Not two, but three species of weevils1damage maize stalks in Morelos, Mexico

利用网袋法模拟田间还田方式, 研究不同还田方式下玉米、大豆秸秆的腐解特征。结果表明: 经过150 d的分解, 玉米和大豆秸秆残留率在33.7%~61.1%之间, 秸秆还田分解趋势为: 土埋处理>露天处理, 土埋玉米秸秆>土埋大豆秸秆, 露天条件下大豆和玉米秸秆分解速率一致。从细胞结构上看, 玉米秸秆随着还田时间的延长, 基本组织和维管束遭到破坏, 细胞壁变薄, 细胞内物质消失, 细胞排列疏松; 大豆秸秆组织结构变化不明显。露天和土埋处理各有机物料有机碳分解率分别为39.9%~48.9%、49.6%~65.8%, 土埋玉米和大豆秸秆腐解速度明显高于露天处理。两个处理氮、钾分解率无太大差异, 分别为51.1%~67.7%、74.6%~91.7%, 而磷素变化比较明显, 露天和土埋处理玉米秸秆的磷释放率平均比大豆秸秆高49.4%、56.7%。作为还田物料玉米秸秆要好于大豆秸秆。

Biogas production from crop residues and aquatic weeds

Ethiopia’s livestock population is the largest in Africa, however different factors or constraints limit the full exploitation of the agricultural sector in general and the livestock “sub-sector” in particular. In the country, the availability, quality, and quantity of feed have always been a challenge in the livestock sector. This process is laborious and time takes more. To alleviate this problem, using maize and sorghum stalks is an important remedy. Therefore, the chopping and milling machine was developed and evaluated. The research was conducted at Jimma Agricultural Engineering Research Center, Dedo and Kersa districts to evaluate the machine performance in terms of chopping efficiency, throughput capacity, cutting efficiency, milling efficiency and fuel consumption at different speeds of cutter shaft. The output of the chopper was found to be a remarkable achievement. The performance of the machine was evaluated using sorghum stalk, maize stalk, and maize grains with treatments of the engine speed, and feed rate using factorial design with three replications. The highest mean chopping capacity of maize and sorghum stalk (511.33 kg hr-1, 551.33 kg hr-1)respectively, the finest of (shortest) mean cut length maize and sorghum stalk(1.13cm, 1.01cm) respectively, the highest chopping efficiency of maize and sorghum stalk(97.54% , 98.68%) respectively, the highest milling efficiency and milling capacity of maize grains 93.8% and 234kg hr-1respectively,and the mean lowest fuel consumption of maize and sorghum was 0.58 liter and 0.52 liter respectively were recorded. The operation speed was observed to be highly significant among the treatments, at a significance level of 0.05. Based on the result obtained, it is recommended to improve the capacity of the machine.

Vascular bundles within maize (Zea mays L.) stalks play a key role in the mechanical support of plant architecture as well as in water and nutrient transportation. Convenient and accurate phenotyping of vascular bundles may help phenotypic identification of germplasm resources for breeding. Based on practical sample preparation procedures for maize stalks, we acquired serials of cross-sectional images using a micro-computed tomography (CT) imaging device. An image processing pipeline dedicated to the phenotyping of vascular bundles was also developed to automatically segment and validate vascular bundles from the cross-sectional images of maize stalks, from which phenotypic traits of vascular bundles, i.e. number, area, and spatial distribution, were calculated. More profound quantification of spatial distribution was given as area ratio of vascular bundles, which described the distribution of vascular bundles associated with the centroid of maize stalks. In addition, three-dimensional visualisation was performed to reveal the spatial configuration and distribution of vascular bundles. The proposed method significantly improves computation accuracy for the phenotypic traits of vascular bundles compared with previous methods, and is expected to be useful for illustrating relationships between phenotypic traits of vascular bundles and their function.

Ear rots, caused by fungi, are among the most important maize diseases worldwide causing severe yield losses and a reduction of grain quality. Several toxigenic Fusarium species are known to cause yield losses and reduce grain quality, thus endangering the safety of both animal feed and human food products. For this purpose, we investigated the occurrence and significance of Fusarium and Trichoderma ear rot on maize in Germany. Within this framework, we evaluated the impact of environmental conditions and agronomic practices on the prevalence of Fusarium species associated with ear and stalk rot. The most frequent Fusarium species detected in maize ears were Fusarium graminearum, F. verticillioides and F. temperatum, while F. graminearum, F. equiseti, F. culmorum and F. temperatum were the species prevailing on maize stalks. The results indicate that mean temperature and precipitation in July, during flowering, has the strongest impact on the local range of Fusarium species on ears, whereas the incidence of Fusarium species on stalks is mostly affected by weather conditions during September. Ploughing significantly reduced the infection with F. graminearum and F. temperatum, while crop rotation exerted only minor effects. Another aim of the present study was to determine the occurrence, mycotoxin production and pathogenicity of Fusarium temperatum from maize in Germany. For this purpose, a Germany-wide monitoring of maize ears and stalks was carried out in 2017 and 2018. Within this monitoring, 79 isolates of F. temperatum and seven isolates of F. subglutinans were obtained. Inoculation of maize ears revealed the highest aggressiveness of F. temperatum, followed by F. graminearum, and F. verticillioides and F. subglutinans. The temperature optima for infection of maize ears with F. temperatum and F. subglutinans were 24 °C and 21 °C, respectively. Artificially induced infection of wheat ears with all strains of F. temperatum and F. subglutinans caused head blight symptoms, thus indicating wheat as an alternative host. The results demonstrate the increasing importance of F. temperatum in German maize cultivation areas. Thirdly, we investigated the aggressiveness of several Fusarium species in maize in relation to inoculation method, maize variety and location. Therefore, in 2018 and 2019, maize hybrids were tested in four locations (Bernburg, Rustenhart, Kuenzing and Liesborn) in Germany and France. Our results showed that F. temperatum was the most aggressive Fusarium species in both years followed by F. graminearum and F. verticillioides, however, the prevalence differed between locations. Significant differences in genotypic resistance depending on the inoculation method and Fusarium species were found in all locations. In 2018, massive infections with Trichoderma on maize ears were recorded for the first time in a field in Southern Germany. Within this study, first investigations were conducted to identify and verify Trichoderma as a new pathogen causing ear rot disease on maize in Europe. In 2018 and 2019, a total of 13 T. harzianum isolates from maize cobs and maize stalks were isolated and tested, compared to several reference isolates. Four isolates proved to be highly aggressive, two biocontrol isolates, Trichodex (T39) and strain T12, induced slight infection and eleven isolates were non-pathogenic. This, to our knowledge, is the first report on Trichoderma sp. as a pathogen causing ear rot disease in maize in Europe with the potential to incite significant yield losses. We therefore propose to name this disease as ‚Trichoderma ear rot on maize‘.

Shortage of feed supply of the cattle during the dry season or flood period is an important issue which could be partially met by maize stalk. An experiment was conducted to prepare maize stalk fodder for cattle. The BARI chopper was improved for chopping maize stalk (MS) in smaller size (7-8mm) by adding blades and make the chopper safe by adding casing. The capacity of the BARI chopper was 745 and 425 kg/h with fresh and dried maize stalk, respectively. Total chopping cost per hour was Taka 0.23 per kg. The chopped maize stalk in both fresh and dried conditions with different combinations were served to the cattle and found that smaller sized chopped piece of both dried and fresh maize stalk could be feed in both raw and mixing with salt, wheat bran and water with little molasses. Maize stalk block also prepared with different combinations and found that block made by liquid Gur was better in both physically and cattle likeness. Total cost of block per kg was Tk. 13.85, 31.35, 28.85 and 36.35 for MS block 1, MS block 2, MS block 3 and MS block 4, respectively. Chopped and dried maize stalk were preserved in polybag, open drum and store room were liked by the cattle up to three months of the storage. Flatten and dried maize stalk were not liked by the cattle due to their long size and hardness. 
 Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 47(3): 333-342, September 2022

An alcohol production unit was fabricated to handle 5 kg biomass per batch of paddy straw or maize stalk hydrolysis and fermentation. Various lignocellulose treatments were repeated from a previously reported study on paddy straw to compare it to that of maize stalk as a substrate biomass in a fabricated unit [1]. The pre-treatments to these lignocellulosic biomasses from maize stalk (MS) and paddy straw (MS) were compared after their size reduction and stepwise treatment(s) with strong alkali solution. The energy consumed on size reduction of maize stalk (MS) was 35% less compared to that consumed on paddy straw (PS). On further pre-treatment to de-lignify the biomass, after its size reduction, thermochemical treatment with alkali NaOH solution 0.5 N (in the ratio of 1:8, in NaOH solution for 1 h at 121°C) increased cellulose content availability for the process in MS and PS. These pre-treatments increased cellulose content availability from 29.4 to 73.3% and from 30.3 to 59.8% in MS and PS respectively. Cellulase enzyme was used as part of the process to breakdown the celluloses for making sugars available for alcohol production by fermentation. The total reducing sugars (monomers) obtained after cellulase treatment in MS and PS were 68.8 and 54.1% (w/w) respectively. Using a fabricated laboratory-scale (5 l) unit for fermentation, about 80% of the alcohol was produced from pre-treated MS within 40–42 h and in 48–50 h in case of pre-treated PS fermentation. The alcohol yield (in absolute terms) was 150–158 g/kg from the pre-treated maize stalk and 86–95 g/kg from the pre-treated paddy straw. Keywords: Alcohol production, maize stalk, paddy straw, cellulase enzyme, hydrolysis, fermentation, Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cite this Article Sunita Singh, Panna Lal Singh, Pandey KC . Alcohol Production from Pre-treated Maize and Paddy Lignocellulose Biomass in a Fabricated Unit . Research & Reviews: Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology . 2017; 6(2): 1–10p.

With the increase of agricultural production, residues of crop are the main source of organic matter in the soil and they are alternatives to inorganic fertilizers. For this purpose, effects of organic residues (cotton stalk, maize stalk, almond bark) commonly grown in Turkey were investigated for some soil microbial activity in clay soil. In this study, incubation experiment was set up. Five doses (0%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8%) of organic residues (maize stalks, cotton stalks or almond bark) were applied to soil. Soil microbiological properties of soil samples such as CO2respiration, dehydrogenase and urease activity were determined. According to the results obtained, maize stalk, cotton stalks and almond bark applications increased some soil microbiological activities, such as CO2respiration, dehydrogenase and urease activities according to control soil. Maize stalk in comparison to other residues affects better on the biological properties of the soil. It is determined that enhancing effects of the added organic residues (maize stalk, cotton stalk, almond bark) into the soil were changed according to the type of organic residues, dosage and application terms.

The tea industry in Kericho is among the main consumers of firewood for its intensive thermal energy demand used in industrial steam boilers. There have been growing concerns about firewood depletion and tea factories have begun transitioning to alternative fuels to power their boilers. Briquettes made of biomass residues are among the promising solutions; however, they are not yet widely adopted and implemented. This study has identified the possible source of briquettes to fire boilers that will utilize agricultural by-products produced within Kericho. The blended briquettes have arrived at the best ratio by determining the physical and combustion properties of blended briquettes of sawdust, maize stalks, and coffee husks. Blended briquettes have gained attention as a sustainable alternative to traditional fuels due to their potential for reducing environmental impact utilizing agricultural and forestry residues and reducing the dependency of wood pellets. The combustion properties of the blended briquettes have also been examined, focusing on fixed carbon. The calorific value will be determined using calorimetric techniques to measure the amount of heat energy released upon combustion. The ideal combustion parameters of blended briquettes were determined via numerical optimisation. Design-Expert® Software's optimization method is based on a technique created by Derringer and Suich (1980). Experiment design and analysis were done with Design-Expert® Software Version 10-Stat-Ease. The response surface methodology was utilized to investigate the fixed carbons blended briquettes manufactured from coffee husks, maize stalks, and sawdust. The interaction of the parameters was also explored. The results of this study have blended briquettes developed from coffee husks, maize stalks, and sawdust, measuring 45mm by 45mm by 35mm. From the analysis of individual briquettes, Individual briquettes fixed carbons range between 8.58% and 13.08%. Sawdust gave 9.36%, coffee husks 8.58% and maize stalks at 13.08%. The quality of bio-briquettes improves as the fixed carbon value rises. Fixed carbon serves as a primary source of heat during combustion. The optimal mix ratio of coffee husks: maize stalks: sawdust is 2.3:1.1:1. This ratio gave a 6.986% fixed carbon. This has verified that blended briquette fuel has better combustion properties than individual briquettes. It is recommended that further research should be done to investigate the influence combustion properties and binders for uncarbonized briquette binders when varied above 10%. This should be adjusted to see if it impacts both the physical and combustion properties under investigation.

Co-pyrolysis characteristics of waste tire and maize stalk using TGA, FTIR and Py-GC/MS analysis

The effect of structural bending properties versus material bending properties on maize stalk lodging

A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the rapid detection of toxigenic Fusarium temperatum in maize stalks and kernels

Study on the ecological potential of Chinese straw resources available for bioenergy producing based on soil protection functions

A field experiment was carried out at Batra village -Talkha district Dakahlia Governorate during two successive summer growing seasons 2010 and 2011 to study the effect of two surface irrigation systems (furrow and bed furrow irrigation systems) and four rates of NPK (0-0-0, 60-6.5-20, 90-10-30 and 120-13-40 kg N-P-K/fed, respectively) and their combinations on maize (c.v. single hybrid 30-K-8) yield, yield components, chemical composition, fertilization efficiency, soil fertility and some water relations. The most important results could be summarized as follows. Maize grain and stalk yields were insignificantly affected by irrigation systems in both seasons, but 1000-grain weight was significant. Addition of NPK levels significantly increased grain yield, stalk yield and 1000-grain weight. Interaction between irrigation systems and NPK levels increased grain and stalk yields, insignificantly. N % in stalk and grain was significantly affected by irrigation systems, but P % and K % were insignificantly affected. Addition NPK levels significantly increased N, P and K % in maize stalk and grain. Also, interaction between irrigation systems and NPK levels increased N, P and K concentrations in maize. The values of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), phosphor use efficiency (PUE) and potassium use efficiency (KUE), were higher with furrow irrigation technique than bed furrow irrigation in two seasons. Also, addition of NPK levels increased NUE, PUE and KUE, respectively compared with control (zero level). The addition of NPK at 90-10-30 kg N-P-K/fed, respectively produced the highest values of NUE, PUE and KUE. Soil fertility were affected by irrigation techniques and NPK levels, where available N in soil increased insignificantly, but available P and K significantly increased with irrigation systems in both seasons. Application different levels of NPK increased significantly the availability of N, P, and K in soil. The average values of soil salinity were increased significantly with bed furrow irrigation methods and NPK levels as well as their interactions. The highest mean value of field water use efficiency in the two seasons (1.34 and 1.43 kg grain/m3, respectively) was recorded with 120, 13 and 40 kg NPK/fed under bed furrow irrigation system.

Ligno-cellulosic materials as air-water separators in low-tech microbial fuel cells for nutrients recovery