Percentage Of Nitrogen Research Articles

Evaluation on the Effects of Organic Amendment on Soil Productivity of Selected Watersheds in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Campus, Nigeria

This study was done to investigate soil physicochemical properties on the prevalence of biodiversity at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka and Amansea and to compare the performance of the different study areas (abandoned farmland and heavily grazed land) with respect to their productivity using different soil amendments. A soil amendment experiment was carried out using CRBD with four treatment levels of poultry manure for abandoned farmland and heavily grazed land. The study results revealed that soil physicochemical properties vary significantly across the study area. The difference between nitrogen and potassium levels were found to be significant at (P < 0.05), indicating favourable conditions for plant growth in specific locations. Conversely, other parameters, such as moisture content, phosphorus, organic matter, and pH, were not significant at (P > 0.05), suggesting suboptimal conditions for certain plant species. Roadside ecosystems exhibited the highest soil chemical properties, particularly potassium, making them conducive for plant growth. The perennial watershed ecosystem also offered favourable conditions, fostering a variety of plant species. In contrast, annual watershed areas exhibit the least soil nutrient support due to potential leaching effects. There was a notable positive correlation was observed between soil moisture and soil pH, percentage nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content (p<0.05). Specifically, significant positive correlations were identified between soil pH and phosphorus, as well as between soil pH and potassium (p < 0.05).More so, analysis of variance showed a significant difference between sites in all the physiochemical parameters examined (p<00.05).

Modeling of Effectiveness of N3-Substituted Amidrazone Derivatives as Potential Agents against Gram-Positive Bacteria.

Prediction of the antibacterial activity of new chemical compounds is an important task, due to the growing problem of bacterial drug resistance. Generalized linear models (GLMs) were created using 85 amidrazone derivatives based on the results of antimicrobial activity tests, determined as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Gram-positive bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Micrococcus luteus, Nocardia corallina, and Mycobacterium smegmatis. For the analysis of compounds characterized by experimentally measured MIC values, we included physicochemical properties (e.g., molecular weight, number of hydrogen donors and acceptors, topological polar surface area, compound percentages of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, melting points, and lipophilicity) as potential predictors. The presence of R1 and R2 substituents, as well as interactions between melting temperature and R1 or R2 substituents, were also considered. The set of potential predictors also included possible biological effects (e.g., antibacterial, antituberculotic) of tested compounds calculated with the PASS (Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances) program. Using GLMs with least absolute shrinkage and selection (LASSO), least-angle regression, and stepwise selection, statistically significant models with the optimal value of the adjusted determination coefficient and of seven fit criteria were chosen, e.g., Akaike's information criterion. The most often selected variables were as follows: molecular weight, PASS_antieczematic, PASS_anti-inflam, squared melting temperature, PASS_antitumor, and experimental lipophilicity. Additionally, relevant to the bacterial strain, the interactions between melting temperature and R1 or R2 substituents were selected, indicating that the relationship between MIC and melting temperature depends on the type of R1 or R2 substituent.

Copper tantalum nitride (CuTaN2) thin films prepared by reactive radio-frequency magnetron sputtering

RF reactive sputtering was used to deposit copper tantalum nitride (CuTaN2) films from a Cu/Ta target in an environment containing a mixture of argon and nitrogen at two different substrate temperatures: room temperature and 200 °C. The films were studied by SEM, EDS, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, spectrophotometry, and resistivity measurements. The deposition conditions significantly impacted the morphology of the films, which varied from smooth, void-free films at high nitrogen concentrations and at room temperature substrates to cauliflower-like grains with voids at low nitrogen contents and elevated substrate temperatures. Despite the target’s 1:1 Cu: Ta ratio, the stoichiometric analysis showed a lower Ta content in the deposited film. The films produced on silicon substrates were polycrystalline, whereas those deposited on glass substrates were amorphous. The band gap (0.9 eV to 1.55 eV) and film resistivity (20 kΩ-cm to 76 kΩ-cm) are strongly affected by the nitrogen fraction in the sputtering gas. Increasing the nitrogen percentage in semiconductor films results in smoother films with larger bandgaps (approximately 1.5 eV), higher resistivity, and compositions closest to those of stoichiometric CuTaN2.

Biodiesel production and selected fuel qualities from prospective non-edible oils: Hevea brasiliensis, Madhuca longifolia, Azadirachta indica, and Gossypium hirsutum

ABSTRACT Biodiesel predominantly originates from edible oil. Exploring non-edible oil resources is crucial to biodiesel manufacturing’s commercial viability and food security. This study examines four non-edible seed oils Hevea brasiliensis, Madhuca longifolia, Azadirachta indica, and Gossypium hirsutum as biofuel feedstocks. This study optimized reaction parameters to improve base-catalyzed transesterification, oil extraction and biodiesel synthesis. The produced esters were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared, and gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Elements composition was determined using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry and elemental analyzer. The biofuel’s physicochemical properties met American Society for Testing and Materials and European standards. The maximum amount of crude oil was seen in Hevea brasiliensis using the soxhlet extraction process, ranging from 52-63%. This was followed by Madhuca longifolia 38-55%, Azadirachta indica 24-33%, and Gossypium hirsutum with 19-27%. The density of the plant sources exhibited a range of 0.88-0.90 g/cm3 @ 15 °C, while the kinematic viscosity showed a range of 3.2-4.1 mm2/s. The elemental composition of biodiesel, expressed as percentages of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen, varied between the ranges of 70.52-76.30, 11.25-14.02, 1.18-2.75, and 9.11-13%, respectively. Since they may be grown in infertile and unproductive settings, these non-consumable seeds are cost-effective for renewable energy. They also help solve the energy situation by boosting biodiesel production..

Kelps may compensate for low nitrate availability by using regenerated forms of nitrogen, including urea and ammonium.

Nitrate, the form of nitrogen often associated with kelp growth, is typically low in summer during periods of high macroalgal growth. More ephemeral, regenerated forms of nitrogen, such as ammonium and urea, are much less studied as sources of nitrogen for kelps, despite the relatively high concentrations of regenerated nitrogen found in the Southern California Bight, where kelps are common. To assess how nitrogen uptake by kelps varies by species and nitrogen form in southern California, USA, we measured uptake rates of nitrate, ammonium, and urea by Macrocystis pyrifera and Eisenia arborea individuals from four regions characterized by differences in nitrogen availability-Orange County, San Pedro, eastern Santa Catalina Island, and western Santa Catalina Island-during the summers of 2021 and 2022. Seawater samples collected at each location showed that overall nitrogen availability was low, but ammonium and urea were often more abundant than nitrate. We also quantified the internal %nitrogen of each kelp blade collected, which was positively associated with ambient environmental nitrogen concentrations at the time of collection. We observed that both kelp species readily took up nitrate, ammonium, and urea, with M. pyrifera taking up nitrate and ammonium more efficiently than E. arborea. Urea uptake efficiency for both species increased as internal percent nitrogen decreased. Our results indicate that lesser-studied, more ephemeral forms of nitrogen can readily be taken up by these kelps, with possible upregulation of urea uptake as nitrogen availability declines.

Cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii Glover: Aphididae) influence associated to water hyacinth nutrient (Pontederia crassipes Mart.: Pontederiaceae) in lath house conditions in Great Rift Valley of Ethiopia

The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover is a polyphagous herbivore known worldwide. The aphid infestation could be considered as a challenge to crops, but an opportunity for alien invasive weed management. Hence, this study was initiated to investigate the potential of cotton aphid on the management of water hyacinth. Aphid-infested water hyacinth plants were used as a stock for rearing the aphid in a lath house at Ethiopian Sugar Corporation, Research and Development Center, Wonji. After rearing, randomly collected 30 aphids were placed onto water hyacinth plants cultivated under three nutrient levels. Aphid population, water hyacinth biomass and percent nitrogen and phosphorus were analyzed. The water hyacinth treated with a high nutrient level had the highest (295.0) mean aphids on apical leaves followed by the middle (178.3) and basal (104.7) leaves. The water hyacinth subjected to medium and no aphid treatment had the highest dry (44.3 g) biomass. However, when treated with a low nutrient level and aphids resulted in the lowest dry (31.9 g) biomass. Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were found high in the water hyacinth that received a high nutrient and no aphid treatment. The presence of the aphids reduced the biomass and nutrient concentration of the invasive weed. The findings of the current study revealed that the cotton aphid affected the water hyacinth in the lath house conditions in Ethiopia.

Size Control of Carbon Xerogel Spheres as Key Factor Governing the H2O2 Selectivity in Metal-Free Bifunctional Electro-Fenton Catalysts for Tetracycline Degradation.

Carbon xerogel spheres co-doped with nitrogen and eco-graphene were synthesized using a typical solvothermal method. The results indicate that the incorporation of eco-graphene enhances the electrochemical properties, such as the current density (JK) and the selectivity for the four transferred electrons (n). Additionally, nitrogen doping has a significant effect on the degradation efficiency, varying with the size of the carbon xerogel spheres, which could be attributed to the type of nitrogenous group doped in the carbon material. The degradation efficiency improved in the nanometric spheres (48.3% to 61.6%) but decreased in the micrometric-scale spheres (58.6% to 53.4%). This effect was attributed to the N-functional groups present in each sample, with N-CNS-5 exhibiting a higher percentage of graphitic nitrogen (35.7%) compared to N-CMS-5 (15.3%). These findings highlight the critical role of sphere size in determining the type of N-functional groups present in the sample. leading to enhanced degradation of pollutants as a result of the electro-Fenton process.

Dendrometrical Structure and Physicochemical Analysis of Mangrove Sediments from the Nyong River Estuary (Cameroon, Atlantic Coast)

Mangrove estuaries are not immune to the threats posed by climate and anthropogenic constraints on aquatic environments. In the Nyong River estuary, mangrove ecotone has capital importance for biodiversity conservation due to its localization in the Douala-Edéa protected area. For this study, seven quadrats were delimited in aim to evaluate mangrove structure and assessed his interplay with sediment and water physicochemical characteristics. The study revealed a total of 120 individuals of 4 regularly encountered species over a distance of 14 km: <i>Rhizophora racemosa, Avicennia germinans, Rhizophora harrisonii </i>and <i>Phoenix reclinata</i> palms. The marshy soils under the mangrove have Total Nitrogen percentages varying between 0.04 and 0.68%. Total Organic Carbon (from 2.20 to 8.61%) and Total Organic Matter (from 3.66 to 14.64%) contents have a similar pattern. The ratios of Carbon and Nitrogen (C/N) reflect the presence of organic matter and plant debris over a large proportion of the estuary. The ratio of Nitrogen and Phosphate (N/P) reflects the low availability of nitrogen in relation to phosphorus. The cation elements evolve on average in the order Ca<sup>2+</sup> ˃Mg<sup>2+</sup> ˃Na<sup>+</sup> ˃K<sup>+</sup>. This study provides information that would help explore linkages for future research on biogeochemical balance in mangrove sediment and their implementation.

Bioenergy-producing two-stage septic tank and floating wetland for onsite wastewater treatment: Circuit connection and external aeration

This study designed a two-stage, electrode-integrated septic tank-floating wetland system and assessed their pollutant removal performances under variable operational conditions. The two-stage system achieved mean organic, nitrogen, phosphorus, and coliform removal percentages of 99, 78, 99, and 97%, respectively, throughout the experimental run. The mean metals (chromium, cadmium, nickel, copper, zinc, lead, iron, and manganese) removal percentages ranged between 81 and 98%. Accumulated sludge, filler media, and the hanging root mass contributed to pollutant removals by supporting physicochemical and biological pathways. The mean effluent organic concentration and coliform number across the two-stage system were 20 mg/L and 1682 CFU/100 mL, respectively, during the closed-circuit protocol, which was beneath the open-circuit-based performance profiles, i.e., 32 mg/L and 2860 CFU/100 mL, respectively. Effluent organic, nitrogen, phosphorus, metals, and coliform number ranges across the two-stage system were 9–17 mg/L, 13–24 mg/L, 1–1.5 mg/L, 0.001–0.2 mg/L, and 1410–2270 CFU/100 mL, respectively during intermittent and continuous aeration periods. The air supply rate differences influenced pollutant removal depending on the associated removal mechanisms. The non-aeration phase produced higher effluent pollutant concentrations than the aeration periods-based profiles. The overall mean power density production of the septic tank ranged between 107 and 596 mW/m3; 110 and 355 mW/m3 with the floating wetland. The bioenergy production capacity of the septic tank was positively correlated to external air supply rates. This study demonstrates the potential application of the novel bioenergy-producing septic tank-floating wetland system for wastewater treatment in decentralized areas.

Novel third order nonlinear optical stilbazolium crystal replaced with 3-methoxy benzaldehyde as donor for optical device applications

A novel organic nonlinear optical stilbazolium group single crystal of 1-methyl-2-[2-(3-methoxystyryl)]-pyridinium iodide (subsequently referred to as MSMI) was grown by the solution growth technique using the method of slow evaporation at ambient temperature. The Single-crystal XRD investigation indicates that the MSMI crystal belongs to a monoclinic crystal system with a centrosymmetric space group. CHN elemental analyser confirms the weight percentage of carbon (C = 51.00 %) hydrogen (H = 4.55 %) and nitrogen (N = 3.94 %) in the MSMI crystal structure. The presence of 16 hydrogen atoms and 15 carbon atoms in the MSMI was affirmed by the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopic analysis. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) studies confirmed the fundamental vibrations for different functional groups found in the MSMI crystal. The Hirsfeld surface analysis figured out the hydrogen bond interaction and π…π interaction which supports the stability of the crystal structure. The crystal is found to exhibit transmittance of wavelength above 400 nm and has a band gap of 3.05 eV ascertained from UV–Vis-NIR spectroscopic analysis. Photoluminescence (PL) studies reveal that the title crystal has an emission wavelength of 572 nm. The surface characteristics of the title crystal were examined by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and etching studies. The value of Meyer's number is n = 1.8 which is determined by the Vickers microhardness studies. The value of the third-order nonlinear refractive index (n2) is 4.662×10−8 cm2/W, the nonlinear absorption coefficient (β) is 1.305×10−3 cm/W, nonlinear susceptibility (χ(3)) is 9.297×10−5 esu and the optical limiting threshold is 11.43 J/cm2 was ascertained form the Z-scan technique. The results indicate that the MSMI crystal is a potential optical limiter and has promising applications in nonlinear optical devices.

Nitrogen Fixing Activity of Endophytic Bacteria Associated with Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) and its effect on Zea mays

ABSTRACT: Nitrogen is essentially required for the plant growth as well as productivity. Plants take nitrogen in the form of ammonia or nitrate either from soil or fertilizer. There are nitrogen fixing bacteria plays a vital role to supply atmospheric nitrogen to plants where plants do not obtain from soil. Apart from soil bacteria, endophytic bacteria which living inside the plant tissues can improve crop productivity and soil health sustainably through biological nitrogen fixation and act as a potential replacement for chemical fertilizers in agriculture. This study was conducted to determine the nitrogen fixing activity of isolated endophytic bacteria from Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.). The isolated endophytes were subjected to molecular confirmation and evaluated for ammonia production, Acetylene Reduction Assay (ARA), nif gene amplification and analysis of growth parameters in Zea mays using pot culture assay. The data were analyzed using SPSS ver.16. In this study, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus paranthracis, Staphylococcus xylosus and Bacillus cereus were isolated from the leaves of Kalachoe pinnata (Lam). They were confirmed using 16SrRNA sequencing. All the endophytic bacteria were positive for ammonia production and ARA. The percentage of nitrogen produced was 32.8 % (B. thuringiensis), 65.7% (B. paranthracis), 80.7% (S. xylosus) and 45.2% (B. cereus).The presence of nif gene was confirmed through the PCR amplification of a 550-580bp fragment of the gene. Pot culture assay of Zea mays were observed with significant improvement in S. xylosus followed by B. paranthracis inoculated pots. The presence of the nitrogenase enzyme and the nif gene in these endophytic bacteria allows them to fix atmospheric nitrogen to meet plant nitrogen demands, resulting in a symbiotic relationship with agricultural crops.

Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation (SSF) of Blended Organic Fertilizer from Yam and Sweet Potato Peels

This study shows the production of organic fertilizer by utilization of yam and sweet potatoes peels through Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation (SSF) Method. Samples are categorized into sun-dried, sundried and autoclaved, Heat-dried, heat-dried and autoclaved, the fermentation process is carried out using alpha amylase and saccharomyces cerevisiae. Investigation of mineral elements (N, Cd, P, Zn, Pb, As, K, Hg.), in the eight varieties of Organic Fertilizer produced shows concentration of Cadmium (Cd) ranges from 0.0015 mg/kg to 0.0033 mg/kg), Nitrogen (N) in Percentage ranges from 2.3450% to 3.8550%; Phosphorus (P) ranges from 2.345 mg/kg to 3.607 mg/kg; Zinc (Zn) ranges from 2.215 mg/kg to 6.335 mg/kg. Lead (Pb) ranges from 0.00 mg/kg to 0.0015 mg/kg, potassium (K) ranges from 3.952 mg/kg to 6.213 mg/kg; Mercury and Arsenic nil. The study shows that Sweet Potato Peel (SDSPP) contains high Cadmium and potassium compare to other organic fertilizer produced. Sundried and Autoclaved Yam Peel (SDAYP) contains high percentage of Nitrogen (N), Heat Dried and Autoclaved Sweet Potato Peel (HDASPP) contains low Nitrogen, Sundried and Autoclaved Sweet Potato Peel (SDASPP) contains low phosphorus, Sundried Yam Peel (SDYP), Sundried and Autoclaved Yam Peels (SDAYP), Heat Dried Sweet Potato Peel HDSPP and Heat Dried Sweet Potato Peel (HDSPP) has zero trace of Lead (Pb) making it free of food intoxication from heavy metals, SDYP contains high phosphorus. These indicate that the samples will make quality organic fertilizer because it contains high Nitrogen, Phosphorus and potassium (NPK) which are essential elements required in plant structures.

Mitigation of Salinity Stress Effects in Tomatoa (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. ) by Using Calcium Chloride

In the world, salinity has become an increasing danger for agricultural production. A factorial pot experiment using a completely randomized design (CRD) was conducted in the present research, aimed to look at how growth, yield parameters, and biochemical contents were influenced by the exogenous application of calcium chloride (CaCl2, 0, 5, and 10 mM) of tomato exposed to salt stress (NaCl, 0, 25, and 75 mM), Growth was slowed and Both the sodium percentage and proline content increased under salt stress. However, the growth, yield, and biochemical content characteristics were improved by the application of Ca, enhanced plant height, dry weight of the shoots and roots, the number of fruits per plant, fruit weight, the percentage of nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, relative water content (RWC), and increased proline content, moreover a significant reduction in the sodium percentages, when compared to the control. Lastly, exogenous Ca use improves resistance to salt stress. Moreover, the use of 10 mM CaCl2 caused the beneficial effects of Ca, which has been suggested to enhance tomato performance in salinized conditions.

Response of maize grown in calcareous soils to levels of agricultur-al sulfur, thiobacillus bacteria and nano-zinc

A field experiment was conducted in spring season of 2022 according to a randomized complete block design with three replications (RCBD). The experiment included three factors. The first included three levels of agricultural sulfur (0, 1500, and 3000 kg ha-1). The second factor included two levels of thiobacillus bacteria, which are the control treatment (no addition) and the treatment with bacteria. The third factor included three concentrations of nano-zinc (0, 50, and 100 mg L-1). The results showed an excellent level of sulfur (3000 kg ha-1) in the grain yield (8.06 Mg ha-1), the percentage of nitrogen in the grains (1.72%), the percentage of phosphorus in the grains (0.53%) and the percentage of protein in grains is (10.79%), and the percentage of sulfur in grains is (0.270%). As the results showed that the second factor was superior when adding thiobacillus bacteria in the weight of 500 grains and the total grain yield (154.64 g and 7.52 Mg ha-1, respectively). As for nano-zinc, the third level (100 mg L-1) excelled in percentage of nitrogen (1.62%), phosphorus (0.41%), protein (10.79%) and sulfur (0.239%) in Grains, and the weight of 500 grains (155.53 g), with the exception of the total yield characteristic in which the level excelled (50 mg L-1) with an average of (8.01 mg L-1). The interaction between the three factors also gave a positive effect on most of the traits under study.

Response of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) to plant growth hormones produced by Aspergillus sp.

In this study, 10 isolates of Aspergillus fungus were isolated from the soil of the rhizosphere and roots of rice, sorghum and barley plants that were cultivated in the areas of Thi-Qar Governorate, Iraq. The types of isolates were identified by studying their biochemical, morphological, and microscopic characteristics. The results showed that all isolates belong to the genus Aspergillus. The study also estimated the quantity of growth hormones produced by the studied isolates. The study found that 5 isolates, labeled as P1, P2, P5, P7 and P9, had a high efficiency in secreting growth hormones. To determine the effect of growth hormones of Aspergillus fungus on plant growth, a potted experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. The bio-inoculation increased the plant height, dry weight of the vegetative/root parts and root length by 34.15%, 45.77% and 34.97%, respectively compared to control treatment. Likewise, the percentage of nitrogen in bio-inoculated sorghum leaves, vegetative roots and root parts increased by 26.39%, 29.56% and 33.15%, respectively compared to the control treatment where no inoculation was done.

Comparative Assessment of Soil and Selected Crop in Cement Dust Contaminated Environment in Okpella Area of Edo North, Nigeria

The research was designed to compare the degree of contamination of soil and selected crops by cement dust generated during cement industry activities. Two types of soils were investigated. Soil obtained near the cement industry (OS1) and the soil obtained in a location far from the site of the cement industry (AS2). Only cassava was studied but collected at two different locations. Crop sample collected near the cement industry (OC1) and the one collected at a site far from the cement industry (AC2). The physicochemical properties of the soil samples were determined by analyzing for their percentage nitrogen (N), organic matter (OM), phosphorous (P), potassium (K), electrical conductivity (EC), moisture content (MC), bulk density (BD) and hydrogen ion potential (pH). The proximate composition of the crop samples was determined by analyzing for moisture content, crude protein, ash content, ether extract, crude fibre, dry matter, and carbohydrate. The method used was in accordance with the Association of Official Analytical Chemists’. The samples were characterized for the presence of functional groups using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. X-ray Diffractometer (XRD) was used to determine the mineral composition and the heavy metals were determined using the Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) method of analysis. The result showed that the percentage of P (28.6±0.01) and K in AS2 was higher than in OS1 (21.6±0.07). The OM in AS2 (2.34±0.01) was higher than in OS1 (2.17±0.01). The values obtained for EC were OS1 (145.7±0.01) and AS2 (115.4±0.28). The concentration of the selected elements did not exceed the maximum allowable amount. Fe has the highest concentration in soil and crop samples. The obtained value for ash content in OC1 was 4.62±0.00 and AC2 was 2.39±0.01. Carbohydrate has 74.4±0.01 in OC1 and 83.4±0.05 in AC2, however moisture content in OC1 was 7.17±0.03 and 6.86±0.03 in AC2. The results also showed the presence of various functional groups and revealed the types of minerals in the samples.

Preparation and Characterization of NPK Nutrient Loaded Electrospun Cellulose Acetate Nanofiber Mat to be used as a Slow-release Fertilizer


 
 
 A major unsolved issue with chemical fertilizers is the low nutrient use efficiency. It has been reported that an excessive amount of up to 70% of the nitrogen applied to plants with traditional fertilizers is lost to the surrounding. Hence, the drastic pollution effects of chemical fertilizer usage. Slow-release fertilizers aim to reduce such losses via slow and sustained release of nutrients to the plant. In this study, we report the successful fabrication and characterization of a novel and biodegradable cellulose acetate (CA) electrospun nanofiber (NF) mat loaded with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium plant nutrients of urea, hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HANPs) and MOP respectively to be used as a slow-release fertilizer (SRF). It was envisaged that the unique properties of the electrospun NFs could overcome the shortcomings of traditional slow-release fertilizers (SRFs). The fabrication of the NFs was done with 8.5% w/v CA polymer dissolved in a 6 mL solvent system of acetone to dimethylformamide in a 2:1 volume ratio along with the addition of the aforementioned nutrients at 10% of the polymer weight. Electrospinning parameters were set after parameter optimization. The high-voltage supply was set at 16 kV, the spinneret to collector distance was 13cm and the flow rate was 1.5 ml/h. The solutions were electrospun only when the relative humidity was approximately between 65 to 70%. The HANPs incorporated were synthesized by the wet chemical precipitation method. The successful synthesis of the HANPs was confirmed via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis. The successful loading of the nutrients onto the electrospun NF mat was evident from FTIR, Raman and EDX analysis. Furthermore, the scanning electron microscopy images of the nutrient loaded NFs depicted a reduced average diameter with respect to those of the neat NF mat. The total nitrogen percentage of the nutrient loaded NF mat was determined to be 2.60% from Kjeldahl analysis. The initial nutrient release studies in water depicted a biphasic release model for orthophosphate and potassium nutrients while only a burst release profile was observed for nitrogen. It can be concluded that the electrospun NF mats display a potential application with regards to SRFs. However, several modifications to the NF mat fabrication such as the usage of coaxial electrospinning will have to be made in order to better optimize the nutrient loading and enhance its slow-release properties.
 Keywords: Electrospinning, Nanofiber mat, Slow-release, Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles
 
 

Efficacy of glycine betaine (G.B.), zinc (Zn), and boron (B) on some quantitative and qualitative characteristics of rainfed chickpea

To evaluate the effects of Glycine Betaine, Zinc, and Boron elements on the yield and nutritional status of rainfed Cicer arietinum, a factorial experiment, was conducted during the 2019 and 2020 cropping years in Mahabad city. The experiment followed a randomized complete block design with three replications. The experimental factors included soil application of zinc sulfate at two levels (40 kg/ha and no zinc application), foliar application of boron at three levels (no use, before, and after flowering with 3 kg per 1000 L of water), and foliar application of Glycine Betaine at three levels (no use, flowering, and after flowering with 1.88 g/L). The results indicated that the year significantly affected grain yield, biological yield, and uptake of boron and zinc. The treatments involving boron and Glycine Betaine showed an increasing effect on plant height, total chlorophyll, soluble sugar, Glycine Betaine, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, 100-seed weight, grain yield, biological yield, nitrogen percentage, boron concentration, and grain protein percentage. The highest grain yield (1549.15 kg. ha−1) in the treatment without zinc application and with simultaneous application of boron and Glycine Betaine after flowering resulted in a 34.58% increase compared to the control. The foliar application of Glycine Betaine and boron in the pre-and post-flowering stages and boron in the post-flowering stage resulted in the highest grain nitrogen uptake at 60.2%. Also, the result showed that no Glycine Betaine and boron application before flowering exhibited the highest soluble sugar content.

Effect of Nitrogen‐Added Shielding Gas on Microstructure Evolution of Welded Joints by Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Process in Duplex Stainless Steel 2205

Duplex stainless steels (DSS), due to their high corrosion resistance, primarily attributed to their austenite‐ferrite duplex microstructure, are widely used in industrial sector such as petrolchimical and gas natural industries. Maintaining this microstructure is crucial during manufacturing processes, including welding which presents the challenge of minimizing ferritization in the heat‐affected zone (HAZ) or weld zone (WZ), as it can significantly reduce their corrosion resistance. This work aims to describe the influence of nitrogen gas in the Ar–N2 shielding atmosphere when depositing beads on 2205 DSS plates, using a gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process. It is observed that at low nitrogen load (98%Ar–2%N2), the austenite content reaches 49% in WZ and 29% in HAZ. When the nitrogen percentage is increased (50%Ar–50%N2), the austenite content rises to 67% and 37%, respectively. The joint is evaluated macro‐ and microstructurally to observe the atmosphere impact on weld bead geometry and microstructural development. Additionally, hardness is assessed throughout the weld bead. The work demonstrates that, with a 50%Ar–50%N2 shielding gas mixture, it is possible to limit the formation of ferrite in the WZ and HAZ of DSS during the welding process, without altering the microhardness trend of the welded joint.

Nutrients from spawning salmon influence leaf area, tissue density, and nitrogen-15 in riparian plant leaves.

Nutrient subsidies have significant impacts on ecosystems by connecting disjunct habitats, often through long-distance animal migrations. Salmon migrations on the North Pacific coasts provide these kinds of nutrient subsidies from senescent fish at the end of their life cycle, which can have significant ecological effects on terrestrial species. This can include impacts on individuals, populations, and communities, where shifts in community composition towards plant species that indicate nitrogen-rich soils have been documented. We investigated the effects of variation in salmon spawning density on the leaf traits of four common riparian plant species on the central coast of British Columbia, Canada. We found that all plant species had higher foliar salmon-derived nitrogen on streams with a higher spawning density. Three of the four species had larger leaves, and one species also had higher leaf mass per area on streams with more salmon. However, we found no differences in leaf greenness or foliar percent nitrogen among our study streams. These results demonstrate that nutrient subsidies from spawning salmon can have significant impacts on the ecology, morphology, and physiology of riparian plants, which lends support to a mechanism by which certain plants are more common on productive salmon streams.