Alternative Nutrient Sources Research Articles

Entomophagy: an innovative nutritional and economic navigational tool in race of food security

The dilemma of food security and lack of essential nutrients are two fundamental reasons that draw the world's attention towards insects as an alternative source of nutrients. Insect provide us with better quality proteins, low-fat contents as well as essential micronutrients with a high and quick source of energy than any other conventional source of food. Insect farming has been adopted by many people of different regions at domestic and commercial level because of its low input and high output. Moreover, innovation in processing techniques with effective marketing strategies made entomophagy a more viable source of food. The techno-functional properties of insect proteins make it a more reliable and sustainable source than plants and seeds proteins. Now a days, different attractive products of edible insects are present in the market which enhances its consumer acceptance. Hence, entomophagy is a viable, sustainable, cheaper and highly nutritive tool in the race of food security. Humans should prefer the production and consumption of insect’s products so that burden of crops may reduce and being healthy food, it will improve diet.

Pó de basalto como fertilizante alternativo na cultura do feijão preto em Latossolo vermelho

O pó de basalto (PB) vem sendo utilizado como fonte de nutrientes alternativo em algumas culturas no Brasil, sobretudo em graníferas, como o feijão preto. Desse modo, o objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o efeito de doses de PB na produção de matéria seca da parte aérea (MSPA) e grãos de feijão preto em Latossolo vermelho. O experimento foi conduzido por dois anos experimentais, safras 2017/18 e 2018/19 em delineamento de blocos casualizados, com três repetições, totalizando 33 parcelas experimentais, constituídas de 6 m² cada. Os tratamentos foram: 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 120, 160, 200 t ha-1 de PB, além de outro tratamento com fertilização química NPK e uma testemunha - TEST (sem PB e NPK). A semeadura do feijão preto foi com espaçamento de 40 cm entre linhas e 12 cm entre plantas. No estádio de pleno florescimento das plantas foi determinada a produção da MSPA e na colheita, os grãos. A produção de MSPA e grãos de feijão apresentou tendência crescente em relação às doses de PB, ou seja, quanto maior a dose de PB, maior foi a produção de MSPA e grãos, com valores variando de 1091 a 2892 kg ha-1 e 989 a 2111 kg ha-1, respectivamente. Doses de 5 a 60 t ha-1 apresentam ação equivalente na produção MSPA e grãos de feijão preto em comparação com a fertilização química NPK. Doses de PB acima de 80 t ha-1 promovem a maior produção de grãos de feijão preto em Latossolo vermelho.

Waste Valorization via Hermetia Illucens to Produce Protein-Rich Biomass for Feed: Insight into the Critical Nutrient Taurine.

Simple SummaryThe increasing demand of nutrients for food and feed imposes the urgent need to implement current nutritional resources while finding valuable alternative sources of fats and proteins. The present study aims to evaluate the efficiency to bioconvert the substrate proteins of vegetable wastes into valuable larval biomass by the insect Black Soldier Fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens. Here, we report that BSF larvae and prepupae show a high protein content characterized by different profiles of valuable amino acids, including taurine, a crucial nutrient for animal feed and future fish aquaculture. Moreover, we provide insights into the genetic basis of taurine biosynthesis in BSF for the first time and we show that the regulation of the genes associated with taurine synthesis influences the taurine content in BSF larvae and prepupae. These findings on peculiar BSF phenotypes encourage the utilization of larvae and/or prepupae to meet different nutritional requirements of fish species as alternative source of relevant amino acids including taurine. Notably, the bioconversion process by BSF represents a sustainable and economically interesting joint solution to meet the protein demand for animal and aquafeed in the next decades as well as a sustainable biotechnological tool for vegetable waste valorization.Insects have been recognized as sustainable alternative sources of nutrients for food and feed. The Black Soldier Fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens, is a particularly promising species for its great potential in the waste valorization to produce, during the bioconversion process, high-value fat and proteins that currently represent a valuable source for fish feed. The present study aims to evaluate the efficiency to use substrate proteins in two different BSF developmental stages as sustainable biotechnological tools for vegetable waste management. We provide insights into the nutritional values of both V instar larvae and prepupae in terms of valuable amino acids with special focus on taurine, a crucial nutrient for fish. Moreover, we cloned four key genes from BSF involved in the taurine biosynthesis pathway, 2-aminoethanethiol dioxygenase (Hiado), cysteine dioxygenase (Hicdo), cysteine sulfonate decarboxylase (Hicsad), and glutamate decarboxylase (Higad). The gene expression analysis in larvae and prepupae by qPCR showed development-specific profiles suggesting they influence the taurine content during BSF development. These findings showed peculiar phenotypes in larvae and prepupae that can be selected for different biotechnological applications as sustainable source of relevant amino acids and taurine to support the increasing demand for animal feed and aquafeed in the next decades.

Kamafugite From the Alto Paranaíba Province as a Multi-nutrient Fertilizer

The study evaluated the potential agricultural use of kamafugite as a multi-nutrient fertilizer in the cultivation of Urochloa brizantha. Two experiments were carried out under greenhouse conditions, one using a Ferralsol and the other an Arenosol. The experimental design was a randomized block with four replicates, in a factorial scheme 4 × 2 + 2, comprising four doses of kamafugite (1667, 3334, 6668, and 13336 mg dm-3), two product forms (filler and powder), and two additional treatments, TSF + KCl and a control treatment without K2O and P2O5 application. The sources were incubated for 60 days on two soil types and, after the incubation period, Urochloa brizantha plants were grown and two consecutive cuts were performed. The kamafugite was efficient in increasing plant dry mass and the levels of P, K, Ca, and Mg accumulated in plants, mainly in the 2nd Urochloa brizantha crop. The granulometry filler was more efficient in the sandy soil and the form powder in the clayey soil. Kamafugite can be used as an alternative source of nutrients for the Urochloa brizantha crop, being a low-cost and a potential source to improve tropical soil fertility over time.

Effects of terrigenous organic substrates and additional phosphorus on bacterioplankton metabolism and exoenzyme stoichiometry.

Bamboo, as a pioneer vegetation, often forms forests on bare lands after catastrophic landslides. Compared to evergreen forest soil, bamboo forest soil is much more labile, with a higher percentage of microbially derived organic carbon (OC), lower molecular weight, and lower humic acid content. We hypothesised that different terrigenous organic matter (tOM) sources with varying lability and phosphorus (P) availability select for bacterioplankton with distinct metabolic pathways.We incubated natural bacterioplankton assemblages with tOM leached from bamboo forest soil (BOM) and evergreen forest soil (EOM) and compared these to a lake water control. To test if microbial metabolism would be limited by OC or P availability of each tOM treatment, we used acetate as an extra labile OC source and phosphate as an inorganic P source. Bacterial metabolism was measured by analysing respiration via O2 consumption and production via tritiated thymidine (TdR) assimilation.Bacterioplankton metabolism is limited by the availability of P in BOM substrates. When using BOM, bacteria had higher enzymatic activities for phosphatase. The nutrients required for bacterial biomass seemed to be derived from organic matter. Under BOM treatment, bacterial production (BP) (0.92 ± 0.13 μg C L−1 hr−1) and cell specific TdR assimilation rates (0.015 ± 0.002 10–18 M TdR cell−1 hr−1) were low. Adding P enhanced BP (BOM+P 1.52 ± 0.31 and BOM+C+P 2.25 ± 0.37 μg C L−1 hr−1) while acetate addition had no significant effect on BOM treatment.This indicated that the bacteria switched to using added inorganic P to respire a P‐limited BOM substrate, which increased total BP and abundance, resulting in even more active respiration and lower growth efficiency. We also found higher activities for chitin‐degrading enzyme β‐N‐acetylglucosaminidase, which is associated with N mining from aminosaccharides.Microbes using EOM, however, did not change metabolic strategies with additional acetate or/and inorganic P. This is due to higher concentrations of organic P in EOM substrates and the presence of inorganic N in the EOM leachates an alternative nutrient source. Bacteria produced β‐glucosidase and leucyl‐aminopeptidase in order to utilise the humic substances, which sustained greater bacterial abundance, higher BP (2.64 ± 0.39 μg C L−1 hr−1), and lower cell‐specific respiration. This yielded a much higher bacterial growth efficiency (15 ± 9.2%) than the lake water control.Our study demonstrated the aquatic metabolic discrepancy between tOM of different forest types. Bacterioplankton in BOM and EOM exhibit distinct metabolic responses. Bacterial metabolic strategy when using BOM implied that the supposedly stabilised biomass OM might be efficiently used by aquatic bacterioplankton. As the labile and nutrient‐deficient BOM is more susceptible to the influence of additional nutrients, fertiliser residues in bamboo forest catchments might have a stronger effect on aquatic bacterial metabolic pathways. Thus, it is important to take tOM differences into consideration when building models to estimate soil carbon turnover rates along a terrestrial–aquatic continuum.

Potencial germinativo de sementes de rúcula (Eruca sativa L., Brassicaceae) em diferentes substratos

RESUMO: Os substratos são fontes alternativa de nutrientes para as plantas que têm demonstrado características adequadas para a germinação e desenvolvimento de mudas olerícolas. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o potencial de germinação de sementes de rúcula (Eruca sativa L.) em diferentes tipos de substratos. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação com sombrite (50% de luminosidade) na área experimental do Campus I da Universidade Estadual de Alagoas - UNEAL, o delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso com 5 tratamentos (T1= areia fina, T2= húmus de minhoca, T3= esterco caprino + húmus de minhoca, T4= esterco caprino + húmus, T5= solo testemunha), e 30 unidades experimentais cada um. Utilizou-se sementes de rúcula variedade folha larga, onde foram semeadas em bandejas de poliestireno, os dados da quantidade de sementes germinadas foram registrados diariamente e submetidos ao teste de comparação de médias utilizando-se o teste de Tukey ao nível de 5% de probabilidade com o auxílio do programa estatístico SISVAR. A porcentagem de germinação % PG e o IVG – Índice de Velocidade de Germinação foram maiores nos tratamentos areia, húmus de minhoca e no solo (testemunha) não havendo diferença significativa entre eles, já os tratamentos húmus + esterco caprino e húmus + esterco bovino tiveram as menores médias em ambas as variáveis. Infere-se que a utilização dos substratos húmus de minhoca, areia e solo (testemunha) promoveram significativamente germinação de sementes de Rúcula, enquanto que os substratos húmus + esterco caprino e húmus + esterco bovino reduziram a germinação.
 PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Dicotiledônea, crescimento radicular, matéria orgânica.

Use of Biofuel Industry Wastes as Alternative Nutrient Sources for DHA-Yielding Schizochytrium limacinum Production

The simultaneous use of crude glycerol and effluent from anaerobic digestate, both wastes derived from the biofuel industry, were tested in the frame of circular economy concept, as potential low-cost nutrient sources for the cultivation of rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) oil microalgae strain Schizochytrium limacinum SR21. Initially, the optimal carbon and nitrogen concentration levels for high S. limacinum biomass and lipids production were determined, in a culture media containing conventional, high cost, organic nitrogen sources (yeast extract and peptone), micronutrients and crude glycerol at varying concentrations. Then, the effect of a culture media composed of crude glycerol (as carbon source) and effluent digestate at varying proportions on biomass productivity, lipid accumulation, proximate composition, carbon assimilation and fatty acid content were determined. It was shown that the biomass and total lipid content increased considerably with varying effluent concentrations reaching 49.2 g L−1 at 48% (v/v) of effluent concentration, while the lipid yield at the same effluent concentration reached 10.15 g L−1, compared to 17.0 g L−1 dry biomass and 10.2 g L−1 lipid yield when yeast extract and peptone medium with micronutrients was used. Compared to the control treatment, the above production was obtained with 48% less inorganic salts, which are needed for the preparation of the artificial sea water. It was shown that Schizochytrium limacinum SR21 was able to remediate 40% of the total organic carbon content of the biofuel wastes, while DHA productivity remained at low levels with saturated fatty acids comprising the main fraction of total fatty acid content. The results of the present study suggest that the simultaneous use of two waste streams from the biofuel industry can serve as potential nutrient sources for the growth of Schizochytrium limacinum SR21, replacing the high cost organic nutrients and up to one half the required artificial sea water salts, but upregulation of DHA productivity through optimization of the abiotic environment is necessary for industrial application, including aqua feed production.

Chemical, Antioxidant, Total Phenolic and Flavonoid Components and Antimicrobial Effects of Different Species of Quinoa Seeds

Quinoa is considered as one of the newly emerged seed with high nutritional and biological aspects. The present research was done to study the biological activities of quinoa seeds. Quinoa seeds (cultivars; Giza1, Red Carina and Sajama) were obtained and their chemical properties were analyzed. Ethanoic extract was prepared and its total phenolic components (TPC), total flavonoid components (TFC), antioxidant and antimicrobial effects were studied. Saponin content was detected using the standard method. The highest contents of moisture, carbohydrate, protein, fat, fiber, ash and iron were found in cultivarSajama (7.23±0.61%), Giza1 (63.45±4.25%), Red Carina (18.11±1.62%), Sajama (10.19±0.98%), Red Carina (5.75±0.51%), Red Carina (5.98±0.46%) and cultivarGiza1 (26.80±2.51), respectively. The mean concentrations of saponin in cultivarGiza1 had the highest concentration of saponin (4.25±0.23 mg/g), while cultivarSajama had the lowest (1.84±0.12 mg/g). CultivarGiza1 had the highest TPC, TFC and antioxidant effects. CultivarGiza1 extract had the highest antibacterial effects. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of cultivarGiza1 (or Misr1) against L. monocytogenes and E. coli bacteria were 10 and 5 mg/ml, respectively, while those of C. quinoa Sajama against L. monocytogenes and E. coli were 80 and 40 mg/ml, respectively. The quinoa seeds are an appropriate alternative candidate of nutrients with high phenolic and flavonoid components and antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. High protein, carbohydrate, ash, fiber, iron, total phenol and flavonoid contents, low saponin concentration and considerable antibacterial and antioxidant effects of the quinoa seeds and particularly C. quinoa Giza1 make them suitable as alternative functional sources of nutrients with high biological effects for human nutrition.

Integration of poultry litter and mineral nitrogen on growth and yield of winter canola

AbstractCanola (Brassica napins L.) has the potential to be used as a winter crop in the southeastern United States, but little is known about its nitrogen management when grown in this region. Increasing fertilizer costs have increased interest in using poultry litter (PL) as an alternative nutrient source for crops in this region. However, evaluation of the use of PL on canola growth and yield is lacking. Thus, a field study was conducted at Shorter, AL (loamy sand soil) and Prattville, AL (fine sandy loam soil) using a randomized complete block design with four replications. Fertility treatments consisted of an unfertilized control (P0U0), commercial fertilizer N (urea, 180 kg N ha−1, P0U180), PL at 68 kg N ha‐1 with 112 kg N ha−1 urea (P68U112), PL at 112 kg N ha−1 with 68 kg N ha−1 urea (P112U68), and PL at 180 kg N ha−1 (P180U0). Overall, the combination of PL and urea application significantly increased canola growth (plant height and aboveground biomass) and elevated grain yield compared with PL application alone or with the control. The P68U112 treatment resulted in an equivalent aboveground biomass, grain yield, and N uptake compared with the recommended urea treatment. This study suggests that a combination of PL and commercial fertilizer N could provide sustainable canola yield production in the southeastern United States.

Comparison of the nutritional value of mysore thorn borer (Anoplophora chinensis) and mealworm larva (Tenebrio molitor): Amino acid, fatty acid, and element profiles

There is increasing interest in using insects as an alternative nutrient source and Mysore thorn borer (MTB) (Anoplophora chinensis) might have nutritional and functional relevance for humans. The nutritional composition of MTB (amino acids, fatty acids, and elements profiles) was examined and compared with mealworm larva (MWL) (Tenebrio molitor). MTB was found to contain 19 amino acids, including all essential amino acids. A total of 16 fatty acids were detected including polyunsaturated fatty acids (e.g. α-linolenic acid and linoleic acid). Moreover, MTB had a low n − 6/n − 3 ratio and contained some essential elements, such as iron, zinc, calcium, and potassium. These results demonstrated that MTB might be a potential source of nutritional compounds for human consumption.

Salinity of the growth medium is important for production potential and nutritional value of white worms (Enchytraeus albidusHenle)

Enchytraeus albidus is a small euryhaline earthworm that is abundant in the supralittoral zone where it can be found in decaying seaweed. This species is readily mass-cultured, and due to its relatively high contents of protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), there has been a renewed interest in this species as an alternative source of valuable nutrients for fish feed. Here, we have investigated the influence of substrate salinity (0, 1, 2, 8, 15, 30 and 40 ppt) on reproduction, growth and nutrient content of worms. We found that intermediate salinities (8–15 ppt) of the substrate maximize biomass production as well as protein and PUFA contents of the worm tissue. In particular, we observed that the often used culturing of E. albidus in non-saline growth medium resulted in low reproduction and biomass production. Increasing the salinity from 0 to 15 ppt resulted in a higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids both in storage lipid and in membrane phospholipid fractions.

Alternative for potassic fertilization of vegetables in organic management in low fertility natural soil of the humid tropics

The organic food production and mainly the demand for these products have been growing much worldwide, and with this rising demand there is need for more adequate soil management. Organic fertilization is one of the points to improve and the alternative sources of nutrients should be better evaluated. Potassium is an essential nutrient required in large quantities by greenery and fruit, but according to the legislation of organic production, it can only be used as crushed rocks such as potassium sulfate. The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of potassium sulfate (soluble source), wood ash and marble powder as alternative sources of potassium in organic system, using hybrid maize AG 1051 as the indicator crop. The experimental design applied was in randomized blocks in the 3x4x2 factorial scheme, consisting of three potassium sources applied in four doses (0, 60, 90 and 120 kg ha-1 K2O) in the presence and absence of Biofertilizer, with four repetitions. The data were submitted to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the averages were compared by the Tukey test (p < 0.05). Both wood ash and marble powder tested can be used as complementary potassium fertilization in organic production systems. Marble powder proved to be the most efficient among the treatments and the Biofertilizer did not have a significant effect on the evaluated characteristics.

Comparing the assimilation of dietary nitrogen supplied by animal-, plant- and microbial-derived ingredients in Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei: A stable isotope study

In order to become a more profitable and sustainable industry, the aquaculture sector is constantly exploring alternative nutrient sources. In the present study, the natural stable isotope signatures of different animal-, plant- and microbial-derived ingredients were determined to evaluate the assimilation of dietary nitrogen in Pacific white shrimp. Experimental diets were manufactured to replace fish meal and squid meal with microbial- and plant- derived ingredients (48 and 66 % dietary inclusion) and were also used as additives (4%). Ingredients were also used as additives to study their effects on growth performance and assimilation. Corn gluten, soy protein isolate, Arthrospira (Spirulina) biomass and a bacterial meal (ProFloc™) were used to formulate six, isotopic control diets containing one source of dietary nitrogen, while six combined diets had varying proportions of ingredients. At the end of the trial, survival rates were similar among treatments (88 ± 9%) but there were significant differences in mean final weight. Microbial and animal proteins promoted similar final weight when combined (1080−1537 mg), while plant ingredients and Arthrospira caused lower growth when used alone (420−970 mg). Isotopic values indicated significant differences in the assimilation proportions of dietary nitrogen, mainly attributed to the ingredients’ different amino acid profiles. The dietary nitrogen contained in microbial-derived ingredients was assimilated at similar, or even higher proportions than fish meal and squid meal. Diet formulated with 33 % fish meal, Arthrospira and corn gluten, contributed 31, 36 and 33 % of dietary nitrogen to muscle growth, respectively. The second 33 % combination supplied 42, 34 and 24 % from squid meal, bacterial meal and soy protein. When ingredients were used at 4%, additive levels, they also contributed structural nitrogen to shrimp muscle tissue despite low dietary inclusions. Results demonstrated the viable use of stable isotopes to evaluate the assimilation of dietary nitrogen supplied by emerging alternative ingredients.

Inoculation of cattle manure with microbial agents increases efficiency and promotes maturity in composting.

In this study, fresh cattle manure was mixed with rice straw at a ratio of 10:1 in fresh weight and then composted in a self-built, aerated static composting box, whose dimension was 1m × 0.8m × 0.8m with a volume of approximately 0.6m3. To deal with the inconvenient and time-consuming problem of multiple stage inoculation, a single, one-time inoculation agent containing diverse microorganisms that are active at both the initial heating and thermophilic phases was developed. A total of 12 from 42 strains isolated from the none-inoculated Experiment 1 composting system were selected as microorganismal agents in Experiment 2 according to their species, prevalence and cultural temperature. 200mL of each microorganism enrichment broth was mixed to the inoculation group at the beginning of composting. A total of 2400mL of sterilize distilled water was added to the control group. The parameters of temperature, moisture, pH, C/N ratio, organic matter degradation, and germination index were investigated for both inoculation and control composting groups. Results showed that inoculation did not significantly shorten composting time. However, the pile temperature was increased with the maximum temperatures of 64.6°C and 60.3°C for the inoculation and control groups, respectively. The degradation of organic matter was accelerated (P < 0.05), and significantly higher GI value (P < 0.05) indicated that the maturity was promoted by the inoculation microorganism. This suggests that the final composting product would provide value as alternative source of nutrients for plants. Conclusively, we suggested a multiple microorganism inoculation method to increase the efficiency and promote maturity in cattle manure composting.

Coconut Cake in Diets for Quail in the Laying Phase

ABSTRACT Currently, agro-industrial by-products have increasingly been used in animal feeding, as they constitute an alternative source of nutrients for the animal diet and a way to simultaneously reduce environmental pollution. The objective of this study was to examine increasing levels of inclusion of coconut cake in Japanese quail diets in the laying phase on their production performance and egg quality. A total of 360 Japanese quails were allotted to eight treatments with nine replicates and eight birds per experimental unit, in a randomized-block design. Five diets were formulated: a diet without inclusion of the by-product; and diets containing 3, 6, 9, and 12% coconut cake. The experiment lasted 63 days, with evaluations occurring at every 21 days. The following variables were analyzed: feed intake, laying rate, feed conversion, egg weight, specific gravity, Haugh unit, yolk, albumen and shell percentage, shell thickness, and shell weight. The treatments elicited a positive linear response from laying rate, whereas feed conversion per egg mass decreased linearly. In terms of egg-quality traits, shell percentage was influenced, increasing linearly. Coconut cake inclusion at 12% in the diet of Japanese quail in the laying improved feed conversion per egg mass and increased egg-laying rate and eggshell percentage.

Impact of Traditional Treatments on the Nutritional Value of Seeds of Jack Fruit (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Artocarpus heterophyllus&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;)

Impact of traditional treatments on the nutritional value of Artocarpus heterophyllus seeds was evaluated. Four traditional processing methods were used (boiling, roasting, soaking and fermentation). Boiled A. heterophyllus (BAH) samples were boiled in water for 60 minutes, roasted A. heterophyllus (RAH) samples were roasted in fine sand, soaked A. heterophyllus (SAH) were soaked in clean water for 48 hours before boiling while the fermented A. heterophyllus (FAH) samples were boiled and wrapped in black bag for 48 hours. The mean proximate content (%) of the unprocessed A. heterophyllus (UAH) seeds was; protein (15.88 ± 0.08), fibre (10.04 ± 0.09) ash (5.05 ± 0.07), moisture (29.25 ± 0.35), fat (10.26 ± 0.35) and carbohydrate (29.52 ± 0.4). Processing affected the proximate and mineral composition of A. heterophyllus seeds. All the processing methods used reduced the protein content. There were significant increases (p A. heterophyllus seeds are rich in nutrient and can serve as an alternative source of nutrients for both man and animals.

Understanding the mobility of potential nutrients in rock mining by-products: An opportunity for more sustainable agriculture and mining

The increase in demand for highly soluble fertilizers brings a global sustainability concern. Alternative sources for traditional fertilization are therefore needed. Rock powder use has been proposed as an alternative approach to soil remineralization. However, research on the agricultural potential of minerals and rocks as alternative sources of nutrients is limited to changes in soil chemical attributes or effects on crop yield. In this work, we report an experimental study addressing the dissolution of two silicate rock-derived powders (andesite and dacite) that were produced during mining activities in Southern Brazil. The rock powders were exposed to Milli-Q water at pH (7.4–8.8) range, in solutions of 0.1 mol L−1 citric acid at pH range 2.1–3.3, and Milli-Q water acidified with 0.5 mol l−1 acetic acid (pH 5–5.8), in a continuous mechanical rotatory shaker at room temperature. Dissolution kinetics were determined as a function of reaction times at 24 to 5760 h, and solution pH. Based on this kinetics, dissolution rates were determined for the individual powders and compared to expected values for aluminosilicates. Based on this comparison, it was shown that the application of andesite and dacite rock-derived powder to replace high soluble fertilizers is feasible due to high dissolution rates of their minerals. The average andesite dissolution rates in Milli-Q water, in citric acid solution, and in Milli-Q water acidified with acetic acid were 2.1 × 10−5, 1.92 × 10−1 and 6.3 × 10−4 mmol cm−2 s−1, respectively for Ca, being 183%, 22.6%, and 69.2% higher than for the dacite rock. This make andesite rock a potential substitute for carbonate-based liming. In contrast, the average dacite dissolution rates in Milli-Q water, in citric acid solution, and in Milli-Q water acidified with acetic acid were 1.05 × 10–5, 7.22 × 10−5, and 3.72 × 10−5 mmol cm−2 s−1, respectively for K, being 72.0%, 61.4%, and 73.6% higher than the andesite rock. This highlights its potential use as a K source for agriculture to replace highly soluble K-fertilizers.

May passive dispersal of fungal enemies with native substrates in olive nurseries help to control phytonematodes?

Description of the subject. In Morocco, expanding agricultural sector under “Morocco Green Plan” will also introduce plant diseases and plant parasitic nematodes (PPN). Soil substrate used in most of the olive nurseries is potentially inhabited by PPN and natural enemies. Objectives. This work assessed the co-occurrence of PPN and nematophagous fungi (NF) in substrates and potential of NF to suppress PPN. Method. The diversity of PPN and NF genera was characterized in 305 substrate samples, isolated from 25 olive nurseries and functional activity (nematicidal and enzymatic) of NF was evaluated. Results. High PPN diversity was detected in the isolated samples and substrates were differentiated by NF activity. Global partition between PPN and NF diversity patterns confirmed prey-predator antagonism. Moreover, PPN-NF patterns depend on the fungal survival (saprophytes vs obligate parasites) and antagonism (predation vs toxicity) processes. However, even the NF strains with maximum fitness (growth, sporulation, enzymatic activity) were not inevitably the most effective against PPN. Consequently, it was hypothesized that predation and competition could be an adaptation process of NF to overcome environmental stress and exploit alternative or supplementary nutrient sources. Conclusions. The use of diverse native NF from cultivated and wild soils offer future prospects for the development of PPN management strategies in olive nurseries.

Evaluation of Filamentous Fungal Biomass Cultivated on Vinasse as an Alternative Nutrient Source of Fish Feed: Protein, Lipid, and Mineral Composition

The rapid growth of aquaculture and scarcity of conventional fish feed supplements has prompted the introduction of new sustainable supplementation sources. In this study, the potential of five strains of fungal biomass of Ascomycetes and Zygomycetes edible filamentous fungi, Aspergillus oryzae, Neurospora intermedia, Rizhopus oryzae, Monascus purpureus, and Fusarium venenatum, cultivated on vinasse, a by-product of the bioethanol industry, as alternative protein sources for fishmeal in the fish diet was evaluated. It was observed that 5% vinasse with an initial pH of 5–6.5 can support fungal biomass yields of 34.3 ± 2.4–118.5 ± 3.9 g DM/L for A. Oryzae, N. intermedia, and R. oryzae. High protein contents of about 44.7%, 57.6%, and 50.9% (w/w), and fat contents of 7.0%, 3.5%, and 5.5% (w/w) were obtained for A. oryzae, N. intermedia, and R. oryzae, respectively. The latter three fungi species contained noticeable amino acid contents, including promising profiles of amino acids that are highly compatible with those of fishmeal. These findings provide evidence that fungal biomasses, with their relatively high protein content, good amino acid profiles, and other essential nutrients, are a promising supplementation alternative that can be produced from low-value by-products and organic-rich waste streams like vinasse to meet the dietary protein requirements in fish feed.

Implications for industrial application of bioflocculant demand alternatives to conventional media: waste as a substitute.

The biodegradability and safety of the bioflocculants make them a potential alternative to non-biodegradable chemical flocculants for wastewater treatment. However, low yield and production cost has been reported to be the limiting factor for large scale bioflocculant production. Although the utilization of cheap nutrient sources is generally appealing for large scale bioproduct production, exploration to meet the demand for them is still low. Although much progress has been achieved at laboratory scale, Industrial production and application of bioflocculant is yet to be viable due to cost of the production medium and low yield. Thus, the prospects of bioflocculant application as an alternative to chemical flocculants is linked to evaluation and utilization of cheap alternative and renewable nutrient sources. This review evaluates the latest literature on the utilization of waste/wastewater as an alternative substitute for conventional expensive nutrient sources. It focuses on the mechanisms and metabolic pathways involved in microbial flocculant synthesis, culture conditions and nutrient requirements for bioflocculant production, pre-treatment, and also optimization of waste substrate for bioflocculant synthesis and bioflocculant production from waste and their efficiencies. Utilization of wastes as a microbial nutrient source drastically reduces the cost of bioflocculant production and increases the appeal of bioflocculant as a cost-effective alternative to chemical flocculants.