Effects and Mechanisms of Oil Cakes on the Growth of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Under Continuous Cropping System

Fxperiments on the effect of soil amendment with rape (Brassica chinensis L.) seed cake, cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) seed or sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seed cake on the growth of cucumber seedlings under a continuous cropping system were conducted in a greenhouse environment. The results indicated that two applications of sesame seed cake (0.1 and 0.5 %, w/w) increased the growth of cucumber, but the rape oil cake showed a negative effect at a rate of 1.5% (w/w). The sesame seed cake was separated into four fractions (Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ) according to the polarity, and all four fractions had a positive effect on the growth of cucumbers under a continuous cropping system. Fraction number Ⅲ was isolated into 25 proportions by silicon column, and only oleic acid, palmitic acid and octadecanoic acid were identified in proportion 10 by GC-MS in which 93.3% was oleic acid and palmitic acid. The oleic acid had a significant and positive effect on cucumber growth under salt stress at the level 30 mmol and showed slight resistance to several pathogenic fungi.

Smashing Tissue Extraction and GC Analysis of Active Fatty Acids from Oil Cake of Perilla Seeds

Objective To optimize the extraction technology of perilla seeds oil from the oil cake of perilla seeds(OCPS)by using the contents of active fatty acids as evaluation standard.Methods The fatty acids were extracted from OCPS,the residue of perilla seeds after cold-press,by smashing tissue extraction(STE),the new technology selected through comparing with classical leaching extraction(LE),Soxhlet extraction(SE),ultrasonic extraction(UE),and supercritical-CO2 fluid extraction(SFE).For optimized condition of STE,orthogonal test was designed and completed.The contents of five fatty acids in extracted oil and OCPS were determined by GC.Results The optimized extraction parameters were smashing for 1.5 min under extraction power of 150 W and 1:6 of the material/solvent ratio.The contents of five fatty acids in the oils extracted by five techniques from OCPS and determined by GC were as follows:α-linolenic acid(41.12%-51.81%),linoleic acid(15.38%-16.43%),oleic acid (18.93%-27.28%),stearic acid(2.56%-4.01%),and palmitic acid(7.38%-10.77%).Conclusion The results show that STE is the most efficient technology with the highest yield(LE:0.57%;SE:1.03%;UE:0.61%;SFE:0.80%;STE: 1.17%)and shortest time(LE:720 min;SE:360 min;UE:30 min;SFE:120 min;STE:1.5 min)among five tested extraction technologies.It is first reported using STE to extract herbal oil enriched with active fatty acids.

Applying organic amendment enriches nutrient status of municipal solid waste compost and its application enhances tuber yield and nutrient concentrations of potato

Elevated price of chemical fertilizers and poor nutrient content in conventional organic sources such as municipal solid waste(MSW)compost necessitate the production of nutrient enriched compost which could serve as a potential alternative organic fertilizer option.We studied three types of amended compost that were prepared by mixing 20%mustard oil cake(MOC)and 30%poultry manure(PM)or cow dung or sugarcane press mud(SPM)with 50%MSW compost.Trichoderma viride was inoculated into every type of compost.The rate of amended or unamended MSW compost application was 10 t ha^(−1).The use of different amendments improved the nutrient level of MSW compost,of which the N increment was remarkable,ranging from 1.14%N(unamended compost)to 2.9%–3.22%N depending on the types of amendment.A field experiment was conducted to evaluate performances of the amended MSW composts on the yield and nutrient content of potato(variety BARI Alu25).All compost treatments except the sole MSW compost treatment produced significantly higher tuber yields than the sole fertilizer treatment.The press mud based MSW compost+fertilizer treatment produced the highest tuber yield of 31.6 t ha^(−1)(65%increase over 100%fertilizers and 57%increase over 100%compost treatment).The tuber N concentration varied from 0.128%to 0.594%,P from 0.018%to 0.035%,K from 0.213%to 0.313%and S from 0.020%to 0.053%,with the highest result recorded with press mud+fertilizer treatment.The use of amended composts had residual effects on soil N,P,K and S contents.Thus,the treatment containing 50%fertilizer+50%compost mixture(MSW:MOC:SPM in a ratio of 5:2:3)performed the best followed by PM amended compost.It is concluded that integrated use of 10 t ha^(−1) organic amended MSW compost with chemical fertilizers can ensure higher crop yield,nutrient content and sustained soil fertility in nutrient-deficient sub-tropical soil.