Abstract: Publication year: 2020Source: International Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, Volume 10, Number 2Iraru Yusuf, Mohammed Bakoji Yusuf, Anita Humshe Philip, Umar Jauro Abba, Mohammed Salim IsaThis research evaluated the effects of weather patterns on the growth of three selected white yam cultivars 'Yalzo', 'Jajetin' and 'Dan Anacha' in Ardo-kola LGA, Taraba State. The experiment was conducted during the 2016/2017 growing season along Sunkani - Bali highway opposite College of Agriculture Jalingo Taraba State. The experiment was carried out in Randomized Complete Block Designed (RCBD) using 3 replications. The meteorological data were collected from Taraba State University Jalingo, meteorological station throughout the growing season. Based on weather patterns during the cropping season, highest rainfall was recorded in the month of August with the total of 175mm and decreases toward October. There is inverse relationship with rainfall and Maximum temperature, Minimum temperature and sunshine hours, while Relative Humidity showed a direct relationship with rainfall. Correlation result showed that, Relative Humidity and soil temperature correlates positively with all the various developmental stages of yam at 0.01 and 0.05 probability levels respectively. Relative Humidity, rainfall and soil temperature correlates positively with all the growth parameters of the three selected cultivars of yam. Variation in growth of yam revealed that, there is a variation in plant height, number of leaves, number of branches at P=0.05, number of stem node at P=0.01. Knowledge of weather as it relate to yam growth such as onset, cessation and length of rainy season should be pass to local farmers as that will help the farmers in planning and management of their farm. Improve cultivars of yam should also be introduce to the local farmers in the study area.
Abstract: Publication year: 2020Source: International Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, Volume 10, Number 3Berhe Germay, Andargachew GedeboMaize is one of Ethiopia’s major and strategic cereal crops, albeit the national average yield remains low. The study was conducted at Adi-gebaro farmers association of Tigray region in Ethiopia, from December 2016 to May 2017, to determine the combined effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on growth, yield and yield components of maize varieties under irrigation. The experiment was factorial with six rates of combined fertilizers [F1 (0+0+0) ha-1, F2 (100 kg N +32.25 kg P +10 t cattle manure) ha-1, F3 (0+0+10 t cattle manure) ha-1, F4 (150 kg N +43 kg P +15 t cattle manure) ha-1, F5 (100 kg N +32.25 kg P + 0) ha-1, F6 (50 kg N +21.5 kg P +5 t cattle manure) ha-1] and two varieties of maize (BH-543 and “Asgedom”/local). The design was Randomized Complete Block with three replications. The interaction effect between varieties and fertilizer rates was not significant. However, the differences between varieties and among fertilizer rates were significant (P
Abstract: Publication year: 2020Source: International Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, Volume 10, Number 3David Cromwell Sakiyo, Adamu Musa, Enoch Buba BadgalThe study was conducted in three Local Government Areas of Adamawa State Nigeria, to investigate the impact of deforestation on some selected rural communities in Jada, Ganye and Toungo Local Government Areas. Specifically, the study evaluated the main causes of deforestation in the study area. It also evaluated the effect of deforestation and its impact on the people of the area. A total of 150 questionnaires were administered to the participating households, purposive sampling techniques were used in generating primary data through questionnaire, discussion and observation and the data obtained were analyzed with descriptive statistics. 61.4% of the respondents were between the ages brackets of 31-40 years. The result of the study showed that 139 of the respondents representing 92.7% have the knowledge about deforestation. It also showed that 110 respondents representing 73.3% agreed that cutting of trees and bush burning are the major causes of deforestation. The findings of the research revealed that majority of the rural populace lacked in-depth knowledge of the consequences of deforestation. It was also found out that the main economic activities of the indigenes were farming, hunting, logging, which resulted in destroying large areas of land because they do not take any measures to conserve the forest in search of their daily bread. Among the recommendations suggested were enforcement against logging, education on effects of deforestation, re-introduction of tree planting programs annually, Forest nurseries should be established in each Local Government Areas to enable them raise seedlings for planting.
Abstract: Publication year: 2020Source: International Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, Volume 10, Number 2Gbenonchi Mawussi, Ayi K. Adden, Komla SandaMaize (Zea mays L.) remains principally a rainy season crop in Togo where soils fertility declining limits already agricultural production. This makes majority of agricultural households more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. This study explored the potential of organic fertilizer and irrigation regimes in maize cropping. Agronomic trials were performed in randomized complete block design with three replications where control plots, plots treated with compost at different levels and plots treated with mineral fertilizer constituted the treatments. Water was supplied according to three irrigation regimes of 1, 2 and 4 days interval. The growth parameters including plant height, stem girth, leaf area and number of leaves per plant were measured at the milky maize stage. The yield parameters including length and girth of cob, thousand grains weight, grain yield and straw yield were collected at harvest. All data collected were statistically analyzed. The results shown three distinct homogeneous groups of treatments both for growth and yield parameters at each level of irrigation regime. Plots treated with compost at 30 t ha-1 and 40 t ha-1 constitute the best group, which differed significantly from the second group formed by plots treated with compost at 10 t ha-1, 20 t ha-1 and plots treated with mineral fertilizer. Control treatments constitute the last group. Growth and yield parameters values increase with compost dose increasing. The highest growth and yield parameters of maize were obtained from plots treated with compost and submitted to irrigation at two days interval while the lowest values were recorded from control plots. Far from being used alone in place of mineral conventional fertilizer, integrated fertilization based on combination of mineral fertilizer and compost of urban wastes under irrigation regime of 2 and 4 days interval will performed in maize cropping in coastal zone of Togo for more option reliable to recommend.
Abstract: Publication year: 2020Source: International Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, Volume 10, Number 2Saroj Sapkota, Mana Raj Kolakshyapati, Naba Raj Devkota, Neena Amatya Gorkhali, Nirajan BhattaraiIndigenous Sakini chicken is the principal breed in Nepal. Present study was conducted mainly aiming at comparing external and internal egg quality traits in four different generations (G0, G1, G2 and G3) of Sakini chicken and determining relationships among these traits. Total of 154 eggs (G0: 30, G1: 44, G2: 40, G3: 40) were evaluated for external egg traits like egg weight, egg length, egg breadth, shell thickness, shell weight and internal egg traits like yolk weight, yolk height, yolk diameter, albumen weight, albumen height, albumen diameter. The data were recorded and analysed using GenStat 19 edition software. There was significant difference in almost all traits of external and internal traits of egg except egg shell quality, yolk to albumin ratio and yolk percentage. Encouragingly, we had observed an increasing trend for each trait specially Haugh unit, a measure for better quality of egg protein in every generation indicating that selection to be continued unless the uniform performance is demonstrated in the population. Positive and significant (p
Abstract: Publication year: 2020Source: International Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, Volume 10, Number 1E. C. Merem, Y. A. Twumasi, J. Wesley, D. Olagbegi, M. Crisler, C. Romorno, M. Alsarari, P. Isokpehi, A. Hines, G. S. Ochai, E. Nwagboso, S. Fageir, S. LeggettIn the last several decades, many nations of the sub Saharan Africa region of West Africa, have remained in the forefront of cocoa production far higher than other areas of the globe. With that has come larger export earnings due to rising demands and the reliance on cocoa in the manufacture of various products driving consumer demands in markets at local, regional and international levels. In as much as current cocoa production practices are shaped partly by pressures from transactions in the marketplace and regulatory frameworks in the West African region and beyond. The growing activities of cocoa farming has in the past several years, left in its wake negative environmental liabilities that are now over stretching the capacity of natural areas in the zone. While there exists widespread use of agrochemicals to boost production along with the associated impacts of water pollution, in some places. The situation is now so critical that the expansion of cocoa plantations into vast forest landscapes known for their services as emission sinks, are now leading to ecosystem disturbances. Other risks from cocoa land use activities in West Africa involves the exposures to soil erosion, the flow of sediment loads onto local streams and the spreading of cocoa plant diseases which has emerged as a major issue to the detriment of communities and the surrounding ecology. Even at that, very little has been done in the literature to assess the environmental impacts of cocoa land use. Considering the economic relevance of cocoa produce in the West African region and the prevailing fiscal, policy, demographic, ecological and global factors shaping production, together with the negation in mainstream analysis. This paper will fill that void by analyzing cocoa land use in selected countries in the study area. Emphasis are on the issues, trends, factors, impacts and the role of institutions. In terms of methods, the paper uses secondary data analyzed with mix scale tools of GIS and descriptive statistics. Besides the preliminary results showing rising changes in land use indicators and degradation of the ecosystem from cocoa farming operations, the GIS mapping reveals the gradual spreading of risks along the cocoa producing areas of the West African region due to several socio-economic and environmental factors located within the larger farming structure. To mitigate the problems, the study proffered solutions ranging from education, ecosystem monitoring, conservation initiatives, the strengthening of policy and the design of a comprehensive regional land use index.
Abstract: Publication year: 2020Source: International Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, Volume 10, Number 1Ndubuisi C. Adikuru, Iheanyi J. Ogoke, Izuchukwu I. Ibeawuchi, Abraham A. Ngwuta, Tessy U. MaduDelayed onset of rainfall threatens food security in Nigeria because it shortens the growing season and constrains farmers to delay planting. This study was conducted in 2009 and 2010 to assess the impact of delayed onset of rainfall on maize production and determine adaptation strategies in the rainforest agroecology of Nigeria. As part of the study, analysis of rainfall trend in the location was performed using 30 years (1978 – 2007) data. Four sowing dates (February 28, March 15, March 30 and April 14), two poultry manure rates (0 and 10 tons ha-1) and three maize varieties (TZE COMP3C3, TZL COMP4C3 and OKA AWAKA) were combined as a split-split plot and laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. The result showed that delayed onset of rainfall in the study area is the consequence of a shift in the rainfall pattern within the months of February and March. Analysis also revealed a declining trend in average annual rainfall and rain days. The resulting moisture stress was responsible for 22.6% reduction in grain yield when maize was planted on February 28 compared to March 30. However, application of poultry manure cushioned the effect of moisture stress and improved grain yield by 27.0 to 59.7% across sowing dates. Appropriate time of planting, poultry manure application and varietal selection were found effective for adaptation to delayed onset of rainfall in the humid region of Nigeria.
Abstract: Publication year: 2020Source: International Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, Volume 10, Number 1Yadeta Teshome NegasaThe research was conducted in Hawassa watershed around Lake Hawassa during 2019. Cultivation near the lake and over-pumping of Lake Hawassa water for irrigation has initiated the research. Analysis of smallholder farmers’ irrigation schemes WUE and its consequences on Lake Hawassa were the objectives addressed. Regular field observations into irrigation schemes and measurements’ made into WUE indicative parameters while smallholder farmers’ irrigate their crops has been generated the core research data. Water applied into the field and moisture stored in the soil both before and after irrigation was determined empirically and gravimetrically. Additional data regarding socioeconomic aspects of irrigation was collected from focus group discussion. Excel Microsoft word, CROPWAT 8 and ArcGIS were used to analyze data, and produce figures. The soil texture of the study area was dominated by sandy loam with large percolation loss of water resulted in poor application efficiency. The irrigation water pumped was three-fold higher than the required. Overall irrigation scheme efficiency was very poor (38%). Chemicals used for crop growth and healthy purpose were washed into the lake during the rainy season with sediments carried on from upper cultivated lands. Therefore, to prevent lake water from deterioration the irrigation water sources should be replaced by harvested water or/and well water. If not a mode of water application needs to be modified into drip irrigation. For these the government body and NGOs should be aware the smallholder farmers about problems of irrigation on the lake and provide all the necessary support to sustain it.
Abstract: Publication year: 2019Source: International Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, Volume 9, Number 2Derya Öğüt Yavuz, Burcu Begüm KenanoğluPriming is a different application to the seed prior to seeding with controlled water in take to accelerate the metabolic activity that will ensure the germination of the seed. Especially in unfavorable conditions such as low temperature; germination and emergence rate, seedling production which increases the speed of the desired density in a short time provides. Factors which necessary for germination contains temperature, nutrients, light, moisture and gases ratio. In this study was to determine the germination capacity of the seeds of different ages such as Galium tricornutum Dandy, Sinapis arvensis L., Melilotus officinalis L. with different priming and cold stratification processes. Methods used for this purpose; at 30-20°C (7/17 hours, day/night), halopriming with 2-4 % KNO3 and cold stratification for 10 days at + 4°C - 25°C for 1 month. In this study; seed moisture content (%), normal abnormal germination rate (%) and mean germination time (days) were determined. The moisture content of the seeds used was determined between 8-35%. Germination was determined in M. officinalis seeds by halopriming and cold stratification applications. The highest germination rate was observed in M. officialis species at age 7 but the highest abnormal germinations rates taken from G. tricornutum at age 5 and S. arvensis at age 11.
Abstract: Publication year: 2019Source: International Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, Volume 9, Number 2Melissa S. Smith, E. T. Blay, Naalame AmissahThe study examined the response to in vitro regeneration of four genotypes P1P1 No.345, SP 9, N3 and Local white 2 No. 274 were studied in this work. The establishment of an efficient sweet potato regeneration protocol using meristem bud through calli was obtained by using two types of cytokinins separately Benzyl-aminopurine and Kinetin at various concentrations (0.0, 0.05, 0.5, 1,0 and 1.5mg/l) plus a full strength media Murashige and Skoog (MS). It was observed that the responses to Benzyl-aminopurine(BAP) and kinetin were genotype dependent. The results showed that Kinetin 0.5mg/l resulted in the maximum callus production for accessions 345, SP9 and N3, while 0.05mg/l Kinetin produced the highest callus on No 294. BAP 1.5mg/l significantly (P ≤ 0.05) performed best for shoots regeneration, in 345, SP9 N3 than the other treatments. The highest shoot regeneration for 274 occurred at 1.0mg/g BAP. Leaves regenerated best on Kinetin 0.05m g/l for the three accessions but 294 gave the highest percent regeneration on 1.5mg/l Kin. With respect to root production Kin1.5mg/l did extremely well in the absence of auxin. Analysis of interactions between the sweetpotato accessions and the cytokinins (BAP and Kin) for shoot regeneration indicated that generally acc. N3 had the best response for shoot regeneration. The study also focused on in vitro slow growth preservation using two growth retardants on two selected sweet potato varieties among the four that were used for regeneration N3 and SP9. Sucrose was varied at (0.0, 15, 20, 25 and 30g/l) and added to full strength MS. Treatments 0.0g/l and 30g/l sucrose were observed to be more suitable for slow growth in terms of shoot height, leaf numbers and number of nodes. Sorbitol was used as energy supplement in the full strength MS at (0.0M, 0.2M, 0.4M, and 0.6M). Shoots of accession N3 and were cultured on MS containing varying treatments as sorbitol. 0.0M and 0.6m were the treatments that performed best for all the parameters considered regarding slow growth conservation.
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