March 2016
Seasonal challenges and opportunities for smallholder farmers in a mining district of Zambia
Zambia’s efforts to diversify from mining to agriculture have seen many interventions aimed at improving the productivity of smallholder farmers. These efforts have produced poor results, as productivity has remained low. This study used 121 semi structured interviews, two focus group discussions and several key informant interviews to investigate smallholder farmers’ challenges over the course of a farming...
March 2016
Current banana smallholder farmers’ farming practices and knowledge on plant-parasitic nematodes associated with banana (Musa spp.) in Rusitu Valley, Zimbabwe
Plant-parasitic nematodes are economically important pests of banana (Musa spp.) and compromise its productivity. Controlling nematode populations and good agronomic practices are pre-requisites for a good yield. A survey of farmers in the Rusitu Valley, Zimbabwe, was conducted to assess their current banana production practices and knowledge of plant-parasitic nematodes associated with banana. Respondents were selected...
March 2016
Impact of tillage type and soil texture to soil organic carbon storage: The case of Ethiopian smallholder farms
Soil organic carbon is a fundamental soil resource base. However, there is limited information on soil organic carbon storage due to influence of tillage type and soil texture under smallholder production systems in Ethiopia. The objective of this study was therefore to quantify soil organic carbon in different soil textures and tillage types; and to the contribution of livestock in improving soil carbon, soil structure...
March 2016
Effects of traditional practice of soil burning (guie) on soil physical properties at Sheno areas of North Shoa, Oromia Region, Ethiopia
The study was conducted in the Kimbibit District, which is located at the North Shoa Zone of Oromia National Regional State, with the objective of investigating the effects of traditional practice of soil burning (guie) on physical properties of soils of the study area. Both disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were collected from farmers’ burned fields and normal fields in three peasant associations. The burned...
March 2016
Yield performance of East African highland banana hybrids on farmers’ fields under high disease pressure
The production of the East African highland cooking banana is constrained by pests, diseases and narrow genetic base amongst others. Research to develop resistant / tolerant genotypes has been on going at Kawanda. 18 promising banana hybrids have been identified. The hybrids were planted on farmers’ fields in Kasangombe Sub-county in central Uganda for evaluation against black Sigatoka and yield. Data were...
March 2016
Yield of maize hybrids: Is there any association among nitrogen rate, Azospirillum inoculation and fungicide treatment?
Optimization of land use can be attained by incorporating technologies to crop production, such as the use of diazotrophic bacteria, fertilizers, and pesticides. Seed inoculation with Azospirillum is an alternative that favors the incorporation of green agriculture in regions of conventional farming, such as the Brazilian savannah (Cerrado). However, limited information is available about this bacterium’s...
March 2016
Pruning of Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla planted at low density in Southeastern Brazil
Tree pruning is a silvicultural operation that aims to improve wood quality, but care must be taken regarding the timing and height of the lift to ensure that tree growth is not negatively affected. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of different pruning heights on height and diameter growth of Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus urophylla. The experiment was done in a one year old stand which was...
March 2016
Diversity and seasonal distribution of parasites of Oreochromis niloticus in semi-arid reservoirs (West Africa, Burkina Faso)
This study aimed to investigate the diversity, abundance, intensity, and seasonal distribution of parasites of Oreochromis niloticus. A total of 254 specimens of O. niloticus was sampled in Loumbila and Ziga reservoirs in both rainy and dry season and examined for parasites. The total prevalence was 55.90% and the highest seasonal prevalence, abundance and intensity were observed during the rainy season. Recorded...
March 2016
Utilization of nitrogen (15N) from urea and green manures by rice as affected by nitrogen fertilizer rate
The use of green manures (GMs) in combination with nitrogen (N) fertilizer application is a promising practice to improve N fertilizer management in agricultural production systems. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the N use efficiency (NUE) of rice plant, derived from GMs including sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.), millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) and urea in the greenhouse. The experimental treatments...
March 2016
Management of soy supply (Glycine max) and its exploitation in farming crambe (Crambe abyssinica)
The experiment was conducted in the 2013/14 season, in an experimental area of the C-Valle, in Palotina Municipal District, Parana State, Brazil. The cultivar used was Monsoy 6210 IPRO. The experimental design was a randomized block with four replications. The treatments consisted of basic fertilization (AB) in soybean sowing, AB + 20% AB + 40% AB + coverage with potassium, AB + 20% + coverage with potassium and AB +...
March 2016
Comparative analysis of three different spacing on the performance and yield of late maize cultivation in Etche local government area of Rivers State, Nigeria
This study was carried out to compare and analyze how spacing influenced the performance and yield of late maize in Egwi, Etche Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State, Nigeria between September-December in 2013 and 2014. The study adopted experimental research design. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. One maize variety was evaluated under three spacing...
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