were no significant changes in the levels of hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell count (RBC),mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) concentration, white blood cells (WBC) count, platelets count, and mean corpuscular volume (MCV). The serum alanine transaminase (ALT) concentration (U/L) was significantly (p<0.05) lower in the treated group (39.54±7.74) than in the control group (77.68±6.96), while there were no significant changes in the levels of urea and creatinine compared to the control group. The plasma levels of proinflammatory markers(TNFa, IL-6, and IFNγ) showed no significant differences between both groups. Overall, A. vera showed promise as a natural remedy for improving certain aspects of health, but more research is needed to understand its effects fully.
Response of growth performance and yield of butternut squash(Cucurbita moschata Duch Ex Poir) cultivar Waltham under differentdosages of bokashi application
Get PDF Butternut squash, also known as Cucurbita moschata, is a variety of pumpkin with promising commercial potential. However,most of the soils in the tropics are acidic and lack organic matter.The addition of organic material such as bokashi is essential inimproving the low soil pH and soil quality. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the effects of different rates of bokashi application on the growth performance and yield of butternut squash cultivated on tropical acid soil. A planting experiment was carried out from July until October 2022. A total of 36 planting beds were prepared, and each bed was constructed in 100 cm x 400 cm, consisting of 8 plants bed-1. The experiment was arranged in a Randomized Complete Block design. A total of three different rates of bokashi were applied to the soil prior to planting, namely 0 (control), 4,000, and 8,000 kg ha-1. A 12,000 kg ha-1 of commercial peat moss (Holland Free Peat) was also applied to compare bokashi and peat moss (the common planting medium used in most planting activities). The maximum plant height growth and leaf production for butternut squash was around 7-8th week. Application rate of 8,000 kg ha-1 bokashi contributed to significantly highest plant height (352.1 cm), number of leaves (86 leaves), and yield of Waltham butter squash per plant (1.5 kg plant-1). Multiple planting cycles should be carried out further to elucidate the bokashi\u27s residual effect on nutrient supply to butternut squash cultivation
Agromorphological evaluation of six varieties of Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] in the Zinder region (Niger)
Get PDFCowpea is the main food leguminous plant grown in Niger. It is mainly cultivated for its protein-rich haulms and seeds and for its ability to improve soil fertility through its symbiosis with atmospheric nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The present study evaluated genetic variability among six cowpea varieties for yield, yield related and phenology traits in the Zinder region. The experiment was conducted at the experimental area of André Salifou University in Zinder. An experimental device composed of three completely random blocks was used. The six varieties (four local and two improved) of cowpea were evaluated based on 24 quantitative agronomic and morphological characters according to IBPGR descriptors. The comparison of the means and the PCA revealed significant differences between the varieties in almost all the traits tested, with substantial phenotypic variations. IT98 was the most productive variety, with an average yield of 385.50 kg/ha. It also recorded the earliest flowering (38.41 days after sowing) and maturity (55 days after sowing) dates. BlAr gave the highest 100-Seed weight with an average value of 29.21g. CDSb and BTAr were the tallest plants at 40.44 and 40.26 cm respectively. The completed PCA indicates that the first two axes expressed 78,7% of the total variability whereby PC1 and PC2 highly contributed to the total variation at 54.76% and 23.94, respectively. Thus, IT98 may be a good candidate to be considered in Niger struggle to fight food shortage and face nutrition challenges, especially for the Zinder region due to abiotic constraints.
Effect of chitosan iodate complex biofortification on nutrient uptake in ‘shivam’ hybrid of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)
Get PDFIodine deficiency occurs when iodine levels in the soil are inadequate, resulting in limited crop uptake and, as a result, a population with insufficient iodine intake. Iodine deficiency can be avoided by biofortifying commonly consumed crops with iodine. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of iodine biofortification on the nutrient uptake of fruits and plants of ‘shivam’ hybrid tomato. Potassium iodate and chitosan were applied in the form of soil, foliar, and chitosan iodate complex with control comprising 16 treatments (T1 to T16) at different stages of plant growth. Iodine accumulation in tomato fruits and plants was achieved by combining foliar and iodine chitosan forms as electrostatic interaction between chitosan and iodate prevents volatilization and gradually increases the bioavailability of iodine from soil to fruits. Biofortification of iodine throughT14- Chitosan-KIO3Complex (CsKIO3) - (SA)-10Kgha-1 + FA-KIO3-0.3% @ 60 and 90 DAT the iodine content in tomato fruit at green (0.95ppm), pink (1.01ppm) and red ripen (0.99ppm) stages of tomato and introducing it in present-day daily diet may help to reduce iodine deficiency disorder. Iodine biofortification also influenced the uptake of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium in plants and fruits of tomatoes
Ameliorative effects of waste decomposer and effective microorganisms on composting of paddy straw
Get PDFComposting is one of the most eco-friendly methods to manage paddy straw and reduce environmental pollution with added value to the soil. The present work aimed to investigate the effects of different treatments on composting paddy straw and identify the most effective method for managing paddy straw while also reducing environmental pollution and adding value to the soil. The study used a split plot design with ten treatment and three replications over two years, and measured various parameters such as total organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, and water-soluble carbon to evaluate the quality of the compost produced by each treatment. From the pooled data of the experiment, the lowest total organic carbon of the compost was obtained in M1 (2.58%) and S8 (15.58%). The highest total nitrogen was acquired in M1 (12.04%) and S8 (26.04%). The highest total phosphorus was recorded in M1 (1.23%) and S8 (33.75%). The highest potassium was observed in M1 (25.67 %) and S8 (55.61%). The least water-soluble carbon was recorded in M1 (14.28%) and S8 (14.92%). The results of the study provide insights into the effectiveness of various composting methods and can help inform best practices for managing paddy straw in an eco-friendly manner