Investigating the Effects of Organic Liquid Fertilizer Derived from Vegetable Waste on Moisture Retention, Soil Physical Properties and Yield of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) Grown in the Malkerns Area, the Kingdom of Eswatini | Chapter 7 | Current Research Progress in Agricultural Sciences Vol. 7

Modern agriculture is experiencing the adverse effects of synthetic fertilizers, as their long-term use has raised significant environmental concerns. These fertilizers can degrade soil quality, disrupt ecosystems, and harm plants, animals, and the environment, particularly when misapplied or used in excessive quantities. Organic fertilizers can serve as an alternative to synthetic fertilizers, as they play a crucial role in promoting the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the soil. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of organic food waste on the condition of soil and the yield of vegetables. The experiment was a randomized block design with N:P:K at a ratio of 2:3:2(37) inorganic fertilizer, organic fertilizer (vegetable food waste), and no fertilizer as the three treatments using no fertilizer as a control. There were three replications per treatment. The vegetable food waste was processed in a closed container along with the addition of stillage and sugar in anaerobic conditions for 3 weeks. Parameters measured included the soil moisture content at 4 weeks and 6 weeks after planting, the soil porosity, the lettuce's fresh and oven-dry mass, and the changes in soil nutrient content before and after the application of the treatments. The vegetable food waste liquid fertilizer was analysed and the NPK values were found to be 0.83 %, 16.5 mg/kg, and 20.62 cmol/kg, respectively. After the application of treatments in the soil, the results of the study showed that vegetable waste had the highest yield per head (355.5 g) followed by synthetic fertilizer and no fertilizer treatment (control) with 283.2 g, and 253.1 g, respectively. Similarly, vegetable food waste had a higher moisture holding capacity of 0.237 cm³/cm³ while synthetic fertilizer and the control both were 0.139 cm³/cm³. The results obtained from the study showed that liquid vegetable food waste fertilizer can be used as an alternative to synthetic fertilizer to increase crop yield and improve soil physical properties while reducing the negative impact of synthetic fertilizers on the environment as well as the environmental effect of disposing of vegetable food waste in landfills. In this study, the nutrient value of ordinary vegetable food waste is converted into a highly useful product as liquid fertilizer. This technique can empower and is expected to reduce the burden on the farmers, economically wise.

 

Author (s) Details

 

Dlamini M V
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Eswatini, Private Bag, Luyengo, Eswatini.

 

Mukabwe W O
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Eswatini, Private Bag, Luyengo, Eswatini.

 

Sibandze N N
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Eswatini, Private Bag, Luyengo, Eswatini

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/crpas/v7/3418

Investigation of Total Phenolic and Flavonoid contents of Lettuce Grown in Katsina State, Nigeria | Chapter 8 | Research Advances and Challenges in Agricultural Sciences Vol. 3

While it is clear that dietetic choices and habits are contributing to the health state of individuals, mounting evidence suggests that biomolecular contents of foods vary in line with the nutritional milieu. Even when it is hard to distinguish the causal factors of this variation, Lettuces remain a perfect example of complementary food of the first order given the wide array of their nutritional constituents and having provided countless essential nutrients to the paradigms of nutrition and medicine. Various concentrations of Flavonoids or Total polyphenols in lettuce contribute to preventive strategies of several health conditions.

The aim of this study is to investigate Total Polyphenol and Flavonoids content of lettuce grown in Katsina state, North-west Nigeria and their potential beneficial role in consumers’ health. Samples of Lettuces collected from different farms in six different Local Governments Areas (LGA) of Katsina State, North-west Nigeria and prepared in Dutsinma city, are analyzed using selected techniques, independent of variations in the sample matrix. The separation of each targeted compound in this study involves the use of well known and previously tested methods.

Total polyphenols and Flavonoids content are determined from quercetin and gallic acid standard curves.

Statistical analysis demonstrates the association between the antioxidant activity and amount of Total Phenolic or Flavonoids content with specifiable correlation coefficient.

Overall, this study makes clear that substituting synthetic antioxidants with natural identical compounds sourced from locally available Lettuces provides greater health and economic benefits, given that they are less toxic, easily affordable and more tolerated by consumers.

Author(s) Details:

Gnimintakpa Joseph,
Stellar Data and IT Consulting LLC, Data Science, Analytics Training Institute, Hyattsville, Maryland, USA.

Umar Sabiu,
Federal University Dutsinma, Katsina State, Nigeria.

Muhammad Sani,
Institute of Mathematical Research, University Putra, Serdan, Malaysia.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/RACAS-V3/article/view/13270

Parasitic Contamination of Lettuce, Tomato and Cucumber from Vegetable Farms in Mali| Chapter 6 | Current Topics in Agricultural Sciences Vol. 7

The goal of this study was to identify parasite contaminants in lettuce, tomato, and cucumber from some Mali vegetable producing areas in order to estimate the health risk associated with their use. Fresh veggies are an important part of a healthy diet. They have the potential to spread intestinal parasites if consumed raw. On thirty-two lettuce, tomato, and cucumber samples from irrigated vegetable fields in Bamako, Kati, Baguineda, Samanko, Sikasso, and Niono, the frequency and diversity of parasite eggs were studied. The parasite burden was determined by counting parasite eggs and cysts in 100 g of vegetable. Overall, 20.83 percent of vegetables were parasite-infested, with lettuce accounting for 41.66 percent and tomato accounting for 16.66 percent. There were no parasite eggs on the cucumber. Entamoeba coli and Trichomonas intestinalis (both 24.19 percent) were found on the vegetables, as well as Ascaris lumbricoides (13.25 percent), Giardia intestinalis (12.9 percent), Balantidium coli (11.29 percent), Entamoeba histolitica (7.26 percent), Fasciola hepatica (3.23 percent), Trichinella spiralis (1.61 percent), Ancylostoma duoden (1.04 percent each). Parasites on lettuce were discovered in 83.33 percent of cases in Bamako and Niono, 50.00 percent in Kati, 16.66 percent in Baguineda and Samanko, and 0.00 percent in Sikasso. Customers are putting their health at danger by eating parasite-infested veggies. Some agronomic procedures used by Mali's vegetable producers might be a source of parasite contamination, putting farmers' and customers' health at risk. Undecomposed manure, open defecation on farms, drain run-off, polluted soil and irrigation water, and overhead irrigation are all possible causes of contamination in lettuce, tomato, and cucumber farms. Scientific quantitative data was required to track the process by which parasites reach irrigated crops and to identify crucial spots where health risk reduction strategies might be implemented.

Author(s) Details:

Sanata Traore,
Faculty of Sciences and Techniques; University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali, P. O. Box E 3206, Bamako, Mali.

Fasse Samake,
Faculty of Sciences and Techniques; University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali, P. O. Box E 3206, Bamako, Mali and Institute of Applied Sciences; University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali, P. O. Box E 3206, Bamako, Mali.

Mamadou Weleba Bagayoko,
Faculty of Sciences and Techniques; University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali, P. O. Box E 3206, Bamako, Mali.

Amadou Hamadoun Babana,
Faculty of Sciences and Techniques; University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali, P. O. Box E 3206, Bamako, Mali.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/CTAS-V7/article/view/6782 

A Detailed Study on the Effects of Regulated Deficit Irrigation on the Growth and Yield of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) Grown in the Malkerns Area, a Region in the Kingdom of Eswatini (Southern Africa) | Chapter 1 | Cutting-edge Research in Agricultural Sciences Vol. 7

 In many parts of the world, including Eswatini, water is rapidly becoming an economically scarce resource, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. Deficit irrigation (DI) is a widely used technique for optimising and/or increasing water usage while lowering costs by allowing crops to withstand mild water stress with no or minor yield and quality trait reductions. A field plot experiment at the University of Eswatini's Faculty of Agriculture's Luyengo Campus was used to test the response of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) to deficit irrigation. A randomised block template was used to lay out the treatments. There were four treatments in all, each of which was repeated three times. Treatment 1 (T1) received daily irrigation, treatment 2 (T2) received irrigation after two days, treatment 3 (T3) received irrigation after three days, and treatment 4 (T4) received irrigation after four days. In each procedure, a total of 30 lettuce plants were planted. The lettuce was cultivated for four weeks before being harvested in its entirety. The number of leaves, plant height (cm), leaf area index (LAI), and fresh and dry head mass were all calculated as yield parameters (grams). Fresh and dry lettuce head mass showed significant differences (P 0.01) between treatments T3 and T4. Treatment T3 had the highest water usage efficiency and crop water productivity. Under the conditions of the experiment, it was determined that irrigating lettuce every three days was the best choice for the region. Irrigating every four or more days, on the other hand, will result in slightly lower yields than predicted, potentially resulting in a loss to the farmer.

Author (s) Details

Dr. M. V. Dlamini
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Eswatini, Private Bag, Luyengo, Eswatini.

S. Zwane
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Eswatini, Private Bag, Luyengo, Eswatini.

View Book :- https://stm.bookpi.org/CRAS-V7/article/view/596

Reducing Heavy Metals Uptake by Lettuce from Contaminated Soils Using Organic and Inorganic Amendments | Chapter 3 | Cutting-edge Research in Agricultural Sciences Vol. 4

 A major environmental issue is heavy metal contamination in the soil and water. The accumulation of heavy metals in soil, water and plant biomass has been extensively documented in Vietnam. Growing crops in polluted areas can inhibit tissue growth and accumulation of heavy metals, resulting in potential risks to human health. In this paper, both in pots and field experiments, the effect of heavy metal contamination on plant growth and the accumulation of Cu, Pb and Zn in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) were evaluated. The accumulation of heavy metals in the roots and leaves of lettuce makes a big difference. The heavy metal content in the roots is much higher, typically 1.5 to 2 times higher, than that accumulated in the leaves. Lettuce plants often have a higher cumulative heavy metal coefficient from soil to roots than that from roots to leaves. The highest cumulative coefficient is always Zn, followed by Cu and Pb. Good results have also been demonstrated by the use of organic and inorganic modifications such as phosphate fertiliser, lime, and sawdust to reduce heavy metal absorption in lettuce plants. The tendency of the lettuce plant to accumulate more Zn than Cu and Pb. More effects were found in all experiments with phosphate fertiliser, lime and sawdust added to reduce the accumulation of Cu, Pb and Zn in lettuce. However, in order to reduce Cu, Pb and Zn absorption by lettuce, particularly for Cu and Pb, the application of lime and phosphate fertiliser is more effective than sawdust.

Author (s) Details

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Cu
VNU-University of Science, Vietnam National University-Hanoi,334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Vietnam.

View Book :- https://bp.bookpi.org/index.php/bpi/catalog/book/344