Consortia of 4 bacterial and 4 fungal hydrocarbon-utilizing isolates was analyzed in remediation of water
based oil fields. Bio-augmentation experiments (in situ) were tested in 16 triplicates (excluding the control). The results (after two months of bioremediation) showed that; A consortium of isolates of Pseudomonas
fluorescens-LR134300.1 and Aspergillus fumigatus-KU321562 was able to change the pH from strongly alkaline to almost neutral. A consortium of Kocuria rosea-MK648258 and Aspergillus niger-MK452260 isolates showed high biodegradation and high chloride tolerance. A consortium of Pseudomonas fluorescens LR134300.1 and Penicillium chrysogenum-MK696383.1 isolates showed the highest percentage of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) degradation and could degrade/utilize a range of carbon fractions from C6 to C36. A consortium of isolates of Kocuria rosea-MK648258 and Aspergillus flavus-MH270609.1 showed the highest lead-reducing capacity, while Bacillus subtilies-MK000710 and Penicillium chrysogenum
MK696383-KU321. The consortium extracts mineralized petroleum hydrocarbons as the sole source of energy and carbon, with mineralization rates statistically significant (Pandlt;0.05). The results of the Toxicity Characterization Leaching Procedure (TCLP) test showed that treating the drill cuttings with different consortia of bacterial and fungal strains proved to be a desirable disposal method.

Okra is widely cultivated vegetable crop which has been reducing its quality due to inappropriate utilization of micro-nutrients as well. This research was carried out to investigate the impact of foliar spray of boron and zinc on the growth and yield of the okra ‘Arka Anamika’ variety. The experiment followed a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with seven treatments, including control, 0.2%Zn, 0.2%B, 0.3%Zn, 0.3% B, 0.2%Zn+0.2%B, and 0.3%Zn+0.3%B, replicated three times. Data on various parameters such as plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, number of branches, number of buds, number of fruits, length of fruits, girth of fruits, and yield were collected from sampled plants in each plot. Results indicated significant effects of different fertilizer treatments on these parameters. The highest values for plant height, stem diameter, number of branches, number of buds, fruit length, number of fruits, and yield were observed in T7, which was statistically at par with T6. Conversely, T1 (control) exhibited significantly lower values. The girth of fruits showed no any significant differences even due to various levels of foliar application of boron and zinc, either separately or in combination. Overall, the study suggests that the application of 0.3%Zn+0.3%B may be the most effective for improving the yield and yield parameters of okra.

A field experiment was carried out to study the effect of mulching and potassium application method on growth and yield parameters of potato at Rolpa, Nepal from February, 2022 to July, 2022. The experiment was laid out in 2 factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications consisting of 8 treatments. The variety used was Rolpa local. First treatment factor consisted of three mulching materials namely silver on black plastic, black plastic and plant residue including control plot whereas second treatment factor consist of two method of potassium application: split application and basal application of recommended dose. Days to 90% germination, plant height, number of leaves, and canopy diameter exhibited significant variations among the various mulching materials, while the method of potassium application showed no notable impact on these parameters. Notably, plastic mulches played a significant role in the germination rate, with potatoes sprouting 5-6 days earlier than the control group. However, all subsequent observations related to growth and yield parameters demonstrated significantly superior results in the case of silver on black plastic mulch. The silver on black plastic mulches, in particular, displayed a substantial influence, resulting in the highest tuber number, tuber weight, and tuber yield at 23.12, 62.16 gm, and 24.09 t/ha, respectively. Additionally, remarkable tuber characteristics, including circumference, diameter, and length, were recorded with silver on black plastic (14.20 cm, 4.74 cm, and 5.40 cm, respectively). Moreover, variations in tuber weight and total yield were observed among different potassium application methods, with the split application of potash yielding the highest total of 19.66 t/ha. The split application of potassium also produced the highest circumference (13.06 cm) and tuber diameter (4.07 cm), accompanied by a superior benefit-cost ratio of 2.65. Noteworthy was the highest benefit-cost ratio of 2.92 achieved with silver on black plastic mulch. Despite exploring the interaction effect between these two factors for both growth and yield parameters, no significant findings were observed. Consequently, it was concluded that silver on black plastic mulch combined with the split application method of potassium proved to be more effective for promoting growth and tuber yield, exhibiting a promising benefit-cost ratio

The article presents the results of a study on the formation and justification of the parameters of a comb for laying a drip irrigation hose and sowing seeds. The features of the agrometeorological conditions of Uzbekistan during spring sowing are studied. Based on the variability of weather – precipitation, atmospheric air temperature and soil, the parameters of the ridge size are justified. The design of the machine for pre-sowing strip milling of the soil, the formation of the ridge, the laying of the drip irrigation hose, soil compaction, providing physical and mechanical soil of the ridge and the possibility of sowing seeds, is proposed. The design of a milling machine for strip processing with the formation of a ridge of a given shape, composition and parameters, a ridge sealer according to the required soil density has been developed. The main parameters of the comb shaper are substantiated.

Purpose: is to enhance the nutrients use efficiency (NUE) along with the crop yield and quality by magnetic treatment (MT) of the groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) seeds pre-sowing as well as the MT of water used to dissolve the nitrogen (N) fertilizer under sandy soil field conditions. Methods: Treatments were distributed in a split-plots design in triplicates. The control CL has received the recommended dose RD of the N-fertilizer while other treatments received a 50% of the RD applied to the surface soil 30 days after planting. The main factor (F1) was the N-application rates 1000, 2000, and 3000 mg kg-1 of urea dissolved in the magnetically treated water (MTW) then sprayed on the soil in the liquid form five times after planting. The sub-factor (F2) was the time of MT (15, 30, and 45 min) of the groundnut seeds exposed to a magnetic field MF 1.4 T intensity before planting. Results: The soil available N, P, K, Fe, Mn, and Zn (mg kg-1) were increased significantly by 34.8%, 23.0%, 3.49%, 9.4%, 22.2%, and 23.2% respectively, at P ≤ 0.05 by the 45 min MT and 3000 mg kg-1 N relative to its corresponding control (CL). The MT has increased the seeds yield (kg ha-1) significantly in the order 45 min >30 min >15 min for the N-rates 1000, 2000, and 3000 mg kg-1. At the 45-min time, it was increased by 17.5, 15.3, and 14.8% for the N-rates, respectively. Conclusions: The 2000 mg kg-1 rate with MT of seeds for 15 min can be recommended for an acceptable nutrients use efficiency (NUE).

This research aimed to determine the best combination of nitrogen levels and hybrid varieties for optimal growth and yield of hybrid maize in Sundar bazar municipality, Lamjung, Nepal. The study used a two-factor factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 12 treatments and three replications. The treatments consisted of two hybrid maize varieties (Rampur Hybrid-10 and CP 808) and six different levels of nitrogen doses (control, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240 kg N ha-1). The results showed that the growth and yield parameters of hybrid maize varieties increased significantly with increasing nitrogen levels. The application of nitrogen at the rate of 240 kg N ha-1 produced the highest plant height, number of leaves, leaf area index (LAI), stem diameter, thousand grain test weight, grain per cob, grain yield, biological yield, and harvest index. Even a small difference of 30 kg of nitrogen ha-1 within a treatment showed a significant effect on the growth and yield parameters of hybrid maize. The control plot had the least growth and yield parameters. The hybrid maize variety CP 808 outperformed Rampur Hybrid-10 in terms of grain yield, thousand grain test weight, cob length, grain per cob, and LAI. In conclusion, this study suggests that cultivating hybrid maize variety CP-808 with the use of nitrogen at the rate of 240 kg ha-1 is optimal for maize production in Sundar bazar, Lamjung, and mid-hills of Nepal with similar altitude and climatic conditions. This information can assist maize farmers in achieving high yields and increasing their income.

This study examined factors influencing sorghum output in Ethiopia using ARDL model over the period 1981 to 2020. The elasticity coefficient of crop growing period mean temperature showed negatively significant impact on sorghum production in the long-run, aligning with theory. Conversely, main-season rainfall had positively significant impact on sorghum output, contrasting with the theory. Among non-climatic variables, sorghum price and area under sorghum had affirmatively considerable contribution to sorghum production as expected in theory. In the short-run, mean temperature revealed negatively significant impact on sorghum production, supporting the theory. Conversely, the main season rainfall and area under sorghum production demonstrated positively significant impact on sorghum production. Furthermore, sorghum output is positively responsive to own price during the second lag differences, implying that any price incentive strategy should be released before the last year. Equally, sorghum output is positively responsive to fertilizers applied in the first lag, which implies that fertilizers applied on sorghum cultivation during first lag difference have positive contribution to sorghum output supply. In view of the results of the current study, it is strongly recommended that the government should come up with strategies and policies that help sorghum farmers to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Intakes of adequate and quality food on sustainable basis are prerequisite for good health. However, food security cannot be achieved amidst security challenges. In the recent decade food production in Nigeria has been a challenge. This is owing to many reasons, including security challenges. The aim of this study was to provide information on the deplorable state of food production in Nigeria, as triggered by security challenges. This study also highlights impacts of the security challenges on food affordability, and consequently its effects on hunger and malnutrition in Nigeria. And by extension, this study conceptualized food production focus model (FPF) that if adopted, could improve rural food production in Nigeria. Databases such as Google Scholar, African Journals Online, Nigerian Journals Online, Scopus, Medline and Pubmed were used to search for relevant information on the impacts of the security challenges on farmers productivity. Findings from literature search revealed that access to sufficient, safe and quality food is now a serious concern in Nigeria in recent time due to the security challenges, coupled with increased population growth, rural-urban migration. Although migration may be multifaceted, however, security challenges play substantial roles, and have seriously affected the food production in several rural communities in Nigeria. And most worrisome is increased unemployment rate due to lost of jobs and investment phobia caused by the security challenges in Nigeria. Furthermore, the scourge of COVID-19 pandemic amidst the security challenges have further aggravated food and nutrition insecurity in Nigeria.

Sugarcane is a cash crop typically cultivated for sugar. Due to climate change, there is a rise in temperature, disruption in the rainfall patterns and cycle of seasons. Such changes in weather parameters affect sugarcane production as well as sugar recovery from the canes. The study was conducted in Uttar Pradesh, India using GIS (Geographic Information System) based models and statistical multiple linear regression from districtwise data on yield and climatic parameters over the study period (1986 to 2015). The GIS models reveal that climatic factors like rainfall, temperature and evapotranspiration changed significantly throughout the study.The multiple linear regression model shows that such changes in climatic parameters have a significant impact on the yield of sugarcane. Graphical analysis of yearly data on temperature and sugar recovery (%) showed that temperature affects the amount of sugar recovered from the canes. The study aims to illustrate the evidence of climate change and its impact on sugarcane production in Uttar Pradesh.

Purpose: This study investigated the suitability of nine common market food wastes in Nigeria for rearing Hermetia illucens. Methods: Substrate suitability was determined through periodic assessment for survival, and measurement of body length, width and weight of H. illucens on each substrate in the laboratory. Results: Survival of H. illucens larvae and pre-pupae on maize flour, cowpea flour, over-ripe banana peels, amaranth leaves, watermelon peels, and bread was comparable to the control substrate (chicken feed). In contrast, survival of larvae to pre-pupae on cabbage and pineapple flesh was significantly lower than on the control. Generally, larvae and adults reared on chicken feed had significantly higher body size and weight compared to those on pineapple flesh or pineapple peels. Conclusion: Due to their inherently high moisture, low protein and low carbohydrate contents, pineapple flesh and pineapple peels are the least suitable substrates for H. illucens survival and growth in the study.