Archives of Agriculture and Environmental Science
Not a member yet
674 research outputs found
Sort by
Effect of mulching and organic manure on growth and yield performance of wheat
An experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh in Rabi season (dry season) of 2014 to study the effect of mulching and organic manure on growth and yield performance of wheat. Five mulching practices viz. M1=1 irrigation at 17-21 days after sowing (DAS), M2=2 irrigations at 17-21 and 55-60 DAS, M3=3 irrigations at 17-21, 55-60 and 75-80 DAS, M4=control, M5=straw mulch (6 t ha-1) and five organic manure managements viz. O1=recommended chemical fertilizer (NPKS @ 100-23-20-16 kg ha-1), O2=poultry manure @ 6 t ha-1 (100% PM), O3=vermicompost @ 8 t ha-1 (100% VC), O4=50% chemical fertilizer+50% VC and O5=50% chemical fertilizer+50% PM were used as experimental variables. The experiment was conducted in split-plot design with three replications. The results showed that mulching had significant influence on all attributes. The highest values of all attributes were found in straw mulch treatment. It was observed that organic manure had significant influences on all characters. The highest values of yield and yield attributes were found in O5 (50% chemical fertilizer+50% PM) treatment. It was observed that effective tillers hill-1, grain yield and straw yield were significantly affected by combined effect of mulching and organic manure. The highest values obtained from mulching and O5 (50% chemical fertilizer+50% PM) treatment. Therefore, it can be inferred from the results of the study that highest production could be obtained from mulching and O5 (50% chemical fertilizer+50% PM) treatment
Growth and yield of amaranths (Amaranthus spp.) as influenced by seed rate and variety in Sokoto, Nigeria
This experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Vegetable Garden of the Department of Crop Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto during the rainy season of the year 2016. The objective of the research was to determine the effect of seed rate and variety on the growth and yield of Amaranths (Amaranthus spp.) in Sokoto. The treatment consists of factorial combination of four (4) seed rates (2.0 kg ha-1, 2.5 kg ha-1, 3.0 kg ha-1 and 3.5 kg ha-1) and two (2) varieties Ex-Egypt (‘‘DAN EGYPT”) and Ex-Kano “DAN KANO’’. The result indicated that seed rate had no significant effect on plant height of amaranths at 2 Weeks after Planting (WAP). However, at 4, 6 and 8 WAP, seed rate significantly (p<0.05) affected plant height. Seed rate at 3.0 kg ha-1 resulted to significantly taller plants which did not differ significantly from 3.5 kg ha-1 and 2.5 kg ha-1. The shortest plant was from 2.0 kg ha-1. The effect of seed rate and variety on number of leaves is not significant (P>0.05) at 2, 4, 6, and 8 WAP. The result also showed that seed rate had significant (P-0.05) effect on fresh and dry weight of amaranths at harvest; seed rate of 3.5 kg ha-did not differed significantly from seed rate at 3.0 kg ha-1 and 2.5 kg ha-1, while seed rate at 2.0 kg ha-1 recording the lowest fresh and dry weight of amaranths. Seed rate at 2.5 kg ha-1 and any of the two varieties, Ex-Egypt (DAN EGYPT) or Ex-Kano “DAN KANO’’ would be beneficial for the farmers in Sokoto State and areas with similar environmental conditions
Physiological parameters and yield differ in rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars with variable water management systems
Yield reduction of rice is a severe problem due to the advent of increasing water scarcity and efficiency is relatively low. Physiological attributes and yield performance of high yielding (HYV) rice cultivars need to be assessed by minimizing water loss. Therefore, a glasshouse experiment was conducted in Bangladesh to investigate the impact of cultivars and water management on growth dynamics, biomass production, and yield and water productivity. Ten HYV boro (dry season irrigated) rice cultivars along with fivewater management systems were included in the study. The study revealed that cultivars Binadhan-10 had higher value of leaf area index (LAI), root dry weight along with moderate panicle length. Accordingly, the cultivar Binadhan-10 had a higher yield than all other cultivars because of the highest total dry matter (TDM), number of effective tillers hill-1, and number of grains panicle-1. Growth, TDM, and yield were increased with water application up to 8 DAD after which these factors declined with increasing water stress at 10 DAD. The crop grown at CS condition did not increase the yield, rather caused the wastage of irrigation water. The water productivity was the highest (0.252 t ha-1cm-1) in 10 DAD treatments, obviously due to minimum water use but highest yield was observed in 8 DAD because of optimum use of water and non stress condition. Therefore, the present study was useful in the screening of the most efficient cultivars, which could be strongly recommended to rice growers to improve crop yield and reduce the use of water
Evaluation of potential rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes with different levels of N under rainfed shallow lowland situation
A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the yield of potential rice genotypes during kharif season, 2012 and 2013 at Rice Research Station, Bankura, West Bengal, India on sandy loam soil of slightly acidic in reaction (pH: 5.7). This experiment was conducted in split-plot design with three replications. The results indicated that 105 kg N ha-1, the yield attributes recorded maximum number of panicles m-2 (307.9), panicle length (25.3cm), panicle weight (2.32g), number of filled grains per panicle (117.8), 1000-grains weight (24.5g) and finally recorded highest grain yield (4.80 t ha-1) than lower fertilities. While, 70 kg N ha-1 was remained closed to 105 kg N ha-1 in number of panicles m-2, panicle weight and number of filled grains per panicle. Among the potential rice varieties ‘Sampriti’ (IET 21987) recorded the highest grain yield (4.66 t ha-1) under rainfed shallow lowland situation of red and laterite zone of West Bengal. The highest grain yield (4.80 t ha-1) was obtained at 105 kg N ha-1and it was statistically at par with 70 kg N ha-1 (4.62 t ha-1). Therefore, the increased in grain yield of rice by the varieties due to overall respective performance in growth and appreciable improvement in the yield attributing characters
Growth response of mahagony seedling (Swietenia macrophylla King.) to addition of coconut shell charcoal and compost on ex-sand mining site of West Java Province in Indonesia
Riverbank is the area that is frequently being used for sand mining site. Overexploited and poorly-managed sand mining will give negative impacts to environment. To prevent and to reduce worse environmental damage, efforts to control the negative effects should be done. One of efforts that can be implemented is revegetation on the damaged land by sand mining activities, thus it needs the type of vegetation that could adapt to its environment. Mahagony (Swietenia macrophylla King.) is a plant that could adapt to ex-sand mining site environment. This research was carried out to assess the effect of adding compost manure and coconut shell charcoal for the growth of mahagony seedling (S. macrophylla) on ex-sand minig site and to identify proper dose for the coconut shell charcoal and compost manure to condition of the site. This research uses complete random design (CRD) factorial. The result of this research shows that giving coconut shell charcoal and compost manure does not have significant effect to all parameter viz height, diameter, total wet weight (TWW), total dry weight (TDW), and root apex ratio (RAR) of S. macrophylla. Giving compost manure partially has significant effect to high parameter, total wet weight, total dry weight, and root apex ratio of S. macrophylla with the best dose amounting to 100 g. The addition dose of coconut shell charcoal 20 g give the best response to total wet weight parameter of S. macrophylla
Assessment of physico-chemical and heavy metals properties of some agricultural soils of Awing-North West Cameroon
This research work was aimed to assess the quality of agricultural soils of Awing-North West Cameroon by elucidating some physicochemical properties and heavy metals in the soils. Agricultural yields in Awing have witnessed a decline in recent years and farmers have repeatedly used fertilizers to improve on their agricultural yields. It is thus important to test the soil in order to ensure not only high productivity but its quality as well and suggest methods to increase agricultural yields, while preventing soil and water pollution. Twenty soil samples were randomly collected from four sites, Achialum, Meupi, Nepele and Ala’amiti, in Awing and analysed for physicochemical and heavy metal properties using standard methods. Results showed that all the soils had low bulk densities (0.76-0.89 g cm-3), low pH values (4.1-6.0), low electrical conductivities (0.02 – 0.11 mS cm-1), low available phosphorus (1.55-14.26 mg kg-1) and the soil textural class was dominated by loam. The mean available concentrations of heavy metals ranged from 0.24-2.73, 0.64-5.13, 13.79-34.51, 29.45-92.27, 0.00-0.80, 0.24-4.54, 0.68-1.39, 0.30-0.47 mg kg-1 for Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, Pb, Ni, Cr and Cd respectively. Results of heavy metal analysis showed that the soils were contaminated to different levels (above FAO/WHO limits) by the different heavy metals. Natural origins, fertilizer application and domestic waste were identified as the major sources of heavy metals in the soils. Future research should focus on the development of methods to quantify lime-enhanced mobilization of nutrient ions and lime-induced immobilization of heavy metals in these soils
Interaction effect of seedling age and different doses of GA3 on growth and yield of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)
An experiment was conducted in the Horticultural Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207 during the period from October 2010 to March 2011 to find out the effect of GA3 and seedling age on the growth and yield of tomato. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The experiment consisted of four concentration of GA3 such as control G0 = no GA3, G1= 75 ppm GA3, G2 = 100 ppm GA3 and G3 =125 ppm GA3; three different seedling ages such as S1= 20 days, S2 = 25 days and S3 = 30 days old seedling. All parameter varied significantly at different concentration of GA3 in different DAT. The combined effect of G3S3 (125 ppm GA3 with 30 days old seedling) gave the maximum yield (90.28 t ha-1), on the other hand combined effect of G0S1 (no GA3 with 20 days old seedling) gave the minimum yield (59.83 t ha-1). The maximum yield (2.79 kg) plant-1 was recorded from treatment combination of G3S3 and the minimum yield (1.20 kg) was recorded from treatment combination G0S1. The maximum yield (32.47 kg) plot-1 was recorded from treatment combination G3S3 and the minimum yield (21.52 kg) plot-1 was recorded from treatment combination G0S1. The maximum yield (90.28 t ha-1) was recorded from treatment combination of G3S3 and the minimum yield (59.83 t ha-1) was recorded from treatment combination of G0S1. Therefore, 125 ppm GA3 with 30 days old seedling was found suitable combination for tomato production
Occurrence and floral details of four new invasive alien species in Uttarakhand, India
The present paper deals with the communication of four new species which are addition to the old reported species out of these 91 species which were studied. Four new invasive alien species (IAS) are Acmella radicans (Jacq. R.K. Jansen), Eclipta prostrata (L.) L., Euphorbia cyathophora Murray and Senna alata (L.) Roxb. was recorded as new elements in IAS flora of Uttarakhand. The study is conducted during 2011- 2015 to compile a comprehensive list of Invasive alien species. A total of 91 Invasive Alien Species were collected from the different areas of Pantnagar. These 91 IAS belonged to 70 genera under 30 families. Dicotyledons were representing by 82 species belonging to 63 genera under 25 families, whereas monocotyledons were represented by 9 species belonging to 7 genera under 5 families. The taxonomic analysis of IAS revealed dominance of Asteraceae with 16 species in 14 genera followed by Amaranthaceae with 10 species in 7 genera, Fabaceae with 8 species in 6 genera, Malvaceae with 7 species in 6 genera, Convovlvulaceae with 7 species in 3 genera, Solanace-ae with 6 species in 4 genera, Poaceae with 4 species in 3 genera and Euphorbiaceae with 4 species in 2 genera. Results of this study clearly indicate presence of 52.60% of IAS flora of India and 55.82% of IAS flora Uttarakhand in such a small area of Pantnagar. Eradication of these species is impractical and costly; however, their population needs regular monitoring and any new introduction need eradication as early as possible
Food insecurity in rural Nigeria during the lean season: Causes and coping strategies
This study used a national representative sample of 3380 household from the general household survey-panel (GHS-Panel) to examine the causes and coping strategies among the rural households in Nigeria. The post-planting survey visit, which is the first round of its kind in Nigeria was carried out in (August-October, 2010), it was done immediately after planting season to collect information on land preparation, input and labour utilization. The results shown that soaring food prices and drought together constituted the highest causes of household food insecurity with about (42%) according to the household responses. The cumulative food insecurity strategy index (CSI) is an inverse function approach, which means that an increase in the use of coping strategies indicate a decrease in food security. The results reveal that, households within the age category of greater than or equals to 71 years are having the highest CSI (71.1%). While the least food insecure are the household heads within the age cohort of 31-40 years with only 25.7 % CSI. Poverty alleviation programs and encouraging sustainable non-farm income generating activities among the rural households would have positive impact on the food security situation in rural Nigeria
Impact of climate change on yield of different crops grown in Cachar district of Assam, India
Impact of climate change on crop yield threatens food security which is detrimental to agricultural sector. Cachar district of Assam is a climate susceptible district due to its unique geographical location and hydrological regime in north-eastern India. So, the present study was carried out to assess impact of climate change on crop yield for sustainability of agriculture. Climatic data viz., rainfall, maximum-minimum temperature and sunshine hours were collected from an observatory of Tea Research Association, Silcoorie, Cachar district for 2007-2012. Statistical and correlation analysis was employed to evaluate potential climate change impact on productivity of twenty three major crops of the study site. The correlation coefficient (r, Pearson’s Product Moment) between any climatic parameter and crop yield implied that climate has strong linear correlation with yield of crops resulting in twenty-two strong correlations. Among the climatic parameters rainfall was found to have most significant impact on yield. Noteworthy reduction was observed in yield of Autumn Paddy and Winter Paddy by 8.75 and 20.44 during the year 2008-2009 due to 3.98 and 36.22% decrease of rainfall with r values 0.95 and -0.76, respectively. Also, a quantum leap of 145.32% increase of rainfall during Rabi season of 2007-2008 decreased the yield of Potato and Rabi vegetables by 22.96 and 16.89%, respectively. The study revealed that climate change has significant impact on crop yield which could be alleviated by adopting rainwater harvesting technology at the top and foot hills of the hilly areas