Search Results (89)

In the artificial cultivation of Morchella sextelata (Black Morel), exogenous nutrient bags (ENBs) commonly employ wheat grains as the primary substrate raw material. However, this approach is costly and runs counter to the “non-grain” development direction advocated by the edible mushroom industry. Under controlled field conditions, twelve self-made formulations were set up and compared with a conventional market formulation to comprehensively analyze their impacts on the agronomic traits, yield, soil physicochemical properties, and economic benefits of M. sextelata fruiting bodies. The research findings indicate that the nutrient bag formulations have a significant effect on soil available nutrients. Specifically, the contents of alkali-hydrolysable nitrogen (AN) and available potassium (AK) exhibit a significantly negative correlation with M. sextelata yield (r = −0.60, p < 0.05; r = −0.72, p < 0.01, respectively). Among all the treatment groups, the KY1 formulation (comprising 30% wheat grains, 5% rice bran, 60% corncobs, 2% rice husks, 1% lime, and 1% gypsum) achieved the highest yield of 915.13 kg per 667 m², which was 16.1% higher than that of the control group. The net economic benefit per unit area (667 m²) reached CNY 75,282.15, representing a 20.7% increase compared to the traditional wheat grains-based formulation. In conclusion, partially substituting wheat grains with rice bran in ENBs can not only reduce reliance on staple food resources but also enhance yield and economic efficiency. Due to the differences in cultivated strains and environmental conditions, the impact on morel yield is substantial; therefore, the results of this study need further validation through pilot trials. Full article

Climate change resulting from human development necessitates increased land use, food, and energy consumption, underscoring the need for sustainable development. Incorporating various feedstocks into value-added liquid fuels and bioproducts is essential for achieving sustainability. Most biomass consists of cell walls, which serve as a primary carbon source for bioenergy and biorefinery processes. This structure contains a cellulose core, where lignin and hemicelluloses are crosslinked and embedded in a pectin matrix, forming diverse polysaccharide architectures across different species and tissues. Nineteen agro-industrial waste products were analyzed for their potential use in a circular economy. The analysis included cell wall composition, saccharification, and calorific potential. Thermal capacity and degradation were similar among the evaluated wastes. The feedstocks of corn cob, corn straw, soybean husk, and industry paper residue exhibited a higher saccharification capacity despite having lower lignin and uronic acid contents, with cell walls comprising 30% glucose and 60% xylose. Therefore, corn, soybeans, industrial paper residue, and sugarcane are more promising for bioethanol production. Additionally, duckweed, barley, sorghum, wheat, rice, bean, and coffee residues could serve as feedstocks for other by-products in green chemistry, generating valuable products. Our findings show that agro-industrial residues display a variety of polymers that are functional for various applications in different industry sectors. Full article

Beer is the third most popular beverage in the world, and its production is distributed uniformly between the biggest continents. Considering the environmental aspects, the utilization of brewing by-products, mainly brewers’ spent grain (BSG), is essential on a global scale. The beer revolution, lasting over a few decades, significantly diversified the beer market in terms of styles, and therefore, also its by-products, which should be characterized appropriately prior to further application. Herein, the presented study investigated the unprecedented number of 22 different variants of brewers’ spent grain, yielded from the production of various beer styles, enabling their proper comparison. A comprehensive by-product characterization revealed an almost linear relationship (Pearson correlation coefficients exceeding 0.9) between the color parameters (L*, a*, browning index) of beer and generated spent grain, enabling a prediction of BSG appearance based on beer color. Applying wheat or rye malts increased the content of extractives by over 40%, reducing cellulose content by as much as 45%. Thermal treatments of malts (kilning or smoking) also reduced extractive content and limited antioxidant activity, often by over 30%. A lack of husk for wheat or rye reduced the crystallinity index of spent grain by 21–41%, while the roasting of barley efficiently decomposed the less stable compounds and maintained the cellulose crystalline structure. All the analyzed BSG samples were characterized by low volatile emissions and very limited antimicrobial activity. Therefore, their harmfulness to human health and the environment is limited, broadening their potential application range. Full article

Bread is a staple food and can be enriched with a variety of deficient nutrients in the human diet. This study evaluated the impact of buckwheat hull addition on the mineral content of toasted bread made with wheat bread flour and wholemeal bread made with the addition of wholemeal wheat flour. Bread samples were prepared with different levels of buckwheat hull addition (1.5%, 3.0%, and 4.5%) and compared with a nonenriched control sample. The impact of buckwheat hull addition on mineral content was determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. In the tested bread samples, the macroelements, in terms of determined quantities, can be ordered as follows: potassium (K) > phosphorus (P) > calcium (Ca) > sodium (Na) > magnesium (Mg); microelements can be ordered as follows: zinc (Zn) > iron (Fe) > manganese (Mn) > copper (Cu). Statistical analysis showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the manganese content in all enriched breads samples, but the most important changes were observed between 1.5 and 4.5% of husk addition. Significant increases were also observed in the Zn, Mg, Ca, Na and K contents depending on the bread type and the level of husk concentration. This study showed the role of food processing methods, such as food enrichment with a functional ingredient—buckwheat husk—in enhancing the nutritional quality of bread. Buckwheat hull addition to bread increased the coverage of daily requirements for several minerals crucial for the proper functioning of the human body. The consumption of a 100 g portion of husk-enriched (4.5%) wholemeal bread makes it possible to cover up to almost 70% of the daily requirement for manganese in the adult diet. Full article

This study assesses the sustainability of bioethanol production from multiple agricultural feedstocks, including corn stover, wheat straw, and rice husk, using a life cycle assessment (LCA) method. The process focuses on converting lignocellulose biomass into bioethanol through advanced biotechnology, enriching energy security and supporting sustainable development in Pakistan. The process includes various stages of feedstock utilization, including cultivation, harvesting, transportation, preprocessing, and conversion, eventually yielding 1 kg of bioethanol with different inventories for each of the three feedstocks. A comparative analysis of the three feedstocks reveals that the wheat straw showed the highest environmental impacts, while rice husk exhibits the least environmental impacts and emerges as a more sustainable and viable option for bioethanol production. The economic assessment revealed the feasibility of bioethanol production, achieving a daily revenue of $9600 and a monthly income of $211,200, based on 22 working days in a single 8 h shift. The total initial capital investment cost was estimated at $478,515, while operational costs were calculated at $225,921. The external cost of the plant was evaluated at $14.23. Transitioning from grid-mix to renewable energy, such as photovoltaic systems, showed a reduction among three feedstocks. Therefore, bioethanol production not only addresses waste management challenges but also contributes to waste-to-energy conversion and renewable energy generation, aligning with public health goals and sustainable development. The findings highlight the potential of bioethanol production as a strategic solution to manage agricultural waste sustainably and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Full article

The combined effects of tillage and organic amendments on microbial respiration and its contribution to soil hydraulic conductivity are still uncertain in the 0–40 cm layer of a loess soil. We conducted a two-year field experiment to explore the effects of organic amendments, tillage and their interaction on soil microbial respiration, aggregate stability, pore parameters, and hydraulic conductivity on the Loess Plateau. Three tillage methods (conventional tillage (CT), deep tillage (DT) and no tillage (NT)) plus five fertilizer treatments (mineral fertilizer (control) alone and along with 20 t ha⁻¹ wheat straw (MWS), wheat husk (MWH), farmyard soil (MFS) and bioorganic fertilizer (MBF)) were set up as experimental treatments. The findings demonstrated that the organic amendments significantly increased the soil microbial respiration and saturated hydraulic conductivity compared to the control in the 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm layers. Soil microbial respiration had indirect effects on hydraulic conductivity by improving the water aggregate stability and macroporosity. Additionally, the interaction effects of tillage and organic amendments on the pore and hydrological parameters were significant in the 20–40 cm layer. NT-MBF resulted in the greatest saturated hydraulic conductivity, which was directly correlated with the soil’s strong pore organization. Given the issue of subsurface soil compaction in our study area, it is recommended that local farmers adopt NT-MBF to enhance the soil’s microbial, structural and hydrological properties. Full article

Plastic film-bottomed treatment (FBT) is a critical agricultural practice in arid regions, aimed at enhancing crop productivity by improving soil moisture retention and nutrient availability. However, the effects of different depths of film-bottomed treatment (DFBT) on nitrogen (N) absorption and translocation in spring wheat remain inadequately understood. We conducted a field experiment on sandy soil to investigate the effects of different DFBT depths (60, 70, 80, 90, and 100 cm) and on total N absorption amount (TNAA), total N translocation amount (TNTA) in all nutritive organs, grain nitrogen content (GN), and grain yield (GY). Morphological measurements included GY, GN, TNAA, and TNTA in the stem, sheath, leaf, spike axis, kernel husk (SAKH), and culm. The results showed that FBT significantly reduced soil moisture loss, with the 100 cm depth reducing soil leakage by 59.6% (p < 0.001). At the flowering stage, nitrogen derived from fertilizer (NDF) and soil nitrogen (NDS) were significantly higher at the 80 cm depth (p < 0.001). At maturity, the total nitrogen absorption amount (TNAA) and translocation amount (TNTA) in the main stem and across nutrient organs were significantly higher under the 80 cm DFBT (p < 0.001), leading to improved nitrogen use efficiency. The correlation between TNTA and GN was strongest at 80 cm (p < 0.001). Grain yield (GY) and GN were optimized at intermediate depths, particularly at 80 cm, suggesting this depth provides an optimal balance between water retention and drainage efficiency. These findings underscore the importance of optimizing DFBT depth, particularly at 80 cm, to achieve enhanced water retention, efficient nitrogen utilization, and improved crop productivity in arid agricultural systems. This research provides critical insights into sustainable agricultural practices under water-limited conditions, offering practical guidance for improving food security in arid regions. Full article

This research study investigated the production and properties of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles derived from corn husks and their priming effects on wheat plant proliferation and antioxidant mechanisms compared to the nutri-priming technique under regular irrigation and drought-stressed conditions. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM and SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), and X-ray diffraction confirmed the nanoparticles’ hexagonal morphology and typical dimensions of 51 nm. The size and stability of these nanoparticles were assessed through the size distribution and zeta potential analysis, indicating reasonable stability. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) detected the newly formed functional groups. This study emphasized the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and phenolic compounds in plant responses to nanoparticle treatment, particularly in detoxifying harmful radicals. The research also examined the activity of antioxidant enzymes, including peroxidase (POX), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GR), in alleviating stress caused by oxidation while subjected to various treatments, including micronutrient seed priming with DR GREEN fertilizer. Some biochemical compounds, such as total phenolics (TPCs), total flavonoids (TFCs), and total hydrolysable sugars, were estimated as well to show the effect of the different treatments on the wheat plants. The findings suggested that ZnO nanoparticles can enhance antioxidant enzyme activity under certain conditions while posing phytotoxic risks, underscoring the complexity of plant–nanoparticle interactions and the potential for improving crop resilience through targeted micronutrient applications. Full article

Rice, wheat, and maize grains are staple foods, widely consumed for their mineral and nutritional values. However, they can accumulate toxic elements from contaminated soils, posing health risks. This study investigates the bioaccumulation patterns of 52 elements (including nutrients, heavy metals, and rare earth elements) in various parts (grain, husk, straw, and root) of cereals grown in a heavily polluted region. The results revealed that rice grains exhibited a higher accumulation (Σ33.4 mg/kg) of toxic elements (As, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Pb) than wheat (Σ26.6 mg/kg) and maize (Σ16.2 mg/kg) grains, with the high-yield RI64 cultivar (Σ47.0 mg/kg) being the most susceptible. Across the rice plant, accumulation increased in the order of grain < husk < straw < root. Elements like P, K, Cu, and Zn showed the highest enrichment. Worryingly, the most toxic elements, such as As, Pb, and Cd, exceeded permissible limits across grains, straws, and husks. Health risk assessment indicated that wheat and maize pose greater non-cancer and cancer risks than rice. Despite being grown in a highly contaminated region, the study identifies some rice cultivars like Luchai and Sarna as relatively safer options due to a lower accumulation of toxic elements. Full article

This study investigates the dynamics of soil CO₂ emissions during the cover period of Phyllostachys violascens and the impact of different cover measures, aiming to provide references for reducing the environmental effects of bamboo cover. An L₂₇ (9¹³) orthogonal experimental design was employed, setting the following variables: (1) heating materials: chicken manure, straw cake, and wheat ash; (2) thickness of husk layer: 15 cm, 25 cm, and 35 cm; (3) soil moisture levels before covering: moisture to 10 cm, 15 cm, and 20 cm. The soil CO₂ emission rate showed a unimodal curve, with a significant overall increase during the cover period. Throughout the entire cover period, the average soil CO₂ emission rate (25.39 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹) was 5.1 times higher than that of the uncovered Lei bamboo forest (5.02 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹) during the same period. Thicker husk layers (25 cm and 35 cm) corresponded to higher soil CO₂ emission rates, with significant differences noted among the thicknesses. When the soil was moist to 10 cm, the CO₂ emission rate was highest (62.51 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹); moisture to 15 cm and 20 cm resulted in significantly lower emission rates. Chicken manure produced the highest peak CO₂ emissions in the third week, at 70.64 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹, while straw cake and wheat ash reached their peaks in the fifth week, at 66.56 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ and 57.58 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹, respectively. The interactions between the three factors (heating materials, husk layer thickness, and moisture levels) significantly affected the soil CO₂ emission rates. By optimally configuring these factors, CO₂ emissions can be regulated. This study recommends using wheat ash or straw cake as heating materials, combined with a 25 cm husk layer thickness, and moistening the soil to 15 cm before covering. This approach effectively reduces the peak and total soil CO₂ emissions while ensuring suitable soil temperatures for the growth of bamboo shoots in spring. This research provides a scientific basis for the environmental management of bamboo forests, aiding in the optimization of covering measures to achieve low-carbon and sustainable bamboo management. Full article

The study aimed to investigate the effects of pre-treatment (husking, sifting, and moisture adjustment) and explosion puffing on the chemical composition, volatile profile, phenolic content (free and bound), radical-scavenging activity, and formation of potentially hazardous compounds in wheat grain. Processing decreased protein, fat, ash, and dietary fiber content primarily due to removing the aleurone layer and thermal degradation leading to a diminished overall nutritional value. However, the starch content increased, along with significant changes in mono- and disaccharides, including higher maltose and glucose content attributed to starch gelatinization and hydrolysis. Thermal processing significantly altered the volatile profile, introducing new aroma-active compounds, such as pyrazines and furans, formed through Maillard and caramelization reactions. Additionally, the content of spectrophotometrically determined free phenolics and flavonoids increased, enhancing the grains’ radical-scavenging potential. Safety analyses confirmed that 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) and acrylamide levels remained within permissible limits, ensuring compliance with food safety standards. These findings highlight the nutritional and safety implications of explosion puffing, emphasizing its potential as a wheat-processing method. Full article

This study explores the potential of using underutilized materials from agricultural and forestry systems, such as rice husk, wheat straw, and wood strands, in developing corrugated core sandwich panels as a structural building material. By leveraging the unique properties of these biobased materials within a corrugated geometry, the research presents a novel approach to enhancing the structural performance of such underutilized biobased materials. These biobased materials were used in different lengths to consider the manufacturing feasibility of corrugated panels and the effect of fiber length on their structural performance. The average lengths for wood strands and wheat straws were 12–15 cm and 3–7.5 cm, respectively, while rice husks were like particles, about 7 mm long. Due to the high silica content in rice husk and wheat straw, which negatively impacts the bonding performance, polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate (pMDI), an effective adhesive for such materials, was used for the fabrication of corrugated panels. Wood strands and phenol formaldehyde (PF) adhesive were used to fabricate flat outer layers. Flat panels were bonded to both sides of the corrugated panels using a polyurethane adhesive to develop corrugated core sandwich panels. Four-point bending tests were conducted to evaluate the panel’s bending stiffness, load-carrying capacity, and failure modes. Results demonstrated that sandwich panels with wood strand corrugated cores exhibited the highest bending stiffness and load-bearing capacity, while those with wheat straw corrugated cores performed similarly. Rice husk corrugated core sandwich panels showed the lowest mechanical performance compared to other sandwich panels. Considering the applications of these sandwich panels as floor, wall, and roof sheathing, all these panels exhibited superior bending performance compared to 11.2 mm- and 17.42 mm-thick commercial OSB (oriented strand board) panels, which are commonly used as building materials. These sandwich structures supported a longer span than commercial OSB panels while satisfying the deflection limit of L/360. The findings suggest the transformative potential of converting renewable yet underutilized materials into an engineered concept, corrugated geometry, leading to the development of high-performance, carbon-negative building materials suitable for flooring and roof applications. Full article

Utilizing agricultural waste to produce mushrooms may be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly proposition to address the nutritional and health demands of the growing global population. Mushrooms can grow on a range of substrates and their selection is based on their availability and cost. In this study, five types of local waste were mixed: olive crop residues (OC), coffee residue (CR) or rice husk (RH) with wheat straw (WS) and beech wood shavings (BW), respectively. Then, the mixtures were sprayed with 20% w/w lipid fermentation wastewater (LFW) from Rodosporidium toruloides that was used as an alternative substrate-moistening method. Afterwards, these mixtures were tested for cultivating Pleurotus spp., Ganoderma spp. and Lentinula edodes. The results showed that the substrate significantly affected the incubation period and the biological efficiency (BE), with OC mixed substrates proving to be the most favorable across the different species. Pleurotus spp. had the shortest cultivation times and the highest BE, while G. lucidum required the longest incubation periods and had the lowest BE, particularly on CR substrates. The study also found that substrates affected mushroom morphology. Nutritional analysis revealed significant differences in protein, polysaccharides, lipids, ash and energy content, depending on the species and substrate. High protein levels were found in P. eryngii (28.05–29.58% d.w.) and G. resinaceum (28.71–29.90% d.w.). The elevated total phenolic compounds (28.47–40.17 mgGAE/g) values in carposomes from CR and OC substrates for Ganoderma spp., L. edodes, P. pulmonarius and P. ostreatus, along with antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP) assays, highlighted the crucial role of substrate composition in enhancing the medicinal properties of mushrooms. The mixed substrates also influenced the fatty acid (FA) and polysaccharide composition, with WS increasing unsaturated FAs and glucose (<69.8%) being the primary monosaccharide. The study suggests that using the spraying method of 20% w/w LFW as a moisture agent in these substrates is effective for mushroom production. Full article

The use of biological methods to control plant diseases has garnered attention due to their eco-friendly and economically viable nature. Trichoderma spp. are the most ubiquitous fungal saprophytes that can often grow as opportunistic symbionts, are eco-friendly, and are not reported to exert any environmental hazard. Soil-borne pathogens can significantly impact the yield of chilli and tomato crops. The study was conducted to explore the impact of various salts (NaCl, MgCl₂, CaCl₂, and KCl) and their concentrations (1%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) on the mycelial growth and sporulation of Trichoderma viride followed by its mass multiplication on diverse organic substrates like wheat seeds, wheat husks, mungbean seeds, maize seeds, rice seeds, pea seeds, sorghum seeds, banana peel, apple peel, pomegranate peel, citrus peel, tomato waste, chilli waste, spinach waste, cabbage waste, potato peel, onion peel, cucumber peel, carrot peel, used black tea leaves, used green tea leaves, poultry waste, and cow and goat dung. The study assessed the biocontrol potential of Trichoderma viride against important soil-borne pathogens in chilli (Pythium aphanidermatum, Phytophthora capsici, and Fusarium oxysporum) and tomato (Pythium aphanidermatum, Phytophthora infestans, and F. oxysporum) cropping in the pot and field experiments using saline and alkaline soils. Seed treatment with T. viride significantly enhanced the germination rates of both chilli and tomato crops, with sorghum being the most conducive substrate for mass-multiplying T. viride. The results revealed that lower salt concentrations minimally affected T. viride growth, while higher concentrations hampered both growth and sporulation. Optimal disease control and plant height were observed at a 20 mg concentration of T. viride, consequently applied in vivo using various application methods, i.e., seed treatment, root dip, irrigation, and mixed treatments (all the methods like seed treatment, root dip method, and irrigation method applied together) to manage soil-borne pathogens. Particularly, T. viride application through irrigation and mixed treatments demonstrated strong efficacy. These findings underscore the potential of T. viride application in saline and alkaline soils to manage soil-borne pathogens like Pythium, Phytophthora spp., and Fusarium spp. This study lays the foundation for the practical application of biocontrol agents, like T. viride, in Pakistani agricultural conditions. Moreover, there is a need for further exploration into the genetic mechanisms involved in disease inhibition and plant growth promotion, along with understanding the impact of T. viride on the metabolic pathways of host plants. Full article

Medicines are pharmaceutical substances used to treat, prevent, or relieve symptoms of different diseases in animals and humans. However, their large-scale production and use worldwide cause their release to the environment. Pharmaceutical molecules are currently considered emerging pollutants that enter water bodies due to inadequate management, affecting water quality and generating adverse effects on aquatic organisms. Hence, different alternatives for pharmaceuticals removal from water have been sought; among them, the use of agro-industrial wastes has been proposed, mainly because of its high availability and low cost. This review highlights the adverse ecotoxicological effects related to the presence of different pharmaceuticals on aquatic environments and analyzes 94 investigations, from 2012 to 2024, on the removal of 17 antibiotics, highlighting sulfamethoxazole as the most reported, as well as 6 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac and ibuprofen, and 27 pharmaceutical drugs with different pharmacological activities. The removal of these drugs was evaluated using agro-industrial wastes such as wheat straw, mung bean husk, bagasse, bamboo, olive stones, rice straw, pinewood, rice husk, among others. On average, 60% of the agro-industrial wastes were transformed into biochar to be used as a biosorbents for pharmaceuticals removal. The diversity in experimental conditions among the removal studies makes it difficult to stablish which agro-industrial waste has the greatest removal capacity; therefore, in this review, the drug mass removal rate (DMRR) was calculated, a parameter used with comparative purposes. Almond shell-activated biochar showed the highest removal rate for antibiotics (1940 mg/g·h), while cork powder (CP) (10,420 mg/g·h) showed the highest for NSAIDs. Therefore, scientific evidence demonstrates that agro-industrial waste is a promising alternative for the removal of emerging pollutants such as pharmaceuticals substances. Full article