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Physicochemical and Spectroscopic Characterization of Biofield Energy Treated Gerbera Multiplication Medium
Mahendra Kumar Trivedi,
Alice Branton,
Dahryn Trivedi,
Gopal Nayak,
Ragini Singh,
Snehasis Jana
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 6, November 2015
Pages:
57-63
Received:
11 October 2015
Accepted:
20 October 2015
Published:
16 November 2015
Abstract: The micropropagation technique is used for Gerbera species due to their high demand all over the world as the decorative potted plants and cut flowers. The present study was done to investigate the impact of biofield energy treatment on the physicochemical properties of gerbera multiplication medium. A part of the sample was treated with Mr. Trivedi’s biofield energy, and the other part was kept as untreated and termed as the control sample. Both the parts were subsequently analysed for their physical, thermal and spectral properties using X-ray diffraction (XRD), particle size analysis, surface area analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), elemental analysis, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The XRD results showed 13.98% increase in crystallite size of treated sample (104.01 nm) as compared to the control (91.25 nm). The particle size data revealed an increase in d50 (average particle size) and d99 (size below which 99% particles are present) by 72.57% and 42.26%, respectively of the treated sample as compared to the control. Moreover, the surface area of the treated sample was reduced from 0.694 m2/g (control) to 0.560 m2/g in the treated sample. The TGA data showed the increase in onset temperature along with the reduction in the percent weight loss of the treated sample as compared to the control. Besides, the elemental analysis revealed the significant decrease in the percentage of nitrogen (10.47%) and hydrogen (9.35%) as well as the presence of sulphur in the treated sample. The FT-IR results showed the differences in the IR frequencies corresponding to pyridine ring and N-H2 deformation of the treated sample as compared to the control. Hence, the overall data revealed that the biofield energy treatment had a significant impact on the physicochemical properties of the treated sample that might help to improve its uses in the in vitro tissue culture techniques as compared to the control sample.
Abstract: The micropropagation technique is used for Gerbera species due to their high demand all over the world as the decorative potted plants and cut flowers. The present study was done to investigate the impact of biofield energy treatment on the physicochemical properties of gerbera multiplication medium. A part of the sample was treated with Mr. Trived...
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Land Use Practices, Woody Plant Species Diversity and Associated Impacts in Maze National Park, Gamo Gofa Zone, Southwest Ethiopia
Wegene Getachew Andabo,
Feleke Woldeyes Gamo
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 6, November 2015
Pages:
64-74
Received:
21 August 2015
Accepted:
8 September 2015
Published:
24 November 2015
Abstract: The most recent attentions in biodiversity conservation efforts have been founded in the identification of land use practices and woody plant species in protected areas. Among such protected areas is Maze National Park located in Gamo Gofa Zone, South West Ethiopia. The Park was selected for this study with the objective of investigating land use practices, woody plant species diversity and the associated impacts for its management and sustainability. To achieve the intended objective, community resources were mapped, the different land use categories, drivers of land use change and impacts caused due to land use practices were identified. Vegetation data was collected from seventy 0.04 ha (20 m ×20 m each) plots in seven transects. Cover abundance values were estimated using the modified Braun Blanquet scale of 1 to 8. A total of 4 land use practices and 80 woody plant species belonging to 31 families and 58 genera were encountered being Fabaceae is the most dominant family. Six plant communities were identified by hierarchical cluster analysis using PC-ORD version 5. The data obtained were analyzed using appropriate indices, statistical tools and software. Despite the contributions of the park to the surrounding community and ecotourism, human and livestock population pressures were the major threats which will jeopardize the park’s sustainability. The findings of this study pointed that the park is under serious risk of its biological diversity in general and that of woody plant species in particular due to consequent habitat deterioration, alteration and degradation. It is, therefore, recommended that timely measures should be taken by all stakeholders to sustain and realize the park’s aesthetic, economic and ecotourism potentials.
Abstract: The most recent attentions in biodiversity conservation efforts have been founded in the identification of land use practices and woody plant species in protected areas. Among such protected areas is Maze National Park located in Gamo Gofa Zone, South West Ethiopia. The Park was selected for this study with the objective of investigating land use p...
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Yield Components of Adama Red Onion (Allium cepa L.) Cultivar as Affected by Intra-row Spacing Under Irrigation in Fiche Condition
Sara Belay,
Daniel Mideksa,
Solomon Gebrezgiabher,
Weldemariam Seifu
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 6, November 2015
Pages:
75-79
Received:
20 October 2015
Accepted:
3 November 2015
Published:
8 January 2016
Abstract: A field experiment was conducted at Addis Ababa University, Selale Campus Horticulture department demonstration farm to assess the effect of plant density (intra-row spacing) on some yield components (mean bulb weight, bulb dry weight, fresh biomass yield and dry biomass yield) of Adama red onion (Allium cepa L.) cultivar in 2014/15 under irrigation. The experiment was conducted using randomized complete block design with three replicates. The analyzed result using ANOVA shows significance difference among the treatments. Maximum mean bulb weight (53.34g), maximum dry bulb weight (28.13g), fresh biomass yield (56.56g) and highest dry biomass yield (42.00g) was recorded in plants spaced at 10cm intra-row spacing. Therefore, it could be conclude that, under Fich condition, good quantity of Adama red onion is possible to produce with intra-row spacing of 10cm which was dominant over the other treatments.
Abstract: A field experiment was conducted at Addis Ababa University, Selale Campus Horticulture department demonstration farm to assess the effect of plant density (intra-row spacing) on some yield components (mean bulb weight, bulb dry weight, fresh biomass yield and dry biomass yield) of Adama red onion (Allium cepa L.) cultivar in 2014/15 under irrigatio...
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Plant Species Diversity and Composition of the Homegardens in Dilla Zuriya Woreda, Gedeo Zone, SNNPRS, Ethiopia
Melese Mengitu,
Daniel Fitamo
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 6, November 2015
Pages:
80-86
Received:
9 September 2015
Accepted:
26 September 2015
Published:
29 January 2016
Abstract: Homegardens are one of the most complex and diverse agroforestry systems worldwide and played an important role towards the development of early agriculture and domestication of crops and fruit trees. The study was conducted with an objective of investigating the role of homegardens for improved livelihoods and food security in Dilla Zuriya Woreda. Simple random sampling was used to obtain a study population of 120 households, to whom an interview schedule and an observation checklist was used. The average size of the homegardens of the study area ranges from 250m2 (small) to 2000m2 (large) with mean of 665.42m2. The Shannon Weaver indices of plant species in Chichu, Golla, Bulla and Shigedo homegarden were H’=3.52, H’=3.46, H’=3.34 and H’=3.37 respectively. The dominance index also shows that only a few species dominated the homegardens in Bulla (l=0.056) as compared to Chichu (l=0.048), Golla (l=0.052) and Shigedo (l=0.054) homegardens. The evenness index shows that in Chichu homegardens most of the species are equally abundant (E = 0.45). In total, 75 different plant species with trees (44%), shrubs (20%), herbs (32%) and climbers (4%) were recorded under ten use categories. Of the identified species 40% were food crops, 17.3% were crops used for income, 13.3% were medicinal, 17.3% were plants used as live fence, 20% were used for building and fuel, 10.6% were used for home materials, 4% were used as spices, 5.3% were stimulants, 10.6% were used as ornamentals and 20% plant species were used for shading. The homegaden in the study area were highly diversified with different plant species that provide multiple use for the household.
Abstract: Homegardens are one of the most complex and diverse agroforestry systems worldwide and played an important role towards the development of early agriculture and domestication of crops and fruit trees. The study was conducted with an objective of investigating the role of homegardens for improved livelihoods and food security in Dilla Zuriya Woreda....
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