Colombia has great potential to produce clean energy through the use of residual biomass from the agricultural sector, such as residues obtained from the life cycle of rice production. This document presents a mixed approach methodology study to examine the combustion of rice husks as a possible energy alternative in the Tolima department of Colombia. First, the physicochemical characteristics of the rice husk were analyzed to characterize the raw material. Next, System Advisor Model (SAM) software was used to model a bioenergy plant to obtain biochar, bio-oil, and biogas from the combustion of rice husks and generate performance matrices, such as thermal efficiency, heat rate, and capacity factor. Then, the project was evaluated for financial feasibility using a mathematical model of net present value (NPV) with a planning horizon of 5 years. Finally, a subset of the local population was surveyed to assess perspectives on the project in the region. The results of the rice husk physicochemical analysis were the following: nitrogen content (0.74%), organic carbon (38.04%), silica (18.39%), humidity determination (7.68%), ash (19.4%), presence of carbonates (< 0.01%), and pH (6.41). These properties are adequate for the combustion process. The SAM simulation showed that the heat transferred in the boiler was 3180 kW, maintaining an efficiency between 50 and 52% throughout the 12 months of the year, meaning that the rice husk can generate electricity and thermal energy. The financial analysis showed that the internal rate of return (IRR) was 6% higher than the opportunity interest rate (OIR), demonstrating economic feasibility of the project. The design and creation of a rice husk processing plant is socially and environmentally viable and has the potential to contribute to the economic development of the Tolima community and reduce greenhouse gases. Likewise, this activity has the potential to promote energy security for consumers and environmental sustainability while at the same time being economically competitive.

In recent years, the determination of the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of essential oils in wild plants, such as Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens Kunth), has become increasingly important. The objective was to compare the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Mexican oregano essential oil obtained from plants occurring naturally in semiarid areas (Wild1 and Wild2), and those cultivated in the field (CField) and greenhouse (CGreenhouse) in northern Mexico. The Mexican oregano essential oil extraction was performed using the hydrodistillation method, the antioxidant activity was determined using the ABTS method, and the antibacterial activity was assessed through bioassays under the microwell method at nine different concentrations. The aim was to determine the diameter of the inhibition zone and, consequently, understand the sensitivity level for four bacterial species. The results revealed an antioxidant activity ranging from 90% to 94% at the sampling sites, with Wild1 standing out for having the highest average antioxidant activity values. Likewise, six out of the nine concentrations analyzed showed some degree of sensitivity for all the sampling sites. In this regard, the 25 µL mL⁻¹ concentration showed the highest diameter of inhibition zone values, highlighting the Wild2 site, which showed an average diameter greater than 30 mm for the four bacteria tested. Only in the case of S. typhi did the CGreenhouse site surpass the Wild2, with an average diameter of the inhibition zone of 36.7 mm. These findings contribute to the search for new antioxidant and antibacterial options, addressing the challenges that humanity faces in the quest for opportunities to increase life expectancy.

Agriculture is one of the economic activities with the most potential in Colombia, given its climatic and geographical conditions. Bean cultivation is classified as climbing, which grows in a branched way, and bushy, whose growth occurs up to 70 cm. The objective of this research was to study zinc and iron sulfates in different concentrations as fertilizers capable of increasing the nutritional value of kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), whose strategy is known as biofortification, and thus determine the most effective sulfate. The methodology details the sulfate formulations, their preparation, the application of additives, sampling and quantification methods of total iron, total zinc, °Brix, carotenoids, chlorophylls a, b, and antioxidant capacity using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method in leaves and pods. As for the results, it was found that biofortification with iron sulfate and zinc sulfate is a strategy that favors the country’s economy and human health, because it allows the increase of minerals, antioxidant capacity and total soluble solids.

A business solution is proposed for the accumulation of waste in the Municipality of Choco without prior treatment through the establishment of a center for the reception, classification, recovery and use of solid plastic waste in the Municipality of Quibdo, which would optimize and expand the management of plastic waste. In this study, the basic diagnosis of the practices that are currently carried out in Quibdo is evaluated with the appropriation of the knowledge of the population, the technical structuring of the conditions of production of plastic wood is carried out from the management of plastic waste, recognition of the market for waste generated as an alternative for development and sustainable growth and the financial feasibility of the project and the profitability of each of the investment plans for its implementation. The results of the investigation include the identification of weaknesses and opportunities in waste management practices and the proposal of two investment plans for the establishment of the center. It is concluded that investment plan 2 would require 46,590.50 USD less than investment plan 1, equivalent to a 2.21% return compared to investment plan 1.

El chile ancho (variedad cardenal y sargento) es uno de los principales cultivos de la región de Rodeo, Durango, México, gracias a su significado culinario, su utilidad agroindustrial e Importancia como producto nacional comercializable. Lamentablemente sufre grandes daños causados por hongos; a mayor escala se presenta el Fusarium oxysporum, que origina marchitez en el chile y, en consecuencia, pérdidas económicas considerables. Este escrito evalúa el efecto de la aplicación vía foliar del aceite esencial de orégano en las plantas, con el fin de controlar el índice de daño causado por este hongo presente en el suelo. El artículo se desarrolla a través de la recolección de muestras de suelo, para identificar el hongo mediante la técnica de flotación; así, es posible lograr esta identificación mediante microscopio 4X, controlando orgánicamente la toxina con el aceite esencial de orégano de la variedad Lippia graveolens. Para esto se toman cuatro concentraciones de 1,5; 1,0; 0,5 y 0 mL este último como testigo, y se aplican tres réplicas para cada una, en cuatro variables por evaluar: (a) altura de planta; (b) peso de hojas; (c) peso de raíz, (d) diámetro del tallo, y (e) número de ramas. Los resultados arrojan que las concentraciones de 0,5 y 1,5 mL de aceite esencial cuentan con mejores condiciones de peso de la planta y mayor frondosidad. De este modo, el testigo se estabiliza, y en la concentración 1,0 se observan pérdidas de baja escala. Ancho chile (cardinal and sargento varieties) is one of the main crops in the region of Rodeo, Durango, Mexico, thanks to its culinary significance, its agroindustrial usefulness, and importance as a marketable national product. Unfortunately, it suffers damage caused by fungi; on a larger scale, Fusarium oxysporum is present, which causes chili wilt and, consequently, considerable economic losses. This paper evaluates the effect of foliar application of oregano essential oil on plants to control the rate of damage caused by this fungus present in the soil. The article is developed through the collection of soil samples to identify the fungus using the flotation technique; thus, it is possible to achieve this identification by 4X microscopy, organically controlling the toxin with oregano essential oil of the variety Lippia graveolens. For this, four concentrations of 1.5; 1.0; 0.5, and 0 mL are taken, the latter as a control, and three replicates are applied for each one, in four variables to be evaluated: (a) plant height; (b) leaf weight; (c) root weight, and (d) stem diameter, and (e) the number of branches. The results show that the concentrations of 0.5 and 1.5 mL of essential oil have better conditions of plant weight and greater leafiness. Thus, the control is stabilized, and at 1.0 concentration, low-scale losses are observed.