Asian Research Journal of Agriculture
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Determination of the Level of Aflatoxins Contamination in Maize (Zea mays L.) Produced in Five Regions of Côte d’Ivoire
No full textAims: The aim of this work is to assess the level of aflatoxins contamination in maize produced in five regions (Poro, Hambol, Gontougo, Gbêkê, Indénié-Djuablin) of Côte d\u27Ivoire.
Place and duration of study: In this study 375 samples of maize (grains, cobs, spathes) were taken from February 2016 to January 2017 and the aflatoxin analyses were carried out at the Biotechnology Laboratory, Agriculture and Development of Biological Resources of the Félix Houphouët-Boigny University.
Methodology: The aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1 and G2) were extracted and assayed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) according to the AOAC method.
Results: The results indicate the presence of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 in all forms of maize (grains, cobs, spathes) and in the five regions chosen for the study. The mean concentrations of aflatoxins B1 (AFB1) and the total aflatoxins (AFT) varied from 0.79 ± 0.04 µg/kg to 130.31 ± 22.56 µg/kg and from 2.63 ± 2,35 µg/kg to 169.13 ± 40.39 µg/kg respectively. samples from Indénié-Djuablin, Hambol and Gountougo regions showed the highest proportions of non-compliance with the european Union limit of 5 μg/kg and 10 μg/kg. Regarding AFB1, these proportions vary from 0% to 46% in the regions of Gbêkê, Poro and Hambol, while they are between 54% and 96% in the regions of Indénié-Djuablin and Gontougo. For total aflatoxins, the proportions of non-compliant samples were between 0% and 40% (Gbêkê and Poro), 12% and 56% (Hambol), 56% and 96% (Indénié-Djuablin and Gontougo).
Conclusion: These results demonstrate a need for monitoring of maize production by stakeholders in the sector who should adopt good agricultural practices
Decomposition of Plantain Peel Powder and Assessment of its Effects on Soil Physical and Chemical Characteristics
No full textThis study aims at assessing the effects of plantain (Musa paradisiaca) peel powder on soil physical and chemical properties in the context of sustainable yield management. The experiment took place in the laboratory of plant physiology of the University Félix Houphouët Boigny from July to November 2020. Three designs were set up. Design 1 consisted of 20 g of plantain peel powder added to a 2-cm thick layer of sea sand. Design 2 consisted of 5 g of plantain peel powder added to 250 g of sea sand. Design 3 consisted of a homogeneous mixture of 100 g of peel powder and 200 g of rhizospheric tomato or plantain soil. The designs were regularly watered with distilled water. In the first two designs, the plantain peel powder was added according to two methods. These included surface incorporation and deep incorporation. The experiment allowed us to characterize peel powder decomposition and assess its effects on soil physicochemical parameters. The physico-chemical characteristics of the soils were subjected to a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA 1). STATICA 7.1 software was used to perform all the analyses. Analysis of the results showed that the incorporation method does not influence peel powder decomposition. This decomposition is followed by the release of colored elements. Water retention capacity as well as particle size were improved. The results showed that plantain peel powder is an important source of minerals mainly phosphorus and potassium. It emerges from this study that plantain peel could be a good organic fertilizer for profitable and environmentally friendly agriculture
The Effect of Selected Ripening Agents on the Physico-Chemical Properties and Sulphide/ Sulphate Distribution of Banana (Musa Sapientum) Fruit
No full textThis study aimed at evaluating the effect of two ripening agents (calcium carbide and kerosene fumes) on the physiochemical properties and sulphide/sulphur distribution of banana fruit. Freshly unripe banana fruit were treated with calcium carbide powder and kerosene fumes and ripened within 48 hrs. Fruit samples were also ripened naturally and served as control. The samples were analyzed for physicochemical properties and sulphur/suphate distribution (outer and inner). The result of physicochemical analysis revealed a significant (p<0.05) decrease in pH (5.43-4.75), total titratable acidity (TTA) (5.03-0.47%), moisture (75.87-67.13%), carbohydrate (11.14-5.09%) and vitamin C (0.27-0.002mg/100g) with an increase in total soluble solids (2.00-19.30oBrix) following ripening process. Amongst the ripened fruits, fruits ripened with calcium carbide had highest TTA (1.63%) and moisture (74.75%). Accelerated ripened banana fruits had low pH>5 and higher TSS than naturally ripened sample. The concentrations of sulphur/sulphide (0.29-1.85mg/kg) were below the limit of 50 mg/kg indicating that the fruits were still safe for consumption against health threats posed by high concentrations of sulphate/sulphide. This study therefore quantified the changes in physicochemical properties of artificially ripened banana fruits and their possible health hazards. The study is very useful particularly in relation to the health hazards associated with chemical treatment for banana ripening. This will be useful to banana fruit sellers as it may help to optimise the ripening practices which may lead to reduce the safety and health concerns of the consumer
Analysis of the Effects of Climate Change on Maize Production in Mali
No full textThe objective of this paper is to analyze the effects of climate change on maize production in Mali during the period 1990-2020. The unit root test (augmented Dickey-Fuller) was used to check the order of integration between the variables in the study. The ARDL (autoregressive distributed lag) approach to cointegration limits is applied to assess the association between the study variables with evidence of a long-term relationship. The unit root test estimates confirm that all variables are stationary at the combination of I(0) and I(1). The results show that precipitation and temperature in June and July have a negative and highly significant effect on maize production in both the short and long term analyses. Among other determinants, the area of land devoted to maize crops and GDP per capita have a positive effect on production. The estimated coefficient on the error correction term is also highly also highly significant As Mali\u27s population grows, in the coming decades the country will face food security challenges. Possible initiatives are needed to configure the Malian government to address the negative effects of climate change on agriculture and ensure adequate food for the growing population
Determining the Coping Strategies towards Household Food Security Practiced by the Farmers in Flood Prone Areas
No full textA study was carried out at each of three flood affected reverine villages of three upazilas (small administrative unit) under Jamalpur district in Bangladesh during September, 2011 to May, 2012 to find out the coping strategies towards household food security practices by the farmers during flood period. Data were collected from randomly selected 336 respondents of 6720 farm families through both the qualitative and quantitative techniques and analyzed with the help of SPSS. A three-point rating scale was used for measuring the coping strategies considering five components such as food preservation, food management, food collection, agricultural products protection and some social aspects. The overall situation about practicing coping strategy had medium to high level where 70.83 percent were practiced high, 29.17 percent medium and none of them were under practiced low coping strategy towards household food security. Based on the above findings, it can be said that still now there is an ample scope for the development workers to work with the flood affected people for creating awareness towards better utilization of existing resources for improving their food situation as well as livelihoods
Effect of Importation Ban on Rice Production in Bade Local Government Area of Yobe State, Nigeria
No full textAim: The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the importation ban on rice production in Bade Local Government Area of Yobe State, Nigeria.
Methodology: A two-stage sampling procedure was used to select 110 respondents. The study used a structured questionnaire and oral interview to collect data from rice farmers on socioeconomic characteristics, change in input utilization, access to factors of production, adoption of new ideas and practices, and change in rice production. Data were analyzed using means, frequency counts, percentages, correlation analysis and z-test. The study was conducted between February and June in the year 2021.
Results: The findings revealed that 36.6% of the respondents were within the age range of 31-40 years while the mean age was 38.62 years. The majority (90.1%) were males and the majority (80.2%) were married. Only 14.9% of the respondents did not acquire formal education. There was a great increase in the utilisation of herbicides (mean=4.47), water pumps (mean=4.58), fertilizers (mean =4.62) and seeds (mean =4.79). Access to credits (mean =1.27), pesticides (mean =1.56), knapsack sprayers (mean =1.71), water pumps (mean =1.76), fertilizers (mean =1.81) and farmlands (mean =1.89) was high but access to subsidies (mean =0.70) and extension services (mean =0.69) was low. There was significant positive correlation between age (r=0.56, p=0.00), income, (r=0.43, p= 0.00), size of farm holding, (r=0.30, p= 0.02), household size (r=0.23, p= 0.02), change in input utilisation (r=0.22, p=0.03) and change in rice production. A significant difference existed between the quantity of rice produced before the ban and after the ban (z=-4.54, p˂0.05).
Conclusion: The importation ban policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria caused a substantial increase in paddy rice production. The study recommended that the government proactive measure on rice importation ban should be sustained to make the country self-sufficient in rice production
In Vitro Regeneration of Onion (Allium cepa L.) Genotypes under Salt Stress Condition
No full textSalinity is a major problem affecting crop production all over the world. Excessive soil salinity can reduce the productivity of many agricultural crops including many vegetables and spices. Onion is one of the most important spices in the Asiatic region which is now in high demand. The experiment was conducted to observe in vitro regeneration of onion (Allium cepa L.) under salt stress condition from September 2016 to July 2017. The experiment was conducted as two factorial (genotype and treatment) Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 3 replications for each treatment. Shoot tip segments of three genotypes namely Faridpuri, Taherpuri and Pusa red (Indian) were cultured in MS (Murashige and skoog, 1962) media supplemented with 25, 50, 75 and 100 mM NaCl. The genotype Faridpuri gave maximum salt tolerance upto 100 mM salinity level with 10.60 cm shoot length and 1.94 cm root length having the highest relative shoot and root growth. Pusa red was found to be salinity sensitive genotype which showing lowest shoot length of 7.03 cm and root length of 0.96 cm at 100 mM NaCl treatment. However, Taherpuri was tolerant up to 100 mM salinity level with 8.14 cm shoot length and 1.25 cm root length. Both the highest fresh weight of root (54.77 mg) and dry weight of root (41.36 mg) was from the genotype Faridpuri with 25 mM NaCl treatment. However, a convenient in vitro regeneration protocol of onion genotypes under different salinity level has been developed and the genotype Faridpuri can be used for further investigation in field condition to evaluate its performance at various salinity levels
Decision Support Systems for Downy Mildew (Plasmopara viticola) Control in Grapevine: Short Comparison Review
No full textPlasmopara viticola, the aetiological agent of grapevine downy mildew (DM), is the most important pathology afflicting viticulture and requires a great number of fungicide treatments to avoid severe yield losses and quality decreasing. To date, great efforts have been made to reduce the use of plant defensive products. Resistant cultivars, new agrochemicals and, finally, epidemiological models have been elaborated to better manage plant phytoiatric treatments. Nowadays, models are widely used because they allow the cultivation of traditional varieties, limiting agrochemicals. Using such models, implemented in a DSS (Decision Support System), results in a lower risk of grapevine damage by diseases and pests and, in many cases, in a lower input of active substances. Thanks to the information reported in a DSS, users could become more conscious of the relations between weather conditions, pathogen’s cycle, and infections risk, which is an issue not yet well understood by lots of winegrowers. For this instance, DSSs have been established as important tools for the achievement of more sustainable agricultural practices. Hence, understanding their working principles might be really important. In fact, in this way, technicians and farmers can adopt the suitable system to fit their own agricultural reality, aiming at a better vineyard management under a sustainable point of view
Evaluation of Sex Effects on Serum Biochemical and Genetic Parameters of Japanese Quails
No full textThe study evaluated effect of Sex on serum biochemical parameters and Correlation with body weight of Japanese quails. A total of 400 birds (200 birds per sex) were reared in a Completely Randomized Design under standard management practices for 7 weeks with feed and water given ad libitum. Sex were considered treatments. Weekly body weight (BW) was measured. The three authors have declared that, “principle of laboratory animal care” (NIH publication 85 - 23 revised 1985) were followed as well as the University law. All the experiment have been examined and approved by the University law.100 birds per sex were randomly selected and blood samples were collected for serum biochemical parameters: blood Glucose (GLU), Total Cholesterol (CHOL), Triglycerides (TG), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Total Protein (TP), Albumin (ALB)and globulin (GLB). The results indicated that sex significantly (P < 0.05) influenced all the serum biochemical parameters of Japanese quail measured in this study at week 7. All data collected were analyzed with GLM of SAS ver. 9.2 and means were separated. Females of Japanese quail had the higher least square means in the serum biochemical parameters of Japanese quails than the Male counterparts. Females showed higher means in TP, ALB, GLB, TG, CHOL, AS, ALT and GLU significantly (P<0.05) higher than males with for the same parameters, respectively. However, males showed higher significant (P<0.05) difference in ALP than females measured. Correlation between BW and serum biochemical parameters for male quails ranged from -15% to 15% (low trend) while that of Female counterparts was -73% to 73% (low to high trend). In conclusion, female quails had higher values in TP, ALB, GLB, TG, CHOL, AST, ALT and GLU than the Males counterparts’ exception of ALP. Hence, female quails were considered fit for studying quails’ health status as early clinical signs will be observed for quick responds to arrest the situation that will lead to disease outbreak and a breeding program will be established for quails. Body weight of female quails is a good selection tool to predict serum biochemical parameters of quails. The correlation coefficient between body weight and serum biochemical parameters was high and significant in favor of female Japanese quails
Effect of Exogenous Hormonal Stimulation on the Metabolic Partition between Plant Growth and Rubber Production of Hevea brasiliensis Clones According to the Class of Metabolic Activity in Cote d\u27ivoire
No full textAims: In order to achieve a good and sustainable harvest of Hevea brasiliensis rubber, the effect of exogenous hormonal stimulation on the metabolic partition growth-production of clones according to the class of metabolic activity was made.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted for 9 years in the San-Pedro region in south-west Ivory Coast, precisely in the experimental industrial plantations of the former HEVEGO, now Southwestern Agricultural Civil Society Société (SCASO).
Methodology and Results: The rubber trees were planted at a density of 510 trees/ha in a completely randomised system. They were bled in S/2 d4 and stimulated to 2.5% Etephon at annual frequencies of 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 13, 18, 26, 39 and 78. The parameters measured were rubber production, trunk circumference, sucrose content, inorganic phosphorus, thiol groups and dry notch rate. The results showed that productivity increased with the intensity of stimulation (58.96 - 68.49 g.a-1.s-1 ; 39.83 - 66.69 g.a-1.s-1) over the intervals [0.6] and [0.26] stimulations respectively in clones with active and slow metabolism. The circumference of the trunk was marked by a less pronounced decrease in growth in slow metabolizing clones (0.52%) with good protection of the laticigene system (R-SH : 0.815 mmol.l-1) and low sensitivity to dry notching (1.6). Whatever the classes of metabolic activity of the clones, the agrophysiological parameters were strongly correlated with each other by a degree 2 polynomial function.
Conclusion: This polynomial function seems to reflect the existence of a good state of equilibrium between laticigenic metabolism and vegetative growth according to the class of metabolic activity of the Hevea brasiliensis clones