• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.46 no.5
• /
• pp.365-372
• /
• 2013

Crop development and nutrient availability are strongly influenced by soil salinity levels. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of rice straw and nitrogen (N) fertilizer for silage barley under various soil salinity levels at Saemangeum reclaimed tidal land. Three levels of rice straw (0, 2.5, 5.0 ton rice straw $ha^{-1}$) and N (0, 150, 225 kg N $ha^{-1}$) were applied at 0.04, 0.23, 0.35% soil salinity levels. Biomass yield of silage barley was influenced by the interactions between rice straw application and N fertilization. Although there was no single effect of rice straw application on biomass yield, it was significantly increased with N application and a rice straw application of 5.0 ton $ha^{-1}$. Sodium content in silage barley was significantly lower at 0.04% salinity level, and but it was statistically increased with increasing soil salinity levels. Forage qualities such as total digestible nutrients and relative feed value of silage barley were significantly higher with N application at 0.04% salinity level, but there was no effect of rice straw application. Soil organic matter content was increased with N and rice straw application regardless of soil salinity level. The results of this study showed that the effect of rice straw and N fertilization on silage barley was influenced by soil salinity levels, which indicates that the management practice of silage barley at Saemangeum reclaimed tidal land should consider soil salinity levels.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.844-851
• /
• 2010

Controlling the dissolved oxygen (DO) in the fed-batch culture of the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum led to a 2-fold increase of the maximum biomass productivity compared with uncontrolled DO conditions. By contrast, extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) production was two times higher under oxygen limitation (uncontrolled DO) than under increased oxygen availability (controlled DO). Morphologically, dispersed mycelium was predominant under controlled DO conditions, with highly branched hyphae, consistent with the enhanced culture growth noted under these conditions, whereas in the uncontrolled DO process mycelial clumps were the most common morphology throughout the culture. However, in both cultures, clamp connections were found. This is an exciting new finding, which widens the applicability of this basidiomycete in submerged fermentation. In rheological terms, broths demonstrated shear-thinning behavior with a yield stress under both DO conditions. The flow curves were best described by the Herschel-Bulkley model: flow index down to 0.6 and consistency coefficient up to 0.2 and 0.6 Pa $s^n$ in uncontrolled and controlled cultures DO, respectively. The pseudoplastic behavior was entirely due to the fungal biomass, and not to the presence of EPS (rheological analysis of the filtered broth showed Newtonian behavior). It is clear from this study that dissolved oxygen tension is a critical process parameter that distinctly influences G. lucidum morphology and rheology, affecting the overall performance of the process. This study contributes to an improved understanding of the process physiology of submerged fermentation of G. lucidum.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.1-14
• /
• 2014

Timber harvest in natural forests and its implications on carbon sequestration were investigated in the Southwestern Nigeria. Data on timber harvest from forest estates for a 3-year period were collected from the official record of States' Forestry Department. The data registered the species, volume and number of timbers exploited during the study period. The data were analyzed accordingly for rate of timber harvest and carbon value of the exploited timbers using existing biomass functions. Values were compared for significant differences among states using one way analysis of variance. The results showed that the most exploited logs, in terms of volume and number of trees, have the highest amount of carbon removal. There was a variation in type of timber species being exploited from each state. The total number of harvested trees from Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Ekiti and Osun were estimated at 100,205; 111,789; 753; 15,884 and 18,153 respectively. Total quantity of carbon removed for the 3-year period stood at 2.3 million metric tons, and this translated to 8.4 million metric tons of $CO_2$. The annual carbon and $CO_2$ removal therefore were estimated at 760,120.73 tons and 2.8 million tons/ year respectively. There were significant differences (p<0.05) in the amount of $CO_2$ removed from the five states. Based on our result, we inferred that there is increasing pressure on economic tree species and it is plausible that they are becoming scarce from the forests in Southwestern Nigeria.. If the present rate of log removal is not controlled, forests could become carbon source rather than carbon sink and the on biological conservation, wood availability and climate change may turn out grave. For the forest to perform its environmental role as carbon sink, urgent conservation measures and logging policies are needed to be put in place.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
• /
• 2017.06a
• /
• pp.209-209
• /
• 2017

The application of liquid swine manure to soil has been commonly reported to increase crop productivity by improving plant nutrient availability. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of liquid swine manure (LSM) application on yield of green manure crops in paddy. Three different application rates of LSM equivalent to 25%, 50%, and 75% of standard fertilization rate of P were applied to the paddy field after rice harvest, and two cover crops, hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), were subsequently mix-seeded and cultivated. Plant height of barley was 7% higher in LSM P25% and LSM P50% compared to control treatment (no LSM application), while no significant difference was observed between LSM P75% and control. However, there were no significant differences in plant height of hairy vetch among treatments. Dry matter (DM) yield of green manure increased with LSM application rate, reaching a maximum at LSM P50% (38 and 17% yield increase over control for hairy vetch and barley, respectively), but it decreased at LSM P75% rate. Nitrogen production by green manure crops was the highest in LSM P50% treatment, where the amount of produced N was 57% higher than the optimum N fertilization level for rice ($90kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$). Excess green manure biomass above an optimum level can be removed and utilized either for incorporation into nearby cropland or for sale as fresh forage. Therefore, it is concluded that the application rate of LSM P50% is recommendable for the maximum biomass and nitrogen production from green manure crops in paddy.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.98 no.6
• /
• pp.799-805
• /
• 2009

To construct the production system of forest biomass as a small scale heating energy source, energy availability of wood-chip was examined by cost and energy balance analysis in the production process. The costs to produce wood-chip of 1 kg was calculated by yarding machines and their operational gradient conditions. As a result, 195.45~210.54 won/kg were required as production costs of wood-chip. Input energy rate (%) which is output to input energy in wood-chip production process were showed as 26.58~27.38%. Energy input rate by operational gradient was not significantly difference, and scenario B with tower yarder system appeared by more efficient than scenario A with tractor yarding system in opposition to production costs analysis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.459-463
• /
• 2015

This study evaluated the microbial conversion of coconut oil waste, a major agro-residue in tropical countries, into single cell oil (SCO) feedstock for biodiesel production. Copra cake was used as a low-cost renewable substrate without any prior chemical or enzymatic pretreatment for submerged growth of an oleaginous tropical mangrove fungus, Aspergillus terreus IBB M1. The SCO extracted from fermented biomass was converted into fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) by transesterification and evaluated on the basis of fatty acid profiles and key fuel properties for biodiesel. The fungus produced a biomass (8.2 g/l) yielding 257 mg/g copra cake SCO with ~98% FAMEs. The FAMEs were mainly composed of saturated methyl esters (61.2%) of medium-chain fatty acids (C12-C18) with methyl oleate (C18:1; 16.57%) and methyl linoleate (C18:2; 19.97%) making up the unsaturated content. A higher content of both saturated FAMEs and methyl oleate along with the absence of polyunsaturated FAMEs with ≥4 double bonds is expected to impart good fuel quality. This was evident from the predicted and experimentally determined key fuel properties of FAMEs (density, kinematic viscosity, iodine value, acid number, cetane number), which were in accordance with the international (ASTM D6751, EN 14214) and national (IS 15607) biodiesel standards, suggesting their suitability as a biodiesel fuel. The low cost, renewable nature, and easy availability of copra cake, its conversion into SCO without any thermochemical pretreatment, and pelleted fungal growth facilitating easier downstream processing by simple filtration make this process cost effective and environmentally favorable.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.49 no.2
• /
• pp.357-366
• /
• 2022

Biochar can be obtained by using various types of biomass under an oxygen-limited condition. Biochar can be utilized for various applications such as soil improvement, waste management, growth promotion, and adsorption. Wood vinegar is produced by the process of pyrolysis wood biomass and is used as a growth promoter, for soil improvement, and as a feed additive. When wood vinegar is treated on soil, it acts to control soil pH, improve nutrient availability, and alleviate N₂O and NH₃ volatilization. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of biochar and wood vinegar on the growth of perilla and soil quality. The experiment was conducted by using a Wagner pot (1·5,000 a^-1) in a glass greenhouse. The biochar was produced by pyrolysis at 450℃ for 30 minutes using rice husk and rice straw. Wood vinegar was diluted to 1 : 500 (v·v^-1) and used in this experiement. In the results of a cultivation experiment, co-application of biochar and wood vinegar enhanced the growth of perilla. In particular, rice husk biochar affected the leaves of the perilla, and rice straw biochar influenced the stems of the perilla. In addition, soil quality after treatment with biochar and wood vinegar applied together was highest compared to other units. Therefore, it is anticipated that co-application of biochar and wood vinegar will be more productive and improve soil quality compared to individual utilization of biochar and wood vinegar.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.32 no.5
• /
• pp.637-647
• /
• 2019

Objective: The study aimed at quantifying seasonal and spatial variations in availability and nutritive value of herbaceous vegetation on native pastures and supplement feedstuffs for domestic ruminants in Western Kenya. Methods: Samples of herbaceous pasture vegetation (n = 75) and local supplement feedstuffs (n = 46) for cattle, sheep, and goats were collected in 20 villages of three geographic zones (Highlands, Mid-slopes, Lowlands) in Lower Nyando, Western Kenya, over four seasons of one year. Concentrations of dry matter (DM), crude ash (CA), ether extract (EE), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), gross energy (GE), and minerals were determined. Apparent total tract organic matter digestibility (dOM) was estimated from in vitro gas production and proximate nutrient concentrations or chemical composition alone using published prediction equations. Results: Nutrient, energy, and mineral concentrations were 52 to 168 g CA, 367 to 741 g NDF, 32 to 140 g CP, 6 to 45 g EE, 14.5 to 18.8 MJ GE, 7.0 to 54.2 g potassium, 0.01 to 0.47 g sodium, 136 to 1825 mg iron, and 0.07 to 0.52 mg selenium/kg DM. The dOM was 416 to 650 g/kg organic matter but differed depending on the estimation method. Nutritive value of pasture herbage was superior to most supplement feedstuffs, but its value strongly declined in the driest season. Biomass yields and concentrations of CP and potassium in pasture herbage were highest in the Highlands amongst the three zones. Conclusion: Availability and nutritive value of pasture herbage and supplement feedstuffs greatly vary between seasons and geographical zones, suggesting need for season- and region-specific feeding strategies. Local supplement feedstuffs partly compensate for nutritional deficiencies. However, equations to accurately predict dOM and improved knowledge on nutritional characteristics of tropical ruminant feedstuffs are needed to enhance livestock production in this and similar environments.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.36-44
• /
• 2024

This study attempted to improve the growth of the freshwater microalgae, Parachlorella kessleri, through the sequential optimization of culture conditions. This attempt aimed to enhance the microalgae's ability to fixate atmospheric CO₂. Culture temperature and light intensity appropriate for microalgal growth were scanned using a high-throughput photobioreactor system. The supplied air flow rate varied from 0.05 to 0.3 vvm, and its effect on the growth rate of P. kessleri was determined. Next, sodium phosphate buffer was added to the culture medium (BG11) to enhance CO₂ fixation by increasing the availability of CO₂(HCO₃^-) in the culture medium. The results indicated that optimal culture temperature and light intensity were 20℃-25℃ and 300 μE/m²/s, respectively. Growth rates of P. kessleri under various air flow rates highly depended on the increase of the culture's flow rate and pH which determines CO₂ availability. Adding sodium phosphate buffer to BG11 to maintain a constant neutral pH (7.0) improved microalgal growth compared to control conditions (BG11 without sodium phosphate). These results indicate that the CO₂ fixation rate in the air could be enhanced via the sequential optimization of microalgal culture conditions.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.143-147
• /
• 2008

This study estimated the mound litter biomass and the nutrient content of mound litter in the two study plots in Durokoppin Nature Reserve, Western Australia between 2004 and 2005. There were no significant differences in biomass of litter in individual mounds between the two study plots. Seven components of litter were found in the mounds. The nutrient concentrations were higher in the woodland than in the shrubland plot, although the differences were not statistically tested, and the total amount of each nutrient measured was generally greater in the woodland than in the shrubland plot. The aforementioned results show that D. tamminensis harvests various plant material according to biomass availability. The role of this termite takes on particular importance in view of the fact that Western Australian soils are notoriously impoverished in nutrients.