Assessment of Soil Quality Indicators for Sugarcane Yield on Vertisols: A Study from North Coast of Villa Clara Province, Cuba | Chapter 1 | Agricultural Sciences: Techniques and Innovations Vol. 5

 Maintaining or improving soil quality is crucial for agricultural productivity. Despite being widely used for sugarcane cultivation, Vertisols on the north coast of Villa Clara Province, Cuba, present significant limitations due to poor physical properties such as extreme plasticity. The study aims to evaluate soil quality in Vertisols under tropical conditions by applying different soil treatments and employing multivariate analyses, with the objective of identifying key soil quality indicators relevant to sugarcane production in the North Coast of Cuba. For the selection of soil quality indicators, four field experiments were conducted using organic fertilisers (sugarcane filter cake, compost) and natural minerals (dolomite, zeolite). Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) was used in all experiments. Soil properties were determined, such as the amount of water-stable aggregates, permeability, plastic limit, pH in water, pH in KCl, organic matter, P2O5 and K2O. The sugarcane yield components, such as cane yield (t ha-1) and sucrose yield (t ha-1), were evaluated. Principal components analysis (PCA) and simple regression analysis were also performed. For statistical processing, the package SPSS ver 13.0 and STATGRAPHICS 5.1 on Windows XP were used. Both organic matter and soil structure (water-stable aggregates, permeability) were closely related to cane yield, with r values of 0.70 to 0.96. PCA of the impact of different levels of sugarcane filter cake on soil properties and cane yield resulted in three components, representing 93.8% of the total variance. In this experiment, the correlation matrix with the application of levels of dolomite and their combinations with organic fertilisers shows that physical properties have over 80% significant correlations with other variables evaluated. Zeolite, especially when combined with organic amendments, significantly improved soil structure and aggregation, making it a reliable soil quality indicator treatment for Vertisols under sugarcane. The properties with the best responses to treatments over time were permeability, water-stable aggregates, structure factor, and organic matter; therefore, they can be considered as soil quality indicators for the studied Vertisols.

 

 

Author(s) Details

Pedro Cairo Cairo
Universidad de Atacama, Centro Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Sustentable de Atacama (CRIDESAT), Copiapó-1532000, Chile.

 

Bladimir Diaz Martin
Universidad de Atacama, Centro Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Sustentable de Atacama (CRIDESAT), Copiapó-1532000, Chile.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/asti/v5/6375

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficiency of Bipyrimidines Using Zeolite as a Green Catalyst in Biphasic System | Chapter 4 | Recent Developments in Chemistry and Biochemistry Research Vol. 3

 

In the present study, we have designed and synthesized a new series of bipyrimidines by simple condensation and screened them for their in vitro antimicrobial activities. Current research has depicted the efforts towards the utilization of biphasic reaction systems in the synthesis of a variety of heterocycles. This shows the remarkable importance of the monophasic solvent system. A simple, green and efficient catalytic condensation process has been developed to synthesize the series of 2-amino-6-substituted- 4,6-diphenyl-3',4,4',5-tetrahydro[4,5'-bipyrimidine]-2'(1H)-one (3a- j) hybrids. The catalytic route was investigated efficiently in the presence of NaY zeolite in an organic-aqueous (dichloromethane-water) solvent system. In this method, biphasic solvent systems were explored for suitable applicability where catalyst exhibits remarkable reactivity. The synthesized scaffolds of bipyrimidines were studied as anti-microbial agents. The investigation of antimicrobial screening data revealed that among 10 compounds screened, compounds 3d, 3e, 3f and 3i demonstrated very good activity as compared to standard drugs and the remaining compounds showed good to moderate inhibition activities.

 

Synthesized compounds were screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and Pseudomonas aurigenosa and also antifungal activity against the opportunistic pathogens Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger.

 

 

Author(s) Details

Manisha S. Aswale

Department of Chemistry, Centre for Higher Learning and Research, Sardar Patel Mahavidyalaya, Ganjward, Chandrapur-442402, India.

Raksha P. Dhankar

Department of Chemistry, Centre for Higher Learning and Research, Sardar Patel Mahavidyalaya, Ganjward, Chandrapur-442402, India.

 

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/rdcbr/v3/8227E

Affordable Oxygen Concentrator with PSA Technology | Chapter 9 | Engineering Research: Perspectives on Recent Advances Vol. 1

Atmospheric air typically consists of a mixture of gases, including nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), and trace amounts of other gases such as carbon dioxide (0.03%) and hydrogen. An oxygen concentrator is a device designed to extract and concentrate oxygen from ambient air by selectively removing nitrogen through a process known as Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA). PSA technology is commonly used in oxygen concentrators, as it efficiently separates oxygen from the air using two adsorbent materials, typically zeolite. This process makes PSA-based concentrators more reliable and energy-efficient for delivering oxygen at medical-grade purity.

PSA works by exploiting the molecular properties and affinity of gases for a zeolite (such as Natrolite) under varying pressure conditions to separate oxygen from the air. The oxygen concentrator utilizing this PSA technology is both cost-effective and efficient. Experimental results show that the system can produce oxygen with a purity of approximately 94.7% at flow rates of 0.5-3 L/min. This meets the needs of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), who require oxygen with a purity of at least 90% at similar flow rates.

When compared to commercially available oxygen concentrators, the proposed system stands out for being highly cost-effective, lighter in weight, and producing less noise. Additionally, it demonstrates long-term efficiency with high oxygen purity. These features make it an ideal solution for individuals who cannot afford expensive oxygen concentrators available on the market.

 

Author (s) Details

 

J. Sofia Bobby
Department of BME, Jerusalem College of Engineering, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

 

Bharath S
Department of BME, Jerusalem College of Engineering, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

 

Madhankumar C
Department of BME, Jerusalem College of Engineering, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

 

Sudharsanam K
Department of BME, Jerusalem College of Engineering, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

 

Ummathullah U
Department of BME, Jerusalem College of Engineering, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/erpra/v1/3772

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficiency of Bipyrimidines Using Zeolite as a Green Catalyst in Biphasic System | Chapter 4 | Recent Developments in Chemistry and Biochemistry Research Vol. 3

In the present study, we have designed and synthesized a new series of bipyrimidines by simple condensation and screened them for their in vitro antimicrobial activities. Current research has depicted the efforts towards the utilization of biphasic reaction systems in the synthesis of a variety of heterocycles. This shows the remarkable importance of the monophasic solvent system. A simple, green and efficient catalytic condensation process has been developed to synthesize the series of 2-amino-6-substituted- 4,6-diphenyl-3’,4,4’,5-tetrahydro[4,5’-bipyrimidine]-2’(1H)-one (3a- j) hybrids. The catalytic route was investigated efficiently in the presence of NaY zeolite in an organic-aqueous (dichloromethane-water) solvent system. In this method, biphasic solvent systems were explored for suitable applicability where catalyst exhibits remarkable reactivity. The synthesized scaffolds of bipyrimidines were studied as anti-microbial agents. The investigation of antimicrobial screening data revealed that among 10 compounds screened, compounds 3d, 3e, 3f and 3i demonstrated very good activity as compared to standard drugs and the remaining compounds showed good to moderate inhibition activities.

Synthesized compounds were screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and Pseudomonas aurigenosa and also antifungal activity against the opportunistic pathogens Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger.

Author(s) Details:

Manisha S. Aswale,
Department of Chemistry, Centre for Higher Learning and Research, Sardar Patel Mahavidyalaya, Ganjward, Chandrapur-442402, India.

Raksha P. Dhankar
Department of Chemistry, Centre for Higher Learning and Research, Sardar Patel Mahavidyalaya, Ganjward, Chandrapur-442402, India.


Please see the link here: https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/rdcbr/v3/8227E

Study on the Effects of Zeolite and Organic Fertilizers on Soil Quality and Crop Yield | Chapter 2 | Current Topics in Agricultural Sciences Vol. 8

The usage of natural zeolite can help to raise the calibre of the soil. This research was done to determine how zeolite and organic fertilisers interact to affect soil quality and crop output. The effects of using natural zeolite and combining it with organic matter in two degraded soils are examined in this chapter. Their locations and edaphoclimatic conditions are given below. Soil I. The experimental station of sugarcane "Jesus Menendez" is located at 22081'19" N latitude and 800 03'74" W longitudes, in the municipality of Sagua La Grande, which lies in the northern shore of Villa Clara province. The soil being investigated was vertisols (Soil Survey Staff, 1999). Vertisols are fairly clay-like yet become plastic when exposed to a lot of water. According to Köppen, the area climate is classified as Aw. The research area's average annual rainfall is 1150 mm, and its average annual temperature is 25°C. sand II. The research was done in Chile's Copiapo Province, which is in the Atacama Desert and is situated at 27031'46" south and 70016'00" west. According to the Köppen-Geiger classification, the area's climate is categorised as "cold desert" (BWk) (Peel, Finlayson, and McMahon 2007). With an average temperature of 16.1°C and 74 percent relative humidity, the mean annual precipitation is 18 mm. The agroecosystems in this region, which are located at an elevation of 1300 m asl and consist of newly farmed salty and non-salty-sodic soils, are severely deteriorated. The soils fall within the category of Typic Haplocambids. Haplic Solonchaks-Haplic Solonetz, FAO UNESCO; Haplic Solonchaks-Haplic Solonetz, WRB; Haplocambids - Sodic Xeric Haplocambids (Aridisols), Soil Taxonomy The treatment Z 7.5 t ha-1 + SFC 22.5 t ha-1, which represents a relative increase of 200 percent vs. control without fertiliser in the Soil I, produced the highest effects on cane production. The positive effects of zeolite treatment on soil quality and sugarcane yield are supported by relationships between soil characteristics and principal component analysis. II In the Soil In just three years, the alfalfa/organic matter/zeolite combinations caused the soil to go from mildly sodic (ESP = 14.62 percent) to non-sodic (ESP = 5.32 percent). Under semi-controlled circumstances, 8t ha-1 zeolite + 4t ha-1 compost produced the greatest plant growth responses. The saline and sodic soils under investigation undergo mineralogical alterations as a result of the integrated application of agroecological management that takes into account organic fertilisers, natural minerals, and alfalfa. This causes the release of nutrients that can be assimilated as well as a drop in pH and ESP.

Author(s) Details:

Pedro Cairo Cairo,
Universidad de Atacama, Centro Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Sustentable (CRIDESAT), Copiapó-1532000, Chile.

Bladimir Diaz Martin,
Universidad de Atacama, Centro Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Sustentable (CRIDESAT), Copiapó-1532000, Chile.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/CTAS-V8/article/view/7251