Controlled Environmental Conditions Research Articles

Rice Response to Struvite and Other Phosphorus Fertilizers in a Phosphorus-Deficient Soil Under Simulated Furrow-irrigation

AbstractWastewater-recovered phosphorus (P), in the form of the mineral struvite (MgNH4PO4⋅6H2O), may provide a sustainable alternative to decreasing rock-phosphate reserves. Struvite can be generated via precipitation methods, potentially reducing the amount of P runoff to aquatic ecosystems. The objective of this greenhouse tub study was to evaluate the effects of chemically- and electrochemically precipitated struvite (CPST and ECST, respectively) on above- and belowground plant response in a hybrid rice (Oryza sativa) cultivar grown using furrow-irrigation compared to other common fertilizer-P sources [i.e., triple super phosphate (TSP) and diammonium phosphate (DAP)]. Rice was grown in tubs in controlled environmental conditions in a greenhouse for a full growing season in a P-deficient, silt-loam soil (Typic Glossaqualfs). Plant nutrients (i.e., N. P. K. Mg, Zn) were determined at the end of the growing season through Mehlich-3 extraction. Below- and aboveground rice dry matter (DM), root-P concentration and uptake, aboveground tissue-P uptake, total aboveground and total plant DM, grain yield, and grain P uptake from CPST and ECST did not differ from DAP or TSP. However, aboveground tissue-P concentration was greater (P < 0.05) from TSP (0.05%) than from ECST, CPST, and the unamended control (UC). Total aboveground (i.e., vegetative plus grain) tissue-P uptake was largest (P < 0.05) from TSP (4.8 g m− 2), which did not differ from DAP or CPST, and was at least 1.1 times greater than from ECST and the UC. Despite only a few differences from the UC, the many similar rice responses among struvite and other common fertilizer-P sources suggest that struvite, especially ECST, is a potential alternative fertilizer-P source that warrants further research into struvite’s role in food production.

Mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) in Brassica napus L. for tolerance to water stress.

Brassica napus L. plants are sensitive to water stress conditions throughout their life cycle from seed germination to seed setting. This study aims at identifying quantitative trait loci (QTL) linked to B. napus tolerance to water stress mimicked by applications of 10% polyethylene glycol-6000 (PEG-6000). Two doubled haploid populations, each consisting of 150 genotypes, were used for this research. Plants at the two true leaf stage of development were grown in the absence (control) or presence (stress) of PEG-6000 under controlled environmental conditions for 48h, and the drought stress index was calculated for each genotype. All genotypes, along with their parents, were genotyped using the Brassica Infinium 90K SNP BeadChip Array. Inclusive composite interval mapping was used to identify QTL. Six QTL and 12 putative QTL associated with water stress tolerance were identified across six chromosomes (A2, A3, A4, A9, C3, and C7). Collectively, 2154 candidate genes for water stress tolerance were identified for all the identified QTL. Among them, 213 genes were identified as being directly associated with water stress (imposed by PEG-6000) tolerance based on nine functional annotations. These results can be incorporated into future breeding initiatives to select plant material with the ability to cope effectively with water stress.

Comparative analysis of non-standardised aging methods for asphalt binder against standard laboratory aging and natural field aging

ABSTRACT This research investigates non-standardised and natural field aging methods, in comparison with standardised ones. Aging in the Rotational Viscometer (RV) for 24 hours was studied. Pressure Aging Vessel (PAV) aging time and film thickness were changed and compared with standard rolling thin film oven (RTFO) and field-aged binders. Finally, a conventional binder preserved from external conditions was tested over 24 months. Results showed that PAV-aged binders may exhibit greater susceptibility to changes captured by RV. The study also noted a higher increase in viscosities at lower shear rates over time in the RV. However, rheological results did not align with RV findings across all binders. Altering asphalt film thickness in the PAV from 32.5 mm to 25 ± 1 mm has a comparable effect to standard RTFO when the original binder is aged directly in the PAV for the same period of time. The recovered asphalt binder from a 15-year-old pavement showed similarities to 25–30 hours for high-temperature measures, and 55 hours for fatigue parameters indicating inconsistency between laboratory and filed aging. Finally, chemical changes indicated by carbonyl index showed that after 24 months of controlled environmental conditions, a conventional binder exhibited only 44% increase in the index compared to RTFO.

Defective Pennywort Leaf Detection Using Machine Vision and Mask R-CNN Model

Demand and market value for pennywort largely depend on the quality of the leaves, which can be affected by various ambient environment or fertigation variables during cultivation. Although early detection of defects in pennywort leaves would enable growers to take quick action, conventional manual detection is laborious and time consuming as well as subjective. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop an automatic leaf defect detection algorithm for pennywort plants grown under controlled environment conditions, using machine vision and deep learning techniques. Leaf images were captured from pennywort plants grown in an ebb-and-flow hydroponic system under fluorescent light conditions in a controlled plant factory environment. Physically or biologically damaged leaves (e.g., curled, creased, discolored, misshapen, or brown spotted) were classified as defective leaves. Images were annotated using an online tool, and Mask R-CNN models were implemented with the integrated attention mechanisms, convolutional block attention module (CBAM) and coordinate attention (CA) and compared for improved image feature extraction. Transfer learning was employed to train the model with a smaller dataset, effectively reducing processing time. The improved models demonstrated significant advancements in accuracy and precision, with the CA-augmented model achieving the highest metrics, including a mean average precision (mAP) of 0.931 and an accuracy of 0.937. These enhancements enabled more precise localization and classification of leaf defects, outperforming the baseline Mask R-CNN model in complex visual recognition tasks. The final model was robust, effectively distinguishing defective leaves in challenging scenarios, making it highly suitable for applications in precision agriculture. Future research can build on this modeling framework, exploring additional variables to identify specific leaf abnormalities at earlier growth stages, which is crucial for production quality assurance.

Impact of aeroponic cultivation and plant growth regulators on the biochemical composition of grapevine leaves

Background: Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is a globally important perennial fruit crop, renowned for its economic value and cultural significance. Grape leaves, while often underappreciated, play a vital role in culinary traditions and are valued for their cultural, nutritional, and health benefits. However, the availability of grape leaves is constrained by viticulture practices and chemical treatments that prioritize fruit production over leaf harvesting. This study seeks to compare the biochemical characteristics of grapevine leaves from the cultivar 'Deghin Yerevani' grown from virus-free, tissue-cultured plants under aeroponic and soil conditions within a greenhouse. Objective: To evaluate the impact of aeroponic versus soil-based cultivation and the application of specific growth regulators on the biochemical composition and nutrient content of 'Deghin Yerevani' grapevine leaves, with the goal of optimizing conditions for high-quality leaf production. Materials and Methods: This study, conducted from 2021 to 2023 at the Scientific Center of Agrobiotechnology, ANAU, utilized virus-free in vitro plants of Vitis vinifera L. cv. 'Deghin Yerevani', sourced from the National Grape Field Collection. Plants were cultured in four treatment groups with varying growth media compositions: PGR-free, with Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), with IAA and Gibberellic acid (GA₃), and with IAA, GA₃, and 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP). Post-culturing, plants were transferred to either an aeroponic system, which used a misting cycle and maintained controlled environmental conditions, or to a greenhouse with a defined soil mix and monitored moisture levels. Both systems operated for 8 weeks, with each treatment replicated three times. Chlorophylls a and b, ascorbic acid, sugars, and macro- and micronutrient contents were analyzed, and statistical significance was determined using standard error and Student’s t-test (p < 0.05). Results: Grapevine leaves from 'Deghin Yerevani' plants grown in aeroponic systems exhibited significantly higher chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll compared to those grown in soil. Growth regulators, particularly IAA, GA3, and BAP, enhanced chlorophyll content, sugar levels, and Vitamin C across both cultivation methods. Aeroponic systems showed superior results with increased sugar content (5.7 g/100g) and Vitamin C (20.4 mg/100g) compared to soil-based cultivation. Nutrient analysis revealed higher levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium in aeroponics. Overall, growth regulators and aeroponic cultivation improved the biochemical and nutrient profiles of grapevine leaves. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that aeroponic cultivation and the application of growth regulators significantly enhanced the biochemical composition of grapevine leaves. Higher levels of chlorophyll, sugar, and Vitamin C, along with improved nutrient content, were observed in aeroponic systems compared to soil-based cultivation. These findings underscore the benefits of aeroponics and growth regulators in optimizing grapevine leaf quality, suggesting potential for improved yield and nutritional value in grapevine production. Keywords: 'Deghin Yerevani', grapevine, in vitro propagation, functional foods, Aeroponic Cultivation, Plant Growth Regulators

Wheat Bran and Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Biomass’ Effect on Aerobic and Anaerobic Degradation Efficiency of Paper Composite

This study is a continuation of research on sustainable food packaging materials made from locally available feedstock and industrial by-products within the Baltic Sea region. Its main focus is the impact of wheat bran filler and Saccharomyces cerevisiae additive, which was used to develop a novel bio-coating for paper composite packaging, on the biodegradation efficiency of paper composites under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. In this study, we analyzed the effect of 15% and 40% concentrations of wheat bran filler and Saccharomyces cerevisiae biomass on the biodegradation efficiency of paper composites. This research was conducted under controlled environmental conditions, with aerobic biodegradation tested at 46 °C in a compost-based mesophilic–thermophilic environment and anaerobic biodegradation tested at 55 °C in an active inoculum thermophilic environment. The results show that the presence of wheat bran filler significantly improves biodegradation efficiency compared to microcrystalline cellulose reference material. Under aerobic conditions, the biodegradation efficiency for the 40% wheat bran and yeast sample was 6.34%, compared to only 0.71% for the cellulose reference material. In anaerobic conditions, the 15% wheat bran and yeast sample showed a biodegradation efficiency of 96.62%, compared to 82.32% for the cellulose reference material.

Distribution of Non-Structural Carbohydrates and Root Structure of Plantago lanceolata L. under Different Defoliation Frequencies and Intensities.

Plantago lanceolata L. (plantain) increases herbage dry matter (DM) production and quality during warm and dry conditions due to its deep roots and drought tolerance and reduces nitrogen losses in grazing systems compared to traditional pastures. However, plantain density usually declines after the third growing season, mainly due to defoliation management. The effects of defoliation frequency and intensity on water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) reserves and below-ground plant responses need further research to optimize grazing strategies for improved productivity and sustainability of grazing systems. Our study investigated the effects of defoliation frequencies (15, 25, and 35 cm of extended leaf length, ELL) and intensities (5 and 8 cm of residual heights) on morphological traits and WSC concentrations in plantain biomass under controlled environmental conditions. Defoliation frequency significantly influenced morphological and chemical characteristics and biomass distribution more than residual height. Less frequent defoliations promoted above-ground herbage DM production, reproductive stems, and root biomass. Root architecture showed adaptations in response to defoliation frequency, optimizing resource acquisition efficiency. Frequent defoliation reduced high molecular weight WSC concentrations in leaves, affecting regrowth capacity and DM mass. A defoliation frequency of 25 cm ELL (~15 days) balances herbage production and root development, promoting long-term pasture sustainability.

Rapid transfer of the leaf rust resistance gene Lr52 for the improvement of bread wheat cultivar HD3086

For varietal improvement, parental genotypes are crossed and advanced to generate homozygous lines with selection for desirable traits like disease resistance and yield. In the current study, leaf rust resistance gene Lr52 from Lr52/Yr47/2*Mace, the donor parent (DP), transferred to the recurrent parent (RP) HD3086, a popular Indian wheat cultivar, which has become susceptible to leaf rust. During the backcross breeding, the plants were grown sequentially under natural field conditions during the winter season and under controlled environmental conditions to take two crop generations during the summer season. Generations comprising F1, BC1F1, and BC2F1-3 plants were developed by crossing and successive backcrossing with RP HD3086 and further selfing to generate homozygous resistant lines. Plants with leaf rust resistance in backcross generations were selected phenotypically to identify the superior or similar plants as of RP HD3086. The Lr52/Yr47-linked SSR marker icg16c004_2 was initially utilised to confirm hybridity and foreground analysis in the BC1F1 generation but was found to be recombinant. Homozygous resistant (HR) lines in BC2F3 generation were selected based on leaf rust disease score and phenome recovery. Finally, the SSR markers unveiling parental polymorphism across the genome were employed to estimate the background recovery of phenotypically selected superior plants, revealing a recovery of 91.48 to 94.81 % of RP genome. The selected improved lines of HD3086+Lr52 displayed similar performance for most agro-morphological traits, and a few lines were also found to yield significantly superior to that of RP HD3086. Overall, the study shows the practical utility of phenotypic selection with intermittent selection under controlled and natural field conditions for improving popular cultivars with relatively higher speed and precision.

Effect of Pre-Harvest Intermittent UV-B Exposure on Growth and Secondary Metabolites in Achyranthes japonica Nakai Microgreens in a Vertical Farm

Achyranthes japonica Nakai (AJN) is a medicinal plant known to be beneficial for the joints. Since it takes at least two years from sowing to harvesting in an open field, new AJN cultivation strategies are needed to shorten the production period and improve quality. In this study, high-quality AJN is produced as microgreens in a vertical farm using a commercial ginseng soil mix (Myeongpum-Insamsangto, Shinsung Mineral Co., Ltd., Goesan, Republic of Korea) and controlled environmental conditions. The cultivation conditions included a temperature of 23 ± 2 °C, relative humidity of 50 ± 10%, and a photosynthetic photon flux density of 170 ± 15 µmol·m−2·s−1. Pre-harvest intermittent UV-B exposure, with an intensity of 1.0 ± 0.3 W/m−2, was applied for one day before harvest to evaluate its effects, using controlled environmental conditions in the vertical farm. Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) irradiation increases secondary metabolite levels in plants; however, the effect of UV-B on 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), an indicator of AJN, is unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether UV-B treatment of AJN microgreens affected growth and secondary metabolites. The treatment group was set to 12 h of continuous UV-B treatment during the day, two 6 h UV-B treatments, and four 3 h UV-B treatments to confirm the effectiveness of regular and intermittent treatment and recovery. Short-term UV-B treatment before harvesting increased phenols, flavonoids, antioxidant capacity, and 20E levels without affecting AJN biomass. The intermittent 6 h UV-B irradiation with a 6 h recovery time stimulated 20E content by approximately 1.4 times compared to the control. These study findings indicate that short-term UV-B treatment before harvesting, an appropriate recovery time, and intermittent UV-B exposure are more effective at increasing 20E content than continuous treatment. This approach provides a promising strategy for improving the nutritional and health benefits of AJN microgreens in vertical farming systems.

Vertical Farming: A Promising Solution to Urban Agriculture

Urban agriculture refers to the agricultural activities such as plant production for home consumption and income generation in the urban areas especially cities. The concept of urban agriculture has been popularizing but in today’s century it is also facing certain problems such as limited land resources, population increase etc. Vertical farming is a type of urban agriculture, through which we could seek solutions to the problems that urban agriculture has been facing in the recent times. Vertical farming refers to the growing of crops in vertically stacked structures especially under controlled environmental conditions and using a suitable growing medium to increase the crop production per square metre by utilizing the vertical space for cultivation [1]. A wide range of crops can be cultivated in vertical farming with the use of techniques such as hydroponics, aeroponics, aquaponics, artificial lighting, inside the controlled environment of a greenhouse. Vertical farming is needed to provide solution to the problems of urban agriculture in terms of providing food security to the growing population, efficient land utilization, water conservation, increased crop production etc. However, vertical farming has certain disadvantages as well such as high initial investment cost, high energy cost and high maintenance cost. Therefore, further research and development strategies are necessary to overcome such disadvantages for increasing its effectiveness to meet the food demands of the growing population as well as the future generation in a sustainable manner.

In vitro co-culture system for investigating Armillaria root rot in Prunus spp. using a fiber-supported liquid approach.

In vitro co-culture techniques that allow the growth of plants and pathogens under controlled environmental conditions are being used to re-create host plant infection. These approaches reduce infection times, promote reproducibility, and enable a rapid evaluation of plant-pathogen interactions. As a result, these systems have become essential in breeding programs aimed at developing plant resistance to diseases. In this study, we developed and validated an in vitro co-culture system to investigate the Armillaria root rot (ARR) affecting Prunus spp. This disease, caused by fungi Armillaria spp. and Desarmillaria caespitosa, poses a severe threat to the stone and nut fruit industry due to the susceptibility of most commercial rootstocks to infection and the lack of effective management options for its control. The system consists of a fiber-supported liquid approach in sterile plastic vessels that allows a fast and reproducible fungal infection under controlled environmental conditions. The floor of the vessels was covered with a polyester-fiber matte and a germination paper that served as an interface between the mycelia and the plant roots. The vessels were subjected to inoculation with Armillaria mellea and D. caespitosa, and three Prunus genotypes ('Guardian®', 'MP-29', and Prunus cerasifera '14-4') were co-cultured with both fungi. Disease progression and plant and fungal biomass were monitored during co-culture. The presented in vitro co-culture approach facilitates the concurrent growth of Armillaria/Desarmillaria spp. and Prunus spp., excluding most of the limitations associated with greenhouses and field experiments. This system provides consistent and reproducible conditions for investigating a prominent plant disease affecting Prunus spp.

Genome-wide association analysis of grain yield and Striga hermonthica and S. asiatica resistance in tropical and sub-tropical maize populations

BackgroundGenetic improvement for Striga hermonthica (Sh) and S. asiatica (Sa) resistance is the most economical and effective control method to enhance the productivity of maize and other major cereal crops. Hence, identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with Striga resistance and economic traits will guide the pace and precision of resistance breeding in maize. The objective of this study was to undertake a genome-wide association analysis of grain yield and Sh and Sa resistance among tropical and sub-tropical maize populations to identify putative genetic markers and genes for resistance breeding. 126 maize genotypes were evaluated under controlled environment conditions using artificial infestation of Sh and Sa. The test genotypes were profiled for grain yield (GY), Striga emergence counts at 8 (SEC8) and 10 (SEC10) weeks after planting, and Striga damage rate scores at 8 (SDR8) and 10 (SDR10) weeks after planting. Population structure analysis and genome-wide association mapping were undertaken based on 16,000 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers.ResultsA linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis in 798,675 marker pairs revealed that 21.52% of pairs were in significant linkage (P < 0.001). Across the chromosomes, the LD between SNPs decayed below a critical level (r2 = 0.1) at a map distance of 0.19 Mbp. The genome-wide association study identified 50 significant loci associated with Sh resistance and 22 significant loci linked to Sa resistance, corresponding to 39 and 19 candidate genes, respectively.ConclusionThe study found non-significant QTL associated with dual resistance to the two examined Striga species Some of the detected genes reportedly conditioned insect and pathogen resistance, plant cell development, variable senescence, and pollen fertility. The markers detected in the present study for Sa resistance were reported for the first time. The gene Zm00001eb219710 was pleiotropic, and conditioned GY and SEC10, while Zm00001eb165170 affected SDR8 and SDR10, and Zm00001eb112030 conditioned SDR8 and SDR10 associated with Sh resistance. The candidate genes may facilitate simultaneous selection for Sh and Sa resistance and grain yield in maize after further validation and introgression in breeding pipelines. Overall, we recommend breeding maize specifically for resistance to each Striga species using germplasm adapted to the endemic region of each parasite.

Blooming Phenograms, Pollen Production, and Pollen Quality during Storage of Pistachio Cultivars in New Mediterranean Growing Areas.

Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) is a dioecious, anemophilous, and drought-resistant fruit tree species. It is cultivated in new Mediterranean areas, including the regions of southern Italy (Apulia and Basilicata). It has been estimated that over 40,000 ha are suitable for pistachio cultivation in areas infected by Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca. As a newly introduced species, knowledge of its biological reproductive behaviors in its new areas of spreading is essential for appropriate agronomic planning and management. This two-year study (2022 and 2023), carried out in the countryside of Stigliano (MT, Italy), had the objective of evaluating the flowering phenograms, pollen production, and assessing protocols for the conservation and extension of pollen viability, of the most widespread cultivars. A slight delay was observed in the blooming phenograms, compared to other cultivation Mediterranean areas, such as Spain or Sicily. Furthermore, the overlap between female and male phenograms was partial. No significant differences were observed in the polliniferous aptitude of the two male cultivars. Among the different protocols tested, the pollen storage at 33% relative humidity and a temperature of -80 °C maintained the pollen germinability above 50% for up to three weeks. These findings highlight the importance of controlled environmental conditions in preserving pollen viability over extended periods, providing valuable insights for agricultural and botanical research that relies on maintaining pollen viability for breeding and genetic studies.

The nitrogen deficiency influence on the growth and development of spring two-nuclear barley varieties grown under photoculture conditions

The purpose of the research is to study, the effect of N deficiency in irrigation solutions on the structural and functional characteristics of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), the Oplot variety under controlled environmental conditions, in comparison with the structural and functional characteristics of Takmak barley, which has been the standard in all variety testing sites of the Krasnoyarsk Territory since 2022. The plants were grown under light culture conditions using hydroponics on expanded clay with constant environmental conditions at a photoperiod day/night of 17h / 7h, respectively. The basis for the preparation of irrigation solutions was Knop solution (control) and a solution in which, in order to reduce the concentration of N-NO3, the salt content was changed 2 times so as not to change the concentration of other macronutrients. A comparison of the rate of absorption of macronutrients by barley plants of the Oplot and Takmak varieties, depending on the composition of the irrigation solution, shows a higher demand of the barley of the Oplot variety for the presence of mineral nutrition elements in the irrigation solution in comparison with the barley of the Takmak variety. The deficiency of N in the irrigation solution led to a decrease in total tillering by about 2.5 times, but productive tillering in the barley of the Oplot variety decreased to a greater extent than in the barley of the Takmak variety. When growing on Knop solution the barley of the Oplot variety showed higher productivity than the barley of the Takmak variety. When grown on solutions with a deficiency of N, the grain yield of the barley of the Oplot variety decreased by 2.8 times, and in the barley of the Takmak variety, the differences between the control and experimental variants were unreliable. The barley of the Takmak variety showed higher resistance to N deficiency in the irrigation solution, thereby showing higher plasticity compared to the barley of the Oplot variety.

High-throughput digital imaging and detection of morpho-physiological traits in tomato plants under drought

Abstract Advances in informatics, robotics, and imaging techniques make it possible to use state-of-the-art digital reconstruction technologies for high-throughput plant phenotyping (HTPP) affected by stress factors, as well as for the ontology of their structural and functional traits. Digital imaging of structural and functional features of the aboveground part of plants is non-destructive and plants can be monitored throughout their entire life cycle. In the experiment with tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.; cv. Gruzanski zlatni) grown in controlled environmental conditions and affected by gradual soil dehydration, we evaluated phenotypic traits and phenotypic plasticity by the PlantScreenTM platform using digital imaging of plant optical signals. In this study, 25 different morpho-physiological traits of the plant were evaluated during the precise control and monitoring of the water content in the soil. Different levels of plant water supply induced statistically significant differences in the formation of individual phenotypic traits. Several plant traits have been identified that are characterized by low variability in both well-hydrated and water-stressed conditions, as well as traits with high phenotypic plasticity. Geometric traits (especially Isotop, Round-2top, and Compside) showed a relatively low level of drought-induced phenotypic plasticity. However, functional and chemometric characteristics (ΔF/F′m, Rfd, Water-1, and ARI-1) showed the potential to exhibit rapid plasticity in water-stressed conditions. Our results confirmed that a high-throughput phenotyping methodology coupled with advanced statistical analysis tools can be successfully applied to characterize crop stress responses and identify traits associated with crop stress tolerance.

Estimating the dynamics of greenhouse gas emission during black soldier fly larvae growth under controlled environmental conditions

Edible insects are considered a sustainable alternative protein source. Several studies have indicated that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from insects are generally low. These data were usually recorded in closed static chambers, which did not reflect the actual rearing conditions. On the other hand, open respiration chambers need high amounts of substrate and insects, making the analyses time consuming and expensive. In the present study, a novel small-scale open gas exchange recording system for evaluation of GHG emissions from insects is presented. The device consists of four independent respiration chambers, each one equipped with a pump for supplying air, a flow meter and a septum for sampling the flowing air. A validation experiment was carried out using black soldier fly larvae as model organisms and moistened chicken feed (dry matter 40%) as rearing substrate. Three independent runs were conducted, each with two replicates, using 200 neonates larvae and 300 g of substrate. Moistened chicken feed (300 g) without larvae was used as control. Throughout the 12 days rearing period, gas sampling occurred every 12 h. Data interpolation considering a linear tendency between two successive sampling points was applied and overall amounts of gases were quantified as area under the curve. Irrespective of the run, CO2 emissions in the insect-substrate systems increased during the initial 7 d of experiment, consistently followed by a rapid decrease. Multiple cross correlation analysis showed high reproducibility (r ≥ 0.9), while significant differences in the CO2 emissions between insects-substrate system (range 7.76–11.88 g g−1 dry insects) and sole substrate (range 0.20–0.33 g g−1 initial dry substrate) were observed. Very limited N2O (≤1.13 mg g−1 dry insects) and CH4 (≤1.33 mg g−1 dry insects) emissions were detected in this experiment, indicating that the performed black soldier fly larvae rearing did not result in significant production of these GHGs. Overall, the experiment showed that the novel device may be particularly suited for quick and reliable estimation of GHG emissions from edible insects.

Design and Implementation of a Biogas Pilot Plant for Bioaugmentation Strategies in a rural municipality

The transition towards renewable energy sources is imperative for achieving sustainability and mitigating climate change impacts. Among various renewable energies, biogas stands out for its dual role in waste management and energy production. This study introduces the design and implementation of a biogas pilot plant aimed at exploring bioaugmentation strategies to enhance biogas yield and quality. The pilot plant, located at Aras de los Olmos, features two independent 3.4m3 digesters, allowing for parallel comparison between standard anaerobic digestion and digestion with microbial enhancements. The plant is equipped with monitoring and control systems for precise regulation of environmental conditions, such as temperature, and for real-time measurement of biogas composition. Some initial experiments using a mix of agricultural wastes demonstrated the plant's capability to adapt to varied feedstock. Despite suboptimal temperature conditions, preliminary results indicated a high methane content, suggesting significant potential for bioaugmentation to improve biogas production efficiency. The study highlights the importance of controlled environmental conditions and introduces a novel bioaugmented digestion approach using selected microbial consortia. This research contributes to the broader goal of enhancing biogas technology's efficiency and sustainability, offering insights into the practical application of bioaugmentation in biogas production.

Inter-droplet frosting propagation mechanism on micropillar patterned surfaces under various supersaturation conditions

To address the burgeoning demand for anti-icing applications in various environments, an effective means of retarding inter-droplet frosting with a high degree of environmental adaptability is urgently required. In this study, frosting experiments were performed on Si micropillar arrays with varying pitches under controlled environmental conditions, especially at low temperatures and high supersaturation, which indicate more severe icing possibilities. The results showed that droplet behavior was highly dependent on the environment and surface geometry. The droplet numbers at the bottom sites increased with humidity, whereas those at the top sites decreased and the transition in droplet diameter proved to be opposite. Dimensionless quantity ƞb was proposed to describe droplet distribution under each working condition, and six frost propagation regimes were categorized into two groups: 0 <ƞb< 0.5 and 0.5 <ƞb< 1. For each condition, six pillar pitches resulted in two or three different regimes, and the lowest frost propagation velocity was observed at the turning point of the last regime (optimal ratio of the normalized pillar pitch to the pillar diameter [L/D]). With the reduction of supersaturation, the optimal L/D was 2 at 10 ℃/90 %RH and 50 %RH, optimal L/D was 3 at 10 ℃/20 %RH, and optimal L/D was 4 at − 5 ℃/90 %RH and 50 %RH. This significantly differed from the room-temperature conditions, as the optimal L/D was found to be larger than 4 in previous studies. These findings provide further understanding of the application of patterned surfaces in anti-icing in harsh and variable environments.

Kontrol Motor Berbasis PID untuk Pompa Air di Miniatur Rumah Kaca

Greenhouses are crucial in agriculture for enhancing crop yields by providing controlled environmental conditions. Efficient water management is a key challenge in conventional greenhouse systems, often leading to water wastage due to unmeasured soil moisture levels. This research aimed to design and implement a PID control system for water pumps in a miniature greenhouse to optimize water usage and maintain stable soil moisture and temperature levels. The methodology involved integrating PID control with sensors to monitor and adjust the water pump operation based on real-time soil moisture and temperature data. The study found that the PID-controlled system reduced the time to reach steady-state conditions from 650 ms to 600 ms, with no overshoot compared to systems without control. Additionally, the error in the PID system ranged from 0.89% to 2.32%. These findings suggest that PID control significantly enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of water usage in greenhouses, contributing to better crop management and resource conservation. The implications of this research are substantial for agricultural practices, as it demonstrates a viable solution for improving irrigation precision and overall greenhouse management.

Evaluation of different spring rice genotypes for seedling stage growth at Tulsipur, Dang, Nepal

Rice is the fundamental staple crop of Nepal. For food security, the production rate of main season rice is insufficient; nevertheless, spring rice can be a possibility. Spring rice is short duration crop as compared to the main season crop as, it can be best utilized through its cultivation. An experiment on spring rice (Oryza sativa) was performed to examine ten different elite rice genotypes in irrigated seedling stage at Campus of Live Sciences, Tulsipur, Dang from April to May 2023 with an objective to assess the response of different genotypes of seedling stage under controlled environment condition and to compare seedling stage growth and development of different spring rice variety The study was conducted with three replications on a completely randomized design (CRD). Data on the seedlings' growth was gathered at intervals of ten days. The outcome showed that there were statistical differences in morphological features between various genotypes. In comparison to other plants, IR09R270 had the highest average plant height (12.9 cm), IR17A106 had the greatest amount of leaves (2.44), IR09R270 had the greatest length of leaves (6.59 cm), Svin080 had the widest leaves (0.18 cm), IR112208B-B-RGA-BRGA had the longest shoots length (16.46 cm), and IR112208B-B-RGA-BRGA had the longest roots length (9.30 cm). The sample with the highest percentage of germination (85.65%) was IR112208B-B-RGA-BRGA. The majority of genotypes were found to have heritability more than 60%, indicating a greater contribution from genetic factors than environmental conditions. It was discovered that the phenotypic coefficient of variance (PCV) was marginally larger than the genotypic coefficient of variance (GCV), suggesting that the environment had little effect on how characters are expressed. The study's conclusions demonstrated that the rice genotypes IR09R270 and IR112208B-B-RGA-BRGA were preferable to other elite genotypes found in the Terai region. In conclusion under irrigated conditions, rice genotypes IR09R270 and IR112208B-B-RGA-BRGA performed well.