JournalTOCs

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences
Number of Followers: 0

This is an Open Access Journal

Open Access journal
ISSN (Print) 2410-1060 - ISSN (Online) 2410-1079
Published by Sultan Qaboos University, Oman

[4 journals]

Benefits of Value Addition in Agricultural Produce on Land, Water and
Labor Productivities under Arid Agriculture: Case of Dates in Oman
- Authors: Alaa Al Hinai, Hemanatha Jayasuriya, Pankaj B. Pathare, Talal Al Shukeili, Ibtisam Al Abri
  Pages: 1 - 9
  Abstract: Oman is an arid country in the Middle East with water scarcity, and hence land and labor management issues hindering agricultural sustainability and food security. Value addition can minimize food wastes, which is crucial to achieve sustainability by improving the land, water and labor productiveness. This study aimed to evaluate and quantify the improvements in land, water and labor productivities through value addition in date cultivated under arid conditions in Oman. Five date factories and different value-added products of the most popular date varieties, Khalas and Fardh were selected for this study. The comparisons were made between productivity improvements of the value-added products and the raw products. Khalas dates value-added with nuts had the highest productivity ratio of 540%, the same for Fardh was 360% while the lowest were in Khalas value-added with flavors with 111% and in Fardh date paste with 129%. In Khalas, the best improvement by the value addition in average land, water and labor productivities from the base-values of 6.93 ton ha-1, 0.57 kg m-3, and 0.82 kg h-1 of the raw date were 25.05 ton ha-1, 2.06 kg m-3, and 2.95 kg h-1 in date with nuts, respectively; while in the Fardh, these were 18.82 ton h-1, 1.55 kg m-3, and 2.21 kg h-1 respectively of the same value-added product. The variations in productivity improvement of selected value-added products could be due to the availability and cost of the raw dates, cost of the value addition, market options and selling price. Value addition showed high potential for improving productivities under arid conditions and is worth making adoption efforts for achieving agricultural sustainability goals.
  PubDate: 2022-08-01
  DOI: 10.53541/jams.vol27iss2pp1-9
  Issue No: Vol. 27, No. 2 (2022)
Can the irrigation of soils with Amoxicillin-enriched water cause the
proliferation of Bacteria resistant to antibiotics among culturable
heterotrophic aerobic soil bacteria'
- Authors: Adhari Al-Kalbani, Daniel Blackburn, Buthaina Al-Siyabi, Mohamed Al-Kasbi, Ahmed Al-Busaidi
  Pages: 10 - 18
  Abstract: This study investigated the short-term impact of irrigation with Amoxicillin solutions on the presence of the amoxicillin-resistance trait among culturable soil heterotrophic aerobic bacteria. The microcosm experimental design consisted of 15 days of incubation of 10 g soil samples irrigated daily with distilled water containing increasing doses of amoxicillin (0, 0.1, 1, 10, 100, 1000 µg g-1 of soil day-1). The hypothesis was that continuous daily addition of antibiotics would increase the proportion of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in soils. After the incubation period, the total and antibiotic resistance heterotrophic aerobic bacteria communities were assessed through serial dilution of soil suspensions, followed by agar plate culture enumeration, isolation, identification and microscopy observation. The presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria was also evaluated directly on treated wastewater used for field irrigation before this microcosm study to assess the amoxicillin-resistant bacteria bioaugmentation hypothesis. Results indicated that the Amoxicillin resistance was widespread among bacteria present in both treated wastewater used for irrigation and in the receiving soil. A microcosm experiment was attempted as a ‘proof of concept’ to demonstrate that irrigation with treated wastewater containing antibiotics would exert selective pressure and promote the proliferation of antibiotic resistance bacteria. Unexpectedly, the results from the microcosm incubations indicated the daily addition of amoxicillin did not increase bacterial antibiotic resistance trait abundance in soils, which even significantly decreased for all tested doses. The antibiotic-resistant species identified among the isolates were Pseudomonas mosselii, P. otitidis, P. mendocina, P. flavescens, Stenotrophomnas maltophilia, Bacillus thuringiensis, Aeromonas veronii, Candida parapsilosis, Streptomyces violaceoruber and Microbacterium barkeri.
  PubDate: 2022-08-01
  DOI: 10.53541/jams.vol27iss2pp10-18
  Issue No: Vol. 27, No. 2 (2022)
Analysis of Shoreline Change along the Coast of the Wadi Al Ma’awil
Watershed, Oman, Using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System
- Authors: Amna Al-Ruheili
  Pages: 19 - 27
  Abstract: In an arid climate, lack of water constitutes a challenge. One solution can be to use storage dams as a tool to facilitate groundwater recharge and provide water for various uses. However, dams cannot be constructed without affecting the environment of the coastal shoreline and its ecological habitats. This study investigated the structural changes (i.e. accretion or erosion) of the coastline along the Wadi Ma’awil watershed. The Wadi Ma’awil watershed was dammed in 1991, providing a 10M m3 dam capacity. Satellite images were obtained for 1972, 1984, 1994, 2008, 2014, and 2018, and coastlines were digitized. For this research, we employed the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) to calculate the rate of coastline movement and the changes arising from dam construction or anthropogenic changes to the beach. The results showed that from 1972 to 2018, the shoreline experienced erosion of up to -0.70 m/yr for 56% of the watershed coast. This loss could result in remarkable coastal change. This study can be used by urban planners as support for the importance of preserving natural resources and ecological habitats.
  PubDate: 2022-08-01
  DOI: 10.53541/jams.vol27iss2pp19–27
  Issue No: Vol. 27, No. 2 (2022)
Fish By-Products Consumption and Discard Pattern in Nigeria
- Authors: Brakemi Egbedi, Adesola Osibona
  Pages: 28 - 40
  Abstract: Significant portions of by-products are generated and discarded throughout the fish supply chain. To reduce the discard of these by-products and ensure their proper utilization, there is a need to ascertain its discard and consumption pattern among fish consumers. The main aim of this study was to investigate the by-products fish consumers in Lagos State, Nigeria regard as waste; discard and consume. Factors which influence the discard and consumption of these by-products were also investigated. Using a Multistage sampling procedure, a structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from 300 respondents in three Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Lagos State, Nigeria and the data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results show that the scales (92%) were the most discarded by-product followed by gut (89%), gills and fins (85%). The skin was the most consumed by-product while the gut was the least consumed. The three major reasons given by the respondents for the discard of these by-products were that they considered them uneatable, useless and a waste. Several interrelating factors, such as social factors, type of fish species and socio-demographic characteristics also influenced the by-products respondents in this study regard as waste; discard and consume. The results in this study indicated that the scales, gut, gills, and fins were largely discarded and underutilized by fish consumers in Lagos State, Nigeria. There is a need for research on sustainable ways to recover and utilize discarded by-products for the development of value-added products and for the realization of a sustainable circular economy.
  PubDate: 2022-08-01
  DOI: 10.53541/jams.vol27iss2pp28-40
  Issue No: Vol. 27, No. 2 (2022)
Cooked sesame meal in the diet of African catfish Clarias gariepinus
(Burchell 1822): Effects on haematology, liver and kidney histology
- Authors: Wasiu Adeyemi Jimoh, Oyewale Adedapo Fagbenro, Eunice Oluwayemisi Adeparusi
  Pages: 41 - 49
  Abstract: Haematological and histological alterations are strong pointers to the health status of farmed fish, farm animals and even humans. These provide dependable information on metabolic disorders and deficiency. The haematological and histological changes in African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822) fingerlings fed cooked sesame (Sesamum indicum) seed meal was examined in a 56-day feeding trial. Three batches of sesame seeds were cooked for 10, 20 or 30 min, dried, milled, and mechanically defatted using a screw press. Cooked seed meals (CSM) were substituted for defatted soybean meal in the diets of African catfish at 15, 30, and 45 per cent. The highest haemoglobin content (Hb) was found in catfish fed the control diet (CTR), while the lowest Hb levels were found in catfish fed the CSM345 diet. The haemoglobin content of catfish fed different dietary treatments varied significantly (P<0.05). Hb values of catfish fed CTR diet and test diets CSM115, CSM215, CSM315, and CSM130 were not significantly different (P>0.05). Other haematological parameters of the fish fed various dietary treatments showed a similar trend as RBC. Dietary replacement of soybean meal by differently cooked sesame seed meal in Clarias gariepinus diet did not affect haematology of the fish at lower inclusion levels for the different cooking times employed in the study (15% and 30% inclusion level for 10 min cooked sesame-based diets; 15% inclusion level for 20 and 30 min cooked sesame-based diets). Although, there was marked vacuolation of hepatocytes in catfish subjected to various dietary treatments, however these did not relate to dose-dependent dietary treatments.
  PubDate: 2022-08-01
  DOI: 10.53541/jams.vol27iss2pp41-49
  Issue No: Vol. 27, No. 2 (2022)
Using CA-Markov Model to Predict Land Use/Land Cover Changes in Bayer and
al-Bassit region, Latakia, Syria
- Authors: Ola Merhej, Mahmoud Ali, Ali Thabeet
  Pages: 50 - 58
  Abstract: Recently, land use change models have become important tools to support the analysis of land use dynamics. This research was aimed at the evaluating and predicting the land use/land cover change dynamics in Bayer and al-Bassit region of northwestern Latakia, Syria. In this paper, we used Cellular Automata and Markov Chain models to predict the LULC changes that are likely to occur by 2030 in Bayer and al-Bassit region. Three Landsat images acquired in the years of 1992, 2005, and 2018 were classified using Maximum Likelihood Classification algorithm and used as the input data for CA-Markov models. Kappa index was used to validate the model, and the overall accuracy recorded 79.34%. Based on a transition area matrix and transition rules a LULC map for the year 2030 were predicted. Compared to the LULC status of the reference year 2018, a significant reduction is likely to occur in 2030 in the forest area. This reduction might be in favor of the growth of agricultural land and urban area. The result shows CA-Markov model ability to predict future LULC changes in Bayer and al-Bassit region, and its importance for planners and land use managers.
  PubDate: 2022-08-01
  DOI: 10.53541/jams.vol27iss2pp50-58
  Issue No: Vol. 27, No. 2 (2022)
Antifungal Activity of Shirazi Thyme (Zataria multiflora Boiss.) Essential
Oil against Hypomyces perniciosus, a causal agent of wet bubble disease of
Agaricus bisporus
- Authors: Yumna Juma Rashid Al-Balushi, Abdullah Mohammed Al-Sadi, Issa Hashil Al-Mahmooli, Majida Mohammed Ali Al-Harrasi, Jamal Nasser Al-Sabahi, Alaa Khamis Sulaiman Al-Alawi, Khalid Al-Farsi, Rethinasamy Velazhahan
  Pages: 59 - 65
  Abstract: Wet bubble disease (WBD) caused by Hypomyces perniciosus is a major constraint of button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) cultivated worldwide. A few synthetic chemical fungicides are used to control WBD. In our study, the potential of essential oil (EO) from Zataria multiflora in inhibition of H. perniciosus was evaluated as an alternative to chemical fungicides. An isolate of H. perniciosus was isolated from wet bubble diseased A. bisporus and pathogenicity of the mycoparasite was determined under artificially inoculated conditions. The mycoparasitic fungus was identified using sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA. The EO was extracted from the aerial parts of Z. multiflora by microwave extraction method and evaluated in vitro for its antifungal activity against H. perniciosus. The EO of Z. multiflora (ZEO) at the tested concentrations (50% and 100%) inhibited the growth of H. perniciosus in the agar diffusion test. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ZEO was 0.04% as assessed by the poisoned food technique. The chemical composition of ZEO was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. A total of 23 compounds were identified. Among them, the most abundant compounds were Linalool (20.3%) and Bornyl acetate (15.5%). Linalool at the tested concentrations of 0.25% and 0.125% completely inhibited the mycelial growth of H. perniciosus in an in vitro assay. These results suggest that ZEO can be exploited for control of WBD.
  PubDate: 2022-08-01
  DOI: 10.53541/jams.vol27iss2pp59-65
  Issue No: Vol. 27, No. 2 (2022)
Evaluation of physical and chemical properties and total phenolic content
in baker’s yeast obtained from grape juice
- Authors: Sawsan Mahmood, Ali Ali, Ayhem Darwesh, Wissam Zam
  Pages: 66 - 73
  Abstract: Baker`s yeast is mainly produced from molasses in various parts of the world, and other sources, including grape juice. In this study, the grape juice was chosen. This study aimed to produce a biomass from dry baker`s yeast. Its physical and chemical properties was evaluated. The biomass from baker’s yeast S. cerevisiae was equal to 41.50±0.01 g/L. The following fermentation conditions, i.e. temperature (30.1oC), pH (4.75), sugar concentration (158.36 g/L), ratio of carbon to nitrogen (11.9), and initial concentration of yeasts (2.5 g/L) were used. The fermentation was carried out for a period 12 h. Grape juice was subjected to four different heat treatments as follows: pasteurized grape juice at (65, 70, and 75oC) for 10 min, and sterilized grape juice in the autoclave at 121oC for 20 min. The effect of each treatment was determined on inhibition of the enzyme polyphenol oxidase present in grape juice. The total phenolic content was determined in the yeast. Heat treatments gave the best phenolic content in the resulting yeast. The heat treatments of the juice succeeded in reducing the activity of the enzyme polyphenol oxidase and autoclave heat treatment gave the best phenolic content in the yeast.
  PubDate: 2022-08-01
  DOI: 10.53541/jams.vol27iss2pp66-73
  Issue No: Vol. 27, No. 2 (2022)