Cow Dung Research Articles

Various presowing treatments for enhancing Melia dubia (Cav.) seed germination, seedling development, and vigor index

Melia dubia (Cav.) is one of the most promising agroforestry multipurpose tree species. However, there is a shortage of this quality planting material due to its low germination ability. Our study assessed six different presowing treatments, namely, soaking in tap water for 24 h, soaking in a cow dung slurry for 7 days (CDS), scarification with 50 % H2SO4 for 5 min, soaking in 200 ppm gibberellic acid (GA3) for 24 h, and soaking in CDS + H2SO4, GA3 + H2SO4 or the control (no application), for enhancing seed germination and growth in Melia dubia during 2019–20 in the Indo-Gangetic Plains region. STAR version 2.0.1 was used to analyze the observed data using one-way ANOVA. The results of this study showed that different treatments substantially impacted the germination and growth of Melia dubia. Compared with those of untreated seeds (control), the germination percentage of seeds treated with cow dung slurry significantly increased by 49 %, the biomass percentage significantly increased by 25 %, and the vigor index significantly increased by 79 %. In conclusion, our study revealed that treating Melia dubia seeds with cow dung slurry for a period of 7 days enhances germination and seedling growth and is also cost-effective for nursery managers and farmers due to the absence of associated costs.

Microbial necromass facilitated the humification process through amino sugar reactions during the co-composting of cow manure plus sawdust.

Humus (HS) reservoirs can embed microbial necromass (including cell wall components that are intact or with varying degrees of fragmentation) in small pores, raising widespread concerns about the potential for C/N interception and stability in composting systems. In this study, fresh cow manure and sawdust were used for microbial solid fermentation, and the significance of microbial residues in promoting humification was elucidated by measuring their physicochemical properties and analyzing their microbial informatics. These results showed that the stimulation of external carbon sources (NaHCO3) led to an increase in the accumulation of bacterial necromass C/N from 6.19 and 0.91µg/mg to 21.57 and 3.20µg/mg, respectively. Additionally, fungal necromass C/N values were about 3 times higher than the initial values. This contributed to the increase in HS content and the increased condensation of polysaccharides and nitrogen-containing compounds during maturation. The formation of cellular debris mainly depends on the enrichment of Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Ascomycota, and Chytridiomycota. Furthermore, Euryarchaeota was the core functional microorganism secreting cell wall lytic enzymes (including AA3, AA7, GH23, and GH15). In conclusion, this study comprehensively analyzed the transformation mechanisms of cellular residuals at different profile scales, providing new insights into C/N cycles and sequestration.

Effect of Pretreating Cattle Dung with Granulated Plantain Peel on Biogas Production

Effect of Pretreating Cattle Dung with Granulated Plantain Peel on Biogas Production

PRODUCTION RESPONSE OF CUCUMBER (CUCUMIS SATIVUS L.) PLANTS DUE TO APPLICATION OF Sp-36 AND MANURE

The cucumber plant (Cucumis sativus L.) is a vegetable plant that can be consumed in fresh or processed form. Cucumber production data from 2019-2022 continues to decline. One of the factors causing the decline in cucumber production is cultivation techniques that have not been carried out properly. To increase cucumber production, it is necessary to pay attention to the availability of nutrients. The fertilizer used is SP 36 fertilizer and organic fertilizer. The aim of the research is: To determine the interaction of SP36 fertilizer and manure on the growth and production of the best cucumber plants. The research was carried out in July - August 2023. The design used was a factorial Randomized Block Design (RAK). First factor: SP-36 fertilizer dose consisting of; P1: Control, P2: 150 kg ha-1 equivalent to 60 gpetak-1, P3: 250 kg ha-1 equivalent to 100 gpetak-1, Factor II: manure consisting of: N1: Control, N2: Cow manure 10 tonha-1 is equivalent to 4 kgpetak-1, N3: 10 tonha-1 chicken manure is equivalent to 4 kgpetak-1, Based on the results obtained: The interaction of SP-36 fertilizer and manure has a very real influence on the number of leaves, fruit length, plant height, fruit diameter and fruit weight Keywords: Production, Cucumis sativus L, SP-36, Cow manure

UJJWALA YOJANA'S ROLE IN TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF SCHEDULE CASTE WOMEN IN GUJARAT

The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) is a flagship initiative launched by the Government of India in May 2016, aimed at providing clean cooking fuel to economically disadvantaged households. The primary objective of the scheme is to reduce the health hazards associated with the use of traditional cooking fuels such as firewood, coal, and cow dung, which produce harmful smoke and pollutants. By promoting the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Ujjwala Yojana seeks to improve indoor air quality and reduce respiratory and other health issues, particularly among women and children. This study examines the transformative role of the Ujjwala Yojana in improving the lives of Scheduled Caste (SC) women in Gujarat. By targeting 200 SC women, the research aims to analyze their perceptions of the scheme and investigate the relationship between their demographic profiles and their views on Ujjwala Yojana. Findings indicate that the majority of SC women believe the scheme has significantly enhanced their overall quality of life, improved family health, and saved considerable time previously spent on traditional fuel collection. Additionally, the study identifies a significant association between demographic factors such as age, monthly income, and family size, and the perceived benefits of the Ujjwala Yojana. These insights underscore the importance of considering demographic variables to maximize the scheme's impact and highlight the need for continued support and expansion of such initiatives to promote health, empowerment, and socio-economic development among marginalized communities.

Impact of bio-pesticides and storage containers on lentil seed preservation and pre-sowing fungal treatment

We conducted a study to determine the most effective method of preserving lentil seeds for future sowing. The experiment involved six different types of storage containers: cotton cloth bags, tin containers, earthen pots, plastic containers, polythene bags, and gunny bags. We also used four plant extracts: Piper betel (Betel leaf), Azadirachta indica (Neem), Allium indica (Garlic), and Swietenia mahagoni (Mahagani). We measured the vigor index and germination percentage at 2, 4, and 6 months after storage, and then documented the fungal connection. In a separate experiment, we conducted a pre-sowing seed treatment using botanicals and biological agents such as garlic (5% w/v aqueous solution), datura (5% w/v aqueous solution), mehogoni leaf extract (5% w/v aqueous solution), mehogoni seed extract (5% w/v aqueous solution), and fern leaf extract (5% w/v aqueous solution). We treated the seeds with various substances to suppress seed-borne fungi, including ash coating (10 g kg-1 seed), fresh cow dung coating, a solution of cow urine (5% v/v water), Provax-200 (2 g kg-1 seed), and an untreated control group. In terms of germination, vigor index, and seed infection, the lentil seeds stored in a polythene bag with neem leaf extract significantly outperformed the other treatments. We found that the durability of lentil seeds significantly decreased as the storage time increased. The seed treatment fungicide Provax-200 had a significant impact on lowering the presence of fungus (by 87.41%) and boosting the germination percentage (by 39.49%) of lentil seeds.

Organic Manure as Rearing Substrates for Red Worms (<i>Eisenia fetida</i>): Effects on Chemical Composition and Growth Performance

Red worms (<i>Eisenia fetida</i>) can convert biowaste and by-products into body mass and become high in protein and lipid content. However, the type of growth media used affects both larval body composition and growth performance. Using recycled organic materials from chicken manure (CM), cow dung manure (CDM) and rabbit manure (RM), the present study evaluated the production of red worms that could be used as a substitute protein source for fish meals. Two experiments were conducted, the first experiment tested the compatibility of each organic manure when mixed with soil separately, whereas the second experiment combined the three organic manures with a fixed amount of soil. The study was conducted for 60 days. The findings showed that red worms reared on 100 % CM had a significantly higher body weight (19.27 ± 0.9 g) followed by those reared on 100 % CDM and 75% RM, whereas red worms reared on 100 % RM had the lowest body weight (4.9 ± 0.1 g). A combination of 20% CM + 40% CDM + 20% RM + 20% Soil supported significantly higher body weight of red worms (24.9 ± 1.1 g), while the lowest value of body weight (5.1 ± 0.2 g) was in a combination of 20% CM + 0% CDM + 60% RM + 20% Soil). Furthermore, the results revealed that red worms reared on 100 % CDM without soil as waste substrate had the highest crude protein (73.28% DM) compared to red worms reared on other types of substrates. The study suggests the potential of reusing organic manure such as chicken and cow dung manure at different inclusion levels in the production of red worms.

Unveiling antibiotic resistance dynamics in single and two-stage anaerobic digestion of dairy cow manure: Implications for environmental health

This study investigated antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) survival during mesophilic anaerobic digestion (AD) of dairy cow manure with cefazolin (CEZ) antibiotic. Comparing single- and two-stage AD systems, we assessed ARB removal rates, biogas yield, volatile fatty acid concentration, and microbial populations. The results revealed that in the two-stage AD system, the methanogenic phase (MP) exhibited the highest removal rates of CEZ-resistant (CEZ-r) and oxytetracycline-resistant (OTC-r) bacteria at 9–16 % and 69–72 %, respectively. However, the MP had a higher proportion of ARB among the total culturable bacteria (24–30 %) compared to the acidogenic phase (AP) and single-stage AD. CEZ negatively impacted ARB removal rates and biogas production in both systems, with a more pronounced effect in single-stage AD. Biogas yield in the two-stage AD ranged from 337.7–385.6 mL/gVS, which was 10–20 % higher than that of the single-stage AD, regardless of CEZ addition. The reduction in biogas production due to CEZ was primarily attributed to the suppression of VFA production. As for microbial populations, the changes in the percentages of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria were likely related to the variations in ARB numbers, and the abundance of Methanosaetaceae significantly influenced biogas production.

Earthworm modifies microbial community and functional genes for lignocellulosic waste valorization: Isolating plant-growth-promoting bacteria via next generation sequencing

The primary motivation of this study is the lack of knowledge regarding the shift in microbial community and functional compositions in lignocellulosic waste-based composting and vermicomposting systems. To date, the next-generation sequencing approaches have scantily been made for the isolation of plant-growth-promoting microorganisms from vermicomposting systems. Therefore, two types of lignocellulosic waste (paddy straw and food waste) are mixed with and without cow dung in different ratios and vermicomposted with Eisenia fetida, while using a series of aerobic composting as a control. Significant decreases in pH, organic C (∼3 fold), and XRD-derived crystallinity are seen most evidently in the paddy straw-food waste (1:1) mixtures upon vermicomposting (compared to composting) along with a concurrent increment of nutrients (NPK) (∼2–3.5 fold). Significant augmentation (P < 0.01) in microbial activity (biomass and respiration) and growth (bacteria and fungus) is observed under vermicomposting. A considerable shift in taxonomic diversity, accompanied by differential functional diversity of the microbial communities, is detected between paddy straw-food waste (1:1) vermicompost and compost after 60 days of incubation. The overall gene volume is greater in the vermibed than in the compost, and genes of a few well-known microbial communities with good plant growth promoting traits (e.g., Beijerinckiaceae and Propionibacteriaceae) are exclusive to the vermicompost. Additionally, genes associated with beneficial microbial activities, such as amino acid transport, nuclear structure development, and lipid transport, are found to be more abundant in vermicompost than in compost. These data are helpful in identifying suitable feedstock for isolating scalable microbial species with beneficial traits. Subsequently, six multi-dimensional plant-growth-promoting endophytic bacterial species are isolated from both the vermibed and earthworm guts. Interestingly, close genetic resemblances are found for a few of these isolates with the metagenomically detected genes. In conclusion, this is the first study to identify the practical utility of next-generation sequencing-based metagenomic analyses for the meaningful isolation of economically viable microbial species from vermicomposting systems that might replace a sizeable portion of the chemical fertilizers used in agriculture.

Vermitechnology in Organic Waste Recycling: A Step Towards Sustainable Ecosystems in Guyana

In recent years, the disposal of organic wastes from domestic, agricultural and industrial sources has caused increasing environmental concerns. In this regard, the recycling of utilizable waste is feasible. This can be solved by a combination of effective technologies such as Biodung composting and Vermitech (incorporating earthworms for the production of vermicompost). The present work was carried out during the year 2006-2007 at the University of Guyana, Georgetown to recycle grass clippings, water hyacinth and cattle dung by using Eiseniafetida the locally available surface species of earthworm. The results indicated that the organic waste (grass clippings and water hyacinth) were successfully processed through partial biodung composting and vermicomposting during a period of 60 days. The temperature study during biodung composting showed a two peak rise of temperature resulting in destruction of harmful microbes. Subsequent vermicomposting resulted in production of vermicompost confirming to an excellent nutrient status recorded in earlier experiments. The temperature during vermicomposting showed that fluctuation was restricted to 0.83. Organic amendments like vermicompost increase the organic matter content necessary for the maintenance of soil properties, which is beneficial for long-term sustainability and crop productivity. It is therefore proposed that large-scale production of vermicompost through vermitech to recycle organic waste could effectively help in managing solid waste, and farmers could apply vermicompost thus produced for assisted crop production. This could lead to a suitable environment-friendly effort towards a balanced ecosystem.

Cultivation of earthworms and analysis of associated bacterial communities during earthworms’ growth using two types of agricultural wastes

Earthworm cultivation can effectively promote the resource utilization of agricultural waste. The efficient utilization of agricultural waste by earthworms mainly depends on the microbial communities in the guts. This study used silkworm excrement and cow manure as substrates for earthworm cultivation and investigated the associated bacterial communities during earthworms’ growth. The survival rate of earthworms remained above 89% after 21 days of feeding with the two substrates. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes constituted the predominant bacterial communities in earthworm growth, accounting for over 81% of the relative abundance in both guts and vermicompost. The bacteria richness and diversity in the foregut and midgut of earthworm were lower than those in the hindgut. The prediction function of intestinal bacterial communities of earthworms cultured with two substrates mainly involved biosynthesis, decomposition and energy production.

High surface area inorganic minerals show promise in protecting carbon from soil organic amendments

Protecting soil organic compounds could assist with global efforts to mitigate climate change, as well as improve soil health. Recent research has indicated that high surface area inorganic minerals (HSAIMs) can protect soil organic matter (OM). We evaluated if adding HSAIMs to soils can protect carbon from common organic inputs added to fallow soils prior to planting. Four added HSAIMs were investigated – two manufactured zeolites, one natural zeolite and bentonite clay – along with a carbon-rich (peat moss) and carbon-poor (composted cow manure) OM source. The added HSAIMs and organic sources were incorporated into a microbially active (clayey Vertisol) and inactive (sandy Arenosol) soil at application rates of 20 tonnes.ha–1 for the minerals and 60 tonnes.ha–1 for the organics. The treatments were incubated for three months under laboratory conditions and were subjected to continuous wetting-drying cycles. Peat moss resulted in higher organic carbon (Corg) and OM losses than cow manure. Moreover, the addition of HSAIMs to the Peat Moss+Arenosol treatments appeared to slightly enhance these losses, albeit not significantly (p>0.05). Carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratios revealed that the Arenosol treatments were depleting soil N to access the carbon provided by the peat moss. For all other treatment combinations, the addition of HSAIMs promoted greater retention of Corg (p<0.05 in one treatment combination) and OM (p<0.05 in four treatment combinations), relative to the controls. Modelling carbon balances using OM data was more effective than using direct Corg values, due to strong Corg measurement variance. Modelled Corg data revealed the added HSAIMs achieved up to 25 % carbon protection, with the manufactured zeolites particularly effective. The study shows promise for added HSAIMs to protect carbon released from decomposing organic amendments added to fallow soils. However, addition of these minerals to N-limited soils receiving carbon-rich amendments might accelerate carbon losses.

Microbial degradation of cellulose extracted from wheat bran for bioelectricity production using microbial fuel cell

A successful agro-waste management system may recover energy and stabilize waste, among other benefits. The purpose of this research was to analyze the microbiological decomposition of cellulose that has been alkaline extracted and bleached from wheat bran byproducts. The waste lignin stream was used to synthesize biochar for anode modification. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that O-H and C-H functional groups predominated in extracted cellulose, whereas scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman microscopy characterized lignin-derived biochar and cellulose. Pantoea dispersa, isolated from cow dung, was identified as a cellulose-degrading bacteria using 16 S rRNA sequencing. Cellulose-degrading efficiency was measured by hydrolysis zone size around bacterial colonies. To facilitate cellulose breakdown and sustained power production in a microbial fuel cell, the cellulose-degrading bacteria were co-cultured with the Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain at a 1:1 ratio. Cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, power density, and current density have been investigated under ideal conditions. At a substrate concentration of 2.5 gm/L and internal resistance of 69.5Ω, a modified anode achieved the maximum power density of 9.1 W/m3. Using agro-waste for waste-to-energy is a step toward a circular bioeconomy.

Unveiling the earthworm-associated preferential remediation of emerging organic pollutants and heavy metals in MSW-based vermicomposting systems: Insights through the lens of multivariate techniques and novel empirical models

Studies on the efficacies of vermicomposting and composting in countering the toxic impacts of pollutant cocktails in municipal solid waste (MSW) are scarce. Moreover, further research is needed to explore earthworms' remediation preferences for various pollutants in heterogeneous vermicomposting feedstocks, such as MSW. Therefore, removal dynamics of pesticides (chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, and carbofuran), pharmaceuticals (diclofenac and carbamazepine), and heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, and Mn) in MSW-based vermicomposting (Eisenia fetida and Eudrilus eugeniae) and composting systems were evaluated through multivariate analytical techniques (principal component (PCA) and multi-factor (MFA)) on the R-platform. Both earthworms satisfactorily increased their population and augmented NPK (nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium) availability, cation exchange, microbial biomass C&N, and their metabolic activity 2–3 folds more than composting, accompanied by a 3–4 folds reduction of organic C, pH, and bulk density. Correspondingly, heavy metals, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals decreased by 8-10-folds via earthworm's significant pollutant removal efficiencies that subsided MSW-driven ecological risks by 60–90%. PCA and MFA revealed that N, P, and K-availability, organic C, and microbial activity were the indicative attributes for heavy metal and emerging organic micropollutant (EOMP)-removal during biocomposting; however, earthworms remove pesticides faster than pharmaceuticals and heavy metals. PCA-based novel empirical models demonstrated that in MSW-only feedstock, earthworm-mediated pollutant detoxification followed the order of pesticides > pharmaceuticals > heavy metals. However, in MSW combined with cow dung (1:1 ratio) feedstock, the detoxification order shifted to pharmaceuticals > heavy metals > pesticides. Therefore, this study provides fresh insights into pollutant-focused feedstock optimization for vermicomposting through model-based approaches, advancing the eco-friendly valorization of toxic MSW.

Soil nematode community structure reaction to organic amendments in shallot

ABSTRACT Nematode abundance and diversity could indicate soil health since they play roles in the soil nutrient cycle. In a shallot field, nematode abundance and diversity from different types of organic manure treatment were examined to determine the effect of organic fertilizer on nematode abundance. This study aimed to determine the best option of organic amendment for managing the nematode population in crop soil. The research took place in the center of a shallot plantation in Kulon Progo District, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and consisted of four treatments: cow manure+green manure; sludge+green manure; cow manure, and chicken manure as farmer control. The nematode community was processed and analised with the PCA, which indicated a cumulative value of 94.5%. The treatment of cow and green manure contributed in nematode abundance, in which nematodes clustered were predators, bacterial feeders, and omnivores. The treatment of cow and green manure could be the best option that environmentally friendly control plant-parasitic nematodes and improve beneficial nematodes abundance that could improve the soil health by their regulation in soil.

Nitrogen-doped biochar derived from corn straw for CO2 adsorption: a new vision on nitrogen sources comparison

Biochar as a highly promising CO2 adsorbent is of great significance in addressing global warming and promoting human health. Research has shown that nitrogen doping improves the CO2 adsorption performance of biochar, but selecting chemical nitrogen sources such as urea and melamine to prepare nitrogen-doped biochar is not conducive to green production and environmental protection. Therefore, it is necessary to identify a new nitrogen source to enhance the emission reduction characteristics of this process. This study selected corn straw as the raw material and cow manure as a representative protein-based nitrogen source to explore its potential as a urea substitute and reveal the hydrothermal carbonization doping mechanism of different nitrogen sources. The results indicated that in raw materials with the same C/N ratio, biochar prepared from cow manure as the nitrogen source had a better doping effect and CO2 adsorption performance. Moreover, a moderate amount of cow manure was beneficial for efficient nitrogen doping and the adsorption of CO2 by biochar, with a maximum CO2 adsorption performance improvement of 32.7%. Due to the different carbon-nitrogen bonds of the different nitrogen sources, urea was more likely to retain amino groups, while macromolecular protein nitrogen sources tended to retain structural nitrogen. The results of this study provide new ideas and theoretical support for preparing other nitrogen-doped carbon materials derived from biomass.Graphical

Optimization of the Factors Affecting Biogas Production Using the Taguchi Design of Experiment Method

The present study analyzed the effect of temperature, pH, pre-treatment and mixing ratio on the anaerobic digestion process. The parameters during the anaerobic co-digestion of cow manure and food waste were then optimized using the Taguchi experimental design method. ANOVA was carried out to find the significant parameters which influence biogas production. Experimental tests were carried out at laboratory-scale reactors kept at different temperatures (28 °C, 35 °C, and 50 °C). The specific methanogenic performance (SMP) during anaerobic digestion at higher temperatures was characterized with the analysis of acetate, propionate, butyrate, hydrogen, glucose, and formate, and was validated with the literature. The improvement of biogas production with different pre-treatments, i.e., ultrasonic, autoclave, and microwave techniques, was also analyzed. The results showed that the reactor that was maintained at 35 °C showed the highest biogas production, while the reactor that was maintained at a lower temperature (28 °C) produced the lower volume of biogas. As the retention time increases, the amount of biogas production increases. Methanogenic activities of microorganisms were reduced at higher temperature conditions (65 °C). Biogas production increased by 28.1%, 20.23%, and 13.27% when the substrates were treated with ultrasonic, autoclave, and microwave, respectively, compared to the untreated substrate. The optimized condition for the highest biogas production during anaerobic co-digestion of food waste and cow manure is a temperature of 35 °C, a pH of 7 and a mixing ratio (CM:FW = 1.5:0.5). ANOVA showed that temperature is the most important input parameter affecting biogas production, followed by mixing ratio.

Cow manure biochar for activation of peroxymonosulfate to degrade 17β-estradiol: Performance and mechanism

Estrogens are widely detected in the environment and can strongly disrupt the endocrine systems of humans in extremely minute concentrations. Therefore, it is imperative to address possible 17β-estradiol (17β-E2) pollution and explore resourceful utilization methods from cow manure, which contains estrogen. In this study, cow manure biochar (CBC) was successfully prepared and used for the activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS), attaining a 17β-E2 degradation rate exceeding 90 % within a mere 10 min. Optimal degradation performance was achieved at 2 mg/L 17β-E2 concentration, 2 mM PMS concentration, and 0.2 g/L CBC concentration. Furthermore, the influence of biochar-activated PMS on estrogen degradation was thoroughly explored under various environmental factors. The key reactive oxygen species were identified as O2– and 1O2 by conducting quenching experiments and delayed experiments. This study elucidated the occurrence of direct electron conduction and the generation of reactive oxygen species to degrade 17β-E2. Furthermore, the phenol group on the benzene ring and the hydroxyl group on the cyclopentane in 17β-E2 as the susceptible reaction sites during the degradation process were predicted using density functional theory (DFT). This study presents promising opportunities for the resourceful utilization of cattle manure and the mitigation of environmental pollution by endocrine disruptors.

Banana pseudo-stem and cattle manure for lactic acid production and the application of polylactic acid-cellulose silver nanoparticle-based nanocomposite films in food storage

Lactic acid is used in various industrial processes, including the production of emulsifiers, polymers, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Fermentation of renewable biomass from natural sources has several advantages over costly chemical methods. Thermal and acidic pretreatments were used to improve the availability of sugars in the medium. Bacillus coagulans was isolated from the banana pseudostem; it was cultured with cattle manure-banana pseudostem for the improved production of lactic acid. Lactic acid production was high in the culture medium containing a 1:1 ratio of cow manure and banana pseudostem after 72 h of fermentation. After 24 h, lactic acid production was 19.4 ± 1.2 g/kg substrate, and it increased after 48 h (20.5 ± 0.1 g/kg substrate), and 72 h (26.3 ± 0.1 g/kg substrate). Lactic acid synthesized by B. coagulans was purified and used for the synthesis of polylactic acid. Polylactic acid was used for the fabrication of composite materials with cellulose and silver nanoparticles. The scanning electron microscopy image showed a smooth surface with uniform particle sizes. The fabricated nanoparticles showed antibacterial activity against food spoilage bacteria. The film was used to pack goat meat and chicken meat. The fabricated film reduced the bacterial load in the stored meat and improved food quality.

Amelioration of salt‐affected soil using combined amendments for synergistic effects: Impacts and management implications

AbstractSaline acid sulphate soils are commonly ameliorated using traditional amendments like lime and cow manure. Biochar, derived from crop residues, is another potential remedy for this type of soil. Their combined use may create synergistic effects, necessitating further investigation. This study aims to assess the combined impacts of biochar with traditional amendments on soil quality, properties and rice yield. A field experiment was established with six treatments: no‐amendment (control), lime, cow manure, biochar, combined lime and biochar, and combined cow manure and biochar with rice (Oryza sativa) planted in four replicates. The study revealed that the effects of these amendments on soil properties were driven by their inherent characteristics and secondary processes, such as neutralization. Combining biochar with lime significantly increased soil pH (6.2), and exchangeable calcium (648.6 cmol(+) kg−1), while reducing exchangeable aluminium (11.83 cmol(+) kg−1) and iron (37.5 cmol(+) kg−1), compared to the control. Meanwhile, combining biochar with cow manure notably enhanced Mehlich‐1 phosphorous (3.4 mg kg−1), organic carbon (4.99%), ammonium (27.0 mg kg−1) and cation exchange capacity (17.2 cmol(+) kg−1). Biochar combined with cow manure exhibited greater synergetic effects on soil quality than when combined with lime. Consequently, these combinations improved the soil quality index, which exhibited a strong correlation with rice yield and biomass when its value was below 0.4. This finding indicates that these combinations exhibit insignificant synergistic effects on rice yield and growth. Further research is needed to elucidate these findings and explore the optimal application rates concerning soil properties for improved management practices.