Gurpreet S. Selopala, Swedha Madhu a, Umair Sohail a, Sukhjinder Singh a
a Sustainable Nanoengineering Lab, Department of Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, 39 Cox Rd, Banting Building, B2N 5E3, Truro, NS, Canada
Corresponding author: Gurpreet S. Selopal, Email: gs.selopal@dal.ca
Keywords: Nanoengineering, Quantum Dots, Carrier-Dynamics,...
Farming is the basic livelihood in rural Ghana which places demands for good farm tools and equipment. Machetes are one of farm tools widely used in the country, however, there has been a rising concern from farmers about the rate at which their machetes, especially corrode, break and bend easily upon impact. Hence, there is the need to analyze and improve the performance of machetes locally...
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Iron (Fe) deficiency-induced chlorosis is one of the major bottlenecks for soybean production, which can be ameliorated by Fe foliar feeding by following the 4Rs, i.e., right Fe compound, right concentration, right number of sprays, and right growth stage. However, the mechanism for Fe uptake through foliage is still unclear. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of different Fe formulations (Fe...
Inhibition of clustering and network formation of solid particles under stress represents the forefront of both fundamental and sustainability problems. The current theories of solid lubrication typically assume spherical shapes of the particles ignoring the related multibody effects. Commercial solid lubricants used for agricultural seed flow are based on interlayer slippage or low modulus...
Recovery of phosphorus from waste water using natural waste were studied. The influence of pH, temperature and contact time was investigated. Recovering phosphorus from waste water is necessary as it is one of the most important macronutrients needed for the growth of plants; The fertilizer industry consumes 80% of natural, non-renewable phosphorus resources in the form of phosphate rock. The...
Biochar (BC) is a carbon-rich derivative from the thermochemical conversion of plant material in a non-oxidative atmosphere. Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a notable BC feedstock due to its rapid growth and high nutrient absorption capabilities, making it suitable for bio-nanofertilizer production. This study investigated the preparation of BC from water hyacinth (WH) dry leaf (D1)...
Tomato is one of the most important vegetable crops grown over the world because of its consistent high demand as sources of human nutrients and suitability for variety of uses in fresh and processed foods. However, between 55% and 72 % of tomatoes grown in Sub-saharan Africa perish before they can be consumed. This is due to high cost of conventional means of fresh produce sanitation which...
AGROFRUIT PRODUCTIONAgrofruit production refers to the cultivation of fruit crops within agricultural system, integrating modern farming techniques and sustainable practices/activities. Agrofruit production plays crucial role in global economy, contributing to food security, nutrition, and livelihoods of many peoples.As the world faces challenges such as climate change, population growth, and...
Innovative approaches to sustainable plastic waste management and circular economy
This research explores Plastica Innova Rwanda’s innovative approach to plastic waste management and its contributions to Rwanda's circular economy. In a country renowned for its environmental leadership, particularly in the ban on single-use plastics, Plastica Innova is pioneering sustainable methods to tackle...
Abstract: The contemporary fad for green chemistry calls for the recycling and repurposing of biomaterials for novel uses and applications. In this context, the synthesis of nanoparticles using plant tissues has gained popularity due to the greater biocompatibility and enhanced environmental friendliness of biogenically-derived nanomaterials, compared to their chemically-synthesized...
Theme: MATERIALS FOR AGRICULTURE
This research explores cutting-edge materials designed to advance sustainable farming practices and improve crop productivity. We investigate three key innovations: biodegradable mulch films that reduce plastic waste and enhance soil health, nanomaterial-based sensors for real-time monitoring of soil moisture and nutrient levels, and smart fertilizers that...
Bio-synthesized calcium carbonate nanoparticles produced via green chemistry offer environmental friendliness, minimal toxicity, biological compatibility, and sedate biodegradability, thereby enhancing crop production and addressing poverty challenges. This study assessed the use of bioinspired CaCO3 nanoparticles as nanofertilizers on the growth, gas exchange, yield parameters of tomatoes and...
Enhancing Sustainable Agriculture Practices Through Innovative Materials
In the pursuit of sustainable agriculture, the role of innovative materials is paramount. This study explores the impact of novel materials on enhancing agricultural practices for improved crop yields and environmental sustainability. By integrating cutting-edge materials into farming techniques, we aim to...
Chickpea is mostly grown in nutrient-deficient soils where supplies are made through conventional fertilizers which present certain environmental issues such as soil degradation, and water and soil contamination. Thus, the use of other technologies such as nanotechnology is being implemented as a remedy to achieve sustainable agriculture without altering the environment. Furthermore, it helps...
Green energy is vital at all levels of agriculture including production of inputs, processing and transporting of the products, and even marketing to final consumption. Most time, fossil fuel generators are used to power agriculture equipment which leads to massive emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-NO.7) borders on clean energy that many...
This work explored the application of two techniques for the synthesis of zeolite A from Aloji Nigerian kaolin for the deodourisation of poultry litter. Refined Aloji kaolin was used as a cheap precursor for zeolite A synthesis via hydrothermal and microwave techniques. The effect of alkalinity (5,6.5,8 M), metakaolinization temperature (600, 725, 850 ˚C), crystallization temperature (80,...
Title: Impact of Precision Farming Using Drones to Eradicate Biodiversity Loss
Authors: 1. MUNYEMBABAZI ALOYS (university of Rwanda, department of irrigation and drainage engineering, rubavu, Rwanda)
2. UWERA SHARIFA (university of Rwanda, department of irrigation and drainage engineering, rubavu, Rwanda)
Theme 6: materials for environment
Precision farming using drones offers innovative...
This study developed nutritious high-fiber sustainable food systems and waste reduction through agricultural by-products in Edo State, Nigeria. A three-component mixture design comprising of orange pomace (5-30%), soy meal (10-80%), and wheat bran (10-70%), with varying proportions were extruded under controlled conditions to optimize nutritional content and sensory qualities. The study...
TITLE: SMART PLANT MONITORING SYSTEMSThis research explores the integration of smart plant monitoring systems in irrigation through sensor technology, with a focus on enhancing water efficiency and promoting sustainable agriculture. The study investigates the deployment of various sensors, including soil moisture, temperature, and humidity sensors, to monitor real-time plant health and...