Minimum Biomass Research Articles

Assessment and management of the temperate stock of Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax) in the south of California Current System

Knowing the population dynamics and the variations in the abundance of the Pacific sardine is essential for suitable fishing management. Due to the possibility that the different stocks of Sardinops sagax that can inhabit the south of California Current System (CCS) were present in the catches, the caught of the temperate stock were discriminated from the total landed and, subsequently was assessed the dynamics of temperate stock of Pacific sardine (TSPS) for the period from 1989 to 2021. For the above, we use a statistical analysis of catch-at-age (ACE), which is an integrated analysis model that includes three indices of relative abundance (catch rate, acoustic surveys and evaluations of eggs and larvae). Acoustic indices and capture rate (CPUE) denoted changes in population abundance better than the index of eggs and larvae. The total biomass has shown great interannual variability oscillating between 853,476 and 1,592,519 t; a similar trend was shown by the spawning biomass, oscillating between 404,189 t and 770,484 t. With the modified Ricker Stock-Recruitment model, the minimum biomass Bmin = 50,000 t and the exploitation rate in Emrsy = 0.251 year−1 were estimated. Considering behavior of proportion between the recorded catch and the estimated biologically acceptable catch to each year (Cobs/BAC), we can infer that the TSPS has been sustainably exploited throughout analyzed period, except for 2014 and 2017 fishing seasons, when the BAC was exceeded by around 20%. Harvest control rule, by depending on a biomass fraction, estimated with an integrated model ACE, is considered a management suitable strategy to TSPS.

Quantifying the intrinsic value of algal biomass based on a multi-product biorefining strategy

Microalgal biomass is poised to become an important feedstock in the quest to decarbonize the fuels and chemical industries. In this way, it is imperative that researchers prioritize efforts for increased chances of economic viability of the microalgae biomass supply chain. This work applies a sequential techno-economic assessment (TEA) methodology to compare the economic trade-offs between microalgae growth and compositional shift while solving for an alternative economic metric: intrinsic algal biomass value, i.e., the revenue obtained from processing and converting the main components of algae biomass - carbohydrates, lipids, and protein - to a portfolio of products. The framework relies on data derived from small-scale cultivations to initially determine the maximum economic potential of different product portfolios as obtained in multiple biorefining setups. The approach further downselects the number of possible strains to undergo an in-depth TEA in order to quantify the value of transitioning from nutrient-replete to nutrient-deplete cultivations. Among the 13 permutations of strains and cultivation strategies analyzed, this study demonstrated an increase in intrinsic biomass value for four strains after the compositional shift: Chlorella sorokiniana DOE1412, Chlorella sorokiniana DOE1116, Scenedesmus obliquus UTEX393, and Scenedesmus obliquus DOE0152.Z. While product selection is critical in the exploitation of microalgal biomass, the four mentioned strains at least double their intrinsic biomass values, reaching up to $264/ton in net margins above minimum biomass selling prices. This is attainable without considering the production of small market size specialty chemicals, instead targeting markets with scalability potential and/or with currently large sizes. Two other strains, namely Picochlorum celeri WT-CSM/EMRE and Tetraselmis striata LANL1001, should have their biomass productivities increased by around 5 g/m2/day in nutrient-deplete cultivations to achieve economic viability. The concept of implementing an objective comparison between different portfolio configurations detailed herein is an innovative approach towards the economic assessment of microalgae valorization strategies.

Temporal changes in biomass production across different plant communities in alpine meadows of Tungnath, Garhwal Himalaya

We studied temporal changes in biomass and net primary productivity of alpine grasslands at Tungnath in Garhwal Himalaya. Five different communities with similar elevations were taken for investigation. The above-ground biomass samples were harvested as close to the ground as possible. Similarly, below-ground biomass samples were collected from harvesting monoliths (25 x 25 x 30 cm). Aboveground net primary production was determined as the sum of positive changes in biomass and belowground net primary production was calculated as the difference between peak belowground biomass and preceding minimum biomass. The live shoot biomass increased from May till September in all communities except Trachydium roylei and Polygonum, which peaked in August. The dead shoot and litter biomass first decreased and peaked in all communities in October. Belowground biomass first decreased and then increased towards the end of the growing season. The belowground to aboveground biomass ratio ranged between 0.61-3.08. The aboveground net productivity ranged between 454.8-294.3 g m-2, and the belowground net productivity ranged between 346.3-102.4 g m-2.

Lessons learnt on the management of short-lived fish from the Bay of Biscay anchovy case study: Satisfying fishery needs and sustainability under recruitment uncertainty

This paper summarizes the lessons learnt for the management of small pelagic fish from the case study of managing the international fishery on the Bay of Biscay anchovy. A constant catch regime ended up with a fishery crash and closure (2005–2009) after a series of recruitment failures. Precautionary advices had been disregarded due to their inability to predict the size of the population during the first half of the year when the major fishery takes place. The crash triggered the EU to develop a long-term management plan in 2008. In the absence of a recruitment indicator, biological risk was minimized through a close coupling between assessment, advice and management, changing the management year to start just after the spring surveys on adults. A major improvement arrived in 2014 by the incorporation of an early recruitment indicator from an autumn acoustic survey on juveniles. This allowed additional exploitation of the resource at similar risk levels. Accordingly, TACs are nowadays set after the recruit survey on a management calendar basis. The interactive collaboration between fishers, scientists, and managers allowed inclusion of the stakeholders’ preferences for a biomass-based catch bounded harvest strategy suitable for these valuable fisheries. This strategy allows catches between a minimum and maximum TAC level, to account for an economically viable minimum activity when approaching a minimum biomass threshold level, and for the limited market absorption capacity when exceeding an upper biomass threshold level, respectively. Such strategy was adopted by consensus and supposed a successful participatory process in fishery management.

Development of integrated screening, cultivar optimization, and verification research (DISCOVR): A coordinated research-driven approach to improve microalgal productivity, composition, and culture stability for commercially viable biofuels production

To address major knowledge gaps and barriers to the commercial development of algal biomass for biofuels and co-products, a collaborative consortium, Development of Integrated Screening, Cultivar Optimization, and Verification Research (DISCOVR), was established in 2016. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), this consortium constitutes a partnership between four DOE national laboratories - Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) - and the Arizona Center for Algae Technology and Innovation (AzCATI) at Arizona State University.To address the barriers of strain selection for achieving high seasonal productivities with a suitable composition and culture resilience, a tiered strain down-selection pipeline is implemented. At Tier I, the temperature and salinity tolerance of strains is determined in flask cultures; at Tier II, the areal biomass productivity and composition is determined in climate-simulation photobioreactors; at Tier III, the productivity and culture stability are determined in outdoor raceways. The top performing strains move forward to long-term testing at the algae testbed site at AzCATI to generate annual biomass productivity data.Concurrent to the strain down-selection in the DISCOVR pipeline, hypotheses for increasing biomass productivity, shifting biomass composition to enhance intrinsic value, and improving culture stability and resistance to pests are also tested. Techno-economic analyses are carried out to determine whether promising findings from laboratory studies or proposed modifications in outdoor pond cultivation conditions translate into reductions in the minimum biomass selling price (MBSP). In the three years following the launch of DISCOVR, annual biomass productivity has increased from 11.7 to 17.6 g m−2 day−1, resulting in an MBSP decrease from 824 to 611 $ ton−1.

Host Density Influence on Regularly Fallen Lichen Species in Temperate Forests of Kumaun Himalaya

Lichens are very slow growing plants and play a significant role in forest ecosystem. In temperate areas lichens occur abundant on Quercus trees. After falling down lichens decompose into the soil and contribute in nutrient cycling. In the present study nine regularly fallen lichen species were recorded in three altitudinal zones. The density of fallen lichen was found maximum 95625 ind. ha -1 yr -1 at lower altitude followed by 70125 at higher altitude. The lichen biomass ranged between 5375 g ha -1 yr -1 to 7862.5 g ha -1 yr -1 in all the studied sites. Across the study sites seasonal highest biomass (11687 g ha -1 ) of fallen lichens was estimated in summer followed by 3198 in winter and 2950 during rainy season. Minimum biomass was recorded in spring season of about 2262 g ha -1 . Similarly, annual highest biomass of fallen lichens was recorded 7862.5 g ha -1 at lower altitude. Quercus leucotrichophora , Pinus roxburghii and Rhododendron. arboreum trees were observed as luxuriant lichens particularly in lower altitude. Parmotrema praesorediosum contributes a maximum 85.37% biomass of all species at lower altitude. At higher altitude R. conduplicans contributes maximum 31.13% followed by P. tinctorum (27.70%) and E. cirrhatum (19.31%) of the total fallen lichen biomass.

The technical, economic, and environmental feasibility of a bioheat-driven adsorption cooling system for food cold storing: A case study of Rwanda

This paper studies the technical, economic, and environmental feasibility of a standalone adsorption cooling system thermally driven by biomass combustion and solar thermal energy. The developed cooling package was benchmarked against a baseline vapour compression refrigeration system, driven by grid electricity and the widely investigated adsorption cooling system driven by solar heat. TRNSYS was utilised to imitate the integrated systems, investigate their year-round performance, and optimise their designs by employing the meteorological data for Rwanda and an existing cold room (13 m2 floor area × 2.9 m height) as a case study. The optimisation study for the system revealed that maximum chiller performance (COP = 0.62), minimum biomass daily consumption (36 kg), and desired cold room setting temperature (10 °C) throughout the year can be achieved if the boiler setting temperature, heat storage size, and heating water flow rate are 95.13 °C, 0.01 m3 and 601.25 kg/h. An optimal PV area/battery size combination of 12 modules/16 kWh was obtained from the economic, environmental, and technical viewpoints.

The biomass of benthos on the littoral and spring spawning grounds of Kurile Lake in the period of low abundance of foraging juvenile sockeye salmon in 1974

Characteristics of qualitative and quantitative composition of benthos organisms on littoral and spring spawning grounds of Kurile Lake was given for the first time in 1974. Grounds of the littoral and spring spawning grounds typically consist of intermiting plots of pebble or gravel (clean or covered by biocrust) with permanent sand component, sometime silty. The silt component in the spring spawning grounds in the rivers Srednaya and Kirushutk is more impressive comparing to the lake spawning grounds. Chironomids of the groupCrico­topusaffаlgarumdominated in all sites. In the mid of July the highest biomass of the benthos among the littoral spawning grounds was near the head of the Ozernaya River, at Severnoye Blizhneye and Severnoye Dalneye spawning grounds, the lowest biomass was in the Gavryushka Bay and near the Etamynk River mouth. Spring spawning grounds were extensively different: maximum biomass of the benthos, which almost totally consisted of chironomids, was typically recorded in the Srednaya River, minimum biomass — in the Kirushutk River.

Modeling the Process and Properties of Ash Formation during Pulverized Biomass Combustion

The present work mainly developed a mathematical model based on the plug flow model and coarse fly ash particles’ fragmentation model to describe the behavior and evolution of ash formation and the influence of the biomass feeding rate and flue gas cooling rate on ash properties, which is validated by literature data. The model considers homogeneous nucleation of alkali vapors, heterogeneous condensation of vapors on newly formed particles and fly ash particles, and collision-coagulation between aerosol particles, which is also applied to numerically study and analyze the ash formation characteristics in the cases of practical boiler pulverized fuel combustion and SO2 sulfation. The results show that the mathematical model can reasonably describe the ash formation and the influence of the biomass feeding rate and the flue gas cooling rate on the mass PSDs of PM10 and its elements. The initial nucleation temperature and initial nucleation particle size increase with the biomass feeding rate, which is of great importance to the cooling rate on the initial nucleation number concentration and the initial nucleation particle size. Elements Na, K, and Cl are mainly concentrated in PM1, but rarely distributed in PM1–10. The condensation of Na, K, and Cl on coarse particles increases with the biomass feeding rate and decreases with the cooling rate. The ash characteristics obtained from the experiment condition with an ultra-high flue gas cooling rate and minimum biomass selected may have a large deviation from that of practical biomass combustion, and the sulfated reaction may reduce Cl corrosion rather than ash deposition.

Machine learning-informed and synthetic biology-enabled semi-continuous algal cultivation to unleash renewable fuel productivity

Algal biofuel is regarded as one of the ultimate solutions for renewable energy, but its commercialization is hindered by growth limitations caused by mutual shading and high harvest costs. We overcome these challenges by advancing machine learning to inform the design of a semi-continuous algal cultivation (SAC) to sustain optimal cell growth and minimize mutual shading. An aggregation-based sedimentation (ABS) strategy is then designed to achieve low-cost biomass harvesting and economical SAC. The ABS is achieved by engineering a fast-growing strain, Synechococcus elongatus UTEX 2973, to produce limonene, which increases cyanobacterial cell surface hydrophobicity and enables efficient cell aggregation and sedimentation. SAC unleashes cyanobacterial growth potential with 0.1 g/L/hour biomass productivity and 0.2 mg/L/hour limonene productivity over a sustained period in photobioreactors. Scaling-up the SAC with an outdoor pond system achieves a biomass yield of 43.3 g/m2/day, bringing the minimum biomass selling price down to approximately $281 per ton.

Estimationof Biomass and Carbon Sequestration by Non-Destructive Method in Dry Deciduous Forest of Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, India

The study aims to assess the plant biomass and carbon storage potential of the forests of Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, India. The study was carried out in Satanwada Range in Shivpuri Forest Division. A total of 96 quadrats of 10×10 m2 were laid. The non-destructive algometric method was used to estimate carbon sequestration. The results show that Acacia catechu (202 individuals/ha) dominated the forest, followed by Anogeissus pendula (90 individuals/ha). The total biomass of the forest was estimated to be 34.72±0.41t/ha, with Boswellia serrata (7.943t) recording the highest. The minimum biomass was recorded for Grewia sp (0.06t). The highest carbon content was found in B. serrata (3.97t; 25 individuals) followed by A. Catechu (2.92t; 195 individuals). Although A. catechu was dominant in the area, due to its lower girth class and young age, the net carbon storage was less than that of B. serrata. It was found that plots with higher carbon stock had higher species richness than plots composed of single species. Therefore, plantations of mixed native species should be preferred for future restoration activities as they are more efficient in sequestrating carbon than monoculture plantations.

GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION OF THE EPIGEIC EARTHWORM, EISENIA FETIDA (SAVIGNY, 1826) CULTURED IN VARIOUS ORGANIC WASTES

: The study was carried out to evaluate the influence and suitability of various organic wastes on growth and reproduction of the epigeic earthworm, E. fetida maintained at uncontrolled laboratory environmental conditions. There was a much variation in biomass, growth rate and cocoon production by this earthworm in different organic wastes such as False Ashoka Waste-FAW (Polyalthia longifolia), Parthenium Waste- PW (Parthenium hysterophorus), Cotton Residue Waste- CRW (Gossypium), Lawn Grass Waste- LGW (Agrostis) and Control- Cattle manure-CM used in these experiments. The mean maximum (923.54 ±1122.59) and minimum (481.47±56.13) biomass of worm was observed in PW and FAW respectively. The mean growth rate of worm was 6316.10±529.36, 11836.00±1086.30, 9053.00±807.22, 6969.00±582.42, 10842.00±1011.50 observed in FAW, PW, CRW, LGW and CM (control) respectively. There is a significant variation (P0.05) in both worm biomass and growth rate of worms was observed among all the organic wastes, whereas no significant variation was noticed in between different organic wastes, except between PW & FAW, CM & FAW, LGW & PW and CM & LGW in biomass and between LGW & FAW; CM & PW and CM & CRW in growth rate respectively.
 The attainment of sexual maturity and 100% maturity was observed early in Control-CM on 6 th week and 8th week followed by all other organic wastes on 7 th week and 9th week respectively. The maximum cocoon production worm/week was observed in Control-CM with 2.86±0.37 followed by CRW (2.16±0.30), PW (2.11±0.30), FAW (1.95±0.27) and it was least in LGW (1.28±0.18). The cumulative cocoon number (CCN)/worm for 17 weeks was 33.27, 35.95, 36.77, 21.77, and 48.65 in FAW, PW, CRW, LGW, and CM respectively. Significant difference (P0.05) was also noticed in cocoon production among and between different organic wastes, except between PW & FAW, CRW & FAW and CRW & PW. Based on the results, it can be concluded that biomass, growth rate, attainment of sexual maturity and cocoon production of the epigeic earthworm, E. fetida were influenced much by different organic wastes, that inturn affect on the production of quantity and quality vermicompost and worm multiplication during vermicomposting process. This work also suggests that epigeic earthworms are very much choosy in selection of particular type of organic wastes for their growth, development and cocoon production

Techno-economic and life-cycle assessment of fuel production from mixotrophic Galdieria sulphuraria microalgae on hydrolysate

Outdoor photoautotrophic algal growth is limited by light attenuation and attendant respiratory CO2 losses during dark periods, limiting its productivity potential and carbon use efficiency. Developing a system that leverages mixotrophic growth (combining the benefits of both heterotrophic and photoautotrophic growth) has the potential to dramatically improve the total productivity and economics of the system. However, it is unknown if the productivity gains offset the added costs of outdoor mixotrophic cultivation using cellulosic hydrolysate as the feedstock. In this study, corn stover-derived cellulosic sugars were evaluated as the mixotrophic organic carbon source for the cultivation of Galdieria sulphuraria, which can metabolize both glucose and xylose from corn stover hydrolysate. A techno-economic analysis (TEA) and a life-cycle assessment (LCA) were conducted based on a detailed engineering process model for both glass helical photobioreactor and covered pond cultivation platforms, coupled with downstream conversion and upgrading to renewable diesel through hydrothermal liquefaction. Results show the minimum biomass selling price for cultivation in the photobioreactor design assuming a productivity of 1.575 kg m−3 day−1 and a substrate yield of 0.57 g g−1 is $2869 per dry metric ton. The costs are dramatically reduced in the covered pond design which assumes a productivity of 0.8 kg m−3 day−1 and a substrate yield of 0.7 g g−1, $921 per dry metric ton. Expanding the system boundary to include downstream processing results in a minimum fuel selling price of $8.24 and $3.32 dm3GE−1 for the photobioreactor and covered pond systems, respectively. Finally, life-cycle results demonstrate a global warming potential of 339 and 9.1 gCO2-eq. MJ−1 on a well-to-wheels basis and a net energy ratio of 2.21 and 0.25 MJ MJ−1 for the photobioreactor and covered pond systems, respectively. Discussion focuses on a required co-product selling price as a function of biomass diversion to meet economic parity with conventional fuels.

Effect of various light spectra on amino acids and pigment production of Arthrospira platensis using flat-plate photobioreactor

Today, the use of nutrients derived from natural bioactive compounds application in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries is on the increase. This paper aimed to evaluate the amino acids profile (essential and non-essential) and pigments composition (chlorophyll a, carotenoids, and phycocyanin) of Arthrospira platensis (a blue-green microalga) cultivation in a flat-plate photobioreactor under various types of light-emitting diodes (red: 620–680 nm, white: 380–780 nm, yellow: 570–600nm, blue: 445–480 nm). The maximum biomass concentration (604.96 mg L−1) occurred when the red LED was applied for cultivation, and the minimum biomass concentration (279.39 mg L−1) was obtained under blue LED. The sequence of pigments and amino acids concentrations (mg L−1 culture volume) was approximately in accordance with the biomass productivity. It means the red light produces the maximum concentration of pigments (chlorophyll a: 5.42, carotenoids: 2.92, phycocyanin: 67.54 mg L−1) and amino acids (essential amino acids: 110.47, nonessential amino acids: 179.10 mg L−1). Nevertheless, when these values were measured in mg per g of dry weight, the utmost contents were observed in microalgal products cultivated under blue LED. These consequences are due to the highest cell productivity and the most extended length of cells that occurred under red and blue LEDs, respectively.

Techno-economic and environmental assessment of staged oxy-co-firing of biomass-derived syngas and natural gas

The utilisation of biomass is regarded as a promising technology as a negative CO2 resource and is widely under investigation. Although being a developing technology predominantly used as the axillary fuel, the interest in biomass gasification has increased since the last decade due to increased attention in sustainable bioenergy. Therefore, in this study, a novel process of biomass-derived syngas and natural gas oxy-co-firing is being investigated. Aspen Plus® is employed to develop the staged oxy-co-firing of biomass-based syngas and the natural gas cycle. The results revealed that the net power efficiencies are in the range of 42.6% and 45.5%. Furthermore, the economic assessment reveals that the LCOE increases with the increment of biomass flowrate with the highest cost of €79.6/MWh for 7 kg/s biomass mass flow rate. The effect of different biomass prices on LCOE is also investigated. It proved that the implementation of biomass with the price of €80/tdry results in the competitive LCOE to the state-of-the-art power cycles without carbon capture system (€62.9/MWh). On the other hand, the environmental analysis reveals that in order to have a negative CO2 emission power cycle, the minimum biomass flowrate should be at 7 kg/s which results in specific negative CO2 emission and total life cycle of CO2 emission of 195.5 and 168.5 kg CO2/MWh, respectively.

The relationship of the main root-shoot morphological characteristics and biomass allocation of Saussurea salsa under different habitat conditions in Sugan lake wetland on the northern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The response analysis of plant morphological characteristics and biomass allocation in salt marsh wetland to heterogeneous habitats is helpful to explore the internal correlation between plant morphological plasticity mechanism and biomass allocation, which is of great significance for the in-depth understanding of habitat stress tolerance strategies of salt marsh plants. However, the relationship between the main root-shoot morphological indexes and biomass allocation of inland alpine arid area salt marsh plant is still unclear. According to the difference of the habitat conditions of Saussurea salsa, 3 test sample were set up, plot I (the Inland salt marsh area, 200–500 m from the lakeshore), plot II (the Oasis Wetland area, 500–1000 m from the lakeshore), plot III (the Seasonal river wetland area, 1000–1500 m from the lakeshore). The relationship between the main root-shoot morphological characteristics and biomass allocation of Saussurea salsa in the Sugan Lake salt marsh was studied in response to heterogeneous habitats. The results showed that Saussurea salsa tended to form the large and thick leaf pattern, the root morphological construction pattern with moderate root diameter (RD) and specific root length (SRL), and the root-shoot ratio (RSR) with minimum biomass allocation strategy in plot I. In plot II, the thin-leaf pattern with the largest specific leaf area (SLA) and the smallest thickness (LT) was formed. Meanwhile, the slender root morphology pattern with the smallest RD, the largest SRL and the moderate RSR was preferred. In plot III, a lobular pattern with minimum leaf area (LA) and SLA, and moderate thickness was formed. At the same time, a thick root pattern with maximum RD and minimum root length, and a maximum RSR were formed. Moreover, there was a highly significant negative correlation (p < 0.01) between SLA and RD at three plots. Besides, there appeared a less significant positive correlation (p < 0.05) between LA and LT, shoot biomass at three plots. Through the synergistic changes of morphological characteristics of aboveground and underground organs and biomass allocation strategies, the inland salt marsh plant population can maintain normal survival, growth and reproduction under harsh environment, which reflects its morphological plasticity and stress resistance mechanism under heterogeneous environment.

Evaluating the effects of geometry and arrangement parameter of flat panel photobioreactor on microalgae biomass production and economic performance in China

In the present study, a model integrated algal biomass productivity prediction and economic analysis for flat panel photobioreactor (PBR) was proposed. The effects of PBR geometry dimension and spacing distance on culture temperature, biomass productivity and production cost were assessed. The simulation results showed that geometry dimension and arrangement parameter of flat panel PBR have a significant impact on algal biomass productivity and production cost. The biomass cost ranged from 2.82 $ kg−1 to 25.07 $ kg−1 was estimated in the different design scenarios, corresponding to biomass productivity of 10.13–36.70 t ha−1 yr−1. The minimum biomass cost of 1.68 $ kg−1 was further predicted by integration of increasing biomass productivity, free carbon dioxide adoption, and thermo-tolerant strain used without cooling action. Additionally, it was also found that the biomass production cost estimated in the present work was lower than those previously reported, which is partially attributed to the lower electricity and labor cost in China. In all, the model framework proposed here can help to optimize the layout design of PBR system in various geospatial locations to achieve cost-effective production of microalgae.

Effect of Nutrients on Biomass Production of Helminthosporium Tetramera A Leaf Spot Pathogen of Sugarcane (Saccharum Officinarum)

Abstract : Helminthosporium tetramera was a pathogen of Saccharum Officinarum, was isolated from diseased Saccharum Officinarum, leaves from Nashik district and used for the present study. Pathogen was grown on the Czapek-Dox liquid medium substituting or adding different carbon, nitrogen to study biomass production. The growth as dry mycelial biomass was observed on the 8th day of incubation period. A grate extent of growth variation was observed on different carbon, nitrogen. Among the carbon source, fructose shows maximum biomass while glucose with minimum biomass. From nitrogen source cobalt nitrate and barium nitrate shows maximum and control condition with minimum biomass was recorded.

Organic source on productivity of pomegranate–lemongrass-based agroforestry system in central India

The present study was conducted to assess the response of organic sources of nutrition on productivity of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) and lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus Stapf.) under agroforestry system in central India. The experiment was designed in Factorial Randomized Block Design with two cultivars of pomegranate (V1—Ganesh and V2—Bhagwa) and four levels of nutrient management [T1—vermicompost (30 kg/plant), T2—farm yard manure or FYM (30 kg/plant), T3—vermicompost (30 kg/plant) + FYM (30 kg/plant) and T4—recommended doses of chemical fertilizers (RDF)]. A control of pure lemongrass was also maintained separately. The lemongrass was intercropped in a 4-year-old pomegranate orchard, and the observations were recorded consecutively for 3 years (2017, 2018 and 2019). Findings revealed that vermicompost either alone or in combination with FYM was more effective than the chemical fertilizer in influencing almost all the studied plant characters. Maximum collar diameter of pomegranate was found in T1 during 2017 (6.31 cm) and 2018 (6.96 cm), and in T4 during 2019 (7.13 cm). Maximum number of fruits/plant was in T3 during 2017 (22.45) and 2018 (21.81), and in T1 during 2019 (24.26). Average fruit weight was maximum in T2 during 2017 (231.67 g) and 2018 (261.67 g) while in T4 during 2019 (260.36 g), which was at par with T2 (253.78 g) and T1 (242.75 g). Average fruit yield was maximum in T3 during 2017 (4.70 kg/plant), in T2 during 2018 (5.51 kg/plant) and in T1 during 2019 (5.85 kg/plant). When intercropped with pomegranate, lemongrass’s fresh biomass yield was maximum in T3 while oil recovery in T1 during period of investigation. The minimum fresh biomass and oil recovery were observed in T2. Pure lemongrass (control) plot yielded highest fresh biomass as well as oil recovery in all the 3 years of the study period. In nutshell, it is concluded that organic sources of nutrition in general and vermicompost in particular proved to be more effective than the chemical sources of nutrition for sustainable productivity from the pomegranate–lemongrass-based agroforestry system in rainfed conditions. Further, this system holds great promise for boosting farmers’ economy by providing extra income from lemon oil in drought stricken semi-arid regions of central India.

EFFECT OF VARIOUS WATER REGIMES AND HERBICIDES ON THE RE-SPROUTING ABILITY OF COMMON REED RHIZOME FRAGMENTS

Abstract Two separate experiments were conducted to examine the effect of various water regimes and herbicides on re-sprouting-ability of common reed rhizome fragments. Each experiment was laid-out in completely randomized design (CRD) having water levels and herbicides as treatments, replicated thrice. Five fragments of fresh rhizomes with active buds were placed in the soil in each pot for investigating the effect of various water regimes on re-sprouting of common reed. Sprouting were examined up to two months. While in the 2nd experiment post emergence herbicides were applied to the re-sprouts to check the efficacy of various herbicides against common reed management. Various water regimes affected the re-sprouting ability of common reed rhizomes. The lowest sprouting (6.66%) were noted for T8 (control) where no water was applied except at the time of placing the rhizomes in the pots, while maximum (96.66%) sprouting observed within (T3) water was applied from 5th to 7th weeks (5 times). While in the 2nd experiment herbicides significantly affected the re-sprouting ability, growth and biomass production of common reed and minimum re-sprouting and shoot biomass (3.33% and 6.00 g), respectively, were noted for fenoxaprop-p-ethyl as compared to control treatment (90.00% and 38.67 g) where no herbicide had been applied. Therefore it is concluded from the results that on either side from water regime T5 the re-sprouting ability decreases and buds mortality increases, which clearly indicates that common reed needs slightly moist soil to start the re-sprouting and do not need standing water during that period, while after re-sprouting it do needs water i.e. from 3rd weed onwards and dry conditions afterwards (T6-T8) cannot be tolerated. Therefore flooding common reed after cutting [1]for three weeks of draining and keeping them dry for 8 weeks can be used as cultural control method for common reed management, while in case of herbicides fenoxaprop-p-ethyl gives desirable results to control the common reed and to stop further infestation.