Lime Pretreatment Associated Compositional and Ultrastructural Changes in Selected Root and Vegetable Processing Residues

The study aimed at exploring the suitability of processing residues from selected root and vegetables for bioethanol production, which are otherwise environmental pollutants. The effect of lime pretreatment at high (HT), low (LT) or room (RT) temperatures on compositional and ultrastructural changes in peels of root crops (sweet potato, elephant foot yam and tannia) and vegetable processing residues (peels from ash gourd and mixed vegetable waste) was studied. Pretreatment resulted in the removal of very little polysaccharides, including starch from these biomasses. Hemicellulose was removed to a higher extent in 24 h RT pretreatment (11.6-12.3%) compared to 7.3-8.5% removal in HT pretreatment. Maximum lignin removal (ca. 33-38%) occurred in RT pretreated (24 h) samples. Approximately 22-25.7% lignin was removed during HT pretreatment (121 °C) for 30 min. which increased to 28-31% when prolonged to 60 min. Pretreatment Efficiency (PE) was low (4.2-14.7%) in HT pretreatment, while 5.7-13.5% and 5.2-14.2% PE was observed in LT and RT pretreatments respectively. Scanning electron micrographs of lime pretreated biomass indicated that starch being a major ingredient of the biomass under study, preferential saccharification of starch by amylases might be necessary to expose the cellulose and hemicellulose for their subsequent saccharification to release fermentable sugars

Comparative Alterations in the Compositional Profile of Selected Root and Vegetable Peels Subjected to Three Pretreatments for Enhanced Saccharification

Lignocellulosic feedstocks have gained worldwide interest as alternative biofuel source in the context of squeezing petroleum resources, enhanced environmental pollution from greenhouse gases and resulting climate change. The potential of agricultural processing residues such as root and vegetable peels (beet root, greater yam, pumpkin and vegetable banana) for bioethanol production was investigated through an understanding of their compositional profile and efficacy of three pretreatments in altering their composition and reducing biomass recalcitrance. Starch was the major polysaccharide in the residues (range: 25-37%), followed by cellulose (18-22%) and hemicellulose (15-20%). While dilute sulfuric acid (DSA; 121°C ; 0.102 MPa) hydrolyzed starch and hemicellulose to a high extent, steam pretreatment of moist residues (40 % and 50 % MC) at 100 °C also facilitated hemicellulose and starch solubilization. On the contrary, lime pretreatment retained most of the cellulose, hemicellulose and starch in the pretreated residues. Delignification was the highest (28- 37%) in steam pretreated residues, with minimal effect in DSA and lime pretreatments, necessitating lignin binding surfactants during saccharification in the latter. Reducing sugar content in pretreated liquors and Pretreatment Efficiency (%) were the highest (40-45 g L-1 and 57-64% respectively) in the DSA pretreatment. The study showed that as the pretreated liquor DSA and steam pretreatment was rich in fermentable sugars, whole slurry saccharification would be beneficial for maximizing the bioethanol yield

Microwave-Assisted Alkali Delignification Coupled with Non-Ionic Surfactant Effect on the Fermentable Sugar Yield from Agricultural Residues of Cassava

Cassava stem, leaves and peel are agricultural residues generated as waste biomass during the cultivation and processing of cassava. The potential of these biomasses as feedstock for ethanol production depends on the effective deconstruction via pretreatment and saccharification. The effect of alkaline hydrogen peroxide (AHP) treatment on microwave (MW)-irradiated or steam-exposed aqueous slurry was compared with MW-irradiation (300 W) of alkali slurry in delignifying the biomass and degrading the polysaccharides. Cellulose was degraded to a higher extent than hemicellulose in the AHP treatments. The steam-exposed and AHP pretreated residues on saccharification with Cellic (Cellulase complex) alone or Cellic along with Tween 20 resulted in high conversion of carbohydrate to reducing sugars (RS) in leaves (64-70%) and peel (74- 78%), with slightly lower conversion in stem. MW-irradiation of alkali slurry (5 min.) followed by Tween 20 supplemented saccharification was a better strategy degrading cellulose and hemicellulose to very high extent. Tween 20 supplementation was beneficial in enhancing the RS release from the biomasses even when Cellic dosage was halved. Ultrastructural studies indicated the disappearance of starch granules from stem and peel samples after MW-irradiation and saccharification, while fragmented cellulose fibers were visible in leaf samples. The study showed that MW-assisted alkali pretreatment followed by saccharification with Cellic in presence of Tween 20 was very effective in releasing maximum sugars from these biomasses

Influence Of Tillage Practices And Residue Management Practices on Yield Attributes And Yield Of Maize In Maize-Based Cropping Systems Under Semi-Arid Tropics

A field experiment was conducted during kharif and rabi in 2016-17 and 2017-18 at International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-arid Tropics, Patancheru, Hyderabad to study the influence of tillage practices and residue management practices on yield attributes and yield of maize in maize-based cropping systems under semi-arid tropics. The field experiment was laid out on broad-beds and furrows in a split-split design with four replications under rainfed conditions. Main plot consisted of two tillage practices (minimum tillage and conventional tillage), sub-plot of two crop residue management practices (residue addition and no-residue addition) and sub-sub plot of two cropping systems (Maize-chickpea sequential cropping and maize+pigeonpea intercropping system). The results revealed that yield and yield attributes of maize did not vary significantly due to tillage practices, however, minimum tillage led to considerable yield losses. Among the residue management practices, addition of crop residue recorded significantly higher yield and yield attributes (cob girth, number of grain rows and test weight) as compared to no residue addition. Yield attributes and yield remained non-significant among the two cropping systems

A new privacy policy mechanisim for user images in content sharing places

We propose a two-level structure which as indicated by the client's accessible history on the site, decides the best accessible security approach for the client's pictures being transferred. Our answer depends on a picture characterization structure for picture classifications which might be related with comparative approaches, and on an arrangement expectation calculation to naturally create a strategy for each recently transferred picture, additionally as per clients' social highlights. After some time, the created arrangements will pursue the development of clients' protection state of mind

Performance of no-till maize under drip-fertigation in a double cropping system in semi arid Telangana state of India

Availability of water for Agriculture is becoming increasingly difficult, besides the cost of power for applying it. Improving the water and nitrogen use efficiency has become imperative in present day’s Agriculture. Drip irrigation and fertigation provides the efficient use of limited water with increased water and nutrient use efficiency, respec- tively. A field experiment was conducted during post rainy season of two consecutive years (2011 and 2012), in sandy loam soils of Warangal, Telangana State, India to study the response of no-till maize (Zea mays L) after aerobic rice (Oryza sativa L) to drip irrigation and nitrogen fertigation under semi-arid environment. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with four replications. Three irrigation schedules viz. drip irrigation at 75% Pan Evaporation (PE); 100% PE and 125% PE were taken as main plots and three nitrogen levels through fertigation viz. 120, 160, and 200 kg ha-1 as sub plots. The growth parameters (plant height, LAI, drymatter accumulation), root volume and dry weight, yield attributes (cobs plant-1, kernels cob-1, kernel weight cob-1) kernel yield, stover yield and nitrogen uptake of no till maize increased with increase in water input from 75% PE to 100% PE irrigation schedule in drip irrigation but could not reach the level of significance at 125% PE. Tasseling and silking was hastened in 125% PE schedule. Increase in the level of N application through fertigation from 120 to 160 kg N ha-1 resulted in the increase of all the growth parameters, yield attributes, kernel yield, stover yield and nitrogen uptake. Barrenness and test weight were unaffected by either the irrigation schedules or nitrogen levels. The economic indicators (gross returns, net returns and net benefit: cost ratio) were higher with the irrigation schedule of 125% PE and nitrogen dose of 200 kg N ha-1 applied through fertigation. Increased water input from 75 to 125% PE resulted in decreased water use efficiency but enhanced nitrogen use efficiency while the reverse trend was found with respect to N levels under fertigation

Women’s’ empowerment in the fragile environment of Semi-Arid Tropics: focus on norms, agency and attitudes

Empowerment of women, in its simplest meaning refers to the process whereby women acquire an ability to make strategic life choices. Likewise, power is also thought of as an ability to make choices. This view of power focuses on structure or the social norms and forces that enable and or constrain thinking, action and behavior. Hence, there is now a focus and discussion on not just the power relations among actors and their agency (strengthening capabilities to act) but also on social structures, norms, and attitudes that enable (or constrain) the behavior of all actors – women, men, socially included and excluded (Hayward 2000).Taking cues from the work of Munoz-Boudet et.al (2012), this paper attempts to discuss that social norms, gender roles, individual capacities, assets, and the communities wherein the marginalized rural poor live, determine the opportunities available to women and men.Harnessing the rich VLS longitudinal panel data from 6 villages of India, the paper explains the dynamics of intra-household relationships gleaned from the longitudinal panel and highlights how gender differences and inequalities among sample households engaged in agriculture in these villages has changed over time. Q2 analysis is used to examine variation in gender norms and attitudes among communities/villages as well as discern distinguishing patterns and pathways towards women’s empowerment. The paper also appeals to analysis of the social network architecture, identifying existing formal and informal institutions that enable women’s agency, voice, claims and opportunities. Understanding women in their wider social setting - wider social contexts of gender, age, class and other identities that influence their relations with others, leads to a better appreciation of the change agents women can be in their households, communities and nation at large. Ultimately, to bring about socially transformative empowerment , the paper clearly points that it is imperative that individuals and groups develop the capacities to not only address the norms, attitudes and conditions that determine their life choices and aspirations but also challenge them to bring about this change

Techniques to screen sorghums for resistance to insect pests

Sorghum is an important cereal crop in Asia, Africa, Americas and Australia. Grain yields on farmers’ fi elds in Asia and Africa are generally low (500−800 kg ha-1) mainly due to insect pest damage. Nearly 150 insect species have been reported as pests on sorghum (Sharma 1993), of which sorghum shoot fl y (Atherigona soccata), stem borers (Chilo partellus, Busseola fusca, Eldana saccharina and Diatraea spp.), armyworms (Mythimna separata, Spodoptera frugiperda and S. exempta), shoot bug (Peregrinus maidis), aphids (Schizaphis graminum and Melanaphis sacchari), spider mites (Oligonychus spp.), grasshoppers and locusts (Hieroglyphus, Oedaleus, Aliopus, Schistocerca, and Locusta), sorghum midge (Stenodiplosis sorghicola), mirid head bugs (Calocoris angustatus and Eurystylus oldi), and head caterpillars (Helicoverpa, Eublemma, Cryptoblabes, Pyroderces, and Nola) are the major pests worldwide. Other insects reported to be damaging sorghum are of regional/local importance. Annual losses due to insect pests differ in magnitude on a regional basis. They have been estimated to be $1,089 million in the semi-arid tropics (SAT),$250 million in United States, and $80 million in Australia (ICRISAT 1992). In India, nearly 32% of sorghum crop is lost due to insect pests (Borad and Mittal 1983)

Journal of Mechanical Design Technical Briefs Comparative Evaluation of Finite Element Models and Types of Analyses for a Bolted Joint

The present work is aimed at evaluating different ways in which a given joint can be analyzed using the Finite Element Method. The bolt is modeled using line elements (link