Seasonal Dry Matter Production and Nitrogen Fixation of Leucaena (Leucaena Leucocephala) and Stylo (Stylosanthes Guianensis) in Pure Swards and in Association with Signal Grass (Brachiaria Decumbens)

An experiment was conducted to study the effects of rates of fertiliser nitrogen (N) and grass-legume associations on seasonal and annual dry matter production and forage quality factors of signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens). This study was also designed to es timate the amounts of N2 fixed over the first two years of establishment by pure stands of leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala cv. ML 1) and stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis cv. Schofield) or their mixtures with signal grass. Leucaena and s tylo were either grown in pure swards or mixed in various combinations wi th signal grass unfertilised with N. Dry matter production from legumebased pasture was compared with signal grass fertilised with urea at 0, 200, 400, 600 or 800 kg N ha-1yr-1

Why private finance initiatives are so addictive - and yet offer such poor value for money

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Private finance initiative (or public private partnership) implementation processes and perception of value for money

The aim of this study is to examine the relationships among perceptions of implementation processes, implementation difficulties and value for money (VFM) in UK school private finance initiative (PFI) or public private partnership (PPP) contracts. The results suggest that implementation factors, such as effective PFI ‘consultation’, ‘contractual’, ‘monitoring and review’ processes have a significantly positive influence on perception of VFM. The results also suggest that difficulties involved in actually implementing PFI processes, such as ‘lack of transparency’, ‘performance measurement difficulties’, ‘cultural differences’ and ‘lack of authority’ have a significant and negative influence on perception of VFM. These implementation difficulties were also found to be inversely related with perception of the PFI implementation processes but the extent of these relationships varied

Estimates and physicochemical properties of food waste in Bandar Baru Bangi

Estimating the quantity and physicochemical characterization of food waste is necessary to optimize composting process. A survey was conducted to estimate the amount of food waste generated by commercial (n=10) and household (n=50) sectors in Bandar Baru Bangi. The presence of cooked rice residue, meat based residue, fish based residue, vegetable and fruit residue and whether the food waste was in wet condition were also examined. Physicochemical characteristics of the food waste was also analysed. About 11.41 MT of food waste was generated daily in Bandar Baru Bangi. From the total, household sector contributed 67.3% whereas commercial sector contributed another 32.7%. Compared to household sector, food waste in wet condition was found more frequently (p<0.05) in the commercial sector. Rice residue was the most frequent food waste component of household and the commercial sector. Physicochemical analysis showed that pH value, ash, organic matter, organic carbon, nitrogen and crude fat contents as well as C/N ratio were found significantly different (p<0.05) among food waste generated on different days. Food waste was acidic (pH 4.82-5.17), contained high moisture (65.9 – 69.5%) and crude fat content (13.1 – 20.2%) but low in nitrogen content (0.63 – 0.85%). Nevertheless, the C/N ratio was still within an appropriate range (20-25) for effective composting. Hence, if composting process is introduced, the food waste has the potential to be converted into compost

Taste Panel Evaluation and Acceptance of Soy-beef Bur~er

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the addition of textured soy protein (TSP) at 0%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% levels on the quality and general acceptance of soy-beef burgers by trained taste panels as well as the consumer. Analyses carried out at three-week intervals include TBA values, water holding capacity, cooking loss, sensory evaluation and consumer acceptance. The increase of textured soy protein levels in beef burger resulted in significant decrease in TBA values and cooking loss. The addition of textured soy protein also increased the water holding capacity of the products. Generally, storage time reduced the quality of these products. Sensory properties showed that the substitution of meat with textured soy protein increased the intensity of beany flavour and taste. The addition of textured soy protein decreased the colour acceptance but had no specific effect on the quality attributes such as appearance, texture, saltiness and juidness of the product. Results of the consumer acceptance test showed that there were no significant differences in preference for the 0%,20% and 30% levels of textured soy protein in beef burger

Haematological and histopathological evaluation of dried kacangma (Leonurus sibiricus) in New Zealand White rabbits

Kacangma (Leonurus sibiricus L.) is a popular traditional herb that has been consumed for decades by the people of Sarawak as herbal medicine and culinary ingredient. This study was conducted to evaluate the toxicity of kacangma herb on New Zealand White male and female rabbits through subchronic studies. Effects of kacangma herb intake at the level of 0.5, 5.0 and 25.0 g/kg body weight was evaluated for 90 days with focus on hematological and histopathological studies. The haematological study revealed no significant changes in all parameters studied i.e. heamoglobin, red blood cell value, white blood cell value, packed cell volume, mean cell volume, mean cell haemoglobin and mean cell haemoglobin concentration. Vice versa, in the histophatological study, administration of dried kacangma herb at medium and high dose was found to cause adverse effects on histopathological structure in liver and kidney of both male and female rabbits. However, since low dose group showed no significant differences to the control group, therefore it is considered safe and less chance of developing toxicity if the herb is consumed at the low dose of 0.5 g/kg body weight as observed throughout the 90 days period of subchronic study

Oviposition and longevity of Coccinella sp. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on artificial diets

Coccinella sp. is a polyphagous predator which is potential to be developed into a biological control agent for aphids. The research aimed to determine the oviposition and longevity of the adults of the predator when given artificial food and various kinds of drinks. The experiment was performed by placing a pair of adults into a Petri dish, covered with a piece of filter paper, containing five mg of food made of ground honey bee larvae (Apis cerana) and then given a drink that is stored or absorbed on a sponge or a cotton swab as a treatment. There were nine treatments and each repeated three times. The results showed that significant differences among the treatments were present, both in the number of groups of eggs and the number of individual eggs produced by an adult predator. The highest number of eggs (323.7 eggs) and the number of egg groups (69.3) laid by an adult was found when the adult was presented with the artificial food and drink of sugar solution in the sponge. When the predator was supplied with the artificial food and water in a sponge, the lowest number of individual eggs and groups of eggs were laid, 65.00 eggs and 19.7 egg groups, respectively. Longevity of the female predator was the longest when given a drink of sugar solution compared to the other treatments. For mass-rearing of predator Coccinella sp. on artificial diet, drinks solution made of honey or sugar solution prepared in the sponge should be added

Keanekaragaman Serangga Penyerbuk di Pertanaman Jagung Pulut

Aminah SN, Abdullah T, Fatahuddin F.  2020.  The diversity of Pollinator Insects in Waxy Maize Field. In: Herlinda S et al. (Eds.), Prosiding Seminar Nasional Lahan Suboptimal ke-8 Tahun 2020, Palembang  20 Oktober 2020. pp. xxx.  Palembang: Penerbit & Percetakan Universitas Sriwijaya (UNSRI).Pulut (waxy maize field) is the one of the important commodities in Maros Regency, South Sulawesi. The pollinating insects from Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera found in waxy maize field. The purpose of the research is to identify types of pollinator insects and flowering plant as a food source around the waxy maize field. The research was held in farmer field in Ta'deang village, Maros Regency, South Sulawesi from January to March 2020. The activity in form of field trial in the farmer waxy maize field. Selection source of seeds and agricultural techniques follow farmer habits. The visual observation presence of pollinating insects in the waxy maize was held when the plants 28 DAP (days after planting) through before harvest. The research held visual identification of plant species as producer of nectar and pollen. The result was showed there are six kinds of plant used as a source of food for pollinator insects living in the habitat of waxy maize field. Flowering plants categorized as weeds are: Portulaca sp., Lantana camara and Cleome rutidosperma are source of nectar and pollen. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index for pollinator insects is -1.5 indicates that the diversity is very low, population development is under environmental stress and the ecosystem is unstable. The highest total of insect population as butterfly Catopsilia scylla family Pieridae  and the lowest was Graphium agamemnon, family Papilionidae. The conclusion is: the dominant pollinator insects in waxy maize from Lepidoptera is Catopsilia scylla and the dominant Hymenoptera order is Apis mellifera (honey bee)