Comparative analysis of antioxidant activities of different varieties of mangos with some selected fruits
August 2018
Natural antioxidants and secondary metabolites found in vegetables and fruits play significant role in human health. The juices obtained from fruits and vegetables are more convenient to consume than fresh vegetables and fruits. In the current study, the total phenolic, vitamin C, total carotene and B-carotene content and antioxidant activity of fruits and vegetables juices were determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2picryl...
Yield and water use efficiency of cauliflower under irrigation different levels in tropical climate
August 2018
The aim of the present study is to assess the effects of different irrigation blades on the growth and yield of cauliflower cv. Verona CMS. The plants were cultivated in Red-yellow Latosol during the dry period (winter-spring 2014 and 2015), in the Cerrado-Amazon transition region, Middle-Northern of Mato Grasso State, Brazil. The reference evapotranspiration (ETo) was recorded through the Class A pan method by using...
Physical characteristics of colza seeds treated and coated with different filling materials
August 2018
The knowledge about the physical characteristics of seeds, whether coated or not, is essential for the design of machines and equipment. Therefore, the objective of this work was to determine the physical characteristics of colza (Brassica napus L.) seeds coated with bentonite, gypsum and kaolin, treated with fungicide (carboxin + thiram) and aqueous extract of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.). The untreated colza seeds...
Influence of markets on fish farming adoption: The case of Chingale in Malawi
August 2018
The challenges constraining the contribution of aquaculture to food security and household incomes have mostly been documented as low utilization of improved feed, lack of improved seed and unfriendly financing services. This study looked at the influence of markets including market information on adopting aquaculture technologies. Data were collected from 110 farmers in Zomba District, Malawi. Using a logit model,...
Population dynamics of white mango scale, Aulacaspis tubercularis Newstead (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) in Western Ethiopia
August 2018
Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is the third most important fruit crop in the tropics following citrus and banana. It is consumed as a fresh fruit and different forms of preparations for its multifaceted nutritional values. Mango production in Ethiopia is constrained by infestation of white mango scale (WMS), Aulacaspis tubercularis Newstead. White mango scale was recorded from Ethiopia for the first time in 2010, in a...
Effect of cutting height on nutritional characteristics of three agroforestry tree legume species and their feed supplement value on Chloris gayana Kunth.
August 2018
This study investigated the effect of cutting height (30 and 100 cm) on chemical composition and in vitro digestibility in field-grown Acacia angustissima (Mill.) Kuntze. (Prairie acacia), Leucaena pallida Britton & Rose (guaja) and Mimosa scabrella Bentham. (bracatinga) legumes and their value in supplementing a basal diet of Chloris gayana Kunth. (Rhodes grass). Cutting height did not affect major chemical...
Rainfall variability and its implications for agricultural production in Gedarif State, Eastern Sudan
August 2018
Rainfed agriculture is practiced in the central clay plains of Sudan and is affected by the high rainfall variability in time and space within and between seasons. This study focused on analyzing rainfall variability and trend using a 30-year record (1985-2014) of seven meteorological stations at the major agricultural production areas in Gedarif state in eastern Sudan. Yearly rainfall has relatively low variability...
Technology transfer and anthropotechnology: An analysis of the sugarcane harvesting in Australia and Brazil
August 2018
The present paper conducts a comparative analysis of the operation of sugarcane harvesting machines in their original place of design (Australia) and in a recipient country of this technology (Brazil). The method comprised Ergonomic Work Analysis (EWA) and the assumptions of anthropotechnology proposed by Wisner. The results achieved depict the similarities and differences between the two countries regarding: (a) the...
Sustainable land management and ecological service assessment in Northwest of China: Case study of Yanchi, People’s Republic of China
August 2018
This research aims to assess the driving factors hindering the effectiveness of these protected areas implemented to counter land degradation and evaluate the services provided by these ecosystems in the North West of China. With Ningxia province, Yanchi County chosen as experimental research area, preferential sampling technique was used with 50 plots of (quadrat) laid for plant community characteristics survey...
Response of maize (Zea maysL) inbred lines to different herbicide combinations
August 2018
A field experiment was carried out at Agricultural Seed and Services Research Station in Zimbabwe to evaluate the response of maize inbred lines to different herbicide combinations. The trial was laid out in a 5×12 split plot design replicated three times. Herbicide combination was main plot factor with five levels; Hand-hoeing;metolachlor+ atrazine;metolachlor+ atrazine+ nicosulfuron; metolachlor+ atrazine+...
Intercropping in Zimbabwe conservation agriculture systems using a farmer-participatory research approach
August 2018
Smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are under increasing pressure due in part to climate change and soil degradation, with many farming households unable to achieve even basic food self-sufficiency. Conservation Agriculture (CA) is a possible solution to these challenges, but the lack of sufficient biomass for mulch has limited wide-scale adoption, and many farmers who practice CA resort to adding...
Humic acids and brassinosteroid application effects on pineapple plantlet growth and nutrition during the aclimatization phase
July 2018
Humic acid and brassinosteroid applications may be an alternative to decrease the pineapple plantlet acclimatization in in vitro cultivation, since promising results have been observed when these substances were independently applied in other propagation methods. In this sense, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of humic acids and brassinosteroid application on 'BRS Vitória'...
Cultivation of watermelons submitted to water deficit in the experimental area of Brazilian semiarid
July 2018
The culture of watermelon is mostly responds to technological advancement. The fruit is analyzed in terms of its production and quality. Among the factors involved in its production, irrigation is very important; however it must be well managed. There are phases of the culture that requires greater or lesser amount of water for maximum productivity and high quality. In this context, the present research was conducted to...
Cowpea response to nutrient application in Burkina Faso and Niger
July 2018
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) is important in semi-arid West Africa. Yields are low due to inadequate water and nutrient availability and other constraints. Grain and fodder yield responses to nutrient application were determined from 21 site-years of research conducted in the Sahel and Sudan Savanna. The incomplete factorial treatment arrangement varied by country but included: Four levels each of P and K in 7.5...
“Climate change perception and adaptation strategy associated with farming techniques in Tamou district wester Niger†farmers
July 2018
The variability of climate parameters in most of agricultural areas in Niger represents a major risk for farmers. This work is aimed at analyzing farmer’s perception and adaptation to climate change parameters in Tamou district. The study was conducted on seventy three (73) millet farmers from seven villages in Tamou, namely Allambaré, Bani Guiti, Guieme, Tollondi , Moli Haoussa and Welgorou. The sample was...
Screening of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) lines for resistance to three Aphids (Aphis craccivora Koch) strains in Burkina Faso
July 2018
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) is an important cash, food and nutritional security grain legume crop in the semi-arid regions of sub-Saharan Africa. However, its productivity is hampered by several biotic stress factors including numerous insect pests that infest and damage the crop at all its development stages in the field as well as during storage. This study sought to identify new sources of resistance to...
Sensor-based algorithms to improve barley nitrogen efficiency in Queensland
July 2018
The low efficiency of nitrogen (N) fertilizers impels the innovation of current N management strategies in cereal production. Site specific N management is an emerging field providing novel alternatives to current nutrient management practices through canopy sensing. Barley N use efficiency can be enhanced with GreenSeeker proximal sensors, whose optimal utilization requires algorithms. The design of such algorithms...
Analysis of coffee quality along the coffee value chain in Jimma zone, Ethiopia
July 2018
This study assesses the effect of cooperative, certification, private trader, farmers, sorting and processing methods on Arabica coffee quality. Coffee samples were collected from certified cooperatives, non-certified cooperatives, private traders and farmers (members of certified cooperatives, non-certified cooperatives and non-members of cooperatives). The study showed that coffee beans sampled from cooperatives had...
Thorn apple (Datura stramonium L.) allelopathy on cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Zimbabwe
July 2018
Datura stramonium extracts have allelopathic properties. The study was conducted to investigate the allelopathic effects of D. stramonium weed on seed germination, early seedling growth and dry biomass of crop plants (Triticum aestivum and Vigna unguiculata). Laboratory and greenhouse trials were arranged as completely randomised design and the field pot experiment was arranged as a randomised complete block design....
Use of millimeter ruler as an alternative tool in the phenotyping of potential descriptors of soybean
July 2018
The soybean stands out in the Brazilian agribusiness and part of this success stems from the development of improved cultivars. One of the requirements for the concession of protection to a given cultivar is that it should be distinct from others cultivars. Potential additional descriptors of soybean have been studied. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the millimeter ruler in the measurement...
Technical efficiency and yield gap of smallholder wheat producers in Ethiopia: A Stochastic Frontier Analysis
July 2018
Improving technical efficiency of smallholder farmers is one of the options to increase wheat yield in developing countries. This paper assesses technical efficiency, factors for inefficiency and the yield gap due to technical inefficiency in major wheat producing regions of Ethiopia, where the support to agricultural research for development of strategic crops (SARD-SC) wheat project has been implemented using primary...
Direct shoot regeneration from hypocotyl explants of Heracleum candicans Wall: A vulnerable high value medicinal herb of Kashmir Himalaya
July 2018
Heracleum candicans belongs to the family Apiaceae, and is categorized as a vulnerable Himalayan medicinal herb. Due to its diverse chemical constituents it is having an increased demand in pharmaceutical industries, especially in international market. This herb is commercially useful as a major source of Xanthotoxin which is widely used to treat leucoderma and to prepare suntan lotions. During the present study direct...
Screening for resistance to Striga gesnerioides and estimation of yield loss among Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) progenies in the Upper East Region of Ghana
July 2018
Parasitic weed Striga gesnerioides (Willd.) is one of the major constraints of cowpea production. Host-plant resistance seems to be efficient and economical in controlling the pest. The objectives of this study were to evaluate recombinant inbred lines developed between IT97K 499-35 (Striga resistant parent,) and Sanzi (susceptible parent), by Single Seed Descent (SSD), for Striga resistance in Northern Ghana. The study...
Cultivation of common bean with the application of biochar of ouricuri (Syagrus coronata (Mart) Becc.) endocarp
July 2018
Biochar has attracted the attention of the scientific community due to its promising applicability and contribution to the elevation of soil chemical and biological aspects, directly influencing the microbiota, fertility levels and yield of agricultural crops. The objective of this study is to determine the chemical and biological attributes of an acrisol cultivated with beans and submitted to the application of...
Greenhouse gas emissions from an alkaline saline soil amended with urea: A laboratory study
July 2018
Soil of the former lake Texcoco is nitrogen (N) depleted, so any attempt to vegetate the area will require the application of an N fertilizer. Urea is commonly used as fertilizer, but its application to soil might affect emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), such as carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4), and the high pH and electrolytic conductivity (EC) in the Texcoco soil might inhibit the...
Assessment of soil characteristics under four cropping and land management systems in south west Nigeria
July 2018
Soil degradation and desertification pose a major threat to agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa. The influence of cropping systems which had been established on selected physical and chemical properties of soil were investigated in Akinyode-Okinni community in Egbedore Local Government Area (LGA) of Osun State, Nigeria. The cropping systems included agri-silviculture (SCM), silvi-pasture (SPC),...
Agriculture and food security under threat of change climate in Benin
July 2018
Vulnerability of agriculture to climate change has been a key issue due to its negative effect on human survival. This study aims to determine the effect of climate change on the production of crops to draw the attention of plant breeders on the paramount necessity to breed new varieties that are tolerant to abiotic stress (drought, temperature, salinity and flooding) for the happiness of farmers. Data on the...
Climbing beans in Uganda: A perspective of smallholder farmers on their determinants, associated challenges and implications for research
July 2018
In many parts of the world including Uganda climbing beans are mostly grown in highland areas where population density is high and land is limiting. The objective of this study was to contribute to understanding the current status of the factors affecting productivity of climbing beans among smallholder farmers in Uganda. Kisoro and Kabale districts in the South West were selected for the study. Primary data was...
The complex distribution of plantain cultivars (Musa sp., AAB subgroup) in the Bas-Uele province of the Democratic Republic of Congo
June 2018
Plantain is one of the most important sources of food in the African lowlands stretching from the lowlands of Guinea and Liberia to the central basin of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). Because plantain cultivars do not produce seeds, plantain cultivation is based on vegetatively transplanted lateral shoots/suckers. The way by which plantain reached the African continent is still under speculation. The aim...
Appropriate planting dates and plastic mulch for increasing common tomato varieties yield in South Texas
June 2018
In South Texas, most of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) crops are produced on plastic mulch due to the elevated temperatures and solar radiations. The study objectives were to; determine the suitable planting dates for increasing tomato varieties production under different planting dates in early spring and late winter, and evaluate the influence of using the plastic mulch (black and white. In the Spring season,...
Characteristics of three morphotypes of Solenostemon rotundifolius [(Poir.) J. K. Morton] based on qualitative morphological traits
June 2018
Solenostemon rotundifolius [(Poir.) J. K. Morton] (Lamiaceae) is commonly called Fabirama, Frafra potato or Innala. It is a tuber crop cultivated in many countries in Africa and Asia. Its tubers contain significant rate of carbohydrates, proteins, fibers, vitamins and antioxidants. Besides its nutritional attributes, S. rotundifolius has also strong agronomic and economic potentialities and could be financially...
Adaptability and genotype-environment interaction of finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn) varieties in North Eastern Ethiopia
June 2018
An experiment was conducted to study the adaptability and genotype × environment interaction of finger millet varieties in the north eastern part of Ethiopia. Eight finger millet varieties and a local check were tested at Sirinka, Kobo, and Jari in 2013 and 2014 cropping season. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block (RCB) design with three replicates. The result showed that the year 2013 was...
In support of a well-planned intercropping systems in south eastern soils of Nigeria: A review
June 2018
Soil is the medium for all crop production activities and many of the tropical soils especially soils of South Eastern Nigeria show nutrient deficiency problems after only a short period of cultivation because of the fragile nature and prevailing environmental condition. Land available for further crop production purposes in this area is very limited. To offset some of these problems and boast crop production and yields...
Benefits of grass-legume inter-cropping in livestock systems
June 2018
Legumes (Fabaceae) are plants with the distinct ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, the atmospheric nitrogen fixation by legumes is known as biological nitrogen fixation. Biological nitrogen fixation is the process whereby atmospheric nitrogen is reduced to ammonia in the presence of the enzyme nitrogenase. Nitrogen fixation in legumes starts with the formation of nodules. Inside the nodules, nitrogen fixation done by...
Microbial diversity as a soil quality indicator in agroecosystems in Brazilian Savannas
June 2018
The importance of sustainable use of natural resources, especially of soil and water, has been a subject of increasing relevance. The increase of human activity in ecosystems has great impact on the dynamics of soil organisms. The comparison between cultivated systems and native areas without anthropic interference can be used as soil quality index. Microorganisms are ideal indicators because they are very sensitive to...
Performance of maize hybrids from a partial diallel in association with Azospirillum
June 2018
One of the most prominent strategies to increase maize grain yield with a higher benefit/cost ratio and a lower environmental impact is the inoculation of plant growth-promoting bacteria. Among other factors, the success of the interaction plant-microorganism depends on genetic traits, therefore, selection of plant genotypes compatible with this association is extremely important to the viability of this technology....
Patterns of pre-weaning piglet mortality and economic losses in field condition
June 2018
The study was purposively taken up with the objective to find out the patterns of pre-weaning piglet mortality and economic losses in field condition. The study was purposively taken up in Gorkhaland Territorial Administration area where pig farming is a common practice. The study shows that overall pre-weaning piglet mortality was 15.62% where it was slightly higher in exotic than indigenous breed. Highest pre-weaning...
Evaluation of new papaya hybrids
June 2018
To augment a narrow genetic base in papaya, this study aimed to evaluate the performance of new hybrids produced by Caliman Agrícola® S.A. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design, with 12 treatments four replications and ten plants per plot. The treatments were the variety THB and the hybrids were CR1 × São Mateus, CR1 × 72/12, CR2 × São Mateus, CR3...
Integrating crop and livestock in smallholder production systems for food security and poverty reduction in sub-Saharan Africa
June 2018
The resource base that ensures food supply and the socio-economic component which depends on this resource base are the two major components that make up the food system in sub-Saharan Africa. The sequence of the food system is organized in a spatial flow framework of biomass base. The components of rural production system consist of food production biomass at homestead and farm level, and often at the communal base...
The effects of drought on rice cultivation in sub-Saharan Africa and its mitigation: A review
June 2018
Drought is the primary cause of yield loss in agriculture throughout the world, and is currently the most common reason for global food shortages. Three-quarter of the most severe droughts in the last ten years have been in Africa, the continent which already has the lowest level of crop production and drought adaptive capacity. The increased incidences of drought and erratic rainfall have thrown small holder farmers in...
Soil organic carbon stock under different land use types in Kersa Sub Watershed, Eastern Ethiopia
June 2018
Understanding and assessing soil organic carbon stock (SOCS) within the framework of greenhouse gas emissions and land degradation is so crucial in combating climate change and enhancing ecological restoration. The goal of this study was to quantify the current SOCS in major land use types in Kersa sub watershed, eastern Ethiopia. Replicated soil samples from 0 to 20, 20 to 40, and 40 to 60 cm depth were collected from...
Effect of seed rate on upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) seedling emergence
June 2018
The most important factor to achieving profitable cotton yields is obtaining a uniform stand of healthy and vigorously growing seedlings. Cotton seedling emergence highly depends on the number of seeds that are planted on the same planting station. The cotton seedling stalk is weak and may fail to push up and crack the soil in order to emerge. Therefore several seedlings put together may use the power of numbers to push...
Efficiency of pre-inoculation of soybeans with Bradyrhizobium up to 60 days before sowing
June 2018
The inoculation of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in soybean crops allows the achievement of high crop yield by reducing or eliminating the application of nitrogen fertilizers. Pre-inoculation of seeds can reduce costs and increase the efficacy of this agricultural practice. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of pre-inoculation of soybean seeds with a commercial inoculant of Bradyrhizobium (RIZOLIQ...
Is quantitative genetics still necessary in this age of genomics?
June 2018
Quantitative genetics and genomics are two different disciplines that have separate evolutions. The quantitative genetics has enormous applications and has contributed a lot in four main distinct fields of plant breeding, animal breeding, evolutionary genetics and human genetics. This field is based on study of inheritance patterns and their underlying mechanisms using biometrical or statistical methods. The analysis of...
Climate analysis for agricultural improvement of the Economic Community of West African States according to Köppen and Thornthwaite
June 2018
The Economic Community of West African States (also known as ECOWAS from its name in French: Union Économique et Monétaire Ouest-Africaine) is composed of eight countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo. This study is restricted to ECOWAS because it stems from a survey mission headed by the second author and aims to characterize the climate of the territory...
What factors influence performance of farmer groups? A review of literature on parameters that measure group performance
June 2018
Farmers form and participate in groups in order to benefit socially and economically through collective activities. However, membership in groups alone is not enough to facilitate improvement of livelihoods, owing to the fact that only successful groups would be able to fully exploit their potential and meet the interests of their members. Understanding group performance is therefore a pertinent issue among social...
An on-farm comparison of the agronomics and economics of irrigated maize production systems in the Somali Deyr season
June 2018
Domestic production only supplies half of Somalia’s cereal requirements and more than half of the country’s population is considered food insecure. In this study, the Somali Agriculture Technical Group (SATG) used an on-farm participatory research approach to compare the economic viability and plant yield parameters of an improved maize production system (SATG system) with those of the traditional...
The effect of velvet bean (Mucuna cinerea) extract on seedling growth of winter cereals
June 2018
Some plants can have a beneficial or harmful effect on the germination and growth of other plants. This is known as the allelopathic effect. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different doses of velvet bean (Mucuna cineruim) aqueous extract on germination and initial seedling growth of three winter cereals: white oat (Avena sativa), rye (Secale cereale) and wheat (Triticum aestivum). The...
Response of taro (Colocasia esculenyta (L.)) to variation in planting density and planting dates on growth, radiation interception, corm and cormels yield in Southern Ethiopia
June 2018
Taro production is mainly affected by agroecology, planting time and planting density. To this effect, a field study was conducted to determine influences of planting density and planting dates on growth, radiation interception and yields of taro (Colocasia esculenyta (L.)). The experiment was conducted using four levels of planting density (15037, 19607, 26666 and 38461 plants ha-1) and four planting dates from...
An agronomic approach to screen sugar and energy cane genotypes for drought tolerance
June 2018
Sugarcane production can be affected by extreme environmental conditions, such as drought stress. This study focused on establishing a screening method to evaluate and select drought tolerant germplasm of Saccharum species. A new drought screening methodology is presented in this paper. A randomized block design experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions with 2 months old seedlings of five genotypes of...
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