Asian Journal of Agricultural and Horticultural Research
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Production of Biofuels from Agricultural Waste
No full textAgricultural waste represents a largely untapped resource that could be utilized for the production of biofuels through various conversion pathways. As the global demand for renewable and sustainable energy grows, biofuels offer solutions to mitigate climate change impacts while improving waste management. This review analyzes using agricultural residues and by-products as feedstocks for biofuel production through biological, thermochemical and chemical conversion processes. The different types of lignocellulosic biomass available from agricultural activities are discussed, along with their compositions. While agricultural waste has advantages like wide availability and low cost, challenges relating to heterogeneous composition, pre-existing contamination and seasonal availability must be addressed. Fermentation, anaerobic digestion, pyrolysis and gasification are examined as established routes for converting agricultural waste into liquid biofuels and biogas. Pretreatment methods, enzyme production pathways and synthesis of fuels like ethanol, butanol and diesel substitutes are outlined. Environmental benefits of biofuels from waste, including greenhouse gas mitigation and recycling of soil nutrients, are evaluated against fossil fuel alternatives. Case studies on operational plants and feasibility studies provide insights into technical and economic viability at scale. Challenges regarding feedstock logistics, conversion efficiency, commercial scale-up and sustainability assessment are identified for future research focus. In conclusion, the review finds that agricultural waste is a promising renewable resource for biofuel production when integrated with appropriate thermochemical, biochemical or anaerobic digestion technologies. While the field is advancing, further improvements in areas such as feedstock supply, pretreatment technologies, and demonstration of sustainability will be critical to realize the full potential of this emerging bioeconomy sector. The review recommends steps to accelerate commercialization and policy frameworks to incentivize waste-to-energy solutions
Evaluation of Early Maturing Soya Bean (Glycine max.) Genotypes for Pod Shattering Resistance and High Yielder at Western Tigray, Ethiopia
No full textPod shattering is occurring after the pods reached maturity which can cause considerable yield loss in soya bean crop. The aims of this study were to evaluate the pod shattering resistance and the performance of the agronomic traits of several soybean genotypes. Field experiment was conducted at Humera district during 2018 cropping season using sixteen soya bean genotypes. Treatments were evaluated with RCBD and replicated three times. Pod shattering, number of branches, seed per pod, pod per plant, hundred seed weight and seed yield was shows a significant (P<0.01) variation among genotypes. While; there was not a significant variation among genotypes in terms of the number of days from planting to flowering and maturity. The mean pod shattering was ranged from scale1.25 to 4. Maximum amount of pod shattering was measured in the genotypes PI423959 (4), PI506764 (3.75) and PI417085 (3.25). However, minimum amount of pod shattering was measured in the genotypes of PI417116 (1.25), Desha (1.75) and PI417132 (2). Highest yield was obtained from the genotypes PI714116 (19.29kg/ha) and PI417132 (16.54kg/ha). However, lowest yield was obtained from the genotypes Williams (check) (6.7kg/ha) followed by PI223963 (8.53 kg/ha) and Nova (check) (9.86 kg/ha)
Effect of Different Levels of Phosphorus on Growth and Yield of Wheat cv. Shatabdi
No full textA field experiment was carried out in a farmer’s field of Gazipur, Bangladesh to evaluate the effect of various levels of phosphorous fertilizer on the growth and yield of wheat (cv. Shatabdi). The experiment consisted of four phosphorus levels, including a control: (i) T0 = 0 kg P ha-1 (Control), (ii) T1 = 25 kg P ha-1, (iii) T2 = 50 kg P ha-1, and (iv) T3 = 75 kg P ha-1. The experiment was conducted from December 2021 to March 2022 in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data on different growth and yield parameters like plant height, number of tillers plant-1, days to flowering, days to maturity, spike length, grains spike-1, grain yield, thousand grain weight, biological yield, and harvest index were recorded according to plan. The different level of phosphorous showed significant effect on growth and yield of wheat. The T2 (50 kg P ha-1) treatment gave the tallest plant (85.25 cm), maximum number of tillers plant-1 (8.05), spike length (18.20 cm), grains spike-1 (42.08), thousand grain weight (36.16), grain yield plant-1 (37.15 g), straw yield (07.46) and harvest index (50.72%). On the other hand, all the growth, yield and yield attributing characters were found lowest in control treatment. The result of the study indicated that the 50 Kg P ha-1 would be effective and economic for the cultivation of wheat variety Shatabdi
Effect of Natural Extracts during Storage Conditions on Seed Quality and Yield Performance of Soybean Cultivar Giza 22
No full textAims: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Diatomaceous Earth (DE) at 20 g/kg, Neem seed extract (NSE) at 25 g/kg, and Silica gel (SG) at 25 g/kg on seed quality, field performance, and seed yield of Giza 22 soybean seeds during various of storage durations and environmental conditions.
Study Design: Three experiments investigated storage, germinability, and field performance of seeds using a FCRD with four replicates. The seed storage trial assessed open and cool storages conditions across durations of 1, 4, 8, and 12 months, with seed treatments of DE, NSE, and SG. Germinability and field performance were evaluated under the same storage conditions and treatments. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) at P = 0.05.
Place and Duration of Study: The storage and germination trials were conducted at the preservation labs of the Seed Technology Research Unit, Mansoura City, FCRI, ARC, Egypt. While, the field experiment took place on a private farm in the village at geoical location 30°53'39"N 31°20'51"E.
Methodology: The seeds were tested under open storage at ambient room conditions and cool storage at 5°C and 30% RH, and storage periods at four levels with two months interval.
Results: Isolated data clarify applying cool storage or seed treatments (DE, NSE, and SG) over all storage periods significantly (P = 0.05) exceed open storage or the untreated control seeds, respectively. Cool storage combined with DE, NSE, and SG seed treatments significantly yielded the highest stored seed quality indices, field performance and seed yield compared to the untreated control seeds stored at open or cool storage conditions.
Conclusion: It could be concluded that, the application of diatomaceous earth, neem seed extract, and silica gel on soybean seeds during storage has been shown to provide several benefits i.e., extend seed storability, reduce insect damage, improve seed germination and seedling vigor, and increasing seed yield
Impacts of Farm Business of School (FBS) Intervention on The Income of The Cocoa Farmers in Nigeria
No full textThis study was designed to empirically investigate the impacts of Farm Business School (FBS) intervention on the income of cocoa farmers in some selected states in Nigeria. Primary data were collected through direct personal interviews, and with the use of a well-structured questionnaire from 300 sampled cocoa farmers. The data analytical techniques employed in this study include descriptive statistics, endogenous switching regression (ESR) and propensity score matching (PSM). The results from the descriptive statistics for participants and non-participants showed that most of the farmers were relatively old given life expectancy in Nigeria as 52 years. Participants and non-participants in the study area had a mean age of 54 years. The cocoa farming has been dominated by male farmers. The result of ESR was based on the average treatment effects of participants in FBS on income, and this shows that participation in FBS increases income significantly, and farmers that did not participate would have benefited significantly had they participated in FBS. PSM analysis indicated that participants in Farmers Business School and The PSM results imply that FBS training has increased the income of participants by 343,950.84 point. The results showed that participating in Farmers Business School leads to significant gains and impacts on income of cocoa farmers. Also, variables like level of education, farm size, amount of credit obtained, household size, and number of visits by extension agents have a significant impact on the level of participation. Therefore, research institutes and other agencies of government should improve upon their services of creating awareness for cocoa farmers to encourage the participation of more farmers in the training programme to have increased income. The combination of ESR and PSM analysis will also add value and contribute to the literature on the best approach to address impact analysis
Assessment of Morphological Diversity and Vegetative Growth Parameters of Fifteen Betel Vine Varieties Cultivated Along the Odisha Coast
No full textBetel vine (Piper betle) is a tropical evergreen plant renowned for its cultural and medicinal significance. With origins in Southeast Asia, its heart-shaped leaves, vibrant colors and aromatic properties contribute to its widespread cultivation. The study investigates the morphological diversity and vegetative growth parameters of fifteen betel vine varieties cultivated along the Odisha coast, with a focus on vine elongation, leaf dimensions, internodal length, leaf area, weight of fresh leaves, number of adventitious root production and the number of leaves per meter of vine. The results revealed significant variation among the varieties. Notably, vine elongation ranged from 39.5 to 68.8 cm/month, with the Golabandha varieties showing the highest rate. Leaf length varied from 8.84 to 20.24 cm, and the Chandrakana varieties displayed the longest leaves. Leaf breadth ranged from 4.46 to 15.3 cm, with the widest leaves found in Chandrakana varieties. Internodal length varied from 3.06 to 6.46 cm, with Gunthuni having the lowest internodes. Leaf area ranged from 38.04 to 177.37 cm2, with Chandrakana exhibiting the largest leaf area. Weight of fresh leaves varied significantly, with Chandrakana and Ralaba varieties having the highest and lowest weights, respectively. Cluster analysis grouped varieties based on their morphological characteristics, revealing distinct clusters related to leaf dimensions and growth parameters. Understanding the morphological diversity of betel vine varieties is crucial for identifying the superior varieties for sustainable cultivation and ensuring the quality of this culturally and economically significant crop
Surface Temperature Changes and Effects on Cocoa Yield in the Top Four Cocoa Producing Countries of Africa: A Comparative Analysis
No full textCocoa is a leading export crop to the world market and Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon in Africa, accounts for about 70% of the global supply. However, increasing global warming with attendant high ambient temperature had affected yields in the tropical regions of Africa. The data of 61 years (1961 – 2021), area harvested (ha), yield (kg/ha) and temperature (OC) were sourced from the database of Food and Agricultural Organisation Corporate Statistical (FAOSTAT). Least squares regression and correlation analysis models were used for data analysis. Results showed that mean ambient temperature in Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon have increased by 0.7661, 0.7507, 0.7333 and 0.6400 OC for a total of 51, 51, 50 and 49 years respectively, while mean decreases were 0.1541, 0.1693, 0.1710, 0.1392oC for 10, 10, 11 and 12 years respectively. Annual average temperature increase was highest (0.0243oC) in Cote D’Ivoire with regression coefficient (R2) of 0.7232 and least (0.0200oC) in Nigeria at R2 of 0.6380. However, in both countries, annual temperature decreased by 0.0012o and 0.0007o with R2 of 0.0052 and 0.0014 respectively. The mean annual temperature increase in Ghana and Cameroon were 0.023o and 0.0204o with R2 of 0.7364 and 0.6965 respectively, while the decreases were 0.0019o and -0.0011o with R2 of 0.0152 and 0.0431 respectively. The cocoa cumulative yield (kg/ha) reduced by 105.8, 90.8 and 75.0kg/ha respectively in Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana and Cameroon when temperature decreased, but increased by 12.5kg/ha in Nigeria during same temperature decreasing trend. In Ghana and Cameroon, cocoa annual yield was higher in the years of temperature increase, while decreased ambient temperature enhanced cocoa yield in Nigeria and Cote D’Ivoire. Hence, to enhance cocoa yield in the top four cocoa producing countries of Africa, the ambient temperatures should be controlled through the adoption of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)
Effect of Growing media on Germination and Seedling Growth of Four Different Varieties of Tomato [Solanum lycopersicum (L.)] in Khumaltar Lalitpur, Nepal
No full textAims: Food security is one of the global challenges in this developing world, and the quality of seedlings influences the overall production of vegetables. Thus, the core objective of the study was to determine the impact of various growing media on high-quality seedling production and to analyze whether these media were variety-specific or not.
Study Design: A two-factor factorial experiment using a completely randomized design (CRD) was conducted to assess the interaction effects of both factors.
Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted at the seedling production greenhouse of Vegetable Crops Development Centre-Khumaltar Lalitpur, Nepal in March, 2023.
Methodology: Six different combinations of growing media: soil, sand + soil + FYM, sand + soil + vermicompost, coco peat, coco peat + FYM, and coco peat + vermicompost, and four different varieties of tomato: Srijana, Khumal-2, Khumal-3 and Monoprecos were tested in a two-factor factorial completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications for each combination of treatments.
Results: The results of this experiment revealed that seeds of all varieties of tomato on coco peat and vermicompost were successful in better seedling growth and seedling health. Also, growing media with coco peat led to a higher germination percentage (72.92%), lower mean germination time (8.922 days), and higher speed of germination (1.745). Coco peat + vermicompost showed superior seedling growth parameters, including shoot length (7.852 cm), root length (7.123 cm), root to shoot ratio (1.161), dry weight (0.1781 g), fresh weight (1.483 g), and dry matter accumulation (12.90%). Among the varieties, Monoprecos exhibited the highest germination percentage (66.1%) and seed vigor index (933.8), although it had the highest mean germination time (10.26 days). Shoot length, speed of germination, root length, and root to shoot ratio were statistically similar among varieties. Fresh and dry weights were higher in the Srijana variety, while dry matter accumulation did not vary significantly among varieties.
Conclusion: Vermicompost in the presence of coco peat has a significant impact on the germination and growth of tomato seedlings. No variety-specific growing media was recommended for seedling production in tomatoes. Based on the results, it is recommended to explore the effect of different compositions of vermicompost on tomato seedlings for healthy seedling production
Understanding the Potential of Conservation Agriculture towards Improving Food Security and Sustainability of Natural Resources in Chongwe District of Lusaka
No full textConservation agriculture (CA) represents a promising solution to the challenges faced by smallholder farmers in Chongwe District. This paper outlines the potential benefits of CA, including increased crop yields, improved food production, reduced input costs, and enhanced nutritional quality and diversity of food crops. Policymakers, agricultural extension services, and development organizations need to prioritize the promotion and adoption of CA practices, providing support for training, capacity building, and access to resources for farmers. The paper also calls for targeted interventions to raise awareness about the benefits of CA, address misconceptions, and integrate CA principles into agricultural policies and programs. By prioritizing and supporting the shift towards CA, stakeholders can contribute to creating a more resilient and sustainable agricultural system that benefits farmers
Analysis of the Ecological Value of Pioneer Plants in the Yellow River Basin
No full textPioneer plants are plant species that appear early in the community succession or show strong adaptability, which can improve the local ecological environment and create conditions for the succession and recovery of other plants and animals. After analyzing the general situation in the Yellow River Basin, this paper explores the main ecological values of pioneer plants, such as treatment of salt-alkali land, soil and water conservation, improvement of soil quality, community succession and biodiversity promotion. Also, typical cases of pioneer plants used for treatment and restoration in ecologically fragile areas such as Shanxi-Shaanxi-Inner Mongolia Pisha sandstone area, coastal saline-alkali land, abandoned mine pits in Yellow River Basin are introduced and analyzed to provide a theoretical basis for further embodying the ecological function of pioneer plants in the Yellow River Basin