Caraka Tani: Journal of Sustainable Agriculture
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Factors Influencing Smallholder Farmers’ Decision to Abandon Introduced Sustainable Land Management Technologies in Central Ethiopia
Full text linkThe Ethiopian government has made efforts to rehabilitate degraded lands using a range of sustainable land management (SLM) initiatives. One of the key components was the use of improved structural soil and water conservation (SWC) technologies. However, the effectiveness of technology adoption varies greatly among households and abandoning previously accepted measures is a typical occurrence. Thus, this study sought to discover factors influencing smallholder farmers’ decisions to abandon already accepted SWC measures. The analysis was conducted based on data collected from 525 sample households surveyed in two districts in Central Ethiopia. An ordered cumulative logistic (POM) regression model was used to examine variables explaining households’ decision behavior. The study findings have revealed that sampled households were at different adoption stages, i.e., dis-adopters (22%), pilot-level adopters (14%) and adopters (64%). The results from the POM model also show that a range of variables influenced farmers’ dis-adoption decisions. Factors such as awareness about the risks of land degradation, access to training, incentives, land fragmentation, gender, full-time labor size, gentle slope plots, economic returns on investment and post-adoption follow-up were found to substantially influence smallholder farmers’ adoption discontinuance decisions. Thus, policymakers should consider these variables in designing strategies to overcome barriers to SLM practices
Structure, Conduct and Performance of Onion Market in Southern Ghana
Full text linkThe local onion market in Ghana is dominated by ‘on the spot’ market relationships with little or no coordination of chains to improve quality and performance. This study examines the market structure, conduct and their influence on the performance of the onion market in the southern part of Ghana, using data from 180 actors, comprising 80 farmers, 40 wholesalers and 60 retailers. Descriptive statistics, Gini coefficient, Lorenz curve, Herfindahl-Hirschman index and Garett ranking were the methods of analysis used. The results showed that traders were operating in an oligopolistic market with Gini coefficients of 0.62 and 0.56 for wholesalers and retailers, respectively. The findings also revealed that farmers (69%) were more open to contracts than wholesalers (20%) and retailers (11%). Moreover, onion production proved to be costly for farmers as they had a negative return of 1.55% on their investment while wholesalers and retailers made positive returns of 29.85% and 31.1%, respectively. Finally, high production cost, high marketing cost and unavailability of storage structures were ranked as the most pressing constraints to farmers, wholesalers and retailers, respectively. It is recommended that the government, donor support agencies for agriculture and local NGOs come to the aid of farmers by providing them with fixed assets at a subsidized price. This will relieve the farmers from heavy losses which threaten the future food security of the country
Evaluation of Toxicity of Some Tropical Flora, Clay and Permethrin against Sitophilus zeamais Motsch. on Stored Maize Grains
Full text linkWeevil (Sitophilus zeamais Motsch.) is a vital arthropod pest of maize (Zea mays L.) grains and flours in traditional storage systems. The pest bore holes into stored grains reducing their nutrient contents germination potentials and contaminating produce with frass. Its control using synthetic insecticides such as permethrin is being downplayed due to eco-mammalian toxicity from pesticide residues. Therefore, this study evaluates the toxicities of some indigenous plants Ageratum conyzoides L., Cymbopogon nardus L., clay and permethrin, under laboratory conditions to the insect pest. Maize grains weighing 50 g were treated with the plant powders and the synthetic insecticide at five different levels 0.00; 1.25; 2.50; 3.75 and 5.00 g. Subsequently, 10 adult weevils in each vial were used to infest the 50 g maize grains. Each plant powder and permethrin's effectiveness was assessed by recording weevil mortality at 5, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days post-treatment. The damage indices recorded by the weevil perforation index (WPI), percentage of perforated and unperforated grains, and weight loss percentage were also considered. Permethrin proved most toxic, followed by clay at 5.00 g among all the treatments. A. conyzoides and C. nardus were less effective in controlling S. zeamais. In conclusion, clay can be used in the integrated management of S. zeamais to minimize synthetic insecticides
Improving Agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis Lamk.) Plantlet Formation Using Various Types and Concentrations of Auxins
Full text linkAquilaria malaccensis Lamk. is one of the most widespread agarwood-producing plants that face extinction due to overexploitation. Agarwood propagation using in vitro culture techniques is capable of producing large quantities of plants in a shorter time and free from pests and diseases. Therefore, this study was conducted to analyze the effect of auxins type and concentration on agarwood plantlet formation using a split-plot design. The main plot was the type of auxin which included IAA, IBA and NAA, while the subplot was the concentration used which consisted of 0; 5; 10; 15 and 20 µM. The variable observed was agarwood plantlet formation with parameters measured including the number of shoots and leaves, plant height, and number of roots. The results showed that the formation of agarwood plantlets was controlled by the type, concentration, and interaction between the type and concentration of auxin. Furthermore, explants cultured on Murashige Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 10 µM IBA produced the highest number of shoots (3.39 shoots explant-1) and leaves (7.25 leaves explants-1), while the addition of 10 uM NAA resulted in the highest number of roots (2.52 roots explant-1). This is the first time a study is conducted to evaluate the effect of type and concentration of auxins on agarwood plantlet formation. The production of high-quality shoots and plantlets increased agarwood germplasm availability to prevent extinction and support sustainable production
Exploration of Systemic Barriers to Tef Research and Development in Central Ethiopia: A Coupled Structural-Functional Innovation Systems Analysis
Full text linkOver the years, there has been a continuous increase in the demand for tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) due to population growth, average incomes and urbanization in Ethiopia, but its innovation system has not been fully explored. This research aims to determine the supportive effect of tef innovation system on its investigation and development as well as the systemic constraints in the process. A coupled structural-functional innovation system analysis was used to explore the barriers faced in Central Ethiopia. The results revealed the constraints affecting the innovation system, namely limited capacity of existing actors, weak interactions and partnerships among actors, weak enforcement of institutions as well as inadequate/poor infrastructure. They also showed that technology development, technology diffusion, entrepreneurial activities, market development, resource mobilization and legitimacy creation have been the weak functions of tef innovation. Furthermore, a failure in one of the functions has a knock-on effect on others, which causes an overall dysfunctional innovation system. Based on the results, failures of the structural elements along with weaknesses of functions have constrained the development of tef innovation systems sector. A combination of technological, institutional and technical intervention must be implemented to overcome this problem
Effects of Lime and Compost on Chemical Characteristics and Soil Hydraulic Conductivity of Alfisols at ATP Jatikerto Coffee Plantation
Full text linkCoffee in Indonesia is currently one of the most important plantation commodities. Inappropriate management of coffee plantations causes low soil quality especially in smallholder coffee plantations, one of which is the density (compaction) of soil in coffee plantations that has a clayey texture. This study was aimed to analyze the effect of lime and compost application on the chemical characteristics and saturated hydraulic conductivity (SHC) of the soil. The experiment was carried out at Glasshouse Agro Techno Park (ATP) Jatikerto from September 2020-February 2021. Soil samples were taken from coffee gardens at a depth of 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm. The incubation study in the greenhouse used Factorial Complete Randomized Design with 12 treatments and 3 replications. Incubation was carried out for 8 weeks. Treatment factors include the depth of the soil sample (0-30 cm and 30-60 cm); compost (0 tons ha-1, 10 tons ha-1 and20 tons ha-1) and lime (0 tons ha-1 and 2.5 tons ha-1). Results showed that the treatment combination of 2.5 ton ha-1 of lime and 20 ton ha-1 of compost gave the best results measured by the availability of N and K nutrients and an increase in the SHC. However, results in this treatment were almost the same as treatment of 2.5 ton ha-1 of lime and 10 ton ha-1 of compost. The combination of compost and lime has a significant effect on improving the chemical characteristics of the soil and the SHC of the topsoil (0-30 cm) and the subsoil (30-60 cm)
Effectiveness of Endophytic Bacteria from Local Tomato Plants Against Wilt Disease Caused by Fusarium oxysporum
Full text linkFusarium wilt is a plant disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum that generates significant economic loss to crops. A method to sustainably control F. oxysporum is utilizing biological agents, such as endophytic bacteria. Therefore, this study aimed to isolate endophytic bacteria from tomato plant tissue, which could inhibit the pathogen of wilt disease (F. oxysporum). Endophytic bacteria were isolated from local tomato plants in Muna Regency, Indonesia. Morphological characteristics such as size, shape, color and height of bacterial colonies were then determined by Gram staining using potassium hydroxide (KOH). Endophytic bacterial isolates were evaluated for their ability to inhibit F. oxysporum through inhibition and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) production tests. Subsequently, analysis of variance was used to determine whether endophytic bacteria inhibited F. oxysporum growth, and if there was a significant effect, Duncan's test was conducted at 95% significance. HCN production was observed through qualitative methods. The results showed that four endophytic bacteria isolates, namely LBR I A03, SWR II B04, SDM II B05 and SWR I A02 inhibited the growth of F. oxysporum by more than 50%. It also revealed that four endophytic bacterial isolates were strong HCN producers and two were weak producers. Therefore, isolates showing antifungal activity in this study can be used as biopesticide agents to induce plant resistance to F. oxysporum
Identifying Drought-Tolerant Impatiens Genotypes by Using Water Stress Treatment
Full text linkThe drought-tolerant Impatiens genotypes are known for their resistance to limited or stressed water. The study aimed to identify drought-tolerance of Impatiens clones. The experiment used a split-plot design replicated three times, with the water stress treatment as the main plot and Impatiens clones as subplots. The main plot consists of 100% and 60% of field capacity. The subplots consist of five Impatiens clones, 17.12; 12; 33.3; 40 B and Impatiens cv of Impala Agrihorti as a control. The results showed that 60% field capacity decreased morphological and physiological traits. Still, the drought-tolerant clones were less affected by the stress and produced more flowers than the others. The most drought-tolerant Impatiens was clone 12. The mechanism of drought tolerance Impatiens was by stomatal closure when the humidity in the growing medium was decreasing. The stomata closure did not significantly reduce the fresh and dry weight in drought-tolerant plants, but it affected the delay in flower initiation. The plant accumulated assimilate for plant height and diameter growth but is not sufficient for generative initiation. They assimilate in the vegetative phase and can be used as sources for flower formation, which show no significant decrease in the number of flowers. The study implies that the drought-tolerant Impatiens clones can be used as genotype sources for drought-tolerant or can be released as new varieties of Impatiens for landscape plants with the superiority in having drought tolerant
Increase of Cropping Index in Dryland Supported by Groundwater Irrigation
Full text linkDryland has the potential to increase agricultural production, by increasing the cropping index. The main problem of dryland is the availability of water which depends on rainfall. Groundwater can be an alternative option to meet the availability of water in the dryland. This study aimed to determine the cropping pattern and increase of cropping index supported by groundwater irrigation in the dryland. The research was conducted in the dryland of Playen, Gunungkidul, Special Region of Yogyakarta, supported by groundwater irrigation. This research used a combination of survey, interview and plot demonstration methods. Surveys and interviews were conducted to determine the condition of cultivation and profit in the first and third growing seasons. The plot demonstration, to increase the rice cropping index from 1 to 2, was applied in the second growing season. The results showed that rice productivity in the first growing season was 5.215 ton ha-1, with a profit of 12,288,000 IDR ha-1 and B/C of 1.28. In the second growing season, Sidenuk productivity was 8.025 ton ha-1, with the dry straw of 8.049 ton ha-1, grain carbon of 3.471 ton ha-1 and straw carbon of 3.723 ton ha-1, higher than those of Situbagendit, but comparable those of Inpari-42, with a profit of 20,700,000 IDR ha-1 and B/C of 1.54. Rice contributed to higher biomass, carbon and profit than groundnut. In the third growing season, groundnut productivity was 2.026 ton ha-1, with a profit of 15,572,000 IDR ha-1 and B/C of 1.78. Groundwater irrigation can support the increase in the cropping index on dryland and intensify agricultural production as well
Effect of the Different Soil Types on Chrysanthemum Cut Flower Quality
Full text linkCultivating annual crops in the high upland has the potential to increase avalanche and land erosion. Therefore, chrysanthemum extensification from high upland to medium upland can create sustainable agriculture. The differences between high upland and medium upland are microclimate and soil type. Meanwhile, the effect of soil type between the high upland and the medium upland on the chrysanthemum spray type quality is unknown. The study aimed to determine the effect of different soil types on the quality of chrysanthemums when planted in high upland. The study used a split plot design with two factors. The first factor was the type of soil, such as Andosol from the high upland and Latosol from the medium upland. The second factor was the chrysanthemum varieties, such as Yastayuki (white flower), Arosuka Pelangi (yellow flower) and Socakawani (red flower). The results showed that both Andosol and Latosol soil types could produce the same quality of chrysanthemum in all varieties when planted in high upland. The quality aspects of chrysanthemum were the plant height, the stem diameter, the number of flowers and flower color. Consequently, we could extend the cultivation of chrysanthemum in medium upland by using Latosol type soil