THE ANALYSIS OF HEAVY METALS CONTENT IN WHOLE AND CHOPPED PLANTS

This paper presents the results of experimental research performed to analyze thepotentially contain of heavy metals in whole and chopped herbs, in order to examine the influence of the cutting process on bioaccumulation of metals in studied plant material

SAVE FUEL – THE MAJOR INTEREST OF FARMERS

The global economic crisis, the alarmingincreasefuel priceson international markets, accelerated globalwarming, the spending reduction with the crops,and Icould go onwith many otherarguments,need to findviablesolutionsto savefuel. It is known thatagriculturegenerally,self-propelled agriculturalmachinesinparticular,are largeconsumers offuel.These inputscanvarybetweenvery wide limits, from case to case,even thoughwe speakthe sameworkperformedwithidenticalmachinesinsimilarworking conditions. Regarding the bigdifferences infuelconsumption, in most caseswe findweaknessesin the regulationand operation ofagricultural machinerybymechanics.In this paperwepresent somesimple methodstosavingfuelbased onrational use ofagricultural machineswithoutcharges,without usingexpensiveequipment

ASPECTS ON MECHANICAL FILTERING IN AQUACULTURE SYSTEMS

Filtering plays an essential part in the process of intensive fish farming, because faeces and unconsumed food remain in the water inside the basins where the fish are raised and in time generate bacteria and infections that lead to the death of fish. Therefore, the water in these basins is permanently recycled in order to be filtered and refreshed, this paper presenting the actuated filtering systems used in the country and worldwide in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) for intensive fish farming

CONSIDERATIONS ON OBTAINING VARIOUS TYPES OF PELLETS FROM DIFFERENT TYPES OF BIOMASS

Materials with lignocellulosic structure (wood, straws, sawdust, etc.) representimportant energy resources. Their main disadvantage consists in the fact that they have very low density, which leads to difficulties in the process of handling, transport, storage, respectively increased production costs. Besides this, high variations of humidity in the material can generate difficulties in the operation and adjustment of processes within the installations where they are used. These drawbacks can be improved by drying and compacting (densification) the material at very high pressures, thus obtaining wood biofuels with a uniform structure, such as pellets. The paper presents the process of compacting different types of biomass in the form of pellets, using a reduced scale pelleting machine

POSSIBILITIES TO VALORIZE ARTICHOKE UNDER THE CULTIVATION CONDITIONS IN ROMANIA

Generally, in Romania, farmers focused on an agriculture based on large field crops, cereal crops, being less inclined to grow aromatic and medicinal crops that have a newer history in our country. But there are plants that have made history in other countries and that for a while are starting to be valorized in our country in a therapeutic or prophylactic purpose. One of these plants is artichoke (Cynara scolymus), which due to its many uses has become increasingly valuable. In our country is known and used especially in the pharmaceutical and food supplements industry, but food industry and that of cosmetics are making progress in using this wonder plant, with many therapeutic, digestive, hepatic-protective properties. Newly, the problem was posed for its use as an energy plant, by obtaining oil from the seeds. This paper proposes to highlight the possibilities to valorize the artichoke crop in Romania`s conditions, as a source of bioactive raw material for drug products, food supplements, cosmetics and ornaments. The results of experiments can be used by Romanian farmers to draw up plans to valorize all their land, even smaller surfaces

STUDY REGARDING BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND SOME PREPARATIONS FROM NETTLE AND WORMWOOD IN ORDER TO CAPITALIZE THEM AS BIOINSECTICIDE / BIOFERTILIZERS IN ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

Plant extracts contain substances that may induce, in treated plant, stimulation of defense mechanism, which will result in increased crop resistance especially against pathogenic microorganisms and pests that are causing the biggest economic losses and propagate the infection risk in time. Plant extracts are topics approached for a long time in support of organic agriculture, but still represents a generous particularly concerning on this essential aspect of a real organic agriculture. This paper is aimed at biochemical characterization of plant extracts of nettle and wormwood in order to capitalize them further as organic bioinsecticide / biofertilizers in organic agriculture. Extracts of nettle and wormwood are repellents and usually used preventative against pests, but also with economic advantages

STATE OF THE ART REGARDING CONSERVATIVE TILLAGE TECHNOLOGIES

Following the expansion of soil degradation processes due to conventional agriculture and technological mistakes, over the years, the so-called conservative agricultural technologies have been studied and implemented in practice. These technologies have contributed substantially to the improvement of soil fertility and productivity and, thus, of other environmental resources. The most important component of conservation technological systems, as in the case of conventional ones, is soil tillage – loosening and processing – and the introduction of seed into the soil. Switching from conventional tillage systems to the conservative ones was not easy and generated a lot of questions that needed relevant answers, scientifically based, some of them being obtained through fundamental and applied research carried out under local specific conditions. Conservative systems are based on the less intense loosening of soil, made by different methods, without furrow return and only while maintaining a given amount of crop residues on soil surface, is being considered for this reason as environmental protection strategies. In this paper is presented an analysis of the state of research on the implementation in agriculture of conservative tillage technologies and the technical-economic and environmental impacts of applying these conservative technologies. Also, there are presented the most advanced research on optimal construction of equipment for soil processing in conservation system

THE INFLUENCE OF THE SPEED OF REVOLUTION OF A HAMMER MILL ON MISCANTHUS CHIPPINGS

Taking into consideration the fact that biomass is gradually replacing the existent energy resources, it is necessary to know the preparation process. The first step of this process takes place from the harvesting stage that can be done with or without cutting. High volume of biomass represents an impediment in its usage as a final product. It is necessary to transform it in pellets or briquettes. Thus, each stage of the preparation process was studied by researchers both for establishing the influence of biomass properties on the process as well as for designing the equipment used for preparation process. In this paper experimental research regarding the influence of the speed of revolution of a hammer mill on miscanthus chippings were done. The usage of hammer mills it happens in generally during the second stage of preparation process which refers to fine grinding process of vegetal biomass