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: 23 March, 2017; 12(12)

March 2017

Appraisal of farmers’ wheat production constraints and breeding priorities in rust prone agro-ecologies of Ethiopia

Ethiopia is the second largest producer of wheat in sub-Saharan Africa although yields remain considerably below the global average due to several production constraints. The aim of the study was to identify the primary threats to wheat production, farmers’ selection criteria for wheat varieties, and disease management practices with emphasis on wheat rusts in the Arsi, Bale and West Shewa administrative zones of...

Author(s): Netsanet Hei, Hussein Ali Shimelis and Mark Laing

March 2017

Operational uniformity for a sugarcane planter

Sugarcane planters must simultaneously perform furrowing, fertiliser application, seedling metering and furrow covering operations. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the planting operational stages (including furrow opening, size and shape; the uniformity of seedling metering; and furrow closing) as a function of the planting speed and furrow depth. A completely randomised, 2x2 factorial design was...

Author(s): Ariel Muncio Compagnon, Rouverson Pereira da Silva, Carlos Eduardo Angeli Furlani, Fabio Alexandre Cavichioli and Fernando Henrique Arriel

March 2017

Growth and yield of baby corn as influenced by nitrogen topdressing

Baby corn maize (Zea mays L.) is a highly profitable alternative to farmers due to its short crop duration, being harvested at the juvenile stage. It demands large amounts of nutrients in a short time, especially nitrogen, which is responsible for the rapid development of crop. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of topdressing application of different doses of nitrogen on the vegetative and spikelet...

Author(s): Edcássio Dias Araújo, Francielle de Matos Feitosa, Francisco Charles dos Santos Silva, Ildeu de Oliveira Andrade Júnior, Bruno Rafael A. Rodrigues and Wagner F. da Mota

March 2017

Correlation and cluster analysis of white seeded sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) genotypes oil yield in northern Ethiopia

The experiment was carried out to access the inter relationship of genotypes in their oil yield with seed yield, oil content and other yield components  and to determine cluster of white seeded sesame genotypes  and environments based on their oil yield. Seventeen sesame genotypes were tested at six environments in northern Ethiopia during 2015 main season. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete...

Author(s): Yirga Belay Kindeya

March 2017

Evaluating the impact of 2010 Rift Valley fever outbreaks on sheep numbers in three provinces of South Africa

Whilst livestock production plays an increasingly important role in the economies of most nations, it remains vulnerable to diseases. Between 2008 and 2011 South Africa experienced episodes of Rift Valley fever (RVF) outbreaks. Losses of animals especially, sheep were widespread in the Free State, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape provinces. Despite the knowledge that the RVF outbreaks in 2010 affected farmers negatively,...

Author(s): Zimbini Mdlulwa and Cynthia B. Ngwane

March 2017

Seed yield of onion (Allium cepa L.) as affected by bulb size and intra-row spacing

Bombay Red’ is one of the most widely used onion cultivars in Ethiopia. Seed production of this cultivar is expanding among farmers. However, various constraints are reported for the low seed productivity of this cultivar, out of which inappropriate uses of bulb size and intra-row spacing are the most important ones. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted at Bati Futo watershed, Meskan Wereda, Southern...

Author(s): Ashenafi Haile, , Bizuayehu Tesfaye and Walelign Worku

March 2017

User perception towards a motorized thresher (‘Kungula’) in Uganda: A need finding survey

Maize which remains the most important food crops in the sub-Saharan Africa is expected to register about a 10% drop in net production globally by 2055. Poor farming techniques, economic diversification in the developing countries due to increased industrialization, could partly explain this trend but addressing food security problem reflected in the world malnourished figures remains a core component of the sustainable...

Author(s): Deo Okure and Stephen Ssekanyo

March 2017

Seed quality evaluation by tetrazolium staining during a desiccation study of the recalcitrant seeds of Carapa guianensis Aubl. and Carapa surinamensis Miq. - Meliaceae

Crabwood, a popular name of several pantropical timber species, has become increasingly important for its seed oil of pharmaceutical and cosmetic use. Due to the recalcitrant character of the seeds, plantations are limited. The aim of this study was to develop a tetrazolium (TZ) staining protocol and validate viability staining with germination tests. Seed preparation was standardized in order to localize and cut the...

Author(s): Semirian Campos Amoêdo, and Isolde Dorothea Kossmann Ferraz

March 2017

Soil and water conservation, and soil fertility management effects on rain water productivity of maize hybrid in Burkina Faso

In the evaluation of Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) techniques, little attention is paid to the rain water productivity of crops. The aim of this research work, is to assess the combined effects of SWC practices and soil fertility management on rain water productivity of maize hybrid. On-farm experiments were carried out in the districts of Houndé and Péni both located in the Hauts-Bassins region in...

Author(s): Korodjouma Ouattara, Idriss Serme, Salif Bongoungou and Prosper Zombre

March 2017

Initial growth of African mahogany plants in response to zinc fertilization

African mahogany (Khaya senegalensis A. Juss) has been an important option to supply the increasing demand for noble forest products for the Brazilian furniture industry. In the present study, the objective was to evaluate the initial development of mahogany plants in response to different doses of zinc. The experiment was carried out inside a greenhouse, in the experimental area of the State University of Goiás,...

Author(s): Matheus da Silva Araújo, Stephany Diolino Cunha, Karolayne Lemes D’Abadia, Yago Cesar Rodrigues Morais, Ednaldo Candido Rocha, Vitor Correa de Mattos Barretto and Gustavo Matos Coelho

March 2017

Harvest moisture content affecting yield and quality of wheat grains in Brazil

The wheat quality and yield may be limited or compromised by several factors in the field, being the climatic main factor at the end of the crop cycle. The aim of the study was to determine whether different harvest times affect crop yield and wheat grain quality; four experiments were conducted, differing by cultivars type and sowing time, at Ponta Grossa city, PR, Brazil. The experimental design used for both...

Author(s): Allan Christian de Souza, Jeferson Zagonel, Marina Senger and Camila Ferreira

March 2017

Germination and vigor of Macrotyloma axillare cv Java seeds under different methods for overcoming dormancy

The aim of this study was to evaluate the germination and vigor of seeds Macrotyloma axillare cv Java (archer) under different methods to overcome dormancy. The seeds were submitted to the following treatments to overcome dormancy: (a) control, (b) manual scarification with sandpaper, (c) immersion in sulfuric acid 98% for five minutes, (d) immersion in sodium hypochlorite solution 2% for 15 min. The experimental design...

Author(s): Leonardo Fiusa de Morais, Higino Marcos Lopes, João Carlos de Carvalho Almeida, Delci de Deus Nepomuceno, Carolina Olga da Fonseca Ribeiro and Barbara Maria Gomes de Melo

March 2017

Extract of Persea americana (Mill.) used for the control of Meloidogyne incognita in tomato plant

The study aimed to evaluate the control of Meloidogyne incognita in resistant and susceptible tomato genotypes treated with hydrogel containing avocado extracts (Persea americana Mill.). The methanolic extract of avocado seeds was evaporated and re-suspended in distilled water containing Tween 80 (0.6%). The extract was prepared with the following concentrations: 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1000 mg L-1. The hatching,...

Author(s): Carla Rosane Kosmann, José Renato Stangarlin, Odair José Kuhn, Katia Kabroski Andrioli, Laura Cristiane Nascimento Freitas, Daiana Karoline Kaiser, Eloisa Lorenzetti, Cristiane Cláudia Meinerz, Danielle Mattei, Francielle Fiorentin Peters, Anderson Luis Heling, Jeferson Carlos Carvalho and Jaqueline De Araújo Barbosa

March 2017

Cauliflower quality and yield under tropical conditions are influenced by boron fertilization

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of boron fertilization on the quality and yield of cauliflower growing under tropical conditions. The study was carried out in randomized block design in split plot design. The main plots four boron doses (0, 2, 4, 6 kg ha-¹) whereas subplots with 3 cauliflower genotypes (Verona CMS, Sarah and Sharon) with three replicates. Among the genotypes, the higher fresh...

Author(s): Laurinda Mara da Penha Ribeiro, Márcio Roggia Zanuzo, Carlos Vinício Vieira, Santino Seabra Junior and Flavio Fernandes Júnior⊃

March 2017

Kappaphycus alvarezii extract used for the seed treatment of soybean culture

Marine macroalgae, Kappaphycus alvarezii has economic importance which is considered as the main source of Kappa carrageenan, a hydrocolloid used in various industries as an emulsifying agent and stabilizer. In the production process of this raw material, the fresh seaweed is subjected to grinding and filtering process, yielding a wet solid fraction rich in carrageenan and other liquid fractions. The latter has been...

Author(s): Matheus Antonio da Costa, Helton José Alves, Jorge Cidemar Alab, Leandro Paiola Albrecht, Alfredo Junior Paiola Albrecht and Brener Magnabosco Marra