SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES

Today, salinity stress causes extensive damage to crops, and high soil salinity is one of the limiting factors for crop yields. A practical approach to lessen the negative effect of salinity stress is to use mineral nutrition methods such as spraying plants with silicone. To investigate and compare the effect of silicon and silicon nano-chelate on the wheat plant resistance (Shiroodi cultivar) to salinity stress, a factorial experiment was designed and conducted in a completely randomized design with five replications under hydroponic conditions. Experimental treatments included concentrations of 0 and 2 mmol/L silicon, 0 and 0.424 g/L silicon nano-chelate, 0 and 150 mmol/L sodium chloride, and their interaction. The growth and physiological indices showed that salinity stress decreasing effect on shoot dry weight, root fresh weight, catalase activity, and ascorbate peroxidase. These increases indicate the activation of the plant defense system against salinity stress conditions. The results also showed that silicon nano-chelate treatment under salinity stress reduced dry and fresh weights of roots and shoots. These two compounds additionally influenced the content of catalase activity, ascorbate peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase content in shoots. Simultaneously, the silicon and silicon nano-chelate treatment under salinity stress reduced the dry and fresh weight of roots and shoots, catalase activity, and ascorbate peroxidase. Therefore, the results obtained in this study generally showed that silicon under salinity stress increased plant growth and positively affected the activity of its antioxidant system. But silicon nano-chelate not only did not improve plant performance but also reduced its growth.

The presented article describes the soil types existing in east Georgia, particularly in several villages of Gurjaani Municipality-Vazisubani, Kalauri, Mukuzani, Shashiani. Meadow-brown and brown soils represent good soil types for viticulture development in Kakheti. The vineyards cultivated on these soils produce such wellknown wines as Tsinandali, Vazisubani, Mukuzani, Akhasheni, Gurjaani, Manavi. The study explores brown carbonate and meadow-brown soil lab tests to examine the absorption of phosphate ions by them. The study showed that the amount of phosphorus deposited through soils is sufficiently absorbed under various conditions, having a positive effect on the amount of crop. Was compared the rates of phosphate absorption in these soils with the efficiency of phosphorus fertilizers, which showed that the higher the absorption of phosphorus, the lower the amount of phosphorus available to the plant and the lower the yield, and the lower the strength of phosphorus retention, the higher the amount of phosphorus to be consumed by the plant and the higher the yield. But under the conditions of high cultivation degree, the strength of phosphorus absorption became weak, resulted in a large amount of exchangeable and movable phosphates already existing in the soil, which is available to the plant. So, the efficacy of phosphorus fertilizers on such soil is weak. The speed of phosphorus absorption in the soil of Gurjaani municipality villages is satisfactory. However, in case of a high degree of cultivation (or in case of excess fertilization), the degree of phosphorus retention decreases. Accordingly, phosphorus-containing fertilizers should be used within strictly controlled limits. 

Background: The interview with Professor José de Ribamar, conducted by Luís de Boni, addresses various aspects of his career and contributions to chemistry in Brazil. The conversation includes his experiences in teaching, research, and university administration, as well as his role as President of the Federal Council of Chemistry (CFQ). Aims: The primary aim of the interview is to highlight Professor Ribamar's achievements and challenges throughout his career, and to explore his views on chemistry and its impact on scientific and educational development in Brazil. Methods: The interview was conducted in a question-and-answer format, allowing Professor Ribamar to share his experiences and insights in a detailed and personal manner. The interview was recorded, transcribed, and is available in both text and video formats. Results: Professor Ribamar detailed his academic and professional journey, including his undergraduate and graduate studies in chemistry, his contributions as a professor at the Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), and his initiatives as a course coordinator and department head. He also discussed the impact of his research and his vision for the future of chemistry, emphasizing the importance of artificial intelligence and algorithms in predicting chemical models. Discussion: The interview provided a comprehensive overview of Professor Ribamar's contributions to chemistry in Brazil. He emphasized the importance of education and ongoing research for scientific advancement, as well as the need to adapt to new technologies. The discussion also addressed the challenges the scientific community faces and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. Conclusion: Professor José Ribamar has significantly promoted and developed chemistry in Brazil in academia and public administration. His career illustrates the importance of dedication to education and research, and his reflections offer valuable lessons for future generations of scientists and educators. The interview serves as a testament to his lasting impact on the scientific community.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has been observed as an alternative measure to mitigate emissions from greenhouse gases. CCS systems separate CO₂ during the process of converting fuel and transport to the facilities where they are stored, e.g., under geological formation conditions. Capture and sequestration technologies are now widely used in different industries. CO₂ capture is currently a costly and energy-consumingtechnology. The costs obviously depend on the size of the plant and the type of fuel used. Generally, capture systems are categorized into three categories: pre-combustion, post-combustion, and oxy-fuel combustion. The saline aquifer, depleted oil, and gas fields are large-capacity storage sinks. The coalbeds also provide as a substitute to geological storage. One of the main advantages of coal storage is renewable methane fuel and coaldesulfurization. The studied coal reserves are located in Candiota, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. These are the largest coal deposits in the country, with a reserve of 1 billion tons. This work will represent a study on CO₂ storage in Candiota coalbed system. The use of a synthetic CO2 cylinder with a flow of 0.2 L/min varies the time of contact with the coalbed. The results from the volatile matter increase by 11%. The results of the ultimate analysis exhibited an 8% increase for carbon and oxygen after 60 minutes of CO₂ flow in the coalbed. On the other hand, there was a reduction of 32% for sulfur. The resultant phenomena occur due to the adsorption capacity of CO₂, where the compounds are released from the pores of coal.

Background: In line with the current global energy crisis, there is an urgent need to seek cheap energy sources. This study has utilized waste materials for synthesizing biodiesel, an environmentally friendly alternative energy. Aim: This study aimed to prepare low-cost carbon-based zirconium impregnated heterogeneous catalysts using wood dust to produce biodiesel from waste vegetable oil (WVO). Methods: Response Surface Methodology via Central Composite Design (RSM-CCD) optimized the biodiesel production process. The physico-chemical properties of waste vegetable methyl ester were determined following the American Standard Testing of Materials (ASTM). In addition, the catalyst morphology and elemental composition were determined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDX), respectively. Results and Discussion: The optimum conditions were observed to be 8:1 methanol/oil ratio, 5 wt% catalyst loading, 55 °C temperature, and 3 hours of reaction time. The corresponding response was observed to be 98.39%. Conclusions: The experimental analysis confirmed that the synthesized catalyst from wood dust under optimized conditions transesterified the waste vegetable oil into biodiesel with properties that comply with American Standard Testing of Materials.

ATR 2023. SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES ANNUAL TRANSPARENCY REPORT.