scholarly journals Unveiling the Efficiency of Psychrophillic Aporrectodea caliginosa in Deciphering the Nutrients from Dalweed and Cow Manure with Bio-Optimization of Coprolites

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 5338
Author(s):  
Tahir Sheikh ◽  
Zahoor Baba ◽  
Sadaf Iqbal ◽  
Basharat Hamid ◽  
Faheem Wani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Natural Ecosystem ◽  
Cow Manure ◽  
Aporrectodea Caliginosa ◽  
Mixture Ratio ◽  
C:P Ratio ◽  
Maximum Decrease ◽  
Earthworm Population ◽  
Substrate Mixtures

There is an immense demand for vermicomposting employing psychrophilic vermiculture (Aporrectodea caliginosa) for management of wastes under the Himalayan ecosystem. Dalweed (weeds from the world-famous urban Dal Lake) and cow manure (CM) are cheaply and abundantly available bio resources in Kashmir valley. Dalweed (DW), disposed of in the heart of the city, ascribes unpleasant effects on tourism and the natural ecosystem. Initial substrate mixtures of DW and CM with different ratios (CM100, DW100, CM80:DW20, CM60:DW40, CM40:DW60 and CM20:DW80) and castings harvested were analyzed for the following parameters: pH, TOC, TN, NO3- P, K, Fe, Zn, C:N, C:P, and C:S ratio. The results of a 56day study revealed in consistency and disparity towards the bio-optimization of coprolites depending upon the type of waste residue and mixture ratio used. Treatments with medium to low dalweed residues (CM60:DW40 followed by CM80:DW20) were found to be optimum and significantly primed chemical properties of castings using A. caligenosa. C:N, C:P, and C:S ratios showed a non-linear response with maximum decrease in C:N ratio by 35%, C:P ratio by 38% in CM100, and C:S ratio by 67% in DW100. Humification ratio, humification index, and percent humic acids were changed across all the treatments with the highest respective values of 21.33 ± 1.05, 11.33 ± 0.76, and 47.83 ± 0.76 for CM60:DW40. Results also showed that the earthworm population and biomass significantly increased with the highest respective increments of 57.53% and 74.88% in CM60:DW40 over initial values. Moreover, the highest number of cocoons (95.67 ± 1.17) were recorded within CM60:DW40 and the lowest in the control (43.33 ± 1.53). Dehydrogenase and fluorescein diacetate activities were inconsistent with the highest in CM40:DW60 (64.64%) and CM20:DW80 (63.54%) respectively over the initial substrates, while highest urease activity (74.40%) was observed from CM100. The results highlight the role of A. caliginosa in sustainable transformation of CM and DW with insightful, beneficial, and priming impacts on castings for its agronomic value.

scholarly journals The Influence of Alkalization and Temperature on Ammonia Recovery from Cow Manure and the Chemical Properties of the Effluents

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Mohammed-Nour ◽  
Mohamed Al-Sewailem ◽  
Ahmed H. El-Naggar
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Sulfuric Acid ◽  
Ammonia Volatilization ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Deionized Water ◽  
Cow Manure ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Ammonia Recovery ◽  
Effects Of Temperature ◽  
Total Potassium

Manure is a substantial source of ammonia volatilization into the atmosphere before and after soil application. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of temperature and alkalization treatments on the release of ammonia and ammonia recovery (AR) from cow manure and to characterize the chemical properties of the resultant effluents. In a closed glass reactor, 100 g of fresh cow manure was mixed with 100 mL of deionized water and the mixture was treated with various volume of KOH to increase the manure pH to 7, 9, and 12. Ammonia was distilled from the mixture at temperatures of 75, 85, 95, and 100 °C for a maximum of 5 h. Ammonia was received as diluted boric and sulfuric acids. Results indicated that the highest ammonia recovery was 86.3% and 90.2%, which were achieved at a pH of 12 and temperatures of 100 and 95 °C, respectively. The recovered ammonia in boric acid was higher than in sulfuric acid, except at a pH of 12 and temperatures of 95 and 100 °C. The effluents, after ammonia was removed, showed that the variation in pH ranged between 6.30 and 9.38. The electrical conductivity ranged between 4.5 and 9. (dS m−1) and total potassium ranged between 9.4 and 57.2 mg kg−1.

scholarly journals Reclaiming Tropical Saline-Sodic Soils with Gypsum and Cow Manure

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Gonçalo Filho ◽  
Nildo da Silva Dias ◽  
Stella Ribeiro Prazeres Suddarth ◽  
Jorge F. S. Ferreira ◽  
Ray G. Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arid Regions ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Soil Reclamation ◽  
Agricultural Crop ◽  
Cow Manure ◽  
Sodic Soils ◽  
Semi Arid

Saline-sodic soils are a major impediment for agricultural production in semi-arid regions. Salinity and sodicity drastically reduce agricultural crop yields, damage farm equipment, jeopardize food security, and render soils unusable for agriculture. However, many farmers in developing semi-arid regions cannot afford expensive amendments to reclaim saline-sodic soils. Furthermore, existing research does not cover soil types (e.g., Luvisols and Lixisols) that are found in many semi-arid regions of South America. Therefore, we used percolation columns to evaluate the effect of inexpensive chemical and organic amendments (gypsum and cow manure) on the reclamation of saline-sodic soils in the northeast of Brazil. Soil samples from two layers (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm in depth) were collected and placed in percolation columns. Then, we applied gypsum into the columns, with and without cow manure. The experiment followed a complete randomized design with three replications. The chemical amendment treatments included a control and four combinations of gypsum and cow manure. Percolation columns were subjected to a constant flood layer of 55 mm. We evaluated the effectiveness of sodic soil reclamation treatments via changes in soil hydraulic conductivity, chemical composition (cations and anions), electrical conductivity of the saturated soil-paste extract, pH, and the exchangeable sodium percentage. These results suggest that the combined use of gypsum and cow manure is better to reduce soil sodicity, improve soil chemical properties, and increase water infiltration than gypsum alone. Cow manure at 40 ton ha−1 was better than at 80 ton ha−1 to reduce the sodium adsorption ratio.

scholarly journals The effect of urea on epigeic earthworm species (Eisenia foetida)

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 46-50
Author(s):  
WONECA LONG ◽  
ABDULLAH ANSARI ◽  
DIANA SEECHARRAN
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Eisenia Foetida ◽  
Toxic Dose ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Earthworm Species ◽  
Earthworm Population ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Treatment Dosage

Long W, Ansari A, Seecharran D. 2017. The effect of urea on epigeic earthworm species (Eisenia foetida). Cell Biol Dev 1: 46-50. The use of chemical fertilizers in intensive agriculture has no doubt increased crop production but it has resulted in adverse effect on soil properties over a long period of time. The effects are clearly seen in the soil environment including the soil organisms living in that ecosystem. This study was conducted to determine effects of Urea on epigeic earthworm species (Eisenia foetida) in clay soil. A total of five doses of Urea were used i.e 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 250mg. They were labelled as T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5, respectively. A control group was also set up and the treatment groups were replicated three times. The results indicated that the addition of urea affected the soil chemical properties in treatments inoculated with earthworms (Eisenia foetida). The adult earthworm population was 70% in control when compared to different treatment dosage of Urea 50 mg/kg (T1)-85%, 100 mg/kg (T2)-66.67%, 150 mg/kg (T3)- 68.34%, 200 mg/kg (T4)- 86.67% and 250 mg/kg (T5)- 51.67%. The percentage mortality minimum in treatment T4 and T1 whereas it was maximum in treatment T5 (48%). 250 mg/kg was the most toxic dose of Urea in the soil inoculated with earthworms. The results were significant at p=0.05.

scholarly journals Effect of long-term organic and mineral fertilisation on selected physico-chemical soil properties in rye monoculture and five-year crop rotation

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wojciech Stępień ◽  
Monika Kobiałka
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Crop Rotation ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Total Content ◽  
Base Cation ◽  
Exchange Capacity ◽  
Exchangeable Bases ◽  
Chemical Soil

Abstract The research was carried out continuously since 1923 in a permanent fertilisation experiment at the Experimental Station of SGGW in Skierniewice. The objective of the research was to determine the effect of long-term fertilisation (Ca, CaNPK, NPK) and crop rotation systems (rye monoculture without fertilisation with manure and five-field rotation with legume crop and manure fertilisation) on selected physical and chemical soil properties. Long-term fertilisation caused various degrees of change in many physio-chemical properties in three soil horizons (Ap, Eet, Bt): pH in KCl, cation exchange capacity, total exchangeable bases, base saturation, content of carbon, nitrogen and mineral forms of nitrogen (NO3, NH4) as well as the carbon-nitrogen ratio. The combined manure and mineral fertilisation increased the sorption capacity, total exchangeable bases, base cation saturation and total content of C and N in comparison to organic or mineral fertilisation. As a result of lime application, an increase in these parameters was determined with the exception of total contents of carbon and nitrogen, showing no differences or a decrease. A positive effect was confirmed in five-field crop rotation, which improves physicochemical soil properties in comparison to cereal monoculture. The C:N ratio narrows down with growing depth because more nitrogen than carbon migrates down the soil profile.

scholarly journals Effect of Mid-Term Cropping System Adoption on Soil Chemical Properties at Changunarayan Municipality, Bhaktapur, Nepal

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-89
Author(s):  
Saroj Koirala ◽  
Santosh Shrestha ◽  
Prashanta Raut ◽  
Bikram Pandey ◽  
Arbindra Timilsina
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Soil Chemical Properties ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Wide Range

Soil chemical properties plays a crucial role in crop yield. In this study, we evaluated the chemical properties of soils under three different cropping systems practiced for more than five years in Changunarayan municipality of Bhaktapur district of Nepal. The cropping systems includes- (i) cultivation inside polyhouse (Treatment A: polyhouse), (ii) paddy-wheat rotation (Treatment B: P-W), and (iii) paddy-wheat-vegetable rotation (Treatment C: P-W-V). Thirty-nine composite samples (13 replicates from each site) were taken from the area based on variation in landforms. Soil pH, organic matter (%), total nitrogen (%), available phosphorus (mgkg-1), and available potassium (mgkg-1) were evaluated for each sample. The study revealed that the soil pH was acidic and ranges between 4.71 and 5.39, organic matter (1.6-2.39%), total nitrogen (0.091-0.13%), phosphorus (4.48-29.24mg kg-1) and potassium (88.04-109.52 mg kg-1). A significant lower mean pH (4.71), and higher mean organic matter (2.39%), total nitrogen (0.13%) and available phosphorus (29.24 mgkg-1) were observed in cultivation under polyhouse. Incorporation of vegetable in paddy-wheat system gave significant (p<0.05) higher accumulation of soil phosphorus and consistently raised other nutrient status. Moreover, cultivation under polyhouse raised C:N ratio (10.55) significantly than other system. This finding can be relevant to wide range of readers that focus on soil chemical properties and can be used in developing future research strategy and sustainable soil management system in the area.

scholarly journals Variability in the Physical and Chemical Properties of Retail Potting Media

2005 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 752-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Wiberg ◽  
Richard Koenig ◽  
Teresa Cerny-Koenig
Keyword(s):  
Salt Lake ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Salt Lake City ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Physical And Chemical Properties ◽  
Potting Media ◽  
Lake City ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
And Chemical Properties

Popular press articles report that consumers often experience inconsistent results with retail potting media; however, few reports in the popular or scientific literature have quantified the variability in media properties. The purpose of this study was to assess the variability in physical and chemical properties among different brands of retail potting media and within certain brands. Twenty-four different packages of branded media, and multiple packages of five brands, were acquired from nine regional and national retail chain stores located in the Salt Lake City, Utah, area. Samples were analyzed for five physical and nine chemical properties. The coefficients of variation (cvs) among brands for initial gravimetric water content, bulk density, porosity, water retention, and air space were 85%, 74%, 21%, 59%, and 44%, respectively. The cvs among brands for saturated media (SM) pH, SM extract electrical conductivity (EC), nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), total carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), and C:N ratio were 18%, 81%, 132%, 153%, 96%, 78%, 71%, 36%, 45%, and 49%, respectively. Only one of the 24 brands met all published standards for chemical properties of premium media. Thirteen of the brands did not meet standards for NO3-N; 12 did not meet standards for pH; and six did not meet standards for EC. There was more variation in physical and chemical properties among brands than within a brand of media. Label information describing media composition was not consistent with certain physical and chemical properties. No recommendations can be made which would allow consumers to select media that meets published standards. These results indicate better awareness of and/or adherence to standards is needed by the retail media industry to improve product quality and consistency.

scholarly journals Effects of Co-substrates’ Mixing Ratios and Loading Rate Variations on Food and Agricultural Wastes’ Anaerobic co-digestion Performance

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nour El houda Chaher ◽  
Nils Engler ◽  
Abdallah Nassour ◽  
Michael Nelles
Keyword(s):  
Organic Waste ◽  
Waste Treatment ◽  
Biogas Production ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Closed Cycle ◽  
Mixture Ratio ◽  
Biogas Yield ◽  
Loading Rates ◽  
Mixing Ratios ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Tunisia is one of the developing countries which faces crucial challenges, the most prominent of which are the production of organic waste, the need for an appropriate waste treatment, and the demand for water and energy conservation. To this end, the present research was designed to develop a technical concept on closed cycle ‘biowaste to bioenergy’ treating food waste (FW) through combined biological processes. In this approach, semi-continuous anaerobic co-digestion (ACoD) of FW, wheat straw (WS), and cattle manure (CM) was tested to investigate the relationship between the effect of the feedstock mixtures and C:N ratio on biogas and digestate generation at different organic loading rates (OLRs) ranging from 2 to 3.6 kg VS/m3.d. Results showed that the mono-digested FW was optimal and reached 565.5 LN/kg VSin at an OLR of 2.4 kg VS/m3.d, and then a drop of biogas production was recorded. However, for co-digested substrates, the optimum mixture ratio was FW:CM 75:25, where 62%, 39.89%, 91.26%, 130.9% and 119.97% of the biogas yield improved for OLRs ranging from 2 to 3.6 kg VS/m3. d, respectively. Admittedly, the target of this work was to enhance the ACoD process, but it also examined the exploitation of different AD-effluents. Therefore, special attention was paid to the generated digestates to decide how it can be efficiently upcycled later. Thus, the closed cycle ‘biowaste to bioenergy’ treatment met two of the major Tunisian concerns: efficient organic waste management as well as sustainable bioenergy production.

scholarly journals Effects of light intensity on non-structural carbohydrate contents and C:N:P stoichiometry in Cunninghamia lanceolata and Schima superba

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingqing Liu ◽  
Zhijun Huang ◽  
Zhengning Wang ◽  
Yanfang Chen ◽  
Zhumei Wen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Light Intensity ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Cunninghamia Lanceolata ◽  
Mixed Species ◽  
C:N:P Stoichiometry ◽  
Schima Superba ◽  
C:P Ratio ◽  
Structural Carbohydrate ◽  
Carbohydrate Contents

Abstract Background: An understanding of the light requirement of tree species has paramount importance in management of mixed species forests. Here, we examined changes in leaf morphological traits, non-structural carbohydrate contents and C:N:P stoichiometry in Cunninghamia lanceolata and Schima superba seedlings that were grown under five light intensity levels (5%, 15%, 40%, 60%, and 100% sunlight) in a shade house. Results: Mean leaf area was significantly larger under 40% light intensity for C. lanceolata while maximum mean leaf area was observed under 15% light intensity for S. superba seedlings, whereas leaf mass per area decreased consistently with decreasing light intensity in S. superba; Non-structural carbohydrate content was higher for S. superba than C. lanceolata when seedlings were exposed to 100%, 15% and 5% light intensity; Leaf C:N ratio decreased while N:P ratio increased with decreasing light intensity; leaf C:P ratio was highest in 40% light intensity for C. lanceolata and in 60% light intensity for S. superba. Conclusion: S. superba is better adapted to low light intensity than C. lanceolata through enlarged leaf area and increased carbohydrate reserves that allow the plant to better maintain C balance. From mixed species planting viewpoint, it would be advisable to plant S. superba later once the canopy of C. lanceolata is well developed but allowing enough sunlight (up to 15%-60%).

Monitoring of the process of composting of kitchen waste in an institutional scale worm farm

2005 ◽  
Vol 51 (10) ◽  
pp. 171-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Kristiana ◽  
J. Nair ◽  
M. Anda ◽  
K. Mathew
Keyword(s):  
Organic Waste ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Lumbricus Rubellus ◽  
Organic Substrates ◽  
Cow Manure ◽  
Horse Manure ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Bedding Materials

Vermicomposting provides an alternative method of managing waste that is ecofriendly and cost-effective. The Environmental Technology Centre (ETC) at Murdoch University and St. John of God Hospital (SJOG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to install a vermiculture system in SJOG to treat some of the organic waste generated by the on site kitchen facility. This is an effort made by SJOG to reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfill each year and to treat the waste on site as part of a recycling/reuse program. The study is aimed at scientifically monitoring vermicomposting process and to understand the optimum management requirements to improve the operation of an institutional scale worm farm. In addition, an experiment was conducted to investigate the suitability of bedding materials: horse manure, cow manure, peat coir, and natural bedding (vermicast). The species of earthworms used in this experiment were Red (Lumbricus rubellus), Tiger (Eisenia fetida), and Blue (Lumbricus excavatus). The pH, temperature, worm population and quality of castings were tested in different beds. Results indicated that vermicast was the best bedding for vermicomposting, and there were no significant difference between the performances of the other three beds. However, it can be concluded that the bedding material of horse manure, cow manure, and peat coir were successfully established well within the experimental period of eight weeks, and cow manure with the lowest C:N ratio produced the best quality bedding. As using vermicast for the initial bedding creates a very high capital cost these organic substrates provide cost-effective alternative. Therefore they would be quite appropriate to initiate an institutional scale worm farm.

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