Boost or Barrier? How 60Co Gamma Radiation Influences Jatropha Seed Germination | InformativeBD

Baudouin K. Nyembo,  Alexandre N. Mbaya,  Calvin C. Ilunga,  Jean-Louis N. Muambi,  and  Luc L. Tshilenge, from the different institute  of DR-Congo. wrote a Research Article about, Ginkgo Beyond Home: How Egypt’s Climate Shapes Its Pollen and Phenotypes. Entitled, Effects of 60Co gamma radiation doses on seed germination of Jatropha curcas L.. This research paper published by the International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research | IJAAR. an open access scholarly research journal on Agronomy. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the effects of different gamma radiation doses from Cobalt -60 isotopic source on seed germination and early growth parameters of Jatropha curcas L. Healthy and dry seeds were subjected to three doses of gamma rays (100, 200 and 300 Gy). The experiment was conducted using randomized complete block design, with three replicates. The significantly maximum germination percentage (89.85 %), seedling survival (92.3 %), seedling collar diameter (0.892 cm), plant height (17.30 cm), number of leaves (7) were observed at 30 days after germination. The results revealed that seed germination percentages and seedling shoot length decreased with increasing dose of gamma-rays. Higher gamma-ray dose (300 Gy) in particular had a pronounced effect on these germination parameters than others, probably because high-dose inhibited cell division due to free radicals and DNA system damage. The LD50 for seeds germination rates was obtained at 254 Gy. These results implied that germination traits of Jatropha curcas seeds were sensitive to increase in gamma-ray.

Read more :  Ginkgo Beyond Home: How Egypt’s Climate Shapes Its Pollen and Phenotypes | InformativeBD

Introduction 

Jatropha curcas L. belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family, a multipurpose, perennial, drought resistant shrub or tree which is widely distributed in the wild or semi-cultivated areas in Central and South America, Africa, India and South East Asia (MartinezHerrera et al., 2006; Tatikonda et al., 2009). That is one of the important oil seed crops and a potential source of vegetable oil as a replacement for petroleum and in particular, the production of biodiesel (King et al., 2009). It is gaining a lot of economic importance because of its several potentials in industrial application and medicinal values. It is established different parts of this biodiesel producing plant including leaves, oil, sap, stem; roots and bark have numerous health benefits (Prasad et al., 2012; Agbogidi et al., 2013).

In Democratic Republic of Congo (RDCongo), the vernacular names of this plant are Nakakula, Mitanda, Ludimba by the Luba; Mupuluka, Dasikamabete, Mpulungu, Mukadipemba, Ngubanguedi, by the Kongo (Kambu, 1990).

Jatropha is a fast growing plant and produce seeds after approximately two years depending on many factors such as rainfall conditions and either the plant is propagated from cuttings or from seeds (Heller, 1996). The first developmental stage of the plant is germination, a critical stage in the life cycle of plants and this growth stage is strongly influenced by environmental factors (De Villiers et al., 1994). The studies on seed germination are needed to contribute to the knowledge of Jatropha curcas cultivation.

Improved varieties of J.curcas with desirable traits for specific growing conditions are not available, which makes growing Jatropha a risky business. This plant can be improved through application of mutation breeding to bring the change in the desired traits (Divakara et al., 2010; Surwenshi et al.,2011; Nayak et al., 2012). Mutation breeding which is efficient and much cheaper method than others can play an important role in crop improvement either directly or by supplementing the conventional breeding. Mutagenic agents, such as radiation and certain chemicals, can be used to induce mutations and generate genetic variation in seed germination, growth and yield traits of J.curcas (Dhakshanamoorthy et al., 2010; Chiangmai et al., 2014). The doses of 10, 15, 20 and 25 Gy of gamma applied to cutting because of its higher water content were able to increase genetic variability in J. curcas (Dwimahyani and Ishak, 2004). Sarhan et al. (2015) induced mutation in Jatropha curcas L. with gamma rays 20 and 25 Kr dose in order to increase the tolerance and resistances salinity of it. Pandey (2016) reported the effect of gamma rays on initial development of Jatropha curcas especially on the cotyledonary leaves. Irradiation dose of 225 Gy was good to be given in acute, intermittent, and split-dose methods on the performance of Jatropha plants (Surahman et al., 2018).

The main objective of the present investigation was to study the effects of different gamma radiation doses from Cobalt -60 isotopic source on seed germination and early growth of Jatropha curcas L.

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Divakara BN, Upadhyaya HD, Wani SP. Gowda CL, Laxmipathi. 2010. mutagenesis in Jatropha curcas L. to induce variability in seed germination, growth and yield traits. Romanian Journal of Biology – Plant Biology 55(2), 113-125, Bucharestest.

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Article source : Effects of 60Co gamma radiation doses on seed germination of Jatropha curcas L.

 

 

 

 

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Ginkgo Beyond Home: How Egypt’s Climate Shapes Its Pollen and Phenotypes | InformativeBD

Wafaa K. Taia, Selim Z. Heneidy, Laila M. Bidak, Amal M. Fakhry,  and Soliman M. Toto, from the different institute  of Egypt. wrote a Research Article about, Ginkgo Beyond Home: How Egypt’s Climate Shapes Its Pollen and Phenotypes. Entitled, Ecological acclimation on the pheno-characters of Ginkgo biloba L. outside its native range: Perspective to pollen grains, Egypt.  This research paper published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES. an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

A fertile branch at three meters high was chosen from a 25-year-old Ginkgo biloba male tree for this investigation. The tree was examined daily to record the suitable time of mature yellow catkins (male cone), which was in April 2023. Pollen grains from the mid catkin from the nine fertile nodes beside those collected from the four Earths directions have been examined carefully by both the light and Scanning electron microscopes. Element contents have been investigated within the different pollen stages. The data obtained revealed that most of the investigated pollen pheno-characters showed highly significant differences between the catkin developmental stages and in between the different positions in each catkin stage, except within few characters. Despite the state of differences recorded within the different positions of the catkins there were highly significant differences between the different nine stages of the catkin position. This investigation showed that G. biloba trees growing in Alexandria city are adapted to the city climate and release their pollen grains gradually to ensure successful pollination. The microsporangia mature gradually; accordingly, their pollen grains are in different developmental and hydrolytic states. The obtained results proved the high adaptation processes which are shown in both the phenol-morphological states beside their mineral contents of the G. biloba pollen grains.

Read more : Mapping Green Life: Quantitative Vegetation Study of Agoo Eco-Park | InformativeBD

Introduction

Ginkgo biloba is a mysterious tree; it is the oldest living gymnosperm tree which overcomes much generic extinction, and it is the only species still adapt with all the environmental disorders from the Ginkgophyta (Zhou & Zheng, 2003). It is considered as a unique tree in many aspects, it occupies its unique taxonomic division, class, order, family and genus with great genetic distances with its relatives beside its important food content, and medicinal values. This species is considered a living fossil as it overcomes many global catastrophes and adapts with great environmental and climate changes. This species has many forms of adaptation which made it modulate with the environmental disturbance meanwhile it has its specific way of fertilization. It produces huge amounts of light pollen grains to succeed its anemophilous mode of pollination. G. biloba pollens carried inside microsporangia in subsequent degrees of development to insure long fertile time (Lu et al., 2016). After pollen dispersal, the pollen grain releases water and becomes typically folded inwards in its aperture or leptoma to keep the exposed aperture area in hydrated state (Hesse et al., 2009). Worth noticing that the shape of dry pollen grains after dispersal is bilaterally symmetrical with monosulcate wide aperture and nearly smooth exine ornamentation (Lu et al. 2011a). After hydration with the pollination drop, the pollen converts into a round shape (Tekleva et al., 2007). This pollen shape change is considered as a mode of adaptation to keep more pollen grains in fertile and hydrated form.

Trees of G. biloba are native to China and introduced to Japan, Europe, and North America (Del Tredici 1991 & 2000; Tsumura et al., 1992). Its trees are commonly planted in the parks as ornamentals for their woody trunk and characteristic leaves. The trees are dioecious i.e., the female megasporangia carried in trees separate from those who carried the microsporangia. The microsporangia are carried in an inflorescence called catkin. The catkins originated from the axils of the leaves on short shoots and their numbers differ from node to another. Each sporangiophore consists of a stalk and sterile extension which bears two pendant pollen sacs and release their pollens by the aid of longitudinal slit (Klimko et al., 2016).

Pollen morphological characteristics have been studied in detail as they are essential for successful fertilization and reproduction in G. biloba. This study presents information on aspects of pollen development of G. biloba, which are relevant to understanding its ecological characteristics as an introduced species in Egypt. Meanwhile to find out how much the catkin-like developmental stages affect the pollen morphological characters and its hydration state which in turn affect its fertility to help in the process of the species conservation and reproduction. In addition, to highlighting the special strategy of G. biloba to acclimate with environmental factors outside its native range with respect to pollen grain characters.

Reference 

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Article source : Ecological acclimation on the pheno-characters of Ginkgo biloba L. outside its native range:Perspective to pollen grains, Egypt 

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Mapping Green Life: Quantitative Vegetation Study of Agoo Eco-Park | InformativeBD

Robelyn S. Lizardo, from the  institute of Philippines.  Ginalyn G. Laron, from the institute of Philippines. Derick T. Boado, from the institute of Philippines and Beatriz E. Aspiras, from the institute of Philippines. wrote a Research Article about, Mapping Green Life: Quantitative Vegetation Study of Agoo Eco-Park. Entitled, Quantitative vegetation analysis of Agoo Eco-park in Sta. Rita West Agoo, La, Union using grid-based mapping. This research paper published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES. an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

The quantitative vegetation analysis in Agoo Ecopark is assessed. This study is aimed to identify the plants present and classify them based on distribution, conservation status, and their ecological indices. This study also assessed the soil physicochemical composition. A quantitative and naturalistic observation was employed. Transect sample was used to obtain samples. There were 17 plants identified, 7 are native, 4 are naturalized, 3 exotics,1 cultivated, and 2 undocumented. Sonneratia alba recorded the highest Importance Value Index (IVI), the dominant plant family are the Fabaceae. Seven of the plants found are also native species and only two species are exotic. Moreover, this study shows that native species are dominant in the sampled area over exotic species. This study also shows that the soil conditions tolerable for the identified plants are extremely low Phosphorus, extremely high Potassium, normal pH range, which is acidic, and lightly textured due to the high presence of sand, and electrical conductivity which is non-saline. It is highly recommended that the Agoo Eco-park may be evaluated against other locations with the same ecosystem and a complete enumeration of vegetation may also be considered to create better results.

Read more : When Nutrients Go Missing: Visual Deficiency Signs in Shorea Seedlings | InformativeBD

Introduction

Biodiversity is important to most aspects of lives. People heavily rely on the various vegetation for resources in order to survive. Biodiversity, in general, has utilitarian and intrinsic values, complexity, diversity, spiritual significance, wildness, beauty and wonderness. Utilitarian values include the other basic needs humans receive from biodiversity such as food, fuel, shelter, and medicine. Among the richest in biodiversity globally has been the Philippine rainforest, which used to conceal about 90% of the country’s land area. During the last decades, the forest cover has been minimized to less than 10% of the original, only a fraction of which is old-growth forest During the 1970 to 1990 period, the percentage of remaining rainforest in the country was drastically reduced from about 70% of what it was in the 1900s to less than 10% (Perez, 2020). Vegetation can even affect the weather conditions. It is of vital importance to maintain healthy forest ecosystems and provision of multiple services of ecosystem (Felipe-Lucia et al. 2018). Vegetation such as trees, bushes, wetlands, and wild grasslands naturally slow down water and help soil to absorb rainfall. Trees and other plants clean the air we breathe and help us tackle the global challenge of climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide.

In 2021, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) started to reforest the place under its national greening program (NGP). The park is a part of the Agoo- Damortis Protected Landscape and Seascape (ADLPS), which covers 10,774.68 hectares as core zone and 135 hectares as buffer zone. Of this area, only 3 percent is land and rest is marine ecosystem. The Agoo Eco-Park, which was once identified as Agoo-Damortis Protected Landscape has been designated as a Protected Landscape and Seascape at national level in 2018 (DOPA, 2021). Agoo Eco-Park has been developed. Transects and quadrats are two ecological tools that permits quantifying the relative abundance, richness, diversity and evenness of species in an area. To track changes over time, it is important to be able to quantify changes in abundance. This method allows estimation of plant densities, frequency based on scattered points over a larger geographic area. This study utilized transects due to the vast extent of sampling sites. Measuring importance value can aid understanding the succession stages of a forest habitat. Importance values are one objective way of measuring this dominance. The three factors that are used to determine the importance value of a species are the density, dominance and frequency. The significance of this study is to analyze the vegetation Agoo Eco-Park in Sta. Rita West, Agoo, La Union.

In this light, this study was a quantitative vegetation analysis of the Agoo Ecopark in Sta.Rita Agoo, La Union. The foci of the study were to identify the plants (family and genus) and its ecological importance; identify the conservation status of the plant species based on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list; identify the distribution status of the plant species based on Co’s Digital Flora of the Philippines, (2011); and determine the physicochemical composition of the soil. The study is mainly focused on the vegetation analysis of floristic diversity in the forest areas of Ecopark Sta. Rita West, Agoo, La Union which was covered 10,648.94 hectares of coastal area, including mangrove swamps, stretches of fine black sand beaches, and seagrass beds. It was the first posted as a national park in 1965 and known as the Agoo– Damortis National Seashore Park. It covers approximately 30 kilometers of coastline of the Lingayen Gulf shared between the municipalities of Agoo, Santo Tomas and Rosario. In previous years the seascape has 10,197.61 hectares and 315.59 hectares landscape. The study area of Agoo Ecopark showing in Google Earth map where each line in the grid accounts 300 meters away from the seashore. It is evident that with the change in the seascape, there was also a change in the landscape. A lot of pioneer species are teeming in the Ecopark due to the expansion of land.

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Raju R, Prakash T, Rahul R, Poonangadu SS, Kumar SS, Sonaimuthu P, Chua JMT, Capili JT. 2021. Phytochemical Analysis of Three Common Medicinal Plants (Gliricidia sepium, Melothria pendula, and Pithecellobium dulce) in the Philippines. Scholars Academic Journal of Biosciences 9(3), 84-88.

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Rojas-Sandoval J, Acevedo-Rodríguez P. 2022. Caesalpinia decapetala (Mysore thorn). CABI Compendium, CABICompendium. https://doi.org/10.1079 /cabicompendium.10733

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Widowati W, Janeva BW, Nadya S, Amalia A, Arumwardana S, Kusuma HSW, Arinta Y. 2018. Antioxidant and antiaging activities of Jasminum sambac extract, and its compounds. Journal of Reports in Pharmaceutical Sciences 7(3), 270-285.

Article source : Quantitative vegetation analysis of Agoo Eco-park in Sta. Rita West Agoo, La, Union using grid-based mapping

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When Nutrients Go Missing: Visual Deficiency Signs in Shorea Seedlings | InformativeBD

Maria Opelia M. Moreno,  Randy A. Villarin, and  Marlito Jose Bande, from the different institute of Philippines. wrote a Research Article about, When Nutrients Go Missing: Visual Deficiency Signs in Shorea Seedlings. Entitled, Visual deficiency symptoms of Shorea Species seedlings as affected by macronutrient omission. This research paper published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES.  an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess and describe the visual nutrient deficiency symptoms exhibited by Shorea almon, Shorea negrosensis, and Shorea palosapis seedlings as affected by macronutrient omission. A complete randomized design was used with seven (7) treatments and four (4) replications. There were 36 seedlings per treatment per replication per species used in the experiment. The occurrences of deficiency symptoms in response to nutrient element omission on the study plants were monitored weekly. Photos on possible nutrient deficiency symptoms were taken typically on unusual colors or patterns in the leaves, burns, distortion of individual plant parts, stunting or abnormal growth. The photos were individually compared to several published literatures for confirmation. Results showed that the common characteristics of macronutrient deficiency symptoms were chlorosis on the leaf blade, interveinal and marginal chlorosis, and scorching in the leaf tip. In the later stages, necrosis starts to develop after chlorosis. Furthermore, it was observed that deficiency symptoms depend on the plant species and the macronutrients content required for optimal growth. The absence of an essential macronutrient affects plant growth and performance. When the nutrient supply was suboptimal, the morphological growth performance of the seedlings grown under no fertilizer application and -N treatments were stunted. Therefore, nutrient element omission considerably influenced the growth performance of Shorea seedlings which showed nutrient deficiency symptoms specific to the omitted nutrient element.

Read more : Voices from the Reclaimed Land: Community Choices in Post-Mining Agroforestry | InformativeBD

Introduction

The Dipterocarpaceae species are the most important source of timber in Southeast Asia (ESSC, 1999). Hence, they are the ones used by the government’s biggest environmental project, the National Greening Program (NGP). Dipterocarps play a dominant role in the ecology and economics in the forests of Asia (Poore, 1989) in a way that no comparable family plays in other rainforest regions.

This present study is focused on Shorea, a genus of the Dipterocarpaceae. Shorea is a good source of timber, food for wild animals, and probably other uses like medicine as in other plants unknown to many (Bhalero et al., 2012; Sonowal et al., 2012). Shorea is a vulnerable genus because of deforestation and cutting for its valuable timber as in many other species and genera (Mishara, 2013). As Shorea species have been used in forest restoration, it is just necessary to distinguish the symptoms if planted in a macronutrient-deficient site. Hence, we conducted this study.

Plants need the right combination of nutrients to live, grow and reproduce. When plants suffer from malnutrition, they show symptoms of being unhealthy. Too little or too much of any one nutrient can cause problems (Hosier, 1999). To determine elemental plant deficiencies, most agriculturists rely primarily on visual symptoms, soil analysis, and plant tissue analysis (Wong, 2005). Visual nutrient deficiency symptoms have been described for a number of ornamentals (Joiner et al., 1983) but limited study was conducted on trees particularly Dipterocarpacea.

Visual mineral deficiency symptoms vary and are often unique for different species (Harbaugh, 1986; Hershey and Merritt, 1987). Characterization of leaf development and nutrient deficiency symptoms could aid in diagnosing nutrient disorders and distinguishing nutrient imbalances from other disorders caused by pathogens, chemical damage, or other stresses. The objective of the study was to assess and describe the visual deficiency symptoms of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) in the seedlings of Shorea species as influenced by nutrient omission treatments under screen house condition.

Reference

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Afrousheh M, Ardalan M, Hokmabadi H, Hatami S. 2007.Visual deficiency symptoms of nitrogen, iron, magnesium on Pistachio seedlings.

Bradley L, Hosier S. 1999. Guide to symptoms of plant nutrient deficiencies.

ESSC, Decline of the Philippine Forest, Environmental Science for Social Change, Inc. 1999. The Bookmark, Inc., Makati City, the Philippines

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Grusak MA. 2001. Plant Macro‐and Micronutrient Minerals. e LS.

Harbaugh B. 1986. Visual nutrient deficiency symptoms in Caladium_hortulanum Birdsey. J. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci. 111, 248±253.

Hershey DR, Merritt RH. 1987. Calcium deficiency symptoms of heartleaf philodendron. Hort Science 22(2), 311-311.

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Manongsong RTP. 2017. Nutrient Dynamics and Retranslocation of Dipterocarp Seedlings in Response to Nutrient Management under Screen House Condition. Visayas State University, VISCA Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines

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Article source : Visual deficiency symptoms of Shorea Species seedlings as affected by macronutrient omission

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Voices from the Reclaimed Land: Community Choices in Post-Mining Agroforestry | InformativeBD

Muhammad Yusuf, Hafizianor, and Mahrus Aryadi, from the institute of Indonesia. wrote a Research Article about, Voices from the Reclaimed Land: Community Choices in Post-Mining Agroforestry. Entitled, Community preference on agroforestry systems at post-mining revegetation land at PT Arutmin Tambang Asam-asam, South Kalimantan. This research paper published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES. an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

During this time, land reclamation by means of revegetation so that plants can live on post-mining land finds obstacles in its implementation, including technical, social, expensive and long time problems. One of the ways is to formulate a post-mining land revegetation model effectively and efficiently (Kustiawan, 2001). Land use with agroforestry systems is a combination of tree crops that have an economic and ecological role with seasonal plants or other types of plants. The object of this research is the PT Arutmin Indonesia. Tambang Asam-asam coal mining area which has been and is currently conducting post-mining revegetation activities. The concept of land revegetation patterns after the coal mine that will be formulated is a reference for local government policies in utilizing natural resources, especially land that has been damaged. Community preferences are obtained by conducting interviews and using questionnaires to respondents. The number of respondents from the community was carried out by purposive sampling (Sugiyono. 2007). The chosen community is the head of the family with the livelihood of farming and gardening located in the area closest to the company’s operations. Community preferences analyzed included community expectations for groups of plant species, main types of plants and types of herbaceous plants and supporting plants. Public preference for agroforestry systems that can be developed in post-mining revegetation lands is 60% of the plants that are expected to be in agroforestry areas are timber-producing plants, 50% want rubber as the main crop in the agroforestry area, 70% choose turmeric as an herbaceous plant It is expected to be planted in post-mining areas, while 80% want ginger as a supporting plant that is expected to be planted in post-mining areas based on agroforestry.

Read more :  Color from the Hive: Testing Bee-Based Shoe Polish Varieties | InformativeBD

Introduction

The main problem in post-mining land is environmental changes that affect conditions in groundwater and surface water, then morphologically and topically change land (Suprapto, 2008). The problem of post-mining land rehabilitation is complicated, because it involves costs and time and special expertise is needed. Land reclamation activities combine the work of vegetation management to create a sustainable natural environment and the economy of the community remains good (Lubis, 1997). Until now there is still little research on the use of reclaimed land by coal mining companies to improve the welfare of communities around the mine.

One way to overcome the obstacles as described above is to formulate effective and efficient postmining land revegetation models. The revegetation model is based on agroforestry (Kustiawan, 2001). Agroforestry systems have great potential both in terms of ecology and economics. This system is beneficial for the management of water and soil in the surrounding environment because there are various types of plants with different canopy strata with their respective functions, as well as the biodiversity of plants that become habitats for animals. Besides that it is beneficial for people around the mine area because the community can periodically harvest the results of intercropping before and after the main crops produce products that can be harvested.

According to Foresta, et.al. (2000), land use with agroforestry systems is a combination of tree crops that have an important economic role or have an ecological role (such as coconut, rubber, cloves, cashew or tree crops) with seasonal crops (such as corn, rice, nuts, vegetables) or other types of plants (such as bananas, coffee, chocolate) are simple agroforestry systems. In addition, the types of plants chosen are directed to native plants. It is better to choose local plants that are in accordance with the current climate and soil conditions (Qomariah, 2003).

The basis of this research is the effort to recover postmining land which is a production forest area in order to be able to function again through the agroforestry system by exploring preferences for the return of the function of agroforestry-based production forest areas. This research was conducted at PT. Arutmin Indonesia Tambang Asam Asam, South Kalimantan which is a company that has implemented post-mining revegetation implementation. Efforts to restore the condition of post-mining land to be productive are expected to be maximally beneficial for human needs and the environment in a sustainable manner.

Reference

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Arnold BH. 2001. The Evaluation of Reclamation Derelict Land and Ecosystems. Journal Land Rehabilitation and Restoration Ecology 7(2), 35-54, Massaschusetts. USA.

Charles JH, Smith AG, Wood RE. 2001. Physical Properties, Abandoned Mine Coal in Surface Method. Paper presented at The Conference Mine Coal and Land Reclamation. October, Ottawa, Canada.

Djogo APY. 1995. Potential Agroforestry Models for Dryland Agriculture. Paper presented at the National Agroforestry Workshop II, in January, was organized by the Forestry Research and Development Agency with the Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Network (FAQ-APAN) in Ujung Pandang.

Foresta H, Kusworo A, Michon G, dan Djatmiko WA. 2000. When a Garden is a typical Indonesian Agroforestry Forest. International Center For Research in Agroforestry. Bogor, Indonesia.

Foresta H, Michon G. 1997. The Agroforestry Alternative to Imperata Grassland: when smallholder agriculture and forestry reach sustainability. Agroforestry System 36, 105-120.

Kustiawan W. 2001. Development of Vegetation and Soil Conditions and Revegetation of former Coal Mine excavations in East Kalimantan. Forestry Scientific Journal “Borneo Jungle” 6(2), 20-30. Samarinda.

Lorenzo JS, Griffith JJ, de Souza AL, Reis MGF, de Vale AB. 1996. Ecology of a Brazilian Bauxite Mine Abandoned for Fifty Years. Proceedings The International Land Reclamation and Mine Drainage Conference and Third International Conference on The Abatement of Acidic Drainage 1(3), 73-82. Pittsburgh.

Lubis M. 1997. The Development of Indonesia’s Coal Supply Industry Trade and Investment Issues. Paper Presented at APEC Coal Trade and Investment Liberalization and Facilatation Workshop, August          5, Jakarta.

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Ogawa S, Makino I, Maruyama M, Murakami T, Ishitsuka N, Saito G. 2000. Variation in Hydrological Process With Land Use Change: Tree Case Studies in Brazil, Thailand and Japan. Journal Global Climate 4, 86-96 Published by Global Change Impacts Centre for Southeast Asia (IC-SEA) Bogor, Indonesia and National Institute of Agro-Environment Sciences (NIAES) Tsukuba, Japan.

Qomariah R. 2003. Impact of Unlicensed Coal Mining Activities (PETI) on the Quality of Land Resources and Socio-Economic Communities in the Banjar Regency of South Kalimantan. IPB Bogor Postgraduate Thesis.

Rianse U, Abdi SP. 2010. Agroforestry; Social and Economic Solutions for Forest Resource Management. Alfabeta publisher. Bandung 10-17.

Ripley EA, Redmann RE, Crowder AA. 1996. Environmental Effects of Mining. St Lucie Press, Florida, USA.

Riswan S, Waluto EB, Abdulhadi R. 1995. Development of Agroforestry Systems in the Indonesian East Region. Paper presented at the National Agroforestry Workshop III, in January, was organized by the Forestry Research and Development Agency with the Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Network (FAO-APAN) in Ujung Pandang.

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Torbert JL, Burger JA. 1996. Influence of Grading Intensity on Ground Cover Establishment ,Erosion and Tree Establisment on Steep Slopes. Proceedings the International Land Reclamation and Mine Drainage Conference and Third International Conference on The Abatement of Acidic Drainage. Vol 3, 226-231, Pittsburgh.

Val C, Gil A. 1996. Methodology for Monitoring Land Reclamation of Coal Mining Dumps. Proceedings the International Land Reclamation and Mine Drainage Conference and Third International Conference on The Abatement of Acidic Drainage 3, 2-11, Pittsburgh.

Vergara NT. 1982. New Direction in Agroforestry: The Potential of Tropical Legume Tress,Improving Agroforestry in The Asia-Pasific Tropic. East-West Center, Honolulu, USA.

Wadjidi. 2005. Coal Mining and Social Problems in the Province of South Kalimantan. An open report in July 2005 was submitted for the South Kalimantan Provincial DPRD. Banjarmasin.

Article source : Community preference onagro forestry systems at post-mining revegetation land at PT Arutmin Tambang Asam-asam, South Kalimantan 

 

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Color from the Hive: Testing Bee-Based Shoe Polish Varieties | InformativeBD

Shella B Cacatian, and Narcitas B Ouano, from the institute of Philippines. wrote a Research Article about, Color from the Hive: Testing Bee-Based Shoe Polish Varieties. Entitled, Acceptability test of different colors of shoe polish from bee products. This research paper published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES. an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

The use of organic materials as shoe polish is just within reach and is less polluting. This study investigated the sensory characteristics of shoe polish cream in different colors from bee products. It designed and tested appropriate packaging and labelling for the different formulations. Four groups of respondents evaluated the four formulations. Data were subjected to Analysis of Variance and to Least Significant Differences using Randomized Complete Block Design to test the disparity among the treatment means. Results depict that the shoe polish in different colors were not statistically different as regards odor, gloss, absorbency, consistency, color intensity, quick-dry ability, effectivity with respect to time and general acceptability. Likewise, the acceptability of the four groups of rater to product’s gloss and absorbency does not significantly vary. However, the relative distinction of the achieved status of raters modifies the ranking on odor, consistency, color intensity, quick-dry ability, effectivity, and general acceptability. Unopened shoe polish can remain stable for two years at room temperature and in proper storage. In the context of product packaging and labelling characteristics, the big-sized container, substrate type, pictorial elements and verbal information of the label are the most significant attributes affecting the preference of the raters.

Read more :  Pitchers of Bucas Grande: Classifying and Conserving the Island’s Carnivorous Plants |InformativeBD

Introduction

Over the years, the Cagayan State University at Sanchez Mira has emphasized conducting beekeeping activities to complement its mandate as the Regional Apiculture Satellite Center (RASC) in Region 02. Anchored on the National Apiculture Research Training and Development’s (NARTDI) thrusts and goals to work on European and Philippine native bees, it is in the position to explore the opportunity of strengthening the beekeeping industry in the region as an organic and sustainable means to pursue development goals and preserve biodiversity. With the vision to be a hub for bee research and development, one of its objectives is to generate and disseminate relevant knowledge and technology that lead to improved productivity, profitability, and sustainability in the apiculture industry. The promotion of appropriate apicultural techniques could help create various types of small-scale incomegenerating activities to solve the unemployment situation in the region and improve the standard of living by increasing the income level of the populace.

In the past, a lot of beekeeping activities in the region focus on the production of honey, the best known main product of beekeeping. Wax is also a primary product but has rarely given consideration, and propolis is even less familiar. While these products are often wasted (Jakpa, 2016; Fearne, Martinez & Dent, 2012) and are mostly left or thrown away (Gebru, 2015; Ambaw & Teklehaimanot, 2018), they can be transformed into a wide variety of marketable products or can be added to other products to enhance their value or quality. Many of the primary products of beekeeping does not have a market until they are incorporated to more commonly used, valueadded products (Krell, 2011). Value addition to processing, packaging, and branding agricultural produce would increase the benefits obtained from the beekeeping products (Berem, 2009; Hoberg & Maksimovic, 2015; Edwards, Schwab & Shevlin, 2016). Diversification with value-added products, therefore, offers an opportunity to strengthen local markets, which then permit a more solid beekeeping production and eventually increased incentives for regional and global trade (Krell, 2011; ArevaloGallegos, Ahmad, Asgher, Parra & Iqbal, 2017). For example, honey with royal jelly or honey mixed with pollen or propolis powder can fetch a better price than the two products marketed separately (De Figueiredo, Meuwissen, Van der Lans, Oude Lansink, 2016; Tarekegn, Girma & and Assefa, 2017).

The inclusion of “natural" bee products in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and foods (Premratanachai & Chanchao, 2014; Abdullah, Noordin, Ismail, & Mustapha et. al., 2018) poses new opportunities and challenges to small-scale producers, traders, and processors along with beekeeping industries. They see it as necessary in the development framework for upgrading as an instrument for promoting the products.

An initial study was conducted by Cacatian (2016) on the formulation of a black shoe polish cream highlighting the physical characteristics and shelf-life of the product using coconut and bee products. The study yielded positive results, and it offers new possibilities of using readily available low-cost and all-natural materials in the production of shoe polish. Consequently, with the investigation, it is viable to produce different colors of shoe polish like black, brown, burgundy, and neutral using beeswax and propolis.

The productive utilization of bee products could pave the way to help create small business opportunities for beekeepers, women, and entrepreneurs and improve their economic situation. The potential of this research study will motivate beekeepers and would-be beekeepers to expand their apiaries, eventually increasing the volume of bee products production and their income.

Moreover, the application of the raw materials in producing different colors of organic shoe polish cream can at least contribute to the government’s advocacy of lessening the production of biodegradable garbage and squandered dirt especially the coconut and bee by products which are one of the main barriers in the continuous water system flow in the community that lead to a disastrous flooding.

Putting them to good use is one way of collaborating with the government in taking actions and in creating new patterns of behavior towards the environment. It is within this premise that this study is conducted to formulate an all-natural shoe polish cream in different colors from bee products that is safe, gentle, environment-friendly and cost-effective. Specifically, the study assessed the acceptability of the shoe polish, the difference on the preference of the groups of rater on its physical characteristics, the shelf-life, as well as the design and appropriate packaging and label for the different formulations of shoe polish.

Reference

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Akhtar N, Ahmed I, Jafar HY, Rizwan A, Nawaz JM. 2016. The Impact of packaging, price and brand awareness on brand loyalty: A reseller perspective in mobile sector of Pakistan. International Review of Management and Business Research 5(3), 790-807. http://www.irmbrj ournal.com/papers/1467434737.pdf

Ambaw M, Teklehaimanot T. 2018. Characterization of beekeeping production and marketing system and major constraints in selected districts of Arsi and West Arsi zones of Oromia region in Ethiopia. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 6(2), 2408-2414. http://www.entomol journal.com/archives/2018/vol6issue2/PartAA/6-1-426-598.pdf

Arevalo-Gallegos A, Ahmad Z, Asgher M, Parra R, Iqbal HM. 2017. Lignocellulose: A sustainable material to produce value-added products with a zero waste approach—A review. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 99, 308-318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac. 2017.02.097

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Cacatian SB. 2016. Physical characteristics and shelf life of shoe polish cream from coconut and bee products. Asian Intellect for Academic Organization and Development Research and Education Journal 4, 71-76

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De Figueiredo HS, Meuwissen MP, Van der Lans IA, Oude Lansink AG. 2016. Identifying successful strategies for honey value chains in Brazil: A conjoint study. British Food Journal 118(7), 1800-1820.

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Article source :  Acceptability test ofdifferent colors of shoe polish from bee products  

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