June 2012
Influencing factors of duck production in the Southwest of Nigeria
The goal of this study was to evaluate the influencing factors affecting duck production as possible animal protein or meat source in Nigeria. The study was undertaken in the southwest of Nigeria where poultry practices assume high dimension. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select three states, and from each state, five Local Government Areas (LGAs). One community was chosen from each LGA...
June 2012
Reproduction and culling effect on the number of ewes and lambs in two types of breeding − Mathematical model
This study presents the development of mathematical model for determining the potential number of sheep and lambs in a ten-year period. The model enables prediction of the number of female sheep and lambs, plans for future feeding, care and breeding costs. Two types of sheep breeding (traditional and intensive) were considered, assuming the following: 1) the initial herd...
June 2012
Major causes of mastitis and associated risk factors in smallholder dairy cows in Shashemene, southern Ethiopia
A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2010 to May 2011 to estimate the prevalence of mastitis, isolate and characterize major bacterial pathogens and to assess the association of some putative risk factors with occurrence of mastitis in cows in smallholder dairy farms in Shashemene, southern Ethiopia. A total of 245 lactating cows (111 Holstein, 98 Holstein-local Zebu crosses and 36 indigenous...
June 2012
Design of an ecological growth room using internal temperature modeling in neural network interface
In this research, an ecological growth room made from recycled materials such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was built. The ecological growth room was compared with a growth room made from traditional materials (cement, blocks, etc.). The research was developed setting fifteen temperature sensors in both buildings from which samples were taken every five minutes for a period of three months. The results...
June 2012
Policy options for improving market participation and sales of smallholder crop producers: A case study of the Free State Province of South Africa
The paper identifies underlying factors behind farmers’ market participation decisions and level of commercialisation of South African small scale farmers with a particular emphasis on transaction costs. The two-step decision making process is analyzed based on Agricultural Household Model that incorporates transaction costs using a Heckman selectivity procedure. The key importance of non price factors...
June 2012
Agricultural extension workers’ attitude to and experience of e-learning
In many developing countries, e-learning is still regarded as an innovative mode of learning. Experience shows that transferring technologies can provoke the adoption of e-learning, only if people are willing and their attitude is positive for adoption. In fact, adoption of e-learning is related to the learners’ attitude and prior experience of e-learning. In order to understand the attitude of...
June 2012
Production of rape (Brassica napus L.) on soils amended with leguminous tree prunings: Yield responses in relation to the chemical composition of the tree prunings
Leguminous tree leaf litter has potential as a nutrient source for smallholder vegetable production systems. However, quality of the leaf litter influences yield responses by the crops grown. Comparative yield responses of rape (Brassica napus L.) to legume prunings of different chemical composition were evaluated in a three block randomized complete block design (RCBD) field experiment. Prunings...
June 2012
Microstructural differences in Agave atrovirens Karw leaves and pine by age effect
We evaluated the effects of the leaves, “pine” or “head” (plants without leaves) age of Agave atrovirens on the epidermal, parenchyma and fibrillar microstructure as possible maturity indicators, since plant age is a determinant factor of the concentration of inulin. Samples were taken from three, six and nine year-old plants, and observations were made with scanning...
June 2012
The relationship and combination effects on the promotion and disease control of rhizospheric actinomycetes and entophytic bacteria in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
Plants beneï¬t extensively from endophytic and rhizospheric microbes. They promote plant growth and confer enhanced resistance to various pathogens. However, the interactions of these beneficial microbes are not always well understood. In this work, the interactions of two rhizospheric actinomycete strains DK56 (Streptomyces microflavus), ME2 (Micromonospora sp.) and endophytic bacterium strains XG32...
June 2012
Agromorphological characterization of Sesamum radiatum (Schum. and Thonn.), a neglected and underutilized species of traditional leafy vegetable of great importance in Benin
Sesamum radiatum (Schum. and Thonn) is a traditional leafy vegetable of national importance in Benin. Although, it is cultivated and consumed in many regions of the country, it is still unfortunately neglected by scientific research. In order to fill in the knowledge gaps necessary for its varietal improvement, 16 accessions collected from different agro-ecological zones were characterized using 16...
June 2012
Nickel accumulation by Colocassia esculentum and its impact on plant growth and physiology
The remediation of heavy metal-contaminated sites using plants presents a promising alternative to current methodologies. In this study, the potential of Colocassia esculentum for Nickel (Ni) accumulation was determined. C. esculentum plants exposed to Ni, demonstrated capability to accumulate on average, more in shoots as compared to roots, suggesting better translocation of Ni from...
June 2012
Effects of reactive red 239 textile dye on total soluble protein content, peroxidase activity and lipid peroxidation of Zea mays L. cv. “Martha F1â€
This study examined the effects of Reactive red 239 on total soluble protein, peroxidase activity andmalondialdehyde (MDA) content of corns. The corns were exposed to different concentrations of 4000, 5200, 6760, 8788 and 11424 mg/L Reactive Red 239. In comparison to the control group, there was an increase in the total soluble protein content of plant groups exposed to low-concentration...
June 2012
Screening for drought tolerance in maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids at an early seedling stage
Drought stress is an abiotic factor affecting growth badly and ultimately, yields of crop plants. The current study was planned to explore the variations and determine the performance of target traits under drought conditions. Six seedling characters; that is, number of crown roots, number of seminal roots, primary root length, number of lateral roots, fresh root weight and dry root weight were evaluated...
June 2012
Growth of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) seedlings on old cocoa soils amended with organic and inorganic fertilizers
A greenhouse study was conducted for six months to investigate the response of cocoa seedlings to organic and inorganic fertilizers. The treatments were cocoa pod husk (CPH), kola pod husk (KPH), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), N + P, N, CPH +N, CPH +NP, CPH + NPK, KPH + N, KPH + NP, KPH + NPK and control. The mineral fertilizers were applied at the rate of 10 kg N ha-1 while the organic...
June 2012
Analyzing biodiversity indicators in sustainable aquaculture development based on Iranian fisheries experts
The purpose of this research was to assess the biodiversity indicators in sustainable aquaculture development based on Iranian fisheries experts. The research method employed was correlative-descriptive. The population consisted of fisheries experts in Khuzestan Province of Iran. A random sample of fisheries experts (n = 60) was selected. The questionnaire was developed to collect data....
June 2012
Adsorption of Pb2+ ions on diatomite modified by polypropylene acetamide and barium chloride in aqueous solution
In order to increase diatomite adsorption capacity, polypropylene acetamide (PAM) and barium chloride(BaCl2) were employed to modify the diatomite. Experiments were conducted to investigate surface chemistry characterization and adsorption capacity of the diatomite before and after modification, and adsorption capacity of Pb2+ onto raw diatomite, PAM modified diatomite, zeolite, vermiculite and red...
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