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| ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological
Science
August 2011 | Vol. 6 No. 8 |
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Title: |
Iodine
status of children (8-11 years) in district Peshawar |
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Author (s): |
Muhammad
Arif, Javed Abbas Bangash and Faizullah Khan |
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Abstract: |
A cross-sectional study
was conducted in two urban (University Town and Gulberg) and
two rural (Charkhana and Landi Akhoon Ahmad) communities of
District Peshawar to estimate the consumption of iodized
salt at household’s level and to assess the prevalence of
iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) by clinical and
biochemical measurements. Three hundred and sixty eight
households from the four communities were selected to assess
the type of salt being consumed. A urine sample from every
third child was also collected for urinary iodine excretion.
The semi-quantitative results by rapid salt iodine spot test
revealed that 67.7% of the households were consuming iodized
salt and that consumption of non-iodized salt in the rural
areas was higher (67.93%) than that of urban areas (4.3%).
The results showed that 53.27% of the children had
sub-normal urinary iodine level. Similarly, amongst the
different communities, children from Charkhana and Landi
Akhoon Ahmad had highest prevalence of sub-clinical iodine
deficiency (100%). The study concludes that there was less
consumption of iodized salt in the rural communities which
was associated with low median urinary iodine levels and
high prevalence of sub-clinical iodine deficiency disorders. |
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Title: |
Response
of root yield and yield components of sugar beet (Beta
vulgaris) to different tillage methods |
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Author (s): |
Majid
Rashidi |
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Abstract: |
A two-year field
experiment was conducted to study the response of root yield
and yield components of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) to
different tillage methods during 2008 and 2009 growing
seasons. Tillage treatments in the study were moldboard plow
+ two passes of disk harrow (MDD) as conventional tillage
method; moldboard plow + one pass of rotavator (MR), chisel
plow + one pass of rotavator (CR) and two passes of disk
harrow (DD) as reduced tillage methods; one pass of
rotavator (R) and one pass of tine cultivator (C) as minimum
tillage methods, and no-tillage (NT) as direct drilling
method. Root yield (RY) and some yield components such as
root number per hectare (RNPH), sugar yield (SUGY), root dry
matter (RODM), root length (ROTL), rim diameter (RIMD) were
determined for all treatments. Different tillage methods
significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected RNPH, but there was no
significant difference in other studied traits. Although
there was no significant difference in RY, SUGY, RODM, ROTL
and RIMD, results of the study showed that tillage practices
were beneficial in improving the yield of sugar beet. The
maximum values of RY (82.7 t ha-1), RNPH (135412
roots ha-1), SUGY (11.4 t ha-1) and
RODM (23.9%) were observed in case of MR treatment, while
the maximum values of ROTL (20.5 cm) and RIMD (1.5 cm) were
noted in case of NT treatment. In contrast, the minimum
values of RY (71.3 t ha-1), RNPH (115000 roots ha-1),
SUGY (9.15 t ha-1) and RODM (20.3%) were observed
in case of NT treatment, while the minimum values of ROTL
(18.0 cm) and RIMD (1.1 cm) were noted in case of MR
treatment. Results also showed that tillage method affected
the yield of sugar beet in the order of MR > CR > R > MDD >
DD > C > NT. Therefore, the reduced tillage treatments MR
and CR, and the minimum tillage treatment R were considered
as more appropriate and profitable tillage methods in
improving the yield of sugar beet. |
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Title: |
Genetic
analysis of maturity and morphological traits under Maydis
leaf blight (MLB) epiphytotics in maize (Zea mays L.) |
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Author (s): |
Farhan
Ali, Hidatyar-ur-Rahman, Durrishahwar, Iffat Nawaz, Mareeya
Munir and Hidayat Ullah |
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Abstract: |
The difficulty of choosing desirable breeding program has restricted progress in maize breeding. In 2004, the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics initiated a progress oriented breeding program for improving adapted varieties. This study was aimed to enhance disease resistance via selection of desirable plants based on maturity and morphological traits under disease stress condition. Maydis leaf blight (MLB) caused by Helmintosporium maydis is a major disease of maize (Zea mays L.). This research was conducted at Agricultural University Peshawar, Pakistan during 2006-07 crop seasons to estimate the efficiency of S1 recurrent selection for improving morphological traits, maturity characteristics and yield. The S1 lines were evaluated under epiphytotics of H. maydis. Statistical analysis of the data revealed the presence of highly significant variations for maturity traits and morphological attributes in the genetic material. The broad sense heritability (h2BS) estimates for 50% tasseling was 0.65, for 50% silking was 0.64 and 0.62 for 50% pollen shedding. Means of the selected S1 lines was greater than the population mean resulting (0.33 and 0.54) selection differential for mid tasseling and pollen shedding. On the other hand negative value (-0.15) was observed for mid silking showing a decline trend. Expected response to selection for days to 50% tasseling, silking and pollen shedding were 0.21, -0.10 and 0.35 days, respectively. The h2BS was 0.53 for plant height and 0.48 for ear height. Selection differential (S) was 3.86 and 2.33 for plant for plant height (2.04) and ear height of (1.13). Our results suggest that including selection under carefully managed breeding program, early maturity with stay green character and improved morphological attributes effectively enhance MLB resistance in maize. |
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Title: |
Consumer
willingness to pay for safe bread in Etinan local government
area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria |
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Author (s): |
Dontsop
Nguezet P. M., Udoh E. S. and Adelekan O. J. |
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Abstract: |
Research over the years
has shown that potassium bromate when used in bread
production is a source of food poisoning. This study
estimated the demand for bread, determined consumers’ level
of awareness of harmful health effects of bromate, as well
as their confidence in safety labels, examined the factors
that influence consumers’ willingness to pay for safe bread
and determined how much more consumers’ are willing to pay
for safe bread. A multi - stage random sampling was used to
select two hundred (200) households used for the analysis.
Descriptive, statistics, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS)
regression model and Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE)
were used for the analysis. About 53% of consumers are aware
of the potential harm of bromate residue in bread and 49.1%
were confident in safety labels. About 89 and 10 % of
willing consumers were willing to pay 35 kobo and 70 kobo
per gram of safe bread respectively. Income and age were
significant (both at 1%) respectively in explaining the
demand for bread, having positive and negative
relationships, respectively. Age, confidence and risk were
significant at 10%, 1% and 1% respectively (having positive
relationships) in explaining consumer willingness to pay for
safe bread. Based on the facts so revealed, sensitisation
programmes through mass media, enlightenment programmes
tailored to suit illiterate masses and emphasis on food
regulatory bodies should be mounted. |
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Title: |
Adoption
of improved cultivation practices in Gnetum africanum:
A test crop for ownership of land |
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Author (s): |
Augustine
J. Udoh and Emem Inyang |
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Abstract: |
In Nigerian, the
agricultural extension service has remained a significant
public service institution with a broad range of
responsibilities for agriculture and rural development. Akwa
Ibom Agricultural Development Programme (AKADEP) instituted
in 1988 with a major function of disseminating improved
agricultural practices reaches out to 626, 446 farm families
in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. A study was undertaken with
AKADEP farmers and Non-AKADEP farmers to assess the adoption
of improved methods of cultivating G. africanum (Afang)
in Akwa Ibom State. Three of the zones Uyo, Ikot Ekepene and
Etinan were purposively selected to take part in the study
due to exposure of the farmers to the G. africanum
improved practices (time of planting, method of planting,
planting distance, etc.). From the zonal offices a list of
AKADEP women farmers cultivating G. africanum was
obtained and a list of Non-AKADEP women farmers in the area
was constructed. Fifty AKADEP farmers were randomly selected
from the list of 230 and 50 from Non - AKADEP farmers
randomly selected from a list of 128 to take part in the
study. Data for the study were obtained by use of a
structured schedule and were analyzed with appropriate
statistical tools. The study reveals that both the AKADEP
and Non-AKADEP G. africanum farmers are mostly
married. The plot size of their farms allocated for
cultivation of G. africanum ranged from 800 - 3500m2
and most of the farmers have been farming for 11 - 20 years.
The household size of the respondents ranged from 3 - 12
indicating a high rate of dependency ratio. The study
reveals that the extent of adoption of improved G.
africanum cultivation practices by the farmers were
high. The study also shows that the method of propagation
had a significant influence on the adoption of G.
africanum cultivation between the two groups of farmers.
The study also reveals that there was no tenure restriction
on planting the crop on rented land since it is a vegetable
crop. Over 50% of the respondents had the crop for over 5
years on the land. There is a strong indication that
cultivation of G. africanum by the women has been
associated with improved household income and fundamentally
to permanently
ownership of land. |
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Title: |
Electron
beam sensitivity studies on Knema attenuata (Hook. F.
and Thomson) Warb seeds - Germination and biochemical
changes |
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Author (s): |
Vinayachandra, K. R. Chandrashekar, H. S. Shenoy and Ganesh
Sanjeev |
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Abstract: |
The present study deals
with the effect of electron beam irradiation (EBI) on
germination and biochemical parameters of Knema attenuata
(Hook. F. and Thomson) Warb seeds. Seeds were exposed to
0.5kGy, 1kG, 2kGy, and 3kGy of EBI (8.0 MeV beam energy) at
Microtron Center, Mangalore University, India. The study
revealed that the germination and seedling growth were
severely affected by EBI. There was no germination in the
seeds treated with higher doses (1kG, 2kGy, and 3kGy).
Although, seeds irradiated with 0.5kGy showed 10%
germination, seedlings could not survive even for a month.
The soluble protein decreased from first week to fourth week
both in control and irradiated seeds. An initial rise
followed by a decrease in soluble sugar was observed in the
irradiated seeds compared to control. A steady increase in
phenolic content in seed exudates was recorded during the
course of storage. Decreased seed viability, germination
potential and seedling growth of Knema attenuata was
attributed to the damaging effect of electron beam
irradiation. |
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Title: |
Relationships among body conformation, testicular traits and
semen output in electro-ejaculate pubertal Kiko goat bucks |
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Author (s): |
Chuck
Okere, Patricia Bradley, E. Rick Bridges, Olga
Bolden-Tiller, Durandal Ford and Anthony Paden |
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Abstract: |
The objective of this
study was to determine the relationship between body
conformation traits: chest girth (CG), height at withers (HTW),
body length (BL), body condition scores (BCS), body weight (BWT),
scrotal circumference (SC) and semen output in three
electro-ejaculated Pubertal Kiko bucks. An
electro-ejaculator was used once a week for semen harvest
for five consecutive weeks. Upon collection, semen samples
were evaluated for ejaculate volume (ml), color,
consistency, and mass activity. Mean values for body
measurements were 3.06 ± 0.41 (BCS, 1-5), 81.7 ± 4.72 cm
(CG), 67.1 ± 4.03 cm (HTW), 69.5 ± 5.56 cm (BL), 40.7 ± 5.01
kg (BTW) and 25.9 ± 2.18 cm (SC). Semen output did not
differ throughout the five collection weeks (1.33 ± 0.57 ml,
1.16 ± 1.04 ml, 1.33 ± 0.57 1.50 ± 0.86 ml, and 0.90 ±0.52
ml; p>0.05). Also, semen volume did not differ among bucks
(1.50 ± 0.5 ml, 1.34 ± 0.93 ml and 0.90 ±0.41 ml; p>0.05).
CG, BCS were positively correlated with BWT (r = 0.75, and
0.69). SC showed positive and moderate correlation with
semen volume (r = 0.31).However, there were low and negative
correlations between BWT, BCS, HTW, CG and semen volume (r =
-0.13, 0.13, -0.68, and 0.04) indicating that semen output
is fairly independent of most body conformation traits. The
study has demonstrated that semen can be harvested in
sufficient quantity from pubertal Kiko bucks via
electro-ejaculation when the use of artificial vagina is
inappropriate due to age or training. We recommend that this
procedure be incorporated in a breeding soundness
examination tool for selecting or culling Kiko sires at an
early age. |
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Title: |
Effect of
salinity level of irrigation water on the yield of tomato |
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Author (s): |
P. O.
Boamah, L. K. Sam-Amoah and J. Onumah |
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Abstract: |
This research was
conducted to determine the salinity level of irrigation
water from a dug well, pond and tap water as well as its
effect on the yield of a tomato crop at the University of
Cape Coast Teaching and Research Farm. Water samples were
taken at fortnight intervals to determine the electrical
conductivity (dSm-1) using the TOA water quality checker
20A. The averages of the four batches were computed and used
as the three sources for the period of assessment. Flowering
and yield of crop were the parameters used to assess the
effect of salinity level on the tomato crop. Electrical
conductivity as a measure of salinity was higher in the pond
(0.25 dS/m) than the well and tap water (0.07 dS/m and 0.02
dS/m, respectively). Flowering and yield of tomato was high
with crops treated with well water (45.22%; 99.08kg/ha)
followed by the pond (27.70%; 43.76kg/ha) and tap water
(27.08%; 27.25kg/ha) in that order. There was no significant
difference in flowering and in yield of crops between the
tap and pond treatments at both 0.05 and 0.01 levels but
there was a significant difference in yield between the well
treated crops and other sources. However, the yield for all
the three treatments was very low (lower than expected)
because there was no fertilization, pests and disease
control. |
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Title: |
Effect of
irrigation with urban sewage and aqueduct water on heavy
metals accumulation and nutritional value of Lucerne (Medicago
sativa L.) |
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Author (s): |
Gholamali
Akbari, Mandana Dadresan, Fardin Khazaei and Hossein Sadeghi |
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Abstract: |
This research was carried
out to study heavy metals accumulation and nutritional value
of Lucerne in three areas of Tehran’s south in 2007 based on
completely randomized block design in the form of split plot
with 3 replications. The main factor in three levels was
included sewage canals in SALEHABAD, TALEBABAD and DEHKHEIR
areas; sub factor in two levels was involved sewage and
aqueduct water (control). Heavy metal accumulation
especially Cd in foliar parts of Lucerne at first harvest
was 10 times more than second harvest while there was not
found significant difference at Lucerne's second harvest
irrigated by sewage water and planted at three different
locations. Probably concentration of most accumulated
nutrients in roots after first harvest to emerging new
leaves at next harvest has decreased and resulted in low
nutrient transition from roots to foliar organs. Application
of wastewater irrigation compared to Aqueduct irrigation
resulted in more Fe and Mn accumulation in foliar parts
meanwhile different locations does not have significant
effect on heavy metal accumulation. Overall agglomerated
rates of Fe, Ni, Pb, Mn, Cr, Cd and Zn in stem and leaves of
Lucerne was lower than critical rates in livestock food, so
livestock nutrition by second harvest of Lucerne irrigated
by waste water cannot be resulted in any nutritional
damages. Thus the 2nd to 5th harvest of Lucerne can be
devoted for livestock food supply and also first harvest can
be considered for seed production. Results of this study
demonstrated that sewage irrigation did not cause toxicity
in the leaves. However, long-term sewage irrigation may
result in the accumulation of some heavy metals in the soil
and go through the plants more than permitted
concentrations. The highest and lowest rates of Nutrient
accumulation in Lucerne were attained from TALEBABAD and
DEHKHEIR areas, respectively. |
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Title: |
Modeling
of carrot firmness based on water content and total soluble
solids of carrot |
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Author (s): |
Majid
Rashidi |
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Abstract: |
Carrot firmness (FIR) is
often determined using difficult and time consuming
laboratory tests, but it may be more appropriate and
economical to develop a method which uses easily available
and known quality characteristics of carrot such as water
content (WC) and total soluble solids (TSS). In this study,
a typical two variables linear regression model with zero
constant for
predicting FIR of Nantes carrot based on WC and TSS of
carrot was suggested. The statistical results of the study
indicated that in order to predict carrot FIR based on WC
and TSS of carrot the two variables linear regression model
with zero constant FIR = 40.34 WC -40.25 TSS with R2 = 0.99
can be strongly recommended. |
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Title: |
Effects
of sludge on the metals levels of various edible crops grown
in the field |
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Author (s): |
S. Rejeb,
F. Gharbi, A. H. Mouneimne and ET M. H. Ghorbal |
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Abstract: |
A field experiment was
conducted to determine the uptake of metals by six
vegetables crops i.e., lettuce (Lactuca sativa),
chard (Beta vulgaris L.), carrots (Daucus carota
L.), radish (Raphanus sativus L.), pepper (Capsicum
annum) and tomato (Solanum lycoperscum) grown on
soil amended with urban sewage sludge under semi-arid
climatic condition of Tunisia. Sludge was applied at four
rates, i.e., 0, 20, 40 and 60 t DM per ha. Selected crops
were grown in randomized plots. Two successive crops were
conducted preceded by sludge application. Results showed
that Metal content in edible plant parts was different
according to the species. For cadmium, the mean content
decrease with the following order tomato > chard > radish >
pepper > lettuce = carrots. However, lettuce had the highest
zinc contents. Differences are also observed according to
the plant organ. For example, most of heavy metals were more
concentrated in the vegetative parts of fruiting crops than
in fruit tissue except for Cd in tomato fruit. Sewage sludge
applications modified the content of Cd, Co, Fe, Pb and Zn
in plant tissues. Cd and Zn contents were always increased
in all selected plants. Cobalt and lead were increased in
the edible parts of vegetative and fruiting tissues but they
weren’t affected in edible root. The iron evolution was
variable according to crops. Sewage sludge additions did not
affect copper and manganese contents. |
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