Coir Research Articles

Characteristics of Natural Fiber Composites Materials Reinforced with Aluminum and Copper Powder for The Performance of Automatic Motorcycle Clutch Pad

Currently, research on natural fiber composites (NFC) for automotive applications has attracted the attention of researchers and academics. Natural fibers such as coconut fiber and wood powder are mixed with metal materials such as aluminum and copper to obtain the composite characteristics of automatic motorcycle clutch pad materials. Coconut fiber and wood powder are suitable natural materials for composites and are easily obtained from waste. Natural fiber materials with metal reinforcement into composites are expected to produce materials suitable for friction materials such as clutch pads and brake pads with a good characteristic. This study aims to determine the characteristics of the coefficient of friction, wear, and hardness of NFC materials reinforced aluminum and copper powder for the performance of automatic motorcycle clutch pads. Experiments were carried out on various compositions of aluminum and copper powder. Tribometer testing was carried out to determine the friction coefficient and wear. Hardness testing using the Vickers method and testing the performance of automatic motorbikes with a chassis dyno test. The results show that the performances of the clutch pad with NFC-reinforced aluminum and copper show power and torque results that resemble the performances of genuine part materials in each operating cycle. The value of friction coefficient, wear, and hardness of this material are a value close to that of a genuine part clutch pad material. The improved performance of this material is expected to be considered in the manufacture of future clutch pads.

Efficiency of Strawberry Cultivation under the Effect of Different Types of Plants in a Soilless System in the High-Altitude Regions of Southern Brazil

By analyzing the growth and development of different types of strawberry plants, the researchers were able to evaluate the interference with the horticultural potential of the cultivar ‘Albion’. The five treatments that have been studied corresponded to different types of strawberry plants: mini plants in trays with young roots, plants in trays with mature roots and an initial reduction of fertigation, plants in trays with mature roots, plants with bare roots, and plants in trays with mature roots preserved by the cold. In bags containing coconut fiber, the experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications. The attributes evaluated were the total yield per plant, the total yield per plant with fruits above 10 g, the total yield per hectare, the total yield per hectare with fruits above 10 g, the average plant diameter, the average number of buds per plant, and the average number of stolons per plant. There were no significant effects among the plant types concerning yield production. Plants in cold-preserved trays with mature roots showed a higher number of buds than plants in trays with mature roots. Cold-preserved tray plants with mature roots produced the highest number of stolons, followed by bare-root plants. It is concluded that the types of strawberry seedlings did not influence the productive performance of the strawberry ‘Albion’ cultivar. However, cold-preserved tray plants with mature roots showed better vegetative performance, with a yield of a higher number of buds and stolons. However, the results were influenced by the agroclimatic conditions of the producing region; due to climatic interference in the behaviour of the plants about the factors studied, it is recommended to repeat the experiment for a better understanding of the objectives.

Morphological, physical, and chemical characterization of coconut residues in Ecuador

In agricultural countries, Agro-industrial residues are better treated with a circular production logic. This article analyzes the morphological, physical, mechanical, thermal, and chemical characteristics of the coconut fiber and endocarp in Portoviejo and Rocafuerte Cities, Ecuador, to establish a baseline of knowledge that can help to incorporate coconut residues into a matrix of a new material. Interviews were conducted to coconut producers in Portoviejo and Rocafuerte and a random sample of the residues was collected from these locations. Analyses were performed using the SEM, TGA and FRX tests. Concerning the fiber, it was observed a tubular morphology with concentric microfibrils, specific weight 0.69 g/cm3, tensile strength 228 MPa, modulus of elasticity 3.03 GPa, thermal behavior with important mass losses at 330 °C, in the calcinations to obtain oxides as SiO2, SO3, Al2O3, Fe2O3 at 600 °C and 650 °C. The endocarp has a morphology of superimposed and consolidated smooth layers, specific weight 1.29 g/cm3, loss of mass at 339 °C and in calcinations at 800 °C. This study can help to address solid vegetable waste managing challenges in coconut producing cities.

Growth pattern and electronic and magnetic properties of Cr-doped silver clusters.

Growth pattern and electronic and magnetic properties of Agn Cr (n = 1-16) clusters have been investigated via density functional theory (DFT) combined with CALYPSO structure search method. The optimized geometry shows that the growth of the global minimum structures of Agn Cr clusters have obvious rule. when n > 12, silver atoms grow around an icosahedron which is almost unchanged in each structure. Analyses of electronic properties indicate that the doped Cr atom can only enhance the stability of larger silver clusters. Optical absorption and photoelectron spectra of Agn Cr isomers have been predicted and can be used for their structural identification. The icosahedral Ag12 Cr cluster with large energy level gap can be seen as a superatom. The adsorption capacity of Cr atom in Agn Cr cluster to CO is much higher than that of free Cr atom. The intensity of IR and Ramam spectra can be dramatically enhanced when CO is absorbed on Agn Cr cluster that Cr atom is encapsulated by Ag atoms. Moreover, the red shift of IR and Raman spectra of CO adsorbed on these clusters is also very small compared to free CO. Magnetism calculations show that the magnetic moment of Agn Cr clusters decreases linearly from n = 6 to 12 and increases linearly from n = 12 to 16. The total magnetic moment of Agn Cr cluster is mainly localized on the Cr atom. The change of magnetic moment of Cr atom is related to the charge transfer between Cr and Ag atoms.

Bayesian-based optimization of concrete infill pattern for enhancing thermal insulation performance

This study explores the impact of vertical and horizontal configurations on thermal insulation in cellular concrete brick design, aiming to identify optimal insulation patterns. Results indicate that under a constant volume (67%) of coconut fiber, appropriate geometric changes can reduce thermal conductivity by around 10% (from 0.198 W/(m·K) to 0.178 W/(m·K)). Bayesian inference is employed to construct a bi-directional network, providing a more intuitive understanding of variable relationships. A probabilistic-driven search space reduction approach is proposed, improving candidate selection efficiency and reducing the number of assessments. The study introduces a Bayesian Genetic Algorithm (BGA), which outperforms the genetic algorithm when the mutation rate is 0.1.

Increasing mussel transplantation success by initiating self-facilitating feedback mechanisms

Transplantation success of ecosystem-engineering species can be low in dynamic environments, as such ecosystem-engineers often require density-dependent positive feedback mechanisms to overcome environmental stressors. These self-facilitating feedback mechanisms play an important role in self-organization, whereby complex systems tend to organize and create patterns in order to ameliorating physical and/or biological stressors. In this study we used biodegradable structures to ameliorate self-facilitating feedback mechanisms to overcome environmental stressors in the initial post-transplantation phase. The biodegradable structures tested are an innovation of the traditional Seed Mussel Collectors (SMCs) used in mussel cultivation. The so-called “BioShell-SMC” does not contain any plastic, but is made up of a coconut fiber rope surrounded by empty cockle shells and held together by a biodegradable net based on a compound of aliphatic polyesters. We tested if the survival of two size classes of blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) transplants, on a tidal flat in the Oosterschelde estuary in the Netherlands, increased when mussel seed was transplanted attached to the BioShell-SMCs instead of single mussels in combination with empty cockle shells. The results of this study revealed that the survival of larger mussel seed significantly improved when attached to the BioShell-SMC compared to those transplanted loosely. Factors contributing to the difference in mussel loss between BioShell-SMC mussels and loosely transplanted mussels include predation, competition and dislodgement due to hydrodynamic forces. For small mussel seed, mussel biomass decreased strongly in the first three days of the experiment, irrespective of transplantation method. This is due the small size of the mussels in combination with low mussel densities. Overall, this study highlights the potential of using biodegradable structures to initiate self-facilitating feedback mechanisms in establishment of ecosystem engineers in dynamic environments.

Effect of Coconut Fiber Biochar and Its Nitrate Modification on Pb Passivation in Paddy Soils

The effects of coconut fiber biochar (CFB) and nitrate-modified coconut fiber biochar (NCFB) on the passivation of exogenous lead (Pb) in paddy soils and their underlying mechanisms were investigated using soil incubation experiments combined with spectroscopic techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SRXRF), and Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy (FTIR). The effects of NCFB and CFB on the passivation of exogenous lead (Pb) in paddy soils and its underlying mechanisms were investigated. Compared with that of CFB, the inner wall of NCFB honeycomb pores was rougher, and the amount of alcohol-phenol-ether functional groups containing the C-O structure and the amount of carboxyl groups containing the C[FY=,1]O/O[FY=,1]C-O structure on the surface of CFB was significantly decreased after nitric acid modification. Compared with that in the control (without biochar) paddy soil after 150 d of incubation, the EDTA-extracted Pb content in the paddy soil with CFB and NCFB was reduced by 39.7% and 105.4%, respectively. The carbonate-bound and Fe-Mn oxide-bound Pb contents were significantly lower, and the organic-bound and residue Pb contents were significantly higher in the NCFB-added soil. The SRXRF scans showed that the exogenous Pb was enriched in the microregions of CFB particles rich in Ca and Cu elements and relatively less so in the microregions of soil aggregates rich in the Fe, Mn, and Ti elements. In addition, the characteristic peaks of carboxylates (1384 cm-1) in A-CFBPb and A-NCFBPb were significantly enhanced in the incubation experiment in the presence of exogenous Pb compared to A-CFB and A-NCFB in the absence of exogenous Pb. The addition of CFB or NCFB was more effective in passivating exogenous Pb in paddy soils and promoted the gradual transformation of Pb from unstable to more stable forms in paddy soils to achieve the effect of passivating Pb. The greater amount of carboxyl functional groups in NCFB participated in the passivation of exogenous Pb, which made NCFB more effective than CFB in passivating Pb. NCFB was more effective than CFB in passivating exogenous Pb in paddy soils due to its rougher inner walls of honeycomb pores and abundant carboxyl functional groups. In tropical areas such as Hainan, coconut fiber biochar and its modification can be considered as an environmentally friendly candidate method for the remediation of soil Pb contamination.

Lightweight expanded-clay fiber concrete with improved characteristics reinforced with short natural fibers

Weight reduction should be accompanied by maintaining the strength and quality of materials utilized in construction. One of the comprehensive solutions to this problem can be the utilization of dispersed fiber reinforcement of concrete with plant fibers of various origins, which led to the sustainable production of concrete. Knowledge regarding the behavior of lightweight concrete with plant fibers is currently rather limited. Therefore, the primary aim of this article was to study the possibility of creating lightweight expanded-clay fiber concrete (ECFC) with improved characteristics, considering the dispersed reinforcement of this concrete with coconut (CF) and sisal (SF) fibers. Test methods and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses were used for the structural study. Dispersed reinforcement of lightweight expanded clay concrete with fibers of organic origin has a positive effect on its mechanical characteristics. The optimal content of expanded clay in lightweight concrete was obtained in terms of the ratio of strength and density. The content of CF and SF, which provides the highest increases in compressive and flexural strength, was 2% of the mass of cement. It was found that SF in lightweight ECFC performs better and provides greater strength gains than CF. The compressive strength of ECFC with CF increased by 8.9%, the bending strength by 16.1%, and with SF by 10.1% and 18.3%, respectively, compared to the fiber-free composite. The coefficient of the constructive quality values of lightweight ECFC is up to 16% higher with CF and up to 18% with SF than a concrete composite without fibers. Moreover, formulas were derived to predict the compressive of ECFC with and without CF and SF.

Mini-cutting as a technique to propagate Tabebuia aurea, an important tree found in tropical dry forests

Tabebuia aurea is a hardwood species from Brazil. This species yields high-quality wood for diverse applications and has a high value in phytosociological importance, but little has been done regarding an effective propagation method for large-scale production in nurseries. Alternatively, vegetative propagation techniques such as mini-cutting technology (an evolution of the cuttings technique) can be used, which has the potential to facilitate mini-stumps (stock plants), productive capacity, and vigour of the propagules (mini-cuttings). Therefore, this paper aimed to establish a protocol for vegetative propagation using the mini-cutting technique for Tabebuia aurea. For this, four independent experiments were conducted: the first evaluated the survival and production of mini-stumps between four harvests; the second tested the interaction between mini-cutting types (apical and intermediate) and different concentrations of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA; 0, 2.000, 4.000, and 6.000 mg.L-1) on adventitious rooting; the third analysed the effect of leaf area reduction (0%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) on mini-cuttings; and the fourth verified the substrate effect (100% coconut fibre, 50% coconut fibre + 50% commercial organic compost, and 100% commercial organic compost) on mini-cuttings rooting. The survival; percentage of rooted mini-cuttings; number of roots; length of the largest root; aerial dry mass; and root system dry mass were measured as response variables. The results indicated that all mini-stumps survived four harvests, remained productive, and produced propagules responsive to adventitious rooting. Rooting and mini-cutting survival rates were high, up to 80% without IBA, and the maximum mean setting value of 90% for apical mini-cuttings in the IBA concentration of 2000 mg.L-1 and 4000 mg.L-1 to intermediate mini-cuttings. Treatments without leaf reduction and with a reduction of 50% promoted better results concerning rooting and plant development. The substrate influences adventitious rooting; coconut fibre + organic compost (1:1) are indicated for the species propagation. For the highest system productivity, apical mini-cuttings with 2000 mg.L-1 of IBA, no leaf reduction, and coconut fibre + organic compost (1:1) are recommended as substrates

Retraction Note: Performance of sustainable self-compacting fiber reinforced concrete with substitution of marble waste (MW) and coconut fibers (CFs)

Retraction Note: Performance of sustainable self-compacting fiber reinforced concrete with substitution of marble waste (MW) and coconut fibers (CFs)

The effect of low viscous coir fiber resin composite immersion time on composition dissolution

Background: E glass fiber dental is a fiber that is often used in dentistry. The availability of E glass fiber in Indonesia is still very limited. Various types of non-dental glass fiber materials are found in the market as engineering materials with relatively cheap prices so that they are expected to be used as an alternative to E glass fiber dental, which one of is coconut fiber. The composition of non-dental glass fiber is almost the same as that of dental E glass fiber. The composition affects the mechanical properties and chemical properties of the fiber. Glass fiber compositions such as Na2O and K2O will increase water resistance. 
 Method: This study was conducted using a post test only control group design. The material used in this study was a composite of coconut coir fiber. The subjects of the coco fiber composite were divided into 4 groups for solubility test based on ISO 4049. The results obtained were analyzed using one-way ANOVA (p = 0.000). The results showed the lowest mean component solubility (%) was in the coconut fiber composite group A (0.476±0.03) and the highest yield was in the coco coir fiber composite D (0.6±0.01). 
 Results: The results of the one-way ANOVA test showed a significant difference in the coco fiber composite in the solubility of the components (p

Increasing People’s Income through Processed Cocofiber and Cocopeat (Case in Hamlet of South Balong, Kulonprogo)

One of the many plantation crops in the southern Balong hamlet is coconut. However, many of the existing coconut plants are not harvested because many people in this village do not have climbing skills. Thus, the coconuts are left old until they fall on their own. This resulted in a large amount of coconut fruit waste in the South Balong hamlet and disturbed the view and cleanliness of the hamlet. Processing of coconut fruit, especially the skin (fiber), into cocofiber (coconut fiber) allows the people of the South Balong hamlet to gain opportunities to increase their income. The solution offered through this service is to introduce and train the community with processed cocofiber products. This community service method will be carried out by providing counseling on the benefits of coconut plants from a health and economic standpoint, processing training of fiber coconut into cocofiber, assisting with processed cocofiber products, and monitoring and evaluating this community service activity. This service aims to increase knowledge and skills in society about processed products known of coconut. Processed cocofiber products are produced to add to the product’s selling value, which has an impact on the society of South Balong hamlet to have a new source of income from the sales of processed cocofiber products.

Rancang Bangun Dan Kinerja Alat Borazsilab Filter Dengan Sistem Filtrasi

Research has been carried out on the BorazSiLab Filter design and performance used filtration system. The selected filtration mechanism is a multi-stage filtration system. The filter material used is lontar shell activated charcoal, coconut fiber, sand, and zeolite. The purpose of this study is to test the performance of the tool (effectiveness and efficiency) filled with the four materials above. The implementation stages of this research are divided into two, namely fabricating the BorazSiLab Filter tool and testing the reliability of tool. To facilitate tool fabrication, it is necessary to design tools in the form of working drawings of 2D shapes and 3D geometry so that they are easy to understand. The reliability test was carried out on the dimensions of the filter box, the surface area and volume of the material, the filtration discharge, and the water quality (pH, temperature, odor, and colors). The results showed that the tool was made of a glass box measuring 20×20×20 cm. The filtration time is fixed at 45 minutes. The measured filtration efficiency and effectiveness of the filter material surface area, filter media volume, filtration discharge before (Qin) and after (Qout) filtration are 0,0022 m2 (one tea bag) to 0,0044 m2 (two tea bag); 3,3×105 m3 (one tea bag) to 5,81×105 m3 (two tea bag); 1,1423 L/s; and 0,00046 L/s. Preliminary tests for water quality before and after for the parameters of odor, pH, and temperature values, respectively, are odor to odorless; colored to colorless pH = 7; temperature = 26,1 ± 3 °C to 27,9 ± 3 °C. Therefore, the BorazSiLab Filter can be used as a filtration tool for wastewater treatment.

KAJIAN TEKNOLOGI GASIFIKASI BIOMASSA/SAMPAH UNTUK PRODUKSI SYNGAS DAN LISTRIK BERKELANJUTAN

In this modern era, electrical energy is the most needed energy. Because a lot of equipment is powered by electricity. As a result, it must be balanced in relation to the availability of electrical energy. To provide enough electrical energy, a power plant is required. One of the promising technologies in the future is the downdraft gasification technology, where biomass can be used as a very abundant fuel in Indonesia. Rice husk, coconut fiber, coconut shell, palm oil waste, and urban waste are some of the biomass materials used. Based on the results of a literature review regarding the composition and calorific value of the syn-gas produced, the easiest biomass to gasify is a combination of palm fronds/palm fronds (OPF) and palm kernel shells (PKS) with a ratio of 20/80. With this composition ratio, it is possible to produce syn-gas with a composition of 21% CO, 3% CH4, and 17% H2 with a heating value of 5850 kJ/m3. It can be concluded that the type of biomass feedstock greatly influences the composition and calorific value of the syn-gas produced. Because each type of biomass produces different syn-gas characteristics.

EFFECT OF ADDITION RAMIE AND COCONUT COIR FIBERS WITH DIFFERENT CONCENTRATIONS ON TENSILE STRENGTH OF ACRYLIC DENTURE BASE

Background: Acrylic denture base material has advantages such as good aesthetics, ease of repair, and affordable price, but this denture has mechanical properties, one of which is low tensile strength so fractures often occur during use. Utilization of natural fibers such as ramie (Boehmeria Nivea) and coconut coir (Coco Nucifera L) can be used as an alternative reinforcement for acrylic denture bases. Purpose: To determine the effect of adding ramie fiber and coconut coir fiber at different concentrations on the tensile strength of the acrylic denture base. Method: This study used a laboratory experimental method with a flat dumbell-shaped specimen with a size of 75 × 10 × 3 mm based on ISO 527-1 (2019). The specimens consisted of 42 plates which were divided into 7 groups, namely 6 specimens each group without fiber addition (control), with the addition of ramie fiber 1%, 2%, 3%, and the addition of coconut coir fiber 1%, 2%, 3%. Tensile strength testing using Universal Testing Machine (UTM), data were analyzed by One-way ANOVA test and Post Hoc LSD test. Result: The 3% ramie fiber addition group had the highest tensile strength (76.47 MPa), the 1% coconut coir fiber addition group had the lowest tensile strength (58.91 MPa). There was a significant difference in the results of the control group's tensile strength test and the addition of 3% ramie fiber and 1% coconut coir fiber (p-value < 0.05). Conclusion: The greater the concentration of ramie and coconut fiber additions, the higher the tensile strength value, although the tensile strength value in the coconut fiber addition group was lower than the control group and ramie fiber addition.

PEMANFAATAN SEDIMEN SELOKAN SALURAN AIR DI DINOYO SURABAYA SEBAGAI CAMPURAN MEDIA TANAM GUNA MENDUKUNG URBAN FARMING YANG RAMAH LINGKUNGAN

Pengerukan sedimen oleh Dinas PU Bina Marga dan Pematusan Surabaya menghasilkan lumpur sedimen sebanyak 595.040 m3/tahun. Pemanfaatan sedimen dimaksudkan agar dapat menambah nilai potensi sedimen sebagai media tanam pertamanan atau pertanian kota, penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh sedimen sebagai media tanam dengan mencampurkan hasil pengolahan limbah lainnya yakni kompos hijau sertacocopeat menggunakan variasi 1:1:1, 1:3:1, 1:5:1, uji vegetatif persemaian Capsicumfrutescens selama 2 minggu, dan respon terhadap penambahan pupuk NPK. Hasilpenelitian setelah dilakukan pretreatment pengeringan, penumbukan, pengayakanmenunjukkan perbandingan campuran terbaik adalah 1:1:1 dengan hasil akhir parameter C 3,58 %, N 0,31%, P 0,02%, K 1,63%, KTK 43,92 emol/kg, C/N 21, pH 8,55, tidak toksik dengan persentase penghambatan benih tumbuh 4%, pertumbuhan persemaian optimal dan kehilangan nutrisi yang lebih rendah. Penelitian menunjukkan sedimen dapat digunakan sebagai substrat campuran media tanam yang lebih ramah lingkungan dalam jangka panjang.

PRODUCTION OF DINIZIA EXCELSA DUCKE (FABACEAE) SEEDLINGS SUBJECTED TO INCREASING DOSES OF CONTROLLED RELEASE FERTILIZER

Dinizia excelsa is one of the largest trees in the Amazon rainforest, with significant economic potential for the recovery of degraded areas. It is a key species for biodiversity and increased forest biomass. However, studies related to seedling production of this species are still scarce. In this study, we evaluated the production and quality of D. excelsa seedlings in response to the application of controlled-release fertilizer doses. The experimental design was completely randomized, applying different doses of Osmocote® (T1=0; T2=4.1; T3=8.2; and T4=12.3 g.dm-³) with four replicates, using vermiculite and coconut fiber (1:1 v/v) as the substrate. We assessed the number of leaves and leaflets, shoot and root length, stem diameter, seedling height, shoot-to-stem diameter ratio, leaf area, dry mass of shoot, root, and total biomass. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and regression analysis. The seedlings responded positively to the use of Osmocote®, and starting from the 4.1 g.dm-³ dose, biomass accumulation showed better results, making it a recommended practice that allows cost savings in seedling production of this species.

Performance evaluation of treated coconut fibre in cementitious system

In this study, concentrated cement pore solution (CPS) was prepared and coconut fibre was soaked in it, to mimic worst condition of cementitious medium. Four coconut fibre samples were studied; the first was untreated fibre (NT), the second sample was NaOH treated fibre, while the third and fourth samples were NT and NaOH fibres soaked in CPS for 28 days, respectively. Each fibre was characterized by determining their physical and mechanical properties. Hydrophilic/hydrophobic characters were determined by measuring contact angles in water, while surface morphology of the fibre samples were studied with the aid of scanning electron microscopy. EDS was used to determine the elemental composition of the fibres, while Thermogravimetric analysis was performed to assess thermal stability of the fibre samples. Crystallinity of the fibres as well as the functional group composition present in each fibre samples, was determined using XRD and FTIR respectively. The results showed that fibres treated with NaOH and those exposed to CPS had higher densities (1.94 g/cm3) than untreated fibre (1.64 g/cm3), while the tensile strength was greatly increased by about 120%. SEM images of the fibres indicated that NaOH and CPS caused removal of lignin and hemicellulose, making the lumens to be smaller compared to untreated fibre. Similarly, crystallinity of the fibre was increased due to NaOH and CPS treatment, compared to the untreated fibres. CPS was found to improve thermal stability of the fibres. It was concluded that CPS did not pose any threat to performance of fibre.

Comparative Study to Assess the Thermal Behaviour of Sandwich Roof Panels with Coconut Fibre as an Alternative Core Material to Polyurethane

Sandwich panels (modular panels) promote optimal solutions to some major issues prevailing in the construction industry such as increased energy consumption by building elements, excessive disposal of constructional waste and unproductive time spent during construction. Hence, the inclination towards sandwich elements has been increased vastly deviating from conventional building construction materials and methods. However, the potentiality of using locally available natural materials for the development of sandwich panels is a salient sustainable approach that needs to be addressed. This study evaluates the current and potential materials used in modular panels and key properties of sandwich panels including mechanical, thermal insulation, and sound insulation properties. Moreover, various test methods followed, and standards specified to investigate the mechanical, thermal and acoustic insulation properties are also discussed. The possibility of using coconut fibre as a locally available natural alternative core material to polyurethane core of sandwich panels has been evaluated using simulations based on the material properties obtained from literature. The study identifies coconut fibre as a potential alternative core material for sandwich roof panels as it reflects nearly similar thermal behaviour to polyurethane.

Paddy and maize straw-based media as an alternative for cocopeat in soilless cultivation

The experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of different locally available organic wastes like briquettes, biochar, paddy, and maize straw in combination with coco peat used as standard soilless growing media, for growing tomato under poly nethouse. The experiment layout was completely randomized design with three replications comprising of eleven treatments viz. 100% cocopeat (T1), 25% paddy straw + 75% cocopeat (T2), 50% paddy straw + 50% cocopeat (T3), 75% paddy straw + 25% cocopeat (T4), 100% straw (T5), 50% briquette + 50% cocopeat (T6), 100% briquettes (T7), 25% biochar + 75% cocopeat (T8), 50% biochar + 50% cocopeat (T9), 75% biochar + 25% cocopeat (T10), and 100% biochar (T11) during first season. During second year, treatments were modified to 25% briquette + 75% cocopeat (T7), 25% maize straw + 25% paddy straw + 50% cocopeat (T8), 25% maize straw + 50% paddy straw + 25% cocopeat (T9), 50% maize straw + 50% cocopeat (T10), 100% maize straw (T11), and 100% soil (T12). The results revealed that maximum fruit yield per plant recorded in the treatment T1 (100% cocopeat) was significantly higher as compared to all other treatments during the first year of study. However, during the second year, it was statistically at par with T6 and T7 but significantly higher as compared to other treatments. When 25 to 50% substitution of cocopeat was done with paddy straw briquettes or 25% paddy straw + 75% cocopeat was used, the quality parameters were comparable to 100% cococpeat.