{"id":"https://openalex.org/W7123972019","doi":"https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202634704002","title":"Development and evaluation of biodegradable seedling tubes from beeswax and macadamia nut composites","display_name":"Development and evaluation of biodegradable seedling tubes from beeswax and macadamia nut composites","publication_year":2026,"publication_date":"2026-01-01","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W7123972019","doi":"https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202634704002"},"language":"en","primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.1051/epjconf/202634704002","doi":"https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202634704002","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202634704002","pdf_url":"https://www.epj-conferences.org/articles/epjconf/pdf/2026/03/epjconf_scmerd2026_04002.pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S19068271","display_name":"EPJ Web of Conferences","issn_l":"2100-014X","issn":["2100-014X","2101-6275"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":true,"is_core":true,"listed_in":["cwts-core","ddh","doaj","jufo-1","norway-1","oarl"],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310319748","host_organization_name":"EDP Sciences","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310319748","https://openalex.org/P4310319982"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["EDP Sciences","Science Press"],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"EPJ Web of Conferences","raw_type":"journal-article"},"parent_works":[],"lineage":["https://openalex.org/W7123972019"],"child_works_count":0,"type":"conference-paper","is_traditional":true,"indexed_in":["crossref","doaj"],"open_access":{"is_oa":true,"oa_status":"diamond","oa_url":"https://www.epj-conferences.org/articles/epjconf/pdf/2026/03/epjconf_scmerd2026_04002.pdf","any_repository_has_fulltext":true},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5122973130","display_name":"Thandiwe Chisi","orcid":null,"observed_orcids":[]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I2800088668","display_name":"Malawi University of Science and Technology","ror":"https://ror.org/027vmhf17","country_code":"MW","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I2800088668"]}],"countries":["MW"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Thandiwe Chisi","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Engineering, Malawi University of Science and Technology"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Engineering, Malawi University of Science and Technology","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I2800088668"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5122972197","display_name":"Mark Msiska","orcid":null,"observed_orcids":[]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I2800088668","display_name":"Malawi University of Science and Technology","ror":"https://ror.org/027vmhf17","country_code":"MW","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I2800088668"]}],"countries":["MW"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Mark Msiska","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Engineering, Malawi University of Science and Technology"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Engineering, Malawi University of Science and Technology","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I2800088668"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5122976942","display_name":"Haleema Amasi","orcid":null,"observed_orcids":[]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I2800088668","display_name":"Malawi University of Science and Technology","ror":"https://ror.org/027vmhf17","country_code":"MW","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I2800088668"]}],"countries":["MW"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Haleema Amasi","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Engineering, Malawi University of Science and Technology"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Engineering, Malawi University of Science and Technology","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I2800088668"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5093664101","display_name":"Alfred Kampira Levison","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3245-8433","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3245-8433"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I2800088668","display_name":"Malawi University of Science and Technology","ror":"https://ror.org/027vmhf17","country_code":"MW","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I2800088668"]}],"countries":["MW"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Alfred Levison","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Engineering, Malawi University of Science and Technology"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Engineering, Malawi University of Science and Technology","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I2800088668"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5122922266","display_name":"Blessings Masina","orcid":null,"observed_orcids":[]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I134635517","display_name":"Bandung Institute of Technology","ror":"https://ror.org/00apj8t60","country_code":"ID","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I134635517"]},{"id":"https://openalex.org/I2800088668","display_name":"Malawi University of Science and Technology","ror":"https://ror.org/027vmhf17","country_code":"MW","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I2800088668"]}],"countries":["ID","MW"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Blessings Masina","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Engineering, Malawi University of Science and Technology","Department of Environmental Engineering, Bandung Institute of Technology"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Engineering, Malawi University of Science and Technology","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I2800088668"]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Environmental Engineering, Bandung Institute of Technology","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I134635517"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5049036373","display_name":"Vincent Dodoma Mwale","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4626-0678","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4626-0678"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I18020613","display_name":"Mzuzu University","ror":"https://ror.org/008ej3804","country_code":"MW","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I18020613"]}],"countries":["MW"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Vincent Mwale","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Energy Systems, Mzuzu University, Private Bag 201"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Energy Systems, Mzuzu University, Private Bag 201","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I18020613"]}]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5091160110","display_name":"Richard Nkhoma","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6407-432X","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6407-432X"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I2800088668","display_name":"Malawi University of Science and Technology","ror":"https://ror.org/027vmhf17","country_code":"MW","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I2800088668"]}],"countries":["MW"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Richard Nkhoma","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Engineering, Malawi University of Science and Technology"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Engineering, Malawi University of Science and Technology","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I2800088668"]}]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":2,"institutions_distinct_count":3,"corresponding_author_ids":[],"corresponding_institution_ids":[],"apc_list":null,"apc_paid":null,"fwci":21.3766,"has_fulltext":true,"cited_by_count":1,"citation_normalized_percentile":{"value":0.96717325,"is_in_top_1_percent":false,"is_in_top_10_percent":true},"cited_by_percentile_year":{"min":91,"max":95},"biblio":{"volume":"347","issue":null,"first_page":"04002","last_page":"04002"},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10513","display_name":"Natural Fiber Reinforced Composites","score":0.7411999702453613,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2507","display_name":"Polymers and Plastics"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/25","display_name":"Materials Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10513","display_name":"Natural Fiber Reinforced Composites","score":0.7411999702453613,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2507","display_name":"Polymers and Plastics"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/25","display_name":"Materials Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T12642","display_name":"Polymer-Based Agricultural Enhancements","score":0.12150000035762787,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1102","display_name":"Agronomy and Crop Science"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/11","display_name":"Agricultural and Biological Sciences"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/1","display_name":"Life Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10661","display_name":"biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties","score":0.04580000042915344,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2502","display_name":"Biomaterials"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/25","display_name":"Materials Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/beeswax","display_name":"beeswax","score":0.824999988079071},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/soil-burial-test","display_name":"soil burial test","score":0.656000018119812},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/biodegradation-rate","display_name":"biodegradation rate","score":0.925000011920929},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/soil-moisture","display_name":"soil moisture","score":0.6079999804496765},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/temperature-effects-on-biodegradation","display_name":"temperature effects on biodegradation","score":0.765999972820282},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/nursery-management","display_name":"nursery management","score":0.7369999885559082},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/circular-economy","display_name":"circular economy","score":0.6629999876022339},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/micronutrient-enrichment","display_name":"micronutrient enrichment","score":0.9169999957084656}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2776793449","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q143739","display_name":"Beeswax","level":3,"score":0.9275000095367432},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2776096895","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1385709","display_name":"Seedling","level":2,"score":0.6897000074386597},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C157021035","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q696715","display_name":"Biodegradation","level":2,"score":0.6238999962806702},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C153033020","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q124695","display_name":"Wax","level":2,"score":0.5964000225067139},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C24939127","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q373499","display_name":"Water content","level":2,"score":0.48829999566078186},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2778223994","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q905592","display_name":"Filler (materials)","level":2,"score":0.384799987077713},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C192562407","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q228736","display_name":"Materials science","level":0,"score":0.38119998574256897},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C31903555","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1637030","display_name":"Food science","level":1,"score":0.3765000104904175},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C144027150","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q48803","display_name":"Horticulture","level":1,"score":0.35920000076293945},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C528095902","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2283886","display_name":"Pulp and paper industry","level":1,"score":0.35519999265670776},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2986587452","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q938438","display_name":"Statistical analysis","level":2,"score":0.3375000059604645},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C39432304","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q188847","display_name":"Environmental science","level":0,"score":0.3154999911785126},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C185592680","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2329","display_name":"Chemistry","level":0,"score":0.3140000104904175},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C176864760","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q217651","display_name":"Moisture","level":2,"score":0.2874000072479248},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C159985019","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181790","display_name":"Composite material","level":1,"score":0.2791999876499176},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C6557445","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q173113","display_name":"Agronomy","level":1,"score":0.25609999895095825}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":2,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.1051/epjconf/202634704002","doi":"https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202634704002","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202634704002","pdf_url":"https://www.epj-conferences.org/articles/epjconf/pdf/2026/03/epjconf_scmerd2026_04002.pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S19068271","display_name":"EPJ Web of Conferences","issn_l":"2100-014X","issn":["2100-014X","2101-6275"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":true,"is_core":true,"listed_in":["cwts-core","ddh","doaj","jufo-1","norway-1","oarl"],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310319748","host_organization_name":"EDP Sciences","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310319748","https://openalex.org/P4310319982"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["EDP Sciences","Science Press"],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"EPJ Web of Conferences","raw_type":"journal-article"},{"id":"pmh:oai:doaj.org/article:0a926a1c332a499894d41884d06642f1","doi":null,"is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doaj.org/article/0a926a1c332a499894d41884d06642f1","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306401280","display_name":"DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"listed_in":[],"host_organization":null,"host_organization_name":null,"host_organization_lineage":[],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":"cc-by-sa","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by-sa","version":"submittedVersion","is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":"EPJ Web of Conferences, Vol 347, p 04002 (2026)","raw_type":"article"}],"best_oa_location":{"id":"doi:10.1051/epjconf/202634704002","doi":"https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202634704002","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202634704002","pdf_url":"https://www.epj-conferences.org/articles/epjconf/pdf/2026/03/epjconf_scmerd2026_04002.pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S19068271","display_name":"EPJ Web of Conferences","issn_l":"2100-014X","issn":["2100-014X","2101-6275"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":true,"is_core":true,"listed_in":["cwts-core","ddh","doaj","jufo-1","norway-1","oarl"],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310319748","host_organization_name":"EDP Sciences","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310319748","https://openalex.org/P4310319982"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["EDP Sciences","Science Press"],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"EPJ Web of Conferences","raw_type":"journal-article"},"sustainable_development_goals":[{"display_name":"Responsible consumption and production","id":"https://metadata.un.org/sdg/12","score":1.0},{"display_name":"Life on land","id":"https://metadata.un.org/sdg/15","score":0.7605999708175659},{"display_name":"Zero hunger","id":"https://metadata.un.org/sdg/2","score":0.40450000762939453}],"study_designs":[],"awards":[],"funders":[],"has_content":{"grobid_xml":true,"pdf":true},"content_urls":{"pdf":"https://content.openalex.org/works/W7123972019.pdf","grobid_xml":"https://content.openalex.org/works/W7123972019.grobid-xml"},"referenced_works_count":19,"referenced_works":["https://openalex.org/W1972846731","https://openalex.org/W2313866292","https://openalex.org/W2560534738","https://openalex.org/W2789470823","https://openalex.org/W2972018695","https://openalex.org/W3113047641","https://openalex.org/W3159210540","https://openalex.org/W4200031428","https://openalex.org/W4313523856","https://openalex.org/W4360869408","https://openalex.org/W4387019184","https://openalex.org/W4387364157","https://openalex.org/W4387407743","https://openalex.org/W4388898364","https://openalex.org/W4391289318","https://openalex.org/W4391484477","https://openalex.org/W4392550112","https://openalex.org/W4405551800","https://openalex.org/W4414668458"],"related_works":["https://openalex.org/W4380183512","https://openalex.org/W7120385209","https://openalex.org/W4405551800","https://openalex.org/W7111158427","https://openalex.org/W3199385466","https://openalex.org/W3133852800","https://openalex.org/W2614128083","https://openalex.org/W4394684459","https://openalex.org/W4396609878","https://openalex.org/W2912481991"],"abstract_inverted_index":{"This":[0],"study":[1],"investigates":[2],"the":[3,47,100,104,168],"development":[4],"of":[5,33,42,49,87,148,171],"biodegradable":[6],"seedling":[7,175,192],"tubes":[8,176],"using":[9,85],"macadamia":[10],"nutshell":[11],"powder":[12],"as":[13,18],"a":[14,19,24,40,67],"filler":[15],"and":[16,54,61,117,129,151,158,198,206],"beeswax":[17,101,123,137],"natural":[20],"binder,":[21],"to":[22,27,45,97,155,190],"provide":[23],"sustainable":[25,200],"alternative":[26,189],"conventional":[28],"polyethene":[29],"tubes.":[30],"A":[31],"total":[32],"twenty-four":[34],"experimental":[35],"runs":[36],"were":[37],"conducted":[38],"following":[39],"Design":[41],"Experiments":[43],"framework":[44],"evaluate":[46],"effects":[48],"beeswax\u2013to\u2013macadamia":[50],"ratios":[51,138],"(90:10,":[52],"70:30,":[53],"50:50":[55],"wt":[56],"%),":[57],"soil":[58,69,118],"pH,":[59],"temperature,":[60],"moisture":[62],"content":[63,124],"on":[64,111],"biodegradability":[65],"over":[66],"28-day":[68],"burial":[70],"test.":[71],"Elemental":[72,143],"composition":[73],"was":[74,83],"determined":[75],"by":[76,115],"X-ray":[77],"fluorescence":[78],"analysis,":[79],"while":[80,194],"statistical":[81],"significance":[82],"assessed":[84],"analysis":[86,144],"variance.":[88],"Results":[89],"showed":[90],"that":[91],"biodegradation":[92],"rates":[93],"ranged":[94],"from":[95,177],"28.2%":[96],"58.3%,":[98],"with":[99,121],"ratio":[102],"exerting":[103],"most":[105],"significant":[106],"influence":[107],"(p":[108],"<":[109],"0.05)":[110],"degradation":[112],"behaviour,":[113],"followed":[114],"temperature":[116],"moisture.":[119],"Tubes":[120],"higher":[122],"exhibited":[125],"greater":[126],"structural":[127],"stability":[128,157],"water":[130],"resistance":[131],"but":[132],"lower":[133,136],"biodegradability.":[134],"Conversely,":[135],"favoured":[139],"faster":[140],"microbial":[141],"decomposition.":[142,164],"revealed":[145],"appreciable":[146],"levels":[147],"SiO2,":[149],"Al2O3,":[150],"Fe2O3,":[152],"which":[153],"contribute":[154],"mechanical":[156],"may":[159],"facilitate":[160],"micronutrient":[161],"enrichment":[162],"during":[163],"The":[165,181],"findings":[166],"confirm":[167],"technical":[169],"feasibility":[170],"producing":[172],"biodegradable,":[173],"plantable":[174],"locally":[178],"available":[179],"agro-wastes.":[180],"composite":[182],"formulation":[183],"offers":[184],"an":[185],"environmentally":[186],"sound,":[187],"low-cost":[188],"plastic":[191],"containers":[193],"supporting":[195],"circular-economy":[196],"principles":[197],"promoting":[199],"nursery":[201],"management":[202],"practices":[203],"in":[204],"Malawi":[205],"similar":[207],"contexts.":[208]},"counts_by_year":[{"year":2026,"cited_by_count":1}],"updated_date":"2026-11-07T11:25:07.637180","created_date":"2026-01-14T00:00:00"}