May 2020
Potential causes of postharvest losses, low-cost cooling technology for fresh produce farmers in Sub-Sahara Africa
The aim of this review was to identify the causes of postharvest losses (PHL) in fruit and vegetables in relation to small-scale farming in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The reduction of PHL can improve food security at household level. Farmers involved in small-scale production of fresh produce experience high PHL due to physiological deterioration associated with technical, biological and environmental factors and lack...
May 2020
Risk assessment of the economic efficiency of rubber production: Case of smallholder rubber production in QuangBinh Province, Vietnam
The paper reviews the economic risk of rubber production due to fluctuations of input factors, product price, natural disasters, epidemics, interest rates, and market demand. The data collected in this work were analyzed with accounting of production costs methods and accounting results and production efficiency method, benefit-cost analysis, sensitivity analysis and scenario analysis. QuangBinh, a province in Vietnam...
May 2020
Nitrogen value of stockpiled cattle manure for crop production
Cattle manure is a common source of fertilizer throughout Sub-Saharan Africa given problems with supply and pricing of inorganic fertilizers. The optimum rate of manure to use is often unknown and further compounded by variable N contents arising from long periods of stockpiling. This study investigated the rates of cattle manure required to optimize plant growth at different N contents arising from different storage...
May 2020
Role of farmers’ organizations (FOs) in the strengthening of the technical and organizational capacities of farmers in Mezam Division of the North West Region of Cameroon
This study was carried out from January 2018 to March 2019 in Mezam Division of the North West Region of Cameroon on the role of farmers organization (FOs) in the strengthening of the technical and organizational capacities of farmers, particularly the case of the Program for the Improvement of Competiveness of Family Agro-pastoral Farms (PCP-ACEFA) and the North West Farmers’ Organization (NOWEFOR). The objective...
May 2020
Evaluation of maize (Zea mays L.) performance under minimum and conventional tillage practice in two distinct agroecological zones of Uganda
Maize is one of the major staple foods in Uganda, providing over 40% of Uganda’s daily calorie consumption. Tillage practice is one of the crucial factors that influence crop productivity through maintenance of soil health. The aim of this study therefore is to validate the effect of tillage practice on the vegetative growth and yield of maize in Uganda. The trial was established on-station at Ngetta Zonal...
May 2020
Assessment and characterization of mung bean (Vigna radiata) bacterial brown spot in Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia
Mung bean is one of the major early maturing pulse crop grown all over the world including Ethiopia. The production of the crop in Ethiopia, however, suffers from many diseases caused by bacteria. The study aims to assess the intensity and identify the major foliar bacterial and fungal pathogens of the crop. Purposively, 3 districts and randomly 90 mung bean fields were surveyed during the study period....
May 2020
Agro-morphological response of some groundnut genotypes (Arachis hypogaea L.) in water deficit conditions
Groundnut is a crop that can be grown under varied production conditions (in intercropping or rotation with cereals). In Niger, the production of groundnut is decreasing over the year due to drought and low soil nutrients. In this work, an agro-morphological evaluation of five groundnut genotypes (55-437, ICG12697, ICG4750, JL24 and ICG8751) under water deficit was carried out in order to identify the best performing...
May 2020
Phytophthora seedling blight disease of cacao and its control measures
Symptoms of Phytophthora seedling blight disease of cacao were found on 3 weeks old cacao seedlings at the nursery of Seed Production Division of Ghana Cocoa Board in New Tafo-Akim during routine surveys of cacao diseases in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Survey of seedlings in the nursery was conducted to determine disease incidence (DI). Heat sterilization of soil and drenching with Ridomil Gold plus 66 WP (6%...
May 2020
Selenium in Caprine feeding, its transference to the milk and relation with other minerals
The experiment was performed in the campus of the State University of Alagoas, in Santana do Ipanema, in the semi-arid region of Northeast Brazil. This work is aimed at studying the transferences of Se from animals’ food to milk in various levels of offers and its correlations with Ca, P, Mg and soluble Fe. The work also analyzed the somatic cells counts, total bacteria count and chemical composition of milk: Fat,...
May 2020
Inoculation of native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi based bio-fertilizers for improvement of maize productivity in Central Benin
The response of maize to a composite inoculation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) in fields in Central Benin was evaluated. The 2000 SYNEE maize variety underwent 3 AMF groups involved in treatments namely: T1 = "Control (AMF and fertilizer free)"; T2 = "Glomeraceae"; T3 = Acau "Acaulosporacea"; T4 = Diversi " Diversisporaceae"; T5 = "50% NPK + Urea"; T6 =...
May 2020
Evaluation of chemical and elemental constituents of Centella asiatica leaf meal
Medicinal plants include various types of plants used in herbalism or herbal medicine. It is the use of plants for medicinal purposes, and the study of such uses. The use of medicinal plants is gaining popularity all over the world; hence the need to exploit various plant that could be of economic importance to both man and animal. Centella asiatica is one of such plants that are underutilized. Therefore, investigating...
May 2020
Technical efficiency in tomato production among smallholder farmers in Kirinyaga County, Kenya
The study was conducted to assess tomato productivity and determine characteristics that influence technical efficiency among smallholder farmers in Kirinyaga County using the production function approach. Data were collected by administering structured questionnaires to a sample of 384 respondents randomly selected from six wards using multistage stratified and probability proportionate to size sampling procedures. The...
May 2020
Effects of land use on soil physicochemical properties at Barkachha, Mirzapur District, Varanasi, India
Types of land use practice significantly affect the soil physico-chemical properties. Four different land use types were selected (natural forest, bamboo plantation, degraded forest and agricultural land) to analyze the effect of land uses change on soil chemical and physical properties. Among all land use pattern, the highest water holding capacity (40.06±0.74%), porosity (0.539±0.011%), soil...
May 2020
Mitigating loan default in Nigeria through joint liability approach: The case of beneficiaries of microfinance bank agricultural loan in Calabar metropolis, Cross River State, Nigeria
Due to persistent increase in loan default in developing countries especially Nigeria, several lending institutions resort to group lending that is based on joint liability approach to mitigate default. This study analyzes the mitigation of loan default in Nigeria through joint liability approach: The case of beneficiaries of microfinance bank agricultural loan in Calabar metropolis, Cross River State. It...
May 2020
Evaluation of genotype × environment interaction effect on performance of garlic (Allium sativum L.) genotypes in Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia using AMMI and GGE biplot analysis
Garlic is the major bulb crop next to onion in Ethiopia. Lack of stable and high yielding cultivars is one of the major problems for production and productivity of garlic in the country. Identification of adaptable, stable and high yielding genotypes under varying environmental conditions prior to release as a cultivar is the first steps for plant breeding. Therefore, developing high yielding and stable varieties is the...
May 2020
Yield increase of soybean inoculated with a commercial arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculant in Brazil
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play an important role in plant growth. However, there are no records of the use of AMF-based inoculants in agricultural crops in Brazil. The objective of this work was to evaluate the agronomic efficiency of a commercial inoculant containing the AMF Rhizophagus intraradices in combination with phosphate fertilization in soybean under different edaphoclimatic conditions in Brazil....
May 2020
Determinants of sorghum productivity among small-scale farmers in Siaya County, Kenya
The productivity of sorghum in Kenya is on decline despite sorghum being one of the suitable crops for the arid and semi-arid areas commonly found in Kenya. The study therefore aimed at establishing the effect of the selected socio-economic factors on sorghum productivity using a case of small-scale farmers in Siaya County. The four sub-counties considered for this study were selected on the basis of sorghum production....
May 2020
Effects of variable light intensities on seedling photomorphorgenesis and field performances of tomato (Solanum lycopersicon ‘Lindo F1)
Six tomato (Solanum lycopersicon ‘Lindo F1) nursery shades and no shade control were evaluated for their effects on seedling photomorphogenesis and field performances as influenced by variable light transmission through the shades. The shades were constructed with wooden frames and different coloured polyethylene sheets as cover (roof). Different polyethylene colours showed varying effects on all the parameters...
April 2020
Integrated management of Meloidogyne incognita in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) through botanical and intercropping
Root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, is the major limiting factor in tomato production in many regions of the world, including Ethiopia. Hence, there is a need for development of root-knot nematode management methods that are cheap and environmentally friendly. A greenhouse experiment was conducted with an objective to evaluate the integrated effect of botanicals and intercropping against M. incognita on tomato....
April 2020
Vertical versus horizontal expansion of food security crops in Sudan: A causality analysis of 1961-2017
This research used FAO statistical data to test the causality between production, area and yield for Sudan’s three major food crops; sorghum, wheat and millet. Results indicated a sizable gap in yield between Sudan and some selected top producing countries for the selected crops. Two-way causality was observed from production to area and vice versa for sorghum crops, accentuating horizontal expansion, while the...
April 2020
Assessment of physicochemical properties of Besease wetland soils, Ghana
The shallow and erodible soils of low fertility uplands have led to farmers extending their cultivable areas to wetlands for optimal crop production since these systems have the potential for exploitation in the dry season. To ensure its sustainable use, the physicochemical and the hydrological characteristics of the valley bottom should be ascertained. Studies were conducted to assess the suitability of wetlands for...
April 2020
New microchondrometer to measure hectoliter weight in small samples of wheat
The hectoliter weight or test weight is an important wheat quality parameter for international trade and is traditionally evaluated on devices with a volume of 250, 500, 1000 or 1100 ml. At the experimental level, especially in crop improvement and in greenhouse studies, the amount of grain is often insufficient to determine hectoliter weight. The present work aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using a new 15.30 ml...
April 2020
Lime requirements for bean production on two contrasting soils of Lake Victoria Crescent agro-ecological zone
In East Africa, research has indicated that N, P and soil acidity are the major production constraints to common bean production. The optimum pH for bean production in tropical soils ranges from 5.8 to 6.5. But in Uganda, 23% of beans are grown in soils with pH below 5.0. Research conducted on common bean production is mainly about the major nutrients and information about lime requirements to address soil acidity in...
April 2020
The response of pigs to diets containing varying levels of cocoa placenta meal (CPM) supplemented with an exogenous enzyme complex
A nineteen-week experiment was conducted to establish the effects of an enzyme supplementation on growth performance, economics of production, carcass components and blood profile of pigs fed diets containing different levels of cocoa placenta meal (CPM). Twenty-five Large White grower pigs with mean initial live weight of 15.4 kg were randomly allocated to five treatments: T1 (0% CPM), T2 (5% CPM), T3 (10% CPM), T4...
April 2020
Initiation of callus from different genotypes of Sorghum bicolor L. Moench
The study aimed to examine three genotypes of sorghum for their response in tissue culture using Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with auxins (2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D), naphthalene acetic acid (NAA)) and cytokinins (Kinetin, 6-benzyle amino purine (BAP)) at different concentrations. The cultures were initiated from different explants (seed, embryo and hypocotyl). The response of explants...
March 2020
Selection efficiency of yield based drought tolerance indices to identify superior sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] genotypes under two-contrasting environments
Drought is the most significant environmental calamity on sorghum in Ethiopia and hence improving yield under drought is a major goal of plant breeding. This study was designed to introgress drought tolerant genes into adapted varieties through marker-assisted backcrossing and select based on tolerance indices. Sixty-one backcrossed lines and along with their nine parental lines were evaluated under full-irrigation and...
March 2020
Interaction effect between Meloidogyne incognita and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici on selected tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) genotypes
Development of diseases in cultivated crops depends on the complex inter-relationship between host, pathogen and prevailing environmental conditions. The significant role of nematodes in the development of nematode–fungus interaction is demonstrated in many crops throughout the world. However, there is scanty research information in Ethiopia. Therefore, the main objectives of this study were to: (i) investigate...
March 2020
Effective policies to mitigate food waste in Qatar
This paper highlighted food waste as one of the biggest threats to food security that put pressure on the natural resources and limit the ecological capacity of land of Qatar to continue providing renewable resources. Climate change, desertification of farmland, water shortages, soil degradation and arable land per capita decline are the main characteristics of the state of Qatar. This arid and semi-arid environment...
March 2020
Technical efficiency and its determinants in sugarcane production among smallholder sugarcane farmers in Malava sub-county, Kenya
The aim of the study was to determine the farm level technical efficiency and its determinants among smallholder sugarcane farmers in Malava Sub-county, Western Kenya. Primary data were collected using questionnaires from a sample of 384 farmers through systematic random sampling. The study applied stochastic frontier analysis and Tobit regression analysis using computer software STATA. The results found that...
March 2020
Production of banana bunchy top virus (BBTV)-free plantain plants by in vitro culture
Banana Bunchy Top Disease (BBTD) caused by the Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) is one of the most important banana diseases in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This study focused on the production of BBTV-free plantain seedlings from infected banana plants. A total of 10 suckers from the French plantain Litete (Musa AAB) and the False Horn plantain Libanga Likale (Musa AAB) with advanced BBTD symptoms were collected....
March 2020
Influence of supplementary hoe weeding on the efficacy of ButaForce for lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) weed management
Field experiments to determine the influence of supplementary hoe weeding on the efficacy of ButaForce (N-(butoxymethyl)-2-chloro-N-2,6-dimethyl acetanilide) for low land rice (Oryza sativa L.) weed management was conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Port Harcourt during the early cropping seasons of 2018 and 2019. Seven treatments were used for the experiment...
March 2020
Influence of clam shells and Tithonia diversifolia powder on growth of plantain PIF seedlings (var. French) and their sensitivity to Mycosphaerella fijiensis
Plantain prices in sub-Saharan markets are very high due to the fact that the supply does not cover the large demand. The main constraint of plantain cultivation is the seedlings unavailability in quantity and quality, which is essential to boost the creation of new plantations. The PIF technique could solve this problem if its substrate of production is amended with natural products for quality enhancement. This study...
March 2020
Response of pepper leaves epidermal cell under ozone stress to ascorbic acid treatment
The present investigation studied the effectiveness of ozone (O3) concentrations on epidermal cells of pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.) leaves and its response to ascorbic acid (AS). The plants were grown at two sites in Riyadh, King Saud University (KSU) Campus, and the second industrial city (SIC) under an average of 42.33 and 138.66 ppb of O3. Two groups grown at KSU site as a control; one of them was treated with tap...
March 2020
Genetic gain of maize (Zea mays L.) varieties in Ethiopia over 42 years (1973 - 2015)
Currently under production, thirty-eight Ethiopian maize varieties released majorly for three agro-climatic zones over the past thirty-nine, twenty-nine and twelve years for the high altitudes, mid–altitudes and low altitudes, respectively, were conducted at three different research center’s field trials, using randomized complete block design with three replications in 2015 main cropping season to estimate...
March 2020
Agricultural technology adoption and its impact on smallholder farmer’s welfare in Ethiopia
Agricultural production and productivity play a paramount role in the livelihood of rural farm households. Agricultural technology affects agricultural productivity and the welfare of rural farm households. However, there is a gap in knowledge on the effect of different technology adoptions on farm household’s welfare. This study examined the effect of improved wheat variety adoption on household’s welfare...
March 2020
Improvement of growth performance and meat sensory attributes through use of dried goat rumen contents in broiler diets
The study investigated the use of dried goat rumen contents (DGRC) on growth performance of broiler chickens. Rumen contents were obtained from goats immediately after slaughter during the wet season, sundried, milled and incorporated in experimental diets at levels of 0, 5 and 10%. The 0% DGRC diet was the control. The experimental diets were formulated on iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous principles in line with the...
March 2020
Multivariate analysis in the evaluation of sustrate quality and containers in the production of Arabica coffee seedlings
Coffee growing is recognized as an activity of great economic and social importance for Brazil. Obtaining good quality coffee seedlings is a major factor in the implantation of a productive and lasting crop. In view of the aforementioned, the objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of Arabica coffee seedlings produced with different substrates in different containers with multivariate analysis techniques....
March 2020
Effect of time of Azolla incorporation and inorganic fertilizer application on growth and yield of Basmati rice
Azolla tissue contains 5% N, which is slowly released into the soil upon decomposition. Timing of incorporation is therefore important for maximum benefit to a crop. The effect of time to incorporate Azolla biomass on growth and yield of rice was investigated in Mwea-Kenya. Treatments consisted of 7.5 t ha-1 Azolla biomass applied at transplanting, 7.5 t ha-1 Azolla applied at 21 days after transplanting (DAT) and 30 kg...
March 2020
Ultraviolet B radiation affects growth, physiology and fiber quality of cotton
The effects of artificial biologically effective UV-B radiation on a range of growth and physiological parameters in two cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars (Romanos and Allegria) were recorded. Three levels of biologically effective UV-B were used: (1) zero (2) ambient and (3) elevated (determined as that associated with a notional 15% depletion of stratospheric ozone). Plants were grown under artificial light in...
March 2020
Contribution of parkland agroforestry in supplying fuel wood and its main challenges in Tigray, Northern, Ethiopia
Agroforestry is an aged practice in the Ethiopian farming systems of which parkland trees comprise the large part of agricultural landscapes. It is also the most dominant agroforestry practice in the semi-arid and sub-humid zones of Ethiopia. However, there is lack of research based evidence that shows the contribution of parkland agroforestry on fulfilling households’ fuel wood demand and towards improving the...
February 2020
Analysis of farmers’ perceived and observed climate variability and change in Didessa sub-basin, Blue Nile River, Ethiopia
Farmers’ local knowledge of how the climate is changing is crucial in anticipating the effects of climate change, as only farmers who know/perceive the impacts will develop coping and adaption measures. The study is designed to assess farmers’ perception and understanding in climate variability and change and to establish the observed climate change parameters with farmer’s perception and climate...
February 2020
Identification and mapping QTLs of bolting time in purple cai-tai (Brassica rapa L. var. purpurea)
Bolting time is a crucial agronomic trait for yield and quality in purple cai-tai (Brassica. rapa L. var. purpurea), but the genetic mechanism controlling the procedure remains unknown. In the present study, a double haploid (DH) population derived from two inbred lines of purple cai-tai 4-1 and 040-3 was constructed to identify the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) of bolting time. Genetic linkage map was performed by...
February 2020
Sensory evaluation of coffee cultivars in the Campo das Vertentes Mesoregion, Minas Gerais
The objective of this study was to evaluate the sensory characteristics of coffees from Coffea arabica L. groups, in municipalities located in the Campo das Vertentes mesoregion, in the State of Minas Gerais. Natural and parchment coffees, after drying, consisted of 100% mature fruits. The experiment was carried out on 14 coffee farms located in the municipalities of Carmo da Mata, Oliveira, Santo Antônio do...
February 2020
Heterosis and combining ability for storage root, flesh color, virus disease resistance and vine weight in Sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.]
This study was done to determine the mid-parent heterosis, the general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining abilities of storage root yield, sweet potato virus resistance (SPVD), flesh color and vine weight of candidate sweet potato clones. Sixteen selected genotypes from two gene pools were crossed in an 8B×8A cross having 64 families. Trials were conducted with 1,896 offsprings and 16 parents during two seasons at...
February 2020
Spatial distribution and sampling size for monitoring of African maize stem borer, Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on maize (Zea mays L.) in Southern Ethiopia
The African maize stem borer (Busseola fusca) is one of the important biotic constraints for maize production in sub-Saharan African. This study determined the spatial distribution and sampling sizes for African maize stem borer in Southern Ethiopia. Twenty four maize farms were visited in 12 localities at three growth stage of maize. Data were collected on the number of infested and not-infested plants, and the number...
February 2020
Evaluation of the performance of coffee varieties under low moisture stressed areas of Southern Ethiopia
The experiment was conducted by using seven released coffee varieties at three locations in southern Ethiopia, Halaba, Loka Abaya and Dilla, to select coffee varieties with higher yield and tolerant to low soil moisture stress. It was arranged in RCBD having three replications. The result indicated that the varieties showed significant difference on main stem diameter, plant height at harvesting, plant height up to the...
February 2020
Modeling the sensitivity of strategic plans to risks and uncertainties in forest management
Forest operations are associated with products of a biological source and long-term plans. This makes forest management plans affected by market and environmental uncertainties, which can cause differences between the strategic and operational plans. Risks related to disease spread, adverse weather, timber demand, and available capital can cause a reduction in planted areas. It is necessary that forest management plans...
February 2020
Successive off take of elements by maize grown in pure basalt powder
Basalt powder wastes from mining activities have potential to be used as a natural fertilizer. Basalt minerals in agricultural soils may release plant nutrients and increase soil negative charge. In this work, the weathering of basalt promoted by maize rhizosphere was investigated. We studied the chemical and mineralogical composition of basalt, including cation exchange capacity, as well as the rate of elements offtake...
February 2020
Relation of macrofauna diversity and chemical soil properties in rice field ecosystem, Dukuhseti district, Pati regency, Indonesia
Indonesia is a country with the third largest biodiversity after Brazil and Madagascar. Of the about 325.530 species of flora and fauna globally, an estimated 25% of the world's species are found in Indonesia. Macrofauna, a land animal that plays a role in influencing the soil ecosystem has specific environmental requirements that enables it to be used as biological indicators of ecosystem conditions, mainly rice...
February 2020
Extent of rumen contents use in livestock diets among farmers in Uganda
This study was conducted with the aim of finding how rumen contents are used in livestock diets, problems encountered and areas that needs improvement to enhance livestock production. One hundred livestock farmers from Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono districts were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The results showed that majority of the work force involved in livestock farming were middle aged adults between 30...
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