Asian Research Journal of Agriculture

Salt-laden waters pose major problems in the hydraulic field. Scaling problems can be troublesome for sanitary, potable and irrigation water networks. Also, irrigation water salinity is a major concern for agriculture, affecting crop productivity and yield. To alleviate some of these problems, various physical processes are put to the test such as magnetic processes. A laboratory experiment was conducted at the Laboratory of Natural Water Treatment of Borj Cedria Tunisia, to study the effect of different magnetic treatments (M₁=3300 Gauss, M₂=2900 Gauss, M₃=5000 Gauss and Electromagnetic Em=900 Gauss) under two flow rate (0.03 and 0.06 letter/second) and two temperature (18 and 24^oC) on water characteristics in order to observe the variation in the pH of water. The application of all magnetic field treatment showed slightly an increase in the pH of treated water compared to untreated water.

The research work was conducted to observe in vitro propagation of garlic in the                               Biotechnology Laboratory of the Department of Biotechnology, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Bangladesh from the period of July 2015 to June, 2016, to determine the effect                            of Kinetin (KIN) and 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2, 4-D) in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium where disease free, healthy and sterilized basal part of clove (2-3 cm) was                                      used as explants. The highest shoot regeneration percentage (100%) was obtained from the treatment of 3.0 mg/L of KIN alone and also from all combination of 2.5, 3.0 mg/L KIN with 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 mg/L 2, 4-D. All treatments of KIN and 2, 4-D either alone or in combination,                                     showed one number of shoot after 3 weeks of inoculation. The highest shoot length (34.50 cm) was observed in 3.0 mg/L KIN treatment whereas in combined treatments, 3.0 mg/L KIN+                                    2.0 mg/L 2, 4-D showed highest 33.73 cm shoot length after 3 weeks from inoculation.                              Besides, maximum root induction percentage (100%) was observed by 2.5 mg/L KIN + (1.0, 1.5) mg/L 2, 4-D. The highest number of roots (10.67) were developed by 3.0 mg/L KIN+ 1.5                           mg/L 2, 4-D. After transferring the plantlets in the field condition, 86% survival plants were recorded. Finally, the in vitro regeneration protocol of garlic described herein can potentially be                           used as a tool in molecular breeding programs for improvement of different cultivars and genotypes of garlic.

Aims: This work describes the manufacture of biofilms using a mixture of Opuntia ficus-indica (nopal) mucilage, chitosan and active ingredients extracted from plants. In this case, ethanolic extractions of white cabbage (Brassica olearacea) were performed, since it has been demonstrated in previous studies that these present antioxidant and antibiotic properties. Chilies (Capsicum annuum) were covered with only chitosan, chitosan+nopal mucilage, or the chitosan-mucilage mixture added with white cabbage extract. Triplicates or quintuplicates of the covered chilies and a control group were administered without any application.

Place and Duration of Study: Assessments were carried out at Unidad Profesional Interdisciplinaria de Biotecnologia-IPN (Mexico) facilities during the end of 2016-2017.

Methodology: Covered and no-covered fruits were stored under two conditions: a) ambient temperature (24 to 28°C) and b) refrigeration at 4°C. They were observed day by day, photographed, and maturation was evaluated in all groups. Also, the weight loss, hardness and content of some metabolites (flavonoids and phenols), acidity and °Brix were determined every third day and the respiration rate of the chilies every five days.

Results: Results indicated that the addition of edible mucilage and chitosan films, added with the white cabbage extract, lengthened the shelf life of the chilies, reducing weight loss and improving the hardness of the fruits. There was also a delay in the maturation process measured as the colour changes from green to mixed green-orange, to yellow and orange and a decrease in the respiration rate of covered chilies compared to those that were not covered. Acidity, °Brix, phenol and flavonoids analyze also provided evidence of the improvement in the final quality of the mucilage-covered chilies, and even more those covered with mucilage + white cabbage extract.

Conclusion: The use of Opuntia ficus/chitosan biofilms amended with white cabbage extract resulted very useful in extending the shelf life of Capsicum annuum var Serrano fruits under refrigeration or environmental conditions, prolonging their shelf life with a better quality.

A greenhouse pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of all-purpose yates thrive, which is a new water-soluble compound fertiliser that was brought from Australia on the yield and yield components of wheat and tef on Vertisols brought from Hintalo Wajirat district. The experiment consisted of six treatments (control, recommended NP, recommended yates thrive, half recommended yates thrive, twice recommended yates thrive and recommended yates thrive plus adjusted NP) in three replications. The results of the experiments depicted that, spike/panicle length, straw and grain yields of wheat and tef were improved. Inline to this, the highest yield and yield component of both crops were obtained at the recommended rates of its thrive plus adjusted NP except the straw yield of tef. But statistically the plant height and panicle length were not significant.  Thus,  yates thrive can be used for cereals an alternative fertiliser by adjusting the level of  N and P with cost-benefit analysis of the technology as compared to the existing fertiliser types.

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of organic and inorganic fertilisers application on growth parameters of two amaranth varieties. Fifty-four treatments were evaluated as factorial combinations of organic manure applied at 16.9 t/ha, inorganic NPK fertiliser at 500 kg/ha, zero fertiliser (control treatment) and two amaranth varieties (A. tricolor and A. cruentus varieties). The treatments were fitted into in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) replicated three times. A. cruentus recorded the highest leaf area of 1415 cm² in the second from 248 cm² in season one. A. tricolor in the second season recorded 700 cm² from 387 cm² at the same treatment of 16.9 t/h+ 500 kg/ha. The number of leaves was highly significant at p≤0.01 in the second season but was significant at p≤0.05 in the first season while sole organic manure was applied at 16.9t/ha, A. tricolor variety had 17.56 number of leaves in season two from 14.56 in season one at 16.9 t/h, in A. tricolor the number of  leaves  in reduced from 17.06 to 14.06 in season one when 500 kg/ha of NPK 17-17-17- was applied. The longest shoot of 43 cm in the second season from 22 cm in the first season was in A. tricolor at the rate of 16.9 t/ha + 500 kg/ha in season two. In A. cruentus the shoot length increased to 34.7 cm from 31.1 cm in season one when sole organic manure was applied at 16.9 t/ha. The root length was highly significant at p≤0.01 in the first season but was significant at p≤0.05 in the second season A. tricolor had 16.58cm and A. cruentus having 17.39 cm in season one at control, in season two at control, the root length was 18.73 cm in A. cruentus and 18.94 cm in A. tricolor. Root length reduced from 18.23 cm in season one to 12.86 in season two in A. cruentus  when 16.9 t/ha of organic quail manure was applied. The root dry weight in A. tricolor recorded 2.392 g from 1.177 g at 8.45 t/h+500 kg/ha, at 16.9 t/h+500 kg/ha in season one, A. cruentus had 0.625 g which increased to 2.468 g but A. tricolor increased to 2.328 g from 0.72 g.