Organic fertilizer effect on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cultivated in nutrient film technology

The survey was carried out in the Research Centre for the study of food products quality “HORTINVEST” between 2014-2015 using the Nutrient Film Technology (NFT) for the cultivation of lettuce. Three lettuce cultivars were used: Markies, Lollo bionda and Lollo rosa, together with three types of fertilizers: two organic fertilizers and a chemical one. Biometrical measurements on lettuce growth were conducted; also at the end of the cultivation cycle biochemical measurements were performed in order to assess plant quality. Also correlations between various biometrical parameters and influencing vegetal factors were settled. The results led towards gains in the plant growth rate, in the development of the leaf number and eventually in the production growth. For all lettuce varieties under research the total plant mass was higher due to organic fertilizers in comparison with plants under chemical fertilizer treatment. The plants organically fertilized proved to be superior as to the biochemical quality. Research was carried out in order to assess the quantitative and qualitative feedback of lettuce cultivated in Nutrient Film Technology (NFT) to various organic fertilizers which might replace chemical fertilizers

COMPARATIVE STUDY ON BIOCHEMICAL PARTICULARITIES OF SEVERAL SOYBEAN VARIETIES USED IN ANIMAL NUTRITION

Soybean is one of the most important agronomical crops used both in human and animal nutrition, and for processing. The content of soybean in protein and oil may vary from one variety to another being between 30% protein content and 17-25% oil content, in seeds, and 15% protein content and 5% oil content, in plants, respectively. Also, these are very much influenced by both the environment factors (temperature, humidity, type of soil) and the technology applied (irrigation, nonirrigation, and entire system of cultivation, and the cultivars, too. The experiment was designed to determine if the biochemical particularities are influenced by the two factors: cultivar and herbicide. Two Romanian cultivars have been used, Danubiana and Columna, being cultivated under herbicide treatment ( a mixture of Gallat -2l/ha + 70g Dynam), and non herbicide (control) conditions. The experiment shows that the herbicide did not influence the mineral substance, protein and lipid content, for instance the highest value of total dry matter content of soybean pods was registered for Columna variety being of 28,54% for control and 25,67 % for herbicide mixture variant. In addition the content of mineral elements may vary between 1,56% for Danubiana variety under herbicide mixture variant and 1,78 % for Columna variety as control . Nevertheless the herbicide had a great influence on the both seed weight varieties, increasing from 130g to 171g for Danubiana and from 150g to 167g for Columna variety, respectively.The differences between cultivars are small, for water, and mineral element content, and fat acids, but they are much higher for lipid and protein content.Amongst the two varieties, Danubiana is recommended to be used in the animal nutrition due to its mineral elements and protein

TESTING OF THE EFFICIENCY OF SOME ENZYMATIC MIXTURES, CONCERNING THE CONVERSION OF SEVERAL LIGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASS’ SOURSES, TO REDUCING SUGARS

Three lignocelluloses substrates have been used, as following: Mischantus, Maize stalk and Wheat bran, in order to obtain fermentescible sugars, which will be transformed into bioethanol. The substrates were hydrolysed using commercial enzymes: MethaPlus (β-glucanase, xylanase, cellulase), Veron 191 (xylanase), Hep C (cellulase). The hydrolysis was performed at 550 C, for 20 h, at pH = 5,5. The best results were obtained by using MethaPlus enzyme. The efficiency of hydrolysis was 110.80 % for Miscanthus, 126.15 % for maize stalk and 118.76 % for wheat bran, reported to the control. The most enhanced quantities of reducing sugars were obtained in maize stalk, namely: 126.15 % using MethaPlus, 112.07 % using Veron 191 and 113.52 % using Hep C. The wheat bran was hydrolysed with enzymatic mixtures, for emphasizing the reducing sugars’ grow, coming from residual starch’s content (flour). In comparison to the control, the efficiency of hydrolysis was of: 181.004 % for MethaPlus-Veron M4 mixture, 168.83 % for MethaPlus-Veron 393 mixture, 205.86 % for MethaPlus-BG α-malt mixture and of 176.57 % for MethaPlus-Veron MX mixture. The enzymatic mixture which contains BG α-malt was the most productive, the hydrolysis efficiency being superior to all other variants

HYDROLYSIS OF AGRICULTURAL BIOMASS BY COMBINED PRETREATMENT AND ENZYMATIC METHODS IN ORDER TO PRODUCE BIOFUELS (ETHANOL, BIOGAS)

The use of energy crops (maize straw, wheat straw, barley straw etc.) as substratefor renewable energy production (e.g. biogas) is more efficient when it is degradedby different hydrolysis methods. However, fibers contained inside energy crops (e.g.cellulose and hemicellulose) are only hardly and slowly degraded by anaerobicbacteria. The slow degradation of these substances can decrease the methane yieldsof agricultural biogas plants.In the present study, we investigated the efficiency ofcombined pretreatment (different concentrations H2SO4 + 30 minutes at 1210C)followed to enzymatic hydrolysis. Testing different concentration of H2SO4, goodresults were obtained for maize whole crop when we used combined pretreatment(3% H2SO4 + 30 minutes at 1210C) followed to enzymatic hydrolysis (3.9 foldhigher) and for Gavott Maize Straw when we used combined pretreatment (2%H2SO4 + 30 minutes at 1210C) followed to enzymatic hydrolysis (3.6 fold higher)comparing with untreated samples

Effect of Protein Gel Treatments on Biometric and Biochemical Attributes of Tomato Seedlings in Greenhouse Condition

Protein hydrolysates are widely used in agricultural crops for improving plant nutrient uptake, growth, yield, and fruit quality. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is one of the most important vegetables consumed around the world both for its good taste and rich content in vitamins, minerals, lycopene, and β-carotene. The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of new stimulant products based on protein hydrolysates obtained from animal tissue by-products on tomato seedlings. Given the increased intake of amino acids, it is expected that this treatment will exert beneficial effects on the development of certain vigorous seedlings, representing the premise for obtaining superior tomato plants and the improvement of the production and quality of tomato fruit. Two variants of protein gels based on gelatin and keratin hydrolysates were obtained by processing bovine hide and wool and were used for periodical root applications on tomato seedlings cultivated in a greenhouse. During the experiment, the biometric characteristics of seedlings were measured weekly. The content of photosynthetic pigments, dry weight, sugars, and polyphenols were analyzed, and the antioxidant activity was assessed in the leaves. The research performed showed that applied biostimulant treatments increased the content of photosynthetic pigments by 10%, the content of sugars by 75%, and the content of polyphenols by 16% compared to the control untreated variant. Between the variants of protein gels tested, the best results were obtained by applying a mixture of bovine gelatin and keratin

Camelina sativa Methanolic and Ethanolic Extract Potential in Alleviating Oxidative Stress, Memory Deficits, and Affective Impairments in Stress Exposure-Based Irritable Bowel Syndrome Mouse Models

Camelina sativa is mainly used as an oilseed crop; its edible oil is being also used as a traditional home remedy for the treatment of ulcers, wounds, and eye inflammations, due to the antioxidant activities. In the present study, the chemically characterized alcoholic extracts of Camelina sativa var. Madalina defatted seeds (5 g/kg body weight p.o., suspended in CMC-Na 0.1%) were administered to stress-induced animal models of irritable bowel syndrome (based on combinations of contention stress and multifactorial stress and maternal stress) and evaluated for the behavioural (short-term memory by the Y maze test, the anxious behaviour using the elevated plus maze test, and the antidepressant effect using the forced swimming test) and brain and bowel tissue oxidative status (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase enzymes activities and malondialdehyde and total soluble protein levels) improving effects. According to the chemical characterization, the extracts were rich in sinapine, glucosinolates, and flavonol glycosides. Moreover, this study showed the beneficial effects of Camelina sativa seed methanolic and ethanolic extracts on the behaviour and brain and bowel tissues oxidative stress status of stress exposure-based IBS mouse models. Despite the slight differences in the chemical composition of the methanolic and ethanolic extracts, the results suggested that the Camelina sativa extracts could reverse the short-term memory impairments caused by stress exposure and also could decrease the intensity and frequency of the anxiety and depressive-like behaviours observed in the stress-exposed animal models of IBS. Furthermore, the Camelina sativa extracts showed a significant effect on the oxidative stress markers in the brain and bowel tissues of the studied animal model by decreasing the superoxide dismutase activity and increasing the glutathione peroxidase activity. However, the results suggested that the extracts could also increase lipid peroxidation in bowel tissues. In this way, this study provides additional evidence that the administration of Camelina sativa seed alcoholic extracts could improve cognitive performances and mood and exhibit the antioxidant capacity in both the brain and bowel tissues