Growth and Yield of Tomato Applied with Silicon Supplements with Varying Material Structures

The effect of varying material structure of silicon (Si) supplements on the growth and yield performance of tomato was investigated. The experimental design consisted of three Si sources (nanosilica, microsilica and sodium silicate) at 5 g/L Si concentration. Among the treatments, nanosilica posted the highest increase in tomato plants\u2019 height increment, fresh weights and dry weights of all plant organs, Si concentrations, and yield. Tomato plants grown with nanosilica had increased height increment and fresh weights of roots, stems and leaves by 23%, 48%, 9% and 22%, respectively. Likewise, dry weight contents among individual organs of plants treated with nanosilica showed 40% and 34% significant increase in roots and stems, respectively. Only nanosilica significantly increased the average fruit yield of tomato by 35% as affected by the 23% increase in the average number of fruits per plant. hence, among the treatments investigated, Si supplementation using nanosilica powder is the most effective in improving the growth characteristics and yield of tomato. Si in root samples supplemented with nanosilica was 72%, 105% and 152% larger as compared to microsilica, sodium silicate and control samples, respectively, which led to the conclusion that the nanostructured scale of silicon supplement contribute to the effective uptake of silicon in the tomato plants, thereby improving growth and yield

Effects of Nanosilica Powder from Rice Hull Ash on Seed Germination of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)

open5noNanosilica powders were synthesized from rice hull ash (RHA) and their effects on seed germination of tomato plants were investigated. Synthesized nanosilica powder was subjected to various characterization studies for identification of the size, structure, morphology and elemental composition. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results showed that the nanoparticles were in agglomerated form with an average diameter of 46.5 nm and 40 nm, respectively. X-ray diffractometry (XRD) indicated that nanosilica powder is amorphous in nature. The nanosilica powder was also characterized as having a purity of 98.33% using EDXRF spectroscopy and having a surface area 172.19 m2 g-1 using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method. The study showed that nanosilica powder significantly improved germination parameters such as germination percentage, germination index, vigor index, mean germination time and average shoot length of tomato but not fresh weight and dry weight. The best results were found at 5gL-1 nanosilica powder. The increase over untreated control seeds was 22% for germination percentage, 47% for germination index, 92% for vigor index and 55% for average shoot length with the addition of 5 gL-1 nanosilica powder. Nanosilica powder-mediated improvement of seed germination in tomato suggests a potential application of nanosilica powder in seed germination of the plant. The study can serve as theoretical basis for further agricultural applications of nanosilica powder.openMaria Morissa Lu, Diana Marie De Silva, Engelbert Peralta, Alvin . Fajardo, Milagros PeraltaMaria Morissa, Lu; DE SILVA, DIANA MARIE; Engelbert, Peralta; Fajardo, Alvin.; Milagros, Peralt

Corrosion Inhibition of Sodium Silicate with Nanosilica as Coating in Pre-Corroded Steel

This study was conducted to investigate the potential of using sodium silicate with nanosilica as a treatment to inhibit the progress of corrosion in steel specimens that are already corroded. Steel specimens measuring 16 mm in diameter and 4 mm in thickness were prepared and subjected to pre-corrosion by immersion to 3.5% NaCl solution. Two sets of specimens were then dip-coated with sodium silicate containing nanosilica. One set was coated with 1% nanosilica, and the other was coated with 2.5% nanosilica. The coated specimens were then subjected to Complex Impedance Spectroscopy (CIS) at 20 Hz to 20 MHz frequency range. Compared with the sodium silicate coating with 1% nanosilica, the sodium silicate coating with 2.5% nanosilica had a larger semi-circle curve in the Nyquist plot. Similarly, the sodium silicate coating with 2.5% nanosilica also showed larger magnitudes of impedance at the low-frequency region and larger phase angles at the high-frequency regions in the Bode plot. These results imply that the sodium silicate coating with 2.5% nanosilica coating demonstrated better capacitive behavior. In addition, equivalent circuit modelling results also showed that the sodium silicate coating with 2.5% nanosilica had higher coating resistance and lower coating capacitance as compared to the sodium silicate coating with 1% nanosilica. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2021-03091761 Full Text: PD

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy for Non-Destructive Prediction of Maturity and Eating Quality of ‘Carabao’ Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Fruit

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was assessed in predicting maturity and eating quality of ‘Carabao’ mango fruit. A total of 1,200 fruits were harvested at the green stage at four different harvest dates [100, 110, 120 and 125 days after flower induction (DAFI)]. Fruits were scanned at the green and table-ripe stage (TRS) using NIR reflectance spectroscopy. The fruits were then measured destructively for the determination of dry matter (DM) content at the green stage, total soluble solids (TSS) and sensory attributes at the TRS. The best calibration models were achieved using partial least square regression (PLSR) analysis for predicting DM, TSS and maturity in the short wavelength region of 700 - 990 nm at 2-nm increment. Principal component analysis-linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA) was also used in classifying fruits according to maturity (in terms of DAFI) and eating quality (in terms of overall acceptability or OA). Based on R2 values, PLSR models are suitable for quality assurance according to maturity (R2 = 0.946, RMSECV = 2.229) and could be used for screening green fruits according to DM (R2 = 0.774, RMSECV = 1.091%). The calibration model for predicting TSS (R2 = 0.839, RMSECV = 1.282) of ripe fruit using NIR spectra at TRS could be used in research but with caution. For classifying fruits according to DAFI and OA, PCA-LDA gave good results using NIR spectra at the green stage with a success rate of 88% and 86%, 72% and 70% for calibration and validation, respectively.  The findings indicate the potential of near- infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for non-destructive prediction of maturity and quality parameters of mango. The results of the study could serve as the basis for quality control and automatic sorting system for various commodities

Optimized drying parameters of water hyacinths (Eichhornia crassipes. L)

The study investigated the optimum drying conditions of water hyacinth to contribute in the improvement of present drying processes. The effects of independent parameters (drying temperature, airflow rate, and number of passes) on the responses were determined using the Response Surface Methodology. The response parameters were composed of (1) final moisture content, (2) moisture ratio, (3) drying rate,(4) tensile strength, and (5) browning index. Box and Behnken experimental design represented the design of experiments that resulted in 15 drying runs. Statistical analysis evaluated the treatment effects. Drying temperature significantly affected the drying rate, moisture ratio, and browning index. Airflow rate had a significant effect only on the drying rate, while the number of passes significantly affected both the drying rate and browning index. The optimized conditions for drying the water hyacinth were at drying temperature of 90C, airflow rate of 0.044m3/s, and number of passes equivalent to five. The best modelthat characterizes the drying of water hyacinth is a rational function expressed as

Design, Fabrication, and Optimization of Jatropha Sheller

A study designed, fabricated, and optimized performance of a jatropha sheller, consisting of mainframe, rotary cylinder, stationary cylinder, transmission system. Evaluation and optimization considered moisture content, clearance, and roller speed as independent parameters while the responses comprised of recovery, bulk density factor, shelling capacity, energy utilization of sheller, whole kernel recovery, oil recovery, and energy utilization by extruder.Moisture content failed to affect the response variables. The clearance affected response variables except energy utilization of the extruder. Roller speed affected shelling capacity, whole kernel recovery, and energy utilization of the extruder. Optimization resulted in operating conditions of 9.5%wb moisture content, clearance of 6 mm, and roller speed of 750 rpm