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Effects of Different Fertilizer Rates on Total Polyphenols and Catechins of Selected Clones of Green Tea (Camellia sinensis L. [O] Kuntze)
Evans Kenanda Okemwa,
Koskei Kipkoech Silvanuss
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 2, June 2020
Pages:
13-19
Received:
4 June 2020
Accepted:
18 June 2020
Published:
28 June 2020
Abstract: Application of inorganic NPK (nitrogen: phosphorus: potassium) fertilizers on tea (Camellia sinensis) has been common among small-scale tea farmers to increase production. However, the cost of fertilizers has been increasing and reducing their net returns. Fertilizers applications also affect the quality of the crop which is mainly dictated by the total polyphenols and catechins; these metabolites are responsible for its anti-oxidant activity, taste and aroma. The focus of this work was on the effect of varying NPK fertilizer application rate on the levels of total polyphenols and catechins of green tea made from three tea cultivars and development of an optimum NPK fertilizer application rate. Samples of three varieties, AHP S15/10, TRFK 6/8 (Tea Research Foundation of Kenya), and BBK 35, were collected from Mettarora, Arroket and Monire tea estates within Sotik highlands. Randomized complete block design sampling was used and sampling was done 6-8 weeks after application of the treatment. The fertilizer used was inorganic plain NPK fertilizer and NPK fertilizer supplemented with Molybdenum. The experimental treatments consisted of six treatments made up NPK 25:5:5; at 0, 75, 150, 225, 300, and 375 kg N/ha/year. The collected samples were processed as non-aerated green CTC (Cut, Tear and Curl) teas at the miniature processing factory unit at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation - Tea Research Institute (KALRO-TRI) at Kericho County. Processed tea samples were milled and chemical analysis done to quantify the levels of biochemicals in the samples. Data obtained were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and mean separation was done using the least significant difference test at p ≤0.05. TRFK 6/8 was found to have the highest mean percentage total polyphenols of 25.90 followed by BBK 35 with a mean percentage total polyphenols of 25.75. AHP S15/10 recorded the least mean percentage total polyphenols of 23.70. A similar trend was observed in the mean percentages of catechins with TRFK 6/8, BBK 35 and AHP S 15/10 recording 20.7%, 18.87% 18.46% respectively. Hence, use of optimum NPK fertilizer application rate specific to each clone supplemented with Molybdenum boosts the levels of polyphenols and catechins in green tea.
Abstract: Application of inorganic NPK (nitrogen: phosphorus: potassium) fertilizers on tea (Camellia sinensis) has been common among small-scale tea farmers to increase production. However, the cost of fertilizers has been increasing and reducing their net returns. Fertilizers applications also affect the quality of the crop which is mainly dictated by the ...
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Optimization of Camellia sinensis Crop Productivity by Use of Blended Fertilizers
Evans Kenanda Okemwa,
Jepkemei Naum Kirwa
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 2, June 2020
Pages:
20-25
Received:
8 June 2020
Accepted:
20 June 2020
Published:
4 July 2020
Abstract: Tea (Camellia sinensis) is the top foreign exchange earner in Kenya. Its demand is relatively high and this has triggered increased production. Manufacturing companies have also stiff competitions amongst themselves on the aspect of branding. However, for quality assurance and high productivity, the nature of fertilizer in regard to its nutrients has played a major role. This study investigated the effects of blended NPK (Nitrogen:phosphorus:potassium) fertilizer on tea crop productivity in different growing regions of Kenya. The optimum sustainable rate of fertilizer application was also determined. Different rates of 0, 75, 150 and 225 Kg/ha/Yr (kilogram per hectare per year) were used. A randomized complete block design was applied and the sample clone was Tea Research Foundation of Kenya (TRFK) 6/8. The samples, composed of two leaves and a bud, were randomly picked, dried and ground into powder. Each sample was heated to ash in a muffle furnace, cooled and digested using 50% double acid of HNO3 and HCl with H2O2. Desorption was done using HCl and samples allowed to settle before being aspirated into an Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OPS). They were reweighed and digested for determination of total percentage nitrogen.; This was followed by distillation before titration with ammonium borate solution and HCl. Data analysis was done using MSTAT statistical package. The results revealed that the percentage accumulation of elements was highest when blended fertilizer was applied at a lower rate of 75 Kg N/Ha/Yr. compared to standard compounded fertilizer, which required higher rates of up to 225 Kg N/Ha/Yr. for accumulation of nutrients. Blended fertilizer was therefore found to be more economical and highly yielding than Standard compounded fertilizer, as a lower rate of application still led to higher accumulation of elements which is directly proportional to higher yield and quality in tea.
Abstract: Tea (Camellia sinensis) is the top foreign exchange earner in Kenya. Its demand is relatively high and this has triggered increased production. Manufacturing companies have also stiff competitions amongst themselves on the aspect of branding. However, for quality assurance and high productivity, the nature of fertilizer in regard to its nutrients h...
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Development and Validation of HPLC assay of Lycopene in Different Matrices
Muhammad Amjad,
Shabbir Hussain,
Abdul Rehman Khan
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 2, June 2020
Pages:
26-33
Received:
11 May 2020
Accepted:
29 May 2020
Published:
13 July 2020
Abstract: Lycopene is the red pigment richly found in many red -colored fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, papaya, pink grapefruit, pink guava, and watermelon. It is an antioxidant that has various beneficent effects and protects against oxidative damage to lipids, protein, and DNA. It is a potent quencher of oxygen and most effective against cancer, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, hypertension, male infertility, and neurodegenerative disease. Lycopene is synthesized by plants and microorganisms but not animals and humans. The main objective of this study is to develop and validate an HPLC assay method for the determination of lycopene in tomato, watermelon, and human blood. A simple assay method is an economical assay method, suitable for the determination of lycopene from plant and biological sources. A new accurate, specific, precise, high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed and validated for the determination of lycopene in tomatoes, watermelon and blood sample according to the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. Acetonitrile, Methanol, Water (65%, 20%, and 15%) was used as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.7ml/min. using a symmetry C18 column. The effluent was spectrophotometrically monitored at 484nm. The calibration curve was linear with a correlation coefficient of 0.9994. The average recovery was found to be 102.0%. The proposed HPLC method was successfully applied to quantify the amount of lycopene in different matrices.
Abstract: Lycopene is the red pigment richly found in many red -colored fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, papaya, pink grapefruit, pink guava, and watermelon. It is an antioxidant that has various beneficent effects and protects against oxidative damage to lipids, protein, and DNA. It is a potent quencher of oxygen and most effective against cancer, ca...
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The Sources, Toxicity, Determination of Heavy Metals and Their Removal Techniques from Drinking Water
Muhammad Amjad,
Shabbir Hussain,
Kashif Javed,
Abdul Rehman Khan,
Muhammad Shahjahan
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 2, June 2020
Pages:
34-40
Received:
5 May 2020
Accepted:
25 May 2020
Published:
13 July 2020
Abstract: Heavy metals such as Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), Arsenic (As), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Aluminum (Al), Barium (Ba), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium( Mg), Lead (Pb), Manganese (Mn), Silver( Ag), Sodium (Na), and Selenium (Se) their excess contamination in drinking and irrigation water causes toxicity in living organisms. Their major sources are from different industries as dying, textiles, leather, mining, pesticides, plastic, wood, and pharmaceuticals. The industrial processes release these metals in air, surface water, soil, groundwater, and crops and ultimately target human beings. Groundwater contamination occurs through the anthropogenic activities by man-made products such as gasoline, oil, road salts, mining, pesticides, and fertilizers, etc. discharge into groundwater. Copper, Zinc, and Selenium are heavy metals that are needed in trace amounts for humans. On the other hand, some other metals like Lead, Arsenic, and Mercury are extremely dangerous for human beings even if consumed in small amounts. There is a big challenge to remove heavy metals from drinking water. Different diseases like nervous system damage, kidney failure, blood pressure, hypertension, diabetes, growth inhibition are mostly caused by their contamination in drinking water. Various modern and conventional techniques are used for the determination of heavy metals and water treatment.
Abstract: Heavy metals such as Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), Arsenic (As), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Aluminum (Al), Barium (Ba), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium( Mg), Lead (Pb), Manganese (Mn), Silver( Ag), Sodium (Na), and Selenium (Se) their excess contamination in drinking and irrigation water causes toxicity in living organisms. Their maj...
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