Annals of Agricultural Science最新文献

The salinity of irrigation water is one of the major abiotic stresses that have a variable reaction to soil structure, which has detrimental impacts on seedling development and quality. The osmolytes can help lessen these adverse effects on the establishment of Moringa oleifera seedlings. Therefore, this study was conducted in Egypt (30″53′30, 87″ N and 30″41′29, 77″ E) using polyethylene bags during May – July 2020 and 2021. Three factors in a factorial split –split plot experiment were arranged in randomized complete block design. The main plots were soil structure; sand:clay 2:1 (V/V) and sand 100 %, whereas the subplot treatments were salinity levels; tap water as a control 0.5, 1.5, 4, and 6 dS m⁻¹, and sub–subplot osmolytes; tap water as a control, and glycine betaine, mannitol, proline, and sorbitol all at 0.2 g L⁻¹ as a soil drench. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of osmolytes and soil structure on growth parameters and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) gene expression in Moringa seedlings. The study concluded that Moringa seedlings in sand:clay performed significantly (P ˂ 0.05) better than those in the sand. With increasing salinity levels, osmolytes enhanced all seedling growth parameters and PAL gene expression compared with the control in the two soil structures. The order of tolerance to salinity stress was sorbitol ˃ proline ˃ mannitol ˃ glycine betaine ˃ control. Moringa seedlings produced in sand:clay treated with 0.2 g L⁻¹ sorbitol and salinity at 4 or 6 dS m⁻¹ were superior in most growth parameters and PAL gene expression.

A low production of oil seed crops, paired with their increased demand, has become a challenge for the edible oil industry in India. Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass. (niger seed plant) is an annual, dicotyledonous, multipurpose oil seed crop belonging to the family of Asteraceae. Although this plant produces abundant flowers, it fails to produce mature seeds with vigor due to poor vascularization. We investigated the effects of the plant growth-promoting hormone auxin, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and the cytokinin, 6-benzyl aminopurine (BAP) individually and together on the growth and oil quality of niger in lateritic soil. Pot experiments were conducted during the wet seasons of 2014 and 2015 in subtropical eastern India. The plants were sprayed with 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg L⁻¹ each of IAA and BAP, 50, 75, and 100 mg L⁻¹ of IAA + BAP, or water (control). When applied individually—IAA or BAP at 75 mg L⁻¹ (I₇₅B₀ or I₀B₇₅)—the biomass production was maximized. The combination of IAA (50 mg L⁻¹) and BAP (100 mg L⁻¹; I₅₀B₁₀₀) yielded significantly high biomass (38 and 40 g plant⁻¹) and seed yield (13.24 and 12.67 g plant⁻¹) in 2014 and 2015, respectively. The most effective combinations for increasing niger seed oleic acid content were I₅₀B₁₀₀ and I₅₀B₇₅ as compared to other combinations of growth hormone. These results suggest that exogenous phytohormones can improve the seed yield and oil quality of niger seed plants in acid lateritic soil.

Plant production under climate changes requires unique treatments to overcome the detrimental effects of abiotic stress, such as water deficiency stress. Silicon (Si) has many beneficial effects, especially in plants subjected to different types of stress. Hence, Si foliar application was used to study its potential effects on boosting osmolytes content, activity of antioxidant enzymes, growth of vegetative and flowering organs, and yield of squash plants (Cucurbita pepo L.) under deficit irrigation. Two field experiments were conducted during the winter seasons of 2019 and 2020 at the Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Egypt. Three concentrations of Si at 0, 2000 and 4000 ppm in the form of monosilicic acid (H₄SiO₄) under two levels of water irrigation at 80% of water holding capacity (WHC) as control and 50% of WHC as drought treatment. Drought treatment significantly reduced the growth parameters: shoot height, shoot fresh and dry weights, leaves number/plant, average leaf area, fruit setting and yield traits, and the physiological attributes: leaf relative water content (LRWC), total chlorophylls (SPAD), total soluble proteins (TSP) and catalase (CAT) activity. Meanwhile, significant increases in the concentrations of stress indicators (total free amino acids and proline) were observed compared to the control plants (80% WHC). Both rates of Si achieved marked increases in the vegetative growth, flowering, chlorophylls, LRWC, TSP, superoxide dismutase (SOD), CAT, peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, which in turn reflects on improving fruit setting %, total fruits, and yield of squash plants under well or deficit irrigation. Spraying the high level of Si (4000 ppm) was the most effective treatment that emended the adverse effects of drought.

Soil type is a vital determinant of soil fertility because of its characteristic biological, chemical, and physical properties. However, the soil fertility of upland soil is probably changed by different agricultural management practices regardless of soil type. This study investigated the features of soil fertility (bacterial biomass, total carbon (TC), and total nitrogen (TN)) in upland fields in Japan. One thousand soil samples from different soil types were collected from upland fields located on 36 prefectures in Japan. The soil fertility was analyzed using the Soil Fertility Index (SOFIX). There were six soil types included in this study: Organic soils (B), Andosols (D), Lowland soils (F), Red-yellow soils (G), Stagnic soils (H), and Brown Forest soils (I). Of these, the soil types D and F occupied the largest percentage of samples. The values of bacterial biomass, TC, and TN varied greatly, regardless of soil type. The soil fertility does not seem to be characterized by the soil type in upland soils in Japan. The correlations between bacterial biomass and TC (r = 0.23, p < 0.01) and bacterial biomass and TN (r = 0.16, p < 0.01) were relatively weak. Conversely, the correlation between TC and TN (r = 0.68, p < 0.01) was moderate. In soil type D, up to 40% of samples had no bacterial biomass detected and 17% possessed a low bacterial biomass. The effect of the soil types may not be a critical factor in soil fertility in the upland fields.

This study aimed to evaluate the performance and fermentation characteristics in the rumen of Garut grade sheep fed bitter cassava (M. esculenta Crantz) leaf meal (BCL) supplemented with cyanide-degrading bacteria (CDB). Fifteen sheep (12 mo with average weight of 18.8 ± 1.02 kg) were placed in individual cages provided experimental diets and free access to water. A completely randomized design applying five treatments and three replicates was used. The treatments were T1 [40% Napier grass:60% concentrate (Con)], T2 [40% Napier grass:45% concentrate: 15% BCL (BCL15)], T3 (BCL15 + CDB), T4 [40% Napier grass:30% concentrate:30% BCL (BCL30)], and T5 (BCL30 + CDB). The data were subjected to analysis of variance and significant differences among treatments were further analyzed using Tukey test. The data of different levels of BCL and CDB inoculation were contrasted using orthogonal contrast test. Feeding BCL 15% and 30% to substitute concentrate ration did not affect feed intake and nutrient digestibility but decreased (P < 0.05) the total volatile fatty acid (VFA), concentration of NH_3, feed efficiency and body weight gain of sheep. Inoculation of CDB to the sheep fed 15% and 30% BCL did not affect total VFA and NH₃ concentration, but it increased (P < 0.05) body weight and feed efficiency. The methane estimation were similar among treatments. In conclusion, CDB inoculation could detoxify cyanide in BCL and enhanced rumen fermentation profile when BCL 15% and 30%.

Psyllium husk (Plantago ovata Forssk.), is an excellent source of natural soluble fiber. Arabic flatbread formulation standardized in a laboratory was scaled up for production in a commercial bakery. The water holding capacity (WHC) of wholegrain wheat flour (WGF), white wheat flour (WWF) and psyllium husk (PS) were found to be 2.9, 2.3 and 59.2 g water/g dry matter, respectively. The total dietary fiber (TDF) for WWF control bread (3.20 ± 0.23%) increased significantly to 5.62 ± 0.16 and 7.56 ± 0.18% with the addition of 3% and 5% psyllium, respectively. The corresponding soluble dietary fiber (SDF) values for these samples were 1.31 ± 0.13, 3.02 ± 0.16 and 4.15 ± 0.14%, respectively. The WWF Arabic flatbread samples also followed a similar trend for TDF and SDF contents with the addition of psyllium husk. At a level of 5% psyllium, the WWF test bread had a puncture force of 2.97 ± 0.16 N (much softer) compared with 3.40 ± 0.35 N for the WWF control bread (0% psyllium), whereas the WGF with 5% psyllium addition had a puncture force of 3.05 ± 0.19 N at the zero day of storage compared to that of 3.94 ± 0.19 N for WGF bread with no psyllium added. The major objective of this study was not only to enhance the soluble dietary fiber content in Arabic flatbread, but also to improve the consumer acceptability of this staple food of this region. Incorporation of psyllium husk did not adversely affect the objective color of crumb or overall consumer acceptability, and produced Arabic flatbread with softer texture, better flexibility (folding) and superior eating quality.

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citrates) is grown in tropical and semi-tropical climates. It is an aromatic herb widely used as a flavoring agent in human foods due to its potent flavor. It also includes essential oils, which are important for their antibacterial, antidiarrheal, antifungal, antioxidant, and growth-promoting properties. The experiment was carried out to evaluate lemongrass essential oil (LGEO) supplementation in growing quails. 240 seven days old unsexed Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) were divided into four groups of 30 quails each. There were ten replicates for each group, with six birds per replicate. The first group received no supplementation, whereas the second, third, and fourth groups received LGEO supplements 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 g/kg, respectively. Results showed that the growth performance (GP) traits were affected positively by LGEO addition (P ≤ 0.01) at 0.4 g/kg compared to control. All carcass traits were improved significantly (P ≤ 0.01) as affected by LGEO supplementation except carcass percentage. Also, LGEO supplementation enhances meat quality as it improves significantly (P ≤ 0.01) thigh meat water holding capacity (WHC) and pH values. Blood characteristics showed significantly decrease (P ≤ 0.01) on lipid profile, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) as affected by LGEO supplementation, inversely total protein, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase, reduced glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly increased by LGEO supplementation. Likewise, LGEO supplementation improves the concentration of lactobacillus. Results indicated that adding LGEO at 0.4 g/kg diet in quails diets enhance GP, meat quality, blood characteristics, and caecum microorganisms.

A high concentration of nitrate and total nitrogen (N) in Chinese violet (CV) weed (Asystasia gangetica) has a potential benefit as a digestible protein source for ruminant production in humid tropical regions. We conducted a study using twelve Kacang goats in a crossover design to investigate the effect of CV weed on intake, nutrient utilization, and growth. Four dietary treatments were tested: Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) ad libitum (GG), GG ad libitum and CV (1% live weight, LW) (GG + CV), CV ad libitum (CV), and CV ad libitum plus cassava chip (1% LW) (CV + CC) (dry matter, DM basis). No sign of nitrite toxicity was observed when the goat fed CV diet while intake, N retention, and LW gain was higher than goats on the GG and GG + CV diets (P < 0.001). Digestibility of DM was similar to the goats on the GG + CV diet but higher than the goats on the GG diet (P < 0.001). However, the goats on the CV diet had a higher urinary N loss compared to the goats on GG and GG + CV diets (P < 0.001). The cassava supplementation (CV + CC) increased DM digestibility and lowered urinary N loss (P < 0.001). Hence, the CV weed could be fed as a sole diet or as a supplement to the Kacang goat fed a low-quality forage for improvement of nutrients intake, digestibility, and gain, while the urinary N loss could be lowered by cassava supplementation.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of eggshell-based manure (EBM), calcium chloride (CaCl₂), and their combined application in preventing food wastage. Tomato (cv. Tropimech) plants were subjected to seven pre-harvest treatments regimes. Treatments consisted of one level of control, two levels of EBM (0.83 and 1.7 ton ha⁻¹), two levels of CaCl₂ (0.08 and 0.17 ton ha⁻¹), and two levels of combined treatment of EBM and CaCl₂ (0.91 and 1.87 ton ha⁻¹). The tomato fruits were harvested at the red maturity stage, and some of their physical, mechanical, textural and biochemical qualities were determined according to standard procedures. All the parameters were investigated at 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 storage days. Results obtained showed that the treatment options had a significant (p ≤ 0.05) effect on all the parameters evaluated. Irrespective of the treatment concentration, the results revealed that combined treatment was a better treatment option compared to the single treatment option. Apart from the skin firmness, physiological weight loss and spoilage rate, the fruits produced with combined treatment had better physical, mechanical, textural and biochemical properties throughout the storage period. It was observed that fruits produced with CaCl₂ experienced the highest skin firmness, lowest physiological weight loss and minimum spoilage; fruits produced with EBM exhibited the maximum physiological weight loss, highest spoilage rate and minimum skin firmness. This study results will be useful to agricultural engineers on the best pre-harvest treatment option to adopt, to produce tomato fruits with better engineering qualities, hence minimizing food wastage.