Journal of Science and Agricultural Technology

Development of nutrition-supplemented instant riceberry combat ration from agricultural products of Thaharn-Phandee project

2024-02-09T15:21:25+07:00

A proposal was put out to develop a novel personal combat ration for the Royal Thai Army (RTA), designed to expedite the cooking process in battlefield conditions. The formulated ration consisted of riceberry combined with vegetables sourced from the Thahan-Phandee project at Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy (CRMA), aiming to deliver vital nutrients to soldiers. The ration processing was optimized based on using affordable RTA’s equipment and resources. Firstly, the riceberry was soaked and preheated in 0.05% sodium phosphate at 70 °C for 20 min, then boiled for 12 min. Later, the riceberry was dried at 80 °C until the moisture content reached below 7%. The rice was subsequently combined with pre-prepared dehydrated vegetables, including fairy mushrooms (oyster mushrooms), gourds, baby corn, basil leaves, and long beans. These mixtures were then packed into vacuum-sealed bags, with each package containing 200 g. This portion size provided energy for a single meal, totaling 722 kcal. Cooked rice could be obtained by rehydrating it with hot water and allowing it to sit for 7.5-10 min. Ninety-four cadets were selected as the sample for conducting a sensory examination. Regarding taste, the product exhibited a considerably higher score than conventionally cooked white rice and riceberry (P < 0.05). However, no substantial difference was observed in appearance, texture, flavor, and acceptability score. The product had a positive reception from cadets for its use during their field training activities, as their ratings fell under the "very satisfied" category.

Effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and prebiotics on physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory quality of pasteurized raw mango juice

2024-08-05T16:02:20+07:00

This study aimed to develop a functional beverage from a local mango variety, “Kaew,” and the potential probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum PW1 (Lp) enriched with prebiotics, including fructooligosaccharides, inulin, and polydextrose. The effects of Lp and these functional ingredients on the beverage's physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory qualities after fermentation and during refrigeration were investigated. The addition of the potential probiotic Lp, along with prebiotics, was effectively applied in ready-to-drink raw mango juice. The viability of the Lp strain remained above 7 Log CFU/mL throughout the study periods. The findings highlighted the potential to enhance the value of mango juice through fermentation with the beneficial bacteria Lp, combined with exogenous prebiotics.

Effects of electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution on the growth of pepino (Solanum muricatum Aiton) plants under hydroponic cultivation

2024-05-31T15:07:39+07:00

This study aimed to investigate the difference in the electrical conductivity (EC) levels of nutrient solutions on the vegetative growth of pepino

(

Solanum muricatum

Aiton

)

under a hydroponic culture established in the greenhouse. The experiment was conducted from November 2023 to January 2024 at the Agricultural Technology Research Institute, Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna, Lampang, Thailand. The experiment was carried out using a completely randomized design (CRD) with four treatments and ten replications. The treatments were four levels of EC, including 1, 2, 3, and 4 millisiemens per centimeter (mS/cm), respectively. The results demonstrated that the EC of the nutrient solution caused statistical differences in the vegetative growth of the pepino. The 1 and 2 mS/cm EC levels induced the percentage of pepino flowering. Meanwhile, 2 and 3 mS/cm EC levels led to the highest chlorophyll fluorescence and leaf green index (SPAD). In addition, an EC level of 4 mS/cm results in the most significant plant height, canopy width, stem diameter, leaf length, number of new shoots per plant, and leaf green index (SPAD).

Optimizing row spacing for dual-purpose wheat cultivation in Thailand

2024-11-12T15:50:48+07:00

Wheat production in Thailand is increasing due to rising domestic demand. Dual-purpose wheat cultivation, aimed at producing grain and stems for drinking straw manufacturing, has gained attention to enhance farmer income and promote sustainable practices. This study evaluated the effect of row spacing on yield potential (YP) yield components and stem qualities, including plant number (PN), spike number (SN), spike length (SL), thousand-grain weight (TGW), and stem qualities, specifically the diameter of the second internode (D2), length of the second internode (L2), stem hardness (Hs), and straw yield (SY) for drinking straw production. The experiment employed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications in 8 square meters plot sizes. Four-row spacings were tested: 15, 20 (conventional), 25, and 35 cm, with a seed rate of 125 kg/ha The findings indicated that row spacings of 20 cm and 25 cm yielded the highest values for YP (5,044,888 kg/ha), SN (309-308 spikes/m²), TGW (37.42-37.64 g), D2 (3.57-3.66 mm), and SY (1,580,000-1,740,000 straws/rai). These spacings also received the highest ratings in a farmer satisfaction survey. The findings suggest that 20-25 cm row spacings are optimal for dual-purpose wheat cultivation in Thailand, balancing grain yield and stem quality for sustainable production.

Effect of casing material on the yield of milky mushroom (Calocybe indica)

2024-11-29T13:06:33+07:00

This research aimed to study the effect of casing material on the yield of milky mushroom (Calocybe indica). The experiment was assigned in a completely randomized design with 6 treatments and 4 replications each. The treatments were casing materials as follows: 1) loam soil:manure, 2) loam soil:manure:rubber sawdust, 3) loam soil:manure:rubber sawdust:sand, 4) loam soil:vermicompost, 5) loam soil:vermicompost:rubber sawdust, and 6) loam soil:vermicompost:rubber sawdust:sand.In each treatment, the ratios of casing materials were 1:1 by volume. The pinhead initiation, the number, fresh weight, size of the fruiting body, and biological efficiency were recorded.The results found that different casing materials showed significant differences in pinhead initiation, number of fruiting bodies, and the length of the stipe, but different casing materials did not show any significant difference in the diameter of the pileus, the fresh weight of milky mushroom, and percentage of biological efficiency. The diameter of the pileus was 15.13-19.65 cm. The fresh weight was from 938.3–1,238.3 g/5 bags, and the percentage of biological efficiency was from 40.60–46.29%. The loam soil, manure, and rubber saw dust tended to give the best fresh weight at 1,238.3 g/5 bags.

Assessment of quality of Thai wheat drinking straws produced from different wheat varieties

2024-12-13T15:49:34+07:00

Wheat cultivation in Thailand has increased, especially bread wheat, durum wheat, and triticale, owing to a surge in local demand for grain and stalks to produce drinking straws. This study aimed to assess the quality of wheat drinking straws manufactured by a community enterprise in Lampang Province, Thailand, in accordance with the community product standard for plant-based straws (CPS. 1558/2020), a pertinent regulation for plant-based straws in Thailand. This study assessed the quality of three varieties of Thai wheat drinking straws: Fang 60, Durum No. 31, and Triticale No. 23. All three varieties met the necessary criteria, including their general appearance, odor, shape retention, moisture content, and microbial contamination levels, thereby confirming their adherence to the established standards in Thailand. The customer's evaluation of wheat straw regarding odor, color, shape, and suction quality revealed positive feedback. Triticale No. 23 and Fang 60 straws garnered the highest overall satisfaction ratings, closely followed by Durum No. 31 straws, which also attained high satisfaction ratings. This study demonstrates that temperate grain stalks are suitable for the manufacture of drinking straws. It also ensures customer acceptance and quality, hence guaranteeing the market potential in the future.