One of the biggest environmental problems that has affected the planet is global warming, due to high concentrations of carbon (CO2), which has led to crops such as coffee being affected by climate change caused by greenhouse gases (GHG), especially by the increase in the incidence of pests and diseases. However, carbon sequestration contributes to the mitigation of GHG emissions. The objective of this work was to evaluate the carbon stored in above and below ground biomass in four six-year-old castle coffee production systems. In a trial established under a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with the treatments Coffee at free exposure (T1), Coffee-Lemon (T2), Coffee-Guamo (T3) and Coffee-Carbonero (T4), at three altitudes: below 1,550 masl, between 1,550 and 2,000 masl and above 2,000 masl. Data were collected corresponding to the stem diameters of coffee seedlings and shade trees with which allometric equations were applied to obtain the carbon variables in the aerial biomass and root and the carbon variables in leaf litter and soil obtained from their dry matter. Highly significant differences were obtained in the four treatments evaluated, with T4 being the one that obtained the highest carbon concentration both in soil biomass with 100.14 t ha-1 and in aerial biomass with 190.42 t ha-1.
Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) was introduced to Mexico in 1959. Currently there is an estimated planted area of 835.96 ha and a production of 8,730.27 tons. The fruit is mainly consumed fresh, but quickly loses its external appearance due to dehydration and browning, which limits its commercialization, an alternative may be minimal processing and adjuvant treatments that extend the shelf life. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of coating with cactus mucilage (Opuntia ficus-indica), in the preservation of minimally processed rambutan stored at 5 °C, in two types of packaging. The rambutan was sanitized with chlorinated water (80 ppm), the epicarp was removed and batches were formed for each treatment. The factors were type of container (polyethylene bag and polystyrene container), coating (with and without coating) and time (0, 3, 6, 6, 10 and 12 d). The coating consisted of mucilage obtained from developing cladodes (15–21 cm), applied by dipping. All treatments were stored at 5 ℃. Total soluble solids (TSS), firmness (N) and color (L*, a*, b*, chroma and hue angle) were evaluated at each storage period. Also, 40 untrained judges (47% male and 53% female) evaluated sensory acceptability, consumption intention and acceptance/rejection. The results showed significant effect (p ≤ 0.05) of package type on firmness, chroma and hue angle. Coating had an effect on L* value and product acceptability. Consumption intention was higher, and was maintained for 10 days, in fruits with coating and packaged in polyethylene bags, stored at 5 ℃.
This study was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of Landmark University, Omu-Aran. Treatments consisted of 3 levels of cocoa pod husk ash (0, 2 and 4 tonnes CPHA ha-1), 3 levels of cocoa pod husk powder (0, 2 and 4 tonnes CPHP ha-1), NPK and the control. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated four times. The following parameters were taken plant height, number of leaves (at 2, 3, and 4 weeks after sowing), total plant weight, root weight, leaf weight, roots girth and roots length. Data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) Using S.A.S, 2000. Treatment means were compared using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 0.05 level of probability. Results showed that chemical analysis of cocoa pod ash and powder contained plant nutrients as N, P, K, Ca, Mg and some other micronutrients in varying proportions. Application of CPHA 4 + CPHP 2 gave higher values for all the vegetative parameters. The implication of this study is that high level of cocoa pod husk powder in combination with high level of cocoa pod husk ash is detrimental to radish cultivation. In the same vein, the nutrition of radish was incomplete when NPK fertilizer was applied. It can therefore be recommended that the use of combined application of cocoa pod ash and cocoa pod powder at CPHA4 + CPHP2 was sufficient for the cultivation of radish (Raphanus sativus) in the study area as it compete favorably with application of NPK fertilizer.
In the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) era, the rapid digitalisation of services poses both opportunities and challenges for the banking sector. This study addresses how adopting artificial intelligence (AI) and online and mobile banking advancements can influence customer satisfaction, particularly in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Despite significant investments in AI and digital banking technologies, banks often struggle to align these innovations with customer expectations and satisfaction. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), this research investigates the impact of customer satisfaction with online banking (C_O) on AI integration (I_A) and mobile banking convenience (C_M). The SEM model reveals that customer satisfaction with online banking significantly influences AI integration (path coefficient of 0.40) and mobile banking convenience (path coefficient of 0.68). These results highlight a crucial problem: while technological advancements in banking are growing, their effectiveness is highly dependent on customer satisfaction with existing digital services. The study underscores the need for banks to prioritise enhancing online banking experiences as a strategic lever to improve AI integration and mobile banking convenience. Consequently, the research recommends that Nigerian banks develop comprehensive frameworks to evaluate and optimise their technology integration strategies, ensuring that technological innovations align with customer needs and expectations in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
With the development and progress of the era, digital construction has become an important topic for enterprise development in the new era. Practice has shown that by actively carrying out corresponding digital construction work, enterprises can more comprehensively and systematically analyze the industry development and market prospects, which helps to promote the reasonable adjustment
of internal and external management work modes and the improvement of management efficiency, and has a positive guiding role for the healthy development cycle of enterprises. In this article, the author combines a large amount of research cases to conduct research on the effect of digital construction on enterprise development in the new era and proposes corresponding optimization measures, hoping to further promote the full play of information technology value, in order to safeguard the development of enterprises.
Banana macropropagation in a thermal chamber is an economical technology, effective as a phytosanitary cleaning method, and efficient to enhance seedling production. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of corm size (CS) and benzylaminopurine (BAP) on plantain cv. Barraganete seedling proliferation in two propagation environments (PE). The treatments consisted of two levels of BAP (with and without BAP), three CS (2 ± 0.5, 4 ± 0.5 and 6 ± 0.5 kg) and two PE (thermal chamber and raised bed). The variables evaluated were sprouting time (days), multiplication rate (MT) per unit (seedlings per corm) and area (seedlings per m2). Sprouting time was significantly influenced (p < 0.05) by the PE, where the thermal chamber advanced shoot emergence by 12 days, with respect to the raised bed. MT of seedlings per corm and m2, were significantly influenced (p < 0.05) by BAP × AP and TC × AP interactions, where the highest seedling production per corm occurred inside thermal chamber with BAP and 6 ± 0.5 kg corms, while seedling production per m2 was higher with 2 ± 0.5 kg corms under the same thermal chamber conditions and with BAP. The main effects results reported that with BAP there were 30 and 31% increases in MT per corm and per m2, respectively, relative to the treatment without BAP. Within the thermal chamber the MT per corm and per m2 increased by 44% relative to the raised bed. Regarding the effect of CS, larger corms achieved higher individual MT, while smaller corms achieved higher MT per area. The use of a thermal chamber and BAP is recommended for mass production of banana seedlings through macropropagation.
Copyright © by EnPress Publisher. All rights reserved.