Average Fresh Weight Research Articles

Effect of plant growth regulators in inducing Vitisvinifera Callus and increased production of flavonoids in vitro

This study was aimed to use of plant tissue culture technology to induce callus from grapevine Vitisvinifera and stimulate it to increase the production of flavonoids. The study was carried out in two stages after the sterilization process was carried out: The first included establishing callus farms by cultivating cuttings containing a single node after completing their sterilization and cultivating them on MS medium containing 2,4-D and BA at different concentrations (0, 1, 2, 3,4) mg L -1and BA in concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4) in independent experiments. The second phase included studying the effect of growth regulators on the concentrations of carbohydrates and flavonoids in the callus induced from the first experiment. The results of the study showed the superiority of auxien 2,4-D at a concentration of 2mg L -1as it achieved the highest average fresh and dry weight of callus, reaching (3.32 and 1.03) mg respectively, while BA at a concentration of 0.2 mg L -1 achieved the highest average fresh and dry weight of callus was (1.91 and 0.51) mg respectively. The results also showed that the MS medium prepared with a concentration of 4 mg L -1of 2,4-D was significantly superior in the average concentration of the compounds Hesperdine, Nargnine, Proanthocyanin, and Rutin, reaching (64.94, 62.56, 55.63, and 71.22)% respectively.While the medium prepared with a concentration of 3 mg L -1outperformed 2,4-D achieved the highest concentration of Quercetin compounds reaching 75.36% compared to the neutral treatment, which achieved the lowest concentrations.

Metabolomic analysis unveils the dynamic alterations in metabolite profiles in different accessions of Mungbean sprouts

Despite the high nutritional value and active components present in mungbean sprouts, the influence of different accessions on their nutrition remains unclear. Two accessions with pronounced differences in germination experiments were selected in this study, as the average fresh weight and root length of Shilv 22 (SL22) seedlings were only 47% and 41% of those of Shilv 17 (SL17), respectively. In order to investigate the metabolic changes that occur during mungbean germination, nontargeted metabolomics was performed with different accessions of mungbean sprouts. The results revealed that SL17 and SL22 accessions had extreme differences on metabolic changes, and amino acids including tyrosine, proline, aspartate and asparagine were considered to serve as potential markers to distinguish the two accessions. SL17 accumulated more vitamin B, flavonoids and phenolic acids than SL22 mungbean sprouts after 60 h, a critical time point of germination. Network pharmacology analysis indicated that caffeic acid, naringenin, kaempferol, apigenin and pinocembrin could be potentially used as crucial active components of mungbean sprouts for future research. This study offers a strong theoretical foundation for producing cost-effective, highly nutritious mungbean sprouts in the market.

Comparative Assessment of Water Productivity and Crop Performance of Cluster Bean, Cowpea and Pearl Millet in Arid Zones

Arid and semi-arid regions face mounting challenges due to water scarcity exacerbated by climate change, necessitating sustainable agricultural practices to ensure food security and economic stability. This study compares the water productivity and crop performance of Cluster Bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L), Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) and Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) under sprinkle irrigation in the Thar Desert, India. The experiment, conducted over two years (2022 and 2023) at ICAR – CSWRI – Arid Region Campus, Bikaner evaluated plant height, leaf number, branch development, fresh and dry biomass yields and water productivity. Pearl Millet exhibited the tallest plants (160.03 cm) and highest water productivity (1.57 kg/m³), emphasizing its drought resilience and efficient water use. Cowpea demonstrated substantial biomass production (average fresh weight of 16,348.75 kg/hac.) and moderate water productivity (1.16 kg/m³), suitable for forage and soil improvement. Cluster Bean, although less productive in biomass, showed adaptability with increased branching (from 4.65 to 7.35 branches/tiller/plant), indicative of its resilience in arid conditions. These findings underscore the importance of crop selection and management practices in maximizing agricultural productivity and resource use efficiency in water-limited environments.

Varietal Response to Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Bulb Yield, Storability, and Production Economics of Onion (Allium cepa L.)

The field experiment was conducted in the Rabi season of 2021-22 in the research farm of the Regional Research Center, Raiya (Jhajjar) of Maharana Pratap Horticultural University, Karnal, Haryana to examine the impact of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers on the growth, bulb yield and self-life of two indigenous onion varieties was examined. The treatment combinations comprised seven treatments along with one control that was arranged in a randomized block design (factorial) with four replications and two varieties namely Hisar Onion-2 and Hisar Onion-4. The results of the study showed that bulb yield-related parameters such as average fresh weight of bulbs (82.39 g), yield per plot (26.74 kg), and yield per hectare (29.71 t) were recorded maximum in the treatment T6. However, the better storage life of bulbs was estimated in treatment control which was at par with treatment T3 i.e., physiological loss in weight (20.23%), sprouting (3.14%), and rotting (11.43%) were observed minimum after 120 days of storage period. Hisar onion-4 was found superior in all the bulb yield and shelf-life parameters in comparison to Hisar Onion-2. Treatment consisting of 50% recommended dose of NPK + 50% RDN supplied through Vermi-compost recorded maximum net return (Rs.1, 97,942) and benefit-cost ratio (2.25). Therefore, it can be inferred that the combined use of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers contributes to the improved shelf life of onion bulbs and enhances the long-term production potential of the soil.

Differences of soil carbon pools and crop growth across different typical agricultural fields in China: The role of geochemistry and climate change

Carbon storage and the aboveground biomass of farmland provide practical significance for understanding global changes and ensuring food production and quality. Based on soil carbon storage, aboveground biomass, climate, geochemistry, and other data from 19 farmland ecological stations in China, we analysed the distribution characteristics of farmland carbon storage in topsoil and aboveground biomass. We notably revealed the response direction and degree of climate and geochemical factors to farmland carbon storage in topsoil and aboveground biomass. The results indicated that the average carbon stocks of farmland in different regions ranged from 0.28 to 7.91 kg m−2, the average fresh weight of the aboveground biomass (FAB) ranged from 1370.64 to 5997.28 g m−2, and the average dry weight of the aboveground biomass (DAB) ranged from 119.95 to 852.35 g m−2. The least angle regression (LARS) and the best subsection selection regression (BSS) showed that evapotranspiration and extreme low temperatures were significant climatic factors affecting carbon sequestration and aboveground biomass on long-time scales. The linear mixed-effects model (LMM) further showed that AN and AP had significant long-term effects on carbon sequestration and aboveground biomass (p < 0.05), with AN having the highest contribution to SOC%, FAB, and DAB. The structural equation model (SEM) showed that carbon sequestration and aboveground biomass in agricultural fields were significantly positively correlated (p < 0.05). Moreover, the climate had a less direct contribution to carbon sequestration and above-ground biomass compared to geochemistry (PCc < 0.1<PCG), and its effect was more indirect. When the geochemical variables were removed, the correlation between climate and carbon and aboveground biomass variables decreased significantly. We conclude that it is possible that extremes climate and geochemistry control carbon sequestration and above-ground biomass in long-term cropland through interactions in the context of global change, which provides new insights into the evolution of soil organic carbon in long-term cropland and the scientific formulation of policies to increase food production and preserve quality.

The Effect of Grass Juices on The Agricultural Properties of Legumes Grown in Different Root Media

The consumption of grass juices obtained from cereals for health purposes is increasing day by day. For this purpose, research on different plant solutions has gained momentum. In our study, barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and oat (Avena sativa L.) grass juices grown in hydroponic conditions were used. Obtained grass juices were applied to pea and lupine seeds in 100% soil (control), 100% pumice, 100% perlite, 100% tea waste and 100% cocopeat substrate. Germination percentage, germination rate, average daily germination, peak value, germination value, root dry and fresh weight, stem dry and fresh weight, root and stem length, plant yield, grass yield, plant yield seed rate, macro and micro (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn) mineral substance contents were investigated pea and lupine. Grass juices were obtained by mowing barley and oat seeds sown in 30 × 50 × 7 cm plastic tubs in ten days and passing them through a juicer. Pea and lupine 25 seeds, which were placed in each pot, were grown in different root media (100% soil, 100% cocopeat, 100% pumice, 100% perlite, and 100% tea waste) under in vitro conditions. 150 ml of water (control), barley grass juice, oat grass juice and barley + oat grass juice were applied to the seeds according to their subjects. The experiment was carried out in 400 pots with 10 replications x 2 species x 4 treatments x 5 media, according to the factorial fully randomised design. As a result of the research, germination physiology (germination percentage, germination rate, average daily germination, peak value and germination value), mineral substance content (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn), growth and yield parameters at (root dry and wet weight, stem dry and wet weight, root and stem length, plant yield, grass yield, plant yield seed rate) barley grass juice application was found to be more effective than other applications after control. In all parameters examined in the research, it was determined that the five different medias used as growing media followed the order of soil&gt;cocopeat&gt;pumice&gt;perlite&gt;tea waste, and after the control and the best growing medium was cocopeat.

Taxonomic Study on the Six Species of Genus Magnolia

Magnolia, a genus comprising approximately 225 species of trees and shrubs in the family Magnoliaceae. Magnolia plants can be evergreen or deciduous and bear alternate smooth-margined leaves. In this paper six species of magnolia were studied based on morphological observations of taxonomically relevant traits. Among these, four species—Magnolia alba, Magnolia champaca, Magnolia grandiflora, and Magnolia liliifera—are previously documented, while two species, Magnolia figo, a 3–4 m tall shrub with a sweet banana scent, and Magnolia coco, are newly recorded additions to the flora of Bangladesh. This study focused on the leaf descriptions viz. average breadth and length, average size, fresh weight, and dry weight of leaves of the six species with their brief taxonomic description, morphology features, and identifiable pictures. In terms of relative average leaf size (RALS), Magnolia alba has the largest, while Magnolia figo has the smallest. M. champaca exhibits the highest water content, and M. coco has the highest dry matter percentage at approximately 47.03%. The conservation status of these species was evaluated, with four classified as Least Concern (LC) and two as Data Deficient (DD). The addition of Magnolia coco and Magnolia figo brings the total number of Magnolia species in Bangladesh to fourteen. Overall, this study on Magnolia will help future research projects, conservation efforts, and management activities by enhancing the understanding of the various uses of these species. J Bangladesh Agril Univ 22(2): 158-165, 2024

Efektivitas Pupuk Organik Cair Jerami Padi dan Kotoran Sapi terhadap Pertumbuhan Tanaman Sawi (Brasicca juncea L.)

The mustard plant (Brassica juncea L.) is loved by everyone because it has lots of nutrients and is also good for health. This research aims to determine the effectiveness of liquid organic fertilizer from rice straw and cow dung on the growth of mustard greens. The method used in this research was an experimental method with a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 2 factors, namely the dose of liquid organic fertilizer (P₁ = 10 ml and P₂ = 13 ml) and the time of application of liquid organic fertilizer (W₁ = once every 5 days and W₂ = once every 7 days). The results of research on liquid organic fertilizer from rice straw and cow dung can effectively accelerate growth in height, number of leaves and wet weight in mustard greens (Brassica juncea L.). The growth of mustard greens was very good in the P₂W₁ treatment (13 ml dose every 5 days) which produced mustard plants with an average height of 35.1 cm, an average number of leaves of 17.3, and an average fresh weight of mustard greens. average 165.3 grams.

Improving growth and productivity of shallot (Allium ascalonicum L.) applied using organic and inorganic fertilizer

Objective: This research aims to identify and examine organic and inorganic fertilizer on the growth and productivity of shallots. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out under field conditions in the research and application fields of Faculty of Agriculture, Hasanuddin University. The main plot is the liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) consisting of control, 10 mL/L, and 20 mL/L. The subplots, namely the zwavelzure ammonium (ZA) fertilizer, consist of control, 50 kg/ha, 100 kg/ha, and 150 kg/ha. Results: Based on the research conducted, it can be seen that the interaction between the application of LOF (20 mL/L) and ZA fertilizer (150 kg/ha) recorded the highest average fresh bulb weight (145.60 g). Applying LOF (20 mL/L) can increase the average plant height (23.50 cm at 21 days after planting (DAP)), number of leaves (25.60 at 35 DAP), the number of bulbs (10.93), bulb diameter (2.77 cm), production per hectare (21.91 t), and chlorophyll index (20.48) of shallot plants. On the other hand, ZA fertilizer (150 kg/ha) influences plant height (44.03 cm at 42 DAP), number of leaves (26.67), production per hectare (20.96 t), and chlorophyll index (20.64) of shallot plants. Conclusion: The application of organic and inorganic fertilizers has a significant influence on the growth and production of shallot plants, both in interaction and individually.

THE IMPACT OF ORGANIC FERTILIZER FROM TEMBANG FISH (Sardinella fimbriata) AND COCONUT WATER (Cocos nucifera L) ON THE GROWTH AND FRUIT OF BIRD’S EYE CHILI PLANTS (Capsicum frutescens L.)

AbstractThis research aims to determine the impact of administering varying quantities of liquid organic fertilizer obtained from tembang fish (Sardinella fimbriata) and coconut water (Cocos nucifera L) on the development and productivity of bird's eye chili plants (Capsicum frutescens L). This study was carried out in North Penajam Paser Regency from April to July 2023. This study employs a quantitative research methodology using a randomized factorial group (RAKF) design. The design has 2 factors, each with 16 treatments, and is replicated 4 times. The measured variables consist of plant height (in centimeters), leaf count (in strands), and fresh fruit weight (in grams). The results showed that treatment P2 (25 mL POC coconut water) had a real influence on the height parameters of bird's eye chili plants. Treatment P2 showed the highest average at the age of 70 and 79 HST, namely 44 cm and 45.5 cm. Meanwhile, treatment P16 (35 mL POC of tembang fish and 75 mL POC of coconut water) results demonstrate a notable influence on the parameters of leaf number and fresh fruit weight. The P16 treatment showed the highest average number of leaves at 56, 70 and 79 HST, namely 229, 245.75 and 326 strands. Furthermore, P16 treatment produced the highest average fresh fruit weight, namely 29 grams

Varietal Response to Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Growth, Bulb Yield and Quality of Onion (Allium cepa L.)

A field experiment was conducted in the Rabi season of 2021-22 at the research farm of the Regional Research Center, Raiya (Jhajjar) of Maharana Pratap Horticultural University, Karnal, Haryana. The study aimed to examine the impact of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers on the growth, bulb yield and quality of two local varieties of onion. The experiment consists of two factors viz. different combinations of organic and inorganic nutrient sources (T1: RDF (125:50:25 kg/ha), T2: RDN supplied through FYM, T3: RDN supplied through Vermi-compost, T4: RDN supplied through Poultry manure, T5: 50% Recommended dose of NPK + 50% RDN supplied through FYM, T6: 50% Recommended dose of NPK + 50% RDN supplied through Vermi-compost, T7: 50% Recommended dose of NPK + 50% RDN supplied through poultry manure, T8: control) that were laid out in a randomized block design (factorial) with four replications and two varieties namely Hisar Onion-2 and Hisar Onion-4. The outcomes of the study revealed that the leaf length (52.72 cm), number of leaves (10.28), equatorial diameter (6.09 cm), polar diameter (5.16 cm), bulb yield and yield related parameters such as average fresh weight of bulbs (82.39 g), yield per plot (26.74 kg), yield per hectare (29.71 t) and A grade bulbs (73.55%) were recorded maximum, while bolting percentage (2.28%) and twin bulbs percentage (3.16%) was recorded minimum under the treatment T6 Hisar Onion-4 exhibited superiority in almost all growth and bulb yield parameters except number of leaves, which was noted higher in Hisar Onion-2.

In Vitro Microrhizome Production, Genetic Homogeneity Assessment, and Field Performance Evaluation in Ginger

In vitro-induced microrhizomes are promising for producing disease-free planting materials in ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.), spice and medicinal crops threatened by several soil-borne diseases. The study examined microrhizome induction, genetic homogeneity, and field performance in ginger. The condition combination of 3.0 mg·L−1 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), 100 g·L−1 sucrose, and a 12-h photoperiod (the optimal conditions) produced the largest number of microrhizomes among all treatments but resulted in a lower average fresh weight during the 60-day culture period. Larger microrhizomes exhibited greater tolerance to water loss and a higher percentage of sprouting. Therefore, additional efforts were made to increase the size of the microrhizomes. Under the optimal conditions, the fresh weight increased significantly to 280.3 mg and 403.4 mg after 30 days of additional culture and in vitro culture of small-sized microrhizomes, respectively. Flow cytometry analysis and SSR characterization confirmed the genetic homogeneity of the regenerated plants with microrhizomes (MR) and those obtained by directly sowing sprouted microrhizomes into the substrate without acclimatization (FMR). At harvest, the MR had the most robust growth, a significantly higher fresh rhizome weight (206.1 g per plant) than the FMR (121.8 g per plant) and conventional tissue-cultured plants (TC), and similar rhizome finger size (11.5 g and 10.2 cm2) to the FMR. These findings suggest that both the MR and the FMR have advantages over the TC in producing seedling rhizomes of ginger in the first growing season. The established approach may be useful for large-scale production of disease-free ginger rhizomes.

Impact of urea fertilization rates on nitrogen losses, productivity and profitability in East African sugarcane plantations

AbstractFertilizer‐intensive sugarcane plantations are expanding in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) amidst increased groundwater pollution and carbon footprint concerns. Yet, the impact of nitrogen (N) levels on N losses, productivity and profitability in these plantations remains unclear. To address this gap, we conducted a completely randomized design experiment in a Ugandan sugarcane plantation using three N fertilization rates (low, standard and high) as treatments. N leaching under the different treatments was determined using the average drainage fluxes across a 1‐m‐layered profile which we estimated with a suite of pedotransfer functions (PTFs) and leachate N concentrations from suction cup lysimeters. Soil nitrous oxide fluxes were determined using static vented chamber bases and gas chromatography. Partial factor crop productivity was estimated from the average field fresh weight under each treatment and the amount of N fertilizer applied, while the return on investment was determined from the factory price of the field fresh weight and the market price of fertilizers. Our findings indicate that three out of five PTFs effectively estimated soil hydraulic properties at our test site, based on the close match between measured and predicted soil matric potential values. Notably, N leaching at low and standard N rates were comparable but significantly lower than at higher‐than‐standard N rates. Additionally, we measured comparable soil nitrous oxide emissions and field fresh weight but partial factor productivity and return on investment declined along the fertilizer intensification gradient. In conclusion, the study demonstrates the promising application of certain PTFs in N‐leaching modelling in the data‐scarce SSA. Furthermore, obtaining comparable field fresh weight with minimal N losses at lower‐than‐standard N rates presents an opportunity to mitigate groundwater pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. However, the potential impact of the switch from standard to low N rates on soil organic carbon stocks and sugarcane yields warrants further investigation.

Impact of Organic and Chemical Fertilizer Combinations on Growth, Yield, and Soil Carbon in in Oil Palm Cultivation at Talgaswella Estate, Sri Lanka

The success of oil palm cultivation hinges on factors such as planting material quality, management practices, and the availability of essential macro and micro-nutrients. Insufficient nutrient supply adversely impacts both vegetative growth and the ultimate yield in terms of quantity and quality. To address this issue, an experiment was conducted at Talgaswella Estate, belonging to Elpitiya Plantations PLC., situated in the Low Country Wet Zone (LCWZ) of Sri Lanka. The objective was to enhance the productivity and profitability of marginal oil palm lands. A ten-year-old oil palm field was chosen as the experimental site, employing a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with eleven treatments and three replicates, including an absolute control. Each trial plot consisted of six palm trees, totaling 198 trees in the experiment. Treatments involved varying combinations of Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB), Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME), and Poultry Litter (PL), with and without chemical fertilizer. Soil, plant, and yield parameters were measured, and the data were analyzed using the Minitab statistical tool. After three years, results indicated that 100% organic fertilizer-received plots (T11) and 100% chemical fertilizer-treated plots (T2) exhibited significant increases in average fresh fruit bunch weight (22.81 Kg and 21.82 Kg), soil organic carbon percentage (3.00 and 2.23), and leaf chlorophyll content (78.79 and 75.07) of the 17th frond compared to T11 and T2 treated plots. Intermediate results were observed in the remaining fertilizer combined plots (T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10). The findings suggest that the use of organic fertilizer in marginal oil palm lands not only improves crop and soil factors but also contributes to environmental sustainability through the recycling of oil palm waste products. It is recommended to periodically apply organic fertilizer, especially on marginal oil palm lands, to enhance overall crop productivity and land sustainability.

Production of strawberry cultivars in a closed system of growing on substrate with transplants of different origins

The growing of strawberries in substrate has grown because it is a profitable way of production, easy to work, and which reduces the occurrence of diseases. Like closed growing systems they have a low environmental impact. The imported strawberry transplants bare root are considered more productive, however they arrive late in Brazil, shortening their production cycle, so transplants produced under local conditions would be an alternative to increase producers' income. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the productive result of strawberry transplants produced under local conditions and imported bare root, growing in a closed growing system soilless, on a carbonized rice husk substrate and with the addition of organic compost. Three experimental factors were evaluated: 1st) substrate: carbonized rice husk (CRH) and CRH with 20% organic compound (OC) (CRH + OC); 2nd) cultivars: ‘Camarosa’ and ‘San Andreas’; and 3rd) transplants origin: bare root imported, and runners plants produced under local conditions. The local runner's plants outperformed imported bare root in relation to the number of fruits, however, the imported bare root provided greater average fresh weight of fruits. The runner’s plants of the cultivar 'San Andreas' produced 732.9 g plant-1, higher than the production of imported bare root, with 44.9% of the harvest harvested in the months of July and August. The 'Camarosa' cultivar didn't show the difference in yield between local and imported transplants. Transplants of cv. 'San Andreas' shallow rooted directly into the slabs under local natural conditions can guarantee earlier harvest, greater production, and higher fruit yield. As for the substrate, plant growth and commercial productivity were not influenced by the addition of OC to CRH. The results indicate that the addition of OC to the CRH has no influence on plant growth and commercial fruit production.

Magnesium oxide nanoparticles reduce clubroot by regulating plant defense response and rhizosphere microbial community of tumorous stem mustard (Brassica juncea var. tumida).

Clubroot, caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae, is a major disease that significantly impairs the yield of cruciferous crops and causes significant economic losses across the globe. The prevention of clubroot, especially in tumorous stem mustard (without resistant varieties), are is limited and primarily relies on fungicides. Engineered nanoparticles have opened up new avenues for the management of plant diseases, but there is no report on their application in the prevention of clubroot. The results showed that the control efficacy of 500 mg/L MgO NPs against clubroot was 54.92%. However, when the concentration was increased to 1,500 and 2,500 mg/L, there was no significant change in the control effect. Compared with CK, the average fresh and dry weight of the aerial part of plants treated with MgO NPs increased by 392.83 and 240.81%, respectively. Compared with the F1000 treatment, increases were observed in the content of soil available phosphorus (+16.72%), potassium (+9.82%), exchangeable magnesium (+24.20%), and water-soluble magnesium (+20.64%) in the 1,500 mg/L MgO NPs treatment. The enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) results showed that the application of MgO NPs significantly increased soil peroxidase (POD, +52.69%), alkaline protease (AP, +41.21%), alkaline phosphatase (ALP, +79.26%), urease (+52.69%), and sucrase (+56.88%) activities; And also increased plant L-phenylalanine ammonla-lyase (PAL, +70.49%), polyphenol oxidase (PPO, +36.77%), POD (+38.30%), guaiacol peroxidase (POX, +55.46%) activities and salicylic acid (SA, +59.86%) content. However, soil and plant catalase (CAT, -27.22 and - 19.89%, respectively), and plant super oxidase dismutase (SOD, -36.33%) activities were significantly decreased after the application of MgO NPs. The metagenomic sequencing analysis showed that the MgO NPs treatments significantly improved the α-diversity of the rhizosphere soil microbial community. The relative abundance of beneficial bacteria genera in the rhizosphere soil, including Pseudomonas, Sphingopyxis, Acidovorax, Variovorax, and Bosea, was significantly increased. Soil metabolic functions, such as oxidative phosphorylation (ko00190), carbon fixation pathways in prokaryotes (ko00720), indole alkaloid biosynthesis (ko00901), and biosynthesis of various antibiotics (ko00998) were significantly enriched. These results suggested that MgO NPs might control clubroot by promoting the transformation and utilization of soil nutrients, stimulating plant defense responses, and enriching soil beneficial bacteria.

The effect of planting media composition and liquid fertilizer dosage on sand media on the growth of mustard plants (Brassica juncea L.)

The aim of this study is to analyze the potential of sand as a planting medium with the addition of cocopeat, obtain the dose of liquid organic fertilizer for sand media, and find the suitable combination of cocopeat for sand media. The method used is a Complete Randomized Design (CRD) Factorial with 2 factors. The first factor is the combination of planting media (sand and cocopeat) and the second factor is the dose of liquid organic fertilizer. The first factor consists of 3 levels: M1 (sand and cocopeat), M2 (sand and cocopeat mixed), and M3 (cocopeat and sand). Each planting medium has a height of 11 cm. The second factor has 3 levels: P1 (LOF 10 ml/l), P2 (LOF 20 ml/l), and P3 (LOF 30 ml/l). The initial stages carried out in this research include preparing the planting media, seed sowing (for approximately ±16 days), transplanting, and maintenance (watering and fertilization). Observations include monitoring every 3 days (plant height, number of leaves, and leaf width) and final observations (total weight of fresh mustard plants, weight of upper and lower mustard plant parts). The planting media (sand, cocopeat) influenced all parameters. The optimum dose of liquid organic fertilizer is a dose of 30 ml/liter. The most optimal interaction of planting media factors with the dose of liquid organic fertilizer is sand media, cocopeat, and a dose of 30 ml (M1P3) with an average total fresh weight of 4.14 grams. Keywords: Cocopeat, LOF, Planting media, Sand.

Layered double hydroxide for slowing selenium fertilizer release and improving selenium utilization efficiency in vegetables

Selenium (Se) is a beneficial plant micronutrient, and the application of Se fertilizers can promote plant growth and enhance the Se content in crops. However, traditional soluble Se fertilizers have low utilization efficiency of Se due to adsorption or leaching. Here, selenite (SeO32−) -intercalated Mg/Al layered double hydroxide (Se-Mg/Al) for SeO32− slow-release was synthesized by co-precipitation and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Se-Mg/Al possessed a typical lamellar structure, combining with selenite by electrostatic interaction in interlayer and chemisorption on the surface. The release mechanism of selenite in distilled water from Mg/Al layered double hydroxide (Mg/Al LDH) was Fickian diffusion with gradually released 97.86% after 20 h (Over 90% within 2 h for sodium selenite). At pH range 4.0–8.0, Se-Mg/Al had a stable slow-release ability. And, the sulfate and phosphate anions could effectively trigger the release of selenite through anions exchange. The pot experiments showed that Se-Mg/Al increased Se content of vegetables, more than twice that of directly using sodium selenite. Compared with control treatment, the average stem height and fresh weight per 10 plants with Se-Mg/Al treatment improved approximately 1.48 times and 2.34 times, respectively. This work provides a feasible way for achieving crops selenium supplementation and improving selenium utilization efficiency.

Growth and Yield Response of Caisim Plant (Brassica Juncea L.) to Treatment of Growing Media Type and AB Mix Solution Concentration in Floating System Hydroponic Technology

This research aims to determine the effect of AB mix solution and planting media on the growth and yield of caisim (Brassica juncea L.) in a floating hydroponic system. This research was carried out from March 2022 to April 2022 at the CV Green Vest Hydroponic Garden located in Cirebon City, West Java, at an altitude of 4 m above sea level. The research used the Split Plot Design method, the main factor AB mix concentration consisting of 3 levels (10, 14, 18 ml/l) and the second factor as a subplot, namely the planting medium consisting of 3 levels (cocopeat, sawdust, zeolite). Observations were made on plant height, number of leaves, root length, root volume, fresh weight per plant, and fresh weight per plot. The results showed that there was an interaction between the concentration of AB mix and planting media on plant height at 7 DAP, number of leaves at 7, 14, and 21 DAP, root length at 21 DAP, root volume at 14 DAP and 21 DAP, fresh weight per plant, and fresh weight per plot. The AB mix concentration treatment had an independent effect on plant height at 14 and 21 DAP, root length at 7 and 14 DAP, and root volume at 7 DAP. Meanwhile, the planting media treatment had an independent effect on plant height at 14 and 21 DAP, root length at 7 and 14 DAP, and root volume at 7 DAP. The treatment of cocopeat planting media and AB mix concentration of 18 ml/l gave the highest average fresh weight per plot, 4.01 kg.

Multi-season Evaluation of Substrates for Optimized Arugula and Lettuce Production in Hydroponics

Rockwool and peatmoss are commonly used substrates in the greenhouse industry due to their quality, stable pH, exceptional water retention properties and air porosity that is important for plant root development. Although rockwool is commonly used in deep water culture (DWC) hydroponic systems as the base support, there is a lack of studies comparing different types of substrates that could be used in DWC systems, especially considering the increasing market value and awareness of sustainable production in controlled environment agriculture. We identified 13 commercial substrate mixes with different compositions and conducted a series of studies in a DWC system in a greenhouse for three seasons to evaluate their effects on arugula ‘Slow Bolt’ (Eruca sativa L.) and lettuce ‘Summer Crisp’ (Lactuca sativa L.) growth, yield, and quality. The substrates tested significantly influenced the growth, yield, and quality of both arugula and lettuce. The average leaf fresh weight per plant could range from 44 to 190 g for arugula and 89 to 265 g for lettuce. The peat-based products outperformed the coir and other inorganic substrates (phenolic foam, rockwool). The substrate with 75% peat + 25% fine coir produced the greatest plant height, width, and biomass for arugula and lettuce over three growing seasons. Examining arugula and lettuce growth, the fall season produced plants with higher water and nutrient use efficiency, while plants grown during the winter had lower resource use efficiency. Further research is needed to engineer hydroponic substrates suitable for various seasons of leafy green production that results in comparable yield and quality.