Comparison of nutrient use efficiency,antioxidant assay,and nutritional quality of butter-head lettuce(Lactuca sativa L.)in five cultivation systems

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the comparison of nutrient use efficiency,antioxidant assay,and nutritional quality of butter-head lettuce in five cultivation systems.For this experimental study,a split-boxes experimental arrangement in a completely randomized design(CRD)with three aeroponics systems(high pressure(T1),low pressure(T2),and ultrasonic nozzle(T3)),hydroponic system(T4),and conventional cultivation system(T5)was designed.The analyses of variance(ANOVA)were employed to assess yield,chlorophyll content,relative water content(RWC),nutrient use efficiency(NUE),2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DDPH),Hydrogen Peroxide(H2O2),Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power(FRAP),total phenolic(TPC),flavonoid content(TFC)and nutritional quality of butter-head lettuce.The experimental comparative results indicated that the shoot and root(fresh and dry)weight,root-to-shoot ratio,chlorophyll contents,CWC,NUE,DDPH,H 2O 2,FRAP,TPC,TFC,nitrate,vitamin C,and protein level were significantly(p<0.05)higher in T 2 treatment,and the values were significantly(p<0.05)lower in T 1 followed by T 5 treatment.Moreover,as mentioned earlier,the median values of the above-mentioned parameters were measured in aeroponics systems with low-pressure nozzle(T 3).It also found a strong positive correlation(r>0.7)among the Shoot(FW),Chlorophyll,RWC,NUE,and among TPC,TFC,DDPH,H 2O 2,and FRAP.This study demonstrates that butter-head lettuce grown in aeroponics systems with high-pressure nozzles may serve as a potential dietary source and is rich in natural antioxidants.

Effects of different irrigation frequencies and incorporation of rice straw on yield and water productivity of wheat crop

The current rapid increase in irrigation water consumption is considered unsustainable and threatens the world food production.Therefore,it is mandatory to promote modern techniques and to manage existing conventional irrigation methods.The present study was attempted to determine the effects of different irrigation frequencies and rice straw incorporation rates on yield and water productivity of the wheat crop.The experiment was arranged with randomize complete block design involving nine treatments(RS 0 I 7,RS 0 I 15,RS 0 I 22,RS 1 I 7,RS 1 I 15,RS 1 I 22,RS 2 I 7,RS 2 I 15 and RS 2 I 22)under three replications.Results exposed that the incorporation of rice straw with different irrigation frequencies significantly improved physico-chemical properties of soil.Moreover,soil bulk density,infiltration rate,pH,electrical conductivity significantly decreased and soil porosity significantly increased under all treatments.Furthermore,maximum crop yield and crop water productivity of 7706.4 kg/hm 2 and 1.92 kg/m 3 respectively were found under RS 1 I 15 treatment.Based on experimental results it can be concluded that irrigation frequency and incorporation of rice straw had significant effects on the physico-chemical properties of soil,total grain yield and water productivity of the wheat crop.However,this study suggested that the wheat crop yield and water productivity could be increased by incorporating 1 t/hm 2 rice straw with 15 d of irrigation frequency.

Influences of moisture content and compressive loading speed on the mechanical properties of maize grain orientations

Determination of the mechanical properties(rupture force,deformation,hardness,and toughness)of maize grain could be a significant concern for designing the harvester,thresher,and handling,processing,and storage equipment.Thus,the present research was conducted to assess the vertical and lateral rupture force,deformation,hardness,and toughness of maize grain(Beijing Denong,Lianchuang,Suyu 20,Liyu 88 and Suyu 29)influenced by different moisture contents(11.2%,17.5%,and 21.3%)and compressive loading speeds(5,10,15,20,and 25 mm/min,respectively).Besides,the mean length,width,thickness,geometric mean diameter,equivalent diameter,arithmetic diameter,sphericity,grain volume,surface area,and aspect ratio of the selected varieties were measured.The results showed that the highest length,width,thickness and sphericity,grain volume,surface area,and aspect ratio were obtained at moisture of 21.3%,whereas the lowest was at 11.2%.Moreover,it was observed that as increasing the loading speed from 5 to 25 mm/min,the vertical and lateral rupture forces decreased.However,as increasing moisture contents from 11.2%to 21.3%,the vertical and lateral rupture forces,hardness,and toughness decreased noticeably.Furthermore,the maximum correlation(R2=0.9957)between rupture force and loading speed was found for Liyu 88 at moisture of 17.5%and minimum correlation(R2=0.7002)was found for Suyu 29 at moisture of 11.2%.Moreover,the highest lateral and vertical rupture force was noticed(p<0.05)at a loading speed of 5 mm/min.Based on the experimentally obtained results,it was concluded that the properties of maize grain evaluated were relevant to the design of planter,harvesters,thrashers,and processing machine.

Effects of soil mechanical properties on the height and tractive performance of rubber grouser at different moisture contents

Rubber tracked vehicles are commonly used on agricultural machinery that perform agricultural operations such as rice harvesting in soft paddy fields with low bearing capacity.Research was carried out to assess the influence of soil moisture content and mechanical properties on the tractive performance of a rubber grouser with three heights(45 mm,55 mm,60 mm).The direct shear test and penetration test were used in this study,which was based on a semi-empirical approach of determining tractive parameters.Direct shear tests were used to measure soil shear strength parameters such as cohesion,adhesion,internal and exterior friction angles.The results of the penetration test were used to determine tractive parameters such as soil thrust,running resistance,and traction,for the penetration test,a device was designed and developed.The experimental results revealed that soil cohesion and adhesion increased linearly with increasing soil moisture content,however adhesion dropped after 30.7%.Similarly,the soil thrust initially increased till 21.5%then decreased.Furthermore,running resistance had a decreasing trend over soil moisture content whereas maximum traction achieved for 45 mm grouser height at 21.5%moisture content.It was concluded that a rubber grouser with 45 mm height had better traction rather than 55 mm and 60 mm,it can be suitably used for designing a track system for a crawler vehicle(e.g.,harvester)leading to its greater adoption among the farmers.