Effect of Combined Application of Organic Farming Aid (OFA) and Inorganic Fertilizers on the Growth and Yield of Maize and Soil Microbial Properties in the Guinea Savannah Agro-Ecological Zone of Ghana

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of different rates of organic farming aid (OFA) and inorganic fertilizer on the productivity of maize, chemical and microbial properties of soil for higher economic value. Field experiments were conducted during the 2020 and 2021 cropping seasons at the research fields of CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute located at Nyankpala in the Guinea savannah agroecology of Ghana. The study consisted of five treatment combinations: full rate of OFA, full rate of NPK, 1/2 OFA + 1/2 NPK, full OFA + 1/2 NPK and a control (no OFA and no NPK) which were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Analysis of variance indicated significant (P 0.05) treatment and year interaction effect for all the growth parameters except for plant height, leaf area and leaf area index. Apart from hundred seed weight, treatment and year interaction effect for all the yield and yield components was significant (P 0.05). Application of full rate of NPK (90:60:60) resulted in the highest grain yield of 4960 kg·ha-1, however it was statistically similar to those obtained by the combined application of full rate of OFA (250 ml·ha-1) + 1/2 NPK and 1/2 OFA + 1/2 NPK with grain yield of 4856 kg·ha-1 and 4639 kg·ha-1 respectively. There was also a yield advantage of 197. 5%, 191.3%, 178.3 and 79.1% over the control for full NPK rate, full OFA rate + 1/2 NPK rate, 1/2 OFA rate + 1/2 NPK and full OFA rate respectively. Application of full OFA rate + 1/2 NPK enhanced soil basal respiration (evolved CO2) and mineralizable C, implying that, combination of full OFA rate and NPK fertilizer would be necessary to boost soil microbial activity and soil labile nutrient pool (labile C pool). This suggests that combined use of full OFA rate + 1/2 NPK fertilizer can be a better strategic tool for improving soil quality. The highest benefit cost ratios (BCR) of 2.58 and 3.77 were obtained following the application of full OFA rate + 1/2 NPK and 1/2 OFA rate + 1/2 NPK respectively. Hence, it could be concluded that complementary use of OFA and NPK is more profitable than using single inputs (either OFA or NPK). Thus, in promoting technology packages to farmers, development practitioners must carefully consider the complementary of inputs that are cost-effective but economically rewarding.

Study on Extraction of Oolong Tea Assisted by Ultrasonic Wave and 4C Technique and Its Application

[Objectives]The extraction conditions of formula oolong tea were investigated by an orthogonal experiment.[Methods]The technical conditions were optimized by the 4C method,and the application of formula oolong tea extract in cigarettes was studied.[Results]①In the experimental range,the best sensory evaluation effect of formula oolong tea extract was obtained with extraction conditions of 70%ethanol as extraction solvent,extraction time h,extraction temperature 25℃,and ultrasonic frequency 80 kHz,and follow-up low-temperature concentration,low-temperature sedimentation and low-temperature centrifugation.②The effects of different centrifugal speeds on the quality of formula oolong tea extract were explored.The formula oolong tea extract obtained under the conditions of 3000 r/min and centrifugal time of 10 min showed the best evaluation effect with soft and delicate smoke,rich smoke fragrance,good comfort and refreshing mouthfeel.③The effective aroma components in the formula oolong tea extract were qualitatively analyzed by GC-MS.[Conclusions]This study provides high-quality raw materials and a theoretical basis for the research of independent flavor blending in cigarette industry enterprises.

Combined Application of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Black Soil Fertility and Maize Yield

By two years （2007-2008） located fertilizer experiment, the effect of long-term combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers on black soil fertility and crop yield was investigated in Shuangcheng City, Heilongjiang Province. The results showed that the combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers could increase the organinc matter, alkaline nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium. At the same time, the increasing application of organic fertilizer could reduce the soil bulk density and improve the field moisture capacity. Field moisture capacity and organic matter of the combined application of high quantities of organic manure and inorganic fertilizers AtB5 treatment increased the fhstest, organic matter increased by 3.33 g. kg and field moisture capacity increased by 11.25% than the beginning of the experiment. Under the same fertilization, the combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers＇ increasing production range was higher than the single chemical fertilizers＇ which was from 0.8% to 9.4%. The results showed that the combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers could increase the nutrient contents of soil and also was the highest productivity contribution to black soil fertility. It was the best fertilization structure of increasing productivity level and improving the soil fertility.

Treatment of bauxite residue dust pollution by improving structural stability via application of synthetic and natural polymers

The residue drying area(RDA)is the major source of fugitive red sand(RS)dust emissions in the bauxite mining industry and causes serious environmental and safety detriments.Polymer stabilizer(PS)is one of the promising non-traditional stabilizers to mitigate such issues.This research investigated the unconfined compressive strength(UCS)of RS using synthetic polymer stabilizer(SPS)and natural polymer stabilizer(NPS),and to determine the optimum application concentration and mixing ratio of the PAM and Guar gum mixture.Results illustrated that PAM apparently outperform Guar gum in stabilizing sand particles.The mixture of PAM and Guar gum is more effective than individual use.The optimum polymer concentration and the mixing ratio are 0.94 wt.%and 0.6(PAM:total(PAM+Guar gum)),respectively.A rigorous regression model was developed to predict the UCS value based on application concentration and mixing ratio for the purpose of cost and time efficiency.

Standards for Tunnel and Road LED Lighting Application Technologies

The paper summarizes the research on the development of standards for tunnels and roads LED lighiing application in Shanghai. analyzes the existing problems on LED road lamps and lighting design, introduces the experiments and testing results, and summarizes current problems of LED street lighting, proposing that LED lighting energy conservation should he ＂systematic energy saving＂ throughout the full life cycle based on the integration of products and applications.

Renal Toxicity of Nickel,Sodium Lauryl Sulphate and Their Combination after Dermal Application in Guinea Pigs

The guinea pigs were dermally exposed to nickel (Ni), sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and in their combination for 7 and 14 days. The exposure to Ni and SLS produced changes in enzymes and lipid peroxidation in kidney. The exposure to Ni or SLS depicted slight changes while combined exposure to Ni plus SLS exhibited more degenerative changes in kidney. The result of the study suggests that industrial workers and/or populations exposed simultaneously to Ni and SLS produces more damage to kidney.

Growth,yield,yield components,and grain qualities of groundnut(Arachis hypogaea L.)as affected by liming and phosphorus rates in southwest Ethiopia

Two field experiments were conducted in the main seasons of 2021/22 at the farmers'farm in two districts of southwest Ethiopia to investigate the effects of lime and phosphorus on groundnut yield and yield components,employing four levels of lime(0,2,4,and 6 t CaCO_(3)ha^(-1))and phosphorus(0,46,69,and 92 kg P_(2)O_(5)ha^(-1))arranged in factorial RCBD design with three replications.Data on the yield and its components were collected and subjected to an ANOVA using SAS software.The result demonstrated that plant height,number of branches,canopy spread,and shelling percentage were affected significantly by liming while effective nodule number,total peg,matured pod,and pod yield of groundnut significantly influenced by the main factors and their interactions.The combined application of 4 t lime and 46 kg P_(2)O_(5)ha^(-1)resulted in the highest number of effective nodules(147.23 plant^(-1)),total pod(72.6 plant^(-1)),mature pod(62.4 plant^(-1)),pod yield(4.49 t ha^(-1)),oil content(50.6%)and protein content(33.1%)whereas the lowest values of these parameters were seen in plots where neither lime nor phosphorus was applied.Therefore,it is advised that groundnut growers in the study areas,and similar agroecologies,apply the combination of 4 t lime and 46 kg P_(2)O_(5)ha^(-1).

Design method and experiment of machinery for combined application of seed,fertilizer and herbicide

This study aimed to resolve the problems of full wheat straw returning to the field,which might readily cause stalk obstruction,poor sowing quality,and serious weeds at the seedling stage,affecting the growth of maize.Based on the idea of“simultaneous seeding and spraying,closed weeding”,this paper presented a design method for designing a corn seed-fertilizer-herbicide simultaneous operation machine,which focuses on the design of vertical active straw-removing anti-blocking device mechanism,design of nozzle key parameters,nozzle selection,seeding monomer analysis and spatial layout design of seed-fertilizer-herbicide mechanism.In addition,the interrelated formulas were deduced and machine design and field experiment were conducted.The experiment results showed that the average variation coefficient of spray uniformity of machines was 17.70%.The post-experiment weed amount was 8.9%,which was lower than that before sowing,8.5%lower than that before artificially closed weeding,and 14.3%lower than that in unenclosed weeding area.Moreover,the weeds were less in the working area of the machine,and the growth of corn was better.Compared with manual closed weeding,the average plant height uniformity and average stem diameter uniformity increased by 4.4%and 5.1%,respectively.Compared with unclosed weeding,the average plant height uniformity and average stem diameter uniformity increased by 18.3%and 10.8%,respectively.Overall,the rationality of the design method proposed in this paper was validated,and these can lay a foundation for the research and development of the same type of machine.