Asian Soil Research Journal
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Administration of Rice Input Subsidy Programme on Quality Life of Farming Communities in North B District, Unguja
No full textThis study investigated the administration of rice input subsidy on the quality life of farmers among farming communities in North B, District, Unguja. Four objectives guided this study which included examining the correlation between rice farming subsidies and the quality of life, examining the impact of seeds subsidies and farmers’ quality life, determining the impact of fertilizers subsidies on farmers’ quality of life as well as to examine the impact of pesticides subsidies on farmers’ quality of life in North B District, Unguja. The study used a cross-sectional survey design where questionnaires were used to collect data from 87 rice farmers of North B, district Unguja through simple random sampling. The study reveals a moderate correlation between rice input subsidies and farmers’ quality life (r = 0.475, p < 0.01). Moreover, a standard multiple regression indicates that the independent variables rice input subsidies (fertilizers, seeds and pesticides) accounted for 25% of the variability in predicting quality life among farming communities in North B district, Unguja (R2 = 0.247). Primarily, pesticide subsidy, has a significant effect or impact on farmers’ quality life (β = 0.352, t = 2.183, p < 0.05). However, the results also indicate that two independent variables that are fertiliser subsidy (β = 0.050, t = 0.201, p > 0.05) and seeds subsidy (β = 0.119, t = 0.470, p > 0.05) do not have any significant impact on farmers’ quality life. With this result, the study recommends that the government support rice farmers by increasing the provision of more rice input subsidies such as fertilizers, pesticides, and seeds to rice farmers of Northern, B District of Unguja timely manner to improve their quality of life
Impact of Abattoir Activities on the Physicochemical and Bacteriological Properties of Soil Samples from Choba Slaughter, Rivers State, Nigeria
No full textSlaughtering and processing of animal products at abattoirs generate different waste that may be transported into the nearby water bodies through runoff and other processes. Evaluating the soil characteristics within the abattoir will provide critical information regarding the soil health, for environmental management and health care planning. The aim of the study was therefore to assess the impact of abattoir activities on soil physico-chemical and bacteriological properties. The soil sampling involved five (5) different points, representing regions where the live animals were kept, where the animals were slaughtered, where the animal hides were roasted, where the waste bones were stacked, and a control sample collected 20 meters away from the abattoir site. The result of the physicochemical parameters showed that all the sample points were either higher or lower than that of the control soil sample. Statistical analyses however showed that there was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between the nitrate concentration in the region used for roasting of animal hides and the control sample. The result of Total Heterotrophic Bacterial Count (THBC) showed that the highest value of 7.2 x 108cfu/g was obtained from the location where the animals are slaughtered, while the least value of 1.0 x 108 cfu/g was from the control soil sample. The other bacterial counts varied between 0.8x105 cfu/g and 5.0 x 106 cfu/g; 4.3 x104 cfu/g and 1.0 x105 cfu/g; 3.7x104 cfu/g and 5.6x104 cfu/g, for the Total Coliform Count (TCC), Fecal Coliform Count (FCC), Salmonella and Shigella Counts (SSC), respectively. A total of 28 bacterial isolates were characterized and identified to belong to seven genera, and their percentage prevalence showed that Staphylococcus spp., Bacillus spp., and E. coli were the most occurring, with a frequency of 21.7% each, followed by Salmonella spp. (13.1 %), Klebsiella spp. (8.7 %), Serratia mercescens (8.7 %) and Shigella spp. (4.4 %). The result of the response of the bacterial isolates to the conventional antibiotics revealed that all the isolates where sensitive to most of the antibiotics tested. This study has shown that abattoir activities have significant influence on the bacteriological and physicochemical characteristics of the soil, thereby accentuating the need for proper waste management
Role of Nickel Element for Atmospheric Nitrogen Fixation under Pots Conditions in Egypt
No full textNow, there is unprecedented interest in process of non-biological atmospheric nitrogen fixation for plants. So, an exploratory pot experiment was executed during the winter season of 2021/22 at the Farm of Agric. Fac., Mans. Univ., Egypt aiming at answering the question of does nickel element play a role in atmospheric nitrogen fixation. Under alluvial and sandy conditions, the effect of nickel element at different rates i.e., 0.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg L-1 on the performance and chemical constituents in the straw of wheat plants after 14 days only from sowing were studied, where Ni was added as soil addition after 7 days from sowing in a single application. The findings showed that all studied Ni rates significantly affected all studied parameters of wheat plants grown on both alluvial and sandy soils, where the highest values of fresh and dry weights as well as N, P, K content in straw (%) were recorded when wheat plants were treated with Ni at rate of 10.0 mg L-1, while the lowest values of all aforementioned traits were recorded with wheat plants grown without Ni addition. Generally, it can be noticed that the values of all aforementioned traits increased as the rate of Ni increased.The same trend was found under both studied soils taking into consideration that the values of all aforementioned traits for plants grown on sandy soil were less than that for plants grown on alluvial soil. Generally, from obtained results, it can be concluded that the nickel element may have a hidden role in N fixation and there is a need for other research in future to confirm this
Effect of Different Organic and Inorganic Inputs on Growth and Yield of Soybean (Glycine max) in Southeastern Nigeria
No full textThis study was carried out at the teaching and Research farm, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Technology, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, to investigate the integrated effects of organics (lime, Inoculum) and mineral fertilizers, (single superphosphate and muriate of potash) on the growth, nodulation and yield of soybean. The input omission trial was composed of 16 treatment combinations of phosphorus (75 kg/ha), potassium (88 kg/ha), lime (1500 kg/ha), and inoculum (400g/100kg seed). Each set of 16 treatments were randomized and replicated 3 times. The soybean variety “TGX1951-3F” was planted in 0.5 m by 1 m plots with a seed spacing of 5 cm. Data on number of nodules and nodule viability at 45 days after planting, plant height at 90 days after planting, number and weight of 100 seeds per plot and yield per plot at harvest were collected and analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) in R using the package “car” to test the main treatment effects, 2-way, 3-way, and 4-way treatment interactions in the omission trial. Results showed highly significant effects of treatments on the growth, nodulation and yield of soybean. The no input treatment generally had the most appreciable improvement in plant height, nodule viability, weight of 100 seeds and yield. Inoculated seeds had the highest number of nodules and percent nodule viability (5 and 69% respectively). . 2.12ton/ha yield generated by the no input treatment shows the potential for future higher yield especially when climatic and good agronomic strategies are employed
Agricultural Culture between Perspectives and Production Trends of Adaptation to Climate Change
No full textThe climate paradigm of agriculture under the Common Agricultural Policy shows that current working practices together with environmental innovations and the elimination of chemical fertilizers are catalysts for a European agriculture that has the potential to become less harmful to the environment. Research seeks to extract a set of factors that can lead to the natural imbalance of plants. The development of an agricultural crop offers a new way on the general perception between need and consumption, the intersection being governed by the general cyclical and regenerative purpose in symbiosis with the environment. Thus, the change of environment generates direct effects in terms of production, farmers adapting production to the response of crops to climate, especially on plant protection, taking into account the effects of climate change. Environmental protection and sustainable management of natural resources, vulnerabilities related to fertilizer application techniques are current individualized concerns in the development of areas. The excessive and intrusive development generated by soil development and loss, causes degradation of the environment and society and the reorientation of methods applied to plant protection to protect the biosphere has returned today. Climate change involves the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the adaptation of agricultural systems and, in our opinion, these are closely linked to the use of different types of plant protection. Analyzes indicate that the products chemicals that are used to control diseases in agricultural crops are growing in the highlighted agricultural areas. This research uses the theories of empirical analysis, the role of research and studies has shown an important factor in reducing the carbon footprint can be highlighted from the perspective of the production load and implicitly of plant protection products used. The novelty of this research indicates that agricultural practices for the application of plant protection have a response to climate change and due to atmospheric pressure. During the research, values were found that contribute to the development of the agricultural sector as part of the economy, Studies have shown effect of the climate being a factor not to be neglected in agricultural techniques. The research question is how climate change regulations influence the vision of the Common Agricultural Policy and climate change from the perspective of adapting to the needs imposed by sustainability. The main objective of the paper is to highlight the main levers of agricultural sustainability in accordance with the requirements of the Common Agricultural Policy
Analysis of Agricultural and Environmental Objectives
No full textThis paper aims to highlight an evolution of agriculture from the perspective of climate change mitigation with the implications set out in the Common Agricultural Policy. The technical performance of agriculture has led to the restoration of paradigms in agriculture through increased conditionality of consumption, while the environment has been exposed to variable atmospheric disturbances that pose serious dangers in the future. The purpose of this article is to make a systemic analysis of the convergence of the agricultural economy in relation to the displacement of vectors to achieve environmental conditions. In order to capitalize on the potential of the agricultural sector in net carbon sequestration on agricultural land in order to make a positive contribution to the sustainability agenda, assessments from an agricultural sustainability perspective are needed. An essential premise for the application of the methodological analysis was assessed in relation to the acceleration by the agricultural systems of the conditions imposed as cross-compliance targets, the information being extracted from the available statistical databases Eurostat, FAO, Agridata. Addressing the current context of the common agricultural policy shows that raising environmental standards for farmers has an effect on agricultural production in direct correlation with greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, the idea of the conditionality of the sustainability of the agricultural system is outlined by the implications in the implementation of decarbonization policies of agriculture
Effect of Solid Fermentation on Physicochemical and Microbial Compositions of Poultry Droppings for Biofertilizer
No full textAim: The study was carried out with the aim of determining what would be the effect of solid fermentation on the microbial loads and physicochemical compositions of poultry droppings in preparation of biofertilizer.
Place and Period: The study was carried out in the Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology Akure Ondo State in 2014.
Methodology: Solid fermentation was carried out on the poultry dung. Before the commencement of fermentation physicochemical and initial microbial load concentrations were determined. The microbial load of the poultry was evaluated for six days via plate count method. To isolate and identify the organisms associated with the dung, pour plate method was used. The following media were used for the isolation of microorganisms in poultry dung: Nutrient agar (NA); MaConkey agar (MCA); Mann Rogosa Shape (MRS0; Mannitol Salt agar (MSA), SIM agar, Moller Heaton agar (MHA), and Potato Dextrose agar (PDA). Identification of isolated bacteria was done tentatively based on microscopy, cultural and biochemical characteristics and according to the information of Bergey’s Manual of Bacteriological Identification.
Results: Eleven genera of bacteria and three species of fungi were isolated and identified in this study. Isolated bacteria are; Enterococcus feacalis, Corynebacterium xerosis, Staphylococcus aureus, Citrobacter freundii, Micrococcus reseus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus captis and Streptococcus pyogen and fungi are Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus respectively. Numerical values of physicochemical parameters before fermentation were on the lower values compared with the value during fermentation. Moisture content (29.52±0.06/75.45±0.08), Ash content (%) (3.43±0.42/9.93±013), PH (6.39/6.50), Crude protein (7.70±021/9.02±0.00), Total volatile Nitrogen (58.80/92.40). In the case of bacterial load, 1.79 x 104CFU/g was before the commencement of fermentation while the lowest load during fermentation was on fifth day with 5.1x102±0.00 CFU/g. However for the fungi load, the highest load recorded was 1.0x105 CFU/gg, on second day followed by 4.0x104 CFU/g, on third day of fermentation but on the fifth day fungi disappeared and reached zero.
Conclusion: the fermentation of poultry droppings increases the values of chemical constituents and decreases the microbial loads with time. Hence there is possibility of reducing the loads of pathogenic microorganisms in organic manure
Acquisition of Field Data through Mobile-based Apps Dedicated to Soil Health Protection
No full textMobile applications dedicated to soil resource protection are increasingly common among users worldwide. What makes them popular among them is the possibility they offer in the acquisition, respectively saving and storing data from the field. Regarding the possibility of acquiring soil resource data, we propose to make an analysis, to emphasize the malleable nature of specific mobile applications with what software development platforms allow; for the present paper, we examined an application created through the MIT App Inventor® platform. As a result of the research, three ways of data acquisition were determined - through the interface, internal sensors, and external sensors. The obtained results showed that the acquisition of soil-related data depends to a large extent on the specifics of mobile devices (especially the presence and access of sensors), but also on the implemented functionalities that the user wants to have access to at that time. Consequently, any application created through platforms such as MIT App Inventor® can and must have at least one of the data acquisition methods presented in the paper; the dynamics and specificity of the application must agree with the user requirements and the requirements imposed by the research context
Determination and Correlation of pH and Electrical Conductivity of Assosa Agricultural Research Center Sites Soil
No full textSoil pH has high impact on soil biogeochemical processes in the natural environment. Soil pH is thus referred to as the "master soil variable" because it influences a plethora of soil biological, chemical, and physical properties as well as processes that affect plant growth and biomass yield. Having the correct pH is crucial for the healthy plant growth as it will affect the amount of nutrient available to plants. This study was carried out to determine the soil pH and electrical conductivity value in acidic soil and their correlation. The soil samples were collected at two research sites at depth of 0 - 20cm. The study showed that electrical conductivity parameter had significant negative correlation to soil pH with R2 = 0.8183
Soil Compaction Effects on Soil Physical Properties and Soybean (Glycine max.) Yield in Ogbomoso, Southwestern Nigeria
No full textCompaction is one of the major threats to soil sustainability as it can have negative effects on soil physical properties. Therefore, field experiments were conducted at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching and Research Farm, Ogbomoso, Southwestern Nigeria, in 2015 and 2016 to evaluate the influence of soil compaction on selected soil physical properties, growth, yield and nutrient uptake of soybean (Glycine max.). The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. There were four treatments which consisted of 0 (no pass of tractor wheel), 4, 8, and 14 passes of tractor wheel totaling 16 treatments. Soil physical properties determined were; bulk density, total porosity, macroporosity and saturated hydraulic conductivity. While data recorded on soybean were plant height, stem girth, number of leaves, biomass and grain yield. Data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance and significant means were compared using Least Significant Difference at 5% level of probability. Although not significant, soil physical quality decreased with increased levels of soil compaction in both years of study. Growth of soybean was significantly reduced by soil compaction with 14 passes producing the shortest plant (91.46, 29.10 cm) compared to the control (103.96, 30.27 cm), respectively, for 2015 and 2016. Grain yield of soybean significantly decreased by 12, 27, and 44% respectively, for 4, 8 and 18 passes of tractor wheel. The study indicates that soil compaction as a result of tractor wheel passes should be minimized on agricultural fields to reduce the adverse effects on soil physical properties, soybean growth and yield