Asian Research Journal of Agriculture
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Modelling of the Thermophysical Properties of Ground Dika Kernel (Irvingia wombolu Vermoesen) as Affected by Temperature and Moisture Content
No full textThe specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity of the ground dika (Irvingia wombolu Vermoesen) kernel were measured using the thermal probe method. Bulk density was determined using the graduated cylinder and the value obtained was used to calculate thermal diffusivity. The effects of temperature (Room temperature – 90 ) and moisture content (5.17 – 20% wet basis) on the thermo physical properties of the ground and hydrated dika kernel were studied. Linear, quadratic and cubic regressions were modelled at each temperature as a function of the corresponding moisture contents, and the best model was selected based on the coefficient of determination (R2) values. The results of the specific heat capacity ranged between 0.951 and 3.089 kJ/kg , thermal conductivity (4.36 and 31.87 W/m *105), bulk density (0.492 and 0.680 g/cm3) and the thermal diffusivity values between 6.313 and 43.065 m2/s*105. All the values are within literature range. The result of the investigation revealed that thermo physical properties were moisture content and temperature dependent, and quadratic equation fitted all the models than linear equation for all the properties investigated. The data obtained from the study can be used in the process design of the ground kernel or the soup on a commercial scale
Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer Application on Population of Green Peach Aphid (Myzus persicae) on Garden Pea (Pisum sativa) in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya
No full textGarden pea (Pisum sativa.z) is an annual crop in Kenya, for horticultural export. The green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) is one of the most important pests. Nitrogen fertilizers have been increasingly used to most annual crops to improve crop production. However, excessive nitrogen fertilizer application has been found to aggravate aphid infestation. The study therefore, determined the level of infestation by the green peach aphid under different nitrogen levels on garden pea .The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Block Design with four treatments replicated thrice. Treatments included: 0 g, 1 g, 1.5 g and 2 g of nitrogen foliar feed per litre of water. Data was collected weekly for 3 consecutive weeks on aphid population. It was analyzed using SAS, subjected to ANOVA and least significant difference for means separation at 5%. Highest aphid number was recorded on 2 g treatment. Treatments 1.5 g and 1g recorded lower aphid number. Control treatment had a declining aphid population. There was no significant difference on the first sampling days. However, week 3 recorded no significant difference across all treatments except on the 2 g treatment. Based on the study, it is possible to influence aphid performance by altering nitrogen level
Climate Change: Perception and Determinants of Rural Farmer’s Adaptation in Abia State
No full textThis study was carried to examine the determinants of rural farmers’ adaptation to climate change, and their perception with respect to farmers’ socio-economic profile. The study conducted in Abia state utilized 120 farmers selected from 4 communities and 2 Local Government Area’s through multi-stage random sampling. Primary data was sourced and collected through a structured questionnaire which elicited information relating farmers’ socio-economic characteristics, climate change incidences and perception; and adaptation. Result from the descriptive statistics suggest that majority (84.2%) of the farmers are male. Also, 61.9% are 49 years and above suggesting that rural farming now is mostly dominated by more advanced farmers. More of the farmers (42.9%) spent at most 6 years in school. In addition, and comparing with NIMET data on climate variables, more farmers (74.5%) of age 50 and above perceived the changes in climate in relation to precipitation more correctly relative to other age groups. Also, 90.9% of farmers with more than 13 years of education perceived correctly as compared to 80% of farmers with 0-6 years. About 64.4% of female farmers perceived correctly the changes in climate as against 60% of male farmers who perceived correctly. The Logit regression result used to analyze the determinants of adaptation of rural farmers to climate change in the study area revealed that number of years in school, access to credit, and co-operative membership showed positive significant relationship with adaptation. Gender of farmer however showed a negative relationship with adaptation of farmer to climate change. This study reiterates the importance of micro-credit in agricultural development and poverty reduction especially in the rural areas as it enhances the likelihood of adoption of adaptation practices by farmers. This study therefore calls for a more holistic approach in solving the problem of credit especially in the rural areas so as to increase farmers’ capacity to adapt to the vagaries of a changing climate
Screening of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.) Germplasm Lines for Diosgenin Potential
No full textFenugreek seeds were evaluated for diosgenin content and productivity which can be useful for pharmaceutical industries and farmers. Statistical significance was tested by ANOVA (n=5) followed by comparisons of means by DMRT (p≤0.05). Fenugreek seeds were grown in the experimental fields of Vegetable Research Center, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India for cropping year 2014. Two local varieties Pant Ragini (PR), Pusa Early Bunching (PEB) and eight accessions PM(C)1, PM 2, PM 3, PM 4, PM 5, PM 6, PM 7 and PM 8 were selected to evaluate high diosgenin content and productivity. Results indicate that fenugreek is a good source of diosgenin with high productivity, ranging from 0.40 to 0.60 g/100 g and 7.78 to 14.95 Kg ha-1, respectively. Significant differences (p≤0.05) were observed among the accessions and local varieties with respect to diosgenin content and productivity. The higher diosgenin content was recorded in local variety, PEB (0.60%) and PR (0.59%), followed by accession PM 7 (0.59%) and PM2 (0.50%) respectively. The highest diosgenin productivity was recorded in PR (14.95 Kg ha-1) followed by PEB (14.54 Kg ha-1), PM 7 (14.46 Kg ha-1) and PM (C)1 (13.90 Kg ha-1). The maximum seed yield was recorded in accession PM(C)1 (2.98 T ha-1) followed by PR (2.52 T ha-1). Fenugreek seeds, used as functional foods or pharmacology industry due to bioactive substance diosgenin, contribute nutraceutical and pharmacological attributes. Fenugreek may be a feasible alternative for diosgenin production because of lower production costs in a short growing period, ease of cultivation and consistent seed yield. Variation in genotype as well as plant species bioactive compound composition has been contradictory for their availability and commercial use. This study may be useful in selecting superior fenugreek genotypes for targeted pharmaceutical purposes and also for a breeding program, further facilitate the development of more reliable genotype for industrial use
Response of Phosphorus to Growth and Flowering of Golden Rod (Solidago sp.) as Influenced by Population Density
No full textAims: The present work was carried out to evaluate the response of phosphorus on regulating vegetative and floral characters of golden rod in relation with population density.
Study Design: The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Horticultural Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during the period from May to October 2014.
Methodology: The experiment having two factors. First factor; population density which are D1 = 40 cm x 20 cm, D2 = 40 cm x 30 cm and D3 = 40 cm x 40 cm and, second factor; four levels of phosphorus viz. P0 = Control (without P2O5 addition), P1 = 100 kg P2O5 per ha, P2 = 125 kg P2O5 per ha and P3 = 150 kg P2O5 per ha. Fertilizers were applied @ 130, 100, 5000 and as per treatment kg per ha for urea, MP, cowdung and TSP, respectively and, intercultural operations were furnished for proper growth and development of the crop.
Results: Population density and phosphorus levels showed significant variations with most of the parameters as well as the highest number of spike (752708 per ha) was in the closet spacing of 40 cm x 20 cm with 125 kg P2O5 per ha and the lowest (248958 per ha) in 40 cm x 40 cm spacing without P2O5.
Conclusion: Use of higher population density (125000 plants per ha) with 125 kg P2O5 per ha would be the best for growth and flowering of golden rod
Effects of Enzymes and Combination of Enzymes on Apparent Metabolisable Energy Value of Wheat Offal with Chicken
No full textAim: To quantify the increase in the metabolisable energy value of wheat offal supplemented with enzyme and enzyme cocktails and to investigate the complementary effect of enzymes used as cocktail.
Study Design: Completely randomized design was used with twenty four adult cockerels of similar weight (2.2 Kg) distributed into eight treatments with three replicates per treatment.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Animal Production, University of Ilorin. The experiment lasted for three days (72 hours).
Methodology: Three enzymes (Xylanase, Multipurpose and phytase) were used individually, in pairwise combination and combination of the three enzymes while the treatment with no enzyme was the control. The birds were starved of feed for 21 hours prior to the commencement of the experiment. They were then intubated with the respective treatment. Feacal samples were collected over a period of 24 hours after intubation. The feacal samples were subjected to gross energy (GE) determination. Apparent metabolisable energy (AME) was then calculated.
Results: All enzyme treatments significantly (P=.05) increased the AME of wheat offal compared to the control. Among the three individual enzymes the multipurpose enzyme was significantly (P=.05) better than each of the other two while the effect of phytase was the least. There were complementary effects between the enzymes when used as cocktails. Cocktail of the three enzymes gave the significantly best (P=.05) effect on AME among the cocktails and among the treatments with enzymes. However effect of phytase in the cocktail was least compared to xylanase and multipurpose enzyme.
Conclusion: It was concluded that exogenous enzymes can be used to increase the calorific value of high fibre feed stuffs. Cocktail of two carbohydrases of different profile and activity is better than individual enzymes
Contemporary Perspective of Drip Irrigation: A Review of Water Saving Crop Production
No full textAims: The main focus of this paper was to review the present status and performance of drip irrigation system.
Place and Duration of Study: College of Water Conservancy, Shenyang Agricultural University, China. During March to July, 2016.
Methodology: This study compared drip irrigation with most common irrigation methods used for finding water-savings, efficient and sustainable agricultural production in arid and semi-arid regions on the basis available information.
Results: Increasing water demand in various sectors and inefficient water uses especially in agriculture, pose huge challenges in future water availability. Therefore, the future is seeking a more efficient method of water use. However, drip irrigation system is spreading rapidly all over the world as a water saving methods. Various types of crops grown under drip irrigation were compared with surface and sprinkler irrigation. Saline and reclaimed water application is also increasing alternatively as fresh water scarcity is increasing.
Conclusion: Review observation implies that, surface water irrigation will necessarily be reducing due to low efficiency and considerable conveyance losses
Sunflower Seed-priming with Phosphate Salts and Seedling Growth under Salt Stress
No full textAims: It was assumed that halo-priming process under salinity stress may rely on phosphorus nutrient source. Nutrient priming of seeds of sunflower seeds may be beneficial for growth of seedlings under salt stress.
Study Design: Laid out the experiment in Complete Randomized Design, using NaCl @ 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 mM on prime seeds from two sources of phosphorus salts in quadruplication.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in laboratory of Soil Salinity Research Programme of Land Resources Research Institute at National Agricultural research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan during the period from July to September, 2016.
Methodology: Passed sunflower seeds through the priming process using two sources of phosphorus i.e. potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP). The seeds were then germinated and raised for seedlings establishment in hydroponics standard solution under salt stress (0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 mM sodium chloride).
Results: The germination parameters, i.e. germination percentage, mean germination time, rate of germination index and coefficient of germination improved significantly (P< 0.01) with KDP priming than that of ADP under salinity stress. Seedlings vigor index enhanced with KDP than ADP. Fresh mass (18 to 36 percent) and dry mass (14 to 24 percent) of the seedlings were higher with KDP. With increasing Na+, Ca2+ decreased. It was inferred that role of KDP source was prominent.
Conclusion: Consideration of KDP could be a valuable seed-priming approach for sunflower early germination and accelerative growth under salt stress
Economics of Production of Weaner Rabbits Fed Diets Containing Fresh Water Snail (Pila ampullacea) Shell Ash
No full textThis research was carried out using twenty five (25) mixed breed weaner rabbits to investigate the effect of replacing bone ash with fresh water snail (Pila ampullaceal) shell ash on the diet of weaner rabbits on the economics of production. Five experimental diets tagged T1 to T5 were formulated such that fresh water snail (Pila ampullaceal) shell ash replaced bone ash at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% for treatments T1 to T5 respectively. The rabbits were randomly assigned to the five dietary treatments and replicated five times giving a total of one rabbit per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). The research showed that the diet affected the economics of production such that feeding dietary treatments resulted in positive profit per rabbit at 100% level of inclusion of the test ingredient. The cost of feed in gram of each treatment feed was lower in fresh water snail (Pila ampullacea ) shell ash based diet than the control diet. This research has shown that fresh water snail (Pila ampullacea) shell ash can serve as a substitute for bone ash in weaner rabbits diet up to 100% positively affected the economics of production parameters
Impact of Waste Dump on Heavy Metal Pollution of Riverbank Soil and Physico-chemical Properties of River Arumangye in Doma, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
No full textIn Nigeria, rivers and streams are natural water bodies that flow through cities and town. These rivers and streams are badly kept with their banks serving as disposal site. A study was conducted in 2015 in river Arumangye, with the aim of evaluating the effect of waste dump on heavy metal pollution index of the riverbank soil and assessed the quality of water. The result revealed that the riverbank soil was contaminated with heavy metals. The largest concentration of heavy metal present was Nickel (54 mg/kg) followed by Iron (5.04 mg/kg), Manganese (1.66 mg/kg), Cadmium (1.15 mg/kg), Cupper (0.65 mg/kg), Zinc (0.64 mg/kg) and the least was Lead (0.16 mg/kg). These metal content increases in ascending order in the soil as follows: Pb < Zn< Cu < Cd< Mn < Fe < Ni. However, the riverbank soil pollution index showed a reverse trend as follows: Mn < Ni< Zn < Cd< Pb < Cu < Fe. The pH Value of water from downstream was 6.45 which is slightly acidic than the upstream pH value of 8.12, while the midstream was 7.02. The WHO standard for a good drinking water has a pH value of 7.0-8.5. Also, ammonia nitrogen concentration on the downstream is high with a value of 0.64 mg/l, which is higher than the upstream (0.40 mg/l) and the midstream value of 0.49 mg/l; which is lower than the WHO standard value of 0.5 mg/l ammonia. Concentration of chloride at upstream was 23.00 mg/l, midstream sampling point had 24.00 mg/l of chloride compound and the downstream recorded the highest concentration of 28.80 mg/l of chloride. Dissolved oxygen in upstream was 3.80 mg/l of oxygen, midstream had 2.10 mg/l of oxygen and the downstream had a concentration of 1.90 mg/l of dissolved oxygen. The carbon dioxide concentration was more on the midstream (27.62 mg/l) sampling point compare to the upstream (18.67 mg/l) and downstream (18.69 mg/l). The water hardness was more at the upstream (22.00 mg/l), while at the midstream it became 20.00 mg/l and decreases again at the downstream to 18.78 mg/l. Therefore, dumping waste in river Arumangye contributed in polluting the river bank soil with heavy metals. However water quality of the is river still good for consumption; since most of the parameters assessed are within WHO minimum standard requirement of a good drinking water