Moroccan Journal of Agricultural Sciences
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Effects of compost and horse manure teas on growth, yield, and quality of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in Semi-Arid Nigeria
Full text linkThe need for safe, healthful food on a worldwide scale drives modern agriculture to use organic farming methods to boost crop yield while protecting the environment and slowing down climate change. A field and net house study was conducted in the Sudan Savanna of Nigeria to evaluate the effects of compost tea (CT) and horse manure tea (HMT) on flowering, growth, yield, and quality of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). The experiment was a 4 x 4 factorial laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replicates consisting of four (4) levels each of CT and HMT (0, 100, 125, and 150 ml/L). Compost tea significantly reduced days to 50% flowering in both environments. In the open field, 150 ml m-² CT led to the earliest flowering (40.9 days), compared to 53.6 days in the control. Dry matter accumulation also improved significantly, with 150 ml m-² CT yielding 24.9 g and 23.9 g in the net house and open field, respectively. CT significantly increased yield, with 8.9 t/ha in the net house and 7.8 t/ha in the open field at 150 ml m-². CT application enhanced fruit N, K, vitamin C, and Brix content, with 6.1 % N, 1453 mg kg-1 K, 2.82 mg/100 g Vit C, and 2.5 Brix at 150 ml m-². HMT also influenced some parameters but was less effective. The CT × HMT interaction showed synergistic effects on flowering, dry matter, and nutrient content. These findings suggest compost tea is a potent organic input for enhancing cucumber productivity.
Keywords: Dry matter, tissue N, P, K, yield characters, cucumber, open field, net house, semi-arid ecolog
Effect of different plant densities on growth, yield and nutritional quality of sesame (Sesamum indicum) in Morocco
Full text linkA field experiment was carried out to assess the effect of plant density on growth, yield components and nutritional quality of Sesamum indicum in Taounate, Morocco. The experiment was a randomized block design using three levels of plant density: 100 104 plants ha-1, 11 104 plants ha-1, and 4 104 plants ha-1. Results showed that plant density affected the majority of measured parameters. Low plant density (4 104 plants ha-1) increased plant length (150 cm), number of capsules per plant (94.3), number of seeds per capsule (61.2), and capsules length (29.8 mm). On the other hand, seed yield, oil yield, and protein yield increased with increasing plant density. In conclusion, it is recommended to adjust the plant density to 100 104 plants per hectare under the conditions of Taounate, Morocco to achieve maximum yield with better nutritional quality.
Key words: Sesamum indicum, Plant density, Growth, Yields, Nutritional qualit
Food safety and blockchain in agribusiness
Full text linkFood safety is a critical concern globally, with increasing consumer demand for transparency in the supply chain. Blockchain technology has emerged as a transformative solution to enhance traceability, accountability, and efficiency in agribusiness. This review explores the intersection of food safety and blockchain, examining recent advancements, theoretical and conceptual frameworks, and real-world applications. It discusses challenges, policy implications, and recommendations for broader adoption in agribusiness systems.
Keywords: Agribusiness, Blockchain, Food safet
Massive almond tree mortality in the central High Atlas, Morocco
Full text linkMorocco has been experiencing six consecutive years of drought due to a decline in rainfall linked to climate change and this have threatened water supplies and hit agriculture and the economy in general. The main objective of the article is to document the sudden massive death of almond trees in the central High Atlas Mountains during 2022-2025. In March-August 2022, an average of 24.7% of dead trees was identified among the 4 074 almond trees in the study area. This average has increased to 88.2% in February-August 2024. In all the 17 studied fields, the average number of dead trees has risen rapidly in 2023. The results of monitoring almond trees in the field showed that tree mortality occurred mainly between March 2023 and July 2023, and that since September 2023, 88.2% of trees became totally dead. In the study area, almond trees play very important economic and ecological roles. Therefore, it is necessary to quickly find solutions to protect the remaining almond trees, as well as to help farmers and residents to obtain knowledge, techniques and funding necessary to carry out a regional campaign to plant almond trees in areas where trees have died.
Keywords: Almond decline, tree mortality, Morocco, Drough
Soil-traits interactions and path analysis of growth and fertility indicators driving sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) yield in the Nigerian Southern Guinea Savanna
Full text linkOptimizing sugarcane yield under variable soil conditions requires a deep understanding of the interactions between plant traits and soil fertility parameters. This study investigated the direct and indirect contributions of key growth attributes and soil properties to sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) yield in the Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria. Field trials were conducted at Badeggi during the 2018 and 2019 rainy seasons. Growth parameters, including stalk height, stalk girth, and Brix content and soil fertility indicators (organic carbon, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus) were measured and analyzed using correlation and path coefficient analysis. Cane yield showed strong positive correlations with stalk height, stalk girth, and soil organic carbon across both seasons. Path analysis identified stalk girth (31.6% in 2018; 19.1% in 2019) and stalk height (7.5% in 2018; 19.3% in 2019) as the most influential direct contributors to yield. Soil nutrients and Brix content contributed indirectly, primarily through their enhancement of structural growth traits. The analytical model accounted for 71.2% and 80.4% of yield variability in 2018 and 2019, respectively. These findings underscore the pivotal role of stalk morphology and nutrient-enriched soils particularly organic carbon and phosphorus in driving cane yield. The results advocate for an integrated approach that combines varietal selection for structural vigor with site-specific nutrient management to sustainably enhance sugarcane productivity in savanna agroecosystems.
Keywords: Sugarcane yield, stalk traits, soil fertility, path analysis, organic carbo
Agri-Fintech solutions for youth: Developing financial products tailored for young Nigerian farmers
Full text linkAccess to finance remains a critical barrier for young Nigerian farmers, despite agriculture being a pivotal sector for job creation and food security. Agri-fintech—the intersection of agriculture and financial technology—has emerged as a transformative avenue for delivering customized financial products to this demographic. This research review explores the landscape of agri-fintech innovations tailored for young farmers in Nigeria, assesses the suitability of current financial products, examines theoretical and conceptual models underpinning youth engagement in agri-finance, and synthesizes empirical findings from recent studies. Key themes include mobile lending, blockchain-enabled supply chains, micro-insurance, and digital savings. The paper concludes with policy implications for youth-centric agri-fintech design, financial inclusion, and sustainable agricultural development.
Keywords: Agri-fintech, Youth, Innovation, Development, Nigeria, Rura
Impact of foliar application of moringa leaf extract on growth and yield of different cultivars of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) in Nigeria
Full text linkExtreme dependency on synthetic fertilizers and other agricultural inputs like pesticides and herbicides poses risks to environmental and health hazards and has driven the quest for more justifiable and eco-friendly approaches. A field experiment was conducted during the 2024 growing season at Federal University Dutse Teaching and Research Farm, to examine the potential of Moringa Leaf Extract (MLE) as a natural, plant-based biostimulant to improve cucumber (Cucumis sativus) productivity. Three cucumber varieties were used Monalisa F1, Saira F1, and Poinsett, and were laid in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Data on crop growth and yield components were collected and analyzed. Except for the Number of branches and Number of fruits per plant, MLE application significantly enhanced most traits of cucumber, including days to 50% flowering, number of Fruit diameter, vine length, and number of leaves, Poinsett variety had high fruit length compared to Monelisa F1 and Saira F1, while Monalisa F1 had a high percentage of flowering compared to Poinsett and Saira F1. The application of MLE proved to be an effective biostimulant offering an alternative and environmentally friendly approach to enhance the productivity of cucumber in Sudan Savannah Zone of Nigeria.
Keyword: Bio-stimulant, Cucumber, Moringa leaf extract, Yield, Varietie
In vitro efficacy of some fungicides for the management of Rice Blast Pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae
Full text linkFungicides are used in agriculture for the management of plant diseases for effective food production. In this study, we conducted an in vitro experiment using three synthetic fungicides on mycelium growth of Magnaporthe oryzae. Among the tested fungicides, percent mycelial growth inhibition was higher in Contaf 100 % concentration (86.1%) followed by Contaf 50 % concentration (85.0 %). The least inhibition was observed in Raksha 50% concentration with 43.3% inhibition. We also evaluated the effect of seed dressing chemicals on the percentage germination of rice seeds. The results showed that all seeds treated had over 80 % germination at 7 days after sowing (DAS) compared to untreated (control) seeds which had only 65 % germination. Germination was higher (85 %) at 7 days after sowing, with seeds treated with Raksha, followed by Star-dress with 84 % while the least germination was observed with the seeds treated with Apama plus 81 %. Furthermore, the impact of seed dressing chemicals on the rice seedling vigor was also evaluated. Highest seedling vigor was observed on seeds treated with Star-dress with mean seedling length of (22.5 cm) which showed the highest vigor index of 1893, followed by Apama plus with mean seedling length of (22.1 cm) and a vigor index of 1792. Least seedling length of (18.9 cm) was observed with Raksha which was even lower than the control (20.4 cm). Our results suggested that fungicides can be effectively administered for the management of plant diseases to support seed germination and seedling vigor.
Keywords: seed germination, seedling vigor index, seed dressing chemicals, Magnaporthe oryza
Therapeutic potential of natural plant substances for the control of avian infectious bronchitis virus
Full text linkAvian infectious bronchitis (IB) is one of the foremost avian pathologies and is caused by a coronavirus with worldwide distribution. In addition to its infectivity, the appearance of new variants and strains makes this pathology particularly difficult to control, which represents a threat to the poultry sector. Natural substances have long been used as therapeutic sources and boosters for vaccines since vaccines alone do not provide complete protection due to continuous mutations of the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). To explore other remedies to fight IBV, several researchers have turned to using medicinal plants and extracting active ingredients with antiviral properties. The quest for alternative therapies is particularly relevant given the Sars-CoV-2 outbreak, a human coronavirus that shares similarities with IBV, such as its mutation rates and health complications. This article is a systematic review of natural products used against IBV. Thirteen natural products, including plants, essential oils, and mixtures, were identified in this study, and all showed antiviral activity against IBV, with variable effectiveness. Although the efficacy of these active substances has been established and demonstrated by scientific methods, further and more in-depth studies should be carried out to confirm the results, determine the mechanisms of action, and validate their use as a treatment or adjuvant.
Keywords: Coronavirus, IBV, plants, antiviral, poultr
Mechanization and Extension Services in the Era of Buharinomics: Myth or Momentum?
Full text linkThe Buhari administration (2015–2023) in Nigeria introduced a suite of agricultural reform policies aimed at revitalizing the sector, with particular emphasis on mechanization and extension services. This paper critically reviews the implementation and outcomes of these policies within the framework of “Buharinomics”—the economic philosophy associated with President Muhammadu Buhari, assessing whether these initiatives constituted genuine developmental momentum or were largely rhetorical. Drawing on policy documents, national agricultural transformation plans, budgetary allocations, and empirical studies, the paper investigates the scope, scale, and impact of government-led mechanization drives and the revitalization of agricultural extension systems. While the era witnessed policy pronouncements and some structural investments—such as partnerships with foreign equipment suppliers and the deployment of extension agents—implementation gaps, inadequate funding, and bureaucratic inertia limited the overall effectiveness of these programs. The analysis suggests that despite notable initiatives like the Green Imperative Program and the National Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services Strategy, many promises remained under-delivered, reflecting a disconnect between ambition and execution. The paper concludes that while there was clear policy intent, the Buhari era's achievements in mechanization and extension were more myth than sustained momentum, necessitating a rethinking of institutional frameworks and accountability mechanisms in future interventions.
Keywords: Agriculture, Advisory services, Policy, Nigeri