Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics (JARTS)
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Anmerkungen zur Entwicklung des Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics
Get PDFIn der zweiten Jahreshälfte 2009 scheidet der langjährige geschäftsführende Schriftleiter des Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics, Dipl.-Ing. Hans Hemann, aus der Redaktion dieser Zeitschrift aus. In Würdigung der geleisteten Arbeit erfolgt in dem vorgelegten Artikel eine Dokumentation der Entwicklung der Zeitschrift von ihren Anfängen als Alumni-Zeitschrift bis zur heutigen international anerkannten Fachzeitschrift. Prof. Ernst Albert Fabarius, der Mitbegründer und erster Direktor der Deutschen Kolonialschule in Witzenhausen schuf die Zeitschrift zur Information und Kontaktpflege mit den Absolventen, den Freunden und Gönnern der Lehranstalt. Erst nach seinem Tod 1927 kam es zu vorsichtigen Versuchen der Zeitschrift einen mehr fachlichen Charakter zu verleihen, ohne dabei allerdings die Aufgabe des Kontaktes zu den Absolventen, Freunden und Gönnern aus dem Auge zu verlieren. Der Übergang von der Alumni-Zeitschrift zur Fachzeitschrift für die Landwirtschaft in den Tropen und Subtropen wurde 1966 vollzogen, nach dem die Lehranstalt ihren Betrieb wieder aufgenommen hatte. Aus dem Deutschen Kulturpionier wurde Der Tropenlandwirt. Im Jahre 1994 fusionierte die Zeitschrift mit Beiträge zur tropischen Landwirtschaft und Veterinärmedizin, der bis dahin von dem Institut für Tropische Landwirtschaft der Universität Leipzig herausgegebenen Fachzeitschrift. Als schließlich der Kreis der Leser und der Autoren zunehmend aus dem internationalen Umfeld kam, erfolgte die Umstellung auf eine überwiegend englischsprachige Fachzeitschrift. Der Name wurde entsprechend in Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics geändert. Hans Hemann hat neben der oft mühsamen Redaktionsarbeit diese Entwicklung von 1979 bis 2009 mitgetragen und vor allem die verschiedenen Änderungen umgesetzt
A Study on the RAPD and SCAR Molecular Markers of Piper Species
Get PDFIn order to compare the genetic relationships among Kava, Pepper and it’s wild relatives and to distinguish Kava from Pepper and it’s wild relatives, we conducted research on Kava by using RAPD and SCAR molecular markers. 20 random primers selected from 80 random primers were used for RAPD amplification to identify the genetic relationships among Kava, Pepper and it’s wild relatives. Total 170 bands were amplified by 20 random primers, in which 20 bands were polymorphic (12%). Cluster analysis grouped the 28 accessions into six groups at similarity coefficient of 0.36, where 6 materials of Kava formed a group, indicating that Kava was distantly relation to Pepper and its wild relatives. Kava had 562 bp and 355 bp specific fragments amplified by primers OPQ- 02 and OPQ-03, respectively, were recycled for cloning and sequencing analysis, and then converted to SCAR markers. Two pairs of specific SCAR primers for Kava, P4.1 and P4.2, P8.1 and P8.2 were designed. PCR amplification of 28 test materials were performed using the two pairs of the specific primers respectively, the specific bands of 562 bp and 355 bp with expected sizes were amplified in 6 Kava materials but not in other materials. The results showed that primers P4.1 and P4.2, P8.1 and P8.2 might be used as specific SCAR primers for Kava germplasm resources identification. This research provided the basis for selecting rootstocks, molecular identification and the fingerprint construction of Kava
Vitamin E Supplementation to Sows and Effects on Fertility Rate and Subsequent Body Development of their Weanling Piglets
Get PDFThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of vitamin E to sows on sow fertility and serum α-tocopherol, growth and physiological state of their weanling pigs. A total of 60 Large White gilts were randomly allotted to three groups (20 gilts per group) from coitus to lactation phases over a two-parity period to evaluate the effects of dietary vitamin E on fecundity rates and litter size of sows. Each of the three dietary vitamin E treatment combinations involved 0, 40 or 70 IU/kg of dl- α-tocopheryl acetate/kg of diet, and parity 1 and 2. Sow serum α-tocopherol and Selenium (Se) were collected at 30 day post coitum, 99 day of gestation and 21 day lactation. Serum α-tocopherol and Se were collected from piglets at 1 day post natum and on day 21 (weaning age). Data relating to sow fecundity and litter size were also recorded. Results indicate that body weights and body weight gains of sows and their litters increased significantly (P 0.01) by parity, increasing more from parities 1 to 2, mostly when dietary vitamin E was increased from 40 to 70 IU/kg diet. The highest number of total piglets and number of piglets born alive (12 ± 8.9 vs. 11 ± 0.1) were obtained at parity 2 when dietary vitamin E was increased to 70 IU/kg diet. There was an increase in weights of the piglets when dietary vitamin E was increased in sow’s diet. There was a dramatic increase in serum α-tocopherol and Se concentrations following 40 and 70 IU/kg of vitamin E supplementation during the 30 and 99 day gestation and 21 day lactation periods as parity increased. Se concentrations were about 3 fold higher in the 70 IU/kg vitamin E supplemented group in parity 2 compared to the other groups. In both parities, female piglets had higher serum α-tocopherol and Se concentrations at both 2 day post natum and on day 21 (weaning) compared to the male piglets. Results from this study suggest that supplementing 70 IU/kg α-tocopheryl acetate in sow’s diets appears to enhance growth of their weanling piglets
Carbon and nitrogen emissions from stored manure and cropped fields in irrigated mountain oases of Oman
No full textLittle is known about gaseous carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) emissions from traditional terrace agriculture in irrigated high mountain agroecosystems of the subtropics. In an effort towards filling this knowledge gap measurements of carbon dioxide (CO_2), methane (CH_4), ammonia (NH_3) and dinitrous oxide (N_2O) were taken with a mobile photoacoustic infrared multi-gas monitor on manure-filled PE-fibre storage bags and on flood-irrigated untilled and tilled fields in three mountain oases of the northen Omani Al Jabal al Akhdar mountains. During typical 9-11 day irrigation cycles of March, August and September 2006 soil volumetric moisture contents of fields dominated by fodder wheat, barley, oats and pomegranate ranged from 46-23%. While manure incorporation after application effectively reduced gaseous N losses, prolonged storage of manure in heaps or in PE-fibre bags caused large losses of C and N. Given the large irrigation-related turnover of organic C, sustainable agricultural productivity of oasis agriculture in Oman seems to require the integration of livestock which allows for several applications of manure per year at individual rates of 20 t dry matter ha^1
Emergence of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) Technique as a Strategy towards Sustainable Development: A Sri Lankan Experience
Get PDFIn this millennium all the development activities are mostly focused on sustainable development, i.e. the development which fulfils the requirements of the present without disturbing the utilization of future generation. Basically, the sustainable development deals with environmental, social, and economical initiations. In relation to these three objectives, community participation plays a key role as an effective strategy for sustainable development. Among the numerous types of participation, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) technique is the most relevant effective method to receive the participation. Because, it has been strengthen by bottom up approach, well defined objectives, practicable solutions, and remedies. Hence, the out come of such an event is most productive rather than a top bottom approach techniques. In fact, a PRA was practiced to develop a strategic plan for tsunami affected village – Bambaranda east, in southern province of Sri Lanka. PRA sessions were carried out during February, 2007 by the Department of Agric. Economics of Ruhuna University, Sri Lanka in collaboration with Japanese Green Resource Agency, Japan. Participatory mapping, venn diagram, matrix ranking, preference ranking, and pair - wise ranking were demonstrated to gather information from the community. The tsunami affected area, including the paddy fields, four irrigation canals were shown by the group with the help of the participatory map. Preference ranking was resulted the reconstruction of irrigation canals as the most important rehabilitation activity to recover the livelihood of villagers. Intrusion of sea water into the paddy fields was the main limitation revealed by the pair - wise ranking. The second limitation marked as unavailability of enough fertilizer and the dilapidated irrigation canals was the third that has to be solved. Matrix ranking was employed to identify the most facilitated sectors by the government and other institutes in order to detect the areas which need to pay further attention. By that, the community realized that the rehabilitation of irrigation canal is the least benefited area where any development activity should be addressed in order to up grade their livelihood. Finally, a venn diagram was executed to identify the service providing entities in the community. It explored the Agrarian Service Center (ASC) as the most important service providing institute which keeps a close relationship with the community. The second and third places were acquired by Sanasa and Samurdhi office. Therefore, the most appropriate institute to launch any sort of development activity is ASC, Sanasa, or Samurdhi office. With the light of these exercises, now the funding agency is activating in Bambaranda village by constructing the irrigation canals and also the estuary. Moreover, the implementation was carried out under the supervision of ASC with efficient participation of villagers. In fact, the PRA has given the correct path that would direct towards sustainable development with community participation
Growth and yield of groundnut, sesame and roselle in an Acacia senegal agroforestry system in North Kordofan, Sudan
No full textA field experiment was conducted under rainfed conditions in western Sudan at El-Obeid Research Farm and Eldemokeya Forest Reserve, North Kordofan State, during the growing seasons 2004/05 and 2005/06. The main objective was to investigate the soil physical and chemical properties and yield of groundnut (Arachis hypogea), sesame (Sesamum indicum) and roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) of an Acacia senegal agroforestry system in comparison with the sole cropping system. Data were recorded for soil physical and chemical properties, soil moisture content, number of pods per plant, fresh weight (kg ha^1) and crop yield (kg ha^1). The treatments were arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated four times.Significant differences (P 0.05) were obtained for sand and silt content on both sites, while clay content was not significantly different on both sites. The nitrogen (N) and organic carbon were significantly (P 0.05) higher in the intercropping system in Eldemokeya Forest Reserve compared with sole cropping. Soil organic carbon, N and pH were not significant on El-Obeid site. Yet the level of organic carbon, N, P and pH was higher in the intercropping system.Fresh weight was significantly different on both sites. The highest fresh weight was found in the intercropping system. Dry weights were significantly different for sesame and roselle on both sites, while groundnut was not significantly different. On both sites intercropping systems reduced groundnut, sesame and roselle yields by 26.3, 12 and 20.2%, respectively. The reduction in yield in intercropping plots could be attributed to high tree density, which resulted in water and light competition between trees and the associated crops
Beyond Land Titling for Sustainable Management of Agricultural Land: Lessons from Ndome and Ghazi in Taita-Taveta, Kenya
Get PDFThis paper is based on a 1996-1999 case study that was done in semi-arid Ndome and Ghazi, Taita-Taveta District, in Kenya to determine the root causes of persistent erosion damage in the area. More than 10 years after land adjudication was done in these areas, more than 70% of the farmers still operate under tenure insecurity mainly due to lack of title deeds (r = 0.94**). Contrary to conventional expectation of land development, owning of land under private property rights was motivated by the sense of belonging, wealth, power and to some degree for speculative purposes. Adoption of structural soil and water conservation measures was still well below 50%. Preference was still given to indigenous land and water management (ILWM) technologies, with adoption ratesranging from 60% to more than 90%. No evidence existed that directly linked land improvement to land titling. For sustainable land management, land titling remains a critical incentive to farmers. However it will have to be accompanied by land use policy reforms that address four main issues, thus: deliberate efforts to preserve agricultural land, equitable distribution of available land, putting as much land as possible to agriculturaluse, and mechanisms to enhance prevention and control of land degradation. How these objectives can be achieved within the Kenyan context is the conceptual gist of this paper
Performance of Different Tomato Genotypes in the Arid Tropics of Sudan during the Summer Season. I. Vegetative Growth
Get PDFSelected, eleven tomato genotypes of diverse origin were grown in a glasshouse of the Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany during 2002 and under field conditions in Shambat, University of Khartoum, Sudan for two successive seasons (2002/2003, 2003/2004). High temperatures under field conditions resulted in poor stand and stunted growth of tomato plants. Highly significant differences were encountered among the different genotypes for leaf area, leaf area ratio, leaf weight ratio, stem fresh and dry weight and leaf fresh and dry weight. Based on results obtained from this study, the genotype ‘Summerset’ proved to be more tolerant under high temperature conditions in comparison to other investigated genotypes and may be useful for exploitation under arid tropical region of Sudan
Pharmaceutical consumption and residuals potentially relevant to nutrient cycling in Greater Accra, Ghana
No full textRecycling nutrients form sanitary wastes back into agricultural ecosystems offers an option to alleviate soil depletion in regions where the use of mineral fertiliser is limited. Exemplary nutrient and water cycling approaches, including collection, treatment and use of human urine, are established at Valley View University (VVU) in Greater Accra, Ghana.Concerns have been recently raised in regard to fate and impact of pharmaceutical residues in soils and interlinked environment. To evaluate in how far emerging knowledge can be transposed onto VVU, urban and rural environments in Greater Accra, spatial disease occurrence and drug consumption patterns were studied. Malaria has been found to represent the most severe health burden in Ghana, but there is also a high prevalence of infectious diseases. Drugs consumed in great quantities and in respect to their residual loads potentially problematic in the environment belong to therapeutic groups of: antibiotics, analgesics, drugs for diabetes, antimalarials, cardiovascular drugs and anthelmintics. Drug consumption revealed to be highest in urban and lowest in rural areas. At VVU the range of consumed drugs is comparable to urban areas except for the negligible use of diabetes and cardiovascular medication as well as contraceptives
Effect of NaCl Salinity on Growth and Mineral Composition of Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Willd.
Get PDFZiziphus spina-christi (L.) Willd. is a fruit tree species growing wild in arid and semi-arid areas of Asia and Africa where rural populations intensively use its fruits, leaves, bark and wood. However, little is known about the effects of salinity, a widespread problem in these regions, on early growth and mineral composition of this species. This study was conducted under controlled conditions to contribute to filling this gap. Six weeks old seedlings of Z. spina-christi germinated in a full strength Hoagland solution were subjected to 0, 40, 80 and 160 mM NaCl. Compared to the unstressed control salinity levels of 80 and 160 mM reduced plant height, leaf number, leaf chlorophyll, total leaf area and dry matter by 50%. Salinity levels of 40, 80 and 160 mM enhanced leaf water contents by 14, 16 and 17%, respectively and 160 mM NaCl raised the concentration of Na and Cl ions in leaf tissues 81- and 21-fold. The K/Na ratio, in contrast, was hardly affected by increasing salinity indicating adaptation or tolerance of Z. spina-christi to low or moderate NaCl salinity. These results suggest that Z. spina-christi could be an interesting species for re-vegetation of moderately degraded saline lands