Assessment of physicochemical properties of Besease wetland soils, Ghana
April 2020
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...
New microchondrometer to measure hectoliter weight in small samples of wheat
April 2020
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...
Lime requirements for bean production on two contrasting soils of Lake Victoria Crescent agro-ecological zone
April 2020
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...
The response of pigs to diets containing varying levels of cocoa placenta meal (CPM) supplemented with an exogenous enzyme complex
April 2020
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...
Initiation of callus from different genotypes of Sorghum bicolor L. Moench
April 2020
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...
Selection efficiency of yield based drought tolerance indices to identify superior sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] genotypes under two-contrasting environments
March 2020
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...
Interaction effect between Meloidogyne incognita and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici on selected tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) genotypes
March 2020
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...
Effective policies to mitigate food waste in Qatar
March 2020
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...
Technical efficiency and its determinants in sugarcane production among smallholder sugarcane farmers in Malava sub-county, Kenya
March 2020
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...
Production of banana bunchy top virus (BBTV)-free plantain plants by in vitro culture
March 2020
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....
Influence of supplementary hoe weeding on the efficacy of ButaForce for lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) weed management
March 2020
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...
Influence of clam shells and Tithonia diversifolia powder on growth of plantain PIF seedlings (var. French) and their sensitivity to Mycosphaerella fijiensis
March 2020
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...
Response of pepper leaves epidermal cell under ozone stress to ascorbic acid treatment
March 2020
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...
Genetic gain of maize (Zea mays L.) varieties in Ethiopia over 42 years (1973 - 2015)
March 2020
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...
Agricultural technology adoption and its impact on smallholder farmer’s welfare in Ethiopia
March 2020
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...
Improvement of growth performance and meat sensory attributes through use of dried goat rumen contents in broiler diets
March 2020
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...
Multivariate analysis in the evaluation of sustrate quality and containers in the production of Arabica coffee seedlings
March 2020
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....
Effect of time of Azolla incorporation and inorganic fertilizer application on growth and yield of Basmati rice
March 2020
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...
Ultraviolet B radiation affects growth, physiology and fiber quality of cotton
March 2020
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...
Contribution of parkland agroforestry in supplying fuel wood and its main challenges in Tigray, Northern, Ethiopia
March 2020
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...
Analysis of farmers’ perceived and observed climate variability and change in Didessa sub-basin, Blue Nile River, Ethiopia
February 2020
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...
Identification and mapping QTLs of bolting time in purple cai-tai (Brassica rapa L. var. purpurea)
February 2020
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...
Sensory evaluation of coffee cultivars in the Campo das Vertentes Mesoregion, Minas Gerais
February 2020
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...
Heterosis and combining ability for storage root, flesh color, virus disease resistance and vine weight in Sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.]
February 2020
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...
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
February 2020
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...
Evaluation of the performance of coffee varieties under low moisture stressed areas of Southern Ethiopia
February 2020
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...
Modeling the sensitivity of strategic plans to risks and uncertainties in forest management
February 2020
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...
Successive off take of elements by maize grown in pure basalt powder
February 2020
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...
Relation of macrofauna diversity and chemical soil properties in rice field ecosystem, Dukuhseti district, Pati regency, Indonesia
February 2020
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...
Extent of rumen contents use in livestock diets among farmers in Uganda
February 2020
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...
Effects of Faidherbia albida on some important soil fertility indicators on agroforestry parklands in the semi-arid zone of Ghana
February 2020
A study was conducted in the Guinea and Sudan Savannah zones in the Upper East Region of Ghana to investigate the effects of Faidherbia albida on some important soil fertility indicators. Soil sampling and analysis, litter trap, and litter bag techniques were employed to determine the soil’s content of major nutrients, the rate of litterfall production and litter decomposition, respectively. Analysis of variance...
Evaluation of morphological and quality characteristics of introduced grape cultivars produced under greenhouse conditions in Kenya
February 2020
Grape production in Kenya is low and the country imports approximately 4,000 metric tons of wine every year. Three Chinese table grape cultivars (Jingyan, Jingxiangyu and Jingcui) and two Chinese wine grape cultivars (Beihong and Beifeng) as well as three French hybrid wine grape cultivars (Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon) were evaluated for fruit morphology (berries and bunches) and quality...
Multi environment and spatial analysis of early maturing sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] genotypes in dry lowland areas of Ethiopia
February 2020
Multi environment and spatial analysis of early maturing sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] genotypes in dry lowland areas of Ethiopia Amare Seyoum1, Amare Nega1, Kedanemaryam Wagaw1, Taye Tadesse2, Diriba Tadesse2, Alemu Tirfessa1, Habte Nida3, Adane Gebereyhones1, Sewmehone Siraw1, Tsegaye Gebremariam4, Chalachew Endalamaw1, Hailemariam Solomon1, Tamirat Bejiga1, Tokuma Legesse1, David Jordan5, Emma...
Characterization of wheat leaf rust pathogen (Puccinia triticina) in some parts of Ethiopia and seedling evaluation of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum) cultivars to the pathogen
February 2020
Leaf rust caused by the pathogen Puccinia triticina is one of the important diseases of wheat in Ethiopia; and yield loss due to this disease has reached up to 75%. A study was carried out to detect physiologic races of the pathogen from some parts of Bale, Gondar and Shewa and to identify seedling resistance of Ethiopian durum cultivars. Twenty-four mono pustule isolates were made, and out of those, only three P....
Food transition in the Gulf Cooperation Council Region
February 2020
This study investigates (and forecasts) food consumption patterns in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region from 1961 to 2023. A vector auto-regressive model (VAR) was used to estimate systems of equations of per capita food consumption of major food items, and their trends over time, for the purpose of highlighting changes in the region’s dietary patterns. The study area had shown symptoms of diet transition...
Volumetric space distribution of wood as a tool in sustainable forest
February 2020
The objective of this work was to evaluate the distribution of forest volume identified through interpolation maps from data obtained from the forest. We sampled 36 plots with 1-ha area. Special maps were used by means of interpolation adjusted by the Spline method. The results indicate that after 20 years of traditional exploration, no significant oscillations were identified for volumes. However, the area explored...
Fertilizer management and nutrient use efficiency on rice paddy in integrated system
February 2020
Nitrogen budget under integrated production system in fish farming is one of the acceptable practices in maintaining ecological balance and circulation. This result reveals the patterns of pond water and nutrient flows which were strongly influenced by the main fish farming activities resulting to large amount of nitrogen inputs. The main nutrient input sources of nitrogen into the system were found to be pig manure,...
Yield responses of bush bean varieties to different planting densities and rates of phosphorous fertilizer
January 2020
Common bean is commonly grown by smallholder farmers under quite diverse farming systems and it is for both food security and income generation. The impact of plant density is important to bean growers for yield optimization and the inadequate source of phosphorus leads to low productivity due to its significant in growth and development. This study focused on determining optimal spacing of different bush bean varieties...
Management strategies for the noxious invasive parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) in Uganda
January 2020
Parthenium weed is a noxious invasive species that has negative effects on agriculture and also causes allergic reactions in humans. The goal of this study was to evaluate several management strategies for parthenium weed and assess the suitability of each control measure for farmers, and other stakeholders in Uganda. Field experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design, and the quadrat sampling method...
Evaluation of the pH of solid residues generated in the cellulose industry adequate to the sludge hygienization for use in agriculture
January 2020
This paper looks into the possibility of using solid residues generated in the cellulose production process to hygienize sewage sludge for fertilization. During the cellulose fabrication process, dregs, grits and vegetable biomass ashes are generated. Seven experiments were conducted in the Hydraulic Research Institute´s laboratory at UFRGS, in order to determine the pH values of the three residues in...
Sources of productivity growth in Ethiopian agriculture
January 2020
In Ethiopia, agricultural production and productivity are very low, and hence increase in production and productivity are vital to meet increasing food demand. This study identifies and quantifies the main sources of productivity growth in Ethiopian agriculture using the translog (TL) stochastic input distance function and the Ethiopian Rural Household Survey (ERHS) panel dataset. The true fixed effects (TFE)...
Economic assessment of biological weed control using cover crop mixtures in maize production
January 2020
The economics of using mixtures of a vegetable cowpea, Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis L., known locally as ‘Akidi’ (A) in Eastern Nigeria, melon (M) and sweet potato (S) Ipomea batatas for weed management in maize were evaluated between 2007 and 2009 in Taraba State, College of Agriculture Teaching and Research Farm, Jalingo, Treatments include 20,000(1), 30,000(2) and...
Expression profile of sex steroid hormone estrogen receptors (ERs) in the development of juvenile hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × Epinephelus polyphekadion ♂)
January 2020
Recognized for its traditional roles, estrogen is ever-present in all vertebrates, regulates reproduction by binding and activating estrogen receptors (ERs), and also controls several functions of vertebrates, including reproductive immune, and central nervous systems. In order to access any other possible functions of the estrogen receptors in the development of the juvenile Hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus...
Evaluation of yield and yield components of low n maize (zea mays l.) varieties under low and high nitrogen conditions
January 2020
Field studies were conducted at the teaching and research farm of the Osun State University Ejigbo Campus, Osun State, Nigeria, during the 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons to determine the agronomic performance of low N maize varieties under two nitrogen conditions (low and high). The aim of this experiment was to determine the response of low N maize to two levels of nitrogen fertilizer. Ten low N maize varieties were...
Molecular profiling of growth hormone in the juvenile hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀× Epinephelus polyphekadion ♂)
January 2020
Many factors contribute to the underdevelopment of oceanic aquaculture. The most significant factor of the development of hybrid grouper culture is the supply of satisfactory quantities of fast growing juveniles to stock grow-out systems at a minimized cost. In order to evaluate the growth hormone status of hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀× Epinephelus polyphekadion ♂), cDNA encoding growth hormone from...
Screening of chickpea genotypes for resistance to Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceris) under field conditions in Ethiopia
January 2020
Fusarium wilt is one of the economical important vascular root diseases affecting chickpea. A total of 427 chickpea germplasms were grouped into two types, desi type (385) and kabuli. 42 genotypes were evaluated to identify fusarium wilt resistant sources in Debre Zeit sick plot under natural infected field. The genotypes were grown in 2017/18 main cropping season and augmented design was used without replications;...
Productivity impact of growth enhancement support scheme on maize farm households in Kano State, Nigeria
January 2020
In Nigeria, farmers depend on government support for farm inputs in form of subsidies to improve farmers productivity and food security. In this article, the productivity impact of the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS) farm input subsidy support program that was implemented in 2011. The study employs a two-stage probability design with stratification was used to collect household survey data from 390...
Screening of sesame genotypes for resistance against Fusarium wilt pathogen
January 2020
Fusarium wilt is one of the most devastating diseases in sesame production in Uganda, caused by a fungus called Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. sesami. Its incidence ranges from 17.1 to 73.3%. Some sesame genotypes have been reported to resist Fusarium wilt; however, have not been precisely determined. In this study, 30 sesame genotypes that included released varieties, improved elite breeding lines and introductions were...
Management of the legume pod borer Maruca vitrata Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) with field applications of the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana and a mixed formulation of the baculovirus MaviMNPV with emulsifiable neem oil
January 2020
The present study assessed the effectiveness of the entomopathogen fungus Beauveria bassiana in comparison with neem oil combined with the baculovirus MaviMNPV and a synthetic insecticide deltamethrin for the control of Maruca vitrata Fabricius under field conditions. The trial was conducted in six villages at Glazoue and Djakotomey, two districts in Benin. Four treatments consisting of (1) untreated control, (2) neem +...
Relationship between fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) infestation and the physicochemical changes in fresh fruits
January 2020
Infestation of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) causes physical and chemical changes in fresh fruit. Moreover, each species of fruit may react differently to the injuries caused by oviposition and larva feeding. In this study, we associated fruit fly infestation with physicochemical changes in five fruit species during six storage times. Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) infestation caused change in peel firmness (PEF),...
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