This study investigates the effects of incorporating date palm wood powder (DPWP) on the thermal, physical, and mechanical properties of lightweight fired earth bricks made from clay and dune sand. DPWP was added in varying proportions (0 %, 5 %, 8 %, 10 %, 12 %, and 15 % by weight of the soil matrix) to evaluate its influence on brick performance, particularly in terms of thermal insulation. Experimental results revealed that adding DPWP significantly reduced the thermal conductivity of the bricks, achieving a maximum reduction of 56.41 %. However, the inclusion of DPWP negatively impacted the physical and mechanical properties of the samples. Among the tested bricks, those with 8 % and 10 % DPWP achieved a desirable balance, maintaining satisfactory mechanical strength within acceptable standards while achieving thermal conductivity values of 0.333 and 0.279 W/m & sdot;K, representing reductions of 37.29 % and 47.46 %, respectively. To further validate these findings, prototypes of the DPWP-enhanced fired bricks and commercial bricks were constructed and tested under real environmental conditions during both summer and winter seasons, over a continuous 12-h daily period. The DPWP-enhanced prototypes demonstrated superior thermal performance, with temperature differences reaching up to 3 degrees C compared to the commercial bricks. These findings highlight the potential of DPWP as a sustainable additive for improving the thermal insulation properties of fired earth bricks, thereby promoting eco-friendly and energy-efficient building materials for sustainable construction practices.

This work aims to isolate and screen the fungicidal endophytic bacterial strains for biocontrol efficacy against Phytophthora palmivora, a soil-borne pathogenic fungus that kills durian trees worldwide. Among more than 100 isolates, 6 strains were screened as potential fungicidal strains with inhibitory efficiency of 67.4-79.8%. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, these strains were identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens EB.CK9, Bacillus methylotrophicus EB.EH34, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens EB.EH18, Bacillus siamensis EB.KN10, Bacillus velezensis EB.KN15 and Paenibacillus polymyxa EB.KN35. In greenhouse tests, the two strains P. polymyxa EB.KN35 and B. velezensis EB.KN15 significantly reduced the damage to diseased roots by P. palmivora (33.3 and 35.6%, respectively), increased the rate of survival of durian trees (only 20.8 and 22.9% plant death, respectively), and showed a positive effect on promoting durian plant growth. Notably, the potential fungicidal effect of last two strains against P. palmivora was recorded for the first time in this work. HPLC analysis showed that these strains can secret several plant growth-promoting compounds, including gibberellic acid (GA3), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), kinetin, and zeatin. Of these, GA3 and zeatin were produced with a significant amount by both strains. The volatiles bio-synthesized by these isolates were also identified using GC-MS analysis, and some major volatiles were found as fungicidal agents. This study suggested that P. polymyxa EB.KN35 and B. velezensis EB.KN15 may be potential biocontrol candidates for durian P. palmivora and bio-fertilizers for the sustainable production of durian crops.

Local ecological materials in construction represent a fundamental step toward creating living environments that combine environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, and occupant comfort. It is part of an organizational context that encourages the adoption of these methods and processes. This study aims to improve the use of locally available materials, particularly soil and agricultural residues, in the Errachidia region (southeastern Morocco). In particular, date palm waste fiber, a widely available agrarian by-product, was incorporated into the soil to develop six different types of stabilized earth bricks with fiber contents of 0 %, 1 %, 2 %, 3 %, 4 %, and 5 %. The aim was to evaluate their thermophysical, mechanical, and capillary water absorption properties. Thermal properties were determined using the highly insulated house method (PHYWE), a specific methodology for assessing thermal properties in a controlled, highly insulated environment. In addition, mechanical measurements were carried out to assess compressive and flexural strength. The results obtained showed that the addition of date palm waste fibers to brick based on soil improves the thermal resistance of the bricks. Flexural and compressive strength increased up to 3 % of fiber content, while a reduction was observed above this value. The 3 % fiber content is optimal for the stabilization of brick based on soil. Then, the increase of fiber content in bricks resulted in an increase in water absorption with a decrease in the density of the bricks. Physical and chemical characterization (XRD, FTIR, SEM, and EDX) of the soil and date palm waste fibers was carried out with geotechnical soil tests. The results obtained showed that the soil studied satisfies the minimum requirements for the production of bricks stabilized by fibers. These bricks can be considered an alternative to conventional bricks in ecological construction.

Date palm trees, especially Alhayani, Barhi, and Majhool, have a rich history in Palestine. However, the waste produced by these trees, such as unripe dates, date pits, and palm fronds, is usually burned on farms, leading to environmental concerns, or collected inside the farms for long periods, which leads to the emergence of the red date palm weevil, which works to damage palm trees. These wastes are a significant source of excellent biomass that can be used in many applications such as energy production, livestock feed, fertilizer for soil, and wooden boards, and can even be used as insulating materials as they have an excellent insulation value up to 0.083 W/ m.K [1]. This study focuses on utilizing agricultural waste from date palm trees in Palestine by grinding and transforming it into wooden blocks or pellets for use in heating, bakery ovens, household wood stoves, and other applications. The effectiveness of these waste materials for use as excellent heat value resources has been demonstrated, especially when compared to other tree waste. The heating values that were measured for date kernel (17.127 MJ/kg), palm leaf (16.887 MJ/kg), and palm frond petiole (15.990 MJ/kg) indicate their promising potential for use in heating applications. A feasibility study was conducted for a production line that converts these waste materials into wooden blocks for use in heating applications. The annual profits were estimated at approximately 41000 $, with a payback period of around 2.4 years and a return-oninvestment rate of 36 %.

This study investigates the impact of Washingtonia palm biomass on clayey soil shear strength using experimental and statistical approaches. The research examines the effects of Washingtonia filifera leaf powder, trunk fibres, and biochar derived from the rachis (pyrolyzed at 400 degrees C) on the properties of reinforced soil. Factors investigated include additive percentage (1%, 3%, 5%), sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution concentration (2%, 5%, 8%), and immersion time (1 h, 4 h, 7 h). A Box-Behnken experimental design with 15 trials was employed to prepare soil-powder, soil-fiber, and soil-biochar composites. Direct shear tests were conducted on reinforced and unreinforced specimens to determine shear strength, cohesion, and friction angle. Results showed significant improvement in shear strength for all additives under normal stresses of 100, 200, and 300 kPa. Increasing additive content enhanced both cohesion and friction angle. Biochar-reinforced soil yielded the highest cohesion of 112 kPa, followed by fiber-soil with 70 kPa and powder-soil with 69 kPa, compared to 15 kPa in unreinforced soil. Additionally, soil mixed with powder, fiber, and biochar exhibited friction angle improvements of 57%, 93%, and 110% respectively, from an initial 13.5 degrees in unreinforced soil. Regression models were developed for shear stress responses using the Response Surface Methodology, and the influence of each parameter on the models was determined using ANOVA analysis. Using a combined approach of response surface methodology (RSM) and the desirability function, optimal values (5% of additives, 5% NaOH concentration, and 1 h of immersion time) were determined. These optimal values agreed well with the experimental results. It can be concluded that the inclusion of the three additives has positive benefits on the mechanical properties of the reinforced soil, with biochar demonstrating the most significant improvements.

The instability of clay soil as a road subgrade due to its high shrinkage properties, results in frequent road damage. Therefore, adequate soil improvement is required to improve soil performance in order to satisfy post-construction stabilization requirements. Soil improvement is one of the efforts made to overcome it, such as the soil stabilization method. In recent years there has been an increase in research related to the chemical soil stabilization to improve the physical and mechanical properties of soils. The addition of chemicals such as palm bunch ash, lime, fly ash, and cement to clay soil results in hydration and pozzolanic reactions. This process results in changes in the physical and mechanical properties of the soil. The degree of soil stabilization is influenced by the type of additive, additive content, length of treatment, and soil mineralogy. This study discusses the changes that can affect clay soil when chemical stabilization is carried out, based on information provided by the authors.

This paper aims to investigate the effects of zeolite and palm fiber on the strength and durability of cement soil. Based on the findings of previous research, optimal proportions of zeolite, palm fiber, and cement, as well as the appropriate curing age, were determined. Subsequently, unconfined compressive strength tests, dry-wet cycle tests, and freeze-thaw tests were conducted, utilizing NaCl and Na2SO4 solutions over the specified curing period. The strength and durability characteristics of the samples were evaluated by assessing mass and strength loss, taking into account the combined effects of NaCl and Na2SO4 solution erosion. The test data also provide a fitting relationship between strength and the number of cycles under the influence of different solutions, thereby offering a basis for theoretical predictions without the need for additional experiments. Finally, the microscopic mechanisms were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicate that the cement soil composite of zeolite and palm fiber, when combined in optimal proportions, exhibits the best durability and minimal loss of strength and mass, irrespective of whether exposed to clean water or salt erosion, as well as during dry-wet or freeze-thaw cycles.

The research focused on enhancing the preservation and flowability of palm date powder using isomalt-incorporated polyvinyl alcohol (PVAC/ISO) films for food storage applications. Various concentrations of isomalt (ISO) were integrated into PVAC films, and their properties were thoroughly analyzed. The incorporation of ISO led to significant changes in the films' characteristics, including increased thickness (from 0.09 mm for pure PVAC to 0.31 mm for PVAC/ISO3) and moisture content (from 10.15% in PVAC to 16.36% in PVAC/ISO3). Mechanical properties also improved, with tensile strength reaching 84.95 MPa and elongation at break increasing to 79.38% for PVAC/ISO2. Additionally, antioxidant properties were enhanced, as evidenced by the total phenolic content of 128.09 mu g/g, DPPH radical scavenging activity of 21.55%, and ABTS radical scavenging activity of 38.21% for PVAC/ISO3. The films showed a significant reduction in water vapor permeability (2.756 x 10-10 g. m-1 s-1 pa-1 for PVAC/ISO3) and increased solubility in water (32.68% for PVAC/ISO3). Furthermore, the biodegradability of the films in moist soil conditions improved with the addition of ISO. The storage tests with palm date powder demonstrated that PVAC/ISO films effectively maintained the powder's flowability and prevented moisture-induced caking, confirming their potential as an effective food packaging material for powdered food products. This study highlights the benefits of using PVAC/ISO films in extending the shelf life and preserving the quality of palm date powder while also offering a sustainable solution for the packaging industry. However, further studies are needed to explore the long-term stability and applicability to other hygroscopic food products.

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) have garnered significant attention from researchers owing to the substantial damage they cause to crops and their worldwide distribution. However, controlling these nematodes is challenging because a limited number of chemical pesticides and biocontrol agents are effective against them. Here, we demonstrate that pepper rotation markedly reduces Meloidogyne incognita infection in cucumber and diminishes the presence of p-hydroxybenzoic acid in the soil, a compound known to exacerbate M. incognita infection. Pepper rotation also restructures the rhizobacterial community, leading to the colonization of the cucumber rhizosphere by two Pseudarthrobacter oxydans strains (RH60 and RH97), facilitated by enrichment of palmitic acid in pepper root exudates. Both strains exhibit high nematocidal activity against M. incognita and have the ability to biosynthesize indoleacetic acid and biodegrade p-hydroxybenzoic acid. RH60 and RH97 also induce systemic resistance in cucumber plants and promote their growth. These data suggest that the pepper root exudate palmitic acid alleviates M. incognita infection by recruiting beneficial P. oxydans to the cucumber rhizosphere. Our analyses identify a novel chemical component in root exudates and reveal its pivotal role in crop rotation for disease control, providing intriguing insights into the keystone function of root exudates in plant protection against root-knot nematode infection.

Incorporating sustainable stabilizers into the geo-ecosystem is an effective approach to improving the mechanical properties of the soil while addressing ecological issues. The main objective and novelty of this study are to assess the combined use of palm fiber and guar gum in soil stabilization, estimate their behavior in practices, outline their obstacles and potential for soil improvement, and consider their ecological effects. For this purpose, four different dosages of guar gum (0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2%) and three ratios of palm fiber (0.2, 0.4, and 0.6%) in lengths (5, 10, and 15 mm) were considered. Laboratory tests conducted for this purpose include compaction, compressive, shear, and tensile strength, California bearing ratio (CBR), and microstructure analysis. Initially, the optimal dosage of guar gum was determined through the unconfined compressive test. Subsequently, the impact of optimal guar gum and palm strands on the mechanical characteristics of treated soil was examined. The results revealed that compressive and shear strengths of stabilized and reinforced soil improved by 200% and 71%, respectively, compared to the control samples. Also, increasing the palm dosage improved the failure strain by up to 11.4%, cohesion enhancement by up to 96 kPa, and soil brittleness reduction by 13.5%. The tensile and CBR test results demonstrated that incorporating fiber into the soil increased its tensile strength and CBR by 32.5 kPa and 31.16, respectively. A microstructure study revealed that adding guar gum to the fiber composite improved the interlocking between clay particles and fibers by generating a hydrogel.