Can potassium fertilization, soil amendments and land leveling ameliorate rice production under salt affected soils conditions?

The significance of nutrient and water and its sustainability was and still one of the most emerging issues in agriculture. Therefore, it should be considered the maintenance, improvement and efficiently utilization of nutrient and water resources. In present work, the effect of land leveling, soil amendments including gypsum and/or compost application and K- fertilizer on rice production under salt affected soils conditions have been studied. The results showed that the highest yield of grain and straw of rice was obtained with using K-fertilization, land levelling rate 0.05 % of surface slope in the presence of gypsum plus compost application. Furthermore, this study suggests that, the efficiency of irrigation application increased from about 60 (for control) to 65 and 78 % for land leveling with 0.0 and 0.05 % slope, respectively. That means, the water loss rate from irrigation were 43, 36 and 32 %, respectively using the previous land leveling treatments. Thus, about 17 % from the applied water for irrigation could be saved under 0.05 % slope. On the other hand, the highest decrease rate in soil salinity (EC, dS m-1) and alkalinity (sodium absorption ratio, SAR) was 26 and 20 %, respectively for the traditional land leveling or the farmers’ practices. Therefore, sustainable rice crop production should be managed to overcome the soil salinity and alkalinity under low land rice cultivation, improving soil quality and its fertility

Contamination of Plant Foods with Nicotine: An Overview

It is well known that, the explorer "Christopher Columbus" encountered tobacco in the 1400s during his earliest journey to the New World. Tobacco plant is native to North America and other parts of the Western Hemisphere. Furthermore, plant of tobacco contains nicotine and its use has a history that dates back to the earliest records of settlers arriving in America. Moreover, American Indians introduced these settlers to the tobacco plant. In various recent publications elevated nicotine concentrations have been reported to occur in many different foods and plant derived commodities (such as fungi, tea, fruit teas, spices and medicinal plants). Whereas, it is recorded that, high nicotine contaminations are also present in many plant derived products. Up till now, the causes of these contaminations are unknown and they are found in both conventional and in organic products. Thus, field and in vitro experiments are required to elucidate the origin for these nicotine contaminations. Therefore, this work aims to highlight on the nicotine contamination in some different food plants

Investigation of dissipation phenomenon of non-Newtonian nanofluid due to a horizontal stretching rough sheet through a Darcy porous medium

Recent advancements in thermal engineering have led to the development of stable thermal properties and practical applications for nanofluid flow. Consequently, this study aims to explore the heat and mass transfer characteristics of a non-Newtonian Maxwell nanofluid when it comes into contact with a stretched surface containing porous features that allow for fluid suction velocity. Additionally, the research takes into account how the Soret and Dufour effects impact the processes of heat and mass transfer. A less-explored aspect of research in this field relates to the velocity slip boundary conditions when nanofluids with changing viscosity are involved. Additionally, the model employed in this study illustrates the influence of both viscous dissipation and variable thermal conductivity on the processes of heat and mass transfer. The mathematical flow model is described by nonlinear partial differential equations, which are subsequently transformed into non-dimensional ordinary differential equations. The resulting system is then solved numerically using the shooting method. This study visually examines the impact of physical variables on temperature, flow characteristics, and concentration patterns. Furthermore, it provides graphical representations of estimated values for the skin friction coefficient, Sherwood numbers, and local Nusselt numbers, which are also organized in tables for analysis. In conclusion, by comparing our data with previous results, we confirm the accuracy and reliability of the proposed method. A significant discovery is that the nanofluid velocity decreases as the Maxwell, porous, and slip velocity parameters are increased. Furthermore, the nanofluid concentration rises when the thermophoresis and viscosity parameters increase

Investigation of magnetohydrodynamic slip flow for Maxwell nanofluid over a vertical surface with Cattaneo-Christov heat flux in a saturated porous medium

Recently, there has been considerable attention given to a sophisticated fluid system known as the Maxwell nanofluid, which incorporates chemical reactions and the Cattaneo-Christov heat flux. This system has garnered significant interest due to its potential significance in various fields, including heat transfer, chemical engineering, and nanotechnology. Therefore, this numerical investigation proposes a new model for the steady two-dimensional flow of a homogeneous Maxwell nanofluid towards a vertical stretching sheet that incorporated within a porous medium, aimed at revealing the fluid's dynamic and thermal characteristics. The model is specifically tailored for nanofluids and includes thermal radiation, chemical reactions and slip conditions. It is presumed that the viscosity of the Maxwell nanofluid changes with variations in temperature. The governing partial differential equations and corresponding boundary conditions for the nanofluid flow problem are derived in a suitable manner, based on physically valid assumptions and validated experimental correlations. MATHEMATICA software is used to perform arithmetic simulations of the energy, mass concentration, and momentum equations. The simulations are carried out using the fourth-order Runge-Kutta technique in conjunction with the shooting method. Numerical and visual techniques are utilized to examine how the physical parameters that control the model influence it. Subsequent to evaluating our data against prior findings, the reliability and precision of the proposed method are verified. The findings show that the nanofluid's velocity detracts when the slip velocity, Maxwell parameter, magnetic forces, viscosity parameter, and porous parameter rise. The temperature field, which is affected by these parameters, shows the opposite tendency, on the other hand. In addition, the suction parameter application results in a drop in the concentration, temperature, and velocity of the nanofluid

Impact of Gypsum and Bio-Priming of Maize Grains on Soil Properties, Physiological Attributes and Yield under Saline–Sodic Soil Conditions

In order to enhance soil qualities and boost crop output, gypsum, plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), and chitosan are all viable solutions. This study’s goal was to find out how different amounts of chitosan—0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg L−1—in combination with gypsum and PGPR inoculation (Azospirillum lipoferum + Bacillus subtilis), affected the yield of maize plants growing in saline–sodic soil. Field tests were carried out in triplicate across two growing seasons, 2020 and 2021, using a split plot design. According to the findings, applying the gypsum + PGPR + 50 mg L−1 chitosan treatment (T8) considerably improved plant physiology (chlorophyll, carotenoids, and proline levels), nutrient indicators (N, K+ and K+/Na+ ratio), soil enzyme activity (dehydrogenase, urease, amylase, and invertase), cation exchange capacity (CEC), and porosity. On the other hand, we revealed positive effects on Na+, bulk density (BD), electrical conductivity (EC), and the proportion of exchangeable sodium (ESP), thus, enhancing the productivity compared to the alternative treatment. Therefore, it might be inferred that using gypsum, microbial inoculation, and 50 mg L−1 chitosan may be a key strategy for reducing the detrimental effects of salinity on maize plants

Effect of Gypsum, Compost, and Foliar Application of Some Nanoparticles in Improving Some Chemical and Physical Properties of Soil and the Yield and Water Productivity of Faba Beans in Salt-Affected Soils

Two field experiments were conducted at Kafr El Sheikh Gov., Egypt, during two winter growing seasons (2020/2021 and 2021/2022). The objective of this study was to improve some chemical and physical properties of soil and the yield and water productivity of faba beans (Viciafaba L.), Cv. Sakha-4 by application of gypsum, compost, and some nanoparticles in salt-affected soils. The experimental treatments were arranged in a split-plot design with three replications. The main plots had the following soil amendments: T1: control treatment, T2: 10 tons compost/hectare, T3: soil gypsum requirement (GR) of 8.59 ton ha−1, and T4: GR + 10 tons compost/hectare. The subplots were treated with foliar application as follows: no treatment, manganese nanoparticles (Mn-NPs), selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs), and Mn-NPs + Se-NPs. According to the findings, the application of compost + GR significantly decreased soil salinity (EC), exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), and soil bulk density (BD). However soil porosity, soil penetration resistance (SPRa), and basic soil infiltration (IR) were significantly increased. On the other hand, the results revealed significant positive effects onthe 100-grain weight as well as proline, chlorophyll, superoxide dismutase, and catalase contents due to the interaction between gypsum + compost and Mn-NPs + Se-NPs, which enhanced the productivity of both the seed and straw yields of faba beans compared to the alternative treatments. In addition, the seed yield and irrigation water productivity (PIW, kg m3) of faba beans were significantly increased with addition of gypsum and compost and foliar application of nanoparticles. The highest values of these parameters were achieved due to the interaction between gypsum + compost and Mn-NPs + Se-NPs. It can be concluded that application of GR of 8.59 ton ha−1 and 10 ton ha−1 compost as well as foliar application of Mn-NPs and Se-NPs may be a key strategy for improving some chemical and physical properties of soil and the yield and water productivity of faba beans in salt-affected soil under these experimental conditions

Effect of 1,3-Beta Glucans Dietary Addition on the Growth, Intestinal Histology, Blood Biochemical Parameters, Immune Response, and Immune Expression of CD3 and CD20 in Broiler Chickens

This experiment evaluated the impact of the dietary addition of 1,3-β-glucans (GLU) on broiler chickens’ growth, intestinal histology, blood biochemical parameters, and immunity. Two hundred three-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) (97.93 ± 0.19 g/chick) were randomly assigned into four treatments with five replicates, each containing ten birds, in a complete randomized design. The four treatments were formulated with 0, 50, 100, and 150 mg 1,3-β-glucans kg−1 in broiler chicken diets. During the study, no significant impacts (p > 0.05) were observed in weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) between treatment groups. Based on the results of total body weight gain and FCR, the optimal level of 1,3-β-glucan is 120 mg Kg−1. The intestinal histomorphology was improved by GLU supplementation, as indicated by increased villi height and villi height to crypt depth ratio (p p p p p −1. Dietary 1,3-β-glucan has a hypolipidemic effect and improves the hormonal profile of birds without affecting their growth rate

Organic Amendments and Nano-Micronutrients Restore Soil Physico-Chemical Properties and Boost Wheat Yield Under Saline Environment

Ensuring food security under climate change scenario requisites amending degraded soils and sustainably boost staple crops yield in a biologically viable way through effective plant nutrition management strategies. Two multi-year lysimeter experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of soil organic substances and foliar application of some nano-nutrients on soil properties and wheat yield under saline conditions. The experiment was executed in split plot with three replications. Treatments included organic amendments (molasses, compost tea, K-humate, molasses+ compost tea, molasses+K-humate, compost tea+ K-humate and molasses+K-humate+Compost tea and control) in main plots, while sub plots had nano-micronutrients (nano-selenium, nano-manganese and nano-silica) and a control treatment. The results showed that physio-chemical properties (bulk density, cation exchange capacity, electrical conductivity etc.) of the soil were significantly influenced by all organic amendments; however, co-application of molasses+K-humate+compost tea remained unmatched. The same treatment combination also remained effective in boosting nitrogen uptake and recovery along with wheat yield during both seasons. Among foliage applied nano micronutrients, silicon remained superior by recording the highest yield attributes and grain yield of wheat. Therefore, it is inferred that co-application of organic amendments and foliage applied nano-fertilization management could be developed as an effective approach to restore and conserve the soil and increase wheat productivity under saline environment of arid and semi-arid regions

An Overview of Agro-Waste Management in Light of the Water-Energy-Waste Nexus

It is urgent that we increase global food production to support population growth. Food production requires significant resources, amongst them water and energy. Therefore, any losses of food or other agricultural products also means a waste of water and energy resources. A significant amount of these losses occurs during the postharvest stage, primarily during processing and storage. This is considered avoidable food waste. The water-energy-waste nexus (WEW), and its relationship to food production, needs to be investigated from a circular bioeconomy lens. Furthermore, alternative uses of the wastes should be investigated. This review focuses on agro-wastes and their management as sources for bioactive compounds, biofertilizers, biomaterials, nanomaterials, pharmaceuticals and medicinal agents, and growth media, e.g., for plant tissue culture. We also investigated the potential contribution of agro-wastes to bioenergy production (bioethanol, biogas, and biofuel). Proper management of agro-wastes may support the mitigation of climate change, produce innovative bio-ingredients and biodegradable materials, and enhance green growth and a circular bioeconomy. We argue that the management of agro-wastes cannot be discussed without referring to the role of water and energy within the food system. Thus, this review focuses on agricultural wastes and their handling, applications, environmental impacts, and potential benefits in the agricultural and medical industries in light of the WEW nexus