Online: ISSN 2784 – 0360 | ISSN – L 2784 – 0360 | Print: ISSN 2784 – 0379 ISSN-L 2784 – 0360

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2020

Effect of Land Ownership on the Technical Efficiency of Crop Farmers

Jan 29, 2021 |

Adedeji Ogunwusi, Ivie Olaghere, Olubunmi Omotesho

ABSTRACT. The essence of this study was to examine the land ownership pattern in Osun State, Nigeria, with a view to assessing its effect on the technical efficiency of the farms. Precisely, the farm efficiency level was estimated; factors that determine farm efficiency were identified, and the impact of land ownership on-farm efficiency was also assessed. A three-stage random sampling was used to select 144 respondents. Data collected using a pretested interview schedule was subjected to descriptive statistics, stochastic production frontier function, and average treatment effect. The results show that land ownership by absolute interest accounted for about 65% of the farmers. The mean technical efficiency level of the farms was 47%. Farm size and labour are necessary factors to be increased to have increased output. The non-access to credit and land ownership by absolute interest constituted to technical inefficiency of the farms. Similarly, ownership of farmland by absolute interest reduced efficiency by 24% among sampled farmers and 25.5% among owners of farmland. The study, therefore, suggested that farm size should be increased, and credit facilities are made available to farmers to facilitate the acquisition of necessary inputs to increase output given the existing technology. This can be by way of making accessible to food crop farmers, lands belonging to the government, which are currently not in use.

Keywords: absolute interest; derivative interest; land acquisition; land use system; food crops.

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Rice Farmers’ Perception and Knowledge of Integrated Rice and Fish Farming in Selected Local Government Areas of Kwara State

Jan 29, 2021 |

Deborah Olabode, Kemi Omotesho, Oluwafemi Olabanji, Israel Ogunlade, Oluwatosin Adebisi

ABSTRACT. In spite of the numerous advantages associated with integrated rice and fish farming, deliberate adoption of this technique is still insignificant. This study examined rice farmers’ perception and knowledge of integrated rice and fish farming practice in Kwara State. A three-stage sampling procedure was used to select 149 rice farmers, while data was obtained through the use of a well-structured structured interview schedule. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The results show that 81.9% of the respondents were male with mean age of 38 years and an average of 14 years farming experience. Given the average mean score of 3.04 respondents had a positive perception of integrated rice and fish farming, while 63.8% of the respondents had moderate knowledge. Farmers’ identified high cost of irrigation materials (M.S.=2.59), poaching (M.S.=2.59), flooding (M.S.= 2.55) as major constraints to the practice of integrated rice and fish farming. Farmers’ perception had a significant relationship with knowledge of integrated rice and fish farming at p<0.05 level. Also, farmers’ age (r=0.300, p<0.000), level of education (r=0.287, p<0.000), farming experience (r=0.220, p<0.007), membership of cooperative society (r=0.176, p<0.032) and extension contact (r=0.204, p<0.013) had significant relationship with the knowledge level. The study concluded that the rice farmers had moderate knowledge and positive perception of integrated rice and fish farming. There is a need to provide incentives, such as irrigation facilities to farmers and provision of adequate training on integrated rice and fish farming in order to fully maximize the potentials therein. Keywords: perception; knowledge; integrated farming; rice; fish.

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Youths’ Involvement in Oil Palm (Elaeis Guineensis) Fruit Processing Activities

Jan 29, 2021 |

Julius Olatunde Ayinde, Michael Famakinwa, Babatunde Opeyemi Akeredolu

ABSTRACT. This study assessed the youths’ involvement in oil palm fruit processing activities in Ondo State, Nigeria. It described the socio-economic characteristics of youths involved in oil palm fruit processing activities, determined their level of involvement, examined their perception and identified constraints associated with their involvement. Multistage sampling procedure was employed to select 120 respondents from the study area. Interview schedule was employed to collect relevant data, which was analysed with SPSS software package. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the data while inferential statistics were used to draw inference on hypothesis. The results show that majority (63.3%) were male, 95.8% had formal education with a mean age of 27.2 ± 2.7 years. Picking of fresh fruit bunches ( = 2.71), packaging ( = 2.60) and gathering of bunches ( = 2.50) were the major activities youth involved in. Higher percentage (57.9%) of the youth had favourable perception towards involvement in oil palm fruit processing activities. Lack of modern processing facilities ( =3.65) and funds/inadequate credit facilities ( = 3.65) were the prime constraints to their involvement. Number of labour (r = 0.7460; p≤0.01) and income (r = 0.601; p≤0.01) of the respondents were significantly related to youth involvement. The study concluded that youth had moderate involvement in oil palm processing activities. However, agricultural development stakeholders like government should provide adequate and functional credits facilities to these youths to encourage their involvement.

Keywords: constraints; participation; processing; perception, socio-economic.

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Rural Households’ Perception of Vitamin A Biofortified Cassava and Its Products: Implications for Food Security

Jan 29, 2021 |

Dorcas Lola Alabi, Damilola Leah Aribifo, Oluwatomiwo Elizabeth Oluyemi

ABSTRACT. The paper examined the perception of rural households about vitamin A biofortified cassava and its products in Osun State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 50 households’ members. Quantitative data were collected on the respondents’ personal and socio-economic characteristics, their awareness on vitamin A biofortified cassava, their perception about the crop and its products, as well as the constraints affecting its acceptability in the study area. Data were described using frequency counts, percentages, means and standard deviation and inferential statistics, like Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Chi-square analyses. Results showed that the respondents had a mean age of 52.62 ± 14.30, while 82% of them were married. 74% of the respondents had heard of Vitamin A bio fortified cassava, 64% had seen it while 44% had planted it with 54% having positive perception towards the crop and its products. Poor transport facilities (mean = 3.16) and difficulties in getting planting materials (mean = 2.36) ranked highest among the constraints affecting acceptability of the crop in the study area. There exist significant association between the respondents’ marital status and their perception about vitamin A biofortified cassava. It was concluded that majority of the respondents have positive perception towards vitamin A biofortified cassava and its products. It was recommended that extension personnel should create more awareness about the nutritional value of the crop and its products to enhance better food security status among rural households.

Keywords: socio-economic; acceptability; awareness; constraints.

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Food Security Status: Its Drivers and Coping Strategies Among Vegetable Farming Households

Jan 29, 2021 |

Ridwan Mukaila, Abraham Falola, Olubunmi Abayomi Omotesho

ABSTRACT. Food insecurity remains a major challenge worldwide, especially among the rural areas of developing nation. Women and children are most vulnerable to this phenomenon. However, while many studies have assessed farming households’ food security status in general, there is dearth of information on vegetable farmers’, who are mostly women, food security status in particular. This study, therefore, investigated the food security status of vegetable farming households, its drivers and coping strategies in Kwara State, Nigeria. Descriptive statistics, food insecurity index and logistic regression were used to analysed data collected from 180 respondents. The findings showed that food insecurity remains a major challenge in rural areas as only 45.55% were food secure. The food secure group surpassed the food security line by 17%. Food insecure group fell below the food security line by 36% with a daily average calorie intake of 1581.35 kcal. Annual income (p< 0.1), cooperative membership (p< 0.1), vegetable production (p< 0.05) and access to credit (p< 0.05) were the significant factors enhancing their food security status, while household size (p< 0.01) negatively influenced it. The widely used food insecurity coping mechanisms by the households were eating less expensive food, eating wild fruits, reducing rational consumption, allowing children to eat first, borrowing money to buy food, buying food on credit and skipping meal within a day. The study recommends encouragement of vegetable production through provision of credit facilities to the farmers as this would enhance their food security status. Keywords: food insecurity; calorie intake; rural women; coping strategies; vegetable production.

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Economic Analysis of Contract Farming and Technical Efficiency of Broiler Farmers

Jan 29, 2021 |

Luke Adebisi, Oluwaremilekun Adebisi, Marvellous Owolabi, Edet Henshaw, Olaide Asiyanbi

ABSTRACT. The study assessed the effect of contract farming on broiler production in Osun State, Nigeria. 120 farmers comprising of broiler farmers participating and not participating in contract farming were selected using multistage sampling technique. Information was elicited from the farmers with the aid of a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Stochastic Production Frontier and Ordinary least square regression model. The findings of this study revealed that majority (75%) of the farmers rated the activities of contracting farming to be good and favorable, as the contract farmers earn more from broiler production than their counterparts. Average technical efficiency of the contract and non contract farmers were 0.8209 and 0.6803, respectively. The results also revealed that years of experience in broiler production, education of farmer, off-farm income, membership in farmers association, access to credit, access to veterinary services and participation in contract farming significantly affected technical efficiency of broiler farmers in the study area. Therefore, the study recommends that there should be increase in the awareness of the benefits associated with contract farming in agrarian communities, so that more farmers are encouraged to participate, as this will improve their production efficiency.

Keywords: poultry; income; regression; household.

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Does Credit Access Improve Adoption Intensity of Improved Maize Seed Varieties?

Jan 29, 2021 |

Ayodeji Damilola Kehinde

ABSTRACT. This study investigated the effect of credit access on the adoption intensity of improved maize varieties in Osun State. A number of 150 maize farmers were selected through a multistage sampling procedure from using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, adoption index, and Tobit regression model were used to analyse the data collected. The results showed that Majority of maize farmers were over 40 years (52.6%), male (87%), and married (87%). The result also showed that majority of the farmers did not adopt improved maize varieties (55%) in the state. Swan 1 improved variety was majorly adopted (87.1%), while DMR-ESR-W variety was less adopted (62.9%) in the State. Just a few of maize farmers had access to credit in the State (20%). The mean adoption intensity in the State was observed to 62%. Based on adoption intensity of improved maize varieties, adopters were classified as partial adopters (65%) and full adopters (35%). Tobit regression estimates showed that credit access, household size, secondary occupation, years of education and extension contact have significant effect on the adoption intensity of improved maize varieties. In accordance with the findings, we therefore recommend that microfinance institutions should look attentively at scaling up their credit services to enhancing adoption intensity of improved maize varieties.

Keywords: microfinance; Swan I; DMR-ESR-W; Tobit model; maize farmers, Osun State.

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Effects of Different Stages of Maturity and Postharvest Treatments on the Extension of Shelf Life and Quality of Banana

Jan 29, 2021 |

Md. Abu Abdullah Al Muzahid, Most. Mahbuba Khanum, Md. Ferdous Mondal

ABSTRACT. An experiment was carried out in the Laboratories of the Departments of Horticulture and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, during the period from 23rd April to 10th May 2015. The two factors experiment was conducted for extension of shelf life and quality of banana under different postharvest treatments. The first factor was stages of maturity which had three maturity stages, viz.: 1) hard green (S1), 2) pale green (S2) and optimum maturity stage (S3). The second factor was postharvest treatments, which had five treatments, viz.: 1) control (room temperature), 2) keeping fruits in perforated plastic bag, 3) keeping fruits in perforated plastic bag containing KMnO4, 4) fruits treated with hot water for 5 min at 50°C and then kept in plastic bag containing KMnO4, and 5) fruits pre-cooling for 30 min at 5°C and then kept in plastic bag containing KMnO4. The pulp to peel ratio, total soluble solids, total sugar, reducing sugar, titratable acidity, were greater when fruits were harvested at optimum maturity stage than hard green stage. Total soluble solids, total sugar, reducing sugar were increased with storage duration, but increasing trend was slower when fruits were pre-cooling at 5°C for 30 min and kept in plastic bag containing KMnO4. The longest shelf life of banana fruits (19 days) was observed when hard green stages fruits pre-cooling at 5°C for 30 min and kept in plastic bag containing KMnO4 and the minimum shelf life (5.87 days) was observed in the combination of optimum maturity stage + control. So, it may be concluded that pre-cooling for 30 min at 5°C and then kept in plastic bag containing KMnO4 treatment should be used for extending shelf life and quality of banana.

Keywords: maturity; banana; KMnO4; postharvest; storage.

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The Effect of Pangium SP. and Tithonia Diversifolia Leaves Extract as Vegetable Pesticides to Crocidolomia Pavonana (Lepidoptera; Pyralidae) Larva Mortality

Jan 29, 2021 |

Eva Baideng, Ventje Memah, Hanny Pontororing, Hendronoto Lengkey

ABSTRACT. Pangium sp. and Tithonia diversifolia have the potential to become vegetable pesticides due to the content of secondary metabolites, such as alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids and saponins in their leaves, which are plant protection agents. This study aims to determine the mortality of Crocidolomia pavonana larvae after application of Pangium sp. and Tithonia diversifolia. C. pavonana is one of the main pests affecting cabbage production in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Pangium sp. and T. diversifolia leaf extraction separately were carried out by immersion method using methanol (CH3OH) solvent and followed by current-current distribution method. The result of crude extract was partitioned in a 95% mixture of hexane methanol (C6H14 – CH3OH). Then, the 95% methanol fraction (CH3OH) was further partitioned with a mixture of ethyl acetate and water (EtOAc – H2O), and the extract from the ethyl acetate fraction (EtOAc) was then used in testing as a vegetable pesticide. This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) with six treatments, namely 0% (control), 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5% and carried out three replications, where each treatment used 10 larvae. Larval mortality observations were carried out at 24, 48, 72, 96, 120 HAA (hours after application). The results indicated that there was a mortality rate of C. pavonana larvae, so that the Pangium sp. and T. diversifolia have the ability to act as botanical insecticides, although T. diversifolia extract treatment showed a higher mortality rate, compared to Pangium sp. Larval mortality above 50% (LC 50) was found in P3 (0.3%) treatment after 72 HAA, is of 53.33% (Pangium sp. extract) and 63.33% (T. diversifolia extract), successively. Then, at 120 HAA, the same larval mortality rate from both extractions in P3 treatment, increased to 76.67% using Pangium sp. extract, while the same mortality rate (76.67%) using T. diversifolia extract occurred in 96 HAA observations. ANOVA test showed significantly different results for the two extraction uses of Pangium sp. and T. diversifolia. LC 50 in Pangium sp. extract, at a concentration of 0.136% or 1360 ppm and in T. diversifolia extract of 0.1103% or 1103 ppm.

Keywords: extraction; vegetable pesticides; Pangium sp.; Tithonia diversifolia; Crocidolomia pavonana.

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Sustainable Management of Mango Nutrition for Better Yield and Quality

Jan 29, 2021 |

Muhammad Khan, Niaz Ahmed

ABSTRACT. Optimum supply of macro and micronutrients is of critical importance in improving the yield and quality of horticultural crops. Alike, the quality and yield of mango plants significantly increase by balanced application and uptake of macro and micronutrients. However, soil type and characteristics are important factors that directly influence the bio-availability of these nutrients to the plants. In addition, variability in climate has an impact on mango yield in the current scenario. Many scientists have found that mango cultivation in saline soils is a major obstacle to achieving the desired yield and improving quality. Overdose of fertilization is the major factor for the development of saline soils, furthermore, rise in climate temperatures is also a major factor. Therefore, to overcome this problem, nutrient management and the use of balanced fertilizer are the important factors to be controlled. Thus, this review focuses on the performance and importance of essential macro and micronutrients to improve the yield and quality of mango fruits. To understand the effective use of macro and micronutrients, the positive and negative impacts of the nutrients are explained. It is suggested that analyzing the soil, mango fruits, and mango plant leaves for their nutrient status can be useful to formulate fertilization strategies for higher fruit production and quality. Research and development, along with agricultural extension, should focus more on introducing genetically effective mango varieties to improve nutrient and water utilization efficiency.

Keywords: nutrient management; fruit quality; mango production; yield.

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Novel Application of Trichilia Heudelotii Planch: Effectiveness of Different Polarity of Organic Solvents of Leaf and Stem Bark Extracts on the Control of Cowpea Beetle

Oct 16, 2020 |

R.O. Uddin II, G.V. Awolola, S. Mustapha, O.H. Abdulazeez, O.T. Ilesanmi, S.A. Aliyu

ABSTRACT. Callosobruchus maculatus (cowpea beetle) is a field-to-store pest causing over 90% losses of cowpea. The search for new plant-derived crop protectant that can be explored as alternative to synthetic pesticides is urgently needed. Thus, the phytochemical screening, as well as the bioactivity of different polarity of organic solvents of leaf and stembark extracts of Trichilia heudelotii (Meliaceae), was investigated against the field-to-store insect pest Callosobruchus maculatus in laboratory bioassay. The non-polar (hexane) and polar (ethanol) extracts [0.0 (control), 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 ml] of the leaf and stem bark were added to 100 g of cowpea. The following parameters of the cowpea weevil life cycle were analysed at the various concentrations: adult mortality, oviposition rate, number of larvae and pupae, and emergence of first filial progeny. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins in both the non-polar and polar extracts. Furthermore, the various treatments used were significantly (p< 0.05) effective in controlling C. maculatus from 1 and also 30 days after treatment (DAT) for both the non-polar and polar extracts when compared to the control. However, the most effective treatment was observed with the polar (EtOH) stem bark extract at 1.5 ml, which caused more mortalities and fewer emergence of the insect. Our findings suggest that the non-polar and polar leaf and stem bark of T. heudelotii extracts could serve as a sustainable and potential alternative to synthetic chemicals in pest control. Keywords: Callosobruchus maculatus; Trichilia heudelotii extracts; bio-pesticide; insect pest control.

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Adaptive Performance of Garlic Varieties under High Ganges River Floodplain Soil (Calcareous) of Bangladesh

Oct 16, 2020 |

M.S. Rahman, M.T. Islam, N.C. Shil, M.H. Rahman, M. Jahangir Alam, M.R. Islam

ABSTRACT. Any variety needs to evaluate at different locations, along with variable soils for asses their yield potentiality after its releasing. Thus, an experiment was conducted at Multi Location Testing (MLT) site, Kushtia Sadar Upazila, under High Ganges River Floodplain (AEZ-11) in Bangladesh, during three consecutive Rabi seasons of 2013-2014 to 2015-2016. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performances of garlic varieties and economic profitability of these varieties at farmer’s field. There were three garlic varieties, namely BARI Rashun-1, BARI Rashun-2 and a local cultivar, which were evaluated at six dispersed locations as replications. Results observed that the highest yield (8.34-9.80 t ha-1) was obtained from BARI Rashun-1, which was followed by BARI Rashun-2 (7.43-9.48 t ha-1) and the local one (7.12-9.15 t ha-1). BARI Rashun-1 produced 3-12% higher yield over BARI Rashun-2 and 7-20% over the local cultivar, respectively in three consecutive years. Correlation analysis showed that there were positive and significant correlation among bulb yields with bulb length and individual bulb weight. Regarding the functional relationship, the traits like crop duration, plant population, plant height, bulb length, bulb width, individual bulb weight had positive contribution on the bulb yield. It was dependent on those traits, and accounted for 12, 36, 0.05, 45, 41 and 55% of the total bulb yield variation, respectively. The highest gross return (Tk. 3, 63,700 ha-1) and gross margin (Tk. 2,19,425 ha-1) were obtained from BARI Rashun-1. As such, this variety performed as the best, in respect of higher bulb yield potential, as well as the highest economic return among the tested varieties, which was followed by BARI Rashun-2. Therefore, the result of this study could be helpful for improving bulb production of garlic under High Ganges River Floodplain soil (calcareous soils) in Bangladesh.

Keywords: Allium sativum L.; yield potentiality; functional relationship; economics efficiency; adaptation.

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Efficacy of Jatropha Curcas L. Seed Extract on Mortality of Cabbage Crop Larvae (Crocidolomia Binotalis Zeller: Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Oct 16, 2020 |

E.L. Baideng, J.J. Pelealu, B.H. Assa, H.A.W. Lengkey

ABSTRACT. Along with the awareness to obtain quality plant products, the use of plant-based insecticides is increasingly being used. One of the plants used as a plant-based insecticide is Jatropha curcas L. (Jarak pagar) because it contains toxic ingredients to kill cabbage caterpillar pests (Crocidolomia binotalis). This study aims to determine the effectiveness of Jatropha curcas L. on the mortality of Crocidolomia binotalis cabbage caterpillars. The research method used was a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) 7 × 3, consisting of seven treatment concentrations (0,000 ppm, 10,000 ppm, 20,000 ppm, 30,000 ppm, 40,000 ppm, 50,000 ppm, 60,000 ppm), with three replications. Observations were made at 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144 hours after application (HAA) of Jatropha. The research activities were carried out in two stages, namely 1) the extraction stage of Jatropha curcas L. seeds and the breeding of the Crocidolomia binotalis test larvae and 2) the testing stage with seven concentration levels of Jatropha curcas L. extract as a plant-based insecticide. ANOVA test showed that the treatments of Jatropha curcas L. extract gave the death effect on larvae [F-count > F-table (116.8 > 2.37)]. Dead larvae change color to black and their body shape will curve. The fastest larval death occurs 24 HAA, with a concentration of 40,000 ppm, which is 50%. At lower concentrations (30,000 ppm), which can kill larvae up to 50%, occurs 120 HAA. With a concentration of 50,000 ppm, 90% of larvae can be killed occurring 96 HAA.

Keywords: plant-based insecticide; Jatropha curcas L., Crocidolomia binotalis, mortality; concentration.

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Assessment of Cassava Processing Technologies Usage Among Rural Women in Kwara State, Nigeria

Oct 16, 2020 |

A.O. Awoyemi, O.J. Adesokan, A.O. Kayode, K.F. Omotesho, K.K. Osasona

ABSTRACT. Technology usage has been identified as a major driver of increased productivity, waste management and economic efficiency. However, there seems to be some barriers to technology usage among rural women cassava processors Nigeria. This study therefore analysed the characteristics and constraints to technology usage among rural women processors in Ifelodun local government area of Kwara State, Nigeria. A two-stage sampling technique was used to randomly select 120 respondents from six districts, namely Igbaja, Idofin, Oke-Ode, Omupo, Ora and Share. Primary data were used for the study and the data were collected by means of an interview schedule. Descriptive statistical tools, such as precision counts, frequencies and percentages, were used in analysing the data, while Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) analysis was used to test the hypothesis. The findings revealed the level of usage of cassava processing among rural women in the study area is moderately high. Major constraints to the adoption of cassava processing technologies includes: high cost of machines and maintenance, low level awareness and training, as well as inadequate finance. PPMC analysis showed that educational level and cassava processing experience was significantly related to the usage of improved cassava processing technologies in the study area with p≤ 0.05. Based on findings, training and effective monitoring by relevant stakeholders, adequate financing, sensitization and enlightenment campaigns will further boost cassava processors knowledge and attitude towards cassava processing technologies and automatically increase usage by the respondents.

Keywords: increased productivity; characteristics; adoption, constraints.

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Essential Oil Composition of Thymus Fallax Fisch. & C.A. Mey. at Different Growing Altitudes in Mazandaran, Iran

Oct 16, 2020 |

H. Ghelichnia

ABSTRACT. Thymus fallax Fisch. & C.A. Mey. (Lamiaceae) is a permanent plant that grows in some mountain rangelands of Mazandaran province in Iran. The aerial parts of Thymus fallax were collected during flowering stage from mountain rangelands of Mazandaran province, in North of Iran. Around samples were collected from three altitudes (2400 m, 2700 m and 3000 m a.s.l.), in mountain regions of Mazandaran province. The goal of current research was to assess the effect of altitude on the chemical composition and function of essential oil in Thymus fallax. The essential oil were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas spectrometry (GC-MS). Based on the results, the essential oil content is between 1.12 – 1.61% at different altitudes. The result of study show that the highest concentrated essential oil (1.61%) was extracted in the lowest altitude (2400 m), while it was opposite, (0.1.12%) in the highest altitude (3000 m). The main compounds of essential oil are: thymol (5.95% – 10.06%), carvacrol (13.63% – 69.04%), p-cymene (4.19% – 12.18%) and borneol (4.72% – 5.66%). According to the results, altitude has a negative effect on the percentage of essential oils and essential oil decreases with increasing altitude. The altitude has a negative effect on the percentage of thymol and the content of thymol decreased with increasing altitude. The altitude has a positive effect on the percentage of carvacrol and the content of carvacrol increased with increasing altitude.

Keywords: carvacrol; mountain rangelands.

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Effect of Market Participation on Food Security Among Smallholder Sorghum Farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria

Oct 16, 2020 |

M.F. Salami, K.K. Osasona, G.O. Akinsola, S.U.O. Akanbi, M.T. Durosaye

ABSTRACT. It is paradoxical to note that food insecurity remains a menace among many African farmers’ households. There are arguments for and against smallholder farmers’ market participation as a pathway for ensuring household food security. The paper therefore examined the market participation- food security relationship using smallholder sorghum farmers in Kwara State, as a case study. Primary data were obtained from 112 sorghum farming households using the semi-structured interview survey method. Descriptive statistic (frequencies and percentages), Crop output market participation index, Logistic regression model and Tobit regression model was used to analyse the data obtained. The result revealed that market participation positively and significantly contributes to the food security status of the sorghum farmers. Also, household size, farm output quantity, access to market information, access to credit and farm power types were the factors influencing the level of market participation in the study area. Therefore, all factors that will aid farmers’ market participation should be pursued.

Keywords: food insecurity; tobit regression; farm output; credit.

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The Importance of Quinoa (Quinoa Chenopodium Willd.) Cultivation in Developing Countries: A Review

Oct 16, 2020 |

A. Fathi, F. Kardoni

ABSTRACT. Quinoa is a dicotyledonous species for seeds and, therefore, is not known as a cereal grain and is a pseudo-grain, which is introduced nowadays as a new crop in the world. Population growth and the need for more food put additional pressure on the environment, especially on water resources and agronomic ecosystems. This has led to more attention to plants that grow at different latitudes and altitudes. Climatic and environmental changes affect agricultural inputs, especially water resources. So, the best way of adapting to the current situation is the introduction of low-water, salt-resistant, and drought-tolerant plants to the recent climatic changes. Water scarcity has become a serious problem in many countries. This restriction has had a significant impact on the development of countries. The plants which grow in arid and semi-arid regions are often exposed to adverse environmental factors, such as drought or salinity. Salinity and drought stress, more than any other factor, decrease crop yields around the world. These two abiotic stresses are the main limiting factors for crop production, especially in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Quinoa is an exceptional plant that can adapt to adverse conditions and can serve as a solution to the challenge of global food security. Recent droughts that occurred in the world have prompted governments to include plants in their development plans, which are adapted to the country’s existing water and soil conditions and have high nutritional value. This way, quinoa cultivation can ensure their food security in the coming years.

Keywords: food security; food value; global needs; drought; salt; nitrogen.

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Evaluate Some New Inbred Rice and Male Sterile Varieties under DUS and VCU Experiments

Oct 16, 2020 |

S.H. Abou Khadrah, M.I. Abo Youssef, E.M. Hafez, A.A. Rehan

ABSTRACT. The main objective of study are evaluated some new inbred rice and male sterile varieties under Distinct, Uniform and Stability (DUS) and Value of Cultivated and Used (VCU) Experiments. A number of seven rice varieties were used, Sakha 101, Sakha 102, Sakha 104, Giza 177, Giza 178, Giza 182 and Egyptian yasmine; moreover, GZ 10154 and GZ 8564-Sp 70, as well as EGMS and CMS1 as promising lines to evaluating by DUS and VCU. The data were recorded on morphological and yield characters. The results could be concluded that: regarding to qualitative characteristics (PQ and QL), from 24 PQ and QL characters, the nine rice varieties recorded the same score for 19 characters; moreover, the rice varieties Egyptian jasmine was dissimilar in the score No. 24, 39, and 60, that referred to this variety belong to Indica type, while the rice varieties Sakha 101 and Giza 178 were similar only in score no.11, which belong to Japonica and Indica japonica types, that meaning these varieties were highly uniform and stability in qualitative characters than the other promising line GZ 10154. Regarding to quantities characteristics (QN), from 27 QN characters, nine rice varieties recorded the same score for 20 characters; moreover, the rice varieties Sakha 101, Sakha 102, Sakha 104, Giza 177, Giza 178, Giza 182, Egyptian yasmine and GZ 8564-Sp70 were similar in the score no. 1, 12, 23, 48, 49 and 50, while the promising line GZ 10154 was dissimilar in these scores during the two seasons, meaning that all these varieties were highly uniform and stability than the other promising, line GZ 10154. These results were conformed to VCU results, where the studied varieties recorded the highest grain yield/day. From these results could be concluded that all the varieties, except GZ 10154, accepted as a new rice release variety, but the promising line GZ 10154 required to more recurrent selection to increase their uniform, as well as CMS line was accepted could be evaluated under different conditions, but EGMS should be evaluated under heat stress conditions.

Keywords: DUS: Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability; VCU: Value for Cultivation and Used.

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Evaluation of Cotton (Gossypium Spp.) Germplasm for Heat Tolerance under Normal and Late Planting Time

Oct 16, 2020 |

Emine Karademir, C. Karademir, B. Kolay, V. Sezener, H. Basal

ABSTRACT. The objective of this study was to determine cotton (Gossypium ssp.) germplasm for heat tolerance under normal and late planting time. For this aiming 200 cotton genotypes and five check varieties (Gloria, SG 125, Flash, Ozbek 105 and Candia) were evaluated under two different temperature regimes and experiments were conducted according to the augmented design with four blocks. Field studies were carried out at the GAP International Agricultural Research and Training Center’s experimental area in Diyarbakır, Turkey, in 2016 cotton growing season. In the study heat susceptibility index was used for discriminate to the genotypes for heat tolerance. Genotypes were classified into four groups based on the heat susceptibility index. The results of this study indicated that five cotton genotypes (TAM 139-17 ELS, CIM-240, Haridost, MNH-990 and AzGR-11835) were in highly heat tolerant, 28 genotypes were found heat tolerant, 56 genotypes were in the moderately heat tolerant and other 120 genotypes were observed susceptible for heat tolerance. Based on the heat susceptibility index, five cotton genotypes can be used as parent for heat tolerance improvement in the cotton breeding program where high temperature is a limiting factor for seed cotton yield.

Keywords: cotton; abiotic stress; susceptibility; resistance; yield.

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The Effect of Commercial Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers and Rhizobium Inoculation on Yield and Yield Components of Faba Bean (Vicia Faba L.) and Pea (Pisum Sativum L.)

Oct 16, 2020 |

F. Basdemir, S. Elis, S. Ipekesen, M. Tunc, B.T. Bicer

ABSTRACT. This research was conducted to determine the effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers and bacteria inoculation on yield and its components on pea and faba bean in Dicle University Agricultural Faculty, Diyarbakir, Turkey, during 2018 and 2019 growing seasons. The experiment was laid out following a split-plot in completely randomized block design, with three replications. Fertilization treatments and cultivars were designed as main and sub factors, respectively. Data on plant height, plant biomass, pod weight, seed yield per plant, number of pods and number of seeds per plant, biological yield, seed yield and 100-seed weight were recorded at harvest. Number of nodules and nodule dry weight were record in flowering time. The effect of inorganic nitrogen, organic fertilizers and bacteria inoculation on grain yield, seed yield per plant, biological yield was significant at both pea and faba bean. Inorganic fertilizer (urea) was increased the grain yield (2147 kg/ha) and biological yield (4956 kg/ha) in faba bean, but close to control (2080 kg/ha and 4690 kg/ha). Organic-1, Organic-2 and bacteria treatments were decrease the grain yield and biological yield on pea and faba bean, and this decrease on pea was almost half over control. The effect of treatments on number of nodules per plant on pea and faba bean was significant. The highest number of nodules per plant on pea was in bacteria inoculation (125.9) and control (121.5), and differences among nitrogen (109.1), Organic-1 (97.3) and Organic-2 (109.3) treatments was no significant.

Keywords: pea; faba bean; fertilization; nodule; yield.

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© by the authors; licensee Journal of Applied Life Sciences and Environment, Iasi, Romania. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)