ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science       ISSN 1990-6145
   
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ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science             January 2015 | Vol. 10 No. 1
 
Title: A multiple engines, continuous variable hybrid transmission for powering heavy tractors with automotive derived common rail diesel engines
Author (s): Luca Piancastelli and Leonardo Frizziero
Abstract:

Even in heavy duty tracked vehicles it is possible to implement Electronic stability control (ESC) system. This is a computerized technology that improves the safety of a vehicle's stability by detecting and reducing loss of traction (skidding). The use of software for the Electronic Stability may render controllable also inherently unstable vehicles. This can be a revolution for heavy tracked vehicles where the unstable dual drive transmission can be used. This very simple transmission system with its extremely high efficiency reduces weight, room and fuel consumption. As for the aircrafts, artificial stability improves handling, giving to the driver the possibility to reach the ultimate dynamic and static limits of the unstable vehicle. The overall performance of the vehicle is then enhanced. The possibility to use multiple engines instead of one, far from being a complication, makes it possible to use off the shelf market solutions for the engines. Automotive derived CRDIDs (Common Rail Direct Injection Diesel) can be used instead of specialized heavy duty direct injection diesel engines. An originally conceived CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission) is introduced for this purpose. This paper demonstrates both the feasibility and the durability of this solution. The TBO (Time between Overhaul) of an automotive CRDID used in a heavy duty vehicle is evaluated.

 
 
 
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Title:

Effects of feed restriction and ascorbic acid supplementation on carcass characteristics, breast meat cholesterol and triglycerides of marshall broiler chickens

Author (s): Olukomaiya O. O., Adeyemi O. A., Sogunle O. M., Abioja M. O., Oyebade A. O. and Iwuchukwu P. O.
Abstract:

To determine the effects of feed restriction and ascorbic acid supplementation on carcass characteristics, breast meat cholesterol and triglycerides of broiler chickens, 252 two-week old Marshall broiler chickens were used in a 4 x 3 factorial experiment. The birds were weighed and randomly distributed into 12 treatments with 3 replicates of 7 birds each, subjected to four feed restriction levels: full feeding (AD), skip a day feeding (SAD), skip two days feeding (S2D) and skip three days feeding every week (S3D) for 24 hours from days 15 to 35 and three levels of ascorbic acid supplementation (0, 150, 300 mg/kg feed). Feed was provided ad libitum to all the birds from days 36 to 56. Birds on full feeding regime containing 0 mg/kg ascorbic acid had the highest (P<0.05) live weight, dressing percentage, plucked weight, eviscerated weight, thigh, back, wings and heart. Breast was highest (P<0.05) in birds on full feeding regime containing 150 mg/kg ascorbic acid. Birds on skip two days feeding regime containing 300 mg/kg had the lowest breast meat cholesterol and triglycerides though not statistically (p>0.05) different from other treatments. In conclusion, feed restriction regimes and ascorbic acid supplementation did not improve carcass characteristics in the feed-restricted birds; however, 150 mg/kg ascorbic supplementation improved the breast weight of the fully fed Marshall broiler chickens.

 
 
 
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Title:

Allelopatic effect of medicinal plants on emergence uniformity and seedling vigor of weed plants case study: fennel, velvetleaf, bindweed

Author (s):

Bahram Mirshekari

Abstract:

In sustainable agricultural strategies there is a world-wide effort to reduce the amount of herbicides used in production by introducing modern biological and ecological methods. Essential oils were reported as inhibitors of seed germination and plant growth. In order to evaluating emergence and stand establishment of weeds as affected by allelopatic effect of fennel extract an experiment was conducted at the Research Station of Islamic Azad University of Tabriz, Iran during 2013. The velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrastii) and field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) seeds were obtained from weed institute of Iran, Tehran. Studied treatments were essence concentrations as 100, 200, 300 and 400 ppm. LSD test was used to compare the differences among treatment means. Both weeds studied responded positively and similarly to studied treatments. When pots irrigated with lower dose of essence, time to start emergence, time taken to 50 % of emergence of seedling and mean emergence time were statistically same as control. All the treatments also decreased the coefficient of uniformity of emergence compared with non-treated seeds; however, minimum coefficient of uniformity of emergence was recorded from 300 and 400 ppm essence concentrations. Maximum seedling dry weight (0.49 g.plant-1) was noticed in control (0.96 g.plant-1) followed by 100 ppm treatment (0.90 g.plant-1), and the lowest from treatments of 200, 300 and 400 ppm treatments. The data shows that seedling vigor index can be decreased by essential oil concentrations with the same trend of seedling dry weight. In the present study a further reduction in essential oil concentration from 200 ppm could restrict seedling vigor index significantly. As a conclusion, higher essence concentration of fennel essential oil could be potentially effective in controlling of the weeds studied.

 
 
 
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Title:

Studies of F1 population from crossing of pompom type with single and double type of kembang kertas (zinnia elegans jacq.)

Author (s):

Tumiur Gultom and Endang Sulistyarini Gultom

Abstract:

The shape of kembang kertas which is attractive as cut flowers is pompom type. Research to get F1 of pompom type with greater proportion was conducted ​​through crossbreeding. Pompom type of kembang kertas is not perfect flowers (do not have male reproductive organ), so it is needed to determine which type of male (single and double type) of perfect flowers (there are male and female reproductive organs) that can give greater pompom proportion. The purpose of this study is to determine the appropriate type of male to get a descent pompom. The materials used in this study were female parents of pompom type that originated of selfing results of M6 population (M6S1) and male parents of single and double type of M7 population. The results showed that crossing between double x ♀pompom types produced the pompom type flower to the proportion of 0.78 and crossing between single x ♀pompom produced the pompom type flower at the proportion of 0.31.

 
 
 
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Title:

Vegetative growth of cabbage in relation to sowing time, plant spacing and NPK grown under different localities of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan

Author (s): Faizullah Khan, Tariq Umar Khan, Shakira Namatullah and Tajudin
Abstract:

Experiments were conducted to determine the proper sowing time, fertilizer requirement and appropriate spacing for cabbage cultivar viz. Golden Acre. Results revealed that sowing dates, plant spacing and NPK application significantly influenced various growth characteristics of cabbage. Number of leaves increased with delayed planting while head diameter decreased. Application of fertilizer increased the number of leaves per plant, diameter and weight of cabbage head. Close spacing (20x40cm) was best for higher cabbage yield.

 
 
 
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Title:

A tissue culture strategy towards the rescue of endangered mascarene aloes

Author (s): D. Lobine, J. Govinden Soulange, M. Ranghoo Sanmukhiya and C. Lavergne
Abstract:

The present study aimed at developing an efficient protocol for the micropropagation and restoration of four endemic threatened Masacrene Aloes namely Aloe lomatophylloides, A. macra, A. purpurea and A. tormentorii. Explants consisting of 2cm long hypocotyls with radicles were cultured on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) basal medium supplemented different plant growth regulators Thidiazuron, Benzyl amino purine and Naphthalene acetic acid (TDZ, BAP, NAA). The diameter of protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) and the length of developing shoots were calculated using digital photography. All explants produced significantly (p<0.05) higher number of PLBs on MS containing 0.01 NAA mg/l except for A. tormentorii explants whereby more PLBs were obtained in MS with NAA and TDZ. Over 95% of rooted plantlets survived acclimatisation. The genetic integrity of the regenerated and acclimatised plantlets was evaluated by employing RAPD, ISSR and IRAP marker assays and results indicated that all the tissue culture-derived plants are true-to-type. Preliminary secondary metabolite screening from the in vitro regenerated Aloe plantlets revealed the presence of numerous bioactive components such as anthraquinones, phenols and flavonoids, and possible presence of alkaloids, coumarins, tannins, saponins and terpenes which are also present in the crude extracts of their  field counterparts. This study paves the way towards a rapid propagation and restoration strategy for endangered medicinal Mascarene Aloes.

 
 
 
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