African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6901

Table of Content: 18 September 2010; 5(18)

September 2010

Effect of stage and intensity of defoliation on the performance of vegetable cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp)

  Field experiments were conducted in 2006 and 2007 on the experimental farm of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria to determine the effect of stage and intensity of defoliation on the performance of vegetable cowpea. The treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design replicated three times. The treatment consisted of factorial combination of three...

Author(s):   U. Ibrahim, B. M. Auwalu and G. N. Udom        

September 2010

Intervention designs for perceived improved access to farm productivity- enhancing resources in the drylands: Case study of Kenya

  In Kenya’s dryland districts, gaps in access to productivity-enhancing resources are disconcertingly wide despite the growing number of external interventions. This research paper evaluates five past interventions to identify resource access gaps and effective designs replicable in the region. The study used cross-sectional data collected from sampled participants in each of the interventions. A...

Author(s):   Lemba Jacinta, D’Haese Marijke, D&#;Haese Luc and Speelman Stijn        

September 2010

Cultivation and domestication study of high value medicinal plant species (its economic potential and linkages with commercialization)

  This paper describes the domestication and economic potential of the cultivation of some therapeutically important medicinal plants. Pakistan is home to precious wide range of globally threatened species of plant resources with a number of progenitors of economically useful crops and a multitude of medicinal plants having applications for the development of pharmaceutical industries and possesses...

Author(s):   Hassan Sher , Mohammed N. Alyemeni and Faridullah        

September 2010

Micro-level determinants of woodland conversion to arable lands and implications for policy in Eastern Nigeria: A Factor-Factor Analysis

  The study empirically examined the micro-level determinants of woodland conversion to arable lands in the Sub-Saharan Region of Africa, taking Eastern Nigeria as an example. This is informed by the increasing effect of land-use change in recent time. The study was based on a sample size of 291 farmers from Enugu State, Nigeria. Three sets of micro-level factors (farmers’ agent action/practices;...

Author(s):   Ben Odoemena, Eric Eboh, Paul Okoli, Geraldine Uguwonnah, Damian Ihedioha, Augustine Okoruwa and Francis Odo        

September 2010

Effect of exchange rate on dried apricot export in Turkey: A vector autoregression (VAR) analysis

  Volatilities, which occur in exchange rates, cause variability in revenues also obtained from export. This study aimed to explore the relationship between variability in exchange rate and export values of dried apricot. VAR method was followed using monthly time series data covering the period of 2003:01 - 2008:12 and mutual relations were analyzed by using VAR method. The stationary variables were analyzed...

Author(s):   Orhan Gündüz        

September 2010

Economics of egg poultry production in Khartoum State with emphasis on the open-system- Sudan

  The main objective of this paper was to study the economics of poultry egg- production in the open- system in Khartoum State. Specific objectives were to study the socio-economic features of poultry egg producers, investigate the main factors contributing to the production cost and compare between production costs, total returns and gross margins in different farm types and sizes. A questionnaire was prepared...

Author(s):   Abda Abdalla Emam and Amin Mahgoup Hassan        

September 2010

Farmers’ response to adoption of commercially available organic fertilizers in Oyo state, Nigeria

  The objective of this study is to identify and analyze the socio-economic factors influencing farmers’ response to adoption and use intensity of commercially available organic fertilizer by non-users of fertilizer in Oyo State, Nigeria. A total of 139 respondents selected by multi-stage random sampling technique were interviewed with the aid of structured questionnaires augmented with personal...

Author(s):   O. C. Ajewole    

September 2010

Credit supply and resource productivity among farmers group link to banks in Adamawa State, Nigeria

  Lending to small-scale farmers has been an important policy measure to stimulate agricultural development in Nigeria. In Adamawa state, small-scale farmers constitute the larger percentage of farmers groups. This study examined the relationship between credit supply and farm revenue among members of farmers group linked to banks for credit delivery in Mubi region. Findings revealed that the credit group...

Author(s):   P. G. Boni and Y. Dia Zira        

September 2010

The effects of different distributor head types, air velocities and fertilizing rates on flow evenness for some fertilizers

  In this study, three different types of distributor head (T, funnel and Y) were tested at three air velocities of 26, 31 and 36 ms-1, and three different fertilizing rates were selected as 12, 16 and 20 kg da-1 for two different fertilizers having nitrogen (calcium ammonium nitrate and urea). The best results of flow evenness were obtained with the T type distributor head at the air velocity of 26 m...

Author(s):   Ibrahim Ethem Guler    

September 2010

Fish culture technologies in South-eastern Nigeria

  Aquaculture has become an important sector in Nigerian economy and is considered a means of bridging the gap between the supply and demand for fish since the wild stock is fast declining. The study was carried out to assess the status, structure, operation and management options of fish culture systems in three zones of South-east Nigeria and to determine the impact on the economy of the region. Results shows...

Author(s):   Benedict Obeten Offem, Gabriel Ujong Ikpi and Fidelis Ada        

September 2010

A survey of pests of stored Ginger [Zingiber officinale (Rosc.)] in some selected markets in Rivers State, Nigeria

  Two seasonal surveys were carried out in the months of March/April and June/July, 2009 to identify insect pests of stored ginger. Dried ginger was randomly obtained from old stocks in 10 local markets within the Port Harcourt metropolis and the study was laid out in a simple CRD and each treatment was replicated 4 times. Potato dextrose agar medium was used to isolate the fungi organism. The results show that...

Author(s):   U. Zakka, N. E. S. Lale and V. C. Okereke        

September 2010

Determination of performance evaluation criteria’s in forestry organization: A Turkish forest district case study

  Performance Evaluation has become a favoured topic in recent years. Particularly, there has been a remarkable augmentation of organizations using this kind of management agent for two decades. Although the private sector accepted the advantages of this management tool, there have been uncertainties in the public sector. Forests are managed by state in Turkey. As a public sector, performance evaluation...

Author(s):   Ä°smail Åžafak and Taner Okan        

September 2010

The use of growth models in ınvestigatıng oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky.) natural juvenitilies growth performance

  In this study, Richards, Gompertz and Weibull Growth Models were applied to the results of root collar diameter measurement carried out between the years 2004 - 2010 in beech natural juvenilities situated within 10 experimental areas sized 25 m x 40 m in Bartın-Yenihan Forest Range District 70b division in the size of 12.0 ha oriental beech natural regeneration areas so as to define the best growth model to...

Author(s):   Halil Barış Özel, Ufuk Karadavut and Murat Ertekin        

September 2010

Distribution and characterization of the equine type I IFN family

  The interferon (IFN) was described as a substance secreted by virally infected cells and endowed with the ability to render cells capable of interfering with a subsequent viral infection. In eutherian mammals, type I IFNs comprises seven major homologous subgroups including IFNA, IFNB, IFND, IFNE, IFNK, IFNW and IFNX. They are the key cytokines orchestrating host antiviral defense and other physiological...

Author(s):   Liming Yang, Yuming Luo, Shengqing Zhao and Shujuan Li      

September 2010

Influence of sowing date on phenological stages, seed growth and marketable yield of four vegetable soybean cultivars in North-eastern USA

  Sowing date effect on grain soybean has been well documented, while less research was done on vegetable soybean. The impact of sowing date on the duration of critical phonological stages, and the responses of seed growth and marketable yield of four vegetable soybean cultivars with different maturity planted at about 2-weeks intervals over a 6–weeks span in North-eastern USA was investigated. The...

Author(s):   Qiu-ying Zhang, , Qing-lu Gao, S. J. Herbert, Yan-sheng Li and A. M. Hashemi        

September 2010

Response of grain and protein yields of triticale varieties at different levels of applied nitrogen fertilizer

  The grain yield and grain protein content of winter triticale in dry farming can be significantly affected by environmental conditions and different nitrogen (N) levels. Two year field trials with six winter triticale cultivars (Tatlicak, 97; Presto, 2000; Karma, 2000; Melez, 2001; Mikham, 2002 are registered in Turkey and Samur Sortu in Azerbaijan) were conducted in Central Anatolia, Turkey to investigate...

Author(s):   Nurdilek Gulmezoglu and Zehra Aytac        

September 2010

Distribution of total phenolics and antioxidant activity in fruit, leaf, stem and root of Monsonia burkeana

  Monsonia burkeana, widely used as ‘special tea’, is harvested unsustainably due to insufficient information on the accumulative abilities of its organs on the secondary metabolites. Using phenolics and antioxidants as focus chemical compounds, an investigation was carried out to (1) determine the accumulative abilities of organs of M. burkeana on phenolic and antioxidant compounds, and...

Author(s):   N. D. Mamphiswana, P. W. Mashela and L. K. Mdee        

September 2010

An investigation of 1:5000 scale photogrammetric data for cadastral mapping uses: A case study of Kastamonu-Taskopru

  Cadastral surveys have been carried out in Turkey using different methods such as graphical, photogrammetrical, orthogonal, tachometric and digital techniques. National cadastral works require large scale maps with sufficient position and elevation accuracy, especially when they are used for projecting technical services in metropolitan areas. The applications of this project include using cadastral data as a...

Author(s):   Mehmet Alkan and YaÅŸar Solak       

September 2010

Response of some tomato cultivars to sodium chloride stress under in vitro culture condition

  The response of calli of six tomato cultivars (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) to salt stress was investigated under in vitro conditions. Callus relative growth rate (RGR), dry matter percentage (DM), osmotic potential and proline content were evaluated. Significant differences were found among cultivars regarding above traits. ‘PS-10’ had the highest RGR, while...

Author(s):   M.A. Aazami, M. Torabi and F. Shekari        

September 2010

HIV and orientation of subsistence and commercial home gardens in rural Ghana: Crop composition, crop diversity and food security

  An empirical study was conducted to explore differences and similarities in biodiversity in subsistence and commercial home gardens of HIV-positive and HIV-negative rural households in the Eastern Region of Ghana and their significance inhousehold food security. Data were obtained through a household and home garden survey of a purposive sample of 32 HIV-positive and a random sample of 48...

Author(s):   S. Akrofi, P. C. Struik and L. L. Price      

September 2010

The ecological assessment of metals in local brands of honey in Southwest Nigeria

  The ecological assessment of honey was undertaken by determining some physico-chemical parameters of honey from six different locations in Southwest Nigeria. Among the groups of honey, there were no statistically significant differences in colour, pH, refractive index, electrical conductivity and insoluble matters. The mean contents of risk elements, Pb, Zn, Cr, Co, Ni and Mn were far below the allowable...

Author(s):   A. C. Achudume and B. N. Nwafor