1.8g of SiC requires about 177 kW / h of energy. Researchers have proposed a new way of turning plants into a valuable industrial material called silicon carbide (SiC). In a new study, scientists at the Salk Institute (USA) have converted tobacco and corn husks into SiC. These findings are critical to help researchers evaluate and quantify carbon uptake strategies. “The study gives a very careful calculation of how this valuable substance is made and how many carbon atoms are removed from the atmosphere,” said study co-author Professor Joseph Noel of the Salk Institute. SiC is also known as carborundum. This is a super hard material used in ceramics, sandpaper, semiconductors, and LEDs. Salk’s team used a previously reported method to convert plant materials into SiC in three stages. First, the researchers planted tobacco plants from seeds, which were selected for the short growing season. They then pulverized the harvested plants and treated it with a number of chemicals, including silicon-containing compounds. In the final stage, the starch plants are turned into rocks to give SiC. This process involves heating the material to 1,600 degrees Celsius. “We have demonstrated that carbon can be isolated from agricultural residues such as corn husks,” said study author Suzanne Thomas. Thereby, a green material is created ”. Through elemental analysis of plant meal, the authors measured a 50,000-fold increase in carbon sequestration from seed to laboratory plants. This is a demonstration of the effectiveness of plants in reducing atmospheric carbon. When heated to high temperatures to freeze, the plant material loses some of its carbon as a variety of decomposition products. The researchers calculated that the generation of 1.8 g of SiC requires about 177 kW / h of energy. Most of the energy (70%) is used at the freezing step. The current SiC manufacturing process has comparable energy costs, the authors note. Therefore, the team thinks that new technologies produced by renewable energy companies could reduce energy costs. In the future, the team expressed hope to explore this process in a variety of plants, especially species such as horsetail or bamboo. These are species that contain large amounts of natural silicon.

Located in a central location on Le Duan Street (Ha Tinh City), Light Coffee has a rustic but no less modern space. The project was constructed within 8 months, including 2 main materials: brick brick and pre-engineered steel frame. The facade of the building is designed with a way from red brick. Coarse, randomly assembled brick walls ensure a solid structure but still ensure aesthetics The stairs are simple but impressive by the pre-engineered steel spiral design. In general, the staircase looks like a large bird cage in the center of the restaurant The roof is roofed with bricks at the top in coordination with the glass and hot-iron below. Both create a unique and make the most of natural light but do not cause heat in summer weather. The cafe is built on an area of ​​118m2 with 2 floors. In addition to the coffee tables, the first floor is also the barista of the bar. The second floor impresses customers with open space from natural light and the system of green trees is arranged appropriately. Not only impressed by its unique appearance, the cafe also attracts customers with green space, prioritizing connection and closeness to nature. The aisle is used to put the coffee table with the view overlooking the outside. Guests can enjoy a drink, while watching the street A corner of the pavement of Light Coffee The lighting system is made from bamboo, creating an overall harmony with the main materials of the restaurant According to the owner of the coffee shop, he himself had to set up the recipe many times to come up with a recipe like the restaurant. The bar space is sparkling at night

To keep your house cool in the Vietnamese climate, first of all, is the layout of the space, the location of light, reasonable wind, and ventilation thanks to open spaces. In addition, the selection of materials also helps to reduce some of the heat. Currently, there are materials on the market that can provide both sound and heat insulation well. Here are some suggestions of architect Bui The Long CTA | Creative Architects about materials that make your house cool year round. Use unburnt lightweight bricks You can use types such as block bricks, unburnt light bricks to help reduce environmental pollution. Solid brick walls, raw and un-painted brick walls also provide good insulation. Soil wall from mountainous ethnic people is now sought by many professional construction companies to apply in construction is also a worthwhile solution in the future. “Breathing brick wall” The use of “breathing brick wall” is also an option. “Breathing brick wall” includes a garden layer of 1.2 – 1.5 m combined with open brick wall, burnt brick built in the direction of continuous brick hole. From there, creating natural air inlets to help ventilate continuously 24/24 for the house. The less building layers of a wall surface, the quicker it heats heat, limiting heat retention, and heating indoor air. Spatial architecture with many layers of side corridor walls is also a method of limiting heat. Roofing tiles The roof is a part of the project that is subject to a considerable heat impact. Roofing with tiles or insulated corrugated iron will dissipate heat better than roofs made of concrete and tile due to the air space between the roof and the ceiling. For light-absorbing glass materials, in order to reduce heat, in addition to the way of insulating film, insulating glass is a good choice with no difference in price. Glass roofs or windows, doors should incorporate slots, ventilation bars to contribute to indoor air circulation. The glass wall material that has air insulation inside the brick is a material that is in common use. Wooden materials Solid wood materials limit heat gain, high inductance but relatively high cost, as well as longevity requirements, durability, so the use accounts for a low proportion of the common materials. The wooden houses have distinct beauty, cooler temperatures than concrete houses are many people love. Depending on the financial size of the homeowner can be considered to design. Using water surface or planting trees to cover walls or roofs, trees in the house is also a natural solution to help reduce heat and cool the house.

Want immediate effect

Dr. Nguyen Ba Phu, Department of Crop Production (Faculty of Agriculture, Can Tho University) said that in recent years, many gardeners renovate mixed gardens and a movement to establish specialty gardens in some localities is emerging.

Efficiency and profits increase if farmers know to invest in the right direction and apply the right care techniques. Currently in the Mekong Delta, the provinces of Soc Trang, Hau Giang, An Giang and Can Tho city … organize many training programs on cultivation techniques, cultivation of specialty orchards in the direction of sustainability.

Local agricultural officers together with farmers implement the model of economical watering of durian gardens in Cho Lach district, Ben Tre province. Photo: HD

Although understanding and understanding techniques to build specialized gardens in a sustainable direction, some gardeners still have not changed their practice in a new way.

The farming methods, applying new technical advances, training the majority of farmers agree, and think in the right direction. If you do, the garden will be “solid”, sustainable and completely applicable.

However, there are still some gardeners who believe that applying methodical techniques, the tree will take long to produce high-yield fruits, it takes time, because the psychological pressure of “eating in the same place”, wants to follow the tree to produce fruit. profit quickly, high profit even only 3-5 years.

Therefore, when realizing that the market for fruit varieties is attracting products for one or two consecutive years with high prices, they rush to find seeds to buy and plant for them. Some people are even ready to cut down orchards that are giving fruit if after only one or two seasons the fruit price falls and it is difficult to sell.

For example, some gardeners planting persimmon tangerines (also known as tangerines) in Lai Vung district (Dong Thap) admitted: Since 2 years ago, there were signs of pests and diseases “raiding” many orchards.

However, some gardeners still accept to pour billions of capital into tangerine gardens, even dig soil up, buy land from the fields and pour it in to hope to gain silver in the tangerine season.

However, due to the wrong care and prevention of pests and diseases, the disease has worsened and the garden gradually deteriorates. Some farmers often spread word of mouth to each other about prevention and treatment.

Pink mandarin trees have two quite common diseases, for each root rot disease, they buy Ridomil to control plant diseases, and mealybugs buy Nokaph (medicine to treat nematodes and pests in the soil), even in gardens that are not diseased. also bought for prevention before, every 2 months and considered as “miracle”.

As a result, as now seen, many pink tangerine orchards get worse and worse, they have to ask for help from scientific staff to find the right gardening method.

The orchard selects citrus trees in Cho Lach district, Ben Tre. Photo: HD

Currently, Soc Trang province organizes a training program on the model of building a special-purpose orchard specializing in citrus trees for farmers. Thereby improving knowledge, updating farming techniques, applying new technologies in fruit production. This model is applied by growers quite popularly in the fruit export cooperatives.

It is an open way to improve garden economic efficiency. The local government acts as a bridge to create a link between agricultural cooperatives – businesses – scientists. In which the role of scientist will guide farming techniques for cooperatives farmers.

Technical solutions for sustainable fruit production in the Mekong Delta

Dr. Nguyen Ba Phu proposed a number of technical solutions for planting and taking care of fruit trees in the Mekong Delta.

Select and improve soil: Soil has a pH of 6-7. The soil must be loose and airy, able to hold moisture and drain well, the arable layer is thick (at least 0.5 m) and stable.

Seedlings from good, selected seedlings, preferably from the best clones. There is an appropriate propagation method, free of diseases (special attention is paid to green leaf yellowing disease and Tristeza on citrus trees).

About the planting type, should be planted in rows. Rows in the wind direction (Northeast – Southwest). Spacing between thin rows, on thick rows.

Preparation of growing tissue and planting: All the soil above and below the base of the tissue (0.3 m) is soil mixed with organic fertilizer (5 – 10 kg) and fused phosphate fertilizer (0.5 – 1 kg). The tissue diameter should be about 1 – 1.2 m. The tissue height should be about 0.3 – 0.4 m. When placing plants, pay attention to the surface of the pot to be level with the tissue surface and tighten the soil around the pot.

Applying the process of pruning properly, creating canopy will help fruit trees for good design and quality. Photo: HD.

Trimming, creating canopy: Apply right in the stage of silk, from a young tree. Trees for fruits outside the canopy (citrus, mango, longan …) need to create a canopy with hemispherical shape or open heart, according to the principle of 1 branch leaving 2-3 branches (equally good, sparse, balanced).

Cutting time: Old leaves, just before or after fertilizing, combine bud control at the same time. For fruit trees on the main branch (durian, jackfruit …), create a crown shaped tree (pine canopy), keeping a main stem, growing straight.

Choose to keep level 1 branches (branches growing from the main body) with criteria for good branches, horizontal growth, evenly distributed, 20-30 cm apart. Can bend level 1 branches, creating the shape of a spiral staircase. Pay attention to keep level 1 branches during the fruit harvest.

Hygienic pruning should be carried out throughout the planting period, especially after harvest.

Cut off branches reaching high and shade (control canopy), pests, dry branches, branches that are not capable of bearing fruit … Keep appropriate canopy. Always leave a space between the two rows to help the garden clear. Keep a reasonable height of the garden for easy care and intensive farming.

Fertilize: Plants need to be provided with 13 essential nutrients: Macronutrients (N, P and K); intermediate (Ca, Mg and S); trace elements (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, B, Mo and Cl). In the Mekong Delta, fertilizers containing S should be limited, since most of the soil contains S in high levels.

Lime: should use limestone (CaO) “phi”, fertilizing in the beginning of the rainy season, fertilizing with soil pH. If the pH is above 6.5, there is no need for liming; pH from 5.5 to 6.5, applying 500 kg of limestone / ha; pH from 4.5 to 5.5, apply 1,000 kg of limestone / ha; pH from 3.5 to 4.5, apply 2,000 kg of limestone / ha.

Organic fertilizer: Chewable and properly composted. During the incubation process, it is necessary to pay attention to the appropriate humidity (about 70 – 80%) and to mix the compost pile. Applying in the dry season, the amount of fertilizer is 10-20 tons / ha. Do not use together lime and organic fertilizers.

Inorganic fertilizers: Need to determine the type and amount of fertilizer depending on the needs of the plant. Plants have different nutritional requirements depending on the stage of growth and each stage of fruit development.

In the period of silk (trees without fruit), fertilizers (N – P2O5 – K2O): 30 – 20 – 10 or 30 – 10 – 10. The amount of fertilizer is from 50-100 g / time. Fertilizer time when leaves are old, should not be applied when the leaves are young. Need to fertilize according to the canopy, burial or watering.

Reasonable vegetation should be maintained in orchards. Photo: LHV

It is advisable to combine cultivating and improving lettuce with fused phosphate, organic fertilizer and sedimentation. Micronutrients can be added by spraying leaves at silk leaves, combined with pruning measures, helping plants to sprout simultaneously. The type and amount of manure can be decreased depending on the type of tree, soil area, density and yield of the previous crop.

Note: Apply according to the canopy (active root zone). The manure must be buried in the soil (using a hoe or machine to mix the fertilizer).

Fused phosphate fertilizers (Ninh Binh, Van Dien, Lam Thao) should be used, especially on low pH soils in the Mekong Delta. In addition to containing phosphorus, molten phosphate also contains Ca, Mg, Si and some trace elements.

Grass management: Should let the grass in the garden, weeding clean the part close to the base, around should only cut, leave the grass stump about 3 – 5 cm.

Water management and irrigation techniques: Water systems in garden ditches must be well ventilated and downstream. Regularly change the water in garden ditches.

Keep the water level in the ditch about 0.6 m from the trench surface during the dry season and 0.8 m. In the rainy season, limit watering to the leaves. Do not water after 3pm. Best in the morning. Maintain a suitable soil moisture of 70 – 80%.

Pest management: Adopt integrated pest management (IPM), make full use of farming practices. Apply biological methods. Using agricultural medicine is the last resort and must adhere to the 4 correct principle.

How to exploit fruit and flower processing: should exploit fruit concentratedly. Should not “pass” fruit (many sizes of fruit) on the tree. Depending on the natural conditions, choose the appropriate time to process the flowering so that the fruit has good quality, high yield, less pests and strong plants. Keep a reasonable number of fruits (pruning) depending on the growth situation (leaf set) of the tree.

It is possible to combine the use of soil “cropping” method (about 30 cm deep) to both treat flowering and improve soil porosity and ventilation.