Asian Journal of Advances in Agricultural Research
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The Use of Biostimulants in High-density Olive Growing: Quality and Production
No full textDue to the increase of high-density holdings, especially of olive trees, the nutritional requirements of the plants are higher per unit area, which implies that a greater contribution of fertilizers to the soil is needed. Opting for fertilizers of inorganic origin will produce an increase in the pollution of the soil.
In the face of this possible soil contamination, our aim is to analyze the effect of biostimulants as an alternative to chemical fertilizers, to steadily produce and maintain high quality standards during the life of the crop. Our objective is using more environmentally friendly products in order to satisfy one of the most important demands from both consumers and the authorities.
In this study, we carried out five different treatments in addition to a control treatment with a supply of NPK, from inorganic products, which are used to control fertilization with a solution obtained from seaweed extracts. These treatments were applied in two crop cycles for two of the most important varieties in the current olive tree growing scenario: Arbequina and Koroneiki.
This study was developed in the farm Pozohondo, which is located in a crop zone by the Palancia river (Castellón, Valencia, Spain), in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, where the olive trees were established in a high-density system with a planting framework of 4 x 1.5 m. We ensured an exhaustive control of the nutritional needs of the holding by using a fertigation system.
We could notice differences in the productions of each applied treatment, avoiding any possible biases through the additional control of 100 randomly selected olives from each of the samples. There is an improvement in the set of physical characteristics of the olives with the treatment that provides amino acids and extra potassium based on amni acids. We analyzed the quality of the olive oil obtained from the production of each treatment by measuring the fatty acids, tocopherols and polyphenols contents. We also carried out an organoleptic tasting analysis following the rules of the International Olive Committee (IOC).
We observed an improvement with regard to the rest of treatments in the pomological parameters of the olives when applying the potassium and amino acid biostimulant, while the quality of the oils was not affected by the type of fertilization applied in each treatment
Condition Factor, Food and Feeding Habit of Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (Siluriformes: Bagridae) from Lower River Benue, Makurdi, Nigeria
No full textBackground and Objective: The feeding habit as well as the condition factor of Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus from lower river Benue was studied between July 2015 and September 2015.
Materials and Methods: The natural food of the fish in the Lower River Benue was studied from stomach contents of the fish. A total of 100 stomachs were randomly examined and analyzed using two methods; the frequency of occurrence and point methods. About 92 had food items while 8 were empty. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test for significant difference at 95% confidence limit in the food eaten by these species and also the degree of stomach fullness.
Results: Food items encountered using frequency of occurrence method include fish parts (47.62%), seeds (40.49%), sand/mud (30.09%), detritus (30.95%), digested food (29.76%), insect parts (27.38%), mollusk (25.00%) and algae (22.62%).
Conclusion: C. nigrodigitatus had a euryphagous food habits and based on condition factor the fish were in good health
Analysis of the Profitability of Catfish Production in Enugu East L.G.A. of Enugu State, Nigeria
No full textObjectives of the Study: The study examined the profitability of catfish production in Enugu –East L.G.A of Enugu state.
Sample Size and Sampling Procedure: A purposive sampling technique was employed in the selection of 50 respondents used for the study.
Method of Data Collection: Data for the study were collected using structured questionnaires and interview schedules.
Method of Data Analysis: Descriptive statistics, gross-margin analysis and profitability ratios were used in analyzing the data.
Results and Discussion: The result of the analysis showed that majority of the fish farmers (70%) were males and within the age range of 31 - 50 years. The result equally revealed that majority of the farmers (86%) had at least a National Diploma with about 5 -14 years fish farming experience. The result further indicated that cost of feed and fingerlings were the major cost component involved in catfish production. The gross margin analysis and profitability ratios revealed that catfish production is very profitable in the study area with a net income of about N576, 667 and a BCR of 1.6. The study however revealed that the high cost of farm inputs and poor credit facilities were the major constraints to catfish production in the area.
Recommendations: It was recommended that more fish feed producers be encouraged into the business to reduce the high cost of feed
Urban Agriculture among Households of Makurdi Metropolis of Benue State, Nigeria: Key Challenges
No full textThe survey was conducted to identify key challenges encountered by households in Makurdi metropolis of Benue state, Nigeria who are engaged in urban agriculture. A well structured questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 100 respondents used for the study. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage and mean score. Results show that a greater percentage (46.0%) of the respondents engaged in cultivation of leafy vegetable, 22.0% cultivated cassava, 21.0% planted sweet potato, 18.0% cultivated tomato while 56.0% reared poultry, 23.0% kept goat, among others. Sources of agricultural information indicated by the respondents were family members/relations (85.0%), friends/neighbors (73.0%), radio (68.0%), extension agents (57.0%), etc. Major challenges encountered by the respondents in urban agriculture include inadequate size of farm land (M= 2.72), lack of access to credit facilities (M= 2.63), lack of funds (M= 2.50), high cost of labor (M= 2.49), insecurity of lands (M= 2.46), theft of crops at maturity (M= 2.38), lack of farm inputs such as improved varieties of seeds, fertilizer (M= 2.23), destruction of crops by stray farm animals (M= 1.96), among others. The study recommends that there is need for adequate provision of farm inputs by government at all levels at subsidized rate in order to reduce the cost of production and enhance optimum productivity
The Asian Chestnut Gall Wasp in Italy: Surveys on its Native and Exotic Parasitoids as Well as on Chestnut Cultivar Susceptibility
No full textIn the context of biological control against the Asian chestnut gall wasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) in Italy, the aim of this study was to survey its native parasitoids as well as the exotic Torymus sinensis Kamijo which had been introduced and released as a biological control agent. Furthermore, both parasitism and pest susceptibility of local chestnut trees were investigated. Surveys were carried out in 2014 in the Municipality of Sambuca Pistoiese (Pistoia), in a chestnut forest which included three cultivars: Nerattino, Carpinese, and Pastinese. On a total of 35 trees, selected among the three cultivars, 24 current-year shoots were randomly collected and examined in the laboratory. After the damage by the cynipid had been assessed, leaf samples were used for molecular analyses. Galls were also collected on the 35 selected trees both for dissection and to rear parasitoid specimens in the laboratory. The three cultivars were confirmed by genetic tests. The Carpinese cultivar resulted to be the most damaged, with highest percentage of attacked shoots (84.38%). Moreover it was also the cultivar with the lower parasitism rate (about 16%). From reared galls seven parasitoid species emerged, all belonging to the superfamily of Chalcidoidea. Exception made for the non-native T. sinensis, the other six were native species associated to oak gall wasps. Native parasitoids were more scarcely present, while the exotic T. sinensis amounted for the 84.27% of all emerged parasitoids. Our results confirm how chestnut susceptibility to D. kuriphilus varies depending on the cultivar. Overall, the Nerattino cultivar resulted as the best among the three examined: it was subject to a less intense attack than the other cultivars, and the resulting smaller galls were more effectively exploited by parasitoids
Influence of Kraal Manure, Chicken Manure and Inorganic Fertilizer on Growth, Yield and Post-harvest Quality of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) in a Sub-tropical Environment
No full textThe excessive unjustified use of some kinds of fertilizers has seen some farmers realizing poor quality fruit that does not appeal to the final consumer, thus negatively affecting the effort of alleviating poverty in the Kingdom of Eswatini. This experiment was carried out at the Horticulture Department Lath House, Faculty of Agriculture, Luyengo Campus of the University of Eswatini to determine the growth, yield and shelf-life of green pepper when fertilized with kraal manure, poultry manure and inorganic fertilizer. The experiment was conducted to find the optimum levels of fertilizers that promotes the growth of pepper and to find the effects of different fertilizers on yield and quality of pepper. The treatments included kraal manure applied at 60 t/ha, [NPK (2:3:2) 37] at 370 kg/ha, chicken manure at 40 t per hectare and the control with no amendment. The results showed that growing pepper using the four treatments significantly affected its growth rate, leaf number, fruit number and its (fruit) shelf life. Pepper grown using inorganic fertilizer had the highest leaf number followed in decreasing order by chicken manure, kraal manure and lastly peppers which did not receive any amendment. There were no significant difference in the growth rate of pepper in the inorganic fertilizer and chicken manure treatments. Similarly, there was no significant difference of pepper grown with chicken manure and chemical fertilizer in the number of days it took the harvested pepper to reach 100% decay stored at room temperature for 21 days. Yet pepper grown with kraal manure was significantly different from the two as it showed 20% decay rate in the same number of days. Although the control had the least decay, the yield was the lowest thus it is not recommended. Kraal manure at 60 t/ha is recommended in the production of pepper with a longer shelf life
Evaluation of Genetic Diversity in Giant African Land Snails Using Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) Markers
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Evaluation of Genetic Diversity in Giant African Land Snails Using Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) Markers
The genetic diversity and relatedness among three populations (A. achatina, A. fulica and A. marginata) of giant African land snails, a highly relished source of protein in West Africa were studied using Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers. Thirty (30) snails consisting of ten (10) each of A. achatina, A. fulica and A. marginata were collected randomly from three locations in Nigeria for genetic diversity studies. DNA were extracted using CTAB methods with minor modifications and ten (10) ISSR primers were used for PCR-DNA amplification and bands were visualized under UV light using ethidium bromide. Data analyses were computed using power marker version 3.25, POPGENE version 1.32 and GenAlex 6.5 software. Results obtained revealed that the polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 0.7139 to 0.9230, while percentage polymorphism ranged from 55.55% to 92.31%. Average percentage polymorphism was 73.85%. Molecular-based cluster generated two major clusters. AMOVA result gave 0.00% of variation among the populations while variation within populations was 100%. Snail populations used in this study showed very narrow genetic diversity suggesting that they may come from a common ancestor. The implication of the results taken together is that further genotyping and analyses should be carried out using other DNA markers
Examining Selected Physico-chemical Properties of Soil under Contaminated and Control Conditions
No full textThe processing of oil palm results in the production of contaminated wastewater commonly referred as Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME), though this is just one of the waste generated during the processing of the fresh fruits. In this study, soil obtained from the POME disposable sites is referred as contaminated soil. This study was conducted across three locations (Vika, Aro and Jubilee) and selected physicochemical properties (pH, conductivity, organic carbon (OC), moisture content (MC), bulk density, cation exchange capacity (CEC), oil and grease of soil from POME contaminated sites and control sites were determined based on the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards. Obtained mean values were collated for statistical analysis to obtain mean standard deviations and p-values using the ANOVA and student’s t-test. Results revealed that the pH of the contaminated soil samples across the mills were acidic with a high mean CEC. The moisture content of the contaminated samples was notably high which could be attributed to the high concentration of organic matter in POME to retain water in the soil. Mean conductivity was significantly high alongside oil and grease concentrations at the mills ranging between 105.75 ± 0.03 (Jubilee) and 790.30 ± 1.00 (Vika). The relatively high values of different physicochemical properties of the contaminated soil against the control site present the palm oil mill effluent as a potential material which could be converted into organic manure and applied back to the plantation rather than disposed-off as an agro-pollutant
Effect of Lactobacillus plantarum 1 on the Sensory Attributes and Proximate Composition of Gari Made from Manihot esculentum Crantz
No full textEffect of Lactobacillus plantarum 1 on the Sensory Attributes and Proximate Composition of Gari Made from Manihot esculentum Crantz
Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Lactobacillus plantarum 1 on the Sensory Attributes and Proximate Composition of gari made from Manihot esculentum Crantz.
Study Design: Freshly harvested mature cassava was peeled and grated. This was further divided into two equal parts to represent samples (W) and (Wo). Sample (W) was inoculated with pure strain of Lactobacillus plantarum 1, while sample (Wo) was not inoculated. The two samples of dough were poured into different jute bags and allowed for 96 hrs to ferment and dehydrate. The resulting dough was sieved and roasted for 30 minutes.
Methodology: Sensory attributes were evaluated using the Hedonic Rule which involved a panel of seven judges, while proximate composition of gari samples was determined using standard methods. The data obtained were analysed using T-test.
Results: The results from this study showed that the score for the sensory attributes for sample (W) was significantly higher (P<0.05) compared to sample (Wo). On the other hand, the proximate analysis showed that moisture content, ash, fat, protein and fibre were significantly higher (P<0.05) in sample (Wo) compared to sample (W).
Conclusion: In conclusion, it can be deduced that using L. plantarum 1 in cassava fermentation improved all sensory attributes evaluated in this study. In addition, the study further revealed that traditional fermentation yielded gari with higher nutritional values
Growth Performance Characteristics of Broiler Chickens Fed Graded Levels of Sundried Cassava (Manihot esculenta) Peel Meal Based Diet
No full textAn eight-week feeding trial was conducted at the Poultry Unit of the Teaching and Research Farm, Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma to evaluate the growth performance of broiler chickens fed varying levels of sun-dried cassava peel meal based diet. A total of one hundred and twenty day-old Anak 2000 broiler chicks were used for this experiment. Forty chicks were randomly selected based on their average initial weights to each of the four treatment diets. (T1 to T4) With T1 serving as the control and T2 to T4 having an inclusion level of Sundried cassava peel meal (SDCPM) at 20, 40, and 60% replacement levels for maize respectively in a complete randomized design (CRD). The chicks were brooded and fed for four weeks with commercial starter diet. After that they were fed formulated finisher diets for four weeks. The result of the performance study showed that all the performance parameters assayed in this study were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the treatments diets apart from feed conversion ratio. Final live weight was significantly higher (2.86kg/bird) among birds fed 20% SDCPM. Daily and weekly feed intake were higher (120.00 g/bird) and (0.80 kg/bird) in birds fed control comparable to those (116.00 g/bird) and (0.78 kg/bird) fed 20% SDCPM. Daily and Weekly weight gain was higher significantly (P<0.05) in birds that ate 20% SDCPM (47.21 g/bird) and (0.37 kg/bird).feed conversion ratio was similar (P>0.05) but least and best value (2.11) was recorded among birds fed 20% SDCPM. The overall result of this study showed that sun-dried cassava peel meal could successfully be included in broiler ration up to 20% level without any adverse effect on the performance of broiler chickens