Bioconversion of empty fruit bunches (EFB) and palm oil mill effluent (POME) into compost using Trichoderma virens

This study shows the performance of Trichoderma virens as an activator for conversion of empty fruit bunches (EFB) and palm oil mill effluent (POME) into compost. EFB and POME are two abundant wastes produced by oil palm industries which keep accumulating. Since there is no proper way to dispose these wastes, a potential way is to turn them into value-added product which is compost. However, normal composting will take about 4 to 6 months and additional pure fungi on compost can reduce the time to only 21 to 45 days. It also promotes plant growth and fight plant diseases. T. virens is one of the potential fungus activator and the enzyme production by this specific fungus has been studied. Biodegradation of EFB and POME supplemented with T. virens and organic N (chicken manure) gave significant changes as compared to EFB and POME alone. Application of T. virens resulted in higher xylanase and cellulase activities which lead to rapid degradation of cellulose and hemicelluloses. Compost with T. virens has higher xylanase activity on day 36 which is 4.43 �mol/(min.mg) as compared to the control which has 3.48 �mol/(min.mg). The cellulase activity is 13.214 FPU/mg and 11.314 FPU/mg for compost with T. virens and compost without bioinoculant on day 36, respectively. The N, P, K content of compost with T. virens increased significantly after maturation which is 1.304, 0.5034 and 0.645%, respectively. This result shows that T. virens played a great role by shortening the composting period of EFB and POME while producing nutrient-enriched compost

Affecting Factors for Implementing Performance-Based Maintenance Contracting: Perspective of Malaysian Road Contractors

Traditionally, road maintenance is conducted either using road authorities' in-house resources or method-based contracting, where contractors do the work and are paid based on predefined volume and unit prices. Nowadays, Performance-based Maintenance Contracting (PBMC) is one of the most current approaches in road maintenance works. PBMC provides contractors with freedom in design, construction methods, materials, and innovation in performing the contract as long as the standard specified is fulfilled. While PBMC implementation is increasing around the world, it can be considered new in Malaysia. This research aims to investigate the viability and practicability of PBMC's implementation for road maintenance in Malaysia. Specifically, the research's objective is to identify factors that are affecting the adoption of PBMC for road maintenance works in Malaysia. To achieve that objective, interview data from industry practitioners that are involved in managing roads are analyzed. Factors affecting PBMC's implementation for road maintenance in Malaysia can be categorized into two groups: PBMC (ex. awareness on PBMC) and Non-PBMC (ex. contractor's integrity) related factors. The findings of this research would help policymakers, industry practitioners, and researchers improve the success of implementing PBMC in the facility management industry

Bioconversion of empty fruit bunches (EFB) and palm oil mill effluent (POME) into compost using trichoderma virens

This study shows the performance of Trichoderma virens as an activator for conversion of empty fruit bunches (EFB) and palm oil mill effluent (POME) into compost. EFB and POME are two abundant wastes produced by oil palm industries which keep accumulating. Since there is no proper way to dispose these wastes, a potential way is to turn them into value-added product which is compost. However, normal composting will take about 4 to 6 months and additional pure fungi on compost can reduce the time to only 21 to 45 days. It also promotes plant growth and fight plant diseases. T. virens is one of the potential fungus activator and the enzyme production by this specific fungus has been studied. Biodegradation of EFB and POME supplemented with T. virens and organic N (chicken manure) gave significant changes as compared to EFB and POME alone. Application of T. virens resulted in higher xylanase and cellulase activities which lead to rapid degradation of cellulose and hemicelluloses. Compost with T. virens has higher xylanase activity on day 36 which is 4.43 mol/(min.mg) as compared to the control which has 3.48 mol/(min.mg). The cellulase activity is 13.214 FPU/mg and 11.314 FPU/mg for compost with T. virens and compost without bioinoculant on day 36, respectively. The N, P, K content of compost with T. virens increased significantly after maturation which is 1.304, 0.5034 and 0.645%, respectively. This result shows that T. virens played a great role by shortening the composting period of EFB and POME while producing nutrient-enriched compost. Key words: Empty fruit bunches (EFB), palm oil mill effluent (POME), bioconversion, Trichoderma virens

Combined Effects of Biosolarization and Brassica Amendments on Survival of Biocontrol Agents and Inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum

Biocontrol agents (BCAs) added in the soil or applied to the seeds face many abiotic and biotic stress challenges. Only those BCAs that survive under harsh conditions perform well. Improving the survival of BCAs along with inhibiting the biotic stresses imposed by bacterial, fungal, and viral infections has been a major challenge in agriculture, especially in hot-arid climates. The present study aimed to evaluate the individual and combined effects of soil solarization and Brassica amendments on the survival of two biocontrol agents (BCAs), namely Trichoderma harzianum and Aspergillus versicolor, and on the reduction in a cumin wilt pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini (Foc) in a field experiment conducted for two years under hot-arid climates. BCAs performed well in the solarized pots; it caused the maximum reduction in viable F. oxysporum propagules, significantly higher at 5 cm than at 15 cm of depth. Brassica amendment with BCAs caused a greater decrease in F. oxysporum propagules (95.7 to 96.7%) compared to a combination of BCAs and solarization (91.0 to 95.7%). Combining T. harzianum with A. versicolor increased the survival of T. harzianum, whereas integration with Brassica amendment could only improve the survival of T. harzianum at a depth of 5 cm and not at lower depths. The slightest decrease in A. versicolor population at high soil temperature was estimated when combined with T. harzianum. However, combining A. versicolor with Brassica amendment improved the survival of A. versicolor at high compared to low soil temperatures. Still, elevated soil temperature reduced the viable propagules. These studies demonstrate that both the native BCAs are compatible, and their integration with the Brassica amendment improves their survival and ability to reduce the population of cumin wilt pathogen. Thus, these BCAs with Brassica amendments can survive and perform well under hot-arid climates

Combined effects of biosolarization and Brassica amendments on survival of biocontrol agents and inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum

Biocontrol agents (BCAs) added in the soil or applied to the seeds face many abiotic and biotic stress challenges. Only those BCAs that survive under harsh conditions perform well. Improving the survival of BCAs along with inhibiting the biotic stresses imposed by bacterial, fungal, and viral infections has been a major challenge in agriculture, especially in hot-arid climates. The present study aimed to evaluate the individual and combined effects of soil solarization and Brassica amendments on the survival of two biocontrol agents (BCAs), namely Trichoderma harzianum and Aspergillus versicolor, and on the reduction in a cumin wilt pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini (Foc) in a field experiment conducted for two years under hot-arid climates. BCAs performed well in the solarized pots, it caused the maximum reduction in viable F. oxysporum propagules, significantly higher at 5 cm than at 15 cm of depth. Brassica amendment with BCAs caused a greater decrease in F. oxysporum propagules (95.7 to 96.7%) compared to a combination of BCAs and solarization (91.0 to 95.7%). Combining T. harzianum with A. versicolor increased the survival of T. harzianum, whereas integration with Brassica amendment could only improve the survival of T. harzianum at a depth of 5 cm and not at lower depths. The slightest decrease in A. versicolor population at high soil temperature was estimated when combined with T. harzianum. However, combining A. versicolor with Brassica amendment improved the survival of A. versicolor at high compared to low soil temperatures. Still, elevated soil temperature reduced the viable propagules. These studies demonstrate that both the native BCAs are compatible, and their integration with the Brassica amendment improves their survival and ability to reduce the population of cumin wilt pathogen. Thus, these BCAs with Brassica amendments can survive and perform well under hot-arid climates

Experimental design to optimization of beta cyclodextrin production from ungelatinized sago starch

The aim of this study is to produce beta cyclodextrin (β-CD) from ungelatinized, but annealed (65 °C) sago starch using cyclodextrin glucosyltransferase (CGTase). The optimization processes were conducted at three stages using Response Surface Methodology. Preliminary data have shown that the three (3) highest points for each of the studied parameters were pH, concentration of sago starch and enzyme, and also agitation. In the second stage, two level full factorial design (2n FFD) was applied to determine the significant parameters affecting the production of β-cyclodextrin. Statistical analyses showed that pH, enzyme and sago starch concentration were the significant parameters. The final stage of optimization involved the use of Central Composite Design to determine and predict the optimum yield of β-cyclodextrin. The optimum condition for production cyclodextrin was at pH 8.62 (Glycine–NaOH buffer 0.05 M), 0.65% v/v sago starch and 15% w/v enzyme concentration, where 8.43 g β-cyclodextrin/L was produced after 4 h of reaction