November 2009
Wetland management in Turkey: Problems, achievements and perspectives
Due to the extremely variable topography and diverse climate, Turkey has a great biodiversity in the term of flora and fauna. One of the main features that compose the rich biodiversity in Turkey is wetlands. Although the ecological and economical worth of the wetlands have been valued recently and considerable initiatives have been carried out in Turkey for the last decade, there are still significant threats and...
November 2009
Impact of rural development projects on agricultural productivity in selected regions of Benin
In this study, data collected from 120 rural households located in two distinct socio-cultural locales of Benin was used to assess the impact of 20 development projects on agricultural productivity. A ‘with-without’ approach of impact evaluation is followed using ANOVA and econometric regressions. Results reveal no significant differences of projects on agricultural productivity between participants in the...
November 2009
An analysis of institutional and technical factors influencing agricultural marketing amongst smallholder farmers in the Kat River Valley, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Smallholder farmers in the Kat River Valley do not use output markets effectively due to a number of factors. The technical and institutional factors that demoralise them from marketing are identified in this paper. It is asserted that an explicit analysis in the relationship between technology, institutions and markets may be useful in developing livelihood improving programs. Therefore, by identifying such factors,...
November 2009
Socio-economic burden of guinea worm disease in Ogun State: A discriminant analysis approach
The paper employs discriminant analysis to examine key socio-economic variables which distinguish residents of Odeda from Obafemi – Owode local government areas of Ogun State based on the incidence of guinea worm disease status. It is evident that source of drinking water consumed, medication method adopted and duration of healing of guinea worm disease have strong discriminating effects than other socio-economic...
November 2009
Farmers’ knowledge in the cropping systems of Northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Current challenges and solution for sustainable future food production
Most African farmers involved in food production in South Africa; practice peasant farming for consumption and for retail sale in the informal market, local communities and street corners in the cities. These farmers are mainly constrained by different factors which include; lack of basic farm inputs like machineries and fertilizers. They also have limited knowledge of the standard methods of production required to...
November 2009
The sedentarisation process of the Bahima in Uganda: An emic view
The traditional lifestyle of nomadic pastoralists is vanishing rapidly, because of human population growth which often leads to land scarcity or political pressure on pastoralists to settle. The sedentarisation of the Bahima pastoralists in Western Uganda started in the 1940s and is still going on. In this study former nomadic cattle keepers, who have settled with their families, were interviewed in order to document...
November 2009
Analyses of hybrid yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir) on-farm trials in southwestern Nigeria
Hybrid yam variety TDr 89/02665 was compared with a local cultivar Igbakumo in on-farm trials in southwestern Nigeria in 2006 and 2007. The trials were to determine the productivity of the hybrid yam with and without staking of vines in the rainforest and savanna areas respectively. The local cultivar was staked in all the trials. A total of twenty and thirty farmers were used for the trials in the rain forest and...
November 2009
Interaction effects of deficit irrigation and row spacing on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) growth, seed yield and oil yield
Productivity of sunflower is strongly regulated by the availability of water. In order to study the influence of deficit irrigation (I1:100% FC, I2 and I3: 75 and 50% FC during stem elongation period, respectively; I4 and I5: 75 and 50% FC at flowering stages) and two row spacings (45 - 50 and 75 cm) on growth, yield and oil yield of sunflower, an experiment was conducted using a split plot design with...
November 2009
Responses of lettuce to irrigation levels and nitrogen forms
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different irrigation levels and nitrogen forms on yield, quality and water use efficiency of lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. longifolia cv. Lital) under greenhouse conditions during the periods November 2003 - February 2004 in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey. Four irrigation treatments with a drip irrigation system were based on adjustment coefficients...
November 2009
Effects of nitrogen forms on the growth, ascorbate-glutathione cycle and lipid peroxidation in developing seeds of vegetable soybean
A pot culture experiment of nitrogen forms (NO3¯:NH4+) with four ratios (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, and 25:75) in nutrient solutions was conducted to examine the effects of nitrogen forms on the growth, ascorbate-glutathione (ASC-GSH) cycleand lipid peroxidation in developing seeds of vegetable soybean. Results showed that the best plant growth vigor was observed in NO3¯ (75%), and then in NH4+(50%)....
November 2009
Residual effects of relay-cropped mucuna and lablab on maize and bean yields in northwest Kenya
In many areas of the tropics, soil nutrient depletion is a major constraint to food production. Performance of legumes relay cropped with a long-season maize (Zea mays L.) hybrid were studied to determine whether subsequent maize grain yield could be increased. Treatments were the factorial (2 × 2 × 3) combinations of two legume cropping systems [based on the legume used; mucuna (Mucuna...
November 2009
Influence of management systems and sex on haematology of West African dwarf goat
This study was conducted to know the effect of management practices and sex on the hematological parameters of the West African Dwarf (WAD) goat. Hematological values of this breed of goat were evaluated under the intensive and extensive systems of management. The intensively managed animals had significantly higher (P < 0.01) erythrocyte, total white blood cell, lymphocyte and eosinophil counts than goats managed...
November 2009
Pure breeds and crossed caprine genotypes effect in the oases of southern Tunisia
Data from 16 years performances schedule of local goat, Alpine, Damascus, Murciana and crossed groups were used to study the genotypes productive behaviour under Tunisian oases conditions. The aim was to evaluate the possibilities of local goat productivity improvement by cross-breeding in intensive mode and also, to choose the better improving breed and the propice crossing level. So, data of periodic individual...
November 2009
Physical properties of Tylosemia esculentum and the effect of roasting on the functional properties of its flour
The physical properties of two varieties of morama beans and the effect of roasting on the functional properties of their flours were studied. Majority (65, 92.5, 79%) of the seeds has medium dimensions (17.0 - 19.99, 14.0 - 19.99, 12.0 - 14.99 mm) of length, width and thickness respectively. The size of the morama bean (MB) follows a normal distribution, being much heavier than most other oil seeds and legumes with...
November 2009
Effect of single application of Trichoderma viride and Pseudomonas fluorescens on growth promotion in cotton plants
The most important and economically cultivated cotton plant was selected to test the growth promotion by Trichoderma viride and Pseudomonas fluroescens with and without pathogens, Rhizoctonia solani and Macrophomina phaseolina. Of these, T. viride was found to be more effective than P. fluroescens on shoot and root length elongation. Seed germination percentage,...
November 2009
Determination of heteroptera species on canola plants in Hatay province of Turkey
Canola (Brassica napus L.) is an important oil crop grown for animal feed, oil and biodiesel. Aim of this research was to determine Heteroptera species on canola in Hatay province of Turkey. Twenty-one (21) species belonging to Miridae, Pentatomidae, Lygaeidae, Rhopalidae and Scutelleridae families were identified. Distribution of a total of 1431 adults according to the families and species was as follow: Miridae...
November 2009
Prediction of extractable metals (Cd, Pb, Fe Cu, Mn and Zn) in sewage
Sewage sludge are residues resulting from the treatment of wastewater released from various sources including homes, industries, medical facilities, street run off and businesses. It consists of nutrients and organic matter that can provide soil benefits and are widely used as soil amendments. Over several years, the inability to determine metal species in sewage hampers efforts to understand the mobility,...
November 2009
Integrating soil conservation, water production and timber production values in forest management planning using linear programming
Forest management focuses on the control of forest ecosystems based on the sustainable use of forest values without damaging ecological integrity. Although, timber would easily be characterized and valued, it is difficult to quantify the amount and monetary value of water production and soil conservation. In this study; soil conservation, water and timber production values of forests were taken into consideration. These...
November 2009
Economic valuation of externalities linked to Turkish forests
The estimation of economic values for forest externalities that markets may not incorporate plays a key role in formulation of a successful forest policy and determination of the real contributions of forest resources to sustainable development. Both in Turkey and worldwide, determination of negative and positive externalities of forests and forestry is essential for promoting sustainable forestry development. The...
November 2009
Fruit performances of the selected fig types in Turkey
In this study, fruit performances of some types of fig (Ficus carica L.) were determined in Dara and Yardere villages of Mardin, Turkey. Seven fig types were evaluated in the study for two years. A lot of pomological characteristics to determine the fruit performances of the these types were examined during the 2004 and 2005. According to the averages in two years, fruit weight ranged between 56.29 and...
November 2009
Vegetative compatibility groups and pathogenicity of Verticillium dahliae isolates from watermelon in Turkey
In this study, surveys were carried out for Verticillium wilt in watermelon fields (262 fields) in 13 provinces from five regions of Turkey. The proportion of fields having wilted plants was 40%. Verticillium dahliae was isolated from 15.2% of the fields showing wilted plants. At the end of surveys, 16 V. dahliae isolates (each from a different wilted field, collected from eight provinces of the...
November 2009
Spinning performance of ELS Egyptian cotton
In the fall of 2005, the pilot spinning mill at cotton research institute “CRI”, began making spinning investigations, researches and developments R and D beside the experimental spinning mill which conducts the spinning-test routine. It is possible to orient the textile industry in Egypt to make proper use of Egyptian ELS cotton lint for the production of fine yarns and high quality ready made garments. The...
November 2009
Association of maize streak virus disease and its vectors (Homoptera: Cicadelidae) with soil macronutrients and altitudes in Kenya
Maize (Zea mays L.) is a staple food for more than 100 million people in Africa. Its production is constraint by maize streak virus (MSV) disease. This study investigated the interrelationships between altitudes and levels of soil macronutrients with MSV disease and its vectors. The influence of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium levels on MSV and on populations of Cicadulina spp.(Homoptera:...
November 2009
Isolation and identification of a bacterial blotch organism from watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. and Nakai)
A study was carried out on the fruit rot of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. Nakai) in Ilorin, Nigeria between February and May, 2008. A large area planted to watermelon in Obbo-ille, a town near Ilorin, Kwara State was severely infected with both leaf and fruit blotches. Both diseases occurred together in all infected watermelon stands. Leaf and fruit samples were taken to the laboratory at the...
November 2009
Soil mapping approach in GIS using Landsat satellite imagery and DEM data
The objective of this study was to create base soil survey maps of the studied lands using Landsat satellite imagery and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data in a GIS framework. Specific goals were to generate soil maps and to test the usage probability of slope class map overlies colour composite images as a preliminary map for soil survey in a hilly terrain. Surrogate soil-landscape data layers were derived from Landsat...
November 2009
Factors responsible for differences in uptake of integrated soil fertility management practices amongst smallholders in western Kenya
To address soil fertility depletion and the attendant low agricultural productivity in western Kenya, many attempts have been made to develop and popularize integrated soil nutrient management (INM) practices. Adoption of INM practices appears to be an appropriate strategy for restoring soil fertility, yet patterns of adoption and factors influencing the adoption process are not clearly understood.This...
November 2009
Indole acetic acid production and enhanced plant growth promotion by indigenous PSBs
Indigenous soil samples were tested for Phosphate solubilization. Efficient phosphate solubilizng bacteria were isolated. Effect of four different media on phosphate solubilization were determined. Auxin production by these bacteria were determined via bioassay and high performance liquid chromatography by the bacteria in liquid culture. Indole acetic acid and indole butyric acid were produced by these bacteria in...
November 2009
Degradation of the soil physicochemical properties resulting from continuous logging of Gmelina arborea and Tectona grandis plantations
This study assessed the changes in soil properties in sites subjected to continuous logging in exotics plantation sites of Gmelina arborea and Tectona grandis with the aim to evaluate the deterioration level of the soil productivity in respect to human disturbance. Thirty five sampling plots, each measuring 40 m x 25 m were used for soil sampling. Standard field and laboratory methods were employed...
November 2009
Allelopathic effects of an invasive alien weed Parthenium hysterophorus L. compost on lettuce germination and growth
The present study was conducted to determine allelopathic effects of parthenium compost and to investigate whether ratio of parthenium composted with other plant materials have an influence on allelopathic potential of parthenium. Two emergence and growth experiments were conducted using lettuce as a model plant. Fresh parthenium reduced lettuce emergence percentage and rate and radicle and plumule lengths by 93, 95, 97...
November 2009
Yield performance of Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.) Karst cultivation on substrates containing different protein and carbohydrate sources
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different dosages of molasses as a carbohydrate source and corn-gluten meal as a protein source on the yield of Ganoderma lucidum and to improve yield on solid state medium. Three dosages (1, 2 and 3%) of gluten meal or molasses were added to sawdust and bran based medium. Results showed that yield was increased significantly when 1%...
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