UPM bina tangki simpanan jika air terganggu

Anak saya menetap di Kolej 17,Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) dan sering mengadu masalah ketiadaan bekalan air. Pada 19 Oktober hingga 21 Oktober lalu, ketiadaan bekalan air berlaku lagi dan pelajar terpaksa menggunakan air pili bomba yang berkarat dan kotor 'untuk membersihkan diri

The concept of LISA and its current status

The sustainabilty of food production has always been the big question when environmental, economic and social related factors are involved. Eventhough profit making is still the main agenda, issues related to degradation of soils, polluted underground water, high chemical content in the food products and high labor and prodcution cost remains to be the important subjects. In Malaysia, a conventional agriculture involved large capital and are largely planted as single crop or monocropping. It also involved an intensive labor and has ben associated with excessive use of pesticide. This paper stressed on the Low Input Sustanable Agriculture (LISA). LISA stressed on three important aspects namely on the economic sustanability; environment sustainability, and social sustanability. Sustanability developement goals 11, 13, 15 stressed the sustainable in cities and cominities; climate action, and life on land, respectively. As such these goals are bases of LISA in preserving ecological factors, increasing the efficiency of non-renewable sources while sustaininlng the economic viability. The use of modern and environemental freindly fertiliser has shown the positive results in many part of China. Thus, LISA is the agricuture system based is on the principles of meetig the needs without compromising the future generations of food production

Climate change: crop performances and potential

The effect of climatic change on food crops and other economic value plantation such as oil palm and rubber has received a major concern for many governmental organisations including universities researchers. The rise in CO2 level that comes together with the higher temperature would certainly affect the crop performances. Since many of the crops are categorised under C3 plants, early maturity resulting in lower yield would be expected. In some studies the reduction in yield is due to the photorespiration of these plants. The global climatic change may also be a concern for many countries in the world. A report from ACOP indicated that the top ten countries such as China, USA, EU, Russia and Japan have contributed to more than half of the CO2 emission in the world. Efforts to bring the CO2 under control will only be seen over a long period of time. However, it has been forecasted that developing countries will certainly overtake the developed world for the CO2 emission after 2015. Opening of many new areas for agricultural purposes has contributed to the increase of CO2 for the developing nations. This report covers the growth study and photosynthetic activities on several horticultural crops, forest perennials and rice. Suggestions of the possible responses on the increase of CO2 are also included. In addition, a biological control using other species of bamboo to reduce the domination of buluh semantan under high voltage transmission lines is also included.In the studies regarding growth of forest species meant for domestication purposes, the suitability of Syzygium campanulatumand Hopea odorata for beautification and landscaping plants has shown some potential. However, modifications on such forest species using growth retardants are important. The use of organic fertiliser for an environmental friendly condition is also highlighted.Since it has been a part of the governmental policy for beautifications, the floriculture and ornamental industry has received special attentions. In the production of chrysanthemum, the industry has been trying to formulate nutrient formulation aimed for highlands and lowlands. A similar study has been done in the production of bell pepper in lowland areas. In-depth analyses on plant partitioning and yield components are highlighted.The potential of using microorganism to establish early growth of oil palm seedling has also been included in this lecture series. Such a potential was shown using microbes such as Azospirillum (Strain Sp7 and CCM 3863) in early establishment at nursery stage. These microbes enhanced the root development of the oil palm seedlings. In addition, the possibility to nitrogen fixation in the roots, which is similar to the association of Rhizobium sp. in legumes, is also highlighted.For rice production, the issue of food security against development is being discussed. Water shortages, high temperature from global warming and crop sustainability are some of the key issues for the future of the crop. It is highlighted that water shortage would result in low tiller ability and high weed infestation. Similarly, high temperature at night would result in reduction in yield as the result in the reduction of the fertility rate of female inflorescence. In conclusion, serious considerations should be made on the increase of carbon dioxide and its influence on the growth of many economic crops. Food security should be looked from all angles and a holistic approach towards solving this issue should be addressed

Yield and agronomic characteristics of tropical rice as influenced by high nitrogen rates

An experiment with treatments comprising of five nitrogen rates (0, 120, 160, 200 and 240 kg N/ha) applied as urea was carried out to evaluate the effects of high nitrogen application on the yield and agronomic performance of two rice varieties; MR 211 and MR 219. Raising nitrogen application was found to increase (P<0.05) the number of spikelets per panicle but reduce the percentage of filled spikelets (P<0.05). Although the increment in number of spikelets per panicle resulted in the reduction of the filled spikelets percentage, the grain yield was not affected due to sufficient production of spikelets per square meter which maintained the grain productivity. The plant agronomic characteristics such as stem height and duration to grain maturity also increased (P<0.05) with nitrogen application. Both varieties differ in the yield components and agronomic characteristics. Between the two varieties, MR 219 is superior to MR 211 in view of the higher grain yield and grain: straw ratio. The result from correlation between yield and yield components implies that the total number of spikelets per square meter was believed to be the major determinant of grain yield

Effects of nitrogen fertilization management practice on the yield and straw nutritional quality of commercial rice varieties

An experiment with treatments comprising of five nitrogen rates (0, 120, 160, 200 and 240 kg N/ha) was carried out to assess the effects of nitrogen fertilization management practice on the grain yield and straw nutritive quality in two commercial rice varieties; MR 211 and MR 219. Increases in nitrogen application was found to increase (P<0.01) the grain yield, total spikelets per square meter, number of spikelets per panicle and straw crude protein from 4.56% to a maximum level of 8.45%. It also decreased (P<0.05) the in vitro true dry matter organic digestibility (IVTOMD) from 59.1% to 55.14%, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF). There were varietal differences in the straw nutritional properties, where MR 219 had higher NDF, hemicellulose and cellulose (P<0.05) concentration where as MR 211 had higher amount of acid detergent lignin (ADL) (P<0.01) and silica (P<0.05) in the straw. Between the two varieties, MR 219 is superior to MR 211 in view of the higher grain production and grain: straw ratio. The result from correlation between agronomic characteristics and straw nutritive quality implies that rice varieties with good agronomic characteristics have potential in yielding straws with better nutritive quality

Growth and yield of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) in response to mulching and potassium fertilization

A field experiment was canducted 10 study the influence of levels of potassium fertilizer (0, 66 and 132 kg ha-1) and types of mulching (black plastic, reflective plastic and coconut fronds) on growth and yield of chilli. Plant height, yield, fruit number and dry weight of plant increased with increasing K levels and mulching. Yields were increased by 89% and 142% with K levels of 66 and 132 kg ha-1, respectively. Highest yield was obtained from plant grown under reflective plastic mulch. Nitrogen, P, K and Ca content in leaf tissues, soil temperature and moisture under mulched conditions were higher than without mulch. There was a positive correlation between plant dry weight with soil temperature and moisture

Evaluation of the use of farmyard manure on a guinea grass (Panicum maximum) - Stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis) mixed pasture

The effects of different levels of farmyard manure (FYM) and inorganic phosphorus (P) and potassium(K) fertilizer application on the physiology, forage yield and quality of Stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis cv.Pauciflora) - guinea grass (Panicum maximum cv. Green panic) pasture grown on an acid soil in Malaysiawere evaluated in this study. The treatments were six rates of FYM application (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 t FYM/ha and a combined application of 50 kg P with 50 kg K/ha) as triple-superphosphate and muriate of potash,respectively. Four consecutive cuttings were taken at 6-week intervals. Dry matter (DM) yield of guineaincreased linearly with increasing levels of FYM with rates of increase from 239 to 457 kg/ha per tonne increaseof the FYM applied. On the other hand, the DM yield of Stylo was found to decline with the increasing ratesof FYM. Crude protein (CP) concentration of guinea increased linearly from 9.27% to 11.93% from 0 to 50t FYM applications, while the CP concentration of Stylo increased from 17% to 20%. The photosyntheticrate, leaf area index and stomatal conductance of guinea significantly increased with the increasing rates ofthe FYM applied. On the contrary, acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre concentrations of guineadeclined with the increasing rates of the FYM used. Meanwhile, the use of inorganic P and K fertilizers gavea higher yield and higher quality of both the species compared to the control at the first cut but they were notsignificantly different from the control at the fourth cut