English (United States)

Searching for Silphium: An Updated Review

From luxury spice to medical cure-all, silphium was a product coveted throughout the ancient world and occupied an essential place in the export economy of ancient Cyrene. The mysterious extinction of the silphium plant in the 1st century CE leaves us with little evidence as to the exact nature of this important agricultural product. In this paper, an historical background on the kingdom of Cyrene is provided, evidence for the nature of the silphium plant is reviewed, how and why it was consumed and traded is discussed.

On‐orbit measurement of TOPEX/Poseidon altimeter antenna pattern

Performance Evaluation of Moringa oleifera and Available Roughages (Maize and Australian Sweet Jumbo) on Feeding Values of Growing BLRI Cattle Breed-1 (BCB-1) Bulls

Cactus as a Fodder and Beyond

Challenges Inherent in Controlling Prickly Pear Species; Global Review of the Properties of Opuntia stricta, Opuntia ficus-indica and Opuntia monacantha

Solar air drying for innovative Opuntia ficus-indica cladode dehydration

Providing a case study of general applicability in all world’s semi-arid regions where the plant is increasingly harvested, we describe the use and outcomes of solar air heating and ventilation coupled to a conventional kiln to dehydrate Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes. For the first time, the dried cladodes and the ground dehydrated ‘Nopal’ cladodes retain their natural green-yellow color. New applications to functionalize foodstuff and to formulate nutraceutical, personal care and cosmetic products of even higher efficacy and broader scope are anticipated.

Nitrogen: All Forms Are Not Equal

By understanding the different chemical forms of nitrogen, you can manage root zone pH and avoid toxic buildup of ammonium.

Protein Content of Seed: Increase Improves Growth and Yield

“The content of protein in the seed correlated with subsequent growth and yield, indicating that the amount of endogenous protein or of a proteinaceous moiety, which can be controlled, may be an important factor in subsequent yield of major agronomic crops.”