Extraction and Characterization of Cellulose Microfibers from Agricultural Wastes of Onion and Garlic

As a new lingo-cellulosic natural fiber sources, agricultural processing wastes of onion and garlic, stalks and skins, were investigated by determining their chemical composition and characterization of their cellulose microfibers extracted by chlorite and alkaline extraction method. The extracted cellulose microfibers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The stalks and skins of garlic and onion were composed of cellulose (41–50%), hemicelluloses (16–26%), and lignin (26–39%), which indicates that the predominant polysaccharide in the stalks and skins of onion and garlic is cellulose. The cellulose microfibers extracted from the stalks and skins of onion and garlic were more heat stable than their neat fibers. The result showed that the skin and stalk of onion and garlic have a high potential for the utilization as a new source of biopolymer resources.     

Addressing the food crisis: governance, market functioning, and investment in public goods

The 2007–08 food price crisis has not only increased food insecurity around the globe, but also exposed long-term failures in the functioning of the world food system. Establishing a global governance architecture for governing food, nutrition, and agriculture as well as improving market functioning and increasing investment in public goods will be critical for the way forward. Three high-priority policy actions are necessary to cope with urgent needs for food and nutrition security and at the same time build a stronger food system that can respond to future challenges: (1) improve productivity and scale up research investments; (2) expand nutrition and social protection, (3) strengthen markets and trade.

进一步推动HACCP在我国农产品深加工食品工业中的应用

本文阐述了发展我国农产品深加工食品工业的意义，分析了国内外食品安全现状，介绍了危害分析与关键控制点技术(hazard analyses and critical control point，HACCP)的概念、作用、在国际国内推行的情况，提出了在我国农产品深加工食品工业中进一步推动HACCP应用的必要性。     

Profitability of wine grape growing in the EU member states

The aim of this work is to examine the profitability of European Union wine grape growing by comparing some economic indicators extrapolated from information in the Farm Accountancy Data Network, data banks already widely used to analyse the income of European agricultural holdings. The results show that in recent years the profitability of European wine grape growing has grown overall, but to overcome the current economic crisis and face the challenge of “New World” wine producers, it is necessary to make an effort towards public intervention to increase the profitability of wine farms. In this context, the new reform of wine Common Market Organisation (2008) and new Common Agricultural Policy (2007–2013) aimed at improving the profitability of wine grape growing by reducing production costs, increasing added value of wine, promoting the participation of farmers in food quality schemes, etc.     

Active carbon from scrap tyres

The possibility of producing active carbon by activation at 850 °C of the char obtained from the pyrolysis (at 450 and 600 °C) of scrap tyres has been studied. The activated char showed good adsorbing characteristics, similar to those of typical commercial grades. The yield and the desired adsorbing capacity depend on the activation time. However, the ash content and friability are quite high; therefore the activated char is suitable for applications in powder form in which the ash does not cause problems.     

农业普查空间数据处理与分析平台的构建

刚刚进行的第二次农业普查为了解我国农村现状提供了宝贵的数据资源,然而现有的农普数据处理系统缺乏对农业普查数据的深入挖掘和分析,无法应对农业普查数据的分析需求.本平台以某地区第二次农业普查数据为基础,能灵活全面地进行农普数据的组织提取,并利用地理信息使数据直观有效的展示.根据空间相关性采用新的缺值估计方法,利用空间数据分析模型对统计信息进行分布、行为特征分析,充分发挥农普数据的实用价值,成功实现了数据处理与分析一体化.     

Phenolic removal in a model olive oil mill wastewater using Pleurotus ostreatus in bioreactor cultures and biological evaluation of the process

Pleurotus ostreatus grown in bioreactor batch cultures in a model phenolic wastewater (diluted and sterilized olive oil mill wastewater-OMW), caused significant phenolic removal. Laccase, the sole ligninolytic enzyme detected in the growth environment, was produced during primary metabolic growth. The bioprocess was simulated with the aid of a mathematical model and the parameters of growth were determined. When the fungal biomass was increased in the reactor (during repeated batch experiments) the rate of reducing sugars consumption progressively increased, but a phenolic fraction seemed of being strongly resistant to oxidation. The toxicity of OMW against the seeds of Lepidium sativum and the marine Branchiopoda Artemia sp. was significantly decreased after biotreatment. On the contrary, the toxicity against the freshwater Branchiopoda Daphnia magna was not affected by the treatment, whereas on the soil and freshwater sediments Ostracoda Heterocypris incongruens was slightly decreased. Both treated and untreated OMWs, used as water for irrigation of lettuce and tomato plants, did not significantly affect the uptake of several nutrients by the cultivated plants, but resulted in a decrease in the plant yields, which was minimized when high OMW dilutions were used. As a conclusion, P. ostreatus is able to reduce phenolic content and toxicity of sterilized OMW, in bioreactor cultures. However, high OMW dilutions should be used, and/or additional treatment should be applied before use of the OMW in the environment, e.g. as water for irrigation. Further research should be done in order to transfer this technology under industrial conditions (e.g. by using unsterilized OMW).     

Hazardous concentrations of selenium in soil and groundwater in North-West India

Soil and groundwater samples were collected for bulk elemental analyses in particular for selenium (Se) concentrations from six agricultural sites located in states of Punjab and Haryana in North-West India. Toxic concentrations of Se (45-341 μg L(-1)) were present in groundwater (76 m deep) of Jainpur and Barwa villages in Punjab. Selenium enrichments were also found in top soil layers (0-15 cm) of Jainpur (2.3-11.6 mg kg(-1)) and Barwa (3.1 mg kg(-1)). Mineralogical analyses confirmed silicates and phyllosilicates as main components of these soils, also reflected by the high content of SiO(2) (40-62 wt.%), Al(2)O(3) (9-21 wt.%) and K(2)O (2.2-3.2 wt.%). Prevailing intensive irrigation practices in Punjab with Se enriched groundwater may be the cause of Se accumulation in soils. Sequential extraction revealed >50% Se bioavailability in Jainpur soils. Appearance of selenite was observed in some of the batch assays with soil slurries under reducing conditions. Although safe Se concentrations were found in Hisar, Haryana, yet high levels of As, Mo and U present in groundwater indicated its unsuitability for drinking purposes. Detailed biogeochemical studies of Se in sediments or groundwater of Punjab are not available so far; intensive investigations should be started for better understanding of the problem of Se toxicity.     

Research Note: Effects of Ozonated Water Spray Droplet Size and Distance on the Dissolved Ozone Concentration at the Spray Target

Dissolved ozone concentration (DOC) of ozonated water (OW) sprayed from four different distances using three different droplet sizes (expressed in terms of Sauter mean diameter; small, medium, large) was measured at the spray target to obtain fundamental data for improving disease control efficacy when spraying OW onto plants. DOC in the OW at the spray target decreased with decreasing droplet size. DOC was also greatly reduced at the typical spray distances of 0.50 to 0.75 m to less than one-seventh of the initial DOC (2.2 mg/L^?1) in the sprayer reservoir, and DOC one-third lower than the initial DOC was observed even at the shortest spray distance of 0.05 m for all three nozzle sizes used. Based on the results of these experiments, disease control efficacy by spraying OW can be improved by minimizing the spray distance and using a nozzle that produces a larger spray droplet size, within the range such that adhesion efficiency of OW to the leaf surface is not greatly reduced.     

柿竹园矿区及周边农田土壤重金属形态分布与生物有效性研究

为了解柿竹园矿区及周边农田土壤重金属的生物有效性,采用连续提取法对该矿区及周边的农田土壤重金属Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd、As、Hg的形态分布和生物有效性进行了分析。结果表明:(1)柿竹园矿区及周边农田土壤未见Hg污染情况,但不同程度受到Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd、As的污染,尤以Cd、As污染为重;(2)柿竹园矿区及周边农田土壤中Cu、Pb、Zn以铁锰氧化物结合态为主,分别占其总量的48.3%、67.3%、47.1%,Cd铁锰氧化物结合态含量最高,残渣态、离子交换态和碳酸盐结合态次之;As和Hg以残渣态为主,含量比例在90%以上;(3)矿区及周边土壤中Cd的有效态含量最高,所占比例平均值为31.1%,远高于其他5种重金属元素,生物有效性最高,As的有效态含量最低,生物有效性最低。最后提出了采用稳定化修复技术清理污染源、采用磷酸二氢钙降低土壤中污染最严重元素Pb、Cd的生物有效性、采用香蒲等植物对工矿废弃地及部分未利用土地进行修复的建议。