Nutrient uptake and pharmaceutical compounds of Aloe vera as influenced by integration of inorganic fertilizer and poultry manure in soil

Physico-Chemical Characterization of Food Wastes for Potential Soil Application

Food waste is a matter of deep concern as it is creating multidimensional threats to the environment. Though these are potential sources of plant nutrients, a detailed investigation has not yet been conducted. Hence, a physico-chemical characterization of non-edible food waste such as brinjal waste, potato peels, banana peels, orange peels, eggshells, cow bones, chicken bones, fish bones, and their combined waste was accomplished using FTIR, TGA, XGT-5000, CHN corder, etc. The present study revealed that plant waste samples had lower ash contents (1.36–7.79%) but higher volatile matter (72.33–80.04%), and the reverse was true in animal waste. In addition, animal waste, except eggshells (22.48%), had lower fixed carbon (1.01–2.83%). On the other hand, fruit waste was documented with higher fixed carbon (11.33–14.27%). Results also indicated that animal waste and their combined samples, except eggshells, contained more nitrogen (3.82–5.06%). The concentration of P was statistically significant in the combined fruit sample (28.21% ± 8.451), followed by banana peels (24.96% ± 11.644). Vegetable waste contained a significantly higher amount of K (24.90% ± 28.311–37.92% ± 24.833) than other waste. Maximum Ca (68.82% ± 10.778) and Mg (15.37% ± 29.88) were recorded in eggshell and fish bone waste, respectively. Except for Zn and Mn in eggshells, the waste studied contained a significant amount of micronutrients. FTIR demonstrated the presence of different functional groups such as alcoholic group (OH), aliphatic chain (C–H), aromatic chain (C–H), alkyl aryl ether (C–O), carbonyl group (C=O), alkene (C=C), thiocyanate (S–CN), isothiocyanate (N=C=S), allene (C=C=C), sulphate (S=O), amine (N–H), and NO stretching band, which varied with the waste used. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that plant waste degraded more quickly than animal waste. Eggshells were found to be less degradable by increased temperature, followed by cow bones > fish bones > chicken bones. The waste material used in the study was slightly acidic (6.67–6.82) in nature. Correlation analysis of the nutrients showed mainly positive relations in all samples for macro and micronutrients. Therefore, non-edible food waste can be a possible source of plant nutrients.

Influence of Soil Nutrient Toxicity and Deficiency from Three Ecuadorian Climatic Regions on the Variation of Biological, Metabolic, and Nutritional Properties of Moringa oleifera Lam

Moringa oleifera Lam. contains numerous essential constituents found in all plant parts (leaves, pods, and seeds). From all its edible parts, the leaf represents an effective remedy with high potential for medicinal applications. Ecuador is part of the new promising cultivation areas for Moringa, and therefore our study is emphasized to determine the influence of soil nutrition, toxicity (excess), and deficiency, from three main areas of this country, correlated with its climatic characteristics, on the mineral components, bioactive compounds' synthesis, and antioxidant capacity of Moringa. Different analyses were performed in soil and especially leaf samples for phytochemical content, antioxidant activity, calcium, protein, and vitamin C determination to identify the relationship between soil nutrients, abiotic conditions, and the therapeutic potential of this species cultivated in Ecuador. The obtained values using methods such as DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS showed a high antioxidant capacity of the leaves from the Coastal Ecuadorian region, related with total phenolic compounds' content (through the Folin-Ciocalteu method) and flavonoids in samples, with results obtained under the positive influence of high soil nutrients such as Ca, Mg, Mn, and Fe. We can conclude that M. oleifera from the coastal area of Ecuador presents the right environmental and soil conditions to positively influence its mineral and phytochemical content, making it suitable for incorporation into foods and medicines to solve the nutritional and medical problems in Ecuador and worldwide.