Asian Research Journal of Agriculture
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Effect of Arenga Palm [Arenga pinnata (WRMB)MERR.] Liquid on the Growth and Yield of Rice
No full textArenga palm is a liquid obtained from palm plant stem [Arenga pinnata (Wurmb). Merr)] this liquid is used as an ingredient for brown sugar or alcoholic beverages, this liquid is then mixed with some organic ingredients through fermentation method. The result of laboratory analysis shows that the fermentation contained N, P, K, and IAA and GA3 hormones that were used as experimental fertilizer (Liquid Organic fertilizer arenga palm). This research aims to determine the effectiveness of the dosage of liquid organic fertilizer to the growth and yield of rice field plants. This research used a randomized block design consisting of 3 (three) replications and 10 doses so that there were 30 experimental treatments. The study was carried out at the Agricultural Research Institute of Sidondo Palu in Central Sulawesi in March to June 2017. The analysis used was the analysis of single factor variance with the Honest Significant Difference test (BNJ). The results of the analysis shows that the dose of arenga palm 25.75 L.ha-1 for plant growth aged 15 days after planting (HST), 28 HST and 43 HST affects significantly (P <0.001) to an average plant height of 49.3 cm, 6.51 cm and 86 cm, and the number of productive tillers is 15.23 stems. Cluster-1. Likewise, the results of crop production shows that the use of a dose of 25.75 L. ha-1 is significantly different (P <0.001 harvested dry rice yield (GKP) 7.99 tons. ha-1
Seasonal Spatial Distribution of the Mango Fruit Fly (Ceratitis cosyra) in Mango Trees Pruned to Give Three Different Pruning Canopies in High Density Mango Production in the South Eastern Lowveld of Zimbabwe
No full textThe mango fruit fly (Ceratitis cosyra Walker) is the major pest of economic importance and which restricts mango exports from infested production areas in the SADC region. The effect of three pruning techniques, box/rectangle, spherical/round and the central leader, on assessing spatial distribution of fruit fly populations in high density mango production were investigated at Chiredzi Research station (21°01’S, 31°33’E) from 2010 to 2013. Results showed a significant rise in the number of adult fly catches among pruning techniques as from July to December (p< 0.05). Traps baited with Malathion 25% WP with molasses as an attractant were used to trap the flies. Results from all treatments indicated a significant rise in mean adult fruit fly catches from the months of July to December. It can be concluded that spatial distribution of the mango fruit fly is influenced by the fruiting and ripening patterns of mango
Combnining Ability of Sweetpotato Yield in Endemic and Non-endemic Sweetpotato Weevil (Cylas formicarius) Environments in South West Nigeria
No full textIntroduction: Combining ability studies in sweetpotato marketable root yield were carried out using ten sweetpotato varieties and their F1 hybrids in Cylas formicarius endemic (Omu Aran) and free (Ibadan) environments during 2012 cropping season.
Study Design: The genetic material used for this experiment was from the germplasm collection of the Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. This material comprised of 10 varieties of sweetpotato: 5 orange fleshed, 3 white fleshed and 2 yellow fleshed.
Place and Duration of Study: The field trial was carried out in C. formicarius endemic (Omu Aran) and Non-endemic (Ibadan) environments both in South West Nigeria during the raining season of 2012.
Methods: Collected data were subjected to diallel analysis using Griffing (15) approach in method I (parents, crosses reciprocals together), Model I (fixed effects). Both general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining abilities (SCA) were computed using PBTools, version 1.4. for the 10 parents and their F1 hybrids with respect to C. formicarius.
Results and Discussion: The result obtained from this study showed that some parents were tolerant to C. formicarius, but level of tolerance varied probably due to differences in genetic background among the parental population or time of planting. Hybrids from the parents resisto, TIS 87/0087 displayed high performance in term of C. formicarius tolerance. These parents and their hybrids appeared to have gene pools for C. formicarius tolerance that can be manipulated and used to develop promising hybrids in South west, Nigeria.  
Effect of Live Mulch Conservation Practices on Crop Yields: A Study of Sweet Potato in Southwest Nigeria
No full textLive mulch can reduce land degradation by protecting the surface soil from direct impacts of rain drops and consequently increasing crop yields. To compare the potential biomass production of sweet potato for soil conservation, two farmlands with different degradation potentials were selected to plant ten commonly grown cultivars of sweet potato of Africa. Soil degradation rate (SDR) and vulnerability potential (Vp) of the two farms were also compared using selected soil properties as assessment tools. Results indicated that Farm A with higher total biomass slightly degraded with low vulnerability potential (SDR/Vp ≈ 2/4) while the Farm B with lower biomass severely degraded with high vulnerability potential (SDR/Vp ≈ 4/2). Correlation between biomass and yields was not significant for both the farms, indicating that biomass alone cannot determine the yields of sweet potato. On a slightly degraded soil, Benue, Akinima, TIS 87/0087 and Arrow tip cultivars had the highest tuber production (100 - 70)%, followed by Ex-Igbaraiam, Eruwa, Shaba, Ishiayi and TIS 8441 (69 - 50)% and least by Akwide (<50%). While on a severely degraded soil, Ex-Igbaraiam cultivar had the highest yield production (100 - 70) %, followed by Shaba, TIS 87/0087, Benue and TIS 8441 (69 - 50)% and least by Akwide, Eruwa, Ishiayi, Akinima and Arrow tip (<50%). The trend of the result reflects the ability of potato cultivars to cope with degraded soils. In terms of biomass production, TIS 87/0087, Ex-Igbaraiam, TIS 8441 and Benue were highest followed by Shaba and Akwide and least by Arrow-tip and Ishiayi. The results indicates that TIS 87/0087 cultivar can perform well under severely degraded soil while Ex-Igbaraiam and TIS 8441 with high biomass potential are better used as folders especially on a degraded soil
Models Designed to Increase the Work of Reversible Disc Plough
No full textIn this paper, we study the models designed to increase the work of reversible disc plough. Results of research on the use of design-engineering methods of a heightening of serviceability are reduced and it is offered to use an improved disk of digging out device root of the tillage machines. Results of a study on the application of design and technological methods revealed that one of the promising areas of increased efficiency and durability are strengthening blades durable material of variable thickness
Sheep and Goat Value Chain Analysis in Tahtay Adyabo District, Tigray, Ethiopia
No full textThis study was aimed at evaluating the value chain of the small ruminant in Tahtay Adyabo District of Tigray Region. The data were collected from 138 sample households, 26 traders, 5 butchers, 7 hotels/restaurants and 11 consumers interviewed through a semi-structured questionnaire and from key informant interview. The value chain analysis revealed that the major actors in the district being input suppliers, small ruminant producers, farmers, collectors, small traders, large traders, hotels/restaurants, butchers and consumers. Office of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dedebit Credit and Saving Institution, NGO (Save the Children) and Shire-Maitsebri Agricultural Research Center are main supporting institutions. Nine main alternative channels were identified for goat and sheep marketing. Small ruminant market participant of sample respondents were supplied 137.28 TLU of goats and 107.25 TLU of sheep to the market. In the study area, the governance of the sheep and goat value chain is buyer driven, and there are no producers and buyers cooperatives. Therefore effort should be made to establish farmers’ cooperative and collective action of farmers to lower transaction costs to access inputs
Reducing Post Harvest Loss of Maize by Manufacturing and Introducing of Air Tight Silos Grain Storage in Selected Areas of Tigray, Ethiopia
No full textThe economy of Ethiopians depends chiefly on agriculture. The major staple grains are the most important field crops and the chief element in the diet of most Ethiopians. Maize is the largest and most productive crop in Ethiopia. In 2007/08, maize production was 4.2 million tons, 40 percent higher than teff, 56 percent higher than sorghum, and 75 percent higher than wheat production. Postharvest losses are major problem in enhancement of maize production. The main controlling mechanism to avoid these losses is using appropriate grain storage. As FAO introduced stated household metal silo is a key post-harvest technology in the fight against hunger and for food security. The house hold air tight metal silos generally hold between 100 and 3 000 kilos. The objective of this activity is to minimize post-harvest losses of maize grains by introducing this airtight silos in selected wordea’s of the region.
Different air tight silos were manufactured according the SDC Manual for Manufacturing Metal Silos for Grain Storage in MAMRERC workshop. Preliminary test was conducted to check air leakage and strength of welding of the silo. Farmers were selected based on the willingness and resource they have. Weight loss, relative humidity, temperature, moisture content, count breakage from 1000kernel and insects occurred and farmer’s perception was collected in compiring with tradition silo and plastic bag.
From these the air tight silo has low weight loss form 125gm initially and after recorded for six months the weight reduces to 122.6, 114.35, and 112.25gms respectivly. The moisture of maize grain decrease from 13% have different in the three containers 26.48, 28.72 and 27 and difference of -0.52, 1.72, and 0 and average Relative humidity\u27s are 7.96, 4.96, and 3.96 for metal silo, traditional Gottera and plastic bag respectively. The counted and damaged from 1000 kernels are high in plastic bag and traditional silo. the farmers perception in relative advantage and characteristic of the silo are good
Poverty Status among Irrigators and Homestead Gardeners in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
No full textThe study analysed the poverty status and the determinants among farmers in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Primary data were collected with the aid of a well-structured questionnaire and a total of 267 respondents were chosen using a multi-stage random sampling technique. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, poverty index (Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT), logit regression, and correlation matrix. The headcount index of the pooled data indicated that 49 percent of the respondents in the study area was poor with poverty severity and poverty gap indices of 0.15 and 0.25 respectively. The depth of poverty was higher and severe among the female homestead gardeners in Tyhefu and farmers with less than 2ha of farmland. The logit regression revealed that years spent in school, household size, size of cultivated farmland, extension services, and being a member of an association have a significant influence on the likelihood of being poor. Only the age of the respondents was not significant. The study therefore recommends that institutions in charge of credit facilities, education, and extension services be strengthened to give farmers meaningful wellbeing
Assessment of Constraints to Participation of Rural Women in Technology Dissemination of Women in Agriculture Program in Imo State, Nigeria
No full textThe survey was conducted to identify constraints to participation of rural women in technology dissemination of Women in Agriculture Program (WIA) in Imo State, Nigeria. Questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 60 respondents. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage and mean score. Results showed that 33.0% of the respondents were aged between 41 and 50 years, majority (75.0%) were married, 88.0% had formal education and 55.3% engaged in farming and trading, while 56.6% had a household size of 6-10 persons. The respondents participated in the activities like processing and utilization of food crops (16.7%), harvesting and storage of food crops (16.7%), dry season vegetable production (13.3%), processing and utilization of livestock products (10.0%), processing and utilization of soya bean into soya milk and soya meal (6.7%). The study recommended that rural women should be encouraged to join co-operative societies in order to pull their resources together. It also highlighted the need for promotion of rural women’s activities through adequate provision of credit facilities by government at all levels for optimum productivity
Effects of Organic Amendments on Growth, Establishment and Yield of Cacao (Theobroma cacao L) in Southwestern Nigeria
No full textLow soil fertility is a major problem of growth and establishment of cacao seedlings, as well as the yield on the field. However, cacao (Theobroma cacao L) is characterized by high nutrient demand particularly N, P, K, Ca and Mg, during establishment. In this study, the manurial potentials of some organic wastes and their effects on growth, development and yield of cacao in Ibadan and Owena soils of Southwestern Nigeria were investigated. The experiments in Ibadan and Owena were Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 replicates. Fertilizers were: Goat Dung (GD), Sunshine Organic and Organo-Mineral Fertilizers (OF and OMF) and NPK 15:15:15 at 0, 200, 400 and 600 kg/ha. The fertilizers were applied to treatment plots one month after cacao seedlings were transplanted using ring method (July, 2011). Four hundred and thirty two (432) plantain suckers were planted at 3 x 3 m spacing as shade crop while 432 cacao seedlings (F3 Amazon) were also transplanted at 3 x 3 m respectively at each experimental site. Top soil samples were analysed with standard methodologies. Data were collected monthly on cacao growth parameters such as plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves and number of branches, commencing at 3 months after transplanting (MAT). The experiments were monitored for 36 months (144 weeks after planting of cacao). Survival count was carried out 12 MAT. Data collected were subjected to statistical analysis using Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and significant means were separated by Tukey’s HSD (P < 0.05) test. Cacao seedlings grown under 600 kg/ha OF application had 100 and 95 percent survival count at Ibadan and Owena respectively. All fertilizer types and rates at Ibadan and Owena significantly increased cacao seedlings height, number of leaves, stem diameter and number of branches, relative to the control plots at 3, 4, 5, 15, 16 and 17 MAT. Goat dung applied at 600 kg/ha gave the highest number of flowers, cherelles and pods at 24 and 36 MAT at Owena. However, there were no yield parameters recorded for Ibadan experiment at 24 and 36 MAT