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| ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological
Science
September 2012 | Vol. 7 No. 9 |
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Title: |
Estimated recreational value of
Lahijan
forest using by contingent valuation method |
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Author (s): |
Amir
Hosein Firoozan, Mahsa Hakimi Abed, Hooman Bahmanpour and Seyed Armin
Hashemi |
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Abstract: |
Considering numerous functions and services provided by
forests and forest parks and also forest destruction trend
in the world and Iran, this study practiced economic
valuation of the Lahijan Forest. To do this, WTP of the park
visitors was estimated using contingent valuation method
thorough dichotomous choice questionnaire. To calculate WTP
the model used was Logit. This model parameters were
calculated. The result showed that average WTP of the
visitors for the park recreational value was 8,216 Rials per
visitor and its total annual value was 123 billion Rials.
The result also revealed that the bid and revenue parameters
were significant by 1% from a statistical point of view,
both of which were the most effective factors in the
visitors’ WTP. In addition, the in line with increasing
forest attractions, the WPT grew by 47%. The results
indicated visitors’ interest in recreational areas and
forest parks, which can be taken into consideration when
these ecosystems are managed.
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Title: |
Study on effect of soybean and tea
intercropping on yield and yield components of soybean and
tea |
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Author (s): |
Shahram
Sedaghathoor and Gholamreza Janatpoor |
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Abstract: |
The factorial experiment (2×2×3) was done over five years to
survey the best planting and density patterns of two
cultivars of soybean in a cleanly pruned tea plantation. The
effects of these three factors were studied on soybean and
tea yield and yield ingredients. The first factor (i.e.,
soybean cultivars) was distributed in two levels including
Williams and Williams Chipava cultivars, as well as second
factor (i.e., planting pattern) was doled out in two levels
including single and double row planting. The third factor
(density of planting) contained 12, 17 and 22 plants per m-2.
The results showed that planting pattern and interaction of
"cultivar × density" had significant effect (p<0.01) on
soybean yield. Based on mean comparison, maximum yield of
soybean was obtained under single-row planting. On the other
hand, single-row planting of "Williams Chipava" cultivar
with 22 plants m-2 had the highest yield. While
Williams's cultivar produced minimum yield by 12 and 22
plants m-2, respectively. Planting pattern
resulted in tea yield rising (p<0.01). The highest tea yield
gained by double-row soybean planting. |
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Title: |
Effects of citronella grass extract on
the oviposition behavior of Carambola fruit fly
(Bactrocera
carambolae)
in mango |
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Author (s): |
Muryati,
Y. A. Trisyono, Witjaksono and
Wahyono |
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Abstract: |
Carambola fruit fly (Bactrocera carambolae) causes
economic losses because the female deposit her eggs in
fruits and the larvae bore into the fruits. The availability
of non-preferred and safe substance in deterring the females
to lays eggs will provide an effective tool to protect the
fruits. This research examined three types of citronella
grass extracts in regard with their effects on disturbing
the oviposition behaviour. Water, methanol, and n-hexane
citronella grass extracts were applied to fruits and the
fruits were then exposed to gravid females. Olfactometry
tests were carried out to investigate the mechanisms by
which extracts modify B. carambolae oviposition. The
methanol extract deterred the females for oviposition with
OAI= -0.83, whereas the water extract and n-hexane extract
had no effect on oviposition with OAI ranged -0.02 to 0.29
and -0.02 to -0.38 respectively. Furthermore, the olfactory
test showed that the methanol extract had no effect on
repellency. Therefore, the mechanism of reducing the
oviposition was most likely through gustatory rather than
olfactory processes. The major compounds in the methanol
extract were silane, [[(3.beta)-lanosta-8, 24-dien-3-yl]
oxy] trim ethyl and elemol. The methanol extract of
citronella grass has the potency to be used as a tool to
protect mango from B. carambolae oviposition. |
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Title: |
Analysis of production efficiency of
food crop farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria |
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Author (s): |
Ambali1
O. I., Adegbite D. A., Ayinde I. A.
and Awotide D. O. |
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Abstract: |
The study analyzed the production efficiency of food crop
farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria. Two hundred and forty (240)
food crop farmers were sampled in a multistage sampling
procedure. The data collected were analyzed using
descriptive statistics, budgetary technique and stochastic
frontier analysis. The findings showed that most of the food
crop farmers are literate though with low level of
educational attainment. The budgetary analysis revealed that
food crop farming is profitable in the study area. The
stochastic frontier results (Maximum Likelihood Estimates)
revealed that farm output increases with farm size, hired
labour, family labour and planting material but decreases
with herbicide. Technical Efficiency increases with
education, farming experience and household size but
decreases as farmers grow older. The mean technical
efficiency, allocative efficiency and economic efficiency of
80 per cent, 76 per cent and 61 per cent respectively shows
that there is room for improvement in output by 20 per cent,
allocative efficiency by 24 per cent and economic efficiency
by 39 per cent with the present technology. Policy option
requires the farmers to reduce the use of herbicide. Also,
farm expansion is recommended to ensure efficient
utilization of resources. Finally, formal education and
adult literacy education should be strengthened among
farmers as education and extension contact increases the
efficiency of the food crop farmers. |
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Title: |
Impact of shifting agriculture on tree
abundance in an agrarian community within the Niger delta
region of Nigeria |
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Author (s): |
Chima U. D. and Omoemu F. |
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Abstract: |
Impact of land use intensification through
shifting agriculture on tree abundance was examined using
four sites - an uncultivated site, and three fallow plots (Chronosequences
1, 2 and 3) reflecting increasing period and intensity of
cultivation. Fourteen (14) tree species belonging to nine
families were encountered in the uncultivated site. Tree
density was 268 trees /hectare for the entire site while the
density for individual species ranged from 3 to 51 trees/
hectare. Seven (7) tree species belonging to 6 families were
encountered in Chronosequence 1. Tree density was 77 trees/
hectare for the entire site while the density for the
individual species ranged from 2 to18 trees/hectare. In
Chronosequence 2, six (6) tree species belonging to 5
families were encountered. Tree density was 142 trees
/hectare for the entire site while the density for the
individual species ranged from 2 to 54 trees/ hectare. In
Chronosequence 3, three (3) tree species belonging to 3
families were encountered. Tree density was 40 trees/
hectare for the entire site while the density for the
individual species ranged from 2 to31 trees/hectare. Tree
species richness and diversity decreased with an increase in
period and intensity of cultivation, with the uncultivated
site and Chronosequence 3 having the highest and least
diversity, respectively. Variation in tree species
composition between the uncultivated site and the fallow
plots also increased with increase in period and intensity
of cultivation with the highest dissimilarity observed
between the uncultivated site and Chronosequence 3.
Populations of Pentaclethra macrophylla, Harungana
madagascariensis, and Massularia acuminata
compared better in some of the fallow plots than in the
uncultivated site, while species like Ceiba pentandra,
Baphia nitida, Napoleona vogelli, and
Anthonotha macrophylla, were completely absent in
the fallow plots. Land use intensification through shifting
agriculture was found to impact negatively on tree
abundance. Integrated and more eco-friendly farming systems
like farm forestry and agroforestry were suggested as
alternatives to shifting cultivation. |
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Title: |
Price formation and transmission of
staple food stuffs in Osun State, Nigeria |
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Author (s): |
Akintunde O. K., Yusuf S. A.,
Bolarinwa A. O. and Ibe R. B. |
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Abstract: |
This study examined the trend in staple foodstuffs prices in
urban and rural market of Osun state, Nigeria. Secondary
data on gari, beans, rice and maize monthly prices spanning
2006/2008 were sourced from Macro-Statistics Department,
Osun State Planning Commission. The data were analyzed using
Augmented Dicker Fuller (ADF) test, Granger-causality test
and Index of Market Connection. Empirical results revealed
that the price series in all the markets accepted the null
hypothesis of non-stationarity at their levels at 5%
significance level. The integration test showed that none of
the markets examined had prices tied together in the long-
run. The Granger-causality model revealed that eight market
links rejected their respective null hypothesis of no
granger causality, two of the market links exhibited
bi-directional granger causality or simultaneous feedback
relationship while other six market links exhibited uni-directional
granger causality. It also revealed that rural beans market
and rural gari market are the markets occupying leadership
positions in staple food price formation and transmission in
the markets investigated. Therefore, the study recommends
that the leader markets should be the target for any planned
national pricing policy for increased consumption of staple
foodstuffs The Index of market connection (IMC) indicates
that the markets exhibit low short run market integration.
The study concludes that the agricultural commodity markets
in developing countries may be subject to a high degree of
marketing inefficiency and recommends a nation-wide policy
to improve food marketing efficiency in Nigeria. |
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Title: |
Rainfed rice-legume based cropping
systems for sustainable food security and soil fertility
improvement in western Kenya |
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Author (s): |
Ogutu
M. O., Ouma G., Ogolla H.,
Okech J. N. and Kidula N. |
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Abstract: |
Continuous increase in the world population, particularly
eastern Africa region has increased demand for food
significantly. In view of this, the present system of sole
cropping cannot meat the diversified needs of the small
scale farmers. Field study of rainfed rice-legume based
cropping systems was investigated and evaluated in western
Kenya during the year 2011. The objectives of the study
were: 1. to determine the effects of NERICA 11 rice/common
bean (KK8) intercrop on yields of rice, 2. to
determine the effect of rice/cowpeas (Kenya
kunde one)
intercrop on rice yield, 3. to monitor soil fertility
dynamics associated with rice/legume intercrop and to
determine the economic viability of rice legume. Treatment
combinations consisted of rice, beans and cowpea pure
stands, single row rice + single row of beans, single row
rice + single row of cow pea, single row rice + double row
of beans, single row rice + double row of cow pea, double
row rice + single row of beans, double row rice + single row
of beans, double row rice + single row of cow pea, double
row of rice + double row of beans and double row of rice +
double row of cow pea. Treatments
were arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD)
replicated 4 times. Results showed that at a ratio of
1:1, single row of rice planted with single row of beans was
significantly (p≤0.05) different from single row rice
alternated with single row cow pea, while at a ratio of 1:2,
single row rice alternated with double row beans and double
cowpea were significantly (p≤0.05) different. However,
double row rice against single rows of beans and single row
cowpea were not significantly (p≥0.05) different. The
biological efficiency of intercropping, measured in terms of
Land Equivalent Ratio (LERs), at the ratio of 1:1
also showed that intercropping rain fed rice with cowpea has
high compatibility factor of 1.84 and a derived intercrop
benefit of 0.84 compared with bean intercrops (1.16) whose
derived benefits was 0.16. Economic analysis results showed
that double row rice alternating with single row cowpea gave
the highest (KShs13787) net income with a corresponding low
cost/benefit ratio of 0.25 compared with single row rice
alternating with double row beans which gave low net income
of (KShs. 805.6) but had the highest cost-benefit ratio of
0.6. Thus farmers would be better of if they adopted double
row rice alternating with single row cowpea spatial
arrangement of intercrop. From the study, it was evident
that NERICA 11 rice variety is compatible with both bean
(KK8) and cowpea (Kenya
kunde one).
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Title: |
Nurturing food security through urban
agriculture livelihoods in the midst of climate change |
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Author (s): |
Mugalavai Violet
Kadenyeka and Cheserek Grace
Jerotich |
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Abstract: |
This paper examines the immediate and long-term effects of
climate change on the sustainable development of Urban
Agriculture (UA) livelihoods among the horticultural food
producers and sellers (HFPS). The findings are derived from
an exploratory survey study which was carried out among
producers and sellers of horticultural food crops in Eldoret
Municipality in Kenya to determine the respondents UA
characteristics and the effect of climate change on the
natural resources required for UA livelihoods, and hence the
effect on the food security of the households. The study was
both qualitative and quantitative, and both descriptive and
inferential statistics were used to lay out the results. The
problems faced due to emerging trends of climate change and
their effect on the UA livelihoods were evident as observed,
elicited and discussed by the respondents and the
researcher. Promoting pro-poor initiatives such as community
capacity building, collective responsibility, and enhancing
and expanding good NRM practices should be encouraged in
order to build sustainable urban agriculture livelihoods and
reduce hunger and poverty especially among the vulnerable
poor urbanites. Sustainable environmental practices that
empower individuals with better livelihoods, employment,
adequate incomes and household food and nutrition security
are a necessary venture in order to build a healthy
gender-balanced and empowered working nation that may enable
Kenya to achieve the goal of vision 2030 that aspires to
improve incomes for all cadres of the population. |
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Title: |
Evaluation of oil seeds for their potential nutrients |
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Author (s): |
Muhammad
Arif, Nasiruddin, Tariq Masood, Syed Sadaqat Shah and Hina
Fayaz |
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Abstract: |
Five different oil seed
(Mustard, Canola, Corn, Cotton seed and Sunflower) varieties
(NIFA raya, Durr-e-NIFA, Jalal, Naib 98 and Gulshan 98
respectively) were analyzed for crude protein, crude oil,
and ash contents by chemical methods of AOAC. Total
glucosinolate content of mustard and canola samples were
determined by Near Infrared Reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy.
Mineral constituents were estimated by Flame Photometer and
Spectrophotometer. The data revealed significant (p≤0.05)
variation among the five different oil seed samples in the
chemical constituents. Cotton seed (Niab-98) and corn (Jalal)
contained the smallest amount of crude oil i.e. 17.83% and
4.23% respectively. Highest crude protein content was found
in sunflower (Gulshan-98) 31.57 % and lowest was found in
corn (Jalal) 12.27 %. The content of ash was highest in both
mustard and canola samples that were more than 6.50% and
lowest content was found in corn (Jalal) that is 1.50%.
Glucosinolate content of both Brassica varieties tested was
less than 30 µM/g, which characterized them as canola type.
Among macro minerals sunflower (Gulsahn-98) contained the
maximum concentration of phosphorus (0.86%) while corn (Jalal)
contained maximum concentration of sodium (0.05%) along with
potassium 0.01%.The canola seed samples contained the same
amount of sodium and potassium that is 0.03% and 0.004%
respectively. For cotton and sunflower sodium and potassium
contents ranged from 0.01% to 0.004%. It can be concluded
that among the oil seed samples analyzed, corn (Jalal) was a
good source of minerals while sunflower (Gulshan 98) was a
rich source of protein. |
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Title: |
Growth
and yield responses of pepper (Capsicum frutescens
L.) to varied poultry manure rates in
Uyo,
south-eastern Nigeria |
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Author (s): |
A. O. Ikeh.,
N. U. Ndaeyo., I. G. Uduak., G. A. Iwo., L. A. Ugbe, E. I.
Udoh and G. S. Effiong |
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Abstract: |
Field trail was carried out during the early
cropping seasons of 2007 and 2008 at University of Uyo
Teaching and Research Farm, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria to
evaluate the effects of poultry manure rates (0, 2, 4, 6, 8,
10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 t/ha) on growth and yield of
pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.) A randomised complete block
design with three replicates was used. Results showed that
increase in poultry manure rate resulted in increase in
growth and yield of pepper up to 8 t/ha rate. It also showed
decline in yield with application rate above 8t/ha.
Application of 8 t/ha produced 22.75 and 23.56 t/ha of fresh
pepper in 2007 and 2008, respectively while 10 t/ha produced
22.70 and 23.91 t/ha of fresh pepper in 2007 and 2008,
respectively. This implies that application above 8t/ha rate
will not be economical and beneficial to the farmer. |
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Title: |
Analysis
of heterosis and level of dominance in F1-mango (Mangifera
indica L.) |
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Author (s): |
Sukartini,
Taryono, Panjisakti Basunanda and Rudi Harimurti |
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Abstract: |
The
magnitude of heterosis over mid-parent, height-parent, two
standard varieties, and level of dominance were calculated
in twelve mango hybrids derived from ‘Arumanis’ clone and
red peel mangos (‘Haden’, ‘Gedong Gincu’, ‘Keitt’, ‘Li’ar’,
‘Saigon’, and ‘Irwin’) for eleven quality characters. The
samples were observed toward four years old
F1
were
grafted on
rootstock
'Madu'
clone and
planted
in the
field
(Cukurgondang
experimental station, Pasuruan,
East
Java,
Indonesia).
This study
was
conducted from July to October
2011.
Observation on appearance
of all F1 was shown
that all characters were varies widely
F1-5-Ar
x
GG
was exhibited
a higher
mean
value
to parents,
highest
parent,
or
two
standard
varieties for
fruit
length
and
fruit
diameter.
F1-3-Ar x Hd,
F1-4-Ar x Hd, F1-5-Ar x GG, F1-6-Ar
x GG, F1-10-Ar x Sg, and F1-12-Ir x Ar
were severe to mid parent,
highest parent, and two standard
varieties. Consecutively, peel and stone weight character:
F1-2-Ar x Hd,
F1-6-Ar x GG, F1-9-Ar x GG, and F1-11-Ir
x Ar; including F1-5-Ar x GG, F1-6-Ar
x GG were more
meaningful than
other
progenies. F1-3-Ar
x Hd, F1-4-Ar x Hd, F1-5-Ar x GG, F1-10-Ar
x Sg, and F1-12-Ir x Ar attested that
appearance of
phenotypes
significantly
different to their
both
parents,
highest
parents,
and
two
standard
varieties.
Further, an effort to improve sweetness through increase
total
soluble
solids
and
decrease total
acidity
were fulfilled
by crossing F1-1-Ar
x Hd, F1-3-Ar x Hd, F1-6-Ar x GG,
except F1-10-Ar x Sg was resulted no
significant
improvement
upon these effort. Meanwhile, the only F1-8-Ar x
Keitt which
was escalated
levels of vitamin
C
compared
with both
parents
and
did not
quite
mean
to highest
parent
and standards variety
1.
All the
progenies
were displayed
no increase
in β-carotene
and
anthocyanins
contain. The meaningful degree of dominance was over
dominant positive to fruit length, fruit diameter, edible
portion, total soluble solids (TSS), and vitamin C content.
Over dominant positive and recessive partial to fruit weigh,
over dominant negative to stone weight; and over dominant
negative and recessive partial to peel weight, including
total acidity characters. |
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Title: |
Indigenous uses of medicinal plants in rural areas of Dera
Ghazi khan, Punjab, Pakistan |
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Author (s): |
Allah Bakhsh Gulshan,
Altaf Ahmed Dasti, Sabir Hussain and Muhammmad
Amin -ud-Din |
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Abstract: |
In DG Khan like other underdeveloped areas of
the world, plants are traditionally used as medicines by
herbs-man (Hakims), plant traders or village elders to cure
various infectious as well as functional human diseases.
These preserved tribal practices are found suitable and
helpful in treatment of the poor and illiterate people on
low cost basis To collect the first hand knowledge of local
medicinal plants and their usage, One hundred pertinent
people including herbs man (Hakims), plant traders or
village elders were interviewed by using a semi
structured-questionnaire. Group discussions were also
arranged to collect the data. According to the respondent 8
species belonging to 4 (6.00 %) monocotyledon families and
58 species belonging to 26 (44.00 %) dicotyledonous families
are in use for medicinal purposes. The dominant families are
Fabacaeae with 8 species, followed by Solanaceae and
Asteraceae with 7 species each, Poaceae with 5 and
Brassicaceae with 4 species. These medicinal plants are used
to cure about 30 various types of diseases. The common
disease of the area is stomach related like ulcer and
dysentery. Cough, headache, jaundice, toothache, sores,
wounds and skin diseases are the other prevalent diseases.
Peoples’ dependency on traditional medicine is still high as
in rural areas modern or allopathic medicines are hard to
find and certain stigmas like side effects related to these
modern medicines hinders people to use them. Most of the
species used for medicinal purposes are wild and expert
herb-men collect them. Special attention is needed to be
taken for the conservation of these plants. This study is
carried out for the first time in this area, gathered
information are documented about traditional remedies before
they are lost. |
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Title: |
Quantifying the contribution of different soil properties on
enzyme activities in dry tropical ecosystems |
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Author (s): |
Monty
Kujur, Sanat Kumar Gartia, Amiya Kumar Patel |
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Abstract: |
Microbial activity is significantly
influenced by soil texture, hydrological regimes, flow
dynamics, chemical pollutants, and an assessment of these
changes is essential for soil management. In the present
investigation, soil microbial activity (as an index of soil
enzymes i.e. amylase, invertase, protease and dehydrogenase)
and its relationship with different physico-chemical
properties with respect to seven different soils has been
addressed. The variation of soil enzyme activity in question
was significantly attributable to differences in soil
texture, C, N and P content, bulk density, water holding
capacity, moisture content and soil pH. Comparative analysis
of soil enzyme revealed that there was gradual increase in
amylase, invertase, protaease and dehydrogeanse activity
from a nutrient deficient situation (fresh mine spoil) to an
enriched soil (forest soil). Stepwise multiple regression
analysis was performed to determine the contribution of
different factors influencing the variability in enzyme
activity. Amylase and invertase activity in seven soil
samples indicated positive direct correlations with OC, TN,
clay content, and negative correlation with bulk density. On
the contrary, protease activity showed poor correlation with
clay content, WHC and MC, but significant positive
correlation was noticed with OC, TN and AP content. The
findings demonstrated that soil OC, TN, AP and clay content
are the important determinants for dehydrogenase activity
(indicative for organic matter transformation) and moderate
correlation with soil pH, MC and WHC. The dehydrogenase
activity showed a positive correlation with protease
activity (r = 0.994; p<0.01), which explained
98.8% of the variability in protease activity. Principal
component analysis was able to discriminate seven different
soils into independent clusters on basis of their soil
physico-chemical properties and enzyme activities. However,
the change in soil enzyme activity correlated very well with
the extent of land degradation and can serve as a useful
indicator of soil status. |
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Title: |
Growth
and adaptation of four Streptomyces isolates in the media
containing propoxur |
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Author (s): |
Maman
Rahmansyah, Dwi Agustiyani, Heddy Julistiono and Tirta
Kumala Dewi |
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Abstract: |
Actinomycetes growth in
the media containing carbamates is an interesting subject
associated to its adaptation and metabolism behavior. In
this work, four isolates of Streptomyces spp. had
been approved to grow and demean propoxur, a carbamates
pesticide commonly uses to control pest insect. The
Streptomyces spp. cultures were incubated for seven days
in the media containing propoxur, and incubated in the
rotary (50 rpm) shaker-bath at 350C. Microbial population
calculated based on culture dry weight throughout separating
supernatant and biomass sedimentation in the media with
centrifugation work. Propoxur degradation evaluated during
the isolates refined in yeast extract media containing
starch (YSB) and without starch (YB), then the propoxur (0,
200, 600, 1200, and 1800 ppm) were added to the media. After
a period of incubation, propoxur content in the media
determined with hydrolysis to become 2-isopropoxyphenol
method, and with diazotized 3-aminopyridine processes turn
into azo-dye forming which became visible in 463 nm
absorbance by spectrophotometric exertion. Streptomyces
growth actions showed differently among the culture, and YSB
media tendentiously stimulated microbial growth performance
compared to YB media. Media restrain with starch were
tending to decrease propoxur content and stimulate growth
performance, and proved in some certain growth behavior
among Streptomyces spp. Decomposing of propoxur as
due to microbial growth processes were investigated through
the effect on maize seedling growth performance. Growth of
Streptomyces sp.3 isolate along cultured with
propoxur in the media then used to invigorate maize seedling
growth improvement. Significant consequences to seedling dry
weight of maize biomass appeared after ten days growth
period of seedlings. |
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