The rapid increase in global population and shrinkage of agricultural land necessitates the use of cost-effective renewable sources as alternative to excessive resource-demanding agricultural crops. Microalgae seem to be a potential substitute as it rapidly produces large biomass that can serve as a good source of various functional ingredients that are not produced/synthesized inside the human body and high-value nonessential bioactive compounds. Microalgae-derived bioactive metabolites possess various bioactivities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-carcinogenic, anti-hypertensive, anti-lipidemic, and anti-diabetic activities, thereof rapidly elevating their demand as interesting option in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and functional foods industries for developing new products. However, their utilization in these sectors has been limited. This demands more research to explore the functionality of microalgae derived functional ingredients. Therefore, in this review, we intended to furnish up-to-date knowledge on prospects of bioactive metabolites from microalgae, their bioactivities related to health, the process of microalgae cultivation and harvesting, extraction and purification of bioactive metabolites, role as dietary supplements or functional food, their commercial applications in nutritional and pharmaceutical industries and the challenges in this area of research. Graphical abstract

No abstract

In a pot culture study, saw dust, vermiculite, lignite, magnesium oxide, wheat straw, paddy shell, ground nut shell and farm yard manure (FYM) were incorporated in to wet sandy loam and clay soils at the rate of 30 g/kg. Relative changes in soil structure and moisture retention were evaluated at the end of 160 day incubation period. All the amendments except vermiculite, ground nut shell and FYM in sandy loam soil and except vermiculite, lignite, magnesium oxide in clay soil significantly increased MWD and aggregates > 1 mm. Structural index was significantly improved by all the amendments except vermiculite and FYM in sandy loam and vermiculite and magnesium oxide in clay soil. Moisture retention and release in clay soil in the wet range (0 to 0.33 bar) were considerably increased by soil amendments except magnesium oxide, vermiculite and lignite. Almost all the amendments significantly increased moisture retention in the wet range in sandy loam soil. However, moisture release at 50 mbar was reduced only by wheat straw in sandy loam soil.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract