Moroccan Journal of Agricultural Sciences
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Impact of different sesame intercropping dates with cotton on agronomic performance and insect pests infestation
Full text linkClimate change has a negative impact on cotton and sesame yields. Intercropping can promote climate resilience through higher plant resources efficiency and natural suppression of insect pests, pathogens and weeds. A the two-year field trial was conducted to determine the best dates for intercropping sesame and cotton with respect to cotton and sesame agronomic performance and infestation by major pests. Sesame was planted two weeks before cotton, simultaneously with cotton, and two weeks after cotton into cotton planted on April 1, April 15 and May 1. Delayed intercropping of sesame increased cotton yield and yield-related traits at all cotton seeding dates and reduced infestations of insect pests, especially bollworms. Conversely, intercropping sesame two weeks before cotton was sown on May 1 produced the highest sesame agronomic trait values and decreased infestations of insect pests, including the sesame capsule borer. The highest land equivalent ratio (1.21) was obtained by intercropping sesame after two weeks with cotton planted on April 1. However, the lowest land equivalent ratio (1.0) was obtained by intercropping sesame two weeks before cotton in the cotton planted on April 15. On April 1, the relative crowding coefficient for intercropping treatments exhibited greater values than one, while April 15 displayed the lowest value. All of the intercropping treatments of sesame after cotton produced the best total return compared to the sole culture of cotton on the three dates. In summary, intercropping sesame after two weeks with cotton planted on April 1 was the best option for better cotton and sesame productivity, reduced pest pressure and higher economic returns.
Keywords: Cotton, Insect pests, Land equivalent ratio, Sesame, Total retur
Effect of planting methods of flax on garlic yield under different intercropping patterns
Full text linkThe purpose of this experiment was to investigate yield, yield components and economic evaluation of flax (Sakha 5) and garlic (Sids 40) under various planting methods and intercropping patterns. The experimental design was a split-plot design with four replicates. The main-plots were assigned to the three cultivating methods and the sub-plots were allocated to the four intercropping patterns. The results indicated that drilling as planting method achieved the highest values for most studied characters in both seasons for flax and garlic, except for number of cloves/plant and plant height in garlic. Intercropping system with low garlic density (100% flax + 12.5% garlic) produced the maximum values for stem diameter, straw yield, number of capsules and seed/plant, seed index and seed yield for flax and number of leaves and cloves/plant, head diameter and weight for garlic in both seasons. The highest bulb yield of garlic was achieved with intercropping 100% flax + 37.5% garlic in both seasons. It can be concluded that the most economic returns for both crops were obtained from drilling as planting method with intercropping pattern 100% flax + 37.5% garlic under the environmental conditions of North Delta of Egypt.
Keywords: Intercropping, Land equivalent ratio (LER), Aggressivity (Ag), Relative crowding coefficient (RCC), economic evaluatio
Research trends on the contribution of traditional food products to child nutrition in Africa’s drylands
Full text linkStudies have described the diversity of traditional food resources and products (TFPs) in Africa. However, there is no study that maps the current scientific knowledge on the subject and establishes the most promising trends for their valorization in child nutrition. This review fills this gap and guides interventions to combat child malnutrition in Africa focused on local TFPs. A total of 596 scientific publications were exported from Scopus database, followed by bibliometric analysis using the biblioshiny web interface in R version 4.1.3. and by an interpretative analysis of clusters. The study revealed that the publications in our collection cover the period of 1971 to 2022 and were published in 269 journals and involved 2375 authors. Eight research clusters emerged from the mapping as trends. The most significant clusters highlighted that improving dietary diversity, providing sources of vitamin A, used as nutritious ingredients in the development of food products and incorporated into school feeding programs, are ways in which TFPs contribute to child nutrition. Knowledge gaps were identified and can be addressed through future research to fully leverage the opportunities offered by the diversity of traditional food products in Africa drylands to effectively combat child malnutrition.
Keywords: Traditional food products, Child malnutrition, Nutritional contribution, Research trends, Africa dryland
Susceptibility of three varieties of Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L.) towards Callosobruchus maculatus according to their nutritional and antinutrient contents
Full text linkThe leguminous seeds of voandzou (Vigna subterranea L.) are an important source of protein and anti-nutrients. The present study analyses nutritional and antinutrients content of 3 varieties of voandzou during storage under attacked by Callosobruchus maculatus. Three varieties of voandzou seeds with distinct colors: white cream (CM/EN/DW/14), red (CM/EN/DW/07) and black (CM/EN/DW/28) were collected from local markets and stored in flasks for 3 months. Thereafter, these seeds were sieved and weighted per batch. Chemical analysis of nutritional potential according AOAC methods and Phytic acid, Tannin, Oxalate and the trypsin inhibition activity were conducted both on clean and infested voandzou seed samples. The results showed that the CM/EN/DW/14 seed variety was the most attacked (75.4%) followed by CM/EN/DW/07 (42.6%). Nutritional properties indicate that CM/EN/DW/14 had the highest nutrient contents, highest ash and moisture content, while CM/EN/DW/28 recorded the lowest nutritional content compared to the other two samples. Concentrations of studied anti-nutritional factors were significantly different according to the color. The black color has the highest concentration of anti-nutrients content compared to the red and the white cream color. Seeds with higher anti-nutrients content had less attack rates compared to the others.
Keywords: Voandzou, Callosobruchus maculatus, Antinutient contents, Storage abilit
Heavy metals uptake pattern and accumulation in wheat
Full text linkThe study aimed to determine the pattern of heavy metals (HMs) uptake and accumulation in wheat and compare the concentrations of the studied HMs in the wheat grain produced under the Kano River Irrigation Project with the permissible limits recommended by FAO/WHO. Wheat samples were collected from 10 different locations within the irrigation scheme between February and March 2023. The samples were prepared using standard laboratory procedures and HMs were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The accumulation of HMs in wheat grains is in the order of Cu>Zn>Ni>Cr>Co>Cd. Pb and Hg were not detected in wheat grains. The concentrations of Zn, Cd and Cr in the wheat grain samples exceeded the recommended permissible limits.
Keywords: Food contamination, Heavy metals toxicity, Nigeria, wheat contaminatio
Allometric relationships for predicting the stem volume of Acer monspessulanum and evaluation of NDVI values to estimate some stand parameters using Sentinel-2 satellite image
Full text linkThe objectives of this work are to evaluate allometric models for predicting stem volume and use NDVI index to estimate stand parameters of Acer monspessulanum, using Sentinel-2 images for the determination of NDVI index. Forty-nine (49) sample plots of 20 x 20 m were used as ground truth data and randomly split into two groups: 70% for fitting data and 30% for data validation. We determined 12 dendrometric characters and the spectral index NDVI for each tree. The heights of the trees varied between 2.2 and 10.8 m and the DBH (Diameter at Breast Height) varied between 0.15 and 1.2 m. The analyzed relationships were between: (i) individual stem volume and dendrometric parameters, (ii) individual tree NDVI and the dendrometric parameters and (iii) individual crown diameter and NDVI. The relationships were evaluated using ten allometric models. The regression study showed that the diameter and the height presented the robust relationship with tree volume in cubic and power models (R2=0.997). Power and cubic equations were also confirmed as good predictors using NDVI. With these models, we can estimate dendrometric parameters and predict tree volume.
Keywords: Maple tree, NDVI, allometric model, dendrometric parameters, remote Sensin
In vitro antifungal activity of ethanol plant extracts against conidiospores of apple scab (Venturia inaequalis)
Full text linkAntifungal activity in vitro trials using ethanol extracts from leaves of Yucca filamentosa, stalks of Saponaria officinalis, roots of Berberis vulgaris, leaves of Olea europaea, roots of Inula helenium and flower twig of Tamarix tetrandra, prepared by maceration, were performed against Venturia inaequalis – a plant pathogen which causes apple scab disease. Results showed that some of the tested plant extracts had strong inhibition on germination of Venturia inaequalis conidiospores comparable to commercial synthetic pesticides.
Keywords: Yucca filamentosa, Berberis vulgaris, Tamarix tetrandra, Saponaria officinalis, Oliva europea, Inula helenium, Venturia inaequalis  
Typology of goat feeding systems in Benin
Full text linkFeeding is one of the limiting factors of productivity in goat production in developing countries. That’s why this study was carried out to characterize the feeding systems used in goat farming in Benin. Accordingly, a semi-structured survey was conducted among 533 goat farmers in 6 agro-ecological zones in Benin. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, breeding practices and feeding methods. A typology of goat feeding systems was developed using a factorial analysis of mixed data followed by an ascending hierarchical classification. The results of the study revealed three main types of feeding systems. These are feeding systems based on the use of: (i) natural pasture in a free-grazing system, (ii) natural pasture, crop residues and concentrates in a semi-controlled breeding system, and (iii) natural pasture, crop residues and concentrates in a controlled breeding system. The implementation of a programme to improve goat feeding and management systems will contribute significantly to increasing goat productivity. It will also contribute to food security in the rural community.
Keywords: Benin, Capra hircus, feeding practices, management practice
Transplantation of adult Argan trees (Argania spinosa L. Skeels)
Full text linkTransplantation of adult Argan trees is an important option for the conservation of this Moroccan ecological heritage plant species, especially when the land has to be cleared for development purposes. Given that adult Argan trees’ transplanting has not been investigated, this work was initiated to assess the success rate of this operation. The trees were removed from a rocky open cast cement quarry and planted in a deep soil located inside the premises of the cement plant. Two seasons were investigated, summer and winter of the year 2020. Tree preparation consisted of different canopy pruning, ranging from complete cut back to light trimming for global shaping; and proper root pruning. Regular watering was applied to the transplanted trees and gravel mulch placed on the surface of the watering pans to conserve soil moisture. The results show that Argan trees transplanted in summer resulted in 62.5% recovery, whereas those transplanted in winter reached 50%. Total branches removal (trees cut back) resulted in the highest rates of recovery independently of the season.
Keywords: Adult Argan trees, Pruning, Bare roots, Transplantation, Summer, Winte
Identification of weeds in sweet potato crops (Ipomoea batatas) in the lowlands of Côte d'Ivoire
Full text linkTo ensure better management of weeds in sweet potato crops, in the lowlands of Anyama in Côte d'Ivoire, it is appropriate to first identify weeds, particularly the major species. To do this, 120 floristic surveys were carried out in four lowlands of pure sweet potato cultivation, i.e. 30 surveys in each lowland. This work has identified 110 species belonging to 79 genera distributed in 33 botanical families. The dominant families are represented by Cyperaceae (17.3%), Poaceae (16.4%), Asteraceae (10.0%), Fabaceae (5.4%) and Amaranthaceae (4.5%). Angiosperms are in the majority with 98.2% of the species recorded. Dicotyledons are the most represented with 60.0% of species against 38.2% for Monocotyledons. In terms of biological types, therophytes are the most represented with 39.0%, followed by nanophanerophytes, then hemicryptophytes with the same proportion (10.8%). The study area has a homogeneous floristic distribution. Digitaria horizontalis, Eleusine indica, Alternanthera sessilis and Ageratum conyzoides are the most damaging species to the crop in this area.
Keywords: Anyama, lowland, sweet potato, weed, floristic surve