Water Conditioner Research Articles

Health Effects of Electrolyzed Hydrogen Water for the Metabolic Syndrome and Pre-Metabolic Syndrome: A 3-Month Randomized Controlled Trial and Subsequent Analyses.

We studied the effect of three months' use of electrolyzed hydrogen water (EHW, Electrolyzed Hydrogen Water conditioner produced by Nihon Trim Co., Ltd.) on metabolic and pre-metabolic syndrome groups. This research was carried out jointly by Susaki City; Nihon Trim Co., Ltd.; and Kochi University as part of a local revitalization project with health as a keyword. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group trial was conducted to evaluate the clinical impact of EHW on participants who suffered from metabolic syndrome or pre-metabolic syndrome. EHW was produced via electrolysis using a commercially available apparatus (Nihon Trim Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan). During exercise, oxidative stress increases, and active oxygen species increase. In this study, we examined 181 subjects with metabolic syndrome or pre-metabolic syndrome. Among the group that drank EHW for 3 months, those who also engaged in a high level of physical activity showed a significant difference in waist circumference reduction. Although no significant difference was observed, several positive results were found in the participants who engaged in a high level of physical activity. Urinary 8-OHdG, urinary nitrotyrosine, HbA1c, and blood glucose levels increased in the filtered water (FW) group but decreased in the EHW group. High-sensitivity CRP increased less in the EHW group. 8-Isoprostane decreased more in the EHW group. In subgroup analysis, the EHW group showed a significantly greater reduction in waist circumference than the FW group only when controlled for high physical activity. Based on the result, we suggest that, among participants in the study who suffered from metabolic syndrome and pre-metabolic syndrome in which the level of active oxygen species is said to be higher than in healthy subjects, the group that consumed EHW and also engaged in a high level of physical activity experienced a suppressed or reduced increase in active oxygen species.

The effect of Biokos™, a natural lipopeptide surfactant extracted from the bacterium Pseudomonas, on Epistylis infections in Carassius auratus.

In the aquaculture industry, biocides are routinely used to treat parasitosis in fish, and researchers are continually developing sustainable alternatives that can replace these harsh chemicals. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a new natural compound, BiokosTM, for the treatment against Epistylis sp. in Carassius auratus fish. The infestation was identified by the presence of whitish plaques on the integument of five animals, and the diagnosis was confirmed through skin scrapings. BiokosTM is a lipopeptide derived from the bacteria Pseudomonas that can destroy the functionality of the cell membrane of ciliated protozoa. The action of BiokosTM does not harm animals and the environment because the compound degrades into amino acids and fatty acids within days. A 0.15 m3 (150 L) aquarium was treated with an Ich-AwayTM water conditioner manufactured by the Danish company Sundew ApS, which has BiokosTM as the active ingredient. Six tablets were added to the water daily for two days, and new skin scrapings were performed. The fish were clinically well and no longer possessed lesions or parasites. The results obtained indicate that BiokosTM can be an innovative and more sustainable alternative for controlling epistyliasis in ornamental fish.

Mitigating soil water deficit using organic waste compost and commercial water retainer: a comparative study under semiarid conditions

Semiarid regions have particularly been confronted with climate change effects reflected by the consistent decrease of rainfall and increase of evapotranspiration. This drought stress constitutes the main constraint for agricultural production improvement, which is aggravated by the fact that strategic (field) crops are mostly grown under rainfed systems. Therefore, the objective of this field study was to improve soil water retention by the application of two conditioners namely, an organic waste compost (DS) and a synthetic water-retaining hydrogel (WS). These amendments were applied to an agricultural soil for the cultivation of fodder maize under normal and deficit irrigation regimes. Advanced analysis showed a general disruption of plant growth parameters under water stress. However, both amendments attenuated this negative effect with respect to control by improving soil water status. More precisely, the measured soil water tension at the start of the dry season was the lowest in presence of DS (48 centibars), followed by WS (61 centibars), then unamended soil (83 centibars). Besides, compost application resulted in higher moisture (13.3%), nitrogen (0.36%), and organic matter (0.56%) in soil than the synthetic hydrogel at the end of the field experiment. Soil and plant characterization highlighted the combined effect of water deficit and conditioner type. Indeed, the consistent increase of soil water content in the presence of DS and WS improved all the addressed plant parameters when compared with untreated soil. Infrared thermal imaging showed that canopy temperature was lower in presence of both amendments while dry biomass yield increased by 38% when water supply was limited. Nevertheless, the long-term sustainability of the soil system appears to be better maintained in the presence of the organic waste compost. The latter has the added advantage of improving soil fertility in contrast to inert polymers.

Simulated transport of flathead grey mullet Mugil cephalus eggs: Effects of density and duration

Flathead grey mullet has a great potential as a low trophic level aquaculture species, however captive rearing is still hampered by the lack of well-established production protocols. Here we examined the effects of transport time and egg loading density on water quality, egg survival, hatching success and early larvae performance when shipped for 8, 16 and 24 h at 500 and 1500 eggs L−1. When no water conditioners were used, survival immediately after transport was consistently over 60% up to 16 h shipment for both densities tested, with minimum values of 40% for 1500 eggs L−1. Density and transport time did not influence hatching rate (p > .05) which ranged between 31 and 54% after 8 and 16 hour transport. However, manipulation after 8 and 24 h transport led to a significant drop in early larvae survival regardless the density tested (20% and 5% respectively) compared to 16 h transport (40%) (p < .05). Hence, the results indicate that grey mullet is sensitive when manipulated as early hatched larvae and when eggs undergo blastophore closure at circa 20 h post-fertilization.The tested egg stocking densities do not deteriorate water quality to lethal levels in terms of pH, NO2 and NO3 especially for short and medium transportation times, however, 24 h transportation induces an accumulation of ammonia affecting the long-term survival of larvae. When basic technology is available (i.e. no water conditioners, refrigerated vehicles), we suggest manipulating grey mullet eggs at 28 h post fertilization for best results in terms of hatching rate and early larvae survival.

Evaluating the Efficiency of Magnetic Treatment for Feed Water in Reverse Osmosis Processes.

The paper presents a new methodology for short-term (5-25 min) benchtop tests to evaluate the effectiveness of magnetic treatment of feed water for reducing mineral scaling on a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane. Scale deposition is measured at a controlled level of salt supersaturation in water flowing through an RO unit in once-through mode. A magnetic water conditioner is tested in a transient flow regime when variations of the permeate flux along the flow path are insignificant. Scale formation under these conditions is governed by salt crystallization on the membrane surface. The proposed method was implemented to investigate the influence of magnetic treatment on gypsum deposition on RO membranes in supersaturated aqueous CaSO4/NaCl solutions. The effects of magnetic water treatment on scale formation under our experimental conditions were found to be statistically insignificant with a confidence level of 95%. However, this outcome should not be considered to negate the potential efficiency of magnetic water treatment in specific applications. The proposed methodology of testing under a controlled level of salt supersaturation will also be useful for evaluating the efficiency of other water treatment technologies.

The Economic Impacts of Using Renewable Energy Technologies for Irrigation Water Pumping and Nanoparticle Fertilizers on Agri-Food Production in Iraq

While traditional energy sources such as oil, coal, and natural gas drive economic growth, they also seriously affect people’s health and the environment. Renewable energies (RE) are presently seen as an efficient choice for attaining long-term sustainability in development. They provide an adequate response to climate change and supply sufficient electricity. The current situation in Iraq results from a decades-long scarcity of reliable electricity, which has impacted various industries, including agriculture. There are diverse prospects for using renewable energy sources to address the present power crisis. The economic and environmental impacts of renewable energy systems were investigated in this study by using the solar pumping irrigation system and nanoparticle fertilizers on agri-food production with the Farm Simulation FARMSIM model. The results show that using all REs with Carefree Water Conditioner for water treatment resulted in the highest net present value and profit compared to other scenarios. The findings, however, indicate that the All RE scenario (using a solar irrigation system with a nanoparticle fertilizer system, a low-cost technology) is the most feasible and has the highest benefit–cost ratio. Due to high initial investment costs, all traditional approaches (using traditional irrigation and fertilizer systems) had a lower benefit–cost ratio than the other scenarios. According to simulation results, all four scenarios are profitable and feasible for implementation.

ПРОДУКТИВНОСТЬ И ПОКАЗАТЕЛИ КАЧЕСТВА ЗЕРНА ОЗИМОЙ ПШЕНИЦЫ ПРИ РАЗНЫХ СХЕМАХ ПРИМЕНЕНИЯ МИКРОУДОБРЕНИЙ И СТИМУЛЯТОРОВ РОСТА В УСЛОВИЯХ СРЕДНЕГО ПОВОЛЖЬЯ

The research was carried out to study the effect of water softener, biostimulants, macro- and microfertilizers on the yield and quality characteristics of winter wheat grain. The work was carried out in the Republic of Tatarstan in 2018–2020 on leached chernozems. The experiment was carried out according to the scheme: water softener (factor A) - there is no softener, Pekacid water conditioner; growth stimulants and trace elements (factor B) - without the use of drugs, Nutrivant, Stimax, Carbamide, Stimax + Carbamide, Stimax + Nutrivant, Nutrivant + Carbamide, Stimax + Nutrivant + Carbamide. Foliar treatment of winter wheat crops with the growth stimulator Stimaks together with a fertilizer containing microelements, against the background of mineral fertilizers applied by the calculation method to obtain 5 tons of grain per 1 ha, ensured the formation of high yields. The maximum yield in the experiment (5.72 t/ha) was noted in the variant with the use of a three-component tank mixture Stimax + Nutrivant + Urea using Pekacid. The use of a water softener increased the yield of grain in all variants of the experiment. The increase in the control was 0.06 t/ha, and the maximum (0.13 t/ha) was in the variant with the treatment of crops with a mixture of Stimaks + Nutrivant + Urea. The combined use of microfertilizers and growth stimulants when feeding plants in the tillering phase (by spraying) of winter wheat led to an improvement in grain quality. The largest increase in gluten in the experiment (3.3%) was noted in the variant with the tank mixture Stimaks + Nutrivant + Urea and the use of a water conditioner. The highest (27.8%) gluten content was noted in the favorable year 2018 when using the mentioned three-component tank mixture. The increase, compared with the option without drugs, is 2.2%. The use of each drug separately reduced the yield and quality of grain.

Myrcene as water conditioner, stress-reducing and antioxidant agent in transportation of common carp, Cyprinus carpio, with plastic bags

This study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of myrcene on water quality and stress responses of common carp, Cyprinus carpio, during transportation. A total of 126 fish (45.3 ± 1.65 g) were transported using 0, 10, 20, 30, and 50 µL/L myrcene for 6 h. All transported treatments exhibited significant decrease in water pH, dissolved oxygen, and increase in water temperature and ammonia. Myrcene had no effects on water pH and temperature after transportation, but 10 µL/L myrcene significantly decreased water dissolved oxygen, as 30 µL/L myrcene increased it, compared to the fish transported without myrcene. Moreover, 20–50 µL/L myrcene significantly decreased water ammonia, compared to the fish transported without myrcene. Transportation induced significant increases in water alkalinity in 0–30 µL/L myrcene and the highest alkalinity was related to 10 µL/L myrcene. Plasma ammonia significantly increased in all treatments after transportation and the lowest and highest levels were observed in fish transported with 20 and 50 µL/L myrcene. Plasma lactate significantly decreased in fish transported with 0–30 µL/L myrcene; but increased in fish transported with 50 µL/L myrcene. All transported fish showed similar plasma T4 levels, which were significantly lower than the before transportation. Transportation induced significant increase in plasma cortisol, glucose, superoxide dismutase, catalase, malondialdehyde and significant decrease in plasma T3, which 10 µL/L myrcene failed to mitigate such change, and nevertheless, 20 and 30 µL/L myrcene mitigated such changes. 50 µL/L myrcene led to higher cortisol, glucose, CAT, MDA, and lower T3 and GSH, compared to fish transported without myrcene. Plasma glutathione peroxidase activity significantly decreased in fish transported with 50 µL/L myrcene, compared to fish not transported. Myrcene is recommended as a sedative and stress-reducing agent in common carp transportation procedures. The beneficial concentration is 20–30 µL/L, but lower and higher concentrations have negative effects.

Antagonistic Interactions between Dicamba and Glyphosate on Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) and Horseweed (Erigeron canadensis) Control

Dicamba plus glyphosate (DpG) tank mixture has been widely adopted for broad-spectrum weed control. However, recent studies indicated antagonistic interactions between these herbicides. Furthermore, little is known about the effect of non-ammonium sulfate water conditioner (non-AMS WC) adjuvant on the activity of DpG tank mixture. Thus, the present study was elaborated to evaluate (1) the interaction of DpG tank mixtures combinations on barnyardgrass, and glyphosate-susceptible (GS) and -resistant (GR) horseweed control, and (2) the effect of non-ammonium sulfate water conditioner (non-AMS WC) on the interaction of those two herbicides on the aforementioned weed species. Greenhouse experiments were conducted in 2020 at the Pesticide Application Laboratory in North Platte, NE. Herbicide treatments were arranged in a two-level factorial design of six dicamba rates by six glyphosate rates for Study 1, and in a three-level factorial design of two adjuvant treatments (presence or not of non-AMS WC) by four dicamba rates by four glyphosate rates for Study 2. Both trials were conducted as randomized complete block designs with four replications and two runs. Antagonistic interactions were observed throughout DpG treatments in GS and GR horseweed. For instance, dicamba (560 g ae ha−1) and glyphosate (1260 g ae ha−1) resulted in 72% of GR horseweed biomass reduction, compared to 81% of estimated biomass reduction. For barnyardgrass, antagonistic interactions were only observed within the reduced glyphosate rates. The addition of non-AMS WC had no effect on DpG antagonism. However, it improved the barnyardgrass control by glyphosate.

Comparative evaluation of natural water conditioners for their potential use in freshwater aquaculture.

In this study, the use of natural adsorbents, such as zeolite (clinoptilolite), leonardite, and duckweed (Lemna minor, L. 1753) was investigated for the regulation of optimum water qualities in freshwater aquaculture. The study was carried out in 3 experiments in triplicate. In the first experiment, aquarium fish feed (35% protein) was used as the ammonia source at 3 different rates (0.2, 0.4, and 0.6g feed per 500mL of tap water). In the second experiment, clinoptilolite (C) and leonardite (L) mixture (C:L = 1:2) were added to balance excessive ammonia. In the third experiment, duckweed (1.5g/500mL) was added to aquaria (10cm in diameter) in a way to cover the surface area, and the ammonium adsorption of duckweed at low NH4+-N concentrations was determined with 9 measurements. In this study, NH3 values reached their peaks (0.19mg/L) at the end of 1st experiment, in which ammonia values originating from the unconsumed feed were determined. In the 2nd experiment, NH3 values began to decline (0.06mg/L) with the addition of natural adsorbents (zeolite + leonardite) and were decreased to 0.003mg/L with the addition of duckweed in experiment III, where natural adsorbents started to reach saturation. When the data obtained at the end of this study were evaluated, it was determined that all 3 natural materials had a positive effect on water parameters in aquaculture systems. As a result, it was determined that in high concentrations of zeolite + leonardite mixture and in low concentration of duckweed there had been a good removal efficiency.

Physical–Chemical Properties, Droplet Size, and Efficacy of Dicamba Plus Glyphosate Tank Mixture Influenced by Adjuvants

Dicamba plus glyphosate tank mixture have been largely adopted for postemergence weed control after the development of dicamba-tolerant crops. Ammonium sulfate is commonly used as water conditioner (WC) to increase glyphosate efficacy, but its use is restricted for dicamba herbicides. The use of non-AMS water conditioner and other adjuvants could be a way to optimize efficacy of this tank mixture while mitigating herbicide off-target movement. The objective of this study was to determine the physical–chemical properties and droplet size distribution of dicamba and glyphosate solutions with and without non-AMS WC alone and tank mixed with other adjuvants and evaluate the response of weed species to these solutions under greenhouse and field conditions. The adjuvants mostly increased density and viscosity and decreased contact angle and surface tension of herbicide solutions. In presence of WC, except for the adjuvants containing drift reducing agent, Dv0.5 decreased with the addition of adjuvants. Under greenhouse conditions, biomass reduction increased up to 47 and 33 percentage points for velvetleaf and c. waterhemp when adjuvants were added to solutions without WC, respectively. No increase in control of horseweed and Palmer amaranth was observed with the use of adjuvants under field conditions.

Effect of Soil Probiotic on Water Quality and Soil Quality Maintenance and Growth of Freshwater Fish Pangasius hypophthalmus

In recent decades, various procedures have been introduced to improve the conditions of the cultural ponds' conditions in aquaculture. Numerous biological products, including live bacterial inocula, preparation of enzymes, extracts of plant products, and many others, are being promoted to induce water and soil quality conditioners in aquaculture ponds. However, several studies have shown no significant effect of bacterial inoculums, and also the treatment with enzymatic preparation led to an enhancement of microbial mineralization of organic matter, but no effective net production of fish was observed. Probiotics have recently been applied to aquaculture. Probiotics are the live cells or a substrate that induce its benefits by stimulating growth, digestion, and active immune response. Probiotics can also improve water and soil quality. The current study summarizes the role of commercial probiotic ‘Super-PS’ on water quality and soil quality maintenance during the culture of freshwater fish Pangasius hypophthalmus fingerlings.

USE OF NANOCOMPOSITE HYDROGEL WITH N-UREA IN THE PRODUCTION OF EGGPLANT SEEDLINGS

The use of quality seedlings of eggplant is directly related to the success of their production, with polymers added to the substrate, which work as water conditioners, increase the water retention capacity, and provide better seedling quality. The study aimed to evaluate the use of nanocomposite hydrogel enriched with different proportions of N-urea in the production of eggplant seedlings. The experiment was conducted at the State University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Cassilândia, MS, Brazil, from June to August 2019, under sombrite® 30%. Five treatments were evaluated, using the commercial substrate, Carolina Soil®: 1) commercial substrate without hydrogel; 2) commercial substrate with 0.075g of pure hydrogel (0.00g of N-urea)/15 mL of a substrate; 3) commercial substrate with 0.075g of hydrogel and 10% N-urea/15 mL of a substrate; 4) commercial substrate with 0.075g of hydrogel and 20% N-urea/15 mL of a substrate, and 5) commercial substrate with 0.075g of hydrogel and 40% N-urea/15 mL of a substrate. The experiment was conducted with four replications of 25 seedlings. The emergence speed index, percentage of emergence, height, number of leaves, stem diameter, shoot dry matter, root dry matter, and total dry matter were evaluated, as well as the Dickson Quality Index. The data were subjected to analysis of variance (SPEEDSTAT statistical software) and grouping test of means. A regression analysis was performed to adjust equations for some of the variables. The best seedlings can be obtained using the dosage of 28.83% N-urea with 0.075g of hydrogel per 15 ml of the substrate, according to the DQI adjustment, which includes several traits of the seedlings, thus reflecting on its quality.

Effect of a water conditioner on ornamental fish behaviour during commercial transport

Millions of ornamental fishes undergo transport every year during which they experience high levels of stress and prolonged recovery. Studies aiming to refine welfare during transport have generally focused on maintaining water quality to minimise stress, with far less consideration of whether the addition of water conditioners containing herbal extracts to transport water could provide additional stress reduction beyond that obtained by maintaining good water quality. No study has previously tested this on a commercial scale. The aim of this study was to test the effect of Stress Coat®, a commercially-available water conditioner which contains Aloe vera, on fish health and behaviour during commercial transport. First, we tested the effect of the water conditioner on the behaviour of guppies (Poecilia reticulata) post-transport in a simulated transport in the laboratory (bags with Stress Coat®n = 6, control bags: n = 6). In a second experiment, we added water conditioner to the shipment water of variatus platy (Xiphophorus variatus) for regional transport from a UK wholesaler to UK retail stores (< 8 h transport time) (bags with Stress Coat®n = 11, control bags: n = 11). Finally, the water conditioner was added to the shipment water of variatus platy for international transport from a farm in South-East Asia to a UK wholesaler (> 30 h transport) (bags with Stress Coat®n = 16, control bags: n = 16) followed by a second transport by road to local retailers (< 9 h) with no addition of Stress Coat®. Behaviour was monitored following the simulated transport. Water quality, behaviour, mortality and visible injuries of fish post-transport were monitored following both the regional and international transports. The effects of the water conditioner were variable between studies, but overall it reduced levels of erratic swimming and reduced biting behaviours following the simulated and international transport. The water conditioner did not significantly affect water quality, mortality or visible injuries post-transport and mortality was low throughout. Overall, adding Stress Coat® to the transport water of ornamental fishes appears to improve behavioural indicators of welfare, in particular reducing the occurrence of erratic swimming and biting behaviours.

Water softeners add comfort and consume water – comparison of selected centralised and decentralised softening technologies

Abstract Selected technologies for centralised or decentralised drinking water softening were evaluated based on technical, economic, environmental and aesthetic indicators to identify the optimal treatment technology for a given setting. To achieve this, we demonstrated that a number of important indicators beyond hardness reduction and costs have to be included. All the evaluated centralised softening technologies could reduce water hardness to the target of 1.3 mmol/L at the Dutch drinking water treatment plant Beilen. CARIX® treatment and pellet softening with Ca(OH)2 resulted in a lower CCPP90 (0.25–0.30 mmol/L) than nanofiltration (0.30–0.35 mmol/L). Decentralised reverse osmosis had a water consumption of &amp;gt;100%, whereas decentralised cation exchange had a water consumption of 2.5–4.5% which was comparable to centralised pellet softening (3.6%). Except for the electronic water conditioner that does not remove water hardness, the decentralised technologies were 7–10 times more expensive than the centralised technologies per m3 of softened water. The centralised softening technologies furthermore ensured supply of softened water to all customers in a water supply zone. Thus, in areas with hard water and limescale problems, investment in centralised softening at the local water utility is more optimal than widespread implementation of decentralised systems.

Effect of a Drinking Water Conditioner on Stability and Efficacy of Fluralaner in Laying Hens Infested with Poultry Red Mites.

Concurrent use of a colorant during drinking water treatment could contribute to the correct application of fluralaner to poultry. The present studies therefore examined whether the blue-colored drinking water conditioner Vac-Safe has an influence on the stability of fluralaner in water and/or on its efficacy for the control of poultry red mites (PRM). Laboratory trials showed that fluralaner dissolved at various concentrations in water conditioned with Vac-Safe retained full stability for at least 27 hr at temperatures up to 40 C. Further, a field trial demonstrated that the efficacy of fluralaner in eliminating PRM from two infested houses of laying hens was equal when administered through drinking water with or without Vac-Safe. Consistently in both flocks, after treatment PRM could not be detected and sharp increases in laying percentage and produced egg mass were observed. It was concluded that Vac-Safe does not reduce the stability and treatment efficacy of fluralaner when administered simultaneously through drinking water.

The use of feed and water additives for live fish transport

AbstractThe transport of live fish for aquaculture, either for food or as companion animals, presents a major issue for animal welfare. The stressors associated with live transportation are well documented with a focus on maintaining water quality during transport to reduce stress. Far less considered is our ability to enhance health and welfare during transport through the use of dietary and water additives prior to and during transport. With increasing interest in the use of plant essential oils as feed additives in food fish aquaculture and the increased availability of products claiming to alleviate stress in ornamental species, there is a need for scientific investigation into these potential welfare‐promoting methods. Here, we summarise current knowledge on the use of food additives, water conditioners, antibiotics, antimicrobials and probiotics to promote fish health during transport. This review aims to highlight the gaps in our knowledge surrounding promising ways of promoting fish health during transport and to stimulate new research in this area.

Solar Powered Reverse Osmosis Water Purifier and Conditioner Using Peltier Effect

One of the widespread problems facing by the world is unavailability of pure water. Water is a requisite resource, and its supply need to be guaranteed with an inexhaustible power source such as renewable energy. Almost 1.6 billion people have no access to potable water in the world. This paper focused on providing potable water by using solar panels (PV modules). A suitable charge controller of desired voltage (24v here) is used to regulate the voltage coming from panels. Since the solar power is intermittent, a charge controller is needed for continuous supply of desired voltage to run the motor. A DC motor is used to run the RO system without the use of inverter. Later the pure water is circulated through heat sinks at which a heat flux is generated by using a peltier to get hot and cold water simultaneously.

Analysis of economic and environmental benefits of a new heat pump air conditioning system with a heat recovery device

The paper designs a new wind-water cooling and heating water conditioner system, connects cooling tower with heat recovery device, which uses cooling water to completely remove the heat that does not need heat recollection, in order to ensure that the system can work efficiently with higher performance coefficient. After the test actual engineering operation, the system’s maximum cooling coefficient of performance can reach 3.5. Its maximum comprehensive coefficient of performance can reach 6.5. After the analysis of its economic and environmental, we conclude that the new system can save 89822 kw per year. It reflects energy-saving and environmental benefits of the cold and hot water air conditioning system.

Growth and development of Jatropha curcas seedlings using Terracotem soil conditioners under different irrigation levels

Jatropha curcas L., a multipurpose plant originated from Central and South America, is receiving increase interest as a biofuel feedstock. Desirable characteristics such as drought tolerance and the ability to grow in marginal lands with low inputs, triggered the development of several projects around the World, not always successful. In fact, despite this hype, J. curcas remains a new crop for which the agronomic requirements are not yet fully understood. For example water requirements of the crop are subject to debate, and in the initial growth stages a considerable amount of water is necessary. We performed a glasshouse experiment to study the influence of water levels and the use of soil conditioners in the growth and development of J. curcas seedlings in the nursery. Results show a positive influence of water level on most of the growth and development parameters studied. The use of soil conditioners also did contributed to a better plant growth. A combination of moderate supply of water and soil conditioners could allow water saving of about 50% in the nursery.