Iris Publishers Agriculture Soil Science

  Morphological Properties and Nutrient Status of Different Waste Derived Slow Pyrolyzed Biochars Authored by Md Faruque Hossain Abstract Slow pyrolyzed (500±50 °C) ten different waste derived biochar viz. animal bone, corn stover, wood chips, sewage sludge, sugarcane bagasse, green coconut palms, nutshells, potato peels, water hyacinth and organic waste were analyzed to know their physicochemical properties and nutrient contents. Results provided the fact that water hyacinth biochar had the best nutrient status along with excellent physical properties like water holding capacity (509%) and CEC (300 cmolc kg-1) whilst potato peel biochar was the second best among all categories. The average particle size of wood chips biochar 0.82 μm2 was the largest along with the maximum pore depth. However, the region of this biochar occupied by remarkably small particles, which was 47.42%. The corn stover biochar, on the other hand, had the smallest average particle size (0.18 μm2) and the lo...

  W.F.P.’S Nobel Prize, The Pandemic, & Our Emerging Existential Food Crisis Authored by Scott M Lacy             Opinion The way we make food shapes the world we live in. And if that’s the case, by reverse logic, our 21st century lives are a collective indictment of an unjust global food system. Historic levels of inequality, poverty, and hunger pervade our lived experience despite centuries of experiments in search of political, economic, and even scientific solutions to alleviate all this suffering on a macro-level. That is not to say that all of our previous experiments were mistakes, not by a long shot. In fact, our species has a remarkable history of adapting our food system to the dynamic and precarious balance between population growth and our lived environment, the planet. Specifically, the long arc of our Homo sapiens history reveals two existential food crises that may help us better understand our 21st centu...

  Whither Taxonomy? Authored by Jo Darlington In order to collate and interpret. observations - experimental or observational - it is vital to know the identity of the subject organism.   To achieve this, a taxonomic system was devised over several hundred years.   Descriptions of species range from a few words in Latin, to modern treatments with a full morphological description of a type specimen, supported by tables of measurements, line drawings to scale, and sometimes electron micrographs. But however inadequate the original description, the species name cannot be changed. It can be superseded by a published re-description of the original type specimen, or if that is lost or damaged, of a formally designated replacement type. Generic names, which define the group to which that species belongs, represent a particular expert’s opinion and can be changed by publishing a reasoned argument.   These two names, the Generic first (with a capital letter) then ...

  A Call for Holistic Soil Ecology Authored by Barbara J Dilly The connections between agriculture, soil science, and human health have been well understood for centuries, but the development of state societies and market economies gradually segmented and subverted that knowledge into narrow specializations. Agriculture came under management of nation builders seeking to broaden productive capacities to further influence and power. Soil science was relegated to the laboratories and test plots of biology and chemistry in the adoption of hybrids and chemical fertilizers. Human health sciences compiled volumes of research on disease, which generated still more laboratory research on isolated cures through chemical intrusion. Despite of all this knowledge segregation, alternative agriculture and alternative health practitioners kept a holistic focus. But they were not the ones who set policy. In fact, they were labeled as subversives to civilization and its progress. Then add in the en...

Increase in The Use of Organic Fertilizers as Complements to Inorganic Fertilizers in Maintenance of Soil Fertility and Environmental Sustainability Authored by  Joseph Xorse Kugbe Soil is taken for granted by most farmers, who often think of it as an inert support for plants. In reality, it is a dynamic, living resource whose condition is vital for food production and for the function of the ecosystem as a whole. The fertility of soil can be considered in different ways, depending on land use. In intensively managed agricultural and horticultural systems, and even in forestry, soil fertility can be defined in terms of the value of products produced relevant to inputs used (including economic aspects of nutrient budgeting). Alternatively, the emphasis may be on quality or productivity. Soil fertility maintenance is a major concern in tropical Africa [1], particularly with the rapid population increase, which has occurred in the past few decades. In traditional farming systems, fa...

  Article on Covid-19 related issue in Iris Publishers COVID-19 pandemic is having many life-altering short and likely long-term effects. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on number of economical, ethical, legal, health services and social issues arise because of the virus rapidly spreading worldwide.   Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment.   Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness. The best way to prevent and slow down transmission of covid-19 is protecting yourself by wearing mask and others from infection by washing your hands frequently and not touching your face. Most of the people recover from the acute phase of the disease. However, some people continue to experience a range of effects for months after recovery...