Electrical Conductivity Of Medium Research Articles

Enhanced mechanical properties and high electrical conductivity of copper alloy via dual-nanoprecipitation

Copper alloys are widely used as lead frames, electric contact wires and pantographs due to their high electrical conductivity and excellent mechanical properties. At present work, a medium electrical conductivity and excellent mechanical properties of Cu-Co-Si-Ti-Ce alloy was obtained by the vacuum melting process with the optimum performance of 225 HV, 702.5 MPa and 40.8% IACS aging at 500 °C for 60 min via the combinations of multiple strengthening. It can be inferred that the high-volume fraction of Goss, Brass, copper and S texture was one of the main reasons for the increase of micro-hardness by comparing the texture content at different conditions. Moreover, it was observed that Co 2 Si and Co 16 Ti 6 Si 7 phases exhibited coherent and semi-coherent interface relationships with the copper matrix, respectively, which can relieve the interfacial stress and reduce the interface energy by GPA analysis. Finally, the contributions of solid solution strengthening, work-hardening, grain boundary strengthening and precipitation strengthening were calculated, contributing most to the precipitation strengthening. • The Cu-Co-Si-Ti-Ce alloy obtained the excellent performance of 225 HV, 702.5 MPa and 40.8% IACS aging at 500 °C for 60 min. • The high volume fraction of Goss, Brass, copper and S texture was one of the main reasons for the increase of micro-hardness. • Co 2 Si and Co 16 Ti 6 Si 7 phases exhibited coherent and semi coherent interface relationships with the copper matrix.

2-D Modeling and Analysis of Time-Domain Electromagnetic Anomalous Diffusion With Space-Fractional Derivative

Recently, the electromagnetic (EM) anomalous diffusion phenomenon has been observed in time-domain EM (TDEM) surveys. Furthermore, the data interpretation accuracy has been reduced by adopting the traditional EM theory and methods. A number of models, such as random medium and roughness electrical conductivity theory, have been adopted to model the EM anomalous diffusion. However, problems such as modeling difficulty and massive discretization exist regarding characterizing the long-range correlation of EM anomalous diffusion. The space-fractional derivative has been proven to preferably describe the long-range correlation characteristic. Only a handful of studies on TDEM anomalous diffusion with space-fractional derivative have been conducted due to the difficulties in computational engineering problems. Therefore, we performed a series of studies about 2-D TDEM anomalous diffusion with space-fractional derivative. The 2-D TDEM space-fractional diffusion equation was constructed based on the space-fractional Ohm’s law model. Furthermore, the discretization and iteration forms of the control equation were derived based on the finite element method (FEM) by introducing the Riemann–Liouville (R–L)-type Riesz fractional derivatives. The 2-D mountain-shaped function and partial integration method (PIM) were combined to convert the fractional derivative into the primitive function form. Hence, the 2-D modeling of the space-fractional EM diffusion was realized. The effectiveness of our method was verified by the function construction method and wavenumber-domain analytical solution. The spatial and temporal characteristics of the space-fractional EM diffusion were analyzed by different geological models. Furthermore, we discuss the differences with the classical EM diffusion. Our method can effectively model the space-fractional EM diffusion in TDEM surveys and provide theoretical bases for improving the TDEM interpretation accuracy with complex geological conditions.

Diagnosis and treatment of patients with acute and chronic sinusitis using data from studies of physicochemical parameters of nasal secretions

Research and analysis of the physicochemical parameters of nasal secretions obtained in the production of the nasal tract are important in the treatment of various diseases. The influence of these parameters on the effective use of drugs is also essential. The acidity of the medium (pH), the density (r), and the viscosity (h) of the medium were determined and the specific electrical conductivity (c) was changed. The selected physicochemical parameters must provide certain values (varying within narrow limits) for the human body. Significant changes in the nature of these indicators are observed in various misconceptions. Based on the above aspects, it can be concluded that it is of great importance to study these parameters. Samples of nasal secretions were taken from people at different stages of their illness (at diagnosis, in the treatment process and after its completion). Samples from individuals with chronic and acute sinusitis were tested. Based on the obtained data, for the acidity of the medium, density, viscosity, and specific electrical conductivity, it could be concluded that all patients benefitted from nasal saline irrigation. After the therapy, the general parameters under study, reach values close to the physicochemical parameters. The results can be used as proper drug treatment or for improving the current drug studies.

Effect of Nutrient Solution Concentration on the Growth of Hydroponic Sweetpotato

Nutrient solution concentration (NSC) is a critical factor affecting plant growth in hydroponics. Here, we investigated the effects of hydroponic NSC on the growth and yield of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) plants. First, sweetpotato cuttings were cultivated hydroponically in three different NSCs with low, medium, or high electrical conductivity (EC; 0.8, 1.4, and 2.6 dS m−1, respectively). Shoot growth and storage root yield increased at 143 days after plantation (DAP), depending on the NSC. Next, we examined the effect of NSC changes at half of the cultivation period on the growth and yield, using high and low NSC conditions. In plants transferred from high to low EC (HL plants), the number of attached leaves increased toward the end of the first half of the cultivation period (73 DAP), compared with plants transferred from low to high EC (LH plants). Additionally, the number of attached leaves decreased in HL plants from 73 DAP to the end of the cultivation period (155 DAP), whereas this value increased in LH plants. These changes occurred due to a high leaf abscission ratio in HL plants. The storage root yield showed no significant difference between HL and LH plants. Our results suggest that the regulation of hydroponic NSC during the cultivation period affects the growth characteristics of sweetpotato.

Biochar Effects on Nutrients Retention and Release of Hydroponics Growth Media

Applying biochar (BC) to broad acre crops is an effective way to sequester carbon while improving soil fertility and reducing nutrient leaching. Adopting a similar approach in a hydroponic environment, BC may enhance nutrient availability and reduce natural fluctuations in the nutrient solution. This study monitored the effect of BC addition to peatmoss growth media with ratios of 0%, 5%, 25% and 50% on pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and macronutrient retention, over 15 days using hydroponic nutrient solution controls. Deionised water was used to measure nutrient releases in the closed loop hydroponic system, showing that biochar increased pH level in both retention and release stages. As expected, the pH increased by a maximum of 1.5 units with the highest biochar to growth media ratio due to the natural liming nature of the BC. The EC was also affected, as BC increased in the media EC reduced. With regards to retention of nutrients, BC recovered nitrate, phosphate, calcium and sulphate but did not affect magnesium. Potassium levels increased in solution with increasing BC ratio. In terms of outcomes relevant to global agriculture, the results show that the same level of production can nominally be obtained with around half the nutrient requirements.

Hydrodynamic conceptual model of groundwater in the headwater of the Rio de Oro, Santander (Colombia) by geochemical and isotope tools

Abstract Metamorphic, igneous and sedimentary rocks, with low to no primary porosity, outcrop in the La Moza micro-basin stream (headwater of the Rio de Oro). In this high mountain system, water isotopic composition of rainwater, water isotopes and geochemistry of groundwater (springs) and surface water were determined. Groundwater flows are associated to phreatic aquifers in relationship with secondary porosity generated by fracturing, which is increased by dissolution processes in case of carbonate formation producing karstic systems and by the weathering phenomenon mainly affecting granodioritic rocks. Water geochemistry shows low to medium electrical conductivity (EC) depending on the geological formation, but a unique calcium bicarbonate facies. Spring water EC shows limited temporal variations. The isotopic composition of spring indicates a meteoric origin, local infiltration and groundwater flows with low residence time. A conceptual model of the recharge zone is proposed that crosses the surface watershed and covers part of the adjacent Rio Jordán basin, where the Berlin Paramo is located.

Effect of medium pH and electrical conductivity on the development ofAnthurium andreanum‘Tropical’ in tissue culture

Anthurium is one of the most demanded pot plants in the European market. The effect of different pH (5.7 and 6) and electrical conductivity (EC) of MS culture medium (MS, 1/2 MS, and 1/4 MS) on growth parameters of Anthurium andreanum 'Tropical' was studied. An experiment was conducted on a factorial basis in a completely randomized design with three replications, including eight plant lets for each treatment. Leaf and root number, plant fresh weight, plant leaf area, total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a (Chl a) and chlorophyll b (Chl b) contents were significantly affected by EC of the culture medium. The largest number of leaves and roots were produced in 1/2 and 1/4 concentrations of MS medium, respectively. Full concentration MS medium resulted in the highest plant fresh weight, plant leaf area, total chlorophyll, Chl a, and Chl b content. Plant fresh weight was also significantly affected by pH of the culture medium. The interaction effect of pH and EC of medium significantly affected the carotenoid content. Plant lets grown on 1/4 MS medium had the highest and lowest carotenoid content at pH 5.7 and 6, respectively. No significant difference was observed in plant height, root or leaf number, leaf area, total chlorophyll, Chl a, or Chl b content in response to medium pH. In general, MS and 1/2 MS culture medium at pH 5.7 showed the most beneficial effects on growth parameters of anthurium 'Tropical' plant lets.

Effects of Fertilizer on Media Chemistry and Red-flowering Currant Seedling Growth Using a Subirrigation System

Water conservation in nursery systems is an ever-increasing focus, yet there is relatively little guidance for growers producing seedlings intended for restoration regarding how practices such as subirrigation influence plant growth in the nursery and after outplanting. Our study investigated red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum Pursh) seedling development and early field performance using different fertilizer treatments under a subirrigation regime. Plants were fertilized with 1) incorporated organic fertilizer, 2) incorporated controlled-release fertilizer, 3) top-dressed controlled-release fertilizer, or 4) water-soluble fertilizer. We found that seedlings grown with organic fertilizer used significantly less water than all other treatments. Media electrical conductivity (EC) levels were significantly greater in the organic fertilizer treatment, and EC values in the top portion of the media were significantly greater than the middle or bottom portions for all fertilizer treatments. The remaining subirrigation water at the end of 22 weeks held 17% of applied nitrogen (N) from the water-soluble fertilizer treatment and less than 1% of applied N from the other fertilizer treatments. We observed no differences in plant morphology among fertilizer treatments. Seedlings were subsequently out-planted into low- and high-competition treatments, where myriad factors indicated reduced growth among high-competition compared with low-competition plots, highlighting that competition for soil water limited seedling performance. These results indicate that a variety of fertilizers can be used to grow red-flowering currant under subirrigation and that postplanting growth is enhanced with control of competing vegetation.

β-Ecdysterone accumulation and regulation in Ajuga multiflora Bunge suspension culture.

Ajuga multiflora Bunge cells contain β-ecdysterone (β-EC) that regulates the molting process of insect larvae. In this study, different conditions of culture have been studied to optimize the production of β-EC. A. multiflora Bunge growth fitted the curve of logistic equation with one growth cycle of 17days. The electric conductivity of medium had a negative correlation with not only the weight of dry cell but also the β-EC accumulation, and thus, could be used for monitoring the peak of both cell growth and β-EC accumulation. The pH value of the culture medium varied from 4.67 to 5.84 and reached the maximum at the end of the culture (on the 17th day). The relation of cell growth and nutrient consumption in A. multiflora Bunge cell suspension culture was distinctly correlated. Continuous subculture caused a reduction in β-EC synthesis; passages 7-15, the β-EC content declined (p<0.05). At passage 11, the β-EC content was only 42.72% of that at passage 5. Additives such as mevalonic acid (MVA), l-phenylalanine (l-Phe), α-pinene, terpineol, and nitric oxide (NO) in the suspension culture medium, could significantly promote the cell growth and stimulate β-EC accumulation. The optimal concentrations of l-Phe, MVA, terpineol, and α-pinene were 0.2mmol/l, 10mg/l, 1mmol/l and 6mmol/l, respectively, with the β-EC concentrations as 1.914±0.1948mg/g (p<0.01), 6.012±0.4252mg/g (p<0.01), 5.147±0.4819mg/g (p<0.01), 2.801±0.1253mg/g (p<0.01), respectively. The optimal concentration of sodium nitroprusside, the provider of NO, was 3mmol/l with the β-EC concentration 2.87±0.2493mg/g (p<0.01). The results offer a strategy for massive production of β-EC.

Plasmon – plasmon interaction effect on effective medium electrical conductivity (an effective agent for photothermal therapy)

This article presents an investigative study of the photothermal effect of various compound nanoparticles (attaching the several small nanoparticles to a large nanoparticle by linkers). Initially, some compound nanoparticles such as Au-Au nanoparticles were fabricated and the effective medium electrical conductivities, found to vary greatly in gradient with variations in temperature, were analyzed using a nano-lens – based approach. A nano-lens forms when Au-Au nanoparticles interact with electromagnetic waves. More precisely, the interaction of larger nanoparticles with an incident light generates a high intensity plasmonic field around it, and the dramatic effect of this near-field on small nanoparticles leads to the creation of a nano-lens. The modeled and experimental results obtained in this study showed that the Plasmon-plasmon interaction, which leads to the formation of a nano-lens with Au-Au nanoparticles, strongly influenced the medium electrical conductivity which is a vital key for detection of cancer cells. The gradient of electrical conductivity correlated directly with the amount of localized heat generation by Au-Au nanoparticles, offering means by which the temperature could be inferred. The amount of heat generated depended on both the number of nanoparticles present and the effectiveness with which they interacted, particularly in such a high intensity nano-lens.

Применение методики импедансного биотестирования для оценки действия фармацевтических соединений на рост микроорганизмов

Описана методика анализа микробных «кривых роста» с помощью регистрации в режиме реального времени параллельно для множества образцов изменения импедансной электропроводности среды, происходящего вследствие протекания в анализируемых образцах процессов метаболизма тестовых микроорганизмов. Показаны результаты практического применения предлагаемой методики импедансного биотестирования для анализа антибактериальной активности антисептического средства хлоргексидина биглюконата; а также растворов католита и анолита, получавшихся 25 минутной обработкой 1 % растворов NaCl и Na2SO4 на 2-литровом электролизере специальной конструкции при силе тока I = 7 A и напряжении U = 28 В.

Analysis of power deposition and temperature rise due to presence of an implant inside a 1.5 t MRI RF coil.

We numerically investigated power deposition and temperature rise generated due to the presence of a titanium rod placed in a phantom, located inside a 1.5 T coil. The induced power deposition and temperature rise normalized to incident tangential electric field was found to be dependent on distance to the phantom wall. The different dependence of the integral of power deposition over a box surrounded the rod and the temperature rise on American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) phantom medium electrical conductivity was observed. The consequences of numerical domain simplification have been analyzed.

Effects of Fertilization on Media Chemistry and Quercus rubra Seedling Development under Subirrigation

Excessive fertilization may induce physiological drought and/or ion toxicity, which can reduce growth or cause mortality in cultured plants. Although nursery subirrigation produces stock of forest trees of equal or better quality to conventional overhead irrigation, detailed analyses of fertilization responses specific to these systems are lacking. We evaluated the effects of fertility applied as a 15N–9P–12K controlled-release fertilizer at rates equivalent to 0, 1.2, 1.8, 2.4, 3.0, or 3.6 g nitrogen (N) per plant on media properties and northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) seedling development grown with subirrigation. Aboveground plant growth and nutrient content of seedlings increased up to 1.8 g N/plant but declined at higher rates and total mortality occurred for treatments of 2.4 to 3.6 g N/plant by the end of cultivation. Root biomass generally declined with increasing fertilization. Media electrical conductivity (EC) increased with increasing fertility, particularly in the upper media layers, where values exceeded 3.0 dS·m−1 at the highest rates. Fertilization had little effect on media pH. Predawn leaf water potential and osmotic potential (ψS) were reduced at high nutrient applications. Thus, increasing fertility beyond ≈1.8 g N/plant in this subirrigation system apparently resulted in accumulation of excessive fertilizer salts in media and/or ion toxicity, which caused plant mortality. Because subirrigation systems are prone to persistence of residual fertilizer salts in the medium and holding tanks, fertilization prescriptions must be carefully tailored to species and cultural systems to prevent potential for plant damage associated with overfertilization.

Geochemical patterns of groundwater from the Palomares–Carboneras active fault area aquifers (SE Spain): determination of a network of sensitive sites indicators of seismic events

The aim of this study is to evaluate the hydrogeochemical parameters of the Palomares–Carboneras active fault zones (SE Spain) aquifers to establish especially sensitive sampling points that could be indicators of seismic activity in the fault zone. We consider these points as a part of a network, for this fault area and others in the South of Spain. With a seasonal and/or continuous sampling, in the future, that may allow us to provide advices of possible seismic events. The eastern part of the Betic Cordillera is a Mediterranean semi-arid zone, with a special sensitivity to climatic fluctuations and human activity. A remarkable scarcity in water resources is evident in this region, making it difficult to find groundwater sampling points. Subsequently, a network has been designed with 33 water sites, selected for availability and proximity to the active fault zones, where the physical–chemical features and isotope contents of the groundwater have been determined. Taking into account the geological complexity, as well as the different hydrogeological paths recognized in the area, three geochemical families of water have been found. (1) Water with high electrical conductivity (up to 14,000 μS/cm), temperatures above 20 °C, and, in some cases, traces of boron. (2) Water with medium electrical conductivity (2,000–3,500 μS/cm), temperatures above 20 °C, and traces of boron. (3) Water with electrical conductivity below 1,000 μS/cm, temperatures below 20 °C, and absence of boron. High temperature waters with presence of boron were selected as indicators of deep water circulation processes that can be connected to the seismic activity of the Palomares–Carboneras active fault zones. According to this study, a selected sensible warning aquifer sites has been established.

Intrinsic Modeling of Near-Field Electromagnetic Induction Antennas for Layered Medium Characterization

We present a closed-form equation for intrinsic modeling of near-field electromagnetic induction (EMI) antennas for planar layered media characterization. Resorting to a decomposition of the backscattered EM field into elementary distributions over the antenna aperture, the EMI transmitting and receiving antennas are modeled using infinitesimal magnetic dipoles and field points, and characteristic frequency-dependent global reflection and transmission coefficients. Low-frequency propagation of the EM fields in the medium is described using 3-D planar layered media Green's functions. We performed measurements with a loop antenna situated at different heights, ranging from near-field to far-field conditions, above water of known electrical conductivity to determine its intrinsic properties, and a range of salinity conditions was applied to subsequently validate the proposed model. The EMI system was set up using a vector network analyzer equipped with a prototype EMI antenna specifically designed for this application. The model showed good accuracy for reproducing the observed data, and model inversion provided good estimates of the medium electrical conductivity. Yet, insensitivity of the EMI signal to water electrical conductivity was encountered for low salinity due to the presence of a copper sheet as the bottom boundary condition of the experimental setup. Moreover, the efficiency of the antenna decreased rapidly as antenna height above water surface increases, leading to increasing discrepancies between estimated and measured water electrical conductivity values as the antenna moves away from the water surface. Although some technical improvements are still needed, the proposed approach is promising for quantitative estimation of soil electrical conductivity from EMI data.

Heat Generation by Polypyrrole Coated Glass Fabric

Vapor deposition technique was employed to coat polypyrrole (PPy) on glass substrate using FeCl3 as oxidant and p-toluenesulfonic acid (−OTs) as doping agent. The Joule heating effect of PPy coated E-glass fabric was studied by supplying various DC electric fields. The coated fabric exhibited reasonable electrical stability, possessed medium electrical conductivity and was effective in heat generation. An increase in temperature of conductive fabric subjected to constant voltage was observed whereas decrease in power consumption was recorded. Thickness of PPy coating on glass fibers was analyzed by Laser confocal microscope and scanning electron microscope.

Experimental investigations of the effect the electrical conductivity of medium has on the performance of pH meters

Results from tests of pH meters carried out in ammonia media having low electric conductivity (less than 5.0 μS/cm) are presented. The check media for the tests were prepared in a special manner the use of which makes it possible to reproduce the pH value of solution with an error not exceeding ∼0.04pH in the range of electrical conductivities above 0.1 μS/cm. The instrument measurement error was determined at different electrical conductivities of medium. Different electrodes were tested, the majority of which were domestically produced ones intended for general industrial applications. Some results were also obtained for one dedicated electrode from a foreign manufacturer. The test results show that the instrument gives a biased pH value for such media. The bias has a random value, which nonetheless is stable in the majority of cases, depends on the electrical conductivity of medium being monitored, and may be quite essential for small electrical conductivities (0.5pH or more). A conclusion is drawn about the need to calibrate the instruments with respect to standard media having electrical conductivity close to that of the medium being monitored. Analytic relations characterizing the check media used fort tests (check solutions) are presented.

Effects of nutrient solution electrical conductivity on the compositional and sensory characteristics of greenhouse tomato fruit

Instrumental, compositional, and sensory analyses were conducted to evaluate nutrient solution electrical conductivity (EC) and maturity effects on greenhouse tomatoes. Fruit from plants irrigated with nutrient solutions at low (0.2Sm−1), medium (0.35Sm−1) or high (0.5Sm−1) electrical conductivity were sorted by color (‘under-ripe’, ‘table-ripe’ and ‘over-ripe’) and evaluated for internal/external color, weight loss, firmness, expressed juice, pH, titratable acidity (TA) and soluble solids (SS). Frequency distributions of the tomato firmness, color and weight values revealed that high EC treated tomatoes were the softest, reddest and smallest. Descriptive profiling by 18 judges compared the flavor (tomato aroma, vegetative aroma, tomato taste, sour taste and sweet taste), texture (firmness-by-mouth, juiciness-by-mouth), visual attributes (perceived size, external redness of the whole fruit, internal redness of the core and outer wall) and hand softness of the ‘table-ripe’ fruit, in duplicate. Analyses of variance demonstrated significant differences among tomato treatments. Tomatoes grown with high EC were significantly (p≤0.05) more flavorful, redder, smaller, firmer (by mouth) and softer (by touch). In general, high EC treatments positively impacted the sensory quality of greenhouse tomatoes; however, these changes were concomitant with a reduction in fruit size. While several of the instrumental determinations (external color (a*), pH, TA, SS, firmness) correlated well with sensory assessments [redness, flavor, sour, sweet, hand softness] it was the sensory analysis that elucidated that external and internal firmness were responding differently to the EC treatments and possibly tracking different underlying physiological structures or mechanisms.

Alfalfa-based Organic Amendment in Peat-compost Growing Medium for Organic Tomato Transplant Production

In the last decade, organic production has been the fastest growing segment in U.S. agriculture. With increase in organic acreages there is a strong and growing demand for organically grown transplants. As a result of limited commercial availability of certified vegetable transplants, growers often produce their transplants on-farm. Commercial organic mixes for organic transplant production may not be locally available and are usually expensive. Growers often design their own mixes using compost and other organic amendments. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incorporation of alfalfa-based amendment in a peat-compost medium for organic tomato transplant production. Growing medium of 2 peat:1 vermiculite:1 compost (by volume) was amended with 0%, 0.6%, 1.2%, 1.8%, or 2.4% weight by weight of alfalfa-based organic amendment and incubated for 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks. Medium pH and electrical conductivity (EC), seed germination (untreated Solanum Lycopersicon L. ‘Mountain Fresh’ seed), transplant dry weight, height, stem diameter, and SPAD values were measured. Medium pH increased with addition of alfalfa-based amendment but remained within the range of 5.5 to 7.0. Germination percentages were less than 50% in amended medium that was either not incubated or incubated for 4 weeks. Germination was greater than 75% if amended media were incubated for 1, 2, or 3 weeks. Seeds grown in peat-compost without any amendments had the highest germination rates; however, severe nutrient deficiency suppressed seedling growth. Relative to growth in medium with no amendments, plants growing in the amended medium had increased stem diameter, height, leaf chlorophyll content, and plant dry weight (90% to 160% more), provided the amended medium was incubated for at least 1 week. Application rate of 0.6% or 1.2% of alfalfa-based amendment produced transplants with suitable growth characteristics and met commercially acceptable standards for transplanting and handling at a reasonable estimated cost.

Reducing Time and Expense to Recycle Perlite for Repeat Use in Greenhouse Tomato Operations

Planting greenhouse tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) in the same perlite more than once without reconditioning to restore medium loose structure, desalination to remove excess salt, and disinfection to guard against pest contamination is risky, and replacing the perlite to produce every new crop is costly. Reconditioning and treating perlite with hot water at a minimum cost provides a favorable solution for both problems and saves natural resources. A study was conducted in a 30 × 96-ft greenhouse in Spring 2007, 2008, and 2009 (January–July) to evaluate three methods for perlite recycling cost, desalination efficiency, and effects on tomato yield at three or four fruit per cluster. Each recycling method consisted of two components: the reconditioning action and the hot water treatment. The three recycling methods included no stir/sift then disinfect, stir then disinfect, and sift then disinfect. Perlite recycled with the no stir/sift then disinfect method was not reconditioned before the hot water treatment. Instead, it was agitated with a nozzle mounted on a pressure washer wand during the hot water treatment. Perlite recycled with the stir then disinfect method was reconditioned first with an auger mounted on an electric drill and then treated with hot water. Perlite recycled with the sift then disinfect method was reconditioned first by sifting the perlite with a homemade apparatus and was then treated with hot water. Recycling perlite with the no stir/sift then disinfect method reduced labor input by 49% and 81% compared with the stir then disinfect and the sift then disinfect methods, respectively. The no stir/sift then disinfect method reduced recycling cost by 22% and 50% compared with the other two methods, respectively. Perlite that was not reconditioned (no stir/sift) had higher nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) before hot water treatment than the stirred perlite and equal NO3-N to the sifted perlite. Hot water treatment significantly reduced medium electrical conductivity, NO3-N, potassium, and sodium. Tomatoes grown in perlite recycled with any of the three methods produced similar marketable and cull yields and fruit weight. Pruning fruit to three per cluster increased marketable yield, fruit weight, and reduced cull yield. There was no significant recycling method × cluster pruning interaction for yield components, indicating that all recycling methods had similar effects on tomato yield at three or four fruit per cluster. We conclude that the no stir/sift then disinfect method is less time consuming, more economical, and has no negative impact on yield. Tomatoes grown with three fruit per cluster in perlite recycled with any of the three methods produced greater marketable yield, less cull yield, and heavier fruit than tomatoes grown with four fruit per cluster.