Physiologically meaningful moisture content determination for Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl.) seeds
December 2018
Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl.; Lecythidaceae) seeds are large, and the oily embryo (edible part) is covered by a thick, woody seed coat. Difficulties in seed storage may be due to desiccation sensitivity of the seeds, and prior variable results may be related to procedures for seed moisture content (MC) determination. This study first compared 3 methods of preparation of whole seeds, prior to MC determination:...
The efficacy of jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.) seed cake as an organic fertilizer
December 2018
Studies to evaluate the efficacy of Jatropha curcas L. (Jatropha) seed cake as an organic fertilizer were carried out at Bunda College of Agriculture during the 2010/2011 growing season using an on-station experiment. The major objective was to evaluate the efficacy of Jatropha seed cake as an organic fertiliser. The field experiment was laid in a 3 × 3 design with 3 levels of Jatropha (0, 92 and 184 kg N/ha...
Phytochemicals (phenolic acids, flavonoids, and alkaloids) contribution to the feeding value of mulberry (Morus spp.) for rabbits
December 2018
The feeding value of mulberry leaves for rabbits was quantitatively evaluated based on a single-factor design with five levels in diets (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%). Results showed that rabbits given mulberry at 20 and 15% had a relatively lower body weight gain, higher feed conversion ratio, and lower meat ether extract contents than that in the 0% group (P < 0.05). Increased activities of antioxidant enzymes and reduced...
Proximate, physical and chemical composition of leaves and seeds of Moringa (Moringa oleifera) from Central Malawi: A potential for increasing animal food supply in the 21st century
December 2018
The nutritive composition of Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam) leaves and seeds were evaluated for their possible inclusion in livestock feed formulation because of the limited availability of conventional protein concentrates like soybean (Glycine max) seeds. Moringa seeds contained 50.70 g kernels and 19.03 g hulls per 100 seeds representing 72.71 and 27.29% as a fraction of the whole seed, respectively. The 100 seeds...
Gender differences in the use of plant health information services: A case of plant clinics under Plantwise Program in Kenya
December 2018
A total of 8,699 female and 12,928 male farmers visited plant clinics in Kenya between 2012 and 2016. The lower clinic attendance by women farmers indicates they may lack information on plant health problems. This study aimed to understand the environment plant clinics operate in, identify the reasons for low clinic attendance by women, and possible strategies to reach more female farmers. Stratified random sampling was...
Fertilizer source influence on antioxidant activity of lettuce
December 2018
Consumers are increasingly aware and concerned about their health and therefore demanding for more healthy and nutritious food. Thus, the demand for organic foods has increased recently. Thus the aim of this study was to compare the antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of lettuce produced in organic and conventional systems. The antioxidant activity of ethanol extracts was determined by the DPPH and FRAP...
Farmer-based dynamics in tissue culture banana technology adoption: a socio-economic perspective among small holder farmers in Uganda
December 2018
The rates at which tissue-culture banana technology at smallholder farmer level in Uganda are adopted have reduced since the late 1990s. The study assessed the socio-economic factors influencing adoption of this technology by smallholder farmers. A survey on 280 smallholder farmers sampled from Western Uganda was conducted and responses were subjected to principal component analyses. There are evidences of very low...
Quality of clonal plantlets of Coffea canephora Pierre ex A. Froehner produced using coffee husk in the substrate
December 2018
Coffee husk is a residue produced during the fruit processing and it is an excellent source of organic matter. It is an interesting alternative that can be used in the formation of the substrate to plantlet production, but the proportion to be recommended is still unknown. In this context, this experiment was conducted with the objective to study the growth, quality and gas exchange rates of clonal plantlets of Conilon...
Factors influencing commercialization of sweet potato in Mosocho Subcounty, Kenya
December 2018
Sweet potato is a traditional crop grown in most parts of Kenya. In Nyanza Region, Kisii County and Mosocho sub-county in particular are major producers of the crop. However, only less than half of the produce is marketed and the growers are largely poverty stricken. This paper investigates why so little of the produce is marketed. Using primary data collected from a survey of 108 farmers in Mosocho, the study estimates...
A research on the determination of productivity levels of tomato grown areas
December 2018
The research was conducted in tomato-growing lands of Lâpseki, Ezine, Bayramiç and Central districts of Çanakkale province, Turkey. The aim of the study is to check the suitability of the field for tomato farming and to produce a solution if there is a problem. Disturbed soil samples were taken from 114 points with certain coordinates, at a depth of 0 to 30 cm, and analyses were performed. In the...
Priming of Urochloa brizantha cv. Xaraés seeds
December 2018
Priming is one of the several physiological methods used to increase the performance of seeds. To evaluate the effects of priming, seeds of Urochloa brizantha cv. Xaraés were primed under different osmotic potentials (ys = 0.0; -0.5; -1.0 and -1.5 MPa) and temperatures (15 and 25°C) for 24, 48, 96 and 144 h. The germination percentage and germination speed index were evaluated, in a completely randomized...
Economic and operational analysis of tomato mechanized harvesting systems for industrial processing
December 2018
The determination of the cost of agricultural production is an important tool for controlling and managing productive activities and generating information to support decision-making. The objective of this work was to make technical and economic evaluations of three mechanized tomato harvesting systems for industrial processing through the study of times, movements and the determination of operational costs. The...
Genetic variability of some yield and yield related traits in recombinant inbred lines of tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] at Laelay Maichew District, Northern Ethiopia
December 2018
Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] is a tetraploid almanac plant which belongs to the grass family, Poaceae and plays a vital role in the Ethiopian national food. In this study, thirty-four F2 derived F7 recombinant tef inbred lines, two standard (Kora and Quncho) and one local checks were field evaluated for genetic variability in grain yield and yield related characters at Axum Agricultural Research Center in 2014...
Genetic variability in agronomic traits and associations in sorghum [(Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)] genotypes at intermediate agro-ecology sorghum growing areas of Ethiopia
December 2018
The present study consists of 14 sorghum genotypes evaluated at Bako, Jimma and Mechara research centers to study genetic variability and interrelationships of traits with grain yield. The experiment was conducted by using randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications during 2014 and 2015 main rainy season. Data on important agronomic traits were collected. The combined analysis of variance (ANOVA)...
Identification of sequence-characterized amplified regions (SCARs) markers linking resistance to powdery mildew in chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)
December 2018
Powdery mildew disease in chilli pepper caused by Leveillula taurica has been affecting chilli pepper grown in greenhouse and open fields. Inheritance of powdery mildew disease resistance is complex and least understood. In the present study, we identified SCAR markers using F2 mapping populations developed from a cross between a resistant parental line ‘Odisha Local' and a parental line susceptible to powdery...
The use of plant extracts in anthracnose control in species of Helconia (Heliconia psittacorum cv. Golden Torch and Heliconia rostrata)
November 2018
The objective of the present study was to assess the anti-fungal activity of medicinal plant extracts on inhibition of Colletotrichum gloesporioides mycelial growth, sporulation and germination and on anthracnose control in Heliconia psitacorum cv. Golden Torch and Heliconia rostrata. Extracts of garlic, lemon grass, cinnamon, lemon balm, eucalyptus, ginger, mint, bitter melon and black pepper were used. The, mycelial...
Introduction of the Sub1 gene into the Russian rice varieties using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods
November 2018
Selection done using molecular markers has spread to all types of agricultural plants and animals. Marker assisted selection (MAS) is safe for ecology and food products consumed. The purpose of the study is to develop Sub1A gene (which determines tolerance to prolonged flooding) in the Russian rice varieties using DNA-markers and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. A large volume of pre-breeding rice material...
Constraints to private seed sector development in Ethiopia: A case study
November 2018
The purpose of this assessment was to identify, analyse and document major policies, laws, regulations, administrative practices, governance and institutional setups that constrained private seed sector investment in Ethiopia and identify evidence based alternative solutions to improve the supply of certified seed to small holder farmers and livelihoods in the country. The study was conducted in 2017 in Oromia, Amhara,...
Structural and productive characteristics of Cowpea (Vigna ungiculata) under different water availabilities
November 2018
The cowpea has stood out on the national scene, opening up new perspectives and applications of a more suitable management to ensure quality product. Therefore, it is important to know the responsiveness to the levels of deficit and excess water in the soil. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the initial development of cowpea plants subjected to different soil water availabilities. The experiment was...
Pre-inoculation of soybean seeds: Effects on survival of Bradyrhizobium elkanii, nodulation and crop yield
November 2018
Pre-inoculation of soybean seeds with Bradyrhizobium spp. associated with polymers could be an alternative to the conventional inoculation performed at the day of sowing. The objectives of this study were i) to determine whether the HiCoat® technology (peat inoculant + liquid inoculant + polymer) allows the survival of B. elkanii after storage of the inoculated seeds, and ii) to evaluate whether the...
Comparative assessment of the fumigant action of volatile oils from three garlic cultivars on faba bean beetle Bruchidius incarnatus (Boh.)
November 2018
The study aims to assess the insecticidal activity, oviposition inhibitory and ovicidal effects of volatile oils from different garlic cultivars on faba bean beetle, Bruchidius incarnatus (Boh.) (Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae). The oils were tested at various concentrations and time intervals. Results showed that all volatile oils caused significant mortality to the test insects. The effects were time and dose-related....
Screening of allelopathic activity of common weed species occurring in agricultural fields
November 2018
The investigation of allelopathic effects of different plant species is important to prevent serious crop losses that would arise. The usage of such materials as mulch, cover crops or residues will be useful to implement in integrated weed management strategies of agricultural fields. Therefore, this study was conducted to screen the allelopathic effect of selected plant species using seedlings growth of lettuce...
Agromorphological traits variation in local sorghum varieties from the North region of Burkina Faso and identification of some interest traits
November 2018
The aim of the study was to assess the agromorphological diversity of 150 local sorghum varieties collected from 13 villages of the North region of Burkina Faso, in order to understand the dynamics of diversity and to identify interest gene pools for varietal improvement. The varieties were characterized from 2017 to 2018 at INERA Saria Research Station in the North-Sudanian zone (700-900 mm of rainfall). The...
Effectiveness of combining certain biotechnical methods with thymol treatment against Varroa destructor infestation
November 2018
In this study, the effectiveness of combining various biotechnical methods with thymol was investigated against the mite, Varroa destructor during late summer. Experimental colonies were randomly selected and six study groups were formed with nine colonies in each group. Experimental colonies were created as follows: colonies of renewed queen bees (RQ); colonies in which the queen is trapped on one comb, but worker bees...
Multi-criteria decision system for greenhouse site selection ın Lower Euphrates Basin using geographic ınformation systems (GIS)
November 2018
Greenhouses have become quite a sought-after agricultural sector due to government support and private company preferences in recent years in Turkey. Greenhouse activities are only limited to Mediterranean and Aegean regions of Turkey and it is not much preferred in the inner regions. Due to these regions being preferred by people, mainly as tourism and settlement areas, it has become essential to find new areas for...
Genetic diversity of rhizobia and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria of soil under the influence of Piliostigma reticulatum (DC.) Hochst and their impact on shrub growth
November 2018
Piliostigma reticulatum shrub is a native legume found in fallow areas in dry and semi-dry savanna soil and is used in intercropping systems. The aim was to understand the functioning of the rhizosphere, particularly the involvement of symbiotic and free living-N fixing bacteria. Soil extracts collected from P. reticulatum roots were sampled in two contrasting areas and endophytic bacterial communities were isolated...
OsHKT1;3 gene sequence polymorphisms and expression profile in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
November 2018
Rice is sensitive to salt stress, but its sensitivity varies among genotypes, indicating natural variation in regulatory mechanisms and genetic makeup. High-affinity potassium transporters (HKTs) that transport cations across membranes play important roles in stress responses of plants. In this study, the gene sequence polymorphisms and expression level of OsHKT1;3 which is a member of the rice HKT gene family was...
Correlation and path coefficient analysis in mid-altitude sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) germplasm collection of Ethiopia
November 2018
The current investigation was aimed to study the genetic association of seed yield and its components in 81 mid-altitude sesame accessions based on morphological traits. The genotypes were evaluated in 9 × 9 simple lattice design at Melkassa Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia, during the 2014 cropping season. The study mainly focused on determining the nature and extent of phenotypic and genotypic correlation...
Impact of irrigation adoption on rural farmer’s welfare in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa: A propensity score matching approach
November 2018
The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of irrigation adoption on farmer’s welfare measured by consumption expenditure and food consumption pattern. The paper was based on cross sectional farm household data collected in 2015 from a sample of 200 households in rural Eastern Cape of South Africa. The study used a stratified random sampling method to select farming households from three district...
Chemical and biological managment of white mold (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) disease in irrigated common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) cultivation
November 2018
The aim of this work was to study the effect of fungicides and biological agents on the control of white mold (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) in common beans (cv. Pérola). Nine treatments were applied in six blocks (54 experimental units) using a randomized block design (RBD). The treatments were: T1 (control); T2, Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713 (4 L / ha); T3, B. subtilis strain QST 713 (4L / ha); T4, B. subtilis...
Effects of tillage practices, cropping systems and organic inputs on soil nutrient content in Machakos County
November 2018
Low use efficiencies of inorganic fertilizers coupled with their rising costs has diverted attention of farmers towards organic sources. A study was conducted in Yatta sub-county between October 2012 to February 2013 short rains and April-August 2013 long rainy seasons to evaluate how tillage, cropping and organic inputs influenced soil nutrient status. A randomized complete block design with a split-split plot...
Effects of biochar on carbon pool, N mineralization, microbial biomass and microbial respiration from mollisol
November 2018
Biochar incorporation as a soil amendment has been shown to enhance soil quality. However, there has been conflicting reports on its short term effects on C and N mineralization and microbial biomass. An incubation experiment was conducted to determine the effects of three different levels (0.5, 1 and 2%) of biochar on carbon mineralization, soil organic carbon, nitrogen mineralization, microbial biomass and total...
Sweetpotato seed exchange systems and knowledge on sweetpotato viral diseases among local farmers in Acholi Sub Region-Northern Uganda
November 2018
Viral infections greatly limit sweetpotato yields. Good farming practices are critical for effective disease management. 383 Ugandan farmers were surveyed to document symptom incidence, crop-management practices, and buyer preferences. Results showed that 89.27% farmers grow sweet potatoes yearly and 62.76% of these farmers were female. A total of 56.83% farmers obtained vine seeds from their previous gardens, 25.85%...
Water excess in different phenological stages of canola cultivars
November 2018
The objective of this study was to determine the stage of development with greater sensitivity to water excess and the period of time required to compromise the emergence and grain yield components of canola. The experiments were performed in a greenhouse at the Federal University of Santa Maria and at the Farroupilha Federal Institute, Campus of São Vicente do Sul, RS during the 2015 agricultural year. The...
Economics and variety adoption of tuberose: A farm level survey in Bangladesh
November 2018
qqqQ1`Recently, Bangladesh Government has incorporated flowers in its export policy. Flowers can be a source of earning huge foreign currency if established as a traditional export item. Using cross-sectional data obtained from a survey conducted during 2016/2017, gross margin analysis was used to calculate cost and returns for double (HYV) and single varieties tuberose farmers and multiple regressions for conducting...
Preliminary survey of foliar maize diseases in North Western Ethiopia
November 2018
In Ethiopia, maize is the staple food and one of the main sources of calories particularly in the major maize producing-regions of the country. Survey was conducted to determine the prevalence, incidence and severity of foliar maize diseases in North Gondar Zone. A total of 150 farmers’ fields were randomly sampled from five districts (Chilga, Gondar zuria, Takussa, Metema and Dembia) in North Gondar Zone of...
Organic matter and maize straw influence on soil moisture in an Oxisol under different tillages
November 2018
Cultivation system is one of the main parameters inherent to soil water dynamics. Studies indicate that in soil conservation systems, such as no-tillage and crop-livestock integration, soil quality is maintained and even improved due to higher input of organic matter and straw kept on the soil surface. Thereby, the aim of this study was to analyze the influence of the spatial variation of maize straw and organic matter...
Influence of cytoplasmic genetic male sterility in the grain yield of maize hybrids
November 2018
One of the main barriers to the production of hybrid maize seeds consists of needing detasseling of female parent in order to avoid contamination with unwanted pollen. This activity is a laborious practice, which makes the production more expensive and promotes productive losses. Thus, the use of cytoplasmic genetic male sterility can facilitate the hybridization process, and consequently, the production of hybrid...
Effects of cutting length, time and growing media on the sprouting of dormant semi-hardwood cuttings of pomegranate cv. Wonderful
November 2018
Scientific confirmation of the traditionally known health benefits of pomegranates caused a tremendous increase in the consumption and production of this highly valuable fruit tree. Reproduction of pomegranate plants with seeds shows great variability in tree vigour and fruit quality. Cuttings is one of the most successful and preferred methods for the propagation of pomegranates. It is easy, quick, economic and most...
Factors affecting adoption of sustainable soil management practices among vegetable producers in Dhading, Nepal
November 2018
A research was conducted using primary data for the year 2012 obtained from randomly selected 120 vegetable farmers using pre-tested semi-structured interview schedule. Nalang and Salang VDCs of Dhading district in Nepal were purposively selected for the study. Different variables were fed to probit regression model to identify and quantify the major factors affecting the adoption of sustainable soil management...
Groundwater quality monitoring for agriculture irrigated in Catolé Do Rocha, ParaÃba State, Brazil
November 2018
The electrical conductivity and of cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ and K+) and anions (Cl-, CO32-, HCO3- and SO42) contents of the water an Amazon well, from State University of Paraíba, Catolé do Rocha city, Paraíba State, Brazil, located in the semi-arid region of the Brazilian High Sertão were evaluated monthly from January to December of year 2017. Despite the increase in electrical conductivity...
Performance and farmers selection criteria Evaluation of Improved Bread Wheat Varieties
November 2018
Bread wheat is one of the most important cereal crops of the world and a staple food for about one third of the world’s population and is a major cereal crop in Ethiopia. One of the major challenges in improving food security is to develop varieties that are adapted to specific environment and farmers’ needs. Field trials were conducted at two locations, Hitosa (Sero-Anketo kebele) and Limu Bilbilo...
Competitiveness of Brazilian soybean exports
November 2018
The objective of this article was to analyze the indicators of competitiveness in the foreign trade of Brazilian soybean from the year 2004 to 2014. The problem under study deals with the competitiveness of this commodity in the international market. The applied methodology initially used the descriptive statistics, seeking to demonstrate through tables and graphs the evolution of the soybean exports in the...
Estimating of rainfall soil losses in Oltu Anzav Watershed
November 2018
Erosion is a key factor for sustainability of land management. This study aimed to determine the spatial distribution of estimated total soil loss amount and erosion severity in the Oltu Anzav Watershed located in the East of Anatolia, Turkey. This study was conducted by using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) based on Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) method. Topsoil samples (0-30 cm) were collected in...
Farmers’ perceptions, practices and proposals for improving agricultural productivity in South Sudan
November 2018
This study was carried out to establish farmers’ perceptions regarding low agricultural productivity and to document their ideas for improving the performance of agriculture sector in South Sudan. The results reveal that the major challenges related to low agricultural productivity as perceived by farmers include poor leveling of fields, poor irrigation management, low water availability, loss of land due to...
Seed-priming of sorghum with antifungal extracts from Balanites aegyptiaca and Eclipta alba in different agro-ecological zones of Burkina Faso
November 2018
Seed-priming of sorghum with an aqueous extract from the herbal plant, Eclipta alba has previously been found to increase crop yield of sorghum in Burkina Faso dependent on field location. In the present study, a 2.5% w/v antifungal extract from the desert tree, Balanites aegyptiaca, was similarly shown to increase the yield of sorghum by seed treatment. The effect was compared to the effect of E. alba extract on...
Caffeic acid as a preservative that extends shelf-life and maintains fruit quality of mulberries during cold storage
October 2018
Fruits can be easily infected and damaged by microbes. Cold storage is a popular approach used to extend the shelf-life of fruits. In this paper, the effect of caffeic acid on physiological parameters and shelf-life of mulberries (Morus alba L.) stored for 21 days at 4°C was evaluated. The results showed that the shelf-life was significantly improved in the mulberries treated with the different concentrations of...
The influence of essential amino acid in the chick’s diet interferes in the weight gain
October 2018
One of the attributes of amino acid lysine is to manufacture muscle protein, as it is a physiologically essential amino acid for immunity, development and production in birds. This study evaluates the influence of several levels of the essential amino acid lysine for chicks, with age of about 504 hours, maintained at a temperature of approximately 29 degrees Celsius. The basal diet contained 21.0% crude protein and...
Productivity and profitability on groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L) and maize (Zea mays L) in a semi-arid area of southern Malawi
October 2018
In many parts of Malawi, including Balaka district in Southern Malawi, are prone to erratic rains with poor soil productivity and famer practices. A research and outreach project was initiated in October 2015 to establish learning centres (LCs) of groundnut: maize rotations as an entry point to diversify nutrition and income base of smallholder farmers, while building up on soil fertility for increased resilience to...
Productivity of pigeon pea and maize rotation system in Balaka District, Southern Malawi
October 2018
In Malawi, some parts of the country, such as Balaka District in Southern Malawi, are particularly prone to erratic rains with poor soil productivity. In the 2015/2016 rainy season some learning centres (LCs) focusing on pigeon-pea (Cajanus cajan) – maize (Zea mays L) rotations were established in four sections of Ulongwe Agriculture Extension Planning Area (EPA) in Balaka District to enhance soil fertility,...
Page 17 of 136, showing 50 records out of 6786 total, starting on record 801, ending on 850
Advertisement
Advertisement
