Organic Content Research Articles

Organics removal from a hypersaline wastewater in epichlorohydrin production via electrochemical oxidation and resin adsorption: Performance and process optimization

Epichlorohydrin (ECH) as a raw material is widely used as an indispensable intermediate in the production of synthetic glycerin and epoxy resin. However, epichlorohydrin wastewater (EW) with high salinity and concentration of organics was generated during ECH production process. In this work, the removal of organics in EW by single electrochemical oxidation (EO), resin adsorption, and their hybrid process were explored. Effects of operating parameters such as current density, time, initial pH on EO and adsorption process were comprehensively optimized by single-factor experimental method. The optimal reaction parameters of combined EO-adsorption process were pinpointed: an initial pH of 4, a current density of 100mA/cm2, a solid-liquid ratio of 1:4 and a temperature of 298.15K. The combined EO-adsorption process achieved an excellent organic removal rate of 90.24%, while reduced the energy consumption and increased current efficiency. Additionally, the results of excitation-emission matrix (EEM) confirmed that the organics was removed efficiently by combined EO-adsorption process. The mechanism of organics removal by EO was elucidated, which mainly reacted with organics by oxidizing active substance produced by anode. The results of adsorption kinetic showed that the adsorption process was suitable for the pseudo-second-order model. The results above demonstrated that the combined EO-adsorption process was a potential technology for organics removal in EW.

A Northgrippian sedimentary magnetic enhancement along the western margin of India

Sedimentary magnetic records of shelf region contains complex environmental evolution information, necessitating records from various global regions to accurately interpret its significance. A sediment core (SSD-39/GC-01) retrieved from the eastern Arabian Sea was analyzed to elucidate the geologic and climatic controls on the sediment rock magnetic and grain size properties. We report the first record of high energy sediment deposits linked with intense monsoon phases, sea level variations, and extreme natural events during the Northgrippian period (8.27 ka to 4.20 ka). The compilation of magnetic susceptibility profiles of six sediment cores from the western margin of India revealed the presence of multiple sedimentary intervals of enhanced magnetic susceptibility and most likely reflect periods of high sedimentation events controlled by the regional geologic and climatic processes. We identified two anomalous sedimentary magnetic zones (Z-II, Z-IV) marked by an elevated magnetite content and sediment grain size, which reflect the periods of high-sedimentation events on the shelf off Goa. A shift in the magnetic mineral composition, clastic grain size, calcium carbonate, and organic carbon content at ~1.8 ka (Z-I) indicate a abrupt change in monsoon intensity. The elevated organic content within Z-I indicate efficient preservation of labile organic matter which survived oxidation due to rapid sediment deposition. End-member modeling of rock magnetic and grain size properties enabled us to discriminate and quantify the contributions of terrigenous fluxes and post-depositional mineral phases to the bulk magnetic mineral assemblage. We demonstrate that rapid scanning of magnetic susceptibility of sediment cores has the potential to precisely detect the periods of increased continental (magnetic flux) inputs into the marine shelf system. The proposed magnetic mineralogical approach has wider scope to constrain the understanding of how shelf sedimentation responded to past geological and climatic conditions globally.

Effect of iron-based nanomaterials on organic carbon dynamics and greenhouse gas emissions during composting process

Iron-based nanomaterials as effective additives can enhance the quality and safety of compost. However, their influence on organic carbon fractions changes and greenhouse gas emissions during composting remains unclear. This study demonstrated that iron-based nanomaterials facilitate the conversion of light organic carbon fraction into heavy organic carbon fraction, with the iron-based nanomaterials group showing a significantly higher heavy organic carbon fraction content (41.88%) compared to the control group (35.71%). This shift led to an increase in humic substance content (77.5 g/kg) and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, with CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions decreasing by 20.5%, 39.7%, and 55.4%, respectively. Additionally, CO2-equivalent emissions were reduced by 42.9%. Microbial analysis revealed that iron-based nanomaterials increased the abundance of Bacillus and reduced the abundance of methane-producing archaea such as Methanothermobacter and Methanomassiliicoccus. These results indicated that the role of iron-based nanomaterials in regulating reactive oxygen species production and specific microbial communities involved in humification process. This study provides a practical strategy for improving waste utilization efficiency and mitigating climate change.

The dynamic of physicochemical properties, volatile compounds and microbial community during the fermentation of Chinese rice wine with diverse cereals

This study investigates the impact of liquid state fermentation on the key flavor compounds and microbial community structure in Chinese rice wine brewed from five different raw materials: buckwheat, sorghum, japonica rice, glutinous rice, and black rice. Using HS-SPME-GC–MS and HPLC, the volatile compounds were analyzed across various grain liquefaction methods, detecting 82 volatiles, including esters, alcohols, aldehydes, and acids. The concentration of flavor compounds such as esters, amino acids, phenolic acids, and organic acids varied significantly depending on the raw material used. Based on odor activity values, 31 key compounds were identified, including 15 ethyl esters, like ethyl laurate, responsible for the unique and complex aroma of the rice wines. Bitter amino acids, making up over 50 % of the total amino acids, were predominant. Among the varieties, the buckwheat-fermented wine exhibited the highest ester content (27.39 mg/L), nearly double that of other samples, along with elevated amino acids (1.47 mg/mL) and phenolic acids (904.29 mg/L). Black rice ranked second in amino acid content (0.93 mg/mL), while glutinous rice had the highest organic acid content (239.76 mg/mL). Metagenomic sequencing on the fifth day of fermentation revealed significant differences in microbial community structure among the raw materials. Saccharomyces, Aspergillus, Thermomyces, Epicoccus, and Albertella were dominant fungi, while Weissella, Thermoactinomyces, Bacillus, and Saccharopolyspora were dominant bacteria. Sensory analysis showed that buckwheat-fermented rice wine was distinguished by its honey, floral, creamy, and umami attributes, while balancing alcohol, acidity, bitterness, and Qu aroma. The results demonstrate the significant influence of raw material selection and liquefaction method on both flavor profile and microbial diversity in Chinese rice wine.

Enhancing resource recovery from acid whey through chitosan-based pretreatment and machine learning optimization

Acid whey, a dairy byproduct with low pH and high organic content, presents disposal challenges but also potential for resource recovery. In this study, chitosan gel was synthesized and evaluated for turbidity reduction of acid whey. Machine learning (ML) models were employed to predict and optimize the pretreatment process, with the Random Forest algorithm achieving a prediction accuracy of 0.78. Using the Simulated Annealing algorithm, optimal conditions were identified, applying a 2.2 % chitosan solution gel at a dosage of 24 g/L to acid whey at pH 4.6 for 12 h, achieving a 91 % turbidity reduction, a significant improvement over the 71 % obtained prior to optimization. Validation experiments confirmed its effectiveness in predicting and optimizing the pretreatment process. These findings highlight the feasibility of ML in optimizing chitosan pretreatment and demonstrate chitosan gel as a cost-effective, efficient option for acid whey, with potential to enhance resource recovery in the dairy industry.

Laboratory-based assessment of geotechnical characteristics of organic waste-amended soil for landfill biocover.

A landfill biocover is essential for addressing environmental concerns, especially in waste management, as it plays a crucial role in mitigating the release of methane gas. This study investigates the geotechnical characteristics of soil amended with organic wastes for landfill biocover applications. Various organic waste amendments, viz., rice husk, crushed coconut coir, and compost, were examined at different percentages (0%, 25%, 50%, and 75%) compared with conventional landfill cover material, i.e. natural clay, as biocovers. Laboratory experiments analysed geotechnical characteristics, including organic content, Atterberg limit, compaction, consolidation, and desiccation cracking. The study revealed that organic waste amendment significantly impacted the geotechnical characteristics of landfill biocover, enhancing organic content and porosity and reducing permeability and desiccation susceptibility. Soils amended with organic content support methanotrophic bacteria growth and reduce methane emissions in landfills. The most promising biocovers were identified as 75CR (crushed coconut coir/wastewater sludge/clay in percentage ratio of 70:5:25), followed by 75CT (compost/wastewater sludge/clay in percentage ratio of 70:5:25), and 25RH (rice husk/wastewater sludge/clay in percentage ratio of 20:5:75). Biocovers offer sustainable landfill alternatives, underscoring the need to understand their geotechnical characteristics for successful installation in landfills.

Innovative application of flaxseeds nanopowder as supportive material with multiwalled carbon nanotubes for anode nanomodification in microbial fuel cell for boosting the energy recovery

In this experimental investigation, a novel application of flaxseeds nanopowder as a supportive material to MWCNTs for anode coating in dual-chamber MFC is investigated. Herein, four identically designed tubular enclosed dual-chamber MFCs are structured and run continually for 90 days. Actual hospital wastewater (HWW) is selected to fuel the MFCs. All MFCs are occupied with cylindrical graphite anode electrodes (GF), but at different coating conditions. Uncoated GF in MFC1, GF coated by pristine MWCNTs in MFC2, Functionalized MWCNTs (acid activated- MWCNTs) in MFC3, and functionalized MWCNTs mixed with flaxseeds nanopowder (functionalized MWCNTs/FNP) in MFC4. Efficiency of the MFCs is predestined based on the organic content (COD) removal from HWW and power output as well. The efficiencies of COD elimination are 79.86 %, 81.65 %, and 82.56 %, obtained in MFC1 and MFC2, MFC3, respectively, confirming that the efficiency values are relatively comparable in the three MFCs, whereby, higher efficiency up to 91.60 % is observed in MFC4. On the other hand, maximum power outputs of 454.71, 648.02, 807.41, and 1072.65 mW/m3 are observed MFC1, MFC2, MFC3, and MFC4, respectively indicating the potential of flaxseeds nanopowder to support the functionalized MWCNTs for COD elimination efficiency and maximizing power output.

Enhanced bioenergy recovery by innovative application of chia seeds nanopowder for anode modification in microbial fuel cell treating hospital wastewater

ABSTRACT Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are new bioelectrochemical techniques for conversion of organic waste materials into energy depending on the metabolic activity of the anodic biofilm, which acts as the biocatalyst in the anode compartment. Hence, the anode material is a priority for better growth of bacterial species and electrical conductivity as well. In this study, an innovative application of Chia seeds nanopowder (CSNP) was carried out for the first time with acid-activated multiwall carbon nanotubes (functionalised MWCNTs) for anode nanomodification by overlaying the surfaces of the graphite anodes (GA) in MFCs fuelled with real hospital wastewater (HWW). Two tubular-enclosed dual-chamber MFCs were constructed, setup and operated in a continuous mode for 3 months. MFC1 was assembled with CSNP/MWCNTs-GA, whereby MFC2 was assembled with MWCNTs-GA. The results revealed higher power output up to 2202.73 mW/m3 observed in MFC1 compared to 1271.57 mW/m3 in MFC2. The efficiencies of organic content (COD) removal were 86.1% and 82.9% obtained in MFC1 and MFC2, respectively. Although both efficiencies of COD removal were relatively comparable, however, a remarkable increase in COD removal efficiency was achieved in MFC1. These observations indicated the potential role of CSNP for enhancing the biofilm growth and increasing the electrode conductivity.

Study on the Effect of Selenium‐rich Foliar Fertilizer on the Growth of Chinese Wolfberry Based on High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography‐Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

ABSTRACTA sensitive and straightforward method for determining various species of selenium (Se) in Chinese wolfberry and Se‐rich foliar fertilizers was established using high‐performance liquid chromatography—inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The application of this method proved effective in quantifying both organic and inorganic Se in 64 batches of Chinese wolfberry and their soaking solutions, along with five types of foliar fertilizer. This investigation revealed notable variations in the Se content among different batches of Chinese wolfberry, with selenomethionine (SeMet) emerging as the predominant form. Furthermore, the application of Se‐enriched foliar fertilizer led to the deposition of surface Se residues on the surface of Chinese wolfberry, primarily in the form of Se(VI) and Se(IV). This observation has implications for the proportion of organic Se in the plants (Chinese wolfberry), as organic Se, particularly SeMet, exhibits greater bioavailability and lower toxicity than its inorganic counterparts. Therefore, augmenting the organic Se content in the plant may confer greater benefits for the utilization of Chinese wolfberry in promoting human health.

Seasonality shapes the microbiota and metabolome of strong-flavor Baijiu during fermentation and affects its flavor characteristics

The microbial community and product flavor of fermented foods are subject to seasonal environmental fluctuations due to open production environment. However, research on the impact of external environmental changes caused by seasonal shifts on brewing is limited. Here, we studied changes in physicochemical indicators and flavor compounds of fermented grains during Baijiu fermentation in four seasons, as well as the succession and assembly of microbial communities. The temperature throughout fermentation was highest in summer, followed by spring and autumn, and lowest in winter. Winter had slower rates of moisture growth, total acidity accumulation, and sugar consumption than the other seasons. At the end of fermentation, the highest total organic acid content was identified in summer, and the lowest level of volatile compounds was found in winter. We found significant differences in microbial community structure across different seasons. Meanwhile, compared to fungal community, the succession of bacterial community was more susceptible to brewing environment, with reducing sugar being the main driving factor in the early stage and total acidity, organic acids, and moisture being the main driving factors in the late stage. The microbial co-occurrence networks in autumn and winter were more complex than those in spring and summer. Furthermore, brewing in the spring and summer promoted the accumulation of acids in Baijiu, esters in summer, ethyl esters in autumn, and aldehydes and ketones in winter. This study offers a fresh perspective on the microbial brewing mechanism of Baijiu by exploring the seasonal variations of microbiota and metabolome.

Development of an immobilized Mycobacterium tuberculosis purine nucleoside phosphorylase platform for ligand fishing and inhibition assays

Purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MtPNP) plays a crucial role in purine metabolism, making it an attractive target for developing new tuberculosis treatments. In this study, we developed a ligand screening platform using MtPNP covalently immobilized on magnetic particles (MtPNP-MPs). The immobilization process achieved a high enzyme loading and preserved the enzyme catalytic activity, enabling its use in both activity and affinity-based screening assays. The activity of MtPNP-MPs was monitored by quantifying hypoxanthine released from inosine phosphorolysis, and kinetic studies revealed Michaelis-Menten behavior for inosine and inorganic phosphate substrates, with KM values comparable to those of free MtPNP. A proof-of-concept inhibitor study using the transition state analog DI4G demonstrated the platform capability for recognizing and characterizing inhibitors, yielding an IC50 value of 91.4 nM and a competitive inhibition mechanism with a Ki of 69.2 nM. Furthermore, the MtPNP-MPs exhibited high stability, retaining over 80 % of their activity after six months of storage and more than 90 % after five consecutive reaction cycles, highlighting their potential for reuse in high-throughput assays. We optimized key parameters for ligand fishing assay, including the amount of MtPNP-MPs, incubation time, and elution conditions. While higher organic solvent concentrations and longer elution times improved ligand isolation, these conditions also reduced enzyme activity. This trade-off between ligand isolation yield and enzyme reusability suggests that elution conditions should be tailored based on the ligand binding strength. Overall, this study establishes the MtPNP-MPs platform as a versatile tool for ligand identification and inhibitor characterization, with promising applications in the screening of complex libraries, such as natural products, for bioactive compounds.

Impact of glyphosate on soil bacterial communities and degradation mechanisms in large-leaf tea plantations

This study investigated the impact of glyphosate on bacterial communities and their degradation mechanisms in large-leaf tea soil, through exposure microcosm and enrichment culture experiments. Soils from three tea gardens in Yunnan, China, were used: two glyphosate-free (JM and KL) for microcosm study and one long-term exposed (G2) for enrichment culture experiment. The results revealed a two-phase degradation process with half-lives of 12.7 to 268 days, while the metabolite AMPA was notably persistent. The acidic conditions and high organic content of tea soils may retard glyphosate microbial availability and degradation. Glyphosate initially stimulated bacterial growth but led to abundance declines with prolonged exposure. It tended to enhance bacterial diversity at lower doses. Network complexity increased in JM soil where strong adsorption moderated glyphosate exposure, yet decreased in KL soil where weak adsorption enabled greater microbial-glyphosate interactions. Community structure analysis revealed soil-specific responses, with decreased Proteobacteria in JM soil and Actinobacteria in KL soil, while several phyla including Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota, Chloroflexi, Myxococcota, and Verrucomicrobiota showed increased abundance. PICRUSt2 analysis indicated enhanced biosynthesis and cell growth pathways, while carbohydrate metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, and xenobiotics biodegradation pathways were reduced. LEfSe analysis identified potential degrading biomarkers primarily from Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota, Myxococcota, Chloroflexi, and Actinobacteriota, suggesting their putative role in degradation. The enriched consortium G2 efficiently degraded 400mg/L glyphosate within 7 days, with notable increases in Afipia, Dokdonella, and Cohnella abundance. This study provides insights into bacterial interactions with glyphosate in tea soils, suggesting strategies for contamination mitigation and environmental restoration.

Analysis of chemical and morphological properties of root dentine treated with a single multifunctional endodontic irrigant solution.

The aim was to evaluate the chemical, morphological aspects and microhardness of root dentin after treatment with Triton™ solution. Twenty blocks of root dentin were distributed in two groups (n = 10): Control (C) (2.5% NaOCl+17% EDTA+2.5% NaOCl) and Triton™ solution (T). Morphological analysis was performed before and after treatments with confocal laser microscopy. Chemical composition and microhardness were analysed after the treatments using Raman spectroscopy and Knoop microhardness. Results were submitted to Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney test (p < 0.05). The C group had greater tubule number, area and perimeter (p < 0.001), besides a regular surface, while T showed an irregular surface with cracks and erosions, lower organic content intensity (p < 0.001) and higher inorganic/organic ratio (p = 0.003) than C, which had higher microhardness than T (p = 0.003). Triton™ exposed a lower number, area and perimeter of dentinal tubules, with cracks and erosions in root dentin. It also showed significant chemical alterations in the organic content, reducing it, resulting in lower microhardness.

Synergistic electrochemical performance of textile sludge based activated carbon with reduced graphene oxide as electrode for supercapacitor application

The procedure for disposing of textile waste sludge requires sustainable solutions due to numerous environmental issues associated with its disposal. The majority of textile manufacturers incinerate the waste sludge to meet their heating demands, which is harmful to the environment. It can also be used in soil amendment, biodegradable products, construction material and water treatment process as absorbent to remove the heavy metals etc. In this study we use the heavy metal containing textile waste sludge as a precursor for the fabrication of functional electrode material for supercapacitor applications. In this process the organic content within the textile sludge waste is treated at 900 °C and transformed into activated carbon, a vital component of supercapacitors electrodes. Through a series of pyrolysis and activation processes, it is further converted into porous activated carbon (AC) with a wide surface area and appropriate electrochemical properties. To enhance the overall conductivity of the electrode material for supercapacitor applications, the carbon content of the material is increased by loading of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) up to 4 wt%. It resulted in a significant increase in the surface area up to 128.68 m2/g. The effective conversion and relevance of the obtained material for supercapacitor applications is further reinforced by the excellent electrochemical performance of rGO@AC-900 °C which generated a specific capacitance of 362F/g with 4 wt% loading which is higher than the specific capacity achieved with lower rGO loading i.e., 83.2 F/g and 182.5 F/g for AC-900 °C and 2 wt% rGO@AC-900 °C, respectively. The 4 wt% rGO@AC900°C also represented improved stability with up to 82 % charge retention after 5000 charge–discharge cycles. The excellent EDLC behavior of 4 wt% rGO@AC900°C is also evident from the impedance data. The electrode material with 4 wt% rGO loading showed lower value of RCT i.e., 4.16 Ω as compared to 12.08 Ω with 2 wt% rGO loading. This novel approach offers a sustainable alternative for the handling of hazardous textile waste sludge through conversion into a potential electrode material for environmentally friendly energy storage devices.

Bimetallic organic framework derived Co-MoxN/Mo2C catalyst for HER/OER bifunctional electrocatalytic reaction

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are widely used as precursors due to their tunable morphology and high specific surface area. Molybdenum nitride (MoN) and molybdenum carbide (Mo2C) are promising catalyst materials with electronic structures similar to the noble metal platinum. However, the preparation and modification of the composite systems comprising MoN and Mo2C are complex, often leading to significant agglomeration and limiting their application in various catalytic fields. In this work, we designed and developed a novel bimetallic Co-MOFs-Mo with a stable and unique framework morphology. By varying the organic ligand content, we controlled the morphology and enhanced the intrinsic electrocatalytic activity through Mo doping. Using the Co-MOFs-Mo sample as the Co source, we fabricated a Co-MoxN/Mo2C catalytic material with a special framework structure. Compared to Mo2N and Mo2N/Mo2C, this catalyst exhibits a larger specific surface area and superior performance in both hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The Co-MoxN/Mo2C catalyst achieves an HER overpotential of 297 mV at a current density of 10 mA·cm−2 and an OER overpotential of 480 mV at 20 mA·cm−2. This research provides valuable insights into the rational design of molybdenum-based noble-metal-free catalyst materials.

Novel dissolved organic 14C analyses method applied in a case study at a LILW waste repository

Abstract A routine chemical procedure was developed at the Ede Hertelendi Laboratory of Environmental Studies (HEKAL), in Debrecen which can measure the dissolved organic radiocarbon content of groundwater as well as the inorganic and total fraction. The typical background of this non-purgeable dissolved organic radiocarbon preparation is 0.73 ± 0.14 percent modern carbon (pMC), using a carbon contamination correction on fossil dissolved material (potassium hydrogen phthalate) samples.

Soil organic matter of Cambisols in Vitosha mountain, Bulgaria

A complex of soil carbon properties was studied and a research was made about the content of soil organic matter and organic C. The surface A and Bw horizon of Cambisols were studied in order understand relations of soil organic content and composition. Sample soil profiles in the middle part of Vitosha Nature Park were taken under different type of trees. Higher amount of total carbon and free low-molecular humic acids were determined in the surface and in the cambic horizons. The amount of soil organic carbon is high – from 2.08 % to 5.44 % in the surface horizon. The fulvic-humic type of soil organic matter predominates in studied soil horizons. Similar to this most of the soil samples have ration C/N &gt; 15 which is Mull humus. This type is commonly associated with temperate forest ecosystems, where deciduous trees shed their leaves annually, and contributing organic matter to the soil.

An investigation on the effect of soil erosion on the properties of soil adjacent to a road right of way (ROW)

ABSTRACT Recently, soil erosion has been a significant and common issue along road right of way (ROW). This study was designed to identify the effect of soil erosion on the physical and chemical properties of soil across a ROW. Land use land cover (LULC) map, soil map, and field observation were adopted to ensure proper sampling. Moisture content, grain size analysis, soil texture, consistency test, organic content and matter, pH, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were conducted on 10 representative soil samples collected from 14 km ROW. The laboratory results from moisture content, pH, and CEC revealed samples taken from the erosion fields (20.79% to 26.41%), (8.48 to 8.66), and (18.02 to 24.03) appeared to be higher than those taken from non-eroded fields (16.79% to 18.51%), (8.18 to 8.3), and (14.5 to 16.15), respectively. The organic content of the soil in the non-eroded areas was higher than that in the eroded areas. This variation in soil properties is primarily attributed to differences in LULC and soil composition. With regard to consistency properties, the soil was marked as highly erodible. Treatment of drainage structures, demarcating ROW, ROW stabilization, and awareness creation were proposed as feasible remedial measures. Finally, the soil along Sawla to Bulki ROW was identified as erodible soil as per experimental results and analysis.

Study on the impact of water absorption processes on the application of wood waste in composite material production

The issue of recycling and reusing waste from the wood processing industry has garnered significant attention from researchers, as effective solutions could yield economic benefits while mitigating environmental impacts. This article focuses on the development of artificial wood using unsaturated polyester resin combined with waste materials from carpentry workshops, specifically investigating its water absorption properties. Research findings indicate that the water absorption coefficient of the samples increased with longer immersion times, higher organic filler content, and larger particle diameters. The calculated density reveals a broad spectrum of solid industrial boards that can be produced from these compositions, suggesting that consistent forming conditions enhance economic viability. Notably, optimal results were achieved with samples made from mixed wood powder without prior sorting, which contributes to reduced production costs, aligning with the study's objectives. Furthermore, the investigation highlighted that the water absorption coefficient escalates with increased soaking time, organic filler content, and particle size, indicating that in humid environments, it is advisable to limit both filler content and particle size to maintain performance. Overall, the studies confirm the feasibility of utilizing wood powder as a filler, with varying particle diameters imparting distinct characteristics to the final product. These findings underscore the potential for innovative approaches to wood waste management in the industry.

Assessment of Different Organic Manures on Yield of Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. Italica Plenck.) cv. KTS-1 under Bundelkhand Climatic Condition

Aims: The organic content in manure helps soil retain moisture, increases gas exchange, and introduces beneficial bacteria, loosens clayey soil, promoting root growth. Soil with a higher organic content is more resistant to erosion and produces superior crops. Using organic manure decreases farming's environmental impact. Unlike synthetic fertilizers, it recycles waste materials, nourishes the soil, and nurtures crops. Methods: This experiment was carried out during Rabi 2023-24 at the Organic Research farm Kargunwan ji, Department of Horticulture, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Bundelkhand University Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh). Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italicaPlenck.) cv. KTS-1 was sown under randomized block design (RBD) with 11 treatment viz., Control, Vermicompost 100%, Cow litter 100%, Pressmud 100%, Vermicompost 75%, Cow litter 75%, Pressmud 75%, Vermicompost 50%+Cow litter 50%, Cow litter 50%+Press mud 50%, Pressmud 50%+Vermi 50%, Pressmud 33%+Cow litter 33%+Vermi 33% with 3 replication accommodating spacing (60 × 45) cm2,plot size (2.4 × 1.8) m = 4.32 m2 with total gross experimental area of (23.5 x 9.6) m = 225.06 m2. Results: Results shows thatat harvest, treatment T10 took to the minimum curd initiation at 53.10 days, compared to the control plot at 68.07 days. Similarly, days to 50% curd initiation and maturity were also shorter in T10, at 67.03 days and 80.13 days, respectively, while the control plot took (78.03 and 96.13) days. Ttreatment T10 produced the largest curd diameter (14.78 cm) and weight (321.03 g), significantly surpassing the control plot (6.37) cm diameter and (138.43) g weight. Overall, T10 yielded (321.03) q/ha, markedly higher than the control plot (138.43) q/ha, demonstrating significant improvements in broccoli yield and quality. Conclusion: The results clearly revealed that the application of organic treatments, particularly T10 (Pressmud 33% + Cow litter 3% + Vermi 33%), significantly enhanced the yield and quality of broccoli. This treatment resulted in faster curd initiation and maturity, larger curd diameter, and increased curd weight compared to the control plot. The findings indicate that the strategic use of organic manure can optimize broccoli production, suggesting a viable approach for improving crop outcomes in sustainable agriculture.