Determination of Nutritional Effect of Sahara Dust on Barley


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Rashidi A.

1st International Conference on InnovativeAcademicStudies, Konya, Turkey, 10 - 13 September 2022, pp.10-12

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Summary Text
  • City: Konya
  • Country: Turkey
  • Page Numbers: pp.10-12
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract


Abstract –

During the course of the process of desert dust transportation, desert dust can mixwithcloudwater and the resulting dust cloud and solar light intensity trigger the proliferation of bacteria andfungusdue to the enrichment of nutrients within the cloud droplet. For this study we had three nutrient mediumgroups; a solution called “Fertile Water” prepared with soil brought from Southern Tunisia / SaharaDesert and sterile distilled water(10 gr/l ) and used as a nutrient medium after waiting for about 120minutes in front of sunlight. Second medium Hewitt nutrient medium as the ideal nutrient mediumforcereals and distilled water was also considered as the control group. That three medium were used for Aydan Hanım certified barley obtained fromthe Ankara MinistryofAgriculture were used. The development of the barley in the pots was followed for 20 days andchlorophyll a was measured with a UV Spectrophotometer device, Nitrogen and Carbon/Nitrogenratiowere measured with an ICP-MS device. The amount of Chlorophyll a in barley is the same in Sahara solution and Hewitt medium. The lowest average C/N ratio was observed in the Sahara solution which means wastes of barleygrownin the Sahara solution can biodegrade faster and form a higher amount of humus in the soil. It is possible to say that the dust carried from the Sahara Desert can be used as a natural fertilizer andcan be easily applied with the help of the irrigation system.

Keywords – Sahara Desert, Barley, Energy