Study of composting of cotton residues

A study on the composting of residues of cotton gin previously crushed or uncrushed is presented in this work. A multifactor analysis of correlation for each one of the treatments revealed that the final results obtained during the composting process of cotton residuals were very different according to whether the residues were crushed or uncrushed. Generally, the highest final values of macronutrients and micronutrients obtained were found when the composting process was carried out with the crushed residuals.     

Field trial of diatomaceous earth in cotton gin trash against the larger black flour beetle, Cynaeus angustus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

The larger black flour beetle, Cynaeus angustus (LeConte) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), is an agricultural and home nuisance pest in North America. In the Southern High Plains of Texas, the larger black flour beetle is associated with cotton gin trash, by-products of cotton ginning that are field stored in large piles for economic reasons. Larger black flour beetle overwinter in gin trash piles but may disperse by the millions in summer and autumn, entering houses as far as 2 km away where they cause distress to homeowners. Because > 1.2 billion kg of gin trash is produced annually in Texas alone, the potential consequences of the larger black flour beetle are enormous. We conducted a field experiment that evaluated the efficacy of diatomaceous earth (DE) on the abundance of the larger black flour beetle in gin trash. There were no significant differences in numbers of larger black flour beetle among treatments and controls (mean number of adults summed over time: controls = 115.41, layered treatment = 87.60, top and bottom treatment = 96.50, bottom treatment = 115.16). There were sufficient numbers of beetles in treated piles to still pose a potential home nuisance problem, likely because the moisture content of field-stored gin trash is too high for DE to work effectively. Therefore, treating cotton gin trash with diatomaceous earth will probably be unable to prevent home infestations of larger black flour beetle. Location within a gin trash pile and season influenced pest numbers, which has implications for long-term field storage of cotton gin trash.     

Boll weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) survival through cotton gin trash fans

There is concern that cotton gins may serve as loci for reintroduction of boll weevils, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman, to eradicated or suppressed zones when processing weevil-infested cotton from neighboring zones. Previous work has shown that virtually all weevils entering the gin in the seed cotton will be removed before they reach the gin stand. Those not killed by the seed cotton cleaning machinery will be shunted alive into the trash fraction, which passes through a centrifugal trash fan before exiting the gin. The objective of this study was to determine survival potential of boll weevils passed through a trash fan. Marked adult weevils were distributed in gin trash and fed through a 82.6-cm (32.5-in.) diameter centrifugal fan operated across a range of fan-tip speeds. A small number of boll weevils were recovered alive immediately after passage through the fan, but all were severely injured and did not survive 24 h. In another experiment, green bolls infested with both adult- and larval-stage weevils were fed through the fan. Several teneral adults survived 24 h, and there was no evidence that fan-tip speed affected either initial survival of weevils, or the number of unbroken boll locks that could harbor an infesting weevil. Thus, designating a minimum fan-tip speed for ensuring complete kill is not possible for the boll weevil. Experiments suggest that a device installed in a gin that partially crushes or cracks bolls open before entering a trash fan will increase mortality, possibly enough that further precautions would be unnecessary.     

Potential for escape of live boll weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) into cottonseed, motes, and cleaned lint at the cotton gin

Reintroductions of the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman, into areas of the United States where it has been eradicated or suppressed are very expensive to mitigate. There is concern that a cotton gin in an eradication zone may serve as a site of boll weevil reintroductions when processing cotton harvested in a neighboring infested zone. Similarly, there is a question whether weevil-free areas can safely import gin products, such as cottonseed and baled lint, from infested areas without risking an introduction. Many countries require fumigation of imported U.S. cotton bales to protect against boll weevil introductions, costing the U.S. cotton industry millions of dollars annually. In previously reported experiments, we quantified the potential for boll weevils to survive passage through precleaning machinery in the gin. In this study, we quantified survival potential of boll weevils passing through the gin stand and segregating into the cottonseed, mote, or lint fractions. We also examined boll weevil survival when passed with ginned lint through a lint cleaner. We present a flow chart of experimentally determined survival potentials of boll weevils passing through the various subprocesses of the gin, from which one can calculate the risk of a live boll weevil reaching any point in the process. Our data show that there is virtually no chance of a boll weevil being segregated alive into the cottonseed or of one surviving in the lint to approach the bale press. Therefore, quarantine or fumigation of cottonseed and cotton bales to guard against boll weevil introductions is unnecessary.     

Boll weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) survival through the seed cotton cleaning process in the cotton gin

There is concern that gins located in boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman, eradication zones may become points of reintroduction when they process cotton grown in a neighboring infested area. We estimated boll weevil survival through two typical machine sequences used in commercial cotton gins to clean and dry the seed cotton in advance of the gin stand, as well as separately through two incline cylinder cleaners or one or two tower dryers operating at different temperatures. Large numbers of laboratory-reared adult boll weevils were marked with fluorescent powder, fed into the test system, and recovered with the assistance of blacklights. We found no evidence of survival through the seed cotton cleaning systems even when the dryers were not heated, or when passed separately through the two incline cleaners alone. Upper confidence limits (95%) were calculated for the observed zero recoveries based on sample size and the binomial distribution, and these represent the statistical worst-case (i.e., highest) survival potential. Survival through heated tower dryers declined rapidly to zero at higher temperatures, especially when two dryers were running. Although we conclude that the potential for survival of weevils in the seed cotton to the gin stand is zero or close to zero, a small percentage of live weevils was recovered in the green boll/rock trap, which may represent the greatest threat of reintroduction at the gin. Escape of live weevils with the gin trash is also possible, and studies addressing this issue will be presented elsewhere.     

Co-composting of sugarbeet vinasse: influence of the organic matter nature of the bulking agents used

Two composts were obtained by co-composting of a concentrated depotassified beet vinasse and two agricultural solid residues with different organic matter nature: grape marc (GM; lignin waste) and cotton gin trash (C; cellulosic waste). Composting was carried out in aerated piles with mechanical turning, in controlled conditions during 4 months. After 71 days of composting, a new addition of vinasse similar to the initial addition was made. Changes in temperature, pH and inorganic nitrogen followed a similar path for both mixtures. However, organic matter fractions showed different behaviour depending on the material co-composted with vinasse. Lower organic matter degradation was observed when GM was used as bulking agent due to its high lignin content. No phytotoxicity was detected in the end products. The chemical and physical properties of both vinasse composts suggest their possible use as fertiliser.     

（强）热带风暴条件下农田林网对防止棉花倒伏及减产的效应

研究结果表明 ,林带背风面 2 7H范围内 ,林网具有不同程度减轻棉株倒伏及产量损失的功能 ,有效防护范围为 0 .42～ 2 3H ,最大籽棉产量和衣分率效果区为 1 0～ 1 3H .与受灾区相比 ,保护区的籽棉产量增加 45.0 1 % ,皮棉产量增加 52 .69% .整个林网内的籽棉产量增加 2 9 94% ,皮棉产量增加 35 0 6% .     

石灰碳汇综述

以“碳失汇”科学之谜和碳捕集与封存技术发展为背景,从石灰碳化原理、影响因素和石灰在化工、冶金、建筑以及石灰窑灰处理等领域的利用方式,综述了石灰物质流动过程的碳汇研究.结果发现: 石灰材料和环境条件是影响碳化的主要因素;石灰碳汇主要集中在化工、冶金和建筑领域;已有研究侧重分析石灰碳汇的机理、影响因素,但缺乏系统的碳汇核算方法.今后的研究工作应从以下几方面加强: 从物质流动的角度出发,建立系统完整的石灰碳汇核算方法;量化我国乃至全球的石灰碳汇量,阐明石灰生产过程中排放的CO₂抵消比例;分析石灰碳汇对碳失汇的贡献比例,明晰部分失踪碳汇;推动石灰碳捕集与封存技术发展,为我国应对气候变化国际谈判提供科学依据.     

石灰碳汇综述

以“碳失汇”科学之谜和碳捕集与封存技术发展为背景,从石灰碳化原理、影响因素和石灰在化工、冶金、建筑以及石灰窑灰处理等领域的利用方式,综述了石灰物质流动过程的碳汇研究.结果发现: 石灰材料和环境条件是影响碳化的主要因素;石灰碳汇主要集中在化工、冶金和建筑领域;已有研究侧重分析石灰碳汇的机理、影响因素,但缺乏系统的碳汇核算方法.今后的研究工作应从以下几方面加强: 从物质流动的角度出发,建立系统完整的石灰碳汇核算方法;量化我国乃至全球的石灰碳汇量,阐明石灰生产过程中排放的CO₂抵消比例;分析石灰碳汇对碳失汇的贡献比例,明晰部分失踪碳汇;推动石灰碳捕集与封存技术发展,为我国应对气候变化国际谈判提供科学依据.     

Recovery of lignocelluloses from pre-hydrolysis liquor in the lime kiln of kraft-based dissolving pulp production process by adsorption to lime mud

Dissolved lignocelluloses from the pre-hydrolysis liquor (PHL) of kraft-based dissolving pulp production process were recovered by adsorption to lime mud produced in the causticizing plant of the kraft process. The adsorption of lignocelluloses was a fast process, and could be completed within one hour. The addition of polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDADMAC) significantly increased the amounts of adsorbed lignin and hemicelluloses, which more than doubled at the PDADMAC dosage of 0.1% (based on the weight of PHL). The measured heating values of the adsorbed lignocelluloses indicate that adsorption of lignocelluloses to lime mud may result in the energy saving of the lime kiln. The process proposed in this study could also be adapted to decrease inhibitor concentrations (lignin and acetic acid) if the dissolved hemicelluloses in the PHL were used to produce value-added products, e.g., ethanol, xylitol, based on the fermentation process.     

The effect of local cropping activities and weather on the airborne concentration of allergenic Alternaria spores in rural Australia

Atopy to the fungus Alternaria is strongly associated with respiratory disease. The prevalences of asthma and of allergy to Alternaria are high amongst children living in rural towns of south-eastern Australia. In such towns, airborne allergenic spores have been proposed to arise from nearby crops, but this has not been tested and crops are unlikely to be the only sources of Alternaria . We sought to identify sources and factors that influence concentrations of spores of Alternaria detected in rural towns. Over two years, we sampled spores in two towns (Wagga Wagga and Moree, New South Wales, Australia), in nearby wheat and cotton crops during harvesting and control periods, in a cotton gin and a grain shed. Alternaria was present in both towns throughout the study, and above the crops, at the gin and grain shed. Daily and annual concentrations were amongst the highest recorded worldwide and peaks persisted for six months in Wagga Wagga and ten months in Moree. Crop maturation affected the spore load in the air more than the actual days of harvest. Regression analysis showed that the overall spore concentrations above towns correlated with those above crops. Variables of rainfall and maximum temperature correlated with concentrations in both towns, and additionally wind direction in Wagga Wagga. In conclusion, crops and produce handling released spores into the air that reached nearby rural towns, with peaks in spore concentrations following warm temperatures and recent rainfall.     

Gaseous emissions from burning diesel, crude and prime bleachable summer yellow cottonseed oil in a burner for drying seedcotton

Cottonseed oil has been used as a fuel source either as a blend with diesel in varying proportions or undiluted (100%) in numerous studies evaluating its potential use in internal combustion engines. However, limited research is available on the use of cottonseed oil as a fuel source in a multi-fueled burner similar to those used by cottonseed oil mills and cotton gins in their drying operations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate emissions from five fuel oil treatments while firing a multi-fueled burner in a setup similar to those used for drying operations of both cottonseed oil mills and cotton gins. For each treatment, gaseous emissions were measured while firing the burner at three fuel flow rates. The five fuel oil treatments evaluated were: (1) No. 2 diesel at 28.3 degrees C, (2) prime bleachable summer yellow (PBSY) cottonseed oil at 28.3 degrees C (PBSY-28), (3) crude cottonseed oil at 28.3 degrees C (Crude-28), (4) PBSY at 60 degrees C (PBSY-60), and (5) crude at 60 degrees C (Crude-60). Results indicate that PBSY treatments had the lowest overall emissions of all treatments. The other treatments varied in emission rates based on treatment and fuel flow rate. Preheating the oil to 60 degrees C resulted in higher NO(x) emissions but displayed varying results in regards to CO. The CO emissions for the crude treatments were relatively unaffected by the 60 degrees C preheat temperature whereas the preheated PBSY treatments demonstrated lower CO emissions. Overall, both cottonseed oils performed well in the multi-fueled burner and displayed a promising potential as an alternative fuel source for cottonseed oil mills and cotton gins in their drying operations.     

Potential for transport of boll weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to the cotton gin within cotton modules

There is concern that cotton gins located in boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman, eradication zones serving customers in adjacent infested zones may serve as a site for boll weevil reintroductions if weevils are transported alive inside cotton modules. We surveyed fields in three distinct areas of Texas and found that weevils can be present in large numbers in cotton fields that have been defoliated and desiccated in preparation for harvest, both as free adults and as immatures inside unopened bolls. Harvested cotton taken from module builders indicated that approximately = 100-3700 adult boll weevils were packed inside modules constructed at the sampled fields. Marked weevils were forced through a laboratory field cleaner (bur extractor) commonly mounted on stripper-harvesters, and 14% were recovered alive in the seed cotton fraction and lived at least to 24 h. Survival of weevils placed inside modules declined over time up to 7 d, but the magnitude of the decline varied with experimental conditions. In one experiment, 91% of the weevils survived to 7 d, whereas under harsher environmental conditions, only 11% survived that long. Together, our results indicate that when cotton is harvested in an infested area, boll weevils likely will be packed alive into cotton modules, and many will still be alive by the time the module is fed into the gin, at least up to 7 d after the module's construction.     

Effects of a compost made from the solid by-product ("alperujo") of the two-phase centrifugation system for olive oil extraction and cotton gin waste on growth and nutrient content of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

A pot experiment was conducted on a low-fertility calcareous soil in order to evaluate the effect on ryegrass growth and nutrient uptake of an organic fertiliser obtained by composting "alperujo" and cotton gin waste. Compost, alone and combined with nitrogen fertilisation, was added to the soil at three rates and three harvests were obtained. The compost application enhanced plant growth in the first and third harvest. However, the additional nitrogen fertilisation clearly improved soil productivity due to the scarce availability of this nutrient in the compost. Also, a general increase in the plant contents of phosphorus and potassium in the first two harvests was recorded, whereas treatments with the maximum compost rate showed the highest plant content of copper in the last two harvests. Decreases in calcium in the last two harvests, in magnesium in all of them and in iron and manganese in the last harvest were also observed.     

Ethylene from alcohol lamps and natural gas burners: Effects on cotton ovules cultured in vitro

Summary In a transfer hood having positive pressure via flow of filtered air, momentary flaming of flask mouths via an alcohol lamp or natural gas burner introduced variable and often large amounts of ethylene into these culture vessels. Amounts of ethylene introduced depended upon where flask mouths were placed within the flame. Most ethylene diffused out of flasks within 2 hr if adequate fresh air exchange was provided, permitting cotton ovules to respond to hormones in ways reported in previous literature. However, it was concluded that flask-flaming could occasionally account for some variability in hormonal responses of cultured cotton ovules. Specifically, ethylene (assumed to be the most abundant and harmful substance admitted to the flasks via flaming) caused excessive ovular callus formation in combination with GA₃ and decreased the percentage of ovules forming fibers in response to IAA. This work was supported by the National Science Foundation Grant PCM 75-03944.     

The use of a gin probe and of an assay for functional complementarity to detect Din+ invertases

Abstract Various bacterial genera have been screened for evidence of DNA inversion as a form of control of gene expression. A probe was constructed using the gin gene of bacteriophage Mu and used to detect homologous DNA. To detect functional homology, a plasmid assay for Hin (the DNA invertase from Salmonella typhimurium complementarity was used.
Some Escherichia coli strains tested had a nucleotide sequence homologous to gin and expressed Hin complementary activity, whereas others had neither. No evidence of gin homology or Hin complementary activity was found in representatives of a variety of other genera tested.     

Segmentally distributed metamorphic changes in neural circuits controlling abdominal bending in the hawkmoth Manduca sexta

During the metamorphosis of Manduca sexta the larval nervous system is reorganized to allow the generation of behaviors that are specific to the pupal and adult stages. In some instances, metamorphic changes in neurons that persist from the larval stage are segment-specific and lead to expression of segment-specific behavior in later stages. At the larval-pupal transition, the larval abdominal bending behavior, which is distributed throughout the abdomen, changes to the pupal gin trap behavior which is restricted to three abdominal segments. This study suggests that the neural circuit that underlies larval bending undergoes segment specific modifications to produce the segmentally restricted gin trap behavior. We show, however, that non-gin trap segments go through a developmental change similar to that seen in gin trap segments. Pupal-specific motor patterns are produced by stimulation of sensory neurons in abdominal segments that do not have gin traps and cannot produce the gin trap behavior. In particular, sensory stimulation in non-gin trap pupal segments evokes a motor response that is faster than the larval response and that displays the triphasic contralateral-ipsilateral-contralateral activity pattern that is typical of the pupal gin trap behavior. Despite the alteration of reflex activity in all segments, developmental changes in sensory neuron morphology are restricted to those segments that form gin traps. In non-gin trap segments, persistent sensory neurons do not expand their terminal arbors, as do sensory neurons in gin trap segments, yet are capable of eliciting gin trap-like motor responses. Accepted: 10 January 1997     

LIME GREEN LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE EQUIPPED YELLOW STICKY CARD TRAPS FOR MONITORING WHITEFLIES, APHIDS AND FUNGUS GNATS IN GREENHOUSES

Abstract  Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were attached to plastic cup and sticky card traps to improve pest insect catches in the laboratory and in greenhouses. Plastic cup traps equipped with 530 nm lime green LEDs caught more adult Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) and Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biotype B compared with plastic cup traps alone. Yellow sticky card (YC) and clear plastic sticky card (CS) traps equipped with lime green LEDs (LED-YC and LED-CS, respectively) caught more adult T. vaporariorum, B. tabaci biotype B, Aphis gossypii (Glover) and Bradysia coprophila (Lintner) compared with unlit traps of each type in greenhouse cage studies with shell beans, Phaseolus vulgaris (L.) and cotton, Gossypium hirsutum (L.). The lime green LED equipped YC traps have potential for use in greenhouses for insect detection, monitoring, and control.     

应用附加绿黄色光二极管的黄色胶片监测温室中的粉虱、蚜虫和蕈蚊

绿黄色光二极管(LED)附加在塑胶杯和胶片捕捉器可增加捕捉实验室和温室中昆虫的数量。附加有530nm绿黄色LED的塑胶杯捕捉器比没有附加的捕捉到更多的Trialeurodes vaporariorum(Westwood)和Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius)B生态型。在温室中昆虫笼以四季豆和棉花试验,附加有530nm绿黄色LED的黄色胶片(YC)和透明塑胶片(CS)分别缩写为LED—YC和LED—CS)比每一种没有附加的捕捉器捕捉到更多的T.vaporariorum,B．tabaci B生态型,Ahis gossypii(Glover)和Bradysia coprophila(Lintner)成虫。绿黄色LED—YC在温室中有用为监测和控制的潜在性。