Burhanuddin Rasyid

Cerenkov and liquid scintillation analysis of the triple label 86Rb35S33P

Abstract A method was developed for the analysis of 86Rb35S33P as a triple-label. The analysis of the total activity of composite mixtures of the three radionuclides was demonstrated to be quantitative by the liquid scintillation efficiency tracing technique with recoveries between 99.7–100.4%. The activity of 86Rb in the triple label was determined by Cerenkov counting in water with a 52% counting efficiency. The combined activities of 35 S + 33 P were determined by subtracting the activity of 86Rb from the total activity of the triple label. The separate activities of 35S and 33P are obtained by difference after a period of time sufficient for the decay of 33P to negligible levels leaving only residual 35S in the sample. The method described is useful for the analysis of 86Rb35S33P as a triple label for the elements KSP in studies of fertilize use efficiency.

Pulse height spectral analysis of 3H:14C ratios

Abstract Activity ratios of 3 H: 14 C of isotope-labeled substances are employed commonly in biochemical studies of reaction mechanisms and pathways. The liquid scintillation pulse height spectral index (SIS) of a composite sample of 3 H and 14 C was demonstrated to provide an index to the 3 H: 14 C activity ratio of the sample. Linear and logarithmic relations between the 3 H: 14 C activity ratio and SIS were defined for a given level of quench. When the level of quench is maintained constant, the SIS was demonstrated to be directly correlated to the 3 H: 14 C activity ratios of the sample. A mean recovery of 102.3% was obtained for calculated 3 H: 14 C activity ratios over the range of 0.097:1–9.698:1. The method described provides the 3 H: 14 C activity ratios of samples without the need for determining the separate activities of the individual radionuclides of the dual label.

Utilization of Cocoa Pod Husk Waste Composting by Tremella Sp and Pleurotus Sp as A Medium to Growth of Cocoa Seedling

Cocoa pod husk waste is a problem in the cocoa field, but it potentially as a source of organic matter to improve soil fertility.The paper discuss about the ability of Tremella sp and Pleurotus sp on producing phytohormone and on degrading cocoa pod husks waste. The research start with isolation, screening, and propagation of rot fungi were collected from decayed cocoa plants. The measurement of IAA is according to the method of Glickman and Dessaux (1995), by addition of L-Tryptophan 0.1 g l-1, whereas the Gibberellic Acid content was measured by using the method of Borrow et al., (1955). Composting process of cocoa pod husks waste was revealed during 40 days. This research showed that the IAA and GA3 content in compost fermented with Tremella sp was higher than treatment with Pleurotus sp. Similarly, the result was also observed in the ability of hemicellulose degradation. However, Pleurotus sp was capable to produce compost with higher nutrient levels. Compost fermented by rot fungi gave significant effect to the growth of cocoa seedlings. Nevertheless the difference in varieties of cocoa had no effect on growth of cocoa seedlings. Cocoa pod husk waste composted by Tremella sp and Pleurotus sp gave the significant effect on Leaf Area Index (LAI), Net Assimilation Rate (NAR), Crop Growth Rate (CGR), Root-shoot ratio, and root dry weight of Cocoa seedling.

Root mass may affect soil water infiltration more strongly than the incorporated residue

Crop residue incorporation increases stable soil pores and soil water infiltration and reduces surface water runoff and soil erosion. However, few studies have examined the relationship between crop residue incorporation and water infiltration. A previous study showed that water infiltration increases depending on the quantity of applied wheat straw. In this study, we examined whether the relationship is applicable to different crop residues in a crop rotation. We grew corn, rose grass, and okra in crop rotation under plastic film houses and measured the water infiltration rate at the time of ridge making. A strong correlation was found between the quantity of applied residue and the soil water infiltration rate ( = 0.953), although there are outliers in the case of no r prior crop. However, aboveground biomass of the prior crop showed a stronger correlation with water infiltration rate ( = 0.965), without outliers. Previous r studies have revealed the exponential relation between plant root mass and soil erosion. Our data also show a positive relationship between resistance to erosion and root mass when assuming that aboveground biomass is proportional to the underground biomass. The result also showed that the effect of the prior crop root mass disappears within the next crop period. Our results indicate that maintaining a large root biomass is crucial for reducing soil erosion.

Capability of Rot Fungus Isolates from Oil Palm Empty Bunches in the Production of Indole Acetic Acid (IAA)

Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) are very abundant palm oil mill waste. Each processing of 1-ton fresh fruit bunches will produce EFB as much as 22 23% EFB or as much as 220 230 kg EFB (Ishani and Benjamin, 2014). EFB has characteristics with large size, dominated by materials that are difficult to decay the cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin and has a high C/N ratio. EFB is a lignocellulosic material containing 25% lignin, 50% cellulose and 25% hemicellulose in the cell wall. In recent years, EFB has been used as fuel to produce steam in the palm oil industry. EFB burning causes serious and high environmental concerns. Currently, EFB is used as fertilizer on agricultural land to control weeds, maintain moisture and soil erosion (Thambirajah et al., 1995; Umikalsom et al., 1997; Molla et al., 2004; Bariet al., 2009; Misson et al., 2009).