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| ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological
Science
December 2014 | Vol. 9 No. 12 |
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Title: |
Allelopathic effect of different extract concentrations of
two varieties of barley organs on ryegrass weed and wild
mustard |
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Author (s): |
Mohammad
Reza Baziar, Farhad Farahvash, Bahram Mirshekari and Varahram Rashidi |
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Abstract: |
The
use of cultivars with allelopathic potential is one of weed
management techniques. With regards to importance and
frequency of weed in barley fields, an experiment was
conducted to evaluate allelopathy effect of different parts
of barley in different extract concentration on weed
germination as experiment in randomized complete block
design with four replicates in 2013. Three levels of organ
extracts including leaf, shoot, root extract of barley in
four concentrations composing 25, 50, and 75(g/lit) were
used. Distilled water was used as control. All extracts
decreased germination and its components in weed. Greatest
decreasing effect was belonged to leaf extract. Leaf and
shoot plant extracts as 75 concentration inhibited weed
germination. Ryegrass and Charlock seedling growth features
were under investigation. The results showed that increasing
barley plant concentration in both samples, compared to
control, leads to the significant decrease in the seedling,
radical and plumule lengths, wet and dry seedling weights of
both weeds. |
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Title: |
Economics
of combining organic and in-organic fertilizers for maize
production under two tillage systems in the northern savanna
zone of Ghana |
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Author (s): |
John K.
Bidzakin, James M. Kombiok, Samuel Saaka J. Buah
and Jean M. Sogbedji |
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Abstract: |
Soils in the northern savanna zone of Ghana
are poor in plant nutrients and are prone to compaction.
Some amount of tillage and the application of fertilizers to
enhance crop yields are necessary. The performance of maize
on two tillage systems (Manual and bullock plough) with the
application of different fertilizers was assessed for two
years by a field experiment laid in a split-plot design with
four replicates. The main plots were manual and bullock
plough while the sub-plots were NPK (64 kg N/ha, 15 kg P205/ha
and 15kg K20/ha), 6 tons/ha of animal
manure, half the rate of in-organic and half the rate of
animal manure and no fertilizer as the control in 2008 and
2009. The results showed that tillage loosened the soil and
thus reduced soil bulk density, increased porosity and could
have enhanced the availability of water and nutrients for
better crop growth. The results further revealed that the
application of animal manure alone increased maize yields in
the second year by 57% as compared to 25% and 35% for the
recommended fertilizer rates and half the rates
respectively. However, maize yields from the recommended
fertilizer rates and the half rates of both in-organic
fertilizers and animal manure in each year were similar but
significantly (p<0.05) higher than the manure and the
control treatment plots. The application of recommended
in-organic fertilizers rates gave yields which were similar
to yields obtained from half rates of the in-organic and
animal manure but for sustainability, the combination of
both could be recommended to farmers for adoption.
Comparably, the net benefit-cost ratios of both tillage
systems are more than 1 indicating that maize production on
each of them is profitable; however the bullock tillage
system is a better option as it had higher net benefit-cost
ratios in each year than the manual system. |
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Title: |
An
investigation into the problems of peach growers in district
swat |
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Author (s): |
Inamullah
Khalil, Muhammad Idrees, Fazal Rabi, Shamsur Rehman and
Nadia Bostan |
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Abstract: |
Peach is
the most important stone fruit with temperate nature.
District Swat enjoys the central position as producer of
high quality and high production of peach fruit and as
supplier in Pakistan. But some serious and considerable
problems which are behind low production of Peach fruit in
District Swat. This research study is conducted to point out
the problems faced by Peach growers in District Swat.
District Swat consists of 65 Union Councils. Four Union
Councils were randomly selected as named Arkot, Ashary, Bar
Thana and Baidara. From each Union Council 15 Peach growers
were selected randomly and total sample size was 60
respondents. Software SPSS was used for data analysis. The
results indicated middle age respondents above and majority
with educational qualification were matric. Under research
study area all of the respondents were owner growers of
their piece of land. Results show that majority of the
respondents face problems as non-availability of extension
field services, lack of irrigation water, lack of cold
storage facilities, extra commissions, distant markets, scab
disease and fruit fly. These problems cause poor peach fruit
productivity, in return, affecting the socio-economic study
of the respondents. The research study by the
recommendations of researcher, suggests the availability of
inputs, provision of Agricultural Extension Field advisory
services, improving the irrigation system, solution of
market related problems with provision of storage and
standard packing materials, and termination of pest disease
and transportation problems to get high yield production in
order to improve the socio-economic status of the
respondents. |
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Title: |
Botanical
inventory of some communities in akpabuyo local government
area of cross river state Nigeria |
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Author (s): |
Ebigwai
J.K, Samuel Peace Chiamaka, Ndifreke Eshiett and
Asuquo Esther |
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Abstract: |
The quest for a local
floristic database and the alarming rate of species loss
informed the need for a botanical inventory in seven
communities in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River
State. Field work was conducted between May 2011 and March
2012 with a view to obtaining information on species
diversity, species abundance, species frequency and ethno
botanical uses of the inventoried species. A three - 10 x 30
m modified Whittaker plot was established in each of the
seven communities for vegetation data collection while the
use of standard ethno-botanical questionnaires administered
to local healers, carpenters, traders and market women was
used in obtaining data on Indiginous plant uses. The study
indicated a total of one hundred and twenty one species
spread across 40 taxonomic families with a Shannon and
equitability indexes of 4.65 and 0.97 respectively. Some of
the plant species include Alchornea
cordifolia,
Anthocleista voegelii, Anthonotha macrophyla,
Berlina auriculata, Bosweillia dalzielii, Dalbergia
melanoxylon, Ekerbergia senegalensis, Funtumia elastica,
Klainedoxa gabunensis, Piptadeniastrum africanum, and Raphia
hookeri. Some species with
hitherto poor representation in Nigeria were recorded. These
are Woodfordia uniflora, Englerina
lecardii, Tarpinanthus pentagonia, Crateranthus talbotii,
Rourea thomsonii, Santaloides afzelii, Cylicomorpha
parviflora,
Uvaria chamae,
Saba comorensis and Strophantus senegalensis.
They accounted for about 8.27% of the total
species diversity and 5.18% of the total abundance. The
family Euphorbiaceae was the most diverse family with eleven
species while Caesalpinoidea,
mimoisoidea, and rubiaceae with 9 species each and
apocynaceae and meliaceae with 8 members each made up the
first 6 most diverse families. On the other hand,
myristicaceae, flacourtiaceae, dichapetalaceae, and
celastraceae were represented by one species each. The
family Mimoisoidea was the most abundant with 167
individuals, followed by rubiaceae with 135 individuals.
Conversely, Bursaraceae, Melianthaceae and sapindaceae were
the families with the least individuals with 10 individuals
each. Correlation analysis between species abundance and
species frequency indicated a weak linear coefficient of
0.54. 39.17% of the inventoried
species were shown to have ethno botanical uses, with 12.40%
of the species used as roof trussers, rafters and purloins
while 11.57% and 10.74% of the species are used as
fruits/seeds and medicine respectively while only one
species are used for such economic activities as fodders,
fibers and tannins.
Canarium
schweinfurthii and
Pentaclethra macrophyla with five
uses each are the most used plants while Allophylus
africanus, Strombosa scheffleri, Beilschimiedia mannii,
Khaya senegalensis, Uapaca togoensis Oncoba spinosa, Morelia
senegalensis and Melia excelsa with one uses each are
the least used plants. The inventory of alien species in
this study reaffirms the need for a holistic flora study of
the area. |
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Title: |
Diagnostic survey on potato production practices in Eritrea |
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Author (s): |
Biniam M. Ghebreslassie,
Githiri M, Tadesse M and R. Kasili |
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Abstract: |
A baseline survey was conducted in Zoba
Maekel and Zoba Debub, Eritrea, to determine existing potato
production practices and identify areas of intervention for
optimization of its productivity. The study will contribute
to improved food security and livelihood of poor farmers in
the country. Within each Zoba, the Sub-zoba/village (strata)
was purposely selected based on their history and coverage
in potato growing, while farms (sites) were randomly
selected for the study. Farmer respondents were interviewed
(by enumerators) based on a comprehensive set of questions
on their potato growing practices. Useful information, on
house hold characteristics, farm land and crop management
practices, seed source, rotation, irrigation and
fertilization methods, weed, pest and disease management,
and yield were collected. In addition, to structured
questionnaires focus group discussion with groups of
selected farmers was conducted. Although, the degree and
level might vary from growers to growers and Zoba to Zoba,
it was noted from the survey that growers face major
challenges in obtaining farm inputs especially quality tuber
seeds, fertilizers and pesticides. Moreover, pest prevalence
particularly, Cut Worm infestation (87%) and Late Blight
infection (97%) were observed throughout the visited
villages posing major problem to growers. It is, therefore,
recommended to secure availability of major farm inputs and
provide frequent extension services to improve farmer’s
knowledge and understanding. Especially, consideration
should be given to the establishment of sustainable and
standard seed supply scheme at all levels. |
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Title: |
Effect of
potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate on the quality and
shelf-life of strawberry jam during storage |
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Author (s): |
Uzair
Khan, Javid Ullah,
Beena Saeed and Farman Ali |
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Abstract: |
As well as selection of proper preservative,
determining its optimum concentration is of paramount
importance for maintaining food quality during storage. The
present study evaluated the effect of two preservatives,
i.e. potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate on the shelf-life
and quality of strawberry jam. These preservatives were
applied separately and in combination with different
concentrations making up to a total of 7 treatments plus a
non-treated control. The experiment was laid out in a
randomized complete block design. The effect was studied at
7 storage intervals starting from day 1 to day 90 after jam
development. Various parameters such as ascorbic acid
content, pH, total soluble solids, sugar acid ratio, amount
of reducing and non-reducing sugars, texture and flavor were
studied. Significant differences were observed for all the
studied parameters. The combined addition of 0.05 % each
potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate to the jam proved to
be the best combination in terms of extending the shelf-life
and improving the quality of strawberry jam during storage. |
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