African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6925

AJAR Articles

Coinoculation of rhizobia and mycorrhiza in cowpea beans (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) in Calixto García Municipality, Cuba

July 2021

The research goal is to evaluate the rhizobia and mycorrhiza application on Cowpea bean (Vigna unguiculata L) cv. Carita Blanco growth. The experiments were developed at Calixto García municipality, Cuba. It was conducted from April to June 2020, on brown Sialitic soil without carbonate. This design was a random block with three treatments (Control, Rhizobium and Rhizobium + Mycorrhizas). It entailed indicators...

Author(s): Sebastián Zayas Infante, Maura Isabel Rodríguez Palma, Heriberto Vargas Rodríguez, María Caridad Nápoles Garcia, Irina Reyes Martínez, Reynaldo Guzmán Paez  and Carmelo Damián Agüero Pintado

Growth efficiency and profitability indices of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fingerlings fed with different levels of Adansonia digitata (Baobab) seed meal

July 2021

The effects of diet with different inclusion levels of baobab seed meal inclusions on the growth and gross margin analysis of Clarias gaiepinus fingerlings was evaluated under a controlled laboratory condition. Five inclusion levels of Baobab Seed Meal (BSM) to replace soya bean meal were studied at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% dietary protein. The experimental diets were uniform by targeting 40% crude protein with energy level...

Author(s): Ajibade Akinniyi Oyetunji, Adeosun Olubunmi, Sule Okanlawon Sakiru, Adedokun Mathew Adewale and Adesina Babatunde Taiwo

Antioxidant activity of Capsicum frutescens and its effect on sensory and carcass traits of local chickens

July 2021

This study determined the antioxidant activity of Capsicum frutescens powder and its effect on sensory and carcass characteristics of local chickens fed with either cotton seed cake or sunflower seed diets for thirty seven days. The birds were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (0, 1.1, 2.2 and 4.4%) of C. frutescens powder. For cotton seed cake diets, 15 birds were replicated thrice per treatment whereas the...

Author(s): Sebulime Peregrine, Ocaido Michael and Okello Samuel

Impact of row spacing on soybean morphological parameters and yield

July 2021

The variable distribution of soybean seeds in rows can reduce the final stand and compromise grain yield. This article assesses the impact of seed distribution on the morphological characteristics of some plants and on the final yield of soybeans. The study was carried out in the experimental area of ??the federal university of Santa Maria, Frederico Westphalen campus, in the state of rio grande do sul, Brazil, in a...

Author(s): Claudir José Basso, Willian Bizarro Pertile, Mateus Junior Rodrigues Sangiovo, Fernanda Marcolan de Souza and Diecson Ruy Orsolin da Silva

Profitability analysis of smallholder cocoa production in South West Region of Cameroon

July 2021

Over the years, cocoa production in Cameroon has served as a source of employment for many smallholder farmers. However, aging trees amongst other factors is a limiting factor in the productivity of cocoa. The study compared the economic performances of different crop ages of smallholder cocoa production using primary data obtained by means of semi-structured questionnaires. Multi-stage random sampling was adopted to...

Author(s): Norbert N. Ngwang and Majory O. Meliko

Agricultural zoning and recommendations for the seeding of wheat (Triticum species) in the Central-Southern Mesoregion of Parana State in Brazil

July 2021

Wheat is one of the most cultivated cereals and is essential for human and animal feeding. Since it is a sensible species to the meteorologic conditions, the climate changes can alter all its cultivation areas and practices known in the present agriculture. This paper aims to make the zoning of climatic risk for agriculture for the wheat crop (Triticum species) and recommend the planting window for the central-southern...

Author(s): Ana Paula Ferreira Dominoni⊃, Nathan Felipe da Silva Caldana⊃, Leonardo Rodrigues⊃, Bruno Wismeck Negrão⊃, Vitor Rampazzo Favoretto⊃, Victor Ricardo Bodnar⊃ and Marcelo Augusto de Aguiar e Silva⊃

From yield to application: Nutrient requirement of maize (Zea maize) in Southeastern and Southwestern Ethiopia at zonal level

July 2021

Optimal nutrient application is required for sustainable crop production and farm profitability in Ethiopian smallholder farmer. In this study, N, P and K requirement of maize was estimated for the current and future maize production levels in East Shewa and Jimma zones of Ethiopia. Current yield was assessed from Spatial Production Allocation Model (SPAM) database and yield responses and agronomic N, P and K use...

Author(s): Workneh Bekere

Contribution of multi-nutritional blocks and treatment of roughage for the resilience of beneficiary of rural households in Niger

July 2021

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of using multi-nutritional blocks and roughage processing as alternatives for the resilience of beneficiary households in the study area. The study was conducted in the rural communes of Sakoira and Kourtheye (Department of Tillaberi) through a survey of 32 producers of multi-nutritional blocks and treated straw. The structure by age class reveals, among the Peulh ethnic...

Author(s): Harouna ABDOU, Ibrahim ADAMOU KARIMOU, Abdoulkadri LAOUALI and Issa NOMAOU SANI

Determinants of farmers’ adoption decision of improved crop varieties in Ethiopia: Systematic review

July 2021

Determinants of adoption decision have been studied by many researchers for a long time. This systematic review applied weight analysis method to summarize and synthesize the most common factors from twenty-one studies that determine the farmers’ adoption decision of improved crop varieties in a regular pattern in Ethiopia. Hence, the result revealed that factors like Access to credit, Participation in social...

Author(s): Abdurehman Mektel and Abdi Mohammed  

Phosphorus management issues for crop production: A review

July 2021

Phosphorus (P) is an essential element for plant growth. On account of its low solubility in soil, P is often a limiting factor to optimum crop growth and therefore P fertilisation is an important aspect of nutrient management plans to ensure profitable and sustainable crop production. Plant P availability is controlled by sorption, desorption and precipitation of P from P released during weathering of P minerals and...

Author(s): T. Mardamootoo, C. C. du Preez and J. H. Barnard

Implementation of COVID-19 control measures: Effect on fertilizer supply and soil fertility in Africa

July 2021

The unexpected outbreak of novel COVID-19 in late 2019 and continual spread across the world has disrupted the agricultural value chain. The World Health Organization (WHO) prescribed border closure, lockdown, social distancing, wearing a mask, and handwashing to combat the pandemic. These control measures, especially the closure of borders, have affected the importation and supply of fertilizer for crop production. The...

Author(s): Emmanuel Hanyabui, Samuel Obeng Apori, Selorm Akaba and Joseph Ssekandi

Response of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) to major fungal diseases under field and greenhouse conditions in Horo Guduru Wollega, Oromia, Ethiopia.

June 2021

Hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is a national spice and vegetable of Ethiopia, produced as a cash crop. Biotic and abiotic stresses are very common throughout the pepper producing area of the country.  Diseases are the major constraint to hot pepper production. An experimental trial was conducted at Harato Research site, Wollega University, Ethiopia to evaluate the reaction of five hot pepper varieties (Mareko...

Author(s): Beka Biri and Pichiah Gomathinayagam  

Antifungal effect of plants extracts against Pestalotiopsis microspora responsible for post-harvest rot disease of pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr) fruit in Cameroon

June 2021

Rotten fruits are known to cause major losses in post-harvest conservation. One of the causal pathogen of pineapple rot was investigated and the antifungal effects of selected plants extracts were evaluated in vitro against fungal pathogen; Pestalotiopsis microspora. The fruits samples were randomly collected from farms after harvest. The samples were collected in Awae; the experiment was conducted at Agricultural...

Author(s): YAOUBA Aoudou, METSOA ENAMA Bernadette, NSEME MBOMA Yves Didier and NYAKA NGOBISA Aurelie Irène Claire    

Phenotypic characterization of the Guaymi breed in conservation centers of Panama

June 2021

Not all regions of the world have access to advanced means of analysis, such as molecular or quantitative genetics. In the absence of these or other means of selection, phenotypic analyses are used for breed differentiation as well as to evaluate productive aptitude. The objective of this work is to characterize morphometric variables and zoometric indices, as well as the morphological and phaneroptic characterization,...

Author(s): Axel Villalobos-Cortes, Maria Carbono, Axael Rodríguez, Esteban Arosemena and Marcelino Jaen  

Long-term spatial-temporal temperature characteristics of a pastoral ecosystem in Kajiado County, Kenya

June 2021

Kajiado County is mainly Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) and as such it is faced with harsh climatic conditions. The county is dominantly inhabited by the Maasai pastoralists who depend on climate-sensitive natural resources for their provisions and production needs. As such, they are faced with low productivity. Therefore, the study investigated historical temperature characteristics combined with surveys on the...

Author(s): James Kaoga, Daniel Olago, George Ouma, Gilbert Ouma and Joshua Onono  

Nodulation and protein content of selected chickpea varieties as impacted by spacing and n-fertiliser rates in Eastern Kenya

June 2021

Chickpea is a major legume grown in Kenya. The agronomic performance, nodulation ability and grain crude protein are not fully exploited. Field experiments were conducted at Embu, Kenya to determine the effect of plant spacing and N-fertilizer rates on nodulation and protein content of selected chickpea varieties. A split-split plot design was used and replicated three times. Treatments consisted of main factor, variety...

Author(s): Judith K. Wafula, Fredrick M. Njoka, Paul N. Nthakanio,  Jeremiah O. Mosioma, Simon T. Mukono and Charles A. N. Onyari  

Preliminary evaluation of genetic inheritance of root traits of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) for tolerance to low soil phosphorus

June 2021

Common beans are an important nutritious food crop to many people in developing countries. Inadequate soil-P is one of the major constraints to high bean seed yield productivity. Information about genetic effects that control inheritance of root traits in common bean grown under low soil-P conditions is scarce, and that is a challenge for genetic enhancement. This study was therefore implemented to determine inheritance...

Author(s): Nathan Aliel Kachiguma, Beatrice E. Ifie, John S. Y. Eleblu, Moses F. A. Maliro, Pangirayi B. Tongoona and Kwadwo Ofori  

Phytochemical composition of Capsicum frutescens and its effect on body weight and carcass yield of Cobb500 broilers

June 2021

This study aimed to establish phytochemical composition and determining the effect of Capsicum frutescens powder on body weight and carcass yield of Cobb500 broilers. Four hundred and fifty broilers at 35 days were randomly assigned to treatments defined by three dietary inclusion levels (1.1, 2.2, 4.4%) of C. frutescens powder for each of the three durations (13 days, 19 days, 24 days) prior to 59 days of age. A...

Author(s): Sebulime Peregrine, Ocaido Michael and Okello Samuel  

Nitrate concentration and nitrate/ammonium ratio on lettuce grown in hydroponics in Southern Amazon

June 2021

Lettuce has a predisposition to nitrate accumulation and has led many researchers to develop research to reduce this accumulation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of nitrate concentration (NO3-) and nitrate/ammonium ratio (NO3-:NH4+) on growth, production and accumulation of these nitrogen compounds in lettuce grown in a hydroponic system in southern Amazon. There were performed two experiments...

Author(s): Daiane de Souza Lauton Wenceslau, Daniele Fátima de Oliveira, Hudson de Oliveira Rabelo, Guilherme Ferreira Ferbonink, Luiz Antônio Augusto Gomes, Érica Carina Aparecida Leonel and Gustavo Caione  

Substrate and genotype effects on kola (Cola nitida [Vent.] Schott and Endlicher.) tree cuttings growth in nursery

June 2021

The kola tree (Cola nitida) belongs to family Malvaceae grown mainly for its seed. It is highly prized for its socio-cultural and industrial uses. However, there is a significant high variability due to a high proportion of allogamy in the reproduction mode. The influence of substrate and genotype on kola tree cuttings has been studied in order to propagate it vegetatively. Six growing substrates: 100% Black soil, 50%...

Author(s): Drolet Jean-Marc Séry, Bouadou Bonsson, Adolphe  Zézé, Yaya Ouattara, Nadré Gbédié, Hyacinthe Légnaté and  Jules Keli  

Cultural heritage as a pathway for sustaining natural resources in the Maasai’s Pastoral Social-Ecological System in Kajiado County, Kenya

June 2021

The Maasai pastoralists inhabiting Kajiado County are known for rearing large herds of animals. Livestock has enabled them to attain food and nutritional security. However, natural resources are dwindling fast under the swift development context. The private holding of land is becoming more prevalent in an area formally known for its communal land setup. The emerging land tenure systems have disregarded the traditional...

Author(s): James Kaoga, Daniel Olago, George Ouma, Gilbert Ouma and Joshua Onono  

Phenotypic evaluation of cassava genotypes (Manihot esculenta) under moisture stress

June 2021

Food security continues to be affected by global climatic changes which include increase of drought stress. A sustainable solution is to develop crop cultivars that are tolerant to climatic stresses. Among all crops cassava has a high potential to mitigate hunger. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of 79 cassava (Manihot esculenta) varieties under drought stress. The parameters evaluated were...

Author(s): Nadia H. Silim, Paul Kinoti, Cornelius M. Wainaina and Elijah M. Ateka  

Amount of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer required to optimize growth and yield of rice

June 2021

Soil nutrient management is an important factor in plant growth for increased crop production and productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa whose food demand is over the threshold. Rice production in Uganda is still very low with current yield less than 2.5 ton ha-1. The impressive production increase is mainly on to farmer area expansion. A fertilizer trial was established to determine a New Rice for Africa (NERICA) 4 variety...

Author(s): Peter B. Ssenyonga and Umemiya Yoshiaki  

Mealybugs on fruit crops in the Sao Franciso Valley, Brazil

June 2021

Mealybugs are agricultural pests occurring all over the world. The Sao Francisco Valley is one of the most productive regions regarding the cultivation of fruit crops in Brazil, demanding a proper phytosanitary management that can be obtained through the biological control of pests. Fortnight samples of mealybugs associated with roots, trunk, leaves and fruits of grapevines, pear, apple, persimmon, guava and Barbados...

Author(s): Maria das Graças Rosa de Sá and José Eudes de Morais Oliveira  

Importance and diversity of Mycorrhizae under plantain cultivation in the slash-and-burn and non-burn cropping systems in the forest region of Kisangani, Tshopo Province, D.R. Congo

June 2021

Mycorrhization is known to have beneficial effects on growth vigour and protection against certain pathogens in several plant species including plantains, which has so far been little studied in the Kisangani forest region. This study aimed to determine the importance and biodiversity of mycorrhizae under plantains in the slash-and-burn and non-burn cropping systems. This research was carried out in two experimental...

Author(s): Kasaka D., Onautshu O., Muliwambene K., Lebisabo B., Baert G., Swennen R., Haesaert G. and Dhed&#;a D.  

Phytochemical analysis and antifungal activity of Tithonia diversifolia and Kigelia africana extracts against Fusarium oxysporum in tomato

May 2021

Fusarium wilt can cause severe losses in many vegetables and flowers, field crops and plantation crops. The main method for controlling Fusarium wilt is through chemical methods which have the disadvantage of polluting the environment and are expensive. Thus, there is a need for more environmentally friendly and cheaper techniques for controlling Fusarium Wilt. This study screened the phytochemical compounds of two...

Author(s): Awere, C. A., Githae, E. W and Gichumbi, J. M.

Constraints to banana (Musa spp) production in Beni territory of North-Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo

May 2021

The objective of this study was to characterize the banana production systems and to identify the constraints it faces. A questionnaire survey and field observations were carried out with banana producers. At the end of the surveys, three main banana production systems were found: Monoculture (10%), banana-food crops intercropping (7%) and agroforestry (83%). In addition, four types of banana (cooking banana, plantain,...

Author(s): Balimwacha Mukulu Evariste, Kambale Muyisa Musongora and Katembo Vikanza Paul  

Production of indigenous poultry among smallholder farmers in Tigania West Meru County, Kenya

May 2021

The study was conducted to evaluate factors that significantly influence indigenous poultry production among smallholder farmers in Tigania west Mer County using the production function approach. The study relied on primary data collected by administering structured questionnaires to 359 respondents randomly selected from 5 wards using the multi stage stratified random sampling and probability proportionate to size...

Author(s): Evans Mwiti Mathiu, Samuel Njiri Ndirangu and Samuel Chege Mwangi  

Cocoa farmers’ perceptions of soil organic carbon effects on fertility, management and climate change in the Ashanti region of Ghana

May 2021

Farmers can play an important role in climate change mitigation through sustainable soil management practices. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in the Atwima Nwabiagya municipality of Ashanti region, Ghana, to explore farmers' knowledge and perceptions of their soils, soil fertility, applied management practices, and climate change on soil organic carbon. The interviews included topics...

Author(s): F. Adiyah, M. Fuchs, E. Michéli, E. Dawoe and E. Kovács

Water stress affects the physio-morphological development of tomato growth

May 2021

This study aimed to differentiate and identify the best soil field capacity for good plant growth and optimization of yield. Tomato is an herbaceous crop that needs an adequate amount of water for growth and yield optimization. This experiment was conducted in pots in a greenhouse to examine the effect of water stress on the growth, yield, and shelf-life of five tomato varieties namely Padma F1, Cobra F1, Symbal F1,...

Author(s): K. E. Alordzinu, L. Jiuhao, S. A. Appiah, A. A. L. Aasmi, P. K. Blege and E. A. Afful

Vegetative biomass of maize, soybean, lablab and grazing vetch under different tillage and mulch practices in the foothills agro-ecological zone of Lesotho

May 2021

A field trial was conducted to determine the effect of tillage and mulch practices on the biomass response of cereal maize and soybean, lablab and grazing vetch which are legumes, when planted as fodder crops. The experiment was conducted using split-plot design with three replications. The main plot treatments were two mulch levels (Mulch and No-Mulch). The mulch was maize straw left from previous cropping season. The...

Author(s): Tumisang Richard Molata, Poloko Mosebi, Oluwabiyi Ikeolu Atanda Oluremi and Setsumi Molapo

Factors influencing seed germination of Calycotome villosa (Poir.) Link. (Fabaceae) from Southern Tunisia

May 2021

As typical arid vegetation, Calycotome villosa is an annual herb playing an important role in folk medicine. In this research, the influences of temperature and salinity on germination of C. villosa seeds gotten from southern Tunisia were investigated. The germination responses of the seeds in total darkness were determined over an extensive array of temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40°C) as well as...

Author(s): ZAMMOURI Jamila and NEFFATI Mohamed  

Screening and evaluation of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes resistance to stripe rust

May 2021

Stripe (yellow) rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici, is one of the major diseases of wheat in the world. Development and use of resistant wheat cultivars is the most economical and environmentally friendly solution in combating wheat stripe rust. Field experiments were carried out at two sites in Ethiopia (Kulumsa and Meraro) and seedling tests were conducted at KARC greenhouse during the 2015 cropping...

Author(s): Yewubdar Shewaye and Hussein Mohammed  

Agronomic performance of new Jkuat papaya in different agro-ecological zones of kenya

May 2021

Papaya is one of the most important fruits crops of Kenya. However, in the recent past, papaya productivity and quality have been limited by lack of high quality seeds. Most producers depend on farmer selected and imported seeds for propagation. However, this is not satisfactory since few farmers can afford imported seeds due to their high price. On the other hand, most of the farmer selected seeds give rise to trees...

Author(s): Noah Karan, Mwangi Githiri and Fredah Karambu Rimberia  

Income mobility in diversified CSA households of Nyando Basin, South Western Kenya

May 2021

Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) strategies have been introduced in Nyando basin (comprising Kisumu and Kericho Counties) in Kenya, and farmers have comparatively taken up the practices. This has resulted in diversification of farming crops/livestock and incomes to bridge seasonal shortfalls under erratic harsh weather conditions due to climate change. The main objective of the study was to determine how smallholder...

Author(s): Josephine Njogu, John Busienei, John Gathiaka, George N. Karuku and Lia Wensenbeeek  

Identification of zygotic and nucellar seedlings, originated by the largest embryo in mango seeds cv Ataulfo, using simple-sequence repeat (SSR)

May 2021

Mexico is the fourth largest producer of mango and the leading exporter worldwide, and cv ‘Ataulfo’ is the largest area sown in the country. New cultivars are required to maintain production, ensure competitiveness, and mitigate problems with pests and diseases. The purpose of the present study was to identify microsatellite (SSR) markers in zygotic and nucellar seedlings originated by the largest embryo in...

Author(s): Judith de la Cruz Marcial, Ángel Villegas Monter, H. Araceli Zavaleta Mancera and Serafín Cruz Izquierdo

Evaluation of the physiological quality of quinoa seeds

May 2021

The variations in seed quality and scarcity vigor studies have been limiting factors in crop establishment at different regions of its Andes origin. The present study aimed to evaluate the physiological quality of quinoa seeds, from cultivars of Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador. The research was conducted in the Seeds Technology Laboratory of the University of Brasília, Brazil, through the tests of germination,...

Author(s): Wilson Anchico Jojoa, José Ricardo Peixoto, Carlos Roberto Spehar, Michelle Souza Vilela, Marcelo Fagioli, Daiane Nobrega, José Cruz and Antônio Oliveira  

Fish, Tilapia, and Shigellosis: A review

April 2021

Foodborne diseases are considered a relevant issue in health around the world due to their incidence, mortality and negative effects on the economic and productive sector. Fish is considered a food of high nutritional quality, being of global production, distribution and commercialization mainly for human consumption. Among the fish worldwide obtained from capture fisheries and mainly aquaculture for human consumption...

Author(s): Alejandro De Jesús Cortés-Sánchez, Luis Daniel Espinosa-Chaurand, Raquel Garcia-Barrientos and Alejandra Lorena San Martin-Azocar  

Soybean quality preferences by the Beninese small-scale soy food processors using conjoint analysis

April 2021

Soybean is a food crop with a growing interest in Benin. This study aims to provide insight about the main quality characteristics of the grain preferred by small-scale soy processors and the main socio-economic factors which drive their preferences. 116 small-scale processors related to three main soy food products - “Soy Amon” (soy cheese), “Soy Afitin” (soya fermented condiment) and...

Author(s): Mênouwesso H. Hounhouigan, Ken M. G. Kounouewa, Martial R. N. Ablo and Paul T. M. Ingenbleek  

Contribution of soil macro-fauna to soil fertility improvement in cocoa-based (Theobroma cacao) agroforestry systems in the Littoral Region of Cameroon: Examining cocoa farmers’ indigenous knowledge

April 2021

Soil macro-fauna play an important role in soil fertility improvement in different agricultural systems. However, limited research has been done to assess the role played by soil macro-fauna to soil fertility enhancement in cocoa-based agroforestry systems. This study was therefore initiated to fill this knowledge void. A mixed research approach was used during data collection, and data analysis was done using...

Author(s): Azembouh Roshinus Tsufac, Bernard Palmer Kfuban Yerima, Nyong Princely Awazi and Roger Kogge Enang  

Comparative study of the effects of Herbal and chemical Coagulants in the clarification of raw water

April 2021

The use of aluminum sulphate in clarifying raw waters raises many concerns about its impact on human health. Thus, the present study was initiated to compare the effects of Moringa oleifera and aluminum sulphate besides evaluating the association between M. oleifera or aluminum sulphate with Opuntia ficus-indica or syntofloc for water treatment. The essays were carried in Jar Test using waters of 352.80 Nephelometric...

Author(s): Anderson F. Konkobo, Mamounata Diao, Paul W. Savadogo, Jean Diarra and Mamoudou H. Dicko  

Mixtures design of Agave angustifolia Haw (Asparagales: Agavaceae) residue as a growth medium for tomato seedlings

April 2021

Tomato production under greenhouse conditions needs vigorous seedlings to reduce the loss of plants after the transplant. Different local substrates such as agave bagasse, pine bark and coconut fiber complemented with peat, expanded clay, vermiculite and pure peat for tomato seedlings production were tested. The seed germination, root ball compaction, height of the seedling, stem diameter, and total dry weight were...

Author(s): Baldomero Hortencio Zárate-Nicolás, Alberto Masaguer Rodríguez, Esperanza Loera-Alvarado, Ileana Vera-Reyes, Fidel Diego-Nava, Nancy Alonso-Hernández and Carlos Granados-Echegoyen  

Effect of planting density on yield and yield components of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) at two agro-ecologies of Ethiopia

April 2021

Use of optimum plant spacing (planting density) is one of the important agronomic practices to maximize the productivity of lettuce. A field experiment was conducted to assess the responses of two lettuce varieties to different plant spacing at Debrezeit and Holeta Agricultural Research Centers representing two different agro-ecologies in Ethiopia. Nine treatment combinations of three levels of inter-row and three...

Author(s): Fekadu Gebretensay Mengistu, Getachew Tabor, Zebenay Dagne, Gizachew Atinafu and Fasil Tadesse Tewolde  

A comparative analysis of agrochemical use among agroforestry and non-agroforestry practicing farmers in South west Cameroon: The examples of insecticides, fungicides and herbicides

April 2021

The abusive use of toxic agricultural chemicals (insecticides, fungicides and herbicides in particular) by farmers has attracted a lot of attention from environmentalists, scientists and policy makers.  The use of these toxic agricultural chemicals not only contributes to environmental deterioration but equally poses major health risks to farmers and the general public. It is therefore incumbent on policy makers to...

Author(s): Azembouh Roshinus Tsufac, Nyong Princely Awazi and Bernard Palmer Kfuban Yerima  

Demographic profiling and characterization of cattle and cattle farmers in Botswana

April 2021

Most published data on Botswana’s cattle population neither represent demographics of cattle and cattle ownership nor capture political and gender factors that affect cattle farming. Decline in cattle population has largely been attributed to unthrifty climatic conditions of the predominantly semi-arid desert terrain of the nation. This demographic and characterization study estimated cattle population, its spread...

Author(s): Goodhead Okechukwu Uchendu, Njoku Ola Ama, Andrew Olatunbosun Aganga and Othusitse, Rick Madibela  

Evaluation of phenotypic and biochemical responses of Pteris vittata during growth in arsenic contaminated soil and its effect on selected soil enzymes activity

April 2021

Experiments were conducted with arsenic-hyperaccumulator, Pteris vittata, and non-hyperaccumulator, Pteris ensiformis, subjected to various arsenic toxicity levels (0 to 1500 mg As kg-1) in peat-moss or soil for up to 14 weeks, to evaluate phenotypic responses and total lipid with fatty acid profiles, and P. vittata influence on rhizosphere enzyme activities. P. ensiformis exhibited significant phenotypic toxicity...

Author(s): Osagie Idehen, Marceline Egnin, Ramble Ankumah and Raymon Shange  

Seed germination and morphological characterization of traditional leafy vegetables

April 2021

Traditional leafy vegetables provide affordable sources of micronutrients to many people in Zimbabwe. They are produced by smallholder farmers with limited knowledge on the agronomic value of high-quality seed and the seed is rarely tested to determine its quality. This study was therefore conducted to evaluate the germination of seeds of three traditional leafy vegetables sourced from five different farmers and the...

Author(s): Praxedis Dube and Paul C. Struik

Extension training for banana value addition among smallholder farmers in Meru and Tharaka-Nithi counties, Kenya

April 2021

Extension training is intended to increase the efficiency and performance of the human resource that acts responsibly in a society based on a communication interaction with knowledge sources. The main objective of this study was to assess the effect of training farmers on banana value addition among smallholder farmers in Meru and Tharaka-Nithi counties. The study adopted a pragmatic paradigm and a cross-sectional...

Author(s): Florence K. Kirimi, Charles O. Nyambane, Lucy K. Njeru and Hezron R. Mogaka

Understanding the effects of COVID-19 on food security in Ghana

April 2021

The relationship between hunger and poverty has become clear with the outbreak of the coronavirus. Restricted people movement and border closures used to control the spread of the virus have implications for food security. Governments are challenged with allocating their scarce resources to cover additional healthcare costs and social protection expenditures which did not exist before. The Food and Agriculture...

Author(s): Ivy Drafor-Amenyah

Differential vegetation status of Okomu National Park and Okomu Forest Reserve, Edo State, Nigeria

April 2021

Okomu National Park and Okomu Forest Reserve were established to protect the rich flora and fauna resources. Studies comparing the impact of these two approaches in conserving the rich flora and fauna resources have not been carried out on the study sites. This study is aimed at filling the knowledge gaps and assessed the differences in vegetation status of Okomu National Park and Okomu Forest Reserve. The purpose is to...

Author(s): Humphrey I. AIGBE and Ayuk A. NCHOR

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