Asian Journal of Advances in Agricultural Research
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Factory Production Process of Shiitake Mushrooms
No full textIn recent years, edible mushrooms factory production has been developing rapidly, equipped with a multitude of facilities and equipment supporting the shiitake mushroom stick cultivation mode, which can fully realize the whole process of mechanized operation. This paper introduces the main processes of shiitake mushroom factory production, which include shiitake mushroom stick making process, stick sterilization process, cooling inoculation process, solid and liquid strain cultivation process and mushroom emergence process. Factory production of shiitake mushrooms improves product quality and production efficiency, reduces the economic cost of cultivation, which is essential for the future prosperous development of shiitake mushroom industry
Use of Compost Fertilizer from Sheep Manure and Chicken Manure on Bengal Grass Growth (Panicum maximum) after First Harvest
No full textThis study at to determine the effect of manure on the growth and production of fresh forage tall elephant grass. The design used was completely randomized design (CRD) with 4 treatments and 5 replications. The treatments were as follows: Po = control (without fertilizer), P1 = cow manure; P2 = sheep manure and chicken manure P3. The results showed that the use of some types of manure to the planting of elephant grass was highly significant (p <0.01) in the plant height, leaf length, number of tillers and fresh forage production
Mycorrhiza: A Potential Application for Increased Crop Productivity in a Degraded Soil
No full textMycorrhiza is obtained from two Greek expressions, namely: mykes (fungus) and rhiza (root). In otherwise, mycorrhiza means fungus-root as coined by Frank in 1885. So, mycorrhiza association is defined as the mutual relationship between fungus and plant root in which the fungus derive carbon from its host plant while the host plants obtain minerals from the fungus. Mycorrhizas are found in different biomes ranging from high latitudes and altitudes, deserts, lowland tropical forest to aquatic ecosystems. It is a known fact that several plants cannot thrive in their natural habitats without this mutualism, as 95-99 % of all plant species have been estimated to belong to genera that generally form mycorrhizas. It is only three families of plant that do not enter into mutual relationship with fungus. These families are as follows: Cyperaceae, Chenopodiaceae, and Brassicaceae. There are now seven types of mycorrhizas among which are arbuscular (AM) endomycorrhiza, ericoid endomycorrhizas, arbutoid endomycorrhizas, monotropoid endomycorrhizas, orchidaeous endomycorrhizas, ectomycorhizas and ectendomycorrhizas. The benefits of mycorrhiza association cannot be overemphasized as studies have shown that it improves nutrient supply of carbon, phosphorus and nitrogen to both plant and fungus that might not normally be made available to plant roots in large amount. It also enhances the performance of plant growing in soils with high amounts of heavy metals and water absorption of desert plants
The Effect of Ca(OH)2 and Sugar on Characteristics of Long Beans Sweet
No full textLong beans are one type of vegetable that is quite popular in the community and has the potential to be developed. Although this type of vegetable gets damaged easily, its shell life is extended by drying which is achieved by adding Ca(OH)2 and soaking it in sucrose for about 12-24 hours. The solution helps to strengthen its texture before processing. This research aims to determine the effect of Ca(OH)2 and sugar treatment on the appearance of sweet long beans. Furthermore, it is designed as factorial experimental research with a completely randomized value consisting of two factors namely Ca(OH)2 (1%, 2%, 3%), and sugar solution (50%, 60%, 70%). The variables observed in sweet of long beans were reducing sugar, total moisture content, ash content, acidity, color test, yield test, and organoleptic test. Conclusively, the treatment using 1% of calcium hydroxide and 50% sugar concentration produced good characteristics with reduced sugar of 0.64 mg/100gr, moisture content of 8.53%, ash content of 2.17%, the acidity of 4.10, brightness level (L*) of 39.96, and a yield of 21.13%. Hence, it gives the best appearance, taste, texture, and overall acceptance on sweet of long beans
Assessment of Garlic Production Constraints and Trait Preferences in Garlic Cultivar Development in Two Woredas, Sidama Region, Ethiopia
No full textGarlic (Allium sativium L.) is the major food and cash crop in the highland regions of Ethiopia. However, farmers are not integrated into the garlic breeding process. The objectives of this assessment were to identify farmers’ key garlic production constraints and establish preferred traits in garlic cultivar development in the two woredas of Sidama Region (Ethiopia). A participatory rural appraisal (PRA) study was conducted through a structured survey involving 36 households in Malga and Gorche woredas. A structured survey used a questionnaire which was administered to farmers to collect information on key production constraints, varieties of garlic seed used for production, seed source etc., according to the assessment result of this study, the cultivar used for garlic production is the local variety in the two woredas. Hence, the most important garlic production constraints are lack of high yielding cultivars, garlic disease and insects. To conclude active farmer participation in early breeding stages is critical for a successful garlic breeding program. Based on the assessment it is possible to recommend that high yielder garlic variety, disease tolerance, insect resistant and cultivars having high dry matter content are the most important parameters preferred by farmers, which helps them to produce maximum products and serve as a source of income to many rural farmers
Review on Traditional Cow Milk Preservation Method and Marketing Practice in Ethiopia
No full textThe purpose of this review was to evaluate different reviews in different regions on traditional Ethiopian milk storage methods and marketing practices. Ethiopian farmers have a traditional system of handling milk containers that vary from place to place. Milking jars are thoroughly washed before smoking treatment, to mention a few, but the cleanliness of the wash water has been questioned. Milk processing began with the goal of turning fresh milk into long-lived dairy products and reducing food poisoning. Processing alone cannot solve the milk quality problem. Therefore, it is important to use proper processing and storage materials and to take the necessary precautions when handling milk and dairy products. Milk processing is progressing in Ethiopia. In the country, the average milk producer produces small quantities. The market for supplying fresh milk to consumers is not always easy, and local processors can suffer from problems such as power outages and disruptions in transportation. In most parts of the country, existing production and local marketing systems cannot easily meet growing demand. The degree of vertical and horizontal integration in the milk marketing system can vary from country to country or between regional and domestic milkfish. Therefore, this review should evaluate traditional domestic milk storage methods and marketing practices
Analysis of Backyard Poultry Farmers' Awareness, Perceptions, and Adaptability to Climate Change in Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone
No full textThe poultry industry worldwide suffers significantly due to climate change, which may affect the chicken protein source. The study examined backyard poultry farmers' awareness, perceptions, and responses to climate change in Tonkolili, Sierra Leone. Data were collected from 232 backyard poultry farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0 Software. According to the respondents' socioeconomic profiles, the majority of farmers (53.4%) were between the ages of 31 and 40 years, and most of them were female (59.5%) and married (54.3%). The average household size was between 5-8 persons, and the majority of respondents (59.5%) lacked formal education. The poultry farmers are well aware of climate change (96.6%), and that decrease in rainfall (x̄ = 3.45) and increasing temperature (x̄ = 3.39) affects poultry production, leading to high incidences of poultry diseases (x̄ = 4.11), increases the cost of feed (x̄ = 3.99), and reduces the quantity of egg production (x̄ = 3.92). The logistic regression model results showed that the positive and significant factors that influenced climate change awareness are gender and sources of climate change information. Some of the adaptation strategies practices by the farmers are an adequate supply of drinking water, increased quantity of supplementary feed, and rearing a different variety of birds. Climate change affects backyard poultry production therefore, poultry farmers should be provided with technical training and assistance through extension services to help alleviate the impact of climate change on backyard poultry production
Assessing the Perception of Pre-Service Teachers on Teaching and Learning of Agriculture in Colleges of Education in Ghana
No full textThis study sought to examine the effectiveness of teaching and learning of agriculture among pre-service teachers, including the challenges facing the teaching and learning of agriculture among students in the colleges of education in Ghana. A survey design with a quantitative data was gathered for the study. Stratified sampling method was used to select respondents in Ashanti and Western North regions. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. The findings revealed that 70% of the pre-service agriculture students hold the view that the teaching and learning is not effective among the students in the colleges. The study again identified the challenges that militate against teaching and learning of agriculture. The challenges were inadequate tools and equipment, lack of resourceful libraries and laboratories, insufficient time to complete the curriculum, lack of proper school farms/gardens, poorly committed teachers and too little practical work. It is recommended that heads of colleges of education are to focus on the challenges causing ineffective teaching and learning to improve teaching and learning while revising the existing agriculture curriculum
Improvement of Fruit Pubescence and Fruiting Pattern among Pure Lines and Landrace of Okra (Abelmoschus spp.) through Interspecific Hybridization
No full textThe research study was aimed at improving fruit pubescence and growth pattern in the highly mucilaginous but very spiny local and wild okra variety - ‘Ele Ogwu’ through generic hybridization with selected glabrous conventional and early maturing varieties at the Research Farm of the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The hybrid seeds generated from their diallel crosses were selfed to generate the F2 seeds. Backcrosses (BC1 and BC2) were also made to the much improved and glabrous varieties. The parents, F1, F2 and BC genotypes were sown in an experimental field in a randomized complete block design and organoleptic assessment was done at harvest. The F2 hybrids from the crosses, ‘UHIE x CLM’ and ‘AGW x CLM’, yielded some smooth fruits; although most of the hybrids generated, exhibited intermediate smoothness, except for ‘OGW x UHIE’ and ‘OGW x LD88’ that exhibited high degree of spineness. Most of the F2 hybrids generated exhibited intermediate growth and fruiting pattern, except for ‘OGW x UHIE’ which showed indeterminate pattern. The Chi-square statistics for the F2 showed that fruit pubescence for the highly spiny landrace and the more glabrous improved ones was monogenically controlled with incomplete dominance, while growth pattern were polygenically controlled. The successful backcrosses obtained showed reduction in the proportion of fruits spininess and increased fruit determinate growth pattern. This hereby indicates the prospect of obtaining okra plants with glabrous, highly appealing and determinate growth pattern with early maturity from the local, wild spiny but mucilaginous, nutritious and high yielding local varieties through sustained hybridization programme
The Characteristics of Fresh-cut Rambutan Fruit during Cold Storage
No full textRambutan is a delicious tropical fruit that contains various components that are beneficial for health. Damage to the fruit’s skin often causes a decrease in consumer interest. Therefore, fresh-cut rambutan is preferred over whole fruit. A decrease in the quality of fresh-cut rambutan due to cold storage was observed. This study aims to determine changes in the characteristics of fresh-cut rambutan during cold storage. Whole fruit controls were prepared to observe deterioration during storage. The study used a completely randomized design with three replications. Storage time of 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 days to determine the water content, acidity, total dissolved solids, vitamin C contents, and micrograph of fresh-cut rambutan fruit with Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The conclusion is cold storage treatment has an effect on the characteristics of moisture content, degree of acidity, and vitamin C of fresh-cut rambutan fruit. While the total dissolved solid has no effect on the characteristics of fresh-cut rambutan. The decrease in the characteristics of fresh-cut rambutan was sharper than that of intact fruit starting on day 6