Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International
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Soil Fungal and Bacterial Populations in White Lupin (Lupinus albus) - Maize (Zea mays L) Cropping System Amended With Minjingu Phosphate Rock
No full textAims: To determine fungal and bacterial populations under white lupin (Lupinus albus) - maize (Zea mays L) cropping system amended with Minjingu Phosphate Rock (MPR).Study Design: A randomized complete block design with four replicates was used. Treatments were; (i) control i.e. fallow (F) – maize (M) rotation with triple super phosphate fertilizer (TSP) applied (MTSP - F), (ii) fallow - maize rotation with MPR applied (MMPR - F), (iii) white lupin (L) – maize rotation with MPR applied (MMPR - L) and (iv) maize/white lupin intercrop with MPR applied (M/LMPR - F).Place and duration of study: The experiment was conducted in Njoro sub-County, Kenya during the long (LRS) and short rain seasons (SRS) of 2010 and 2011.Methodology: Population of bacteria and fungi were determined at seedling, flowering and maturity stages of crop development by serial dilution plate method (Johnson and Curl, 1972).Results: Significantly higher bacterial population was recorded in MTSP- F at maize seedling and 50% flowering in LRS of 2010 and 2011. At maturity, treatments M/LMPR – F in LRS of 2010 and M/LMPR – F and MMPR- L in LRS of 2011 had significantly higher population. In the SRS of both years, bacterial population was significantly higher in MTSP- F and M/LMPR – F at all sampling periods. In the LRS of 2010, fungal population was significantly higher in MTSP-F at maize seedling and in MTSP- F and M/LMPR – F at 50% flowering and maturity. In the LRS of 2011, fungal population was significantly higher in M/LMPR – F followed by MMPR- L at all maize growth stages. During the SRS of both years fungal population was significantly higher in MMPR- L across all sampling periods. Positive correlation between fungal and bacterial populations was found at termination of experiment.Conclusion: White lupin-maize cropping system with application of MPR increased soil bacterial and fungal population, an indication of improved soil health and hence cropping system sustainability
Adaptation to Climate Change by Farmers in Makurdi, Nigeria
No full textThe increasing trend of climate change has led to growing concern on its impact on different sectors of the economy particularly on agriculture. Coping with the vulnerability and negative effects of climate change on agriculture requires mitigation at the policy level and adaptation at the farm level. However, the ability of farmers to adopt the various adaptation strategies may be constrained by a number of factors. Therefore, this study identified the climate adaptation strategies adopted by farmers in Makurdi, Nigeria and subsequently examined the determinants of farmers’ adaptation strategies to climate change. The primary data used in this study were collected through structured questionnaires administered to 120 randomly selected farmers. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in analyzing the data. Results shows that about 58% of the farmers adopted at least one of the following climate change adaptation strategies: cultivating diff type of crop, shortening growing season, changing extent of land put in crop production, use of irrigation as water source, use of chemical fertilizer, mulching, planting of cover crops, planting of resistant crop varieties, changing of planting dates, adoption of new techniques and use of drainage system. Logit regression was used to identify factors that influence the strategies employed by famers for adaptation to climate change. The result of the logit model showed that annual farm income, farming experience, knowledge of climate information, education and extension access variables are significant determinants of climate change adaptation strategies.The study recommends the promulgation of policies to ensure that farmers have access to physical, human and social capital will enhance farmers’ ability to respond effectively to changing climate conditions. 
Economic Valuation of Rice Crop Damage by Red-billed Quelea and Other Granivorous Birds on a Rural Irrigation Scheme in Western Kenya
No full textAims: The study aimed at estimating economic losses incurred by farmers from damage of rice crop by graniviorous pest birds and assessing the implication of this for sustainable food security.
Study Design: Line transect bird sampling with spatial and temporal replications; bird feeding rate determination; per-season and per annum economic valuation of rice damagePlace and Duration of Study: Ahero Rice Irrigation Scheme in western Kenya from November 2011 to February 2012.Methodology: To estimate economic losses of rice we first estimated graniviorous bird density from two census periods from whence we estimated seasonal and annual quantities of rice loss calculated from the birds’ feeding rates. We then valued economic damage as a factor of the crop loss and prevailing rice producer market price and finally estimated net economic loss by subtracting the cost of hiring labour to scare birds from damaging mature crop. Period of bird damage was restricted to the period between crop-maturity to harvest.Results: Estimated annual loss was 407 tonnes or 7.7% of potential yield for the whole irrigation scheme excluding bird scaring costs. This was equivalent to Ksh. 40.7 million annually at 1 USD=87 Ksh. representing a 31.1% loss of net income. Inclusive of bird scaring costs, annual losses were Ksh. 20,763/ha equivalent to 39.5% of net income. Estimated annual rice damage due to Q. quelea was more than that due to the other granivorous birds combined (215 compared to 192 tonnes).Conclusion: This loss magnitude considerably undermines efforts to reduce rural poverty and attain sustainable food security. In addition to the crop-guarding method, reducing losses from damage by the pest birds requires integration of several measures that have proved successful elsewhere, adoption of improved farming technologies and planting recently developed higher- yielding rice varieties. 
Constraints to Achieving Household Food Security in North Central Nigeria
No full textThis study identified constraints militating against the attainment of household food security among three ethnic groups in North Central Nigeria in 2011. A sample of 340 households was interviewed using structured questionnaires. Factor analysis was used to isolate and name the critical factors influencing the attainment of household food security in the region. Findings revealed that economic, governance, institutional and technological constraints hindered the achievement of household food security in the study area. While the economic factors included climatic change and variability (0.57), shortage of farm labour (0.55), limited access to farm land (0.57); the institutional factors were poor market access (0.56), weak support services (0.48), poor nutrition education (0.48) and poor sanitation (0.44). The governance factors included political problems (0.51), rapid population growth rate (0.43) and low crop yield (0.43) while the technological factors were lack of access to clean water (0.43), inadequacy and lack of access to improved agricultural inputs (0.42) and lack of access to labour saving devices (0.41). Attaining household food security in North Central Nigeria is still a mirage. Therefore, governments at the local and state levels should design and implement short term and long term programmes in agriculture value chain to boost food production and productivity and enhance family income for improved household food security.
 
Is Adaptation to Climate Variability Gendered? Evidence from a Developing Country, Ethiopia
No full textUniversally, it is agreed that adaptation is largely a social issue (as opposed to purely biophysical or technological). However, it is surprising that gender, one of the social issues is not yet playing a more explicit role in adaptation studies. Hence, in this twenty first century, when we are still experiencing gender inequality, ensuring successful adaptation of all community members to climate variability and change is less likely due to the prevailing gender power differences in terms of having access to key resources and services which has significant contribution for adaptation. This article attempts to uncover the gender difference in having access to resources and its impacts on adaptation to climatic shocks with cross sectional data from 452 households in Ethiopia and time series data on climate variability and agricultural production of the period 1981-2012. Trend analysis and statistical measurements were used to analyze the data. The study found out that there are gendered impacts of climate variability longitudinally and spatially. Moreover, there are differences in adaptation strategies pursued by female and male farmers to overcome climate variability and extremes. Therefore, there is a need for gendered intervention in terms of policies and actions to enhance adaptation and reducing recurring food insecurity.