Moroccan Journal of Agricultural Sciences
Not a member yet
192 research outputs found
Sort by
Socio-economic study of rice-fish farming in the region of upper Sassandra (Côte d'Ivoire)
Get PDFThis study aims to assess the socio-economic impact of rice-fish farming in the Haut Sassandra region. To this end, a survey was conducted in five villages in the sub-prefecture of Bédiala between April and July 2020 using a questionnaire. The method of collecting data and other information consisted of direct interviews with the leaders of the Bédiala fish farmers’ association (DEHIZEA), producers and fishmongers. The information thus obtained was supplemented by direct observations in the field. On the basis of the data collected on rice-fish farmers from DEHIZEA officials, 60 (or 30 %) rice-fish farms were selected out of 202 farms with effective fish farming activity in the areas concerned. The selection was made jointly with DEHIZEA officials using the simple random sampling method. The XLStat 2016 program was used to process the quantitative data. The results show that 63.3 % of rice-fish farmers are farmers and have been practicing the activity for more than 5 years. The sale of fish is the main activity of 80% of fishmongers. In 86.7 % of cases, rice bran constitutes the food distributed to the fish. The fish production of 40% of the rice-fish farmers is between 0.5 and 1.5 tonnes. Concerning rice production, 43% of rice-fish farmers produce between 500 and 1200 kg and 31% produce between 500 and 900 kg. On the other hand, all the rice-farmers have a production of less than 6 tonnes/year. They sell this production between 500 and 1000 CFA francs/kg, which gives an annual income of less than 5 million CFA francs. Ninety-seven percent of the producers are satisfied with the financial contribution of the system.Keywords: Rice-fish culture, Socio-economic, Upper Sassandra, Côte d’Ivoir
Decreasing maize production-consumption gap by intercropping with upland rice using different planting densities under deficit irrigation
Get PDFA two-year field experiment was conducted in 2018 and 2019 at Gemmiza Agricultural Research Station (Lat. 31.03° N, Long. 30.88° E, 8 m a.s.l.); Gharbia Governorate; Egypt. The aim was to use untraditional sowing method to intercrop maize with upland rice using three maize planting densities (25, 37.5 and 50% of its recommended density) and application of two deficit irrigation treatments (irrigation every 9 and 12 days), in addition to irrigation every 6 days (control) and to study its effect on the yield of both intercrops, competitive relationships and farmer’s income. The results indicated that the highest value of rice yield and its components were found under irrigation every 6 days and 25% maize planting density intercropped with rice. Whereas, the highest value of maize yield and its components were found under irrigation every 9 days and 50% maize planting density intercropped with rice, which also obtained the highest land and water equivalent ratios, area time equivalent ratio, and land equivalent coefficient. Furthermore, the highest total income and monetary advantage index were obtained under irrigation every 9 days and 50% maize planting density intercropped with rice. Thus, these results implied that intercropping maize with upland rice can solve part of the maize production-consumption gap through increasing its production without using additional lands or water.
Keywords: Land and water equivalent ratios, percentage of land saved, area time equivalent ratio, land equivalent coefficient, monetary advantage index, Rice, Maize, Egyp
Pearl millet forage productivity under sprinkler irrigation system in sandy soil
Get PDFA field experiment was conducted in a private farm (30o40' N latitude, 32o15' E longitude, and 10.0 m above mean sea level), Ismailia Governorate, Egypt, during the 2020 and 2021 summer growing seasons. The aim was to study the effect of four irrigation treatments (125, 100, 75% ETo, and farmer practice) on pearl millet forage yield. Average amounts of applied irrigation water under 125, 100, 75% ETo and farmer practice were 4637, 3710, 2782, and 5950 m3/ha, respectively with respective average water consumption values of 4130, 3308, 2482, and 5302 m3/ha. Compared to the farmer practice, the saved water was 22, 38, and 53 % for the 125, 100, and 75% ETo treatments. Average water use efficiency values were 7.91, 7.55, 6.96 and 4.59 kg/m3, and average water productivity values were 7.04, 6.73, 6.21, and 4.08 kg/m3 for 125, 100, 75% ETo and farmer treatments, respectively. The Ky factor was 1.17 indicating that the pearl millet crop is moderately sensitive to water stress. Irrigating pearl millet in sandy soils with 100% ETo will save 38% of applied irrigation water, achieve water use efficiency of 7.55 green yield/m3 of water consumed, and water productivity of 6.73 kg green yield/m3 of water applied.
Keywords: Pearl millet, BIS model, sprinkler system, sandy soil, water use efficiency and water productivit
Evaluation of the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Tunisian Artemisia Herba-alba essential oil
Get PDFTunisia is characterized by a climate that allows the proliferation of many plants rich in active substances with multiple biological activities and can replace the use of antioxidants and synthetic antibiotics. For this reason, Artemisia leaves and twigs were collected from the central region of Tunisia (Thala). The essential oil was extracted using hydro-distillation and analyzed using GC/MS, the antioxidant activity of Artemisia Herba-alba was evaluated by the DPPH test and the antibacterial powers against four bacterial strains was measured by the agar well method diffusion. GC/MS results showed that the main components of Artemisia Herba-alba essential oil were ?-thujone (23.9 %) and chrysanthenone (17.4%). Indeed, the results showed a potent antioxidant effect (85.2 % inhibition of free radicals DPPH) and the IC50 value was 84.8 µg/ml. Concerning the antibacterial activity, the oil was active against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. A strong effect was observed against Salmonella (29mm) and Bacillus (22.5 mm). To conclude, the antioxidant power and the antibacterial activity are strongly correlated with the chemical composition of the essential oil.
Keywords: Artemisia Herba-alba, essential oil, antioxidant activity, antibacterial activit
Biochar particles size influenced the yield and water productivity of two mint (Mentha sp.) varieties under drip irrigation
Get PDFIn a two-year experiment conducted in 2019 and 2020, evaluation of the interaction between biochar particle sizes (without application (B1), <1 mm (B2), 6.60-9.50 mm (B3) and >13 mm (B4)) and irrigation treatments (120 (I1), 100 (I2) and 80% (I3) ETo) on yield, water use efficiency (WUE) and water productivity (WP) of two mint varieties (spearmint (V1) and peppermint (V2)) was done in the new soil of El-Behira Governorate under drip system. The results showed that, in both cuts, application of I1 and B4 increased the fresh yield by an average of 16.6 % for varieties and seasons, compared to other treatments. The highest oil yield was increased by an average of 28.0% for varieties and seasons under B2 and I3, compared to other treatments. The highest applied irrigation water was 11655 m3/ha under I1 averaged over varieties and seasons, which attained the highest yield under the application of the four biochar treatments. Application of I2 and B2 attained the highest values of WUE, namely 3.29 and 2.75 kg/m3 for V1 and V2, respectively averaged over seasons. The highest values of WP were also found under I2 and B2, namely 2.80 and 2.34 kg/m3. In conclusion, application of B2 could relieve the effect of water deficiency and increase both WUE and WP for both mint varieties.
Keywords: Biochar particles size, spearmint (Mentha spicate), peppermint (Mentha piperita L.), water use efficiency, water productivit
Biological characteristics of Orthonama obstipata (Fabricius, 1794) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), an emerging defoliator of mint (Mentha spicata L., 1753) in Morocco
Get PDFThe looper caterpillar, O. obstipata is one of the defoliator species of cultivated mint in Morocco. Its identification and its biology constitute the preliminary step for the development of a program aiming at its integrated management. The larvae were collected from a plot of mint grown in a region of northern central Morocco, and reared in the laboratory. The identification of the species was based on comparing the male aedeagus and the female spermatheca to the reference slides. In this study, the elements of biology and morphological characteristics of the different ecophases of O. obstipata are clarified and discussed. The life cycle of the species, from egg to egg, is completed in 31.3 ± 2.16 days. The emergence occurs linearly in time after the 27th and 28th days of oviposition according the sex. The sex ratio (Male/Female) is 0.88:1. The fecundity of the females is positively correlated with their lifespan. Females have an average fecundity of 210 eggs and a fertility rate of 97%. Adults live on average 22.0 ± 6.27 days. The highest mortality rates occur in the last larval instar and pupa.
Keywords: Orthonama obstipata, Biology, Reproduction, Mentha spicat
Profit efficiency of small-scale farmers participating in USAID markets II in Kano state of Nigeria
Get PDFThe present research determined the profit efficiency of smallholder farmers participating in USAID MARKETS II in Nigeria’s Kano State using undated data collected from 189 farmers drawn through a multi-stage sampling technique. Data elicitations were done through a well-structured questionnaire complemented with interview schedule and both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The empirical evidence showed an improvement in women folk participation in the program despite strong advocacy of gender stereotype viz. religious and cultural barriers in the studied area. However, this progress owes to the tacit focus of the program on women and youths. Furthermore, it was established that none of the farmer is profit efficient and it majorly owes to extension gap. On the average, a technical unit gained 58.47% of its potential profit, thus lost a profit of N123008 due to inefficient resource mix. Besides, an average farm unit still has the potential to increase his profit efficiency by 41.53%, thus bridging its discrepancy from the frontier surface. Therefore, the study calls on the program promoters to enhance their extension services delivery structure thereby addressing the problem of extension gap that inhibit profit efficiency given its multifaceted influence on risks associated with farmers socio-economic characteristics.
Keywords: Profit efficiency, USAID MARKETS II, Small-scale, Rice farmers, Nigeri
Triple superphosphate, potassium sulfate and nitrogenous fertilizers effects on fitness and aggressiveness of Fusarium culmorum inducing wheat crown rot
Get PDFThis study examined the effects of N, P, and K fertilizers on Fusarium culmorum on in-vitro mycelial growth and biomass, and aggressiveness on wheat plants. Urea, phosphorus, potassium sulfate, and the mixture of similar amounts of these last two ingredients increased fungal biomass. Rearing mycelia on urea, the mixture, or phosphorus increased aggressiveness by 56%, 120%, and 130%, respectively. But this aggressiveness did not affect inoculated plants dry biomass. However, the inoculum that was reared on ammonium sulfate increased infected plant biomass. These findings infer that the management of this disease may rely on a proper dose of fertilizers application. First, farmers are advised to avoid urea and use instead ammonium nitrate; second, place phosphorus and potassium sulfate under the seedbed away from any inoculum in the soil. Therefore, surveying disease development, its past events, soil health, and soil fertility is a prerequisite for any successful control of this disease.
Keywords: Fusarium culmorum, Aggressiveness, Fitness, Nitrogen forms, Phosphorus, Potassium sulfat
Growth performance, conversion and survival rates of Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) reared on various livestock diets
Get PDFThe yellow mealworm Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) started recently to be used as a feed and food to replace traditional products. The optimization of mass rearing conditions and the choice of appropriate diets are the most important factors governing the production of these insects and secondary products. The aim of this study was to study the performance of T. molitor on six affordable animal feed diets (two different dairy cow feeds, calf starter feed, chick starter and grower feeds and wheat bran) in addition to a control diet based on wheat bran and starter feed for Chick (60:40 ratio). Larvae showed the highest mass gain and growth rate when fed on wheat bran only. The control and the wheat bran diets were the most consumed by T. molitor larvae, while the other feeds were less appreciated. Conversion and survival rates did not vary significantly between the diets. The results should be taken into consideration for large scale mass-rearing of T. molitor.
Keywords: Animal feeds; growth rate; mass rearing; weight gain; yellow mealworm
Low fruitfulness in local almond orchards could be due to the inbreeding depression effect
Get PDFFruitfulness of 26 promising local almond genotypes in four Moroccan localities under two different agro-ecological systems, mountains and oasis ecosystem, was assessed by physiological means including pollen tube growth and fruit set after self- and cross-pollination and open-pollination. All studied genotypes are self-incompatible. The analysis of variance showed significant effects of the genotype, the year and the origin on fruit set in open-pollinated branches. Over two years, fruit set ranged from 5.3 % to 25.7 %,which is lower than the 30% threshold for a commercial crop in almond. The reciprocal cross-pollination test carried out in 6 genotypes from Agdez oasis locality showed that the genotypes Km-3 and Km-4 are cross-incompatible. Fruit set after cross-pollination among genotypes was low, with low to medium number of pollen tube at the style base after the reciprocal crosses, probably due to the inbreeding effect. In some crosses, the number of pollen tubes at the style base was high, whereas the fruit set was low. These results indicate that in traditional almond orchards, based on local cultivars propagated locally by seed, potential yield of the tree is limited by the effect of inbreeding depression.
Keywords: Almond, Cross pollination, Fruit set, Self-incompatibility, Inbreeding depressio