Zearalenone contamination in maize, its associated producing fungi, control strategies, and legislation in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The fungal genus contains many important plant pathogens as well as endophytes of wild and crop plants. Globally, toxins in food crops are considered one of the greatest food safety concerns. Their occurrence has become more pronounced in Africa in recent times.

Simultaneous adsorption of toxic metals in binary systems using peanut and sheanut shells biochars.

Converting peanut and sheanut shells into biochar is a smart strategy for recycling agricultural waste. Biochar was produced from peanut and sheanut shells at temperatures of 350 ± 5 °C and 700 ± 5 °C. The adsorption capacities for lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) in the binary systems were evaluated.

Review of Biochar Properties and Remediation of Metal Pollution of Water and Soil.

Background: Mining, waste disposal, and agrochemical residues have contributed to pollution of water and soil with toxic metals in most low- and middle-income countries, raising concerns of ecological safety and public health. This has prompted many studies into the production and utilization of biochars to adsorb toxic metal contaminants from soil and water.

Objective: The present study presents a review of biochar properties, the mechanisms of toxic metal adsorption onto biochar, and sorption of toxic metal contaminants in water and soil in small scale applications and laboratory experiments.

Adsorption of Potentially Toxic Metals from Mono and Multi-Metal Systems Using Groundnut and Shea Nut Shell Biochars.

Background: Adsorption is a unique and promising method for the removal of trace metals from an aqueous environment using cost-effective and readily available biochars.

Objective: The present study examined mono and simultaneous adsorption of cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) onto biochars produced at pyrolysis temperatures of 350 ± 5°C and 700 ± 5°C.

Methods: Fifty mg/l of trace metal ions with 2 g/50 ml of adsorbent dosage were leached at constant room temperature of 24 ± 0.

Preliminary studies on growth and fresh weight of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) as affected by clay pot irrigation and spacing.

An experiment (Completely Randomized Design) was set up to determine the effects of Clay Pot Sub-surface Irrigation (CPSI) and spacing on the growth and fresh weight of lettuce (Lactuca sativa). The treatments were: CPSI with spacing; 15 x 15 cm, 20 x 20 cm and 30 x 30 cm. Control treatments were Watering Can Irrigation (WCI) with the same spacing as above.