Search Results (2,084)

Pancreatic lipase (PL) inhibition is a promising dietary strategy for obesity management. In this study, the inhibitory mechanisms and structural basis of polyphenols extracted from different sugarcane fractions were investigated using in vitro enzyme assays, spectroscopy, and molecular docking analyses. PL inhibitory activity was evaluated using p-nitrophenyl laurate (pNPL) as the substrate, with all assays performed in triplicate and results statistically analyzed. Among the extracts, sugarcane peel polyphenols (SP) exhibited the strongest inhibition, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 31.56 mg/mL, significantly lower than that of sugarcane juice polyphenols (SJ, 55.86 mg/mL) and sugarcane bagasse polyphenols (SB, 65.31 mg/mL). Enzyme kinetic analyses revealed a reversible mixed-type inhibition mechanism. In contrast to crude extracts, individual phenolic monomers showed substantially lower IC₅₀ values (0.13–1.33 mg/mL), highlighting the intrinsic dilution. Compositional analysis identified ferulic acid, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, and schaftoside as key contributors to PL inhibition. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and fluorescence spectroscopy demonstrated that polyphenols altered PL secondary structure by modulating α-helix and β-sheet contents and perturbed the microenvironment of tryptophan (Trp) and tyrosine (Tyr) residues. Molecular docking further indicated that these compounds bind within or near the substrate-binding channel via hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, engaging critical residues including Ser152, His263, and Phe77, and potentially influencing conformational elements involved in active-site accessibility. Collectively, these results suggest that sugarcane, particularly its peel, represents a valuable natural source of PL inhibitors. Despite the relatively high IC₅₀ values of crude extracts, their inhibitory activity arises from multicomponent contributions and supports their potential application as dietary modulators of fat digestion rather than as pharmaceutical lipase inhibitors. Full article

The use of agricultural waste fibres and natural binders is being investigated as alternatives to synthetic indoor acoustic materials. However, few studies have compared the fibre type, biopolymer type, and fibre-to-binder ratio for both sound absorption and sound transmission within a single controlled composite system. This study investigated the acoustic performance of sugarcane fibre (SF) and coconut fibre (CF) with a fixed thickness of 20 mm and density of 200 kg/m³, mixed with cassava, corn and potato starch binders with fibre–binder ratios from 1:1.0 to 1:0.1. Sound absorption coefficient was measured with an impedance tube, according to ISO 10534-2, and the sound transmission coefficient was determined using a four-microphone impedance tube system, according to ASTM E2611. Porosity was also tested for its relation to acoustic behaviour. The results showed that the coconut fibre composite recorded higher peak absorption, including α = 0.95 for cassava 1:0.6 to 1:0.7 and corn 1:0.6, while sugarcane fibre showed stronger transmission resistance, with SF-CAS-200-1:0.3 decreasing from τ = 0.11 at 160 Hz to 0.02 at 5000 Hz, and SF-PT-200-1:0.4 from τ = 0.10 to 0.03. The highest porosity values were 85.29%, recorded for SC-CAS-200-1:0.1, and 84.13% for CF-CAS-200-1:0.1. Overall, sugarcane fibre composites offered the best balance of absorption and low transmission, indicating strong potential for sustainable indoor acoustic panels, such as ceiling linings and wall systems. Further research should evaluate mechanical strength, fire performance, durability, and moisture resistance to support practical building applications. Full article

Water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) is the key to producing quality forage silage and an important energy source for ruminants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different silages used as roughage sources [whole-plant sugarcane silage (WSS) vs. elephant grass silage (EGS)] with varying levels of WSC on silage quality, buffalo growth performance, apparent digestibility, rumen fermentation, and microbial communities. Sixteen healthy male crossbred buffaloes were randomly divided into two treatment groups, with eight buffaloes/treatment. One group was fed whole-plant sugarcane silage, and the other group was fed elephant grass silage. Compared with EGS, WSS had higher WSC, lactic acid, and ethanol, but lower pH, ammonia nitrogen, propionic acid, and butyric acid (BA) contents (p < 0.05). Potential probiotics (e.g., Lactiplantibacillus and Hanseniaspora) were more abundant in WSS than in EGS (p < 0.05). Moreover, the feed conversion rate was higher in HWS (p < 0.05). However, rumen fermentation parameters were unaffected by diet (p > 0.05). Moreover, feeding WSS had lower dry matter digestibility (DMD), organic matter digestibility (OMD), and lower acid detergent fiber digestibility (ADFD) (p < 0.05). After WSS feeding, ruminal Treponema_2 was strongly associated with DMD, OMD, and ADFD (p < 0.05), and also showed positive correlations with BA and PA contents in WSS (p < 0.05). Additionally, rumen Ruminiclostridium_5 and Pseudozyma was associated with DMD and ADFD after being fed EGS (p > 0.05), respectively, but the Pseudozyma was associated with BA (p < 0.05) and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_11 (p > 0.05) in EGS. Our findings indicated that WSS exhibited superior fermentation quality and harbored potential beneficial microbes, whereas EGS showed higher apparent nutrient digestibility in buffalo but also contained undesirable bacteria (e.g., Clostridium_sensu_stricto_11). Future research should investigate the long-term effects of WSS feeding on buffalo health, immunity, and production performance, as well as its impact on rumen microbiota stability, to fully assess its potential as a safe and sustainable roughage source. Full article

Integrated waste management through vermicomposting combined with biochar amendments represents an innovative approach for sustainable resource recovery. This study evaluated the effects of sugarcane bagasse biochar (SBB) at 0%, 5%, and 10% application rates on Eisenia fetida performance and vermicompost quality during preincubation-vermicomposting of sewage sludge and press-mud mixtures. The 10% SBB treatment significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced earthworm biomass (72.3% increase) and cocoon production (24.8 ± 1.8 per earthworm vs. 12.3 ± 1.2 in control). Lignocellulosic degradation improved substantially, achieving 22.6%, 10.7%, and 38.8% degradation for cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, respectively. Macronutrient concentrations increased significantly: TN by 38.4%, TP by 15%, and TK by 21.4% compared to initial mixtures. Moreover, total heavy metal concentrations decreased significantly during vermicomposting, with reductions of 8.1–8.7% for Pb, 5.3–7.6% for Cd, and 3.0–4.8% for Cr, with reduced bioavailability factors indicating enhanced metal stabilization. The final vermicompost exhibited optimal maturity indices, including a C:N ratio of 15.4 ± 0.2 and improved electrical conductivity. Results demonstrate that 10% sugarcane bagasse biochar amendment facilitates efficient concurrent management of sewage sludge and sugarcane industrial wastes while producing high-quality organic fertilizer with enhanced nutrient content, reduced heavy metal bioavailability, and accelerated stabilization for sustainable agricultural/horticultural applications. Full article

Axillary bud germination in sugarcane is a critical agronomic trait that directly determines seedling emergence and tillering capacity; however, its molecular regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we systematically investigated the hormonal dynamics and transcriptomic profiles of the sugarcane cultivar XTT22 across five developmental stages (from dormancy to the first new leaf stage). Our results revealed that abscisic acid (ABA) content fluctuated during germination, whereas indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellin (GA) levels decreased significantly, suggesting their negative regulatory roles. In contrast, cytokinin (CTK) and ethylene (ETH) contents increased at the initiation stage, indicating positive promoting functions. Transcriptome analysis identified 31,513 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were significantly enriched in pathways related to hormone signal transduction, starch/sucrose metabolism, and photosynthesis. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) constructed 12 co-expression modules, among which the antiquewhite4 module (negatively correlated with IAA, GA, and ABA contents) and the darkorange2 module (positively correlated with cytokinin content) were identified as key regulatory modules. From these modules, seven core hub transcription factors (e.g., ScTCP5, ScSCR, and ScSHR1) were screened, and their expression patterns were validated by RT-qPCR. Furthermore, the expression trends of six hormone-related DEGs were highly consistent with the RNA-seq data. Collectively, this study elucidates the hormonal dynamics and gene regulatory networks underlying axillary bud germination in sugarcane, providing candidate gene resources for breeding high-yield varieties with enhanced emergence and tillering capacity. Full article

Sugarcane is an important economic crop in southern China. Affected by typhoons, it is prone to lodging, which not only increases the difficulty and loss rate of mechanical harvesting but also reduces the sugar content. The mechanical properties of the sugarcane root–soil system are crucial to its lodging resistance. However, accurate discrete element parameters are still lacking for DEM-based research on the mechanical properties of this system. Therefore, this study adopts a method combining the angle of repose test, shear force test, and discrete element simulation of single roots to calibrate DEM parameters. Using the angle of repose and maximum shear force of a single root as response values, Plackett–Burman, steepest ascent, and Box–Behnken tests are sequentially carried out with Design-Expert 13 software to calibrate the contact and bonding parameters of individual sugarcane roots. The relative errors between the physical and simulation test results for the angle of repose and shear force are 1.29% and 0.66%, respectively. This study provides a reference for the establishment of discrete element simulation models for sugarcane roots and for the subsequent development of sugarcane root–soil composite models. Full article

Uneven seed spacing, skewed stalk posture, and inconsistent planting depth remain major challenges in horizontal sugarcane planting. To address these issues, a semi-automatic transverse sugarcane planter integrating a supply–buffer–discharge seeder and multiple soil-engaging components was developed. The seed placement process and the interaction between stalk discharge and soil disturbance were investigated through Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulations and experiments. First, the working principle and key component parameters of the whole machine were determined. It integrated the processes of soil crushing, furrowing, seeding, ridge covering. In addition, a dynamic analysis was conducted on the inter-particle disengagement effect during the two-step seed filling process of lifting and discharging. Secondly, a discrete element simulation model for the entire process of soil-engaging seed arrangement operations was established for the machine. The effects of forward speed and seed outlet position were studied using a discrete element method (DEM) simulation model that coupled soil disturbance flow with stalk-seed discharge behaviour. Furthermore, a response surface methodology (RSM) experiment was performed on the seeding test bench to quantify the effects of guiding parameters on seed placement uniformity. The determination coefficient (R²) of the established regression model exceeded 0.9, indicating high prediction accuracy. The optimal collaborative parameter combination was optimized as follows: forward speed of 1.2 m·s⁻¹, buffer inclination angle of 55°and supply roller speed of 26 r·min⁻¹. After verification, the seed placement uniformity coefficient of the seeder reached 91.8 ± 1.4%, which met the expected accuracy requirements for horizontal planting. Full article

Crop production, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and environmental footprint are not only of great significance for ensuring food security, but also serve as key determinants for achieving the integrated governance of agricultural development and environmental protection. However, Iran is currently facing challenges such as production in an arid climate and on degraded land, low NUE, and associated ecological and environmental pollution. Current agricultural nitrogen (N) management research is mostly limited to single crops or dimensions, leaving a gap in integrated multi-crop, multi-dimensional spatiotemporal analyses and grid-scale high-resolution spatial assessments of regional heterogeneity. Therefore, from the perspectives of food, resources, and the environment, this study systematically assessed the sown area, yield, N application rate, NUE, N surplus, and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG emissions) of six major crops (wheat, rice, barley, maize, sugarcane, and cotton) in Iran for the years 2000, 2010, and 2020. The aim was to assess the current status and spatiotemporal evolution of cropland N management in Iran. The results of this study indicate that the total N application rate in Iranian cropland exhibited an overall upward trend from 2000 to 2020, increasing from 1.095 × 10⁶ t to 1.1937 × 10⁶ t over this period. The NUE improved in some regions but remained generally low, increasing from 31.7% to 41.8%. Provinces in northern and southern Iran were characterized by high N application rates, low NUE (20–40%), substantial N surplus accumulation, and high GHG emissions. The multi-dimensional comprehensive assessment framework proposed in this study provides a scientific basis for N management in regions aiming for coordinated governance of food security and the ecological environment. Full article

Consolidated Bioprocessing (CBP) is a promising technology that integrates enzyme production, biomass hydrolysis, and sugars fermentation. However, CBP is underexplored from a process engineering point of view. Considering that cell recycling can increase process economic viability and that the selection of a bioreactor is a key factor to ensure process effectiveness, this study demonstrates the feasibility of recycling cells during sugarcane bagasse CBP by using magnetic immobilized enzyme producer yeast and a low shear stress vortex flow bioreactor. In the first step, Ca-alginate immobilized strains achieved good productivities (0.48 g/L/h) and 5.7 g/L of ethanol in only 12 h, but cell recovery was hindered by residual solids. To overcome this limitation, magnetic particles were incorporated into the spheres, allowing for rapid post-fermentation, maintaining ethanol production and productivity (6.1 g/L and 0.51 g/L/h). Three repeated batches were successful performed (producing an average of 5.5 g/L of ethanol, 0.46 g/L/h) with complete cell recovery from the remaining solid after biomass hydrolysis, maintaining high cell viability and bead integrity, highlighting the robustness of the immobilization strategy and the suitability of the bioreactor for the process. The successful cell recovery accomplished overcomes a fundamental limitation of bioprocesses carried out in the presence of solids. This strategy represents an important step for biorefineries development, with potential applicability to other bioprocesses using solid substrates. Full article

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of agricultural waste is a promising waste management technique. However, the use of different raw materials may produce hydrochars with varying efficiencies, both in yield and application, and environmental impacts, due to differences in composition and required processing conditions. To understand the influence of biomass type and acid-assisted HTC conditions, this study used sugarcane and agave bagasse to produce functionalized hydrochars and evaluated them for the removal of Reactive Orange 84; an azo dye used in the textile industry. Material characterization was performed using FT-IR, TGA, BET, and XRD analyses. In addition, a life cycle assessment was conducted to evaluate environmental impacts associated with hydrochars produced using H₂SO₄ at concentrations of 0.2 and 0.5 M. TGA and XRD results indicate that agave bagasse hydrochars (HBA) retain more crystalline lignocellulosic structures, whereas sugarcane bagasse hydrochars (HBS) exhibit predominantly amorphous structures after HTC. FT-IR analysis confirmed the presence of –SO₃H functional groups; however, HBA samples showed greater availability of these groups with increasing acid concentration. Adsorption experiments and LCA results demonstrated that the most favorable treatment, in terms of emission reduction and dye removal, was agave bagasse functionalized with 0.5 M H₂SO₄, achieving 75.7% mass yield and 94.5% dye removal. Full article

Understanding crop water use is essential for improving agricultural water management and ensuring sustainable food production, especially in regions with limited water resources. Evapotranspiration (ET) is a key component of the hydrological cycle, directly influencing irrigation planning and crop productivity. However, accurately estimating ET at local scales remains a challenge due to the limitations of conventional measurement methods and the difficulty of integrating high-resolution remote sensing data. This study investigates the estimation of terrestrial evapotranspiration (ET) in a sugarcane cultivation area located in the northern coastal region of Paraíba, Brazil, using meteorological data and aerial images acquired by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). We adapted the PT-JPL model to estimate ET at the local scale, using thermal and multispectral imagery obtained from UAVs. Data validation was performed using surface energy balance measurements obtained from a micrometeorological tower, thereby enabling comparison of estimated and observed ET values. The results demonstrated strong correlations between modeled predictions and field measurements of net radiation (R² = 0.85), with performance metrics indicating moderate reliability for local-scale simulated ET when compared to flux-tower-based ET (R² = 0.48; RMSE ≈ 0.045 mm/30 min). This research highlights the potential of integrating UAV-based remote sensing with the PT-JPL model to improve understanding of crop water use, support irrigation management, and contribute to sustainable agricultural practices. Full article

This article analyzes the scale, fluctuations and geographical distribution of olive (Olea europaea) cultivation in Palestine over 550 years, from the Late Mamluk period (1300–1517), through the Ottoman era (1517–1917), until the end of the British Mandate in 1947. Although olive oil played a dominant role in the diet and the local economy, there is currently no research that measures and quantifies the number of olive trees or the number of villages and towns that cultivated olive trees and produced olive oil. We reconstruct the agricultural landscape with its vast olive groves and examine the cultural history of olive tree farming, the growth of the olive oil industries and their economic role and importance. The earliest figures we have, that are from the year 1596, show that 400 villages cultivated 1,400,794 olive trees. By 1943, there were 6,053,367 olive trees that were cultivated by 644 villages. We found a strong correlation (R² = 0.96, p < 0.01) between the number of olive trees and the number of villages, indicating that olive oil demand and the olive oil industry align with population size. The research data derives from a variety of medieval local chroniclers, as well as diaries by European, North African and Middle Eastern travelers who provide descriptions of olive groves and the olive oil industry. Among the most important sources are the 1596 Ottoman tax registers. The tax registers are the first document that present clear-cut figures on the numbers of olive trees, olive presses and the names of the villages that cultivated olive groves. The main sources for the last period dealt with in this study are the British Mandate maps (1943), which display the acreage of the different crops across Palestine. The data from the maps is supplemented by two modern works on olive cultivation written by agronomists Assaf Goor (b. 1894) and Ali Nasouh (b. 1906) who were born in Palestine and employed by the British department of agriculture. The analysis of data shows that demands of local and oversea markets; the olive oil soap industry, which was based on the local olive oil; as well as competing agricultural crops like sugarcane, cotton and citrus, contributed to a complex economic structure. Olive tree cultivation did not depend on government investment. Olive groves in Palestine were rain fed, and, except for the harvest, they required relatively few working days a year. Hence, moderate policies (low taxation during periods of drought and low yields) adopted by enterprising local rulers and the central British government created a unique and relatively balanced relationship between rulers and farmers, which encouraged olive cultivation and led to a constant increase in the number of olive trees and the development of the olive oil industry. Full article

The valorization of agro-industrial byproducts through pyrolysis represents a sustainable route for generating multifunctional raw materials within the framework of a circular bioeconomy. In this study, rice husk (RH) and sugarcane bagasse (SCB) were pyrolyzed in a semi-continuous reactor at 500 °C in order to compare product yields and to characterize resulting gas, aqueous and tar fractions. SCB produced the highest bio-oil yield (44.2 wt%), whereas RH generated the highest char yield (42.9 wt%), consistent with its higher ash and lignin contents. In both cases, tar represented about 12 wt% of the bio-oil. Detailed characterization revealed that the liquid products contained oxygenated compounds of interest, mainly carboxylic acids, ketones, and phenols. Acetic acid was the predominant compound in the aqueous phases, while tars were composed mainly of phenols, ketones, furans, and acids. Particularly, phenols accounted for 52.6% and 37.8% of the total chromatographic area in RH and SCB tars, respectively, whereas ketones represented about 10% in both cases. These results show that pyrolysis of agro-industrial residues not only enables energy recovery but also provides liquid fractions enriched in value-added chemicals. Full article

The use of treated wastewater constitutes a strategic alternative for agriculture in water-scarce regions. This study developed and applied a distance-based and sodium-constrained deterministic allocation model integrating geoprocessing tools with environmental and logistical constraints to optimize the spatial distribution of treated effluent from 48 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the semi-arid region of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The deterministic allocation algorithm prioritizes geographic proximity and favorable topographic differences as a proxy for reducing potential pumping requirements. Two scenarios were evaluated: (1) full effluent availability and (2) sodium-regulated allocation limited to 300 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ of Na, in accordance with Normative Deliberation CERH-MG 65/2020. Under Scenario 1, cotton demand exceeded (184%), while coffee and sugarcane reached 69% and 24% of annual demand, respectively. Under the sodium-constrained Scenario 2, demand fulfillment changed to 37% for coffee and 42% for sugarcane, while cotton remained above full demand (108%). The proposed model differs from previous deterministic spatial allocation applications by integrating regulatory sodium constraints and dual-scenario regional assessment, providing a spatially explicit and regulation-compliant decision-support tool for sustainable wastewater reuse in semi-arid agricultural systems. Full article

Cadmium contamination of water resources represents a serious environmental and public health challenge, with conventional treatment methods often proving inadequate for industrial-level remediation. In this study, we present a novel, sustainable composite material, functionalized cellulose nanocrystal polyvinyl alcohol zinc oxide ferric chloride (CNC-PVA-ZnOFe) beads for the efficient removal of cadmium from contaminated water. The material integrates adsorption, coagulation, and flocculation mechanisms within a single hybrid platform, with coagulation–flocculation serving as the dominant mechanism given the material’s macroporous structure and limited surface area (1.2–3.3 m²/g). Functionalized cellulose nanocrystals provide supporting adsorptive sites for metal binding, while a PVA matrix incorporating ZnOFe improves structural integrity, mechanical stability, and coagulation performance. Characterization confirmed successful functionalization, enhanced thermal stability, and a macroporous structure (12–52 nm pores) conducive to floc entrapment, though with limited surface area (1.2–3.3 m²/g) for conventional adsorption. Under optimized conditions (pH 7–10, initial Cd²⁺ concentration of 100 mg/L, coagulant dose of 0.1 g, and sedimentation time of 60 min), the functionalized CNC-PVA-ZnOFe beads achieved a cadmium removal efficiency of 78%, achieving significantly higher cadmium removal efficiency than traditional coagulants, such as aluminum sulfate (69%). The beads also demonstrated good reusability, retaining 85% removal efficiency after five regeneration cycles. This work presents a scalable, eco-friendly material for cadmium removal under controlled laboratory conditions using synthetic solutions. However, further evaluation in real wastewater matrices containing competing ions and organic matter is necessary to establish practical applicability for water treatment applications. The study highlights the combined potential of multifunctional hybrid materials while acknowledging the need for validation under environmentally relevant conditions. While the results indicate successful integration of multiple removal mechanisms, direct validation of synergistic interactions through techniques such as zeta potential and XPS analysis remains an important direction for future research. Full article