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| Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science
Sept.-Nov. 2008 | Vol. 3 No. 5-6 |
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Title: |
Modeling of
soil available phosphorus based on soil organic carbon |
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Author (s): |
Mohsen
Seilsepour and Majid Rashidi |
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Abstract: |
A well
established regression model is a useful tool in development
of prediction method of some soil physical or chemical
properties, and can be used to investigate and analyze the
soil. In soil studies, soil available phosphorous (AP) are
often determined using laboratory tests, but it may be more
suitable and economical to develop a method which uses some
easily available soil properties. In this study, an
exponential regression model for predicting soil AP from
soil organic carbon (OC) was suggested and soil AP was
estimated as a function of soil OC. The soil AP predicted
from the soil AP-OC model was compared to the soil AP
determined by laboratory test using the paired samples
t-test and the Bland-Altman approach. The soil AP predicted
by the soil AP-OC model was not significantly different from
the soil AP determined by laboratory test (P > 0.05). The
mean difference between the soil AP-OC model and laboratory
test was 1.57 ppm (95% confidence interval: -2.88 and 6.03
ppm; P = 0.453). The standard deviation of the soil AP
differences was 7.01 ppm. The statistical results of the
study indicated that the soil AP-OC model provides an easy,
economic and brief methodology to estimate soil AP and in
order to predict soil AP based on soil OC the soil AP-OC
model AP = 0.7927 e 4.9922 OC with R2 = 0.92 can be
recommended. |
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Title: |
Biological
characterization and protein profiles of two model bacteria
by SDS-PAGE and FT-IR |
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Author (s): |
Rabia Durrani,
M. Abubakar, M. Javed Arshed, Shamim Saleha, Irfan Ullah and
Qurban Ali |
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Abstract: |
Bacteria
are simple, single celled microorganisms that can exist in a
variety of different shapes. They are identified and
classified largely in a series of biochemical tests or
through molecular characterization. Two bacterial species
i.e., Pseudomonas aeroginosa, and E. coli were characterized
by biochemical tests, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide
gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and FT-IR (Fourier Transform
Infrared Spectroscopy). Complex protein bands in SDS-PAGE
could not differentiate all isolates completely. E. coli
samples (stool and urine) when compared with the marker,
were similar in their molecular weights. P. aeroginosa
samples showed slight similarity in their protein bands
having major proteins as 85kDa, 133kDa, 148kDa and 180 kDa,
respectively. FT-IR provides a better method of
characterization but it requires high precision and care
during work because a slight humidity can overlap all the
spectral analysis. When all the spectral images were
compared with the control i.e., the distilled water, almost
all the bacterial samples showed similarity in their spectra
except the P. aeroginosa from pus sample, which showed
multiple peaks in its spectra at a wave number
3500-1000cm-1. |
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Title: |
Economics of
fish production in Kaduna State Nigeria |
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Author (s): |
T. M. Kudi, F.
P. Bako and T. K. Atala |
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Abstract: |
This paper
examines the resources, costs and returns and other factors
affecting fish production. A sample of 44 fish farmers was
randomly selected from two local government areas of Kaduna
State (Chikun and Kaduna South). Data was collected in 2006
production season through administration of a questionnaire
to the fish farmers. Analysis of the data was done using
descriptive statistics and budgeting technique. The analysis
revealed that land, water, labour and capital were the main
resources employed in fish production. The costs and returns
analysis indicated that, variable cost constituted 97.63% of
the total cost of fish production in the study area, while
the fixed cost constituted 2.37%. Amongst the variable
inputs, fingerlings/juveniles (42.82%) and feed (34.70%)
constituted the highest (77.52%) to cost of production,
while hired labour constitutes 16.91%. The cost of
production was N571, 231.79, the total revenue of N5, 853,
625.64 and the net income was N5, 282, 393.85 indicating
that fish production was highly profitable. Despite the high
profitability in fish production, fish farmers identified
lack of finance (97.7%), lack of good market (81.8%), pests
and diseases (56.8%), and water supply (21%) as their most
important problems in fish production. With this high level
of profitability in fish farming, it is recommended that
this information should be disseminated to all the farmers
in these and other surrounding communities. |
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Title: |
Controlled
ageing for storability assessment and predicting seedling
early growth of canola cultivars (Brassica napus L.) |
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Author (s): |
Mohsen
Janmohammadi, Yaser Fallahnezhad, Mahya Golshan and Hamid
Mohammadi |
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Abstract: |
Seed aging
decreases the quality of seed and grain and results in
agricultural and economic losses. Accelerated aging is one
of the most useful tests used for the evaluation of seed
vigour and storability. Present experiment was carried out
for investigation the effect of different periods of seed
accelerated ageing treatment (0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h) on
germination and seedling early growth of four canola (Brassica
napus L.) cultivars. Applied cultivars were including of
Okapi, Orient, Fornax and SLM046. Accelerated ageing was
conducted at 40 °C and 100% relative humidity. At the end of
ageing periods 1 g of seed was used for Electrical
Conductivity test. Rest of seeds were located in Petri dish
on whiteman paper then transformed to germinator at 25°C
under darkness. Results showed that with increase the time
of accelerated ageing treatment all of germination
parameters decreased; however the sensitivity of cultivars
to ageing periods was different. Maximum germination
percentage, vigour index and also the longest shoot was
obtained under 96 h from cv. Fornax, whereas the minimum
vigour was observed from cv. Okapi. Result of EC test
revealed that the highest solute leakage of the seeds was
related to cv. Okapai which followed by cv. Orient that
could be result of severe membrane damages. |
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Title: |
Modeling of
soil sodium adsorption ratio based on soil electrical
conductivity |
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Author (s): |
Mohsen
Seilsepour and Majid Rashidi |
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Abstract: |
There are
many instances in which it is desirable to determine
relationships among indices of soil salinity. For example,
soil Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) are often determined
using laborious and time consuming laboratory tests but it
may be more suitable and economical to develop a method
which uses a more simple soil salinity index. A linear
regression model for predicting soil SAR from soil
Electrical Conductivity (EC) was suggested and soil SAR was
estimated as a function of soil EC. The statistical results
indicated that in order to predict soil SAR based on soil
EC, the linear regression model SAR = 1.91 + 0.68 EC with R2
= 0.69 can be recommended. |
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Title: |
Assessment
of four commercial watermelon cultivars and one local
landrace for their response to naturally occurring diseases
pests and non-pathogenic disorders in sub-humid tropical
conditions |
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Author (s): |
Gichimu B. M.,
B. O. Owuor and M. M. Dida |
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Abstract: |
Four
commercial watermelon cultivars available in Kenya and one
local landrace were evaluated for their
susceptibility/resistance to naturally occurring diseases,
pests and non-pathogenic disorders. The accessions included
three most common commercial watermelon cultivars in Kenya
namely ‘Sugarbaby’, ‘Crimson Sweet’ and ‘Charleston Gray’;
one newly introduced cultivar from United States namely
‘Yellow Crimson’; and one local landrace (GBK-043014) from
Kakamega district in Western Kenya. No inoculation was done
because the study targeted naturally occurring diseases,
pests and non-pathogenic disorders. Disease rating was done
when the most susceptible accession(s) was severely
diseased. Data collected was subjected to analysis of
variance (ANOVA) using SAS version 9.1 and differences
declared significant at 5% level. The SAS procedure PRINCOMP
was then used to perform a principle component (PC) analysis
using severity scores and accessions plotted on two
dimensions using the first two principle components (PC1 and
PC2). Results demonstrated significant variation among
accessions in susceptibility/resistance to various diseases,
pests and non-pathogenic disorders that were observed.
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Title: |
Profitability analysis of workbull ownership among small
scale farmers in Giwa Local Government area of Kaduna State
Nigeria |
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Author (s): |
Abdulsalam Z.,
T. M. Kudi and Samuel Tanimu |
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Abstract: |
Utilization
of animal traction (work-bulls) in farming is being promoted
among small-scale farmers by the government especially in
the northern part of the country where there are favourable
climatic and soil conditions. In order to determine the
profitability of ownership of work-bulls among the small
scale farmers, this study was conducted in Giwa local
government area of Kaduna State in northern Nigeria. Data on
costs and benefit were generated from sixty purposively
selected work-bull owners. Simple descriptive statistics and
net profit model were the analytical tools used to analyse
the data. It was found that the Benefit: Cost Ratios for
respondents with ox-drawn ridger only, those with ox-drawn
ridger plus cultivator, those with ox drawn ridger plus
ox-cart and those with three implements (ox drawn ridger,
cultivator and ox- cart) were 1.92, 1.54, 2.10 and 1.79,
respectively. These imply that investment in work-bulls with
various types of implements is profitable. Furthermore, the
payback periods for the work bulls alongside the various
implements were found to be 12, 14, 10, and 8 months,
respectively. It was recommended that credit should be given
to the resource poor farmers to invest in this energy saving
technology in view of its profitability and usefulness. This
could serve as one way of encouraging entrepreneurship
amongst the rural people and as well promote increased
agricultural production. This will increase their incomes
and improve their standard of living. |
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Title: |
Growth and dry
matter yield responses of cowpea to different sowing depths |
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Author (s): |
S. H. M.
Aikins and J. J. Afuakwa |
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Abstract: |
The depth
of sowing has an important impact on the seedling emergence,
growth and yield of crops. Uniform seeding depth is
essential toward achieving higher crop yields. The objective
of this study was to compare the effect of different depths
of sowing on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) Seedling
emergence, plant height, stems girth, number of leaves per
plant, and dry matter yield. Asontem cowpea variety was sown
in a loamy sand soil at five different sowing depths (20,
30, 50, 70 and 90mm) replicated three times in a randomised
complete block design at two seeds per hill in 1.8x 1.8m plots with spacing between plants and
rows of 20 and 60cm, respectively. Plant stand was counted
daily on each plot after the first seedling emerged until a
stable count was obtained to determine the percentage
emergence. Plant height, stem girth, and number of leaves
were measured once a week for 7 weeks after the first plant
emerged. The dry matter yield was determined 65 days after
planting. Sowing depth effects were generally not
significant. However, sowing at 50mm produced the highest
percentage cowpea seedling emergence, plant height, stem
girth, number of leaves and dry matter yield compared with
sowing at 20, 30, 70 and 90mm. The study showed that for
optimum growth and yield of cowpea, sowing should be done at
a depth of 50mm. |
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Title: |
Acreage
response of major crops in Pakistan (1970-71 to 2006-07) |
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Author (s): |
Misbah Nosheen
and Javed Iqbal |
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Abstract: |
This study
using the Nerlovian model has estimated the responses of
cotton, wheat and sugarcane crops’ area to changes in their
prices and other relevant factors in Pakistan. Time period
covered in the analysis relates from 1970-71 to 2006-07. The
coefficients of the area response models for respective
crops were estimated through the Ordinary Least Squares
method. The short run price elasticity of cotton area has
been estimated at 0.263 while the long run price elasticity
works out to 1.09. The short run price elasticity of wheat
area during the study period has been calculated at 0.045
while the long run price elasticity comes to 0.105. The
short run price elasticity of sugarcane has been calculated
at 0.229 while long run elasticity comes to 0.653. The
conclusion of all this discussion is that there are powerful
monopolies or oligopolistic structures in cotton, wheat, and
sugarcane markets which distort the incentives for the
producers resulting in wasteful and inefficient use of
national resources. There is need to remove these
distortions and correct market imperfections so as to make
best use of the available resources and increase farm
production and improve our competitiveness in world markets. |
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Title: |
Agronomic
performance of three most popular commercial watermelon
cultivars in Kenya as compared to one newly introduced
cultivar and one local landrace grown on dystric nitisols
under sub-humid tropical conditions |
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Author (s): |
Gichimu B. M.,
B. O. Owuor and M. M. Dida |
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Abstract: |
Agronomic
performance trial involving five cultivated watermelon
accessions available in Kenya was conducted at Maseno
University Research Fields for two seasons between year 2007
and 2008. The accessions included three most common
commercial watermelon cultivars in Kenya namely ‘Sugarbaby’,
‘Crimson Sweet’ and ‘Charleston Gray’; one newly introduced
cultivar from United States namely ‘Yellow Crimson’; and one
local landrace (GBK-043014) from Kaka mega district in
Western Kenya. The five were evaluated on dystric nitisols
under sub-humid conditions of Maseno Division, Nyanza
Province in Kenya. The experiment was laid out in a
Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three
replications. Data was collected on agronomic characters
including days to emergence, days to flowering, maturity
period, and main vine length, number of branches on the main
vine and fruit yield (number and weight). The data was
subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SAS version
9.1 and differences declared significant at 5% level. Least
Significant Difference (LSD5%) was used to separate the
means. Linear correlation was done to compare the
relationship between variables. Results demonstrated
significant differences in agronomic performance between
accessions. ‘Yellow Crimson’ was recommended to Kenyan
growers as the best commercial cultivar with agronomic
traits which leads to high yields. The landrace was found to
contain various desirable agronomic traits which can be
selected in future breeding programs. These include long
main vine and extensive branching which were found to be
highly correlated to yields. It is, however, highly seeded
and its taste is unpleasant and should therefore be improved
with regard to these traits. |
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