This study consisted of two experiments, aimed at determining the effect of the dietary inclusion of either Leucaena leucocephala (LLM) or Moringa oleifera (MOLM) leaf meals on Rhode Island Red (RIR) hens’ egg production and quality. In the first experiment, thirty six RIR hens, at 36 weeks of age, were randomly divided into four groups each of nine birds and were allocated in individual cages. The four groups corresponded to four dietary treatments containing 0 (control), 5, 10, and 15 % of LLM, respectively. Simultaneously, the second experiment was carried out following the same design but using MOLM instead of LLM. The egg production and quality traits were monitored for five weeks, preceded by one week of adaptation. The results showed a quadratic effect on the egg laying rate (57.10, 57.46, 53.25, and 47.46 %), egg mass (g/hen/d) and feed conversion due to the LLM treatments (0, 5, 10, and 15 %, respectively). The MOLM treatments decreased linearly the egg laying rate (60.00, 59.72, 56.13, and 51.87 %) and the egg mass, and had a quadratic effect on the feed intake (111.15, 111.93, 107.08, and 100.47g/hen/d) when including 0, 5, 10, and 15 % of MOLM, respectively. The yolk color increased linearly by the rise in both the MOLM and the LLM levels. Other results were obtained in the albumen and yolk proportions (%) and in the yolk coefficient, while no adverse effects were found on the other egg quality traits due to the LLM or MOLM treatments. The MOLM or the LLM could be acceptable as sustainable feed resource up to 10 % in laying hen diets.

Khirshyat 1.0 is a simple, dynamic and informative micro-program designed mainly to provide scientists, researchers and students in research systems and universities in developing countries, a useful tool on some molecular biology protocols. The program includes the most commonly used molecular markers (AFLP, SRAP and RAPD), PCR optimization, oligonucleotide properties, calculations of concentration and quantity using the molecular weight of most commonly used chemicals, plant DNA extraction, DNA concentration and purity, primer preparation, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver nitrate staining protocols. It accelerates the process of preparing stocks, buffers, solutions as well as provides important tips and general information with simple illustrations about the most common protocols. The program and documentation are freely available online

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) has been cultivated for biodiesel production worldwide. Winter rapeseed is commonly grown in the southern part of Korea under a rice-rapeseed double cropping system. In this study, a greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to assess the effects of rapeseed residue applied as a green manure alone or in combinations with mineral N fertilizer on Cd and Pb speciation in the contaminated paddy soil and their availability to rice plant (Oryza sativa L.). The changes in soil chemical and biological properties in response to the addition of rapeseed residue were also evaluated. Specifically, the following four treatments were evaluated: 100% mineral N fertilizer (N100) as a control, 70% mineral N fertilizer + rapeseed residue (N70 + R), 30% mineral N fertilizer + rapeseed residue (N30 + R) and rapeseed residue alone (R). The electrical conductivity and exchangeable cations of the rice paddy soil subjected to the R treatment or in combinations with mineral N fertilizer treatment, N70 + R and N30 + R, were higher than those in soils subjected to the N100 treatment. However, the soil pH value with the R treatment (pH 6.3) was lower than that with N100 treatment (pH 6.9). Use of rapeseed residue as a green manure led to an increase in soil organic matter (SOM) and enhanced the microbial populations in the soil. Sequential extraction also revealed that the addition of rapeseed residue decreased the easily accessible fraction of Cd by 5–14% and Pb by 30–39% through the transformation into less accessible fractions, thereby reducing metal availability to the rice plant. Overall, the incorporation of rapeseed residue into the metal contaminated rice paddy soils may sustain SOM, improve the soil chemical and biological properties, and decrease the heavy metal phytoavailability.