Asian Research Journal of Agriculture
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Effect of Fertilization and Bacterial Inoculation on the Growth of Alder (Alnus sibirica) in Coal Mine Soil
No full textThis study was conducted to evaluate the effect of fertilization and nitrogen fixing (N-fixing) bacterial inoculation on the vegetative growth of alder (Alnus sibirica) plant species while grown in coal mine soil. The study was conducted in a greenhouse of the Forest Science Department, Chungbuk National University, South Korea, during the period of May 2019 to July 2019. A completely randomized design (CRD) comprising of four treatments, including T0—non-fertilized non-inoculation (control), T1—fertilization, T2—bacterial inoculation and T3—fertilization along with bacterial inoculation with three replications were used in the study. The results of the study showed that maximum growth of all studied parameters of alder were observed in fertilization along with bacterial inoculation treatment (T3) and this treatment had significant effect on the growth of these parameters as compared to control, except root dry weight and shoot/root ratio. Fertilization treatment (T1) showed significant increase of stem height, shoot fresh and dry weight, plant dry weight, canopy spread, number of leaves, branches and nodes per plant, leaf area and leaf area index of alder in coal mine soil, as compared to control. Bacterial inoculation treatment (T2) also had positive effect on the vegetative parameters of plants comparing to control, excluding root length, root dry weight, shoot/root ratio, and canopy spread. Therefore, it can be summarized that fertilizer application and bacterial inoculation to the soil have a significant role in improving the vegetative growth of alder in coal mine soil
Effect of Strain Age and Substrate on the Production of Pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) Extra Sweet (Md2) Vivo Plants in Greenhouse
No full textPineapple has several types of organs that can be used for its multiplication. Its natural multiplication is particularly slow, as it is necessarily vegetative because the species is self-sterile (on average 2 suckers per strain in six months). The supply of pineapple rejects is not always easy for those who want to grow pineapple on large areas. This study was initiated to improve the production of MD2 pineapple seed (suckers or vivo plant) per pineapple strain fragment. Thus, the production of two types of pineapple strains, young and old strains (The young strains bear green leaves and make up all the strains that have produced fruit. Their ages range from 0 to 12 months after the fruit has been harvested. The old strains without green leaves are older than 12 months of age), was evaluated on three types of substrates, namely : S1, 100% coarse coconut fibre; S2, 2/3 coarse coconut fibre + 1/3 sawdust and S3, 3/4 coarse coconut fibre + 1/4 chicken droppings. The seeding of the fragments on the substrates it\u27s made in a completely randomized device in a greenhouse. The study carried out was repeated twice during the same period. Results showed that vivo plant production varied according to the age of the pineapple strain. With fragments of young strains, a mean of 3.96 ±1.74 (average ± Ecart-type) vivo plants per fragment was obtained compared to 3.07±1.63 (average ± Ecart-type) vivo plants at fragments of old strains. This difference was significant with P = 0.000. The effect of substrate was significant on the number of plants produced per strain fragment. More plants per fragment were obtained on S2 with 3.53±1.1 (average ± Ecart-type) vivo plants than on the other substrate types S1 and S3 with 3.22±1.3 and 3.09±1.02 (average ± Ecart-type) vivo plants per strain fragment, respectively. This difference was significant with P= 0.002. This study showed that a strain fragment after fragmentation gives only 3.96 ± 1.74 plants in six months. This production of pineapple vivo plants is influenced by the type of substrate and the age of the strain. Thus, young strains grown on a substrate that maintains moisture should be recommended for sustainable production of pineapple vivo plants
Effect of Tillage Practices and Cultivation Year on Natural Mycorrhization and Mineral Uptake of Durum Wheat during Tillering Stage under Rainfed Conditions
No full textConservation agriculture has been proposed as an alternative to conventional agriculture to mitigate the climate change impact and ensure food security. This study examined the effect of conventional tillage (CT) and no tillage (NT) on mycorrhization and mineral elements uptake of durum wheat for three cultivation years during the tillering stage. The experiment was conducted in a referential farm (Krib, Siliana, North West Tunisia). The results showed that tillage practices (T) had significant effect on mycorrhization rate (MR) for the first cultivation year and the highest mycorrhization rate was noted for NT with 24%. Moreover, tillage (T) had no significant effect on plant mineral composition in tillering stage for the three cultivation years. The cultivation year (Y) had showed significant effects on P and K amounts for both tillage practices when it had no effect on Ca and Na amounts. The interaction T x Y had no significant effect on mineral elements concentration. Mycorrhization rate (MR) showed significant negative correlation with K. For partial correlation based on Tillage practices, MR showed significant negative correlations with P and K. Considering the partial correlation based on cultivation year, MR had no significant correlations with the studied parameters (P, K, Ca and Na concentrations). This work expands our knowledge on durum wheat natural mycorrhization and mineral elements uptake as influenced by tillage practices helping decision makers in upscaling the adoption of no tillage in Tunisia under rainfed condition
Economic Implication of the Fall Armyworm in Ekiti State, Nigeria
No full textAim: This study was conducted to investigate the economic implication years after an outbreak of armyworm among the smallholding farmers in Ekiti State, Nigeria.
Methodology: A combination of purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to select 60 respondents in four communities of the State. Thematic information from the semi-structured questionnaire related to the socio-economic characteristics of respondents, their enterprise characteristics, farmers’ perception of significant constraints militating against maize production in the study area, as well as the efficacy of management strategies adopted by the respondents. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics and Tobit regression.
Results: The study revealed that maize farming was mostly on smallholdings owned by males within the active age of 35 years. These farmers practised mixed cropping system whereby maize is planted with other crops in a shifting cultivation pattern. Also, the respondents identified lack of inputs, lack of fund and credit facilities, climate change, disease and pest outbreak, inadequate storage and processing facilities, and imperfect information dissemination as significant constraints militating against self-sufficiency in maize production. The most debilitating of these constraints was the outbreak of the Fall armyworm, which ravaged maize farms. Information gathered revealed that higher percentages of the respondents combated this notorious pest with the use of synthetic chemicals alongside other management approaches. The result of the gross margin revealed that net return per hectare to maize production was N27, 510. The Tobit results revealed that only pests’ infestation in the previous year and age were significant with maize output loss.
Conclusion: The Fall armyworm outbreak resulted in an economic downturn for maize farmers in Ekiti State
Genetic Variability and Performance Evaluation of Cowpea [(Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] Accessions on High Altitude of Jos Plateau State, Nigeria
No full textThe present study was carried out to evaluate the genetic variability and performance evaluation of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) accessions with the objective of selecting accessions with the best adaptability and potentiality for upgrading grain yield and other related traits on high altitude of Jos plateau. A field experiment was therefore carried out at Dagwom farm at the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) Vom, in Jos South Local Government area of Plateau state, during the 2013 and 2014 rainy seasons. The treatments consisted of eighty (80) cowpea g accessions obtained from International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan, Nigeria. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in two replicates. The result was analysed using (ANOVA) model and showed significant difference at (P<0.01) among the entries for all the characters accessed. High phenotypic coefficient of variability (PCV) compared with genotypic coefficient of variability (GCV) coupled with low environmental coefficient of variability (ECV) were observed for all the yield and related traits accessed. High broad sense heritability (h2) coupled with high genetic advance (GAM %) attributed to high additive gene effect observed for all the characters observed in this study, except days to maturity which recorded high heritability with moderate genetic advance. In terms of performance, TVU-2972 and TVU-2174 were selected as accessions with high establishment capacity, TVU-4578 and TVU-7705 were selected as the early maturing accessions, while TVU-10431 was selected as the bold seeded genotype. The highest grain yield was produced by TVU-3188 and TVU-7918. All the above accessions were selected based on their high mean performance compared to other accessions. There is, therefore, need for hybridization between these selected accessions for evolving unique varieties of cowpea on high altitude area of Jos plateau
Comparative Analysis of Gross Margin for Three Varieties of Rice Grown under Two Planting Methods and Different Weed Control Measures
No full textField trials were conducted during the 2005, 2006 and 2007 rainy season at Irrigation Research Station, Kadawa situated in Sudan savannah agro – ecological zone, Kano state, Nigeria to compare the gross margin values obtained from rice production using three different varieties of rice and different weed control measures under two planting methods. The trials were laid out in split – plot design and replicated three times with factorial combination of two planting methods and three varieties in the main plots and weed control treatments in the subplots. The results revealed that transplanting gave better gross margin value with a mean value of 127,053 Naira for the three varieties of rice cultivated under different weed control methods compare to mean value of 113,303 Naira obtained in direct seeded of the same varieties cultivated under different weed control methods. The result of the BCR also showed that transplanting of rice yielded more profit with BCR value of 2.42 for the three varieties of rice cultivated under different weed control methods compared to BCR value of 2.33 for direct seeded rice. FARO 52 performed better among the three varieties of rice with higher mean gross margin values of 143,170 and 120,720 Naira, BCR of 2.60 and 2.42 for transplanting and direct seeded, respectively for the three years cropping season. Application of pre – emergence oxadiazon @ 1.0 Kgha-1 followed by post – emergence piperophos plus propanil @ 1.5 Kgha-1 applied at 5 WAS / T gave the highest gross margin of 166,770 Naira and BCR of 2.78 under transplanting for the three years which was closely followed by hand-pulling weed control measures with gross margin value of 165,720 Naira and BCR of 2.94 under direct seeding compared to the weedy check that gave the least gross margin and BCR in both methods of planting. The study therefore, concludes that transplanting of FARO 52 rice variety and combined pre-emergence application of oxadiazon @ 1.0 kg a.i.ha-1 followed by post-emergence piperophos plus propanil @1.5 kg a.i.ha-1 were the best and second suitable treatment interaction to obtain good profit. Therefore combination is recommended as the economically viable option for lowland rice production in the Sudan savanna agro-ecological zones
An Analytical Study of Jordanian Consumers’ Attitudes towards Purchasing Organic Food
No full textThe study aimed to determine the level of consumer attitudes towards purchasing organic food, by conducting a statistical analysis of the data collected from the questionnaires collected from a sample of consumers in Amman Governorate in 2018 distributed to a sample of 384. The analytical descriptive approach was used in this research to study the relationship Between the variables, the results of the study showed that the average degree of consumers to purchase organic foods was 3.69 degrees, which is a high level according to the scale used. The independent variables of consumers were also distinguished by its clear impact on their attitudes towards the purchase and consumption of organic foods. Through the study, it was found that there is a positive and important relationship between consumers attitudes towards organic foods and some factors that affect their attitudes. Considering this, importance the researcher recommends the importance of conducting awareness programs on the importance of organic foods and to do other relevant studies in different regions of Jordan
Assessment of Agricultural Technology Adoption Behaviour among Crop Farmers in Ikwerre Local Government Rivers State
No full textThe study assessed agricultural technology adoption behavior among small scale crop farmers in Ikwerre local Government, Rivers state. The aim of the study was to assess small scale farmers’ adoption behavior on new farm input, farm techniques and farm machineries/tools. One hypothesis was tested to determine the influence of crop farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics on agricultural technology adoption behavior. The study adopted a correlation survey design. The population of the study was all registered crop farmers in Ikwerre local Government Rivers State. Eighty (80) small scale crop farmers were selected using cluster random sampling technique. The instrument used for the study was a self-structured questionnaire which was face and content validated by research experts. The reliability of the instrument was established using Cronbach Alpha which gave to 0.88 reliability coefficient. Mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the data gathered from the respondents and the hypothesis was tested using multiple regression analysis at 0.05 level of significance. The study found that uncertainty, fear of taking risk to test the new inputs and waiting to see the consequences of the new technology on early adopters among others are the agricultural technology adoption behaviour among crop farmers in Ikwerre local Government Rivers State. The study also concluded that socio-economic characteristics of farmers significantly influence agricultural technology (Farm input, techniques, and machineries/tools) adoption behavior among crop farmers. It was recommended that Agricultural extension agents should publicize the positive result of the new farm technology among rural farmers so as to increase the adoption rate of agricultural technology
Socio-Demography, Pesticides Use, and Health Status of Rice Farmers in Region XII, Mindanao, Philippines
No full textThe socio-demographic characteristics, pesticides use and health status of 300 rice farmers from Region 12 in the Philippines in 2015 were assessed. Likewise, the influence of the socio-demographic characteristics on the farmers’ pesticides use and health status was determined. This was done to describe the current well-being of farmers as basis for recommending strategies to improve their farming practices and health condition. Farmers were middle adults (60.6%), married (83.7%), had secondary education (50.7%), with household size of 1-4 members (62.7%), mostly non-owners (63.3%) of less than 3 hectares of land (91.7%), with total annual income of less than P101,000.00 (69.3%), nearly one third had more than 11 years farming and pesticides application experience and had availed at least one training on rice production for the last five years. Nearly 75% had health insurance. The socio-demographic characteristics did not influence significantly the pesticides use as to frequency and quantity of application and health status of the farmers. Age, however, is found a significant predictor of pesticides use as to frequency of application while civil status and farm ownership are the significant predictors of gaining normal health status as to Body Mass Index (BMI). Based on the findings, farmers still need more trainings on proper pesticides use and other farm technology options to keep their health protected and earn better profits from farming
Effects of Sodium Carbonate on Striga hermonthica Del. Infestation and Agro-morphological Parameters of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone of Cameroun
No full textSorghum bicolor is the main food widely used to feed millions of people in Central and West Africa. Sorghum production in Sub-Saharan Africa is limited by biotic factors including the parasitic witchweed Striga hermonthica. In Northern Cameroon chemical and organic fertilizers, biological methods and cultivation practices were used by farmers to control Striga hermonthica in field. Some farmers spread sodium carbonate salt (locally named natron or kilbou) in high rates in fields to reduce parasite infestation but in high rate. This salt plays an important role in soil pH buffering. This study was conducted to evaluate effects of different rates of natron on striga emergence and on agro-morphological parameters of sorghum using a susceptible genotype GD-MP04. Field experiments have been conducted from 2017 to 2018 at Touboro, Mayo-Rey Division in the North Region located between longitude 13°34’; 12°07’ East and latitude 7°21’; 15°01’North. The experimental design was a complete randomized bloc with pots (11 m × 11 m) filled with soil naturally infected by striga seeds and different rates of sodium carbonate (0 g, 2 g, 4 g, 6 g, 8 g, 10 g and 12 g per 5 dm3 of soil) were employed. The numbers of emerged striga and sorghum parameters were evaluated. Results showed that striga-infestation and agro-morphological parameters of sorghum varied significantly (p <0.05) with rates of sodium carbonate. The mean number of emerged striga plants per pot varied from 0.08 in pot of 2 g of salt to 5.4 in the control. The number of sorghum leaves per plant, stem diameter, sorghum height, panicle weight and sorghum kernel yield varied significantly (p <0.05) with natron application rate. The application of 2 g of sodium carbonate per pot was the optimal rate to control Striga hermonthica and improve the main agro-morphological parameters of sorghum with 78.27% increase in g of kernel yield and simultaneously inhibited striga infestation by 98.62%. Application of 2 g of sodium carbonate in area naturally infested by striga for improving sorghum yield is required