4 research outputs found
Effect of vermicompost, worm-bed leachate and arbuscular mycorrizal fungi on lemongrass ( Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf.) growth and composition of its essential oil
The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of
vermicompost, worm-bed leachate (WBL) and Glomus mosseae , an
arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), on growth of lemongrass (
Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf). A response surface methodology,
i.e. a three-level Box Benhen design with three repetitions and three
blocks, was applied to optimize biomass production, essential oil yield
and its composition. Application rates of Glomus mosseae were 0, 1 or 2
g plant-1, vermicompost 0, 5 or 10 g plant-1 and WBL 0, 10 and 20%. The
AMF had no significant effect on the variables tested, but vermicompost
had a significant effect on essential oil yield and WBL on essential
oil yield, myercene concentration and shoot dry weigh (p < 0.05). It
was found that lemongrass fertilized with 2.0 g G. mosseae, 5.0 g
vermicompost and 20% worm-bed leachate would yield 0.797% essential oil
of which 62.6% was citral
SUGARCANE MOLASSE AND WHEY AS ADDITIVES IN THE SILAGE OF LEMONGRASS ( Cymbopogon citratus [DC.] Stapf) LEAVES
After extraction of essential oil from lemongrass ( Cymbopogon citratus
[DC.] Stapf) leaves by steam distillation (heat treatment), large
amounts of organic wastes are obtained. This by-product could easily be
used as animal feed. The potential of sugarcane molasse and whey as
additives to ensile lemongrass leaves was investigated. The vegetative
material was obtained after essential oils were extracted from
lemongrass leaves with steam distillation. Lemongrass leaves were
chopped, mixed with sugarcane molasse and whey, placed in cylindrical
plastic containers, hermetically closed. The experimental design for pH
optimization was a response surface 3-level factorial design 32 with
three replicates. Sugarcane molasse at 5, 10 and 15% (w/w) and whey at
20, 25 and 30% (w/w) were used. The pH of the silage decreased
significantly in each treatment, but it was faster when sugarcane
molasse was added. The lactic acid concentration was 2.8 g kg-1 DM in
silage amended with 15% molasse plus 25% whey and was higher than in
silage supplemented with commercial additive after 15 d. In conclusion,
it was shown that lemongrass leaves obtained as by product after
extracting essential oils can be effectively ensiled with whey and
sugarcane molasse as additives inducing a faster production of lactic
acid