Improving Methane Production During the Anaerobic Digestion of Waste Activated Sludge: Cao-ultrasonic Pretreatment and Using Different Seed Sludges

AbstractThree individual seed sludges, which domesticated by filter paper (SS1), food waste (SS2) and grease (SS3), respectively, were used for enhancing the methane production of waste activated sludge (WAS). Also CaO-ultrasonic pretreatment was performed on WAS to evaluate the effectiveness on improving efficient anaerobic digestion (AD). The results showed that WAS being acidated for 24h after CaO-ultrasonic pretreatment was an effective method for increasing initial methane production rate. The daily concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) during the AD course showed that the propionic was easier to be reduced after adding seed sludge. The optimum seed sludge for improving methane production and biodegradability of WAS was SS3, which led to an increase in the methane production of 68.92% and VS reduction of 69.20% higher than the control. This pretreatment combined with adding optimum seed sludge can greatly improve clean energy generation from WAS

Identifying the abilities of biostimulants to improve vegetable production compared with conventional fertilizer

Vegetables are important agricultural products with numerous health benefits. Excessive chemical fertilization to meet the food challenge has resulted in environmental and soil health hazards. Considering this aspect, the current study was conducted with the aim to introduce biostimulants as an alternative to chemical fertilizers to improve soil quality, crop quality, and yield. In the first experiment, the response of radish was noted against the application of glycine (GLY), aspartic acid (ASP), lysine (LYS), vitamin B complex (VBC), and chemical fertilizers (CF). The biostimulants were sourced from Sigma Aldrich and Martin Dow Market Ltd. The results indicated that ASP has significantly improved the phenolic contents in shoot (1.01%) and root (12.23%) compared with CF. Additionally, total protein was significantly increased in shoot with GLY (251.81%) and in root with ASP (57.06%). Shoot ascorbic acid contents were significantly improved with ASP (179.90%), VBC (159.91%), and LYS (139.92%). Plant fresh and dry weight was improved with VBC (478.31%) and ASP (364.73%). The N and P concentrations in radish root were higher in VBC (25.93%) and LYS (100%). Soil organic matter was improved ASP (61.51%), followed by VBC (60.13%). Soil available P concentration was also enhanced with LYS (40.43%), ASP (31.20%), and VBC (23.19%). The second experiment was focused on identifying the response of turnip crop against the following treatments: chemical fertilizers (CF), Isabion® (ISA), 25% CF + LYS + GLY (CLG), 25% CF + ASP + GLY (CAG), and 25% CF + ASP + LYS (CAL). The biostimulants were sourced from Sigma Aldrich Syngenta, Pakistan. The results denoted that CAL and ISA significantly improved the phenolic contents in turnip shoot and root. The ascorbic acid in turnip shoot was improved with CAL (19.27%), CAG (18.13%), ISA (17.68%), and in root with CLG (26.96%). The P concentration in turnip shoot was significantly higher in ISA (19.25%), CLG (16.85%), and CAG (12.26%). Soil total N was improved in all treatments. ISA improved the available P concentration, whereas CF (67.87 mg kg−1) followed by ISA (65.93 mg kg−1) improved the soil available K. Both studies conclude that biostimulants capable of improving vegetable quality

Biostimulants Application: An Innovative Approach to Food Security under Drought Stress

Climate change is a global threat to food security as it causes various biotic and abiotic stresses that adversely disturb agriculture production. With an increase in the worldwide population, the demand for food has also arisen. It is an immediate challenge for the scientific community to introduce an innovative tool to achieve food security with quality plant production and develop tolerance against abiotic stresses, specifically drought. Genetically modifications are effective and time-consuming, while biostimulants are in/organic substances with the potential to support plant development under stress conditions. This chapter focuses on the impacts of climate change on agriculture, challenges for agriculture sustainability and food security, the interrelationship between drought, climate change and food security, the potential role of biostimulants against drought, future aspects and challenges due to climate change specifically drought, and food security challenges. Various studies reported that the application of biostimulants results in enhancement of crop productivity and mitigates the harmful effects due to climate change. To ensure the quality of chapter, we collected references from well-reputed international journals using keywords ““biostimulants,” “drought,” “food security,” “agriculture sustainability,” and “climate change.” In conclusion, biostimulants has a potential to address adverse environmental conditions without affecting crop quality and yield loss

Code comment quality analysis and improvement recommendation: An automated approach

Program comprehension is one of the first and most frequently performed activities during software maintenance and evolution. In a program, there are not only source code, but also comments. Comments in a program is one of the main sources of information for program comprehension. If a program has good comments, it will be easier for developers to understand it. Unfortunately, for many software systems, due to developers’ poor coding style or hectic work schedule, it is often the case that a number of methods and classes are not written with good comments. This can make it difficult for developers to understand the methods and classes, when they are performing future software maintenance tasks. To deal with this problem, in this paper we propose an approach which assesses the quality of a code comment and generates suggestions to improve comment quality. A user study is conducted to assess the effectiveness of our approach and the results show that our comment quality assessments are similar to the assessments made by our user study participants, the suggestions provided by our approach are useful to improve comment quality, and our approach can improve the accuracy of the previous comment quality analysis approaches. </jats:p

A Modal Frequency Estimation Method of Non-Stationary Signal under Mass Time-Varying Condition Based on EMD Algorithm

A method to estimate modal frequency based on empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) is proposed. This method can decrease the difficulties in identifying modal frequency of combine harvesters. First, we used 16 acceleration sensors installed at different test points to collect vibration signals of a corn combine harvester under operating conditions (mass time-varying conditions). Second, we calculated mean value, variance and root mean square (RMS) value of the vibration signals, and analyzed its stationarity of vibration signals. Third, the main frequencies of the 16 points were extracted using the EMD and EEMD methods. Finally, we considered modal frequencies identified by the SSI algorithm as standard, and calculated the fitting degrees of the EMD and EEMD methods. The results show that in different time periods (0~60 s and 60~120 s), the maximum differences of the mean value, variance and RMS value of signals were 0.8633, 171.1629 and 11.3767, and the vibration signal under the operating condition of field harvesting can be regarded as a typical non-stationary random vibration signal. The EMD method had more modal aliasing than EEMD, and when we obtained the fitting equations of EMD, EEMD and SSI methods, the value of the Euler distance between the EMD fitting equation and the SSI fitting equation was 446.7883, while that for EEMD and SSI was 417.2845. The vibration frequencies calculated by the EEMD method is closer to the modal frequencies identified by SSI algorithm. The proposed method provides a reference for modal frequency identification and vibration control in a complex working environment

Application of K and Zn Influences the Mineral Accumulation More in Hybrid Than Inbred Maize Cultivars

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important crop used for feeding humans and cattle globally. Deficiency of potassium (K) and zinc (Zn) adversely impacts the maize crop productivity and quality. However, the application of these nutrients shows variant responses in different maize cultivars. To understand this perspective, the current study aimed at investigating K and Zn’s optimal concentration in different hybrid and inbred maize cultivars. The treatments were based on three zinc levels (0, 6, and 12 mg Zn kg−1) and K levels (0, 30, and 60 mg kg−1), and their respective combinations. The experiment results showed that combined fertilization approaches of Zn and K (Zn12K60) improved the plant biometric, and physiological attributes of maize crop. The results revealed a significant increase in plant height (45%), fresh weight (70%), and dry weight (45%). Similarly, physiological attributes significantly improved the relative water content (76.4%), membrane stability index (77.9%), chlorophyll contents (170%), and photosynthetic rate (130%) in both inbred and hybrid genotypes. Furthermore, Zn and K (Zn12K60) increased transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (Ci), and internal CO2. In conclusion, maize hybrids (Neelam and DK-6142) were observed best compared with inbred (Afghoi and P-1543) cultivars with the combined application of Zn and K (Zn12K60). Thus, these inbred varieties should be preferred for fodder requirement with optimum fertilizer (Zn12K60) application in Zn deficient soils

Pesticides Xenobiotics in Soil Ecosystem and Their Remediation Approaches

Globally, the rapid rise in the human population has increased the crop production, resulting in increased pesticide xenobiotics. Despite the fact that pesticide xenobiotics toxify the soil environment and ecosystem, synthetic pesticides have increased agricultural yields and reduced disease vectors. Pesticide use has increased, resulting in an increase in environmental pollution. Various methods of controlling and eliminating these contaminants have been proposed to address this issue. Pesticide impurity in the climate presents a genuine danger to individuals and other oceanic and earthly life. If not controlled, the pollution can prompt difficult issues for the climate. Some viable and cost-effective alternative approaches are needed to maintain this emission level at a low level. Phytoremediation and microbial remediation are effective methods for removing acaricide scrapings from the atmosphere using plants and organisms. This review gives an overview of different types of xenobiotics, how they get into the environment, and how the remediation of pesticides has progressed. It focuses on simple procedures that can be used in many countries. In addition, we have talked about the benefits and drawbacks of natural remediation methods

Pesticides Xenobiotics in Soil Ecosystem and Their Remediation Approaches

Globally, the rapid rise in the human population has increased the crop production, resulting in increased pesticide xenobiotics. Despite the fact that pesticide xenobiotics toxify the soil environment and ecosystem, synthetic pesticides have increased agricultural yields and reduced disease vectors. Pesticide use has increased, resulting in an increase in environmental pollution. Various methods of controlling and eliminating these contaminants have been proposed to address this issue. Pesticide impurity in the climate presents a genuine danger to individuals and other oceanic and earthly life. If not controlled, the pollution can prompt difficult issues for the climate. Some viable and cost-effective alternative approaches are needed to maintain this emission level at a low level. Phytoremediation and microbial remediation are effective methods for removing acaricide scrapings from the atmosphere using plants and organisms. This review gives an overview of different types of xenobiotics, how they get into the environment, and how the remediation of pesticides has progressed. It focuses on simple procedures that can be used in many countries. In addition, we have talked about the benefits and drawbacks of natural remediation methods

Sugarcane Industrial Byproducts as Challenges to Environmental Safety and Their Remedies: A Review

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is one of the major crops cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical countries, and the primary purpose is to obtain raw sugar. It is an important substance for sugar and alcohol production by both the sugar and beverage industries. During cane processing, various byproducts are obtained, namely sugarcane bagasse, bagasse ash, pressmud cake, sugarcane vinasse, and spent wash. There are many challenging problems in storage, and they cause great environmental pollution. This review discusses their properties by which they can be used for cleaner agricultural and environmental sustainability. Utilization of byproducts results in value-added soil properties and crop yield. Replacing chemical fertilization with these organic natured byproducts not only minimizes the surplus usage of chemical fertilizers but is also cost-effective and an eco-friendly approach. The drawbacks of the long-term application of these byproducts in the agricultural ecosystem are not well documented. We conclude that the agriculture sector can dispose of sugar industry byproducts, but proper systematic disposal is needed. The need arises to arrange some seminars, meetings, and training to make the farming community aware of byproducts utilization and setting a friendly relationship between the farming community and industrialists

Sugarcane Industrial Byproducts as Challenges to Environmental Safety and Their Remedies: A Review

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is one of the major crops cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical countries, and the primary purpose is to obtain raw sugar. It is an important substance for sugar and alcohol production by both the sugar and beverage industries. During cane processing, various byproducts are obtained, namely sugarcane bagasse, bagasse ash, pressmud cake, sugarcane vinasse, and spent wash. There are many challenging problems in storage, and they cause great environmental pollution. This review discusses their properties by which they can be used for cleaner agricultural and environmental sustainability. Utilization of byproducts results in value-added soil properties and crop yield. Replacing chemical fertilization with these organic natured byproducts not only minimizes the surplus usage of chemical fertilizers but is also cost-effective and an eco-friendly approach. The drawbacks of the long-term application of these byproducts in the agricultural ecosystem are not well documented. We conclude that the agriculture sector can dispose of sugar industry byproducts, but proper systematic disposal is needed. The need arises to arrange some seminars, meetings, and training to make the farming community aware of byproducts utilization and setting a friendly relationship between the farming community and industrialists