Advances in Food Science and Technology

Advances in Food Science and Technology ISSN: 6732-4215 Vol. 8 (1), pp. 001-012, January, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Ecological relations between forest communities and environmental variables in the Lishan Mountain Nature Reserve, China

Jin-Tun Zhang¹* and Feng Zhang²

¹College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.

²Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100093, China.

Accepted 16 October, 2019

Abstract

This study attempts to reveal the relationships between forest communities and environmental variables in the Lishan Mountain Nature Reserve, North China. The Lishan Reserve is located at E111° 05’ 43” - 111° 56’29”, N35ë 29’ 07” - 35° 23’10”, and is a part of Zhongtiao mountain range. Floristic and environmental data from fifty-eight quadrats, each of 10 × 20 m along an elevation gradient from 1400 to 2100 m were analyzed by TWINSPAN, DCCA and species diversity indices. Nine forest communities were distinguished by TWINSPAN, and they are all secondary vegetation. Forest units varied in accordance with altitudinal gradient. The results of DCCA showed that elevation and soil organic matter were the most important factors determining the spatial patterns of forest communities in the Lishan Reserve. Vegetation distribution was also significantly related to slope, aspect, soil N, P, Cu, Zn, pH and conductivity. The interaction between the examined environmental factors was obvious. Almost all environmental variables were significantly correlated with elevation and soil organic matter. The effects of soil Cu on forests was important in the studied area because Cu affects the effects of most other variables. Species richness increased linearly with the elevation, which is in contrast to the hump-shaped pattern of diversity-elevation relations. However, species heterogeneity and evenness followed the hump-shaped pattern with elevation. Besides elevation, slope was also a significant factor to species diversity in forest communities. Species diversity was negatively correlated with most soil variables except Cu. The interactions between species diversity and soil variables need more attention in future studies.

Key words: Forest conservation, canonical ordination, classification, topographic factors, soil variables, species diversity.

Advances in Food Science and Technology ISSN: 6732-4215 Vol. 8 (1), pp. 001-004, January, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Hazard analysis and critical control points in palm oil processing in Anambra State, Nigeria

Ego U. Okonkwo

Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute Headquarters, Km. 3 Asa Dam Road, P. M. B. 1489, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. E-mail: egoulu@yahoo.com.

Accepted 14 December, 2019

Abstract

Palm oil processing with the indigenous technology which is mainly women’s occupation at the village level in Akamili, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria was assessed with the hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) system for food safety and quality. The analysis showed that the hazards existed at all stages of process. The critical control points were the sorting stage of the palm fruits, clarification to remove moisture and storage which were identified as the important operations in oil processing. These actions taken will promote gender empowerment; reduce hunger and alleviate poverty culminating in achieving food security in agriculture that meets the millennium development goals (MDGs). The actions recommended for eliminating the hazards in production of quality red palm oil are discussed.

Key words: Hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP), oil palm, fruit, domestic, processing.

Advances in Food Science and Technology ISSN: 6732-4215 Vol. 7 (7), pp. 001-006, July, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Gender analysis in agricultural enterprises producing early potatoes in the Adana province of Turkey

Müge K. Davran¹* and Naciye Tok²

¹Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Çukurova, 01330 Adana-Turkey.

²Adnan Menderes University, Atça Vocational High School, Aydin-Turkey.

Accepted 19 March, 2019

Abstract

Given gender, there exists an unequal social structure between women and men related to education, division of labour, occupation structure etc. This discrimination is rather sharp especially for women working in the agricultural sector and the agricultural enterprises in Turkey, which produce early potatoes, which can be taken as a good example for this paper. In this study, the gender structure in the enterprises in Adana, producing early potatoes was analysed in terms of the owner of the enterprise and his wife and women working as agricultural workers and their spouses. The data was obtained in the villages producing early potatoes in the years 2008 to 2009 through individual interviews and statistical analysis. As a result of the study, it is evident that women are generally oppressed; moreover, female seasonal workers have certain disadvantages compared to both men and their counterparts living in urban areas.

Key words: Gender, seasonal women worker, division of labour, early potato, Turkey.

Advances in Food Science and Technology ISSN: 6732-4215 Vol. 7 (7), pp. 001-011, July, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Spray distribution uniformity of different types of nozzles and its spray deposition in potato plant

Bahadir Sayinci* and Saim Bastaban

Ataturk University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Machinery, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey.

Accepted 15 April, 2019

Abstract

Spray distribution uniformity on sampling posts and spray deposition in potato plants were investigated with six different types of spray nozzles (standard flat fan, hollow cone, air induction and twin jet hydraulic nozzles, spinning disc nozzle and air assisted rotary atomizer). Spray pressures were 4 bar for the hydraulic nozzles and 1.5 bar for the spinning disc nozzle and air assisted rotary atomizer. All trials were conducted at 6.0 km h^-1 travel speed. For the spray distribution uniformity, three different sampling materials (petri dish, water sensitive paper and aluminum strip) on the sampling posts were used. Spray mixture containing water and brilliant blue was used as spray liquid. The concentration of spray samples were corrected with the calibration of the degradation of the dye exposed to direct sunlight and in a dark ambience. The air induction and twin jet nozzles had the lowest means in coefficient of variation (CV%) at all sampling materials. The highest deposit at the middle of the plants was provided with the air induction and twin jet nozzles. The hollow cone nozzle had the lowest mean in deposition at the bottom of the plants. The amount of dye with the air assisted rotary atomizer transferring the top, middle and bottom of the plants respectively, 35.2, 38.9 and 37.2% was found to be deposited on the underside of the leaves.

Key words: Hydraulic nozzle, spinning disc nozzle, rotary atomizer, spray deposition, spray uniformity, potato, pesticide application.

Advances in Food Science and Technology ISSN: 6732-4215 Vol. 7 (6), pp. 001-004, June, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of nitrogen and split doses of potassium on quality aspects of Brassica species

Varsha Gupta^{1, 2}, Vikas Pratap Singh Bhadauria³* and R. L. Agarwal¹

¹Department of Agronomy, R. B. S. College, Bichpuri, Agra-283105, India.

²Krishi Anusandhan Bhawan – II, New Delhi, India.

³Department of Chemistry, Eshan College of Engineering, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Accepted 18 March, 2019

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted on three different Brassica spp. (Brassica juncea, Brassica carinata and Brassica nupus) with three levels of nitrogen (40, 80 and 120 kg of N ha^-1) and 2 methods of time of potassium application at 80 kg ha^-1 ((i) 100% basal and (ii) 50% basal + 50% at the time of 1st irrigation), during Rabi season of 2003 - 2004 and 2004 - 2005 showed that Brassica spp. responded significantly to the application of N and K. Maximum oil yield was observed in case of B. carinata (PBC-9221) and minimum under B. napus. Higher dose of nitrogen 120 kg N ha^-1 produced maximum oil yield. Split application of potassium also produced higher oil yield than basal dose of potassium.

Key words: Brassica, nitrogen, potassium.

Key words: Ants, soil biodiversity, land use types.