Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International
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Economics of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Production under Plastic Tunnel Technology in Peri-urban Areas of Kathmandu, Nepal
No full textFresh vegetables, whether seasonal or off-seasonal, are seen as valuable crops in Nepal, and there is a strong push for their commercial production. Among them, tomato cultivation is widespread, with off-season tomato farming gaining traction for its greater financial returns compared to seasonal production. The main objective of this study was to examine the socio-demographic condition, economic aspects of tomato production in plastic tunnels, involving the estimation of the production function, problems and evaluation of the benefit-cost ratio. House-hold survey was conducted from May 5 to July 10, 2023, gathered data from 100 tunnel tomato growers from random sampling method from 3 wards (Chouketar Dahachok, Baad Bhanjyang and Thankot) in Chandragiri municipality, Kathmandu. We included 100 tunnel tomato growers (58 men, 42 women; age range 30-60 years). This study combined primary and secondary data sources. Primary data were collected from tomato farmers in Chandragiri municipality’s VDCs through face-to-face interviews using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Secondary data were sourced from various publications and reports, both published and unpublished. The semi-structured interviews featured open-ended questions designed to gather detailed information on socio-economic factors, demographics, resource availability, technical aspects, economic status, farm attributes, multiple regression based on the Cobb Douglas production function and farmer\u27s views on the advantages and challenges of tomato cultivation under plastic tunnels. Results showed that price fluctuation was the major problem in the pivotal table. Most farmers (47%) were affected by blight and 49% by leaf miners. High labor cost NRs. 133794.04 increased the cost of production which was NRs 972555.9 but still farmers were benefitted with benefit cost ratio of 1.74, gross margin NRs. 2663355 and net profit NRs. 1690819.1. The research highlights the viability of tomato production in plastic tunnels, urging action on key constraints for potential growth. The use of plastic tunnel technology for tomato cultivation has become more popular among farmers in the peri-urban areas of Kathmandu Valley, providing year-round production and substantial economic benefits. This technology enables continuous growth of tomatoes, improving income during off-seasons and enhancing rural livelihoods. Although the study found tomato farming to be profitable despite high labor costs, farmers encounter numerous challenges, including natural disasters, pest infestations, disease, poor market access, and labor demands. Market-related problems such as fluctuating prices, middleman monopolies, and a lack of adequate storage and collection facilities further complicate the sale of produce, causing significant surplus losses. However, the study identifies several opportunities to improve tomato production for farmers in Chandragiri
Leveraging Local Ecological Knowledge for Bat Conservation: Insights from a Community-based Study in the Ebo Forest Reserve, Littoral Region of Cameroon
No full textAims: This study aims to examine local perceptions of bats among communities surrounding the Ebo Forest Reserve in Cameroon, highlighting the significance of local ecological knowledge (LEK) for enhancing bat conservation efforts.
Study Design: A mixed-methods approach was employed to gather quantitative and qualitative data from community members.
Place and Duration of Study: The research was conducted in communities adjacent to the Ebo Forest Reserve, Cameroon, between January and July 2024.
Methodology: The majority of the respondents (59%) were from the Iboti community, while 41% were from the Lognanga community to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and engagement in bat conservation. The survey included questions about ecological significance, perceived threats, and cultural associations related to bats. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages and standard deviations) and inferential statistics, such as Chi-Square Tests of Independence, analysis of variance were conducted to evaluate the relationships between demographic factors and attitudes toward bats.
Results: The survey revealed that 100% of respondents recognized bats\u27 ecological importance, primarily as frugivores. While attitudes were generally neutral to positive, misconceptions about disease and cultural associations were prevalent. Statistical analyses indicated significant relationships between age and attitudes toward bats, with older individuals exhibiting more positive perceptions (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The findings underscore the critical need to integrate LEK into conservation strategies to foster community engagement and support for bat conservation initiatives. Addressing misconceptions and enhancing awareness can significantly improve conservation outcomes in the region
Seasonal Abundance and Types of Microplastics in Surface Waters of River Sabaki Estuary, Kenya
No full textIncreased demand for plastics has resulted in the generation of plastic waste, which poses a threat to the environment in general, and ultimately the marine environment. Estuaries and deltas are the main filters of marine ecosystem pollutants from inland sources. There have been limited studies on temporal variations in microplastic (MP) pollutants in tropical estuaries of Africa. In 2022, a twelve-month sampling survey study was conducted at Sabaki river estuary, in Kenya. A bucket was used to collect water samples, that were sieved through a 225μm sieve. A stereo microscope was used to identify microplastics and their polymer confirmed using FTIR spectroscopy. Data analysis on seasonal difference in abundance of microplastics in surface waters was performed using Minitab software at α ≤ 0.05. The results indicated that the April-June (A-J) long rains season had significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher levels of MPs due to rainfall runoff, compared to other seasons, namely January –March (J-M), July-October (J-O) and November –December (N-D). The (J-M), (J-O) and (N-D) seasons had similar levels of MPs, which were lower compared to those observed during (A-J) long rains season by 44.3%, 54% and 25% respectively, compared to the highest concentration of 264 MPs m-3 observed during the A-J season. Fragments type of MPs were higher during the wet season, while fiber type of MPs dominated during the dry season. Film and form type of MPs were least abundant. Seasons significantly (P ≤ 0.05) influenced distribution of the different sizes of MPs. Small and medium sized category of MPs occurred and dominated during the dry season, while larger particles dominated during the wet season. Seven (7) differently colored MPs were observed during the study. White colored MPs were most prevalent (33%), followed by blue (23%), black (17%), brown (12%), yellow (5%), red (5%), and green (4%). Five types of plastic polymers were found in surface waters of river Sabaki estuary, namely polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)
Management of Dipteran Pests Through Entomopathogenic Nematodes
No full textDipteran insects are most destructive agricultural pests. They are also vectors of many diseases of human and animal. Much effort has been made to control this pest through chemical treatment. The application of biological control agents has been advocated as an ecofriendly control method for insect pests. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are obligate insect parasites that can be effective biocontrol agents for many agricultural pests including many Dipteran insect pests. EPNs pose much less threat to the environment than chemical pesticides. However, several biotic and abiotic factors along with method of application influence the bioefficacy of this organism against Dipteran insects. This review paper provides an overview of developments in entomopathogenic nematode research and evaluation of their potential for use against Dipteran insect pests
Growth and Yield of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill) Gustavi Variety Applied with Varying Levels of Cow Manure Vermicompost and Nasa Liquid Organic Fertilizer
No full textDry land is a prospective resource to support sustainable agricultural development. Apart from its expanse which reaches an area of 144.47 million hectares. However, there are various challenges in using dry land as a source of new growth for the agricultural sector. One of them is the rapid land degradation process caused by soil erosion, soil compaction, scarcity of water supply to irrigate plants, and loss of soil organic matter which causes low soil fertility levels. Efforts that can be made are by providing organic fertilizer. The research aimed to determine the growth and yield of tomato applied with varying levels of vermicompost and NASA POC and their interaction effects. Ultimately, determine the optimum concentrations of vermicompost and NASA POC suitable for the growth and yield of tomato plant. The research was carried out from August 2022 to December 2022 in the Organic Rice Cluster area, Karang Anyar Village, Tanjung Palas District, Bulungan Regency, North Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. The research used a 4 x 3 Factorial Experiment in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), with 5 replications. The first factor is the dose of vermicompost (V) consisting of 4 levels, namely: without vermicompost (v0), 450 g polybag-1 (v1), 900 g polybag-1 (v2), 1350 g polybag-1 (v3). The second factor is the NASA POC concentration (P) consisting of 3 levels, namely: without Nasa POC (p0), 1 ml l-1 water (p1), and 2.5 ml l-1 water (p2). The results showed that the response to plant height aged 14 and 21 days after planting, plant age at flowering, plant age at harvest, number of fruit per plant, weight of one fruit, and weight of fruit per plant were not significantly different from the application of vermicompost, Nasa POC and their interactions, except for the response The height of plants aged 28 days was significantly different from the application of chicken manure vermicompost. The highest fruit weight per plant was produced in the treatment of 900 g polybag-1 vermicompost and 1 ml l-1 water Nasa POC
Effect of Organic Sources of Nutrition on Cabbage Production in Arunachal Pradesh, India
No full textThe present investigation was carried out during Rabi season of 2017-18 and 2018-19 respectively in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh to find out the best doses of Rock phosphate and FYM for cabbage production. Total three treatments-T1 (Rock phosphate@ 375 Kg/ha + FYM @ 10 Tonnes/ha), T2 (Rock phosphate@200 Kg/ha + FYM @ 10 Tonnes/ha) and T3 (Control -no use of any manure & fertilizer) were replicated thrice during both years of study. The T3 resulted maximum in all parameters viz. - maximum plant height (31.4 cm), average weight of head (304.7 gm), total yield (162.8 q/ha) and marketable yield (149.3 q/ha) while control yielded minimum (31.4 cm, 304.7 gm, 162.8 gm, 149.3 gm respectively)
Implementing Payments for Ecosystem Services and its Impact on Community Livelihoods: A Case of Nyamwamba Sub-Catchment, Kasese District, Uganda
No full textPayments for Ecosystem Services (PES) is an innovative, incentive-based approach to natural resource management, where users of ecosystem services compensate landowners who protect, enhance, or restore these services through their land management decisions. The study on PES and livelihood improvement was guided by three objectives. That is, to: assess the implementation mechanisms for PES; determine the effect of PES on livelihood improvement; and explore the relationship between PES implementation and ecosystem improvement. A cross-sectional research design incorporating both quantitative and qualitative methods was used for the study. A total of 207 respondents participated in the research project. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and interview guides. The information collected were analyzed using a statistical package for social sciences, version 22. The study found that PES implementation mechanisms included reforestation, biodiversity conservation, soil and water conservation measures, agroforestry, and forest landscape restoration. PES improved livelihoods, enabling households to pay school fees for their children, establish better housing facilities, managed food crises, accumulated savings, and covered medical expenses for the household members. A significant relationship was found between PES implementation and ecosystem improvement, with enhancements in community livelihoods at P<0.001, flood control and disaster risk reduction at P=0.001, soil loss and erosion reduction at P=0.003, water resources management at P=0.003 and conserved biodiversity at P=0.005. The study recommends implementing robust monitoring and evaluation systems to track PES program impacts on livelihoods in the Rwenzori region. It also highlights the need for fostering partnerships between government agencies, NGOs, local communities, and other stakeholders involved in PES initiatives. Training and capacity-building programs should be provided to equip local communities with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively participate in PES schemes. Active involvement of local communities in the design, implementation, and monitoring of PES programs is crucial for the promotion of livelihoods
Farmers’ Compliance with the Recommended Doses of Pesticides on Watermelon in Yobe State, Nigeria
No full textThe study investigated farmers’ compliance with the recommended doses of pesticides on watermelon in Yobe State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted to select one hundred and seventy-three (173) respondents for the study. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Data were collected on socio-economic characteristics, training in pesticide application, awareness of hazards associated with pesticides, access to information on hazards associated with pesticides and compliance with recommended doses of pesticides. The results revealed that the mean age of the respondents was 43.19, 97.7% were married 73.4% did not have English language reading ability. Training in application of pesticides (0.18), awareness of hazards associated with pesticides (0.28) and access to information (0.43) were low. Most (91.9%) respondents did not comply with the recommended doses of pesticides. Awareness of hazards (B= 2.74, p = 0.01) and access to information (B= 1.45, p = 0.08) significantly influenced compliance with the recommended doses of pesticides. Stakeholders in the agriculture and food sectors should plan and implement schemes to train, inform and boost awareness of the farmers on hazards associated with pesticides to motivate compliance with recommended doses of pesticides, produce safe watermelon and sustain a healthy environment
Evaluating Poultry Litter as a Feed Supplement: Perspectives of Ghanaian Livestock Farmers
No full textCattle, sheep, and goats are crucial to human development, serving as major protein sources, income providers, and as a hedge against economic risk in Ghana. The demand for protein from these animals has significantly outpaced supply, partly due to insufficient or unavailable feed resources. This study investigates the use of poultry litter as a feed supplement for livestock. Data were collected from 125 livestock farmers raising cattle, sheep, and goats, using a simple random sampling technique and a structured questionnaire. Results show that cassava husk is the primary feed source, with all respondents (100%) unaware of poultry litter as a potential feed supplement. Interestingly, a majority were aware of irradiation as a decontamination method for food products. Logit regression analysis indicated that farmers’ likelihood of using irradiated poultry litter as feed is influenced by the number of animals they own. Based on these findings, it is recommended that farmers be educated on the nutritional and economic benefits of using poultry litter as a sustainable feed supplement
Nano-seed Coating Technologies for Enhancing Vegetable Seed Performance and Stress Tolerance
No full textNano-seed coating technologies have emerged as a revolutionary tool in modern agriculture, offering promising solutions to enhance vegetable seed performance and stress tolerance. These coatings integrate nanomaterials with bioactive compounds, enabling precise delivery of nutrients, growth regulators, and protective agents directly to the seed. The nanoscale size ensures improved adhesion, controlled release, and enhanced interaction with the seed surface, fostering uniform germination and seedling vigour. The application of nano-coatings not only improves the physiological quality of seeds but also enhances their resilience to abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and temperature extremes. Encapsulation of essential nutrients and biostimulants within nanocarriers boosts seed metabolic activities, while antimicrobial and antifungal agents in the coating provide protection against seed-borne pathogens. Additionally, the technology supports sustainable agricultural practices by reducing the need for excessive agrochemical use. Recent advancements have demonstrated significant improvements in germination rates, root development, and overall plant growth in various vegetable crops, making nano-seed coatings a pivotal innovation for food security in stress-prone environments. Future research should focus on optimizing formulations, evaluating environmental safety, and scaling up production for widespread adoption, bridging the gap between nanotechnology and resilient agricultural systems