Fakultät Agrarwissenschaften

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Die Fakultät entwickelt in Lehre und Forschung nachhaltige Produktionstechniken der Agrar- und Ernährungswirtschaft. Sie erarbeitet Beiträge für den ländlichen Raum und zum Verbraucher-, Tier- und Umweltschutz.

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Assessing human mobility and its climatic and socioeconomic factors for sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa
(2023) Li, Qirui; Samimi, Cyrus
Promoting human mobility and reducing inequality among countries are the Sustainable Development Goals’ (SDGs) targets. However, measuring human mobility, assessing its heterogeneity and changes, and exploring associated mechanisms and context effects are still key challenges, especially for developing countries. This study attempts to review the concept of human mobility with complex thinking, assess human mobility across forty countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and examine the effect of climatic and socioeconomic factors. Based on the coined definition of human mobility, international migration and cross-border trips are taken to assess human mobility in terms of permanent migration and temporary moves. The forty SSA countries are hence classified into four mobility groups. Regression models are performed to identify key determinants and estimate their effects on mobility. The results reveal that seven of these forty countries had a high mobility, whereas most experienced a decline in permanent migration. Lesotho, Cabo Verde, and Namibia presented high temporary moves, while Eritrea, Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea, and Liberia had a high permanent migration. Climatic and socioeconomic conditions demonstrated significant effects on mobility but were different for temporary moves and permanent migration. Wet extremes reduced mobility, whereas extreme temperature variations had positive effects. Dry extremes promoted permanent migration but inhibited temporary moves. Economic wealth and political instability promoted permanent migration, while the young population counteracted temporary moves. Food insecurity and migrant networks stimulated human mobility. The analysis emphasises the interest in analysing human mobility for risk reduction and sustainability management at the multi-county level.
Bacterial microbiota diversity and composition in red and white wines correlate with plant-derived DNA contributions and botrytis infection
(2020) Bubeck, Alena M.; Preiss, Lena; Jung, Anna; Dörner, Elisabeth; Podlesny, Daniel; Kulis, Marija; Maddox, Cynthia; Arze, Cesar; Zörb, Christian; Merkt, Nikolaus; Fricke, Florian W.
Wine is a globally produced, marketed and consumed alcoholic beverage, which is valued for its aromatic and qualitative complexity and variation. These properties are partially attributable to the bacterial involvement in the fermentation process. However, the organizational principles and dynamic changes of the bacterial wine microbiota remain poorly understood, especially in the context of red and white wine variations and environmental stress factors. Here, we determined relative and absolute bacterial microbiota compositions from six distinct cultivars during the first week of fermentation by quantitative and qualitative 16S rRNA gene amplification and amplicon sequencing. All wines harboured complex and variable bacterial communities, with Tatumella as the most abundant genus across all batches, but red wines were characterized by higher bacterial diversity and increased relative and absolute abundance of lactic and acetic acid bacteria (LAB/AAB) and bacterial taxa of predicted environmental origin. Microbial diversity was positively correlated with plant-derived DNA concentrations in the wine and Botrytis cinerea infection before harvest. Our findings suggest that exogenous factors, such as procedural differences between red and white wine production and environmental stress on grape integrity, can increase bacterial diversity and specific bacterial taxa in wine, with potential consequences for wine quality and aroma.
Bioplastics for food packaging: Environmental impact, trends and regulatory aspects
(2022) Cruz, Rui M. S.; Krauter, Victoria; Krauter, Simon; Agriopoulou, Sofia; Weinrich, Ramona; Herbes, Carsten; Scholten, Philip B. V.; Uysal-Unalan, Ilke; Sogut, Ece; Kopacic, Samir; Lahti, Johanna; Rutkaite, Ramune; Varzakas, Theodoros
The demand to develop and produce eco-friendly alternatives for food packaging is increasing. The huge negative impact that the disposal of so-called “single-use plastics” has on the environment is propelling the market to search for new solutions, and requires initiatives to drive faster responses from the scientific community, the industry, and governmental bodies for the adoption and implementation of new materials. Bioplastics are an alternative group of materials that are partly or entirely produced from renewable sources. Some bioplastics are biodegradable or even compostable under the right conditions. This review presents the different properties of these materials, mechanisms of biodegradation, and their environmental impact, but also presents a holistic overview of the most important bioplastics available in the market and their potential application for food packaging, consumer perception of the bioplastics, regulatory aspects, and future challenges.
Challenges of green production of 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid from bio‐derived 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural: Overcoming deactivation by concomitant amino acids
(2022) Neukum, Dominik; Baumgarten, Lorena; Wüst, Dominik; Sarma, Bidyut Bikash; Saraçi, Erisa; Kruse, Andrea; Grunwaldt, Jan‐Dierk
The oxidation of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is highly attractive as FDCA is considered as substitute for the petrochemically derived terephthalic acid. There are only few reports on the direct use of unrefined HMF solutions from biomass resources and the influence of remaining constituents on the catalytic processes. In this work, the oxidation of HMF in a solution as obtained from hydrolysis and dehydration of saccharides in chicory roots was investigated without intermediate purification steps. The amount of base added to the solution was critical to increase the FDCA yield. Catalyst deactivation occurred and was attributed to poisoning by amino acids from the bio‐source. A strong influence of amino acids on the catalytic activity was found for all supported Au, Pt, Pd, and Ru catalysts. A supported AuPd(2 : 1)/C alloy catalyst exhibited both superior catalytic activity and higher stability against deactivation by the critical amino acids.
Characteristics and anaerobic co-digestion of press water from wood fuel preparation and digested sewage sludge
(2022) Sailer, Gregor; Empl, Florian; Kuptz, Daniel; Silberhorn, Martin; Ludewig, Darwin; Lesche, Simon; Pelz, Stefan; Müller, Joachim
Technical drying of harvested wood fuels is heat and energy consuming, while natural pre-drying in the forest, e.g., in stacks or storage piles, is accompanied by energy losses through natural degradation processes. Dewatering of energy wood by mechanical pressing is an innovative method to reduce the moisture content prior to thermal drying while producing press waters (PW, also referred to as wood juice) as a by-product. To date, the characteristics and utilization potentials of PW are largely unknown. In this study, three different spruce- and poplar-based PW were analyzed for their characteristics such as dry matter (DM), organic dry matter (oDM) concentration, pH-value, element concentration or chemical compounds. Additionally, they were used for anaerobic digestion (AD) experiments with digested sewage sludge (DSS) serving as inoculum. The fresh matter-based DM concentrations of the PW were between 0.4 and 3.2%, while oDM concentrations were between 87 and 89%DM. The spruce-based PW were characterized by lower pH-values of approx. 4.4, while the poplar-based PW was measured at pH 8. In the AD experiments, DSS alone (blank variant) achieved a specific methane yield of 95 ± 26 mL/goDM, while the mixture of spruce-based PW and DSS achieved up to 160 ± 12 mL/goDM, respectively. With further research, PW from wood fuel preparation offer the potential to be a suitable co-substrate or supplement for AD processes.
Characterization of Bacillus velezensis UTB96, demonstrating improved lipopeptide production compared to the strain B. velezensis FZB42
(2022) Vahidinasab, Maliheh; Adiek, Isabel; Hosseini, Behnoush; Akintayo, Stephen Olusanmi; Abrishamchi, Bahar; Pfannstiel, Jens; Henkel, Marius; Lilge, Lars; Vögele, Ralf ; Hausmann, Rudolf
Bacillus strains can produce various lipopeptides, known for their antifungal properties. This makes them attractive metabolites for applications in agriculture. Therefore, identification of productive wild-type strains is essential for the development of biopesticides. Bacillus velezensis FZB42 is a well-established strain for biocontrol of plant pathogens in agriculture. Here, we characterized an alternative strain, B. velezensis UTB96, that can produce higher amounts of all three major lipopeptide families, namely surfactin, fengycin, and iturin. UTB96 produces iturin A. Furthermore, UTB96 showed superior antifungal activity towards the soybean fungal pathogen Diaporthe longicolla compared to FZB42. Moreover, the additional provision of different amino acids for lipopeptide production in UTB96 was investigated. Lysine and alanine had stimulatory effects on the production of all three lipopeptide families, while supplementation of leucine, valine and isoleucine decreased the lipopeptide bioproduction. Using a 45-litre bioreactor system for upscaling in batch culture, lipopeptide titers of about 140 mg/L surfactin, 620 mg/L iturin A, and 45 mg/L fengycin were achieved. In conclusion, it becomes clear that B. velezensis UTB96 is a promising strain for further research application in the field of agricultural biological controls of fungal diseases.
A comparative life cycle assessment of a new cellulose-based composite and glass fibre reinforced composites
(2023) Liu, Yuanxi; Lask, Jan; Kupfer, Robert; Gude, Maik; Feldner, Alexander; Liu, Yuanxi; Neutral Lightweight Engineering, Institute of Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Lask, Jan; Department of Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy, Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Kupfer, Robert; Neutral Lightweight Engineering, Institute of Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Gude, Maik; Neutral Lightweight Engineering, Institute of Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Feldner, Alexander; Fibres & Composites, Heidenau, Germany
The use of renewable lightweight materials and the adoption of cleaner production are two effective approaches to reduce resource consumption, which contributes to meeting the industry’s environmental impact targets. In a previous study we found, that a miscanthus fibre reinforced cellulose acetate (CA-Miscanthus, 25 wt.%) can be a bio-based alternative to glass fibre reinforced polypropylene (PP-GF, 20 wt.%), as both materials exhibit similar mechanical properties. However, only limited information on the environmental benefits of using bio-based composites instead of their petroleum-based counterparts are available. In this study, we compare the environmental impact of ready to use compound of both materials in the cradle to gate system boundaries, including fibre cultivation, fractionation and refining, fibre pretreatment, and compounding. The functional unit is chosen based on the equivalent function of both materials. The environmental impact is determined using the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology. The results reveal that the CA-Mis composite has a higher environmental impact than the PP-GF composite in all categories observed, despite its biomass origin. As the primary reason for the high impact, the acetic anhydride use during CA production is identified. The study indicates that, though the bio-composite CA-Mis has mechanical properties comparable to PP-GF composites, it is not as eco-friendly as we initially assumed it to be.
Comparing meat and meat alternatives: An analysis of nutrient quality in five European countries
(2023) Petersen, Thies; Hirsch, Stefan
Objective: To assess and compare the (macro-)nutritional composition of red meat (RM) and poultry meat (PM) products with the emerging category of meat substitutes. Design: We use information on nutritional values per 100 g to estimate the differences in the nutritional composition between RM, PM, vegan meat substitute (VMS) and non-vegan meat substitute (NVMS) and derive six unique meat product clusters to enhance the comparability. Setting: Meat markets from five major European countries: France, Germany, UK, Italy and Spain. Participants/Data: Product innovation data for 19 941 products from Mintel’s Global New Product Database from 2010 to 2020. Results: Most of the innovations in the sample are RM products (55 %), followed by poultry (30 %), VMS (11 %) and NVMS (5 %). RM products exhibit a significantly higher energy content in kcal/100 g as well as fat, saturated fat, protein and salt all in g/100 g than the meatless alternatives, while the latter contain significantly more carbohydrates and fibre than either poultry or RM. However, results differ to a certain degree when products are grouped into more homogeneous clusters like sausages, cold cuts and burgers. This indicates that general conclusions regarding the health effects of substituting meat with plant-based alternatives should only be drawn in relation to comparable products. Conclusions: Meat substitutes, both vegan and non-vegan, are rated as ultra- processed foods. However, compared with RM products, they and also poultry products both can provide a diet that contains fewer nutrients-to-limit, like salt and saturated fats.
Continuous synthesis of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural from biomass in on‐farm biorefinery
(2022) Świątek, Katarzyna; Olszewski, Maciej P.; Kruse, Andrea
5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is the object of extensive research in recent times. The challenge in the industrial production of HMF is the choice of cheap, hexose feedstock. This study compares continuous HMF synthesis from hexoses—fructose and glucose, and biomass—Miscanthus × giganteus and chicory roots. The experiments were conducted in technical‐scale biorefinery (TRL 6/7). In the first stage, optimal conditions for the production of HMF from hexoses were selected using sulfuric acid as a catalyst in an aqueous medium. The following conditions were chosen for fructose: temperature of 200°C, the reaction time of 18 min, and pH = 2, and for glucose: 210°C, 18 min, and pH = 3. Under these conditions, the HMF yield was 56.5 mol% (39.6 wt.%) from fructose and 18.1 mol% (12.6 wt.%) from glucose. From the biomass, the HMF yields were 36.7 and 16.2 wt.% for miscanthus and chicory roots, respectively. Some results from the conversion of biomass solutions are unexpected and show a need for further investigations. This work has demonstrated the capacity to produce HMF from biomass as part of an environmentally friendly process in a biorefinery. Further research in this field and process optimization will be a step forward in the sustainable production of bioplastics.
Coupled biogas and fiber production from agricultural residues and energy crops with steam explosion treatment
(2023) Hülsemann, Benedikt; Baumgart, Marian; Lenz, Leonhard; Elviliana,; Föllmer, Marie; Sailer, Gregor; Dinkler, Konstantin; Oechsner, Hans
The global demand for packaging materials and energy is constantly increasing, requiring the exploration of new concepts. In this work, we presented a bioeconomic concept that uses steam explosion and phase separation to simultaneously generate fibers for the packaging industry and biogas substrate for the energy sector. The concept focused on fiber-rich residues and fiber-rich ecological energy crops from agriculture. Feasibility of the concept in the laboratory using feedstocks, including Sylvatic silphia silage, Nettle silage, Miscanthus, Apple pomace, Alfalfa stalks, and Flax shives was confirmed. Our results showed that we were able to separate up to 26.2% of the methane potential while always extracting a smaller percentage of up to 17.3% of organic dry matter (ODM). Specific methane yields of 297–486 LCH4 kgODM−1 in the liquid and 100–286 LCH4 kgODM−1 in the solid phase were obtained. The solid phases had high water absorption capacities of 216–504% due to the steam explosion, while the particle size was not significantly affected. The concept showed high potential, especially for undried feedstock.
Drying behavior and curcuminoids changes in turmeric slices during drying under simulated solar radiation as influenced by different transparent cover materials
(2022) Komonsing, Nilobon; Reyer, Sebastian; Khuwijitjaru, Pramote; Mahayothee, Busarakorn; Müller, Joachim
Dried turmeric is used as a spice and traditional medicine. The common drying methods for turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) are sun drying and solar drying. In this study, turmeric slices with a thickness of 2 mm were dried at 40, 50, 60, and 70 °C in a laboratory hot-air dryer with a simulated solar radiation applied through transparent polycarbonate cover (UV impermeable) and PMMA cover (UV permeable). Air velocity and relative humidity of drying air were fixed at 1.0 M·s−1 and 25 g H2O kg−1 dry air, respectively. Light significantly increased the sample temperature under both covers. Page was the best model to predict the drying characteristics of turmeric slices. Drying rate correlated with the effective moisture diffusivity, which increased at higher temperature. The hue angle (h°) of turmeric was distinctly lower at 70 °C under both covers. The dried products were of intensive orange color. Curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and total curcuminoids were affected by the cumulated thermal load (CTL). The lowest curcumin content was found at 40 °C under PMMA (highest CTL). The optimum drying condition was 70 °C under polycarbonate cover due to shorter drying time and better preservation of color and curcuminoids in the dried product.
Effect of packaging and storage conditions on the pasting and functional properties of pretreated yellow-fleshed cassava flour
(2024) Ekeledo, Esther; Abass, Adebayo; Müller, Joachim
Cassava is highly susceptible to post harvest physiological deterioration which makes it necessary to initiate processing so as to extend the shelf life. In order to improve and enhance the nutritional characteristics of the processed cassava flour, this research was carried out so as to evaluate the adequate packaging materials and storage conditions necessary for safe storage and good flour quality. Pasting properties of food/flour is an indication of the different applicability of starch-based food ingredients in product development. The effect of packaging materials (cylindric polyvinyl containers and aluminum ziplock pouch bags) on quality attributes of pretreated yellow-fleshed cassava flour (YFCF) samples stored in two storage conditions a (cooling chamber at 5 ◦ C and 30 % relative humidity and; in a climate chamber at 30 ◦C and 50 % relative humidity) was investigated for 8 weeks. Flour samples from each package type were evaluated for water absorption capacity, pasting and oil absorption capacity fortnightly. The treated initial flour sample before storage-sulfured (BSS) had the highest peak viscosity (891 RVU). The low peak time at the end of storage in non-sulfured flours packed in aluminum pouch bags and stored at 5 ◦C is an evidence of time and energy saving capacity. The water absorption capacity of non-sulfured flour samples packed in cylindric polyvinyl containers and the sulfured flour sample packed in an aluminum pouch bag at 30 ◦C increased with storage duration. The aluminum ziplock pouch bags showed excellent storage quality and retained better pasting property. The climatic storage condition revealed better keeping quality. The use of sodium metabisulphite revealed its suitability as a pretreatment tool.
The effects of fermentation of Qu on the digestibility and structure of waxy maize starch
(2022) Wu, Wenhao; Zhang, Xudong; Qu, Jianzhou; Xu, Renyuan; Liu, Na; Zhu, Chuanhao; Li, Huanhuan; Liu, Xingxun; Zhong, Yuyue; Guo, Dongwei
The fermentation of Qu (FQ) could efficiently produce enzymatically modified starch at a low cost. However, it is poorly understood that how FQ influences the waxy maize starch (WMS) structure and the digestion behavior. In this study, WMS was fermented by Qu at different time and starches were isolated at each time point, and its physico-chemical properties and structural parameters were determined. Results showed that the resistant starch (RS), amylose content (AC), the average particle size [D(4,3)] the ratio of peaks at 1,022/995 cm–1, and the onset temperature of gelatinization (To) were increased significantly after 36 h. Conversely, the crystallinity, the values of peak viscosity (PV), breakdown (BD), gelatinization enthalpy (ΔH), and the phase transition temperature range (ΔT) were declined significantly after 36 h. It is noteworthy that smaller starch granules were appeared at 36 h, with wrinkles on the surface, and the particle size distribution was also changed from one sharp peak to bimodal. We suggested that the formation of smaller rearranged starch granules was the main reason for the pronounced increase of RS during the FQ process.
Electronic nose for the rapid detection of deoxynivalenol in wheat using classification and regression trees
(2022) Camardo Leggieri, Marco; Mazzoni, Marco; Bertuzzi, Terenzio; Moschini, Maurizio; Prandini, Aldo; Battilani, Paola
Mycotoxin represents a significant concern for the safety of food and feed products, and wheat represents one of the most susceptible crops. To manage this issue, fast, reliable, and low-cost test methods are needed for regulated mycotoxins. This study aimed to assess the potential use of the electronic nose for the early identification of wheat samples contaminated with deoxynivalenol (DON) above a fixed threshold. A total of 214 wheat samples were collected from commercial fields in northern Italy during the periods 2014–2015 and 2017–2018 and analyzed for DON contamination with a conventional method (GC-MS) and using a portable e-nose “AIR PEN 3” (Airsense Analytics GmbH, Schwerin, Germany), equipped with 10 metal oxide sensors for different categories of volatile substances. The Machine Learning approach “Classification and regression trees” (CART) was used to categorize samples according to four DON contamination thresholds (1750, 1250, 750, and 500 μg/kg). Overall, this process yielded an accuracy of >83% (correct prediction of DON levels in wheat samples). These findings suggest that the e-nose combined with CART can be an effective quick method to distinguish between compliant and DON-contaminated wheat lots. Further validation including more samples above the legal limits is desirable before concluding the validity of the method.
Evaluation of the char formation during the hydrothermal treatment of wooden balls
(2023) Pfersich, Jens; Arauzo, Pablo J.; Modugno, Pierpaolo; Titirici, Maria‐Magdalene; Kruse, Andrea
With wooden balls, a visualization of the hydrothermal carbonization to show the progress of the conversion to char is presented. In the present study, the balls represent the particles of biomass to investigate the differences in conversion outside and inside of biomass particles, during hydrothermal carbonization. A special focus is on hydrochar and pyrochar formation. The wooden balls are treated in subcritical water at 220 °C for holding times between 0 and 960 min. Even after 960 min, hydrolysis of the original biomass is incomplete as cellulose and hemicellulose are linked by lignin, inhibiting the reaction with water. Moreover, two different pathways of char production can be observed. Inside of the wooden ball pyrochar is formed as any water got that deep in, on the surface hydrochar is fixed, originated from the surrounding liquid. On the ground of the HTC reactor, a thin, brittle precipitate of likely hydrochar or humins can be found either from the precipitation of loosely attached compounds on the surface of the biomass or direct precipitation from the liquid.
Identifying loss and waste hotspots and data gaps throughout the wheat and bread lifecycle in the Fars province of Iran through value stream mapping
(2023) Ghaziani, Shahin; Dehbozorgi, Gholamreza; Bakhshoodeh, Mohammad; Doluschitz, Reiner
Reducing wheat and bread loss and waste is crucial for ensuring global food security and sustainability. The importance of reducing wheat and bread loss is particularly significant in Iran, where wheat is a staple crop and a vital component of the country’s food security. A value stream mapping study was conducted to identify loss and waste hotspots and critical data gaps along the wheat and bread lifecycle (WBL). In October 2018, 14 experts were surveyed in Fars province, Iran’s second-largest wheat producer. The study presents a detailed cradle-to-grave overview of WBL and identifies farms, foodservice, and households as the loss and waste hotspots. The results revealed significant data gaps regarding on-farm wheat loss and household bread waste. Additionally, although data exist in other segments of WBL, they are not readily accessible nor utilized to report loss and waste, highlighting the need for transparency within the WBL system and further research to compile existing data and analyze wheat and bread loss and waste. Other researchers can employ the holistic approach of the present study to investigate loss and waste throughout the lifecycle of other food items in different geographical contexts. The methodology adopted in this study offers advantages for defining the scope of research in lifecycle assessment and circular economy studies.
Investigating crude sesame oil sedimentation and its monitoring using Laser Backscattering Imaging (LBI)
(2023) Wu, Zhangkai; Romuli, Sebastian; Intani, Kiatkamjon; Müller, Joachim
Sesame oil is a food and energy resource that is not used enough. Sedimentation of crude oil after pressing can remove particles and happens regardless of the producer’s intention. However, sedimentation of crude plant oil and its sensing technology are rarely studied. This research studied crude sesame oil sedimentation and monitored it with low-cost laser backscattering imaging (LBI). In the discontinuous measurement, a 30-day sedimentation was conducted with oil samples sent to the lab LBI system for image capture. A scattering spot and an increasing Tyndall effect along the light path were seen. In the continuous measurement, an LBI system was mounted on a sedimentation tank for 30 days. The sedimentation curve, scattering images, and oil properties were checked. The sedimentation speed was about −7 mm/h, then less than −2 mm/h. The image features correlated well with the sedimentation interface height (R2 = 0.97) when the height was above −100 mm. The oil-particle-related properties (ash content, phosphorus content, carbon residue, and total contamination) dropped by at least 87%, water content decreased by 90%, and the oxidation-related properties (oxidation stability, γ-tocotrienol, δ-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, and acid value) changed less significantly. The crude sesame oil sedimentation had two stages: diluted and hindered sedimentation. This research can help improve sedimentation tank and LBI system design and prevent unwanted sedimentation.
Mineral-solubilizing bacteria-mediated enzymatic regulation and nutrient acquisition benefit cotton’s (Gossypium hirsutum L.) vegetative and reproductive growth
(2023) Ahmad, Iqra; Ahmad, Maqshoof; Bushra,; Hussain, Azhar; Mumtaz, Muhammad Zahid; Najm-ul-Seher,; Abbasi, Ghulam Hassan; Nazli, Farheen; Pataczek, Lisa; Ali, Hayssam M.
Many farmers’ incomes in developing countries depend on the cultivation of major crops grown in arid and semi-arid regions. The agricultural productivity of arid and semi-arid areas primarily relies on chemical fertilizers. The effectiveness of chemical fertilizers needs to improve by integration with other sources of nutrients. Plant growth-promoting bacteria can solubilize nutrients, increase plant nutrient uptake, and supplement chemical fertilizers. A pot experiment evaluated the promising plant growth-promoting bacterial strain’s effectiveness in promoting cotton growth, antioxidant enzymes, yield, and nutrient uptake. Two phosphate solubilizing bacterial strains (Bacillus subtilis IA6 and Paenibacillus polymyxa IA7) and two zinc solubilizing bacterial strains (Bacillus sp. IA7 and Bacillus aryabhattai IA20) were coated on cotton seeds in a single as well as co-inoculation treatments. These treatments were compared with uninoculated controls in the presence and absence of recommended chemical fertilizer doses. The results showed the co-inoculation combination of Paenibacillus polymyxa IA7 and Bacillus aryabhattai IA20 significantly increased the number of bolls, seed cotton yield, lint yield, and antioxidants activities, including superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase, catalase, and peroxidase. Co-inoculation combination of Bacillus subtilis IA6 and Bacillus sp. IA16 promoted growth attributes, including shoot length, root length, shoot fresh weight, and root fresh weight. This co-inoculation combination also increased soil nutrient content. At the same time, Paenibacillus polymyxa IA7 + Bacillus aryabhattai IA20 increased nutrient uptake by plant shoots and roots compared.
Non-destructive near-infrared technology for efficient cannabinoid analysis in cannabis inflorescences
(2024) Rafiq, Hamza; Hartung, Jens; Schober, Torsten; Vogt, Maximilian M.; Carrera, Dániel Árpád; Ruckle, Michael; Graeff-Hönninger, Simone
In the evolving field of cannabis research, scholars are exploring innovative methods to quantify cannabinoids rapidly and non-destructively. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a hand-held near-infrared (NIR) device for quantifying total cannabidiol (total CBD), total delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (total THC), and total cannabigerol (total CBG) in whole cannabis inflorescences. Employing pre-processing techniques, including standard normal variate (SNV) and Savitzky–Golay (SG) smoothing, we aim to optimize the portable NIR technology for rapid and non-destructive cannabinoid analysis. A partial least-squares regression (PLSR) model was utilized to predict cannabinoid concentration based on NIR spectra. The results indicated that SNV pre-processing exhibited superior performance in predicting total CBD concentration, yielding the lowest root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 2.228 and the highest coefficient of determination for prediction (R2P) of 0.792. The ratio of performance to deviation (RPD) for total CBD was highest (2.195) with SNV. In contrast, raw data exhibited the least accurate predictions for total THC, with an R2P of 0.812, an RPD of 2.306, and an RMSEP of 1.651. Notably, total CBG prediction showed unique characteristics, with raw data yielding the highest R2P of 0.806. SNV pre-processing emerges as a robust method for precise total CBD quantification, offering valuable insights into the optimization of a hand-held NIR device for the rapid and non-destructive analysis of cannabinoid in whole inflorescence samples. These findings contribute to ongoing efforts in developing portable and efficient technologies for cannabinoid analysis, addressing the increasing demand for quick and accurate assessment methods in cannabis cultivation, pharmaceuticals, and regulatory compliance.
Process water recirculation during hydrothermal carbonization as a promising process step towards the production of nitrogen-doped carbonaceous materials
(2021) Dominik, Wüst; Pablo, Arauzo; Sonja, Habicht; Fernando, Cazaña; Luca, Fiori; Andrea, Kruse
Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) refers to the conversion of biogenic wastes into char-like solids with promising perspectives for application, but a process water (PW) results which is difficult to dispose untreated. Thus, a biorefinery approach including one or two recirculation steps with the additional objective of improving the physico-chemical characteristics of the solid was performed in this study. During HTC, constitutive molecules such as saccharides, proteins and lignin of Brewer’s Spent Grains decompose into hundreds of organic compounds, following complex reactions. To get deeper insights a combination of proximate, ultimate and structural analysis for solid products as well as liquid chromatography for liquid products were the choice. The main reactions could be identified by key compounds of low and high molecular weight resulting from hydrolysis, dehydration, decarboxylation, deamination as well as amide formation and condensation reactions. Their intensity was influenced by the feedwater pH and reaction temperature. Via reactions of Maillard character up to around 90% of the dissolved nitrogen of the recirculated process water at 200, 220 and 240 °C result in the formation of nitrogen containing heterocycles or rather Quartnernary nitrogen incorporated into the hydrochar (HC). Thus, already one recirculation step during HTC at 240 °C promises the fabrication of high added-value materials, i.e. nitrogen doped carbonaceous materials.

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