Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International
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Effect of Silkworm Pupae Meal on Proximate Composition and Nutritional Quality of Tilapia Flesh
No full textSilkworm pupae (Bombyx mori), a by-product of the sericulture industry, are generated in large quantities annually, posing disposal and environmental issues despite their high nutritional value. This study investigate the effect of incorporating silkworm pupae meal into the diet of tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) with respect to growth performance, feed utilization, and body composition. A 90-day feeding trial was conducted using diets containing 0% (control), 25%, and 50% silkworm pupae meal. This study showed a progressive increase in protein (16.8% to 19.7%) and lipid content (4.5% to 6.1%) of fish flesh with higher pupae inclusion, while moisture and carbohydrate content decreased. Ash content also increased slightly, indicating enhanced mineral deposition. These findings demonstrate that silkworm pupae improve nutrient deposition, muscle quality, and feed efficiency in tilapia. Beyond nutritional benefits, utilizing locally available silkworm pupae can reduce fish feed costs, support circular economy, and promote sustainable aquaculture. Overall, silkworm pupae meal represents a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to conventional fishmeal in aquaculture
Addressing Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) Problem through Composting: Exploring its Potential as a Organic Soil Amendment
No full textWater hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a rapidly growing aquatic weed with extreme environmental impacts. The primary focus of this research was to consider its application as compost for sustainable agriculture through the assessment of the contribution of composting to the quality of the compost and as a soil amendment. Anaerobic water hyacinth composting using the Orgadec activator for 14 weeks produced 156 kg compost at 21.67% yield. Compost was evaluated through color reading, odor, temperature, pH, and chemical composition, i.e., macronutrient content (N, P, K), sulfur (S), C-organic, C/N ratio, and heavy metal. Compost temperature was 33.19 °C on average during composting. Chemical properties were analyzed as follows: N (1.13%), P (0.62%), K (0.78%), S (1978 ppm), C-organic (25.12%), and C/N ratio as 22.23. Comparison carried out with the Ministry of Agriculture Decree No. 261/KPYS/SR.310/M/4/2019 revealed that all the parameters conformed to the stipulated guidelines except the moisture content, which recorded less than the minimum value at 5.66%. The evaluation of the compost proved that compost from water hyacinth meets the technical specifications set for organic soil amendments as it has an equally balanced profile of nutrients and very low heavy metal concentrations. The results confirm that composting successfully enhances the quality of water hyacinth, making it a viable alternative for utilization as an organic soil amendment. Therefore, composting is a possible technique for converting this invasive weed into a useful product for sustainable agriculture, while at the same time reducing its negative environmental effects
Beyond Timber: The Socio-Economic and Environmental Roles of Non-Wood Forest Products in Brazil and Japan
No full textBackground: Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) play a critical role in bridging economic development and environmental sustainability, particularly in countries with rich forest resources like Brazil and Japan. This review examines the economic potential and environmental implications of NWFPs in these two nations, highlighting their unique socio-economic and ecological contexts. In Brazil, NWFPs such as açai and Brazil nuts contribute significantly to rural livelihoods and export revenues, while also supporting biodiversity conservation in the Amazon and Atlantic forests. In Japan, traditional NWFPs like mushrooms and bamboo are integral to cultural heritage and rural economies, with growing applications in modern industries. However, both countries face challenges such as deforestation, overharvesting, and climate change, necessitating sustainable management practices. By comparing the policies, practices, frameworks and innovations in Brazil and Japan, this review identifies opportunities for cross-country collaboration and knowledge exchange. The findings underscore the importance of integrating NWFPs into global sustainability agendas, emphasizing their potential to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate mitigation efforts.
Aim: This review explores the economic and environmental significance of Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) in Brazil and Japan, analyzing their role in sustainable management, rural development, and policy frameworks. By examining key NWFPs, this study identifies opportunities for cross-country knowledge exchange and sustainable economic integration.
Methodology: This is a narrative review based on academic literature, policy reports, and case studies from both countries. The study synthesizes existing research on the economic and environmental contributions of NWFPs in Brazil and Japan. Key themes include (i) economic importance, with a focus on major NWFPs such as açaí and Brazil nuts in Brazil and shiitake mushrooms and bamboo in Japan, (ii) environmental sustainability, analyzing biodiversity conservation, deforestation, and climate adaptation, and (iii) policy frameworks and institutional strategies for sustainable NWFP management. A comparative analysis highlights synergies and challenges between the two nations.
Results: The economic functions of NWFPs in Brazil and Japan demonstrate different approaches influenced by the socioeconomic and environmental circumstances of each country. Both Brazil and Japan\u27s environmental landscapes depend heavily on non-wood forest products, each of which has its own special opportunities and difficulties. In Brazil, NWFPs are crucial for preserving biodiversity and halting deforestation, particularly in the Amazon, which is a major contributor to climate regulation and a global carbon sink. The study noted that there is a lot of potential for improving NWFP sustainability through cross-country cooperation. Collaborative research projects could tackle common issues like biodiversity loss and climate change. A bilateral working group on NWFPs between Brazil and Japan, for instance, could be formed with an emphasis on topics like innovation, value chain development, and climate change adaptation.
Conclusion: Integrating NWFPs into broader sustainability agendas can enhance their role in economic resilience and environmental conservation. Lessons from Japan’s structured approach and Brazil’s biodiversity potential can inform policies promoting NWFPs as key assets in sustainable development and climate mitigation efforts
Findings of a Market Survey on Vegetables and Fish for Mgombezi Community Aquaponics Project
No full textMgombezi is a community-based organization (CBO) with a membership of over 1000 members. It is based in Lunga Lunga Sub-County, a semi-arid area in Kwale County bordering river Umba. This CBO had been earmarked to benefit from a project on Aquaponics technology donated by Friends of Anglican Development Services (ADS) of Anglican Church of Kenya, in Mombasa Diocese. The project aimed at empowering the community to commercially produce vegetables and fish using aquaponics farming system to address the rampant malnutrition and food insecurity in the region while at the same time generating income for the community. In the aquaponics farming system, the water used in the fish ponds would be circulated into hydroponics system where vegetables will be grown in soilless media. However, before any production project can be undertaken, it is a requirement that a market survey has to be conducted to establish the various market dynamics and where the products would be sold, while at the same time identifying the various threats and opportunities. It is in this regard that this market survey was undertaken to collect comprehensive information on the demand, supply, pricing, and consumer preferences for vegetables and fish among the communities living in the Lunga Lunga region and its environs. The findings indicated that, in most markets there was more preference for indigenous vegetables, mainly attributed to their good taste and health-consciousness among most consumers, the elite and the elderly. The indigenous vegetables were considered organic in nature and highly valued as they were rarely subjected to pesticides. The results also indicated that vegetable marketing was a vibrant business and offered significant opportunities for growth and development in the study area. However, there was need to address the observed challenges and supply chain inefficiencies, seasonality of supplies and price fluctuations to enhance market stability and profitability
Analysis of Agroecological Transition and Polyculture: Djirataoua Irrigated Perimeter Case
No full textMixed farming plays an important role in the production of food both in quantity and quality. It is practiced by adopting various cropping systems and using conventional and agroecological agricultural practices. This study aims a characterizing of the agricultural practices implemented in the irrigated perimeter of Djirataoua and the challenges of the agroecological transition. The methodology consisted of collecting qualitative data by 14 focus groups with committees of the cooperative societies and of the associations of irrigation water users, 14 individual interviews with producers and resource persons in the perimeter and field observations. The data were collected, synthesized and analyzed on the basis of the thirteen (13) agroecological principles. The results show that several agroecological practices are adopted in the development of the irrigated perimeter of Djirataoua. More than 69% of the agroecological principles defined by the High Level Panel Experts are adopted. Recycling and soil health are not priority issues but require improvements to ensure a dynamic and sustainable agroecosystem. Reducing synthetic inputs is the priority issue that requires immediate intervention. In this case, the transition will consist, initially, in the exclusive use and application of approved chemical inputs at doses recommended by research institutions. In a second phase, it will be based on a process of progressive substitution of conventional inputs and practices with agroecological alternatives
Assessment of Socio-economic Characteristics and Availability of Climate-smart Agriculture (CSA) Technologies among Rice Farmers in Yobe State, Nigeria
No full textThis study assessed the socioeconomic characteristics and availability of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies among rice farmers in Yobe State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 428 rice farmers across major rice-producing areas in Yobe State. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression. Variables considered included age, sex, marital status, education level, household size, farm size, years of farming experience, extension contact, access to credit, and income levels. The results revealed that the majority (82.7%) of rice farmers were male, with 86.9% married. About 31.3% attained primary education, and 43.9% had household sizes between 6–10 members. Farm sizes ranged mostly between 1–2 hectares (40.7%), and 33.4% had 6–10 years of farming experience. However, only 44.2% had regular extension contact, and 38.3% accessed agricultural credit, showing institutional support gaps. The most available CSA technologies were drought-resistant rice varieties (35%), organic manure use (28%), and efficient water-use practices (25%), while agroforestry and soil mulching were less common. Regression analysis showed that education, extension contact and access to credit significantly influenced access to CSA technologies (p < 0.001). Farmers with tertiary education and larger farm sizes were more likely to adopt multiple CSA technologies. The study concludes that although CSA technologies are gradually diffusing among rice farmers in Yobe State, institutional, financial, and awareness barriers hinder widespread adoption. It is thus, recommended that the government and NGOs strengthen extension services, facilitate access to affordable credit, and promote tailored CSA innovations. Training programs should also be designed to target less-educated and smallholder farmers to ensure inclusive adoption. These findings provide a baseline for policymakers to design location-specific interventions that will enhance the adaptive capacity of rice farmers in arid zones of Nigeria
Deficit Irrigation and Root Zone Soil Thermal Regimes in Water Limited Agriculture: A Review
No full textSoil thermal properties strongly influence root-zone temperature and crop performance under deficit irrigation, but are rarely considered in irrigation design for water-scarce regions. This systematic review synthesizes studies (2020 onwards) on how deficit irrigation and water-saving practices modify soil thermal properties and coupled soil water–heat dynamics in irrigated agroecosystems. Eligible field and modelling studies on irrigated crops in arid and semi-arid regions were identified in major databases using predefined search terms for deficit irrigation, soil temperature, and soil thermal properties, and were screened using explicit inclusion criteria. The evidence shows that deficit irrigation typically lowers soil moisture, reduces thermal conductivity and heat capacity, and increases diurnal soil temperature ranges, with effects shaped by soil texture, irrigation method, and emitter placement. Localized and subsurface irrigation, mulches, organic amendments, and pre-season irrigation can create deeper, moist, thermally buffered root zones that sustain water productivity under moderate deficits, especially when combined with coupled water–heat modelling and thermal sensing for scheduling. These findings highlight the need to explicitly incorporate root-zone hydro-thermal behavior into deficit irrigation design for water-scarce regions
Optimizing Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Growth and Yield in the Transitional Zone of Ghana: The Role of Planting Date and Plant Density
No full textTwo field experiments were conducted at the multipurpose crop nursery field of the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Mampong, Ashanti in 2022 and 2023 cropping seasons to evaluate the performance of groundnut under different planting dates and plant densities. The experiment was laid out in a split–split plot design with three replications, with variety as the main plot factor (Yenyawoso and Nkosour), sowing date as the sub-plot factor (mid-May, late May, and early June), and plant density as the sub-sub plot factor (low: 16 plants m-2 = 50 × 25 cm, medium: 20 plants m-2 = 50 × 20 cm, and high: 40 plants m-2 = 50 × 10 cm). The results showed that Yenyawoso produced taller plants (11-25 cm) with more branches (9-12), whereas Nkosour consistently achieved higher seed yield in both years with the highest yield (2800 kg/ha) in 2023. Yenyawoso produced significantly (P<0.05) higher haulm weight, pod yield, and shelling percentage than Nkosour in 2023. High plant density (50 x 10 cm) resulted in increased plant height and branching, and improved haulm weight, pod yield, and seed yield compared with low and medium densities in both years. Mid-May sowing enhanced pod number, pod yield, and seed yield relative to late May and early June in both years. Variety x planting date x plant density interactions significantly influenced seed yield in both years. The Nkosour × mid-May × high-density combination produced the highest yields of 2755.6 kg/ha in 2022 and 2800 kg/ha in 2023. The lowest yields in both years were observed when the varieties were planted in late May at low density, with Yenyawoso × late May × low density combinations producing the least yield. Farmers are encouraged to grow Yenyawoso and Nkosour groundnut varieties at higher densities (50 x 10 cm) in mid-May for effective vegetative growth and higher seed yield
Effects of Organic Matter Amendment on Aggregate Stability of Some Agricultural Soils in Semi Arid Region of Nigeria
No full textSoil aggregate stability is important in understanding the structural behaviour of soils. Soil aggregate stability is therefore an important index of soil productivity. The effect of chicken dung on aggregate stability of three (3) agricultural soils of Borno state namely sandy loam, sandy clay and clay soils was investigated in a laboratory experiment using a rainfall simulator. Chicken dung was added to these soils at 2% (w/w) and the aggregate sizes of 2-4 mm and 6-8 mm were prepared by sieving. These aggregate sizes were weighed and subjected to simulated rainfall for rainfall durations of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 minutes using a rainfall simulator at an intensity of 226.6 mm/hr. The aggregate stability of the three (3) soils were calculated using the wet sieving method. The result revealed that 2% chicken dung incorporation did not influence stability of sandy loam soils, but improved the stability of the structure of both sizes of sandy clay and clay soils relative to the "controls”. The degree of stability however, varied with few soil types and aggregate sizes. Aggregate size of 2-4 mm showed poor resistance to rain drop forces as the rainfall depth increases compared to the aggregate size of 6-8 mm, but both performed better than the control. This implies that smaller sized aggregates are more vulnerable to detachment and transport irrespective of soil type. Clay soil aggregates were more stable than sandy clay soil irrespective of aggregate sizes. The use of chicken dung is hereby recommended to stabilise soil against erosion hazards
The Effect of Chicken Manure and NOT Lau Kawar on the Growth and Yield of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Zatavy F1 Variety
No full textCucumber is one of the commodities that has very good prospects for development, because cucumbers are widely needed by the community and provide many benefits for humans and also because of high market demand. However, the development of cucumber plants has obstacles, namely many dry lands that have low soil fertility levels, so input in the form of fertilization is needed. The purpose of the study was to analyze the effect of chicken manure and organic plant nutrients (NOT) Lau Kawar and their interactions on the growth and yield of cucumber plants of the Zatavy F1 variety; and to obtain the dose of chicken manure and the concentration of NOT Lau Kawar on the growth and yield of cucumber plants of the Zatavy F1 variety. The study was conducted from January 2024 to March 2024 starting from the preparation of planting media, fertilization, planting, harvesting, and data collection. The location of the study was in the P4S Lau Kawar land, Soekarno Hatta Road Km 36, Sungai Merdeka Village, West Samboja District, East Kalimantan. The study used a 4x4 factorial experiment in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The first factor, the dose of chicken manure (A) consisted of 4 levels, namely: a0 = without giving chicken manure; a1 = 83.33 g polybag-1 equivalent to 10 tons ha-1; a2 = 124.99 g polybag-1 15 tons ha-1; and a3 = 166.67 g polybag-1 equivalent to 20 tons ha-1. The second factor, the concentration of NOT fertilizer (N) consisted of 4 levels, namely: n0 = without NOT fertilizer; n1 = 18 ml l-1 water; n2 = 28 ml l-1 water; and n3 = 38 ml l-1 water. From the two treatments, 16 treatment combinations were obtained, each treatment combination was repeated 4 times so that 64 polybags were obtained. The results showed that the provision of chicken manure had a significant to very significant effect on plant length and number of leaves at 20 and 30 days after planting, the number of fruits per plant, fruit length, and fruit weight per plant. The best growth and yield of cucumber plants were produced in the treatment of 124.99 g polybag-1 (a2); The provision of NOT Lau Kawar had a significant to very significant effect on plant length at the age of 20 and 30 days after planting, the number of fruits per plant and fruit weight per plant. The best growth and yield of cucumber plants were produced in the treatment of 28 ml l-1 water (n2); and there was no interaction between the treatment of chicken manure and the treatment of NOT Lau Kawar on the growth and yield of cucumber plants, except for the parameter of plant length at 20 and 30 days after planting