Increasing of industrialization and population has resulted in the accumulation of a wide variety of chemicals. Especially, widespread use of synthetic and toxic chemicals have led to an effort to improve new technologies to reduce or eliminate these contaminants from the environment. Chemical methods that used for the treatment of toxic materials are expensive, time-consuming and difficult, especially in extensive agricultural areas. Furthermore these methods led to formation of new chemical pollutants. Recent years, one promising alternative treatment method is to use of microorganisms for the biodegradation of these toxic chemicals. This method is effective, minimally hazardous, economical, versatile and environment friendly. In this study, we thought that microflora of insecticide resistant insects may be a potential reservoir for the isolation of new bacteria that can be used for the biodegradation of insecticides. In this research work, totally 24 bacterial isolates capable of biodegradation α-endosulsan were isolated from the body microflora of insects belong to Orthoptera, Dermaptera, Mantodea and Hymenoptera orders. Based on the some morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics and fatty acid profiles they were identified as Stenotrophomonas, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Brevibacillus, Flavimonas and Rhodococcus. As a result, these isolates can be used for the treatment of α-endosulfan residues at different environments.

A characterization and analysis of the production systems of aromatic, medicinal and spice plants (AMSP) was carried out in La Molana, Atrato-Chocó, Colombia throughout the identification of their biophysical, socioeconomic and financial characteristics, in order to propose agroecological alternatives that solve the problems and identified needs in said systems; applying methodologies and evaluation indicators of agricultural systems addressed to sustainable rural development, design, implementation and evaluation of agroforestry arrangements, agroforestry systems accompanied by WOST analysis, and agroforestry planning of productive units (APPU), this information was collected through the application of a focal workshop and semi-structured questionnaires to 40 farm producers. Therefore, eight productive units (UP) with four plots and four rooftop, which was characterized throughout a simple random sampling without replacement. The results indicate that these farm producers destine 15.6 ha to AMSP production, from which 11 ha are crops structured in plots within forests and 4.6 ha are destined to crops in roofs around the houses. The units produce on average, 110 units (bunches) per week, which are offered to informal vendors in the market place of Quibdo-Choco, Colombia with prices which ranged from COP $ 1000 to COP $ 3000 according to plant size and species. Likewise, was determined that the economic incomes of the AMSP units depend mainly on the following planted species: Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum L.), cimarron (Eryngium foetidum L.), Albahaca (Ocimum basilicum L.) and Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), which are the most economically important species in the study area. | Se realizó la caracterización y análisis de los sistemas productivos de plantas aromáticas, medicinales y condimentarias (PAMC) de La Molana, Atrato-Chocó, Colombia a través de la identificación de sus características biofísicas, socioeconómicas y financieras, con el fin de proponer alternativas agroecológicas que solucionen los problemas y necesidades identificados en dichos sistemas; aplicando las metodologías e indicadores de evaluación de sistemas agrícolas hacia el desarrollo sostenible, Diseño, implementación y evaluación de arreglos agroforestales, Sistemas Agroforestales acompañado del análisis DOFA, y planificación agroforestal de unidades productivas (PAF), dicha información fue recopilada a través de la aplicación de un taller focal y cuestionarios semiestructurados a 40 productores. Se caracterizaron ocho unidades productivas (UP), cuatro parcelas y cuatro azoteas, a través de un muestreo aleatorio simple sin reposición. Los resultados señalan que estos productores destinan 15.6 ha a la producción de PAMC, de las cuales 11 ha son de cultivos en parcelas dentro de bosques y 4.6 ha son destinadas a cultivos en azoteas alrededor de las viviendas. Las unidades producen en promedio, 110 unidades (manojos) semanales que son ofrecidos a vendedores informales en la plaza de mercado de Quibdó-Chocó, Colombia a precios que van desde COP $1000 hasta COP $3000 de acuerdo al tamaño y la especie. De igual modo se determinó que los ingresos económicos de las UP de PAMC dependen principalmente de las siguientes especies sembradas en las parcelas: Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum L.), cimarrón (Eryngium foetidum L.), Albahaca (Ocimum basilicum L.) y Orégano (Origanum vulgare L.), las cuales son las especies de mayor importancia económica en la zona de estudio.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of NK chemical fertilizers in combination with compost on the growth and yield attributes of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). The pot experiment was done in a complete randomized block design possessing eight treatments with four replicates. Fruit weight, pulp weight, seed weight, total soluble solid, leaf area and dry weights of plat parts were taken and fruit yield was calculated. All the collected data were subjected to statistical analysis. The results revealed that there were significant differences in fruit and seed weights, total soluble solid, pulp weight, 100 seed weight, pulp consistency, leaf area and crop residue. In these parameters, higher mean values were recorded in chemical fertilizers (7.5 g N + 6 g K2O + 15 g P2O5 per m2) with compost (2 kg per m2) than those in the chemical fertilizers applied alone (9.0 g N + 8 g K2O + 15 g P2O5 per m2as standard control). Total soluble solid and fruit yield were 5.73 obrix and 3.21 kg/m2 respectively in the chemical fertilizers with compost (7.5 g N + 6 g K2O + 15 g P2O5 +2 kg compost per m2) treated plants and these were statically on par with the standard control which gave 4.36 obrix total soluble solid and 3.05 kg/m2 fruit yield. The result could be concluded that application of chemical fertilizers (7.5 g N + 6 g K2O + 15 g P2O5 per m2) with compost (2 kg per m2) could increase the total soluble solid and fruit yield as well as reduce the usage of chemical fertilizers in tomato cultivation over the standard control in sandy regosol.

En el estudio se evaluó el efecto de las fertilizaciones química y orgánica y biofertilización en la nutrición y rendimiento del ají (Capsicum spp.) en el Valle del Cauca, Colombia, y en la producción de plántulas en vivero y en campo. Las variables evaluadas en vivero fueron: peso fresco de raíz y parte aérea, número de hojas, altura de la planta (cm), diámetro del tallo (mm), peso seco total, peso seco de raíz y parte aérea. Se evaluaron seis tratamientos, bajo un diseño estadístico de bloques completos al azar, de la forma siguiente: fertilización de síntesis química completa (testigo) (FSQC), FSQC más fertilización orgánica (FSQC + O), FSQC + O más biofertilización 1 (solubilizador de fósforo con base en Penicillium janthinellum (1x10(7)conidias/ml), FSQC + O más micorrizas (FSQC + O + M), FSQC + O más biofertilización 2 (fijador de nitrógeno con base en Azotobacter chroococcum (1x10(8) UFC/ml) y Azospirillun sp. (1x10(8) UFC/ml), FSQC + O más biofertilización 3 (fijador de nitrógeno con base en Azotobacter chroococcum (1x10(8) UFC/ml). El experimento se instaló sobre un Typic Hapludolls. El análisis de resultados mostró que, en todos los tratamientos la fertilización de síntesis química + orgánica + micorrizas presentó los mejores resultados (P < 0.01), seguido de los tratamientos a los que se aplicó la fuente de biofertilización (microorganismos solubilizadores de fósforo y fijadores de nitrógeno). Para los suelos estudiados se concluyó que el mayor rendimiento de ají se consigue cuando se aplica al suelo una fuente química completa, más una fuente de materia orgánica, más micorrizas arbusculares. Además, que la biofertilización es un complemento de la fertilización química. | This study was realised with the purpose of to evaluate the effect of the chemical, organic fertilization and biofertilization on the nutrition and yield of the red pepper (Capsicum spp.) in the Valley of the Cauca in the initial production of plants in breeding ground and final production in field. Two experiments were realized, one in stage of fish-pond and other one in field stage. In fish-pond an experiment was realized where there was evaluated the effect of the different types of fertilization in chili and other one where there was evaluated the effect of the chemical, organic fertilization and biofertilización in chili. In field there was evaluated the effect of the chemical, organic fertilization and biofertilización in chili. The physiological evaluated variables were: fresh weight root and air, number of leaves (sheets), height of the plant(floor) (in cm), diameter of the stem (in mm), dry total weight, dry weight of root and air. In the experiment of biofertilización both for stage of fish-pond and for the field stage, there were evaluated six treatments and a statistical design of complete blocks at random, this way: Fertilization of complete synthesis (Witness), fertilization of synthesis completes more organic, integrated fertilization of synthesis completes, organic and biofertilización 1 (solubilizador of phosphorus: with base in Penicillium janthinellum (1x107conidias/ml), Fertilization of synthesis completes more organic more mycorrhizae, integrated fertilization of synthesis completes, organic and biofertilización 2 (Fastener of Nitrogen: with base in Azotobacter chroococcum (1x108 UFC/mL) and Azospirillun sp. (1x108 UFC/ mL), integrated fertilization of synthesis completes, organic and biofertilización 3 (fastener of nitrogen: with base in Azotobacter chroococcum (1x108 UFC/mL). The beginning of the experiment classifified like Typic Hapludolls. The statistic analysis threw that in all the experiments the denominated treatment fertilization of organic + chemical synthesis + mycorrhizae was the one that I throw the best results followed of the treatments to which the biofertilization source was applied to them (Microorganismos solubilizers of phosphorus and nitrogen fixing devices). One concluded that the greater red pepper yield is obtained when a complete chemical source plus a source of organic matter is applied to the soil more mycorrhizae arbusculares, for studied soils. In addition that the biofertilization is a complement of the chemical fertilization.

The most extensive and effective environmentally controlled production takes place in greenhouses. New innovations and developments for greenhouse production go hand in hand with efforts for sustainability. The greenhouses must be heated to ensure high yields and high quality. However, high heating cost (20%-60%) adversely influences production. Costs Sustainability of greenhouse production can only be maintained with increase of energy efficiency. Use of renewable energy sources in place of fossil fuels is only means to increase energy efficiency. In this work, fossil fuels and geothermal energy used for heating of greenhouses are compared based on production cost and CO2 emissions to atmosphere. The results showed that greenhouse production in Aydın with geothermal energy price of 0.06 ₺/kWh will be very advantageous compared to greenhouse tomato production in Kütahya, which can only compete with that in Antalya. Carbon dioxide emission in plastic greenhouses with double layer PE plastic heat insulation in Kütahya was 199.4 kg/m2 when imported coal was used for heating. The emissions in similar type plastic greenhouses, again heated with coal, in Aydın and Antalya were 74.4 kg/m2 and 55.5 kg/m2, respectively. Greenhouses in geothermal energy rich areas will be very advantageous, based on cost of production and CO2 emission, compared to that in Antalya region if they are heated with geothermal energy.

To evaluate the effect of four levels of moisture content (10-12, 8-10, 6-8 and 2-4 %) and cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen (LN) on the physiological seed quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) var Unapal-Maravilla and pepper, Capsicum annuum L., var Unapal-Serrano an experiment at the physiology lab and the cryopreservation lab of the Humboldt Institute of the International Center for Tropical Agricultural (CIAT) was carried out. A complete ramdom design with four replications for seed germination seed test and 2 replications for the seed emergence test was used. The results showed an initial high quality of seed and a drastic humidity content reduction during the first 120 minutes. Seed humidity content lower than 5%, were obtained after 5 hours to be exposed to silica gel. At humidity lower than 9.9 %, tomato seeds had a drastic reduction in viability and germination. On the other hand, capsicum seeds showed a significant reduction in germination and viability when humidity content was 2.6%. With a fast freezing treatment of seeds by immersion on LN without cryoprotectants during 30 days, there was no negatives effects on germination and viability of seeds of the two studied species. | En el laboratorio de Fisiología de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia y en los tanques para la crioconservación del Instituto Humboldt del Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), ubicados en el municipio de Palmira, en diseños completamente al azar en arreglos factoriales con cuatro repeticiones para la prueba de germinación y dos para la prueba de emergencia, se evaluaron los efectos en la calidad fisiológica de las semillas de tomate Solanum lycopersicum L. var Unapal-Maravilla y pimentón Capsicum annuum L. var Unapal -Serrano, de cuatro rangos de contenido de humedad (10-12, 8-10, 6-8 y 2-4 %) sobre la respuesta a la crioconservación en nitrógeno líquido. Los resultados demostraron la alta calidad fisiológica inicial de las semillas y una reducción drástica del contenido de humedad en los primeros 120 minutos del secado; contenidos de humedad inferiores al 5% se obtuvieron después de 5 horas de exposición a sílica gel. En niveles de humedad inferiores al 9,9 % las semillas de tomate presentaron una reducción significativa en viabilidad y germinación. Las semillas de pimentón con un contenido de humedad de 2,6 % redujeron significativamente la germinación y la viabilidad. Con un congelamiento ultrarrápido de las semillas, a través de inmersión en nitrógeno líquido (NL) sin el uso de agentes crioprotectantes no se presentaron efectos sobre la germinación y la viabilidad.