Publications by authors named "Muhamad Awang"

This research was aimed to examine the diesel engine's performance and emission of secondary fuels (SFs), comprising waste plastic oil (WPO) and palm oil biodiesel (POB), and to analyze their tribological properties. Their compositions were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Five SFs (10-50% POB in WPO) were prepared by mechanical stirring.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The environmental impacts with regard to agro-based biofuel production have been associated with the impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this study, field GHG emissions during plantation stage of palm oil-based biofuel production associated with land use changes for oil palm plantation development have been evaluated. Three different sites of different land use changes prior to oil palm plantation were chosen; converted land-use (large and small-scales) and logged-over forest.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In aseasonal tropics, timing of leaf emergence and leaf fall may differ between the shoots of different crown parts within a tree. This is important for the efficient development of crowns because leaves should be produced as soon as enough carbohydrates are accumulated. This hypothesis was tested by investigating leaf demography over a 44-mo period for 17 Malaysian trees and comparing the timings of leaf emergence and fall between the upper and lower crowns.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The daily variations in the in situ CO(2) exchange of the reproductive organs of Durio zibethinus trees, growing in an experimental field at University Putra Malaysia (UPM), were examined at different growth stages. Reproductive organs emerged on the leafless portions of branches inside the crown. The photon flux densities (PFD) in the chambers used for the measurements were less than 100 mumol m(-2) s(-1) and were 40% of the PFD outside of the crown.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Allometry of shoot extension units (hereafter termed "current shoots") was analyzed in a Malaysian canopy species, Elateriospermum tapos Bl. (Euphorbiaceae). Changes in current shoot allometry with increasing tree height were related to growth and maintenance of tree crowns.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

On a monoaxial erect stem of trees with continuous leafing, the older leaves would be quickly shaded by newer (upper) leaves if the trees did not have any compensating mechanisms to avoid self-shading. We hypothesized that the dynamic adjustment of leaf deployment, by regulating the patterns of leaf growth and by changing leaf orientation as leaves age, is a compensating mechanism. To verify this hypothesis, we analyzed leaf development and crown structure of a Far Eastern tropical pioneer tree species, Macaranga gigantea (Rub.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

We estimated translocatory balance in fruit of the tropical tree Durio zibethinus Murray on the basis of a compartment model. Rates of fruit respiration, dry weight growth and translocation increased with time. Over the 8.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF