Mature seeds of H. salicifolia, collected from five provenances （i.e. Hanuman Chatti, Helang, Lata, Rambara and Janggal Chatti） in west Himalaya, India, were treated with stratification （at 4℃ for 15, 30 and 60 d...Mature seeds of H. salicifolia, collected from five provenances （i.e. Hanuman Chatti, Helang, Lata, Rambara and Janggal Chatti） in west Himalaya, India, were treated with stratification （at 4℃ for 15, 30 and 60 days） and in different concentrations of GA3 （5, 10, 20 mM）, KNO3 （50, 100, 200 mM） and Thiourea （50, 100, 200 mM） solution to determine the variations in seed germination. Results reveal that the germination rates of seeds from different provenances under different pre-sowing treatments are significantly increased compared to those in control （24%-30%）. The seeds treated with Thiourea （100 mM） have highest germination rate （76%-83% for different seed sources）, followed by those （63%-71% for different seed sources） pretreated with stratification （4℃, 30 days）. GA3 treatment significantly shortens the mean germination time （MGT） and improves seed germination percentage. Considering the practical applicability and cost effectiveness, thiourea （100 mM） and stratification （at 4℃） treatments for seed germination are recommended for mass multiplication through seeds of H. saliciifolia in village/forest nurseries of the west Himalaya, India.展开更多
Energy and environmental sustainability are important considerations for increased rice production. This study examined the energy utilization and sustainability of rice processing in sub-Saharan Africa. The community...Energy and environmental sustainability are important considerations for increased rice production. This study examined the energy utilization and sustainability of rice processing in sub-Saharan Africa. The community of Gadan Loko village in the song local government of Adamawa State, Nigeria was selected as the focus of study. Rice parboiling, the most energy intensive process in rice processing is carried out usually by women in small quantities of about 13.2 kg using traditional pots on tripod support stoves. The parboiled rice is sun dried on mats before it is taken to the milling stalls where it is milled using milling machines driven by single cylinder diesel engines. There were large variations in the quality of milled rice due to lack of consistency in processing parameters. Accumulation of rice husk in the community created important environmental issues. In this study, methods of improving sustainability of rice processing were investigated. The areas included： the utilization of waste heat from the diesel engines for improved drying and efficient pre-soaking; the utilization of solar energy for pre-soaking; the utilization of rice husks as alternative fuel to firewood; and the optimization and redesign of the stoves and parboiling vessels to minimize heat loss to the environment. The results showed that the utilization of rice husk as alternative fuel and the redesign of the stoves and parboiling vessels will increase the sustainability of rice processing and can be easily adopted by the community. While solar energy pre-soaking was not economical and the utilization of waste heat from the diesel engines for drying and pre-soaking would be difficult to implement at the rural scale, because most of the parboiling is done far away from the milling stalls. The study showed that research, development of appropriate technology, and education （RATE） of the rural community is an important way of increasing sustainability.展开更多
文摘Mature seeds of H. salicifolia, collected from five provenances （i.e. Hanuman Chatti, Helang, Lata, Rambara and Janggal Chatti） in west Himalaya, India, were treated with stratification （at 4℃ for 15, 30 and 60 days） and in different concentrations of GA3 （5, 10, 20 mM）, KNO3 （50, 100, 200 mM） and Thiourea （50, 100, 200 mM） solution to determine the variations in seed germination. Results reveal that the germination rates of seeds from different provenances under different pre-sowing treatments are significantly increased compared to those in control （24%-30%）. The seeds treated with Thiourea （100 mM） have highest germination rate （76%-83% for different seed sources）, followed by those （63%-71% for different seed sources） pretreated with stratification （4℃, 30 days）. GA3 treatment significantly shortens the mean germination time （MGT） and improves seed germination percentage. Considering the practical applicability and cost effectiveness, thiourea （100 mM） and stratification （at 4℃） treatments for seed germination are recommended for mass multiplication through seeds of H. saliciifolia in village/forest nurseries of the west Himalaya, India.
文摘Energy and environmental sustainability are important considerations for increased rice production. This study examined the energy utilization and sustainability of rice processing in sub-Saharan Africa. The community of Gadan Loko village in the song local government of Adamawa State, Nigeria was selected as the focus of study. Rice parboiling, the most energy intensive process in rice processing is carried out usually by women in small quantities of about 13.2 kg using traditional pots on tripod support stoves. The parboiled rice is sun dried on mats before it is taken to the milling stalls where it is milled using milling machines driven by single cylinder diesel engines. There were large variations in the quality of milled rice due to lack of consistency in processing parameters. Accumulation of rice husk in the community created important environmental issues. In this study, methods of improving sustainability of rice processing were investigated. The areas included： the utilization of waste heat from the diesel engines for improved drying and efficient pre-soaking; the utilization of solar energy for pre-soaking; the utilization of rice husks as alternative fuel to firewood; and the optimization and redesign of the stoves and parboiling vessels to minimize heat loss to the environment. The results showed that the utilization of rice husk as alternative fuel and the redesign of the stoves and parboiling vessels will increase the sustainability of rice processing and can be easily adopted by the community. While solar energy pre-soaking was not economical and the utilization of waste heat from the diesel engines for drying and pre-soaking would be difficult to implement at the rural scale, because most of the parboiling is done far away from the milling stalls. The study showed that research, development of appropriate technology, and education （RATE） of the rural community is an important way of increasing sustainability.
