African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6894

Table of Content: 19 December 2013; 8(49)

December 2013

Phenology growth and yield of wheat in relation to agrometeorological indices under different sowing dates

A field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2011 to 2012 at Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur to study the phenology, accumulated growing degree days, photo thermal unit, helio-thermal unit, heat use efficiency and performance of wheat varieties grown under different sowing dates. The crop was sown on 5th November took maximum calendar days, growing degree days, photo thermal...

Author(s): Taruna Amrawat, N. S. Solanki, S. K. Sharma, D. K. Jajoria and M. L. Dotaniya

December 2013

Development of low cost technology for in vitro mass multiplication of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Production of potato is constrained by lack of disease-free planting materials. This can be circumvented through tissue culture but the technology is costly limiting its adoption. As composition of culture medium used for shoot regeneration has a great influence on cost and there is a potential for use of locally available low cost resources as alternatives to the conventional costly laboratory resources. There is...

Author(s): E. P. Venkatasalam, Richa Sood, K. K. Pandey, Vandana Thakur, Ashwani K. Sharma and B. P. Singh

December 2013

Prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis in Wolaita Zone Kindo Koish District of Ethiopia

Cross sectional study was conducted in Kindo Kiosh District, Wolaita administrative zone of SNNPRS from October 2011 to June 2012 to determine the prevalence rate of bovine trypanosomosis. In the parasitological survey, blood  samples  of  268  cattle  were  examined  using  a  buffy  coat  technique and thin smear under Gimsa stain.  The packed cell volume...

Author(s): Eyasu Adale and Ahmed Yasine

December 2013

A selective medium for Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. Betlicola, bacterial pathogen of betelvine

Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. betlicola (Patel et al.) Vauterin et al. causes severe damage of betelvine (Piper betle L.) in West Bengal by producing different types of leaf spots (small to large, circular to irregular, angular), marginal leaf blight, stem lesion and wilting of vines. A selective medium was developed for isolation of this bacterium from diseased tissues and detection of this bacterium from the leaf...

Author(s): Dinesh Chandra Khatua, Bholanath Mondal and Rana Bhattachayya

December 2013

Studies on influence of season for biochemical parameters in mango cultivars

Mango flowering is predominantly influenced by the biochemical constituents present in the phase for the floral stimuli at bud break stage. The state of biochemical constituents primarily determines the synchronizing of flower stimuli and earliness of flowering. The results of this experiment have clearly indicated that all the biochemical constituents in leaves and shoot at vegetative stage, flowering stage and...

Author(s): M. Kumar, V. Ponnuswami, P. Jeyakumar, R. Richard Kennedy and S. Saraswathy

December 2013

Quality studies in niger (Guizotia abyssinica L. Cass) in relation to phosphorus levels

Field experiments were conducted at the College Farm, N.M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari during rabi season of 2010 to 2011 and 2011 to 2012. The increase in rabi niger yields with these treatments were the results of increased quality and yield viz., improved the quality of niger in terms of N, P, K and S content and uptake by seed and straw, the highest seed and straw yields of niger...

Author(s): Vaishali H. Surve, C. L. Patel, R. R. Pisal, A. A. Chavan and P. R. Patil

December 2013

Ensuing economic gains from summer pearlmillet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) due to different dates of sowing and land configuration

This study was undertaken at Navsari, India (20.95°N 72.93°E, elevation of 10 m above Sea level) during summer season 2010 to work out effect of different land configuration and dates of sowing on pearlmillet. The results gained confirm that ridges and furrow along with early sowing date during summer season is beneficial to obtain higher net returns from pearlmillet crop.  Ridges and furrow sowing of...

Author(s): Deshmukh S. P., Patel J. G. and Patel A. M.

December 2013

Influence of legumes on Nitrogen (N) fertilizer recommendations for succeeding sorghum in the Guinea Savannah of West Africa

The nitrogen (N) fertilizer equivalencies and effects of the N2-fixing legume crops, cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.), groundnut (Arachis hypogea (L.)) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) on succeeding sorghum (Sorghum bicolour (L.) Moench) yields were studied during two years (2000 and 2001) at Farakô-Ba (4° 20’ West, 11° 6’ North and 405 m above sea level) in the Guinean Savannah zone...

Author(s): B. V. Bado, M. P. Cescas, A. Bationo, M. P. Sedogo, M. P. Cescas and T. Traore

December 2013

Long-term reduction in damage by rhinoceros beetle Oryctes rhinoceros (L.) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) to coconut palms at Oryctes Nudivirus release sites on Viti Levu, Fiji

In 1972  to 1973 the non-endemic Oryctes Nudivirus (OrNV) was established at three sites on Viti Levu, Fiji, where the introduced rhinoceros beetle Oryctes rhinoceros was causing heavy damage to coconut crowns and frequently killing the palms. The establishment of OrNV, and its dissemination by adults, was followed by a marked reduction in the beetle population and damage. When re-surveyed 35 years later, damage...

Author(s): Geoffrey O. Bedford

December 2013

Organic olive farming

Organically managed agricultural land surface is widely increasing all over the world and organic olive farming in suitable environments as well. Both olive oil and pickled olive fruits demand is rising and organic products register an increasing tendency, mainly in the northern European and American markets. Scientific literature reports several studies about organic olive farming, but a comprehensive summary is...

Author(s): Lodolini E. M., Neri D., Gangatharan R. and Ponzio C.

December 2013

Wildlife based tourism activities and income generation in Kainji Lake National Park, Nigeria

The study examined ecotourism activities and income generation in the Park. Information were obtained from the Park Research and Information Units, Park Annual Reports and Ecotourism Department of the Park. Questionnaires were also distributed to the Park staff including the Director. Records for sixteen years were provided on the arrival of tourists, income generation and the major sources of revenue in the Park. A...

Author(s): Ajibade W. A., Ayodele I. A., Ojo S. O. and Adetotor A. O.

December 2013

Estimating farmers patronage level of informal credit in Imo State: Implication for efficient formal and informal financial linkage and rural development

Low agricultural productivity in Imo State is blamed on poor grassroot financial development. Farmers are caught between maginalization, clumsy, costly and grossly inefficient credit delivery system. An efficient informal credit patronage that engenders informal-formal credit linkage system in Imo State was investigated. Data were collected from 59 arable crop farmers and 15 Informal Financial Agencies (IFAs) in Imo...

Author(s): N. C. Ehirim and N. N. O. Oguoma

December 2013

Nitrogen contribution of some selected legumes to a sorghum based cropping system in the southern Guinea savanna of Nigeria

Field experiments to assess the Nitrogen (N) contribution of legumes to a sorghum based cropping system in the southern Guinea savanna of Nigeria were carried out during the 2004 and 2005 cropping seasons. The studies were conducted at the experimental station of the National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi, Nigeria (09° 451 N, 06° 71 E). The experimental design was a split plot randomised complete block...

Author(s): Usman A., Osunde A. O. and Bala A.

December 2013

Role of wetlands resource utilisation on community livelihoods: The case of Songwe River Basin, Tanzania

The role of wetland resources on community livelihoods was examined in Katumbasongwe and Mpunguti villages in Songwe River Basin (SRB), Tanzania. The study focused on wetland resource utilization patterns and its significance in supporting rural livelihoods. Various methods were used to complement each other in addressing the study, namely structured questionnaires, participatory methods and remote sensing techniques....

Author(s): D. Kalisa, A. Majule and J. G. Lyimo

December 2013

Water relations, gas exchange characteristics and water use efficiency in maize and sorghum after exposure to and recovery from pre and post-flowering dehydration

The effect of dehydration and rehydration at pre and post-flowering stages on the water relations, gas exchange characteristics (stomata conductance, photosynthesis and Fv/Fm (quantum efficiency) ratio), pigment compositions (chlorophyll and carotenoid contents) and water use efficiency on maize (cv Melkassa-2) and sorghum (cv Macia) were investigated with the objectives of understanding the physiological basis of...

Author(s): Abuhay Takele and Jill Farrant

December 2013

Design and implementation of a low cost computer vision system for sorting of closed-shell pistachio nuts

Iran is one of the most important producers and exporters of pistachio nuts in the world. Certainly, the quality of pistachio is very important for customers. Sorting of pistachio nuts is a post-harvesting process which is currently performed using a mechanical apparatus called “pin picker”. Due to the possibility of kernel damage by the pin picker, mechanical methods of closed-shell pistachio removal are...

Author(s): J. Ghezelbash, A. M. Borghaee, S. Minaei, S. Fazli and M. Moradi

December 2013

Determination of some physical and mechanical properties of some cowpea varieties

In order to design Agro-processing machine effectively, the study of the physical and mechanical properties of seed and grain is essential for optimal machine design, selection, and operation. In this study, some physical and mechanical properties of five cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) varieties- IT 716, Sokoto Red (SR), Ife Brown (IB), White (WH), and Oloka were determined in ten (10) replicates. The results obtained were...

Author(s): Faleye T., Atere O. A., Oladipo O. N. and Agaja M. O.

December 2013

Effect of different planting proportions and nitrogen fertilizer in intercropping forage sorghum and lima bean

In order to study the effect of intercropping on forage yield of sorghum and yield components of lima bean at different planting proportions and nitrogen fertilizer levels, an experiment was conducted at the research farm of University of Tehran in the year of 2010. This experiment was arranged in a split plot design with four replications. The main factor consisted of four nitrogen application treatments, and second...

Author(s): Zandvakili Omid Reza, Iraj Allahdadi, Dariush Mazaheri, Gholam Abbas Akbari, Emad Jahanzad and Mohammad Mirshekari

December 2013

Responses of soybean lodging and lodging-related traits to potassium under shading by maize in relay strip intercropping system

The relay strip intercropping system of maize-soybean is dominant in southwest China. Compared to monoculture, the productivity of soybean is unstable in this system, since soybean seedling grow under shading by maize, which beget elongated plants and prone to lodging. Therefore, a 3-year study was conducted to determine the influence of K on lodging and lodging-related traits of soybean, and to identify the key traits...

Author(s): Dabing Xiang, Xiaobo Yu, Yan Wan, Kai Guo, Wenyu Yang, Wanzhuo Gong and Liang Cui

December 2013

Vertical differentiation analysis of sierozem profile characteristics in Yili-River valley, China

Research on the vertical differentiation of sierozem profile characteristics can provide a basis to implement soil resource assessment and develop sustainable land management system. In this study, 189 sampling data from 50 sierozem profiles along Yili River-valley in northwest of China were chosen to analyze the vertical change of edaphic characteristics and soil ionic composition – including soil organic matter...

Author(s): Ruixiang Shi, Xiaohuan Yang, Hongqi Zhang and Lixin Wang

December 2013

Comparative evaluation of milk yield and reproductive performances of dairy cows under smallholders’ and large–scale management in Central Ethiopia

Comparative mik production and postpartum reproductive performances of Holstein Friesian cows under smallholder and large scale farmers’ management was monitored in central Rift Valley of Oromia, Ethiopia. This study was conducted in three purposively selected districts of Arsi Negelle, Ziway, and Lume in Eastern Shoa Zone. Three large scale peri-urban farms having 170 to 195 and 21 small scale urban farms having...

Author(s): Nega Tolla

December 2013

The impact of cassava processing on the livelihoods of women processors in Central Gonja district of the northern region of Ghana

The study was conducted in the Central Gonja District located at the southern end of the Northern region of Ghana which lies between latitude 9° 15′ and 9° 05′ N and longitude 0° 45′ and 1° 0′ W. The study focused on the contribution of cassava processing to the standard of living of women processors. Information on the level of income of processors, cost of processing, level of...

Author(s): Yidana J. A., Osei-Kwarteng M. and Amadu Y.

December 2013

Genetic diversity in soybean genotypes under water stress and normal condition using factor analysis and cluster analysis

To study the relationships between morphological characters of soybean plant an experiment was conducted in randomized complete blocks design (RCBD) in two replications under drought stress condition at Agricultural College of Guilan University in 2008. Result of analysis of variance showed that there was significant difference among the studied soybean genotypes in the majority of traits. The result of factor analysis...

Author(s): Sarkaut Salimi

December 2013

Can design improve the agricultural work conditions in the developing countries? A study based in the development of an animal traction seeder

This paper presents a study conducted as a part of development of an animal traction seeder machine, using principles related to disciplines such as usability, Ergonomics Work Assessment (EWA) and Antropotechnology, in a perspective of Design for Sustainability (DfS) and product development suitable for the Base of the Pyramid (BoP). The study provided information for a series of design changes to be introduced in the...

Author(s): Eduardo Romeiro Filho and Aline Capanema Barros

December 2013

The effect of Origanum onites L., Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Schinus molle L. on in vitro digestibility in lamb

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of aromatic plants (AP);“Origanum onites L. (ORE), Rosmarinus officinalis L. (ROS) and Schinus molle L. (SHN)” on in vitro gas production (GP), organic matter digestibility (OMD) and net energy lactation (NEL) using an in vitro gas-production method. Two rumen-fistulated sheep were used in the experiment. The sheep were fed with 60%...

Author(s): Sibel SOYCAN-ÖNENÇ

December 2013

Management strategies of fruit damaging pests of pomegranates: Planococcus citri, Ceratitis capitata and Deudorix (Virachola) livia

Pomegranate trees are susceptible to many pests. Marketing quality of pomegranate fruits is mainly affected by the citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri; Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata and pomegranate butterfly, Deudorix (Virachola) livia. This study aimed to determine successful management strategies for these three fruit damaging pests of pomegranates. Studies were conducted during 2011 to 2012 in 21...

Author(s): Ibrahim Kahramanoglu, and Serhat Usanmaz

December 2013

Allelopathic influence of the aqueous extract of Jatropha curcas L. leaves on wild Cichorium intybus

The communication presents an evaluation of the allelopathic effect of the aqueous extract of physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) leaves on the early development of wild chicory (Cichorium intybus) seedlings. The experiment was performed in Palotina City, State of Paraná, Brazil. The physic nut leaves were harvested and then crushed in a blender using the proportion of 1 L of distilled water for each 200 g of leaves...

Author(s): Paulo André Cremonez, Armin Feiden, Reginaldo Ferreira Santos, Doglas Bassegio, Eduardo Rossi, Willian Cézar Nadaleti, Jhonatas Antonelli and Fabiola Tomassoni

December 2013

Emergence and initial development of Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana) seedlings with different substrate compositions

The seedlings quality is one of the most important factors in the implantation of new orchards. In this sense, this work aimed to evaluate the emergence and initial development of Cape gooseberry seedlings with different substrate compositions. The experiment was performed in the experimental area of Federal Technological University of Parana, Campus of Dois Vizinhos, Brazil. The experimental design used was a randomize...

Author(s): Andre Luiz Piva, Eder Junior Mezzalira, Anderson Santin, Daniel Sschwantes, Jeferson Klein, Leandro Rampim, Fabíola Villa, Claudio Yuji Tsutsumi and Gilmar Antônio Nava

December 2013

Achievement of half whiteness of botanicals by single step bleaching process for dry flower making

Studies were conducted during 2010 to 2013 to identify the ideal bleaching agents for achieving half whiteness of different parts of plant used in dry flower making. Dried pods of Acacia auriculiformis, Sesamum indicum, Gossypium hirsutum, Pongamia glabra, and cones of Pinus spp were given bleaching treatment in a single step. Different chemicals viz., sodium hydroxide (10 %), sodium chlorite (10 and 20%), sodium...

Author(s): Manickam Visalakshi, Murugiah Jawaharlal and Manickam Kannan

December 2013

Adoption of improved production technology of Mandarin in Rajasthan, India: A review

Fruits are of great importance in the field of human nutrition. Citrus is one of the most important fruit crop in India. In India common citrus fruits are mandarin, sweet orange and lime. India also earns foreign exchange by exporting orange to Iran, Bahrin, Singapore etc. The demand for mandarin fruit is very high because of its nutritive value. Citrus fruits have a special place in Indian diet as they are rich source...

Author(s): B. C. Yadav, Ravish Choudhary and P. L. Saran

December 2013

Availability and utilization of instructional materials for effective teaching of fish production to students in senior secondary schools in Benue State, Nigeria

This study paper assessed the availability and utilization of instructional materials for effective teaching of fish production to students in senior secondary schools in Benue State, Nigeria. Four specific objectives and four research questions were developed to guide the study. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The study was carried out in Benue State. The population of the study was 284...

Author(s): Asogwa V. C., Onu D. O. and Egbo B. N.

December 2013

Limiting the rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri) damage on guava (Psidium guajava) and mango (Mangifera indica) with an ultrasonic sound player in a farmland of Faislabad, Pakistan

This paper provides information regarding the damage of rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri: Scopoli) on guava (Psidium guajava L.) and mango (Mangifera indica L.) with an ultrasonic sound player in an urban garden of Faisalabad. The rose-ringed parakeet, with the status of a serious vertebrate pest throughout the region of Central Punjab, Pakistan, with the availability of suitable roosts and nests on various...

Author(s): Hammad Ahmad Khan, Muhammad Javed, Ammara Tahir and Madeeha Kanwal

December 2013

Influence of temperature on germination performance of osmoprimed flue-cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) seeds

Seed enhancements such as seed priming can be used to improve germination uniformity and accelerate the rate of germination. The study focused on evaluating the interaction between light and temperature effects on germination percentages of osmoprimed tobacco seeds (Nicotiana tabacum L.) of eight flue-cured varieties namely K RK26, K RK28, T29, T64, T65, T66, T71 and T72. Seeds were osmoprimed for a maximum period of...

Author(s): T. H. Mukarati, D. Rukuni and T. Madhanzi

December 2013

The effects of flurprimidol concentrations and application methods on Ornithogalum saundersiae Bak. grown as a pot plant

Ornithogalum saundersiae is an ornamental bulb plant originating from South Africa that is mostly grown for cut flowers. The aim of the study was to assess the possibility of producing O. saundersiae as a pot plant using flurprimidol. A retardant in the form of the Topflor 015 preparation was used at concentrations of 15 and 30 mgË–dm-3 as a pre-plant bulb soak, a soil drench or a foliar spray. Retardant applied as a...

Author(s): Piotr Salachna and Agnieszka Zawadzińska

December 2013

Response of chips and flour from four yam varieties to Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) infestation in storage

Chips and flour from four different yam varieties (Ame, Adaka, Nwopoko and Obiaturugo) obtained from the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria were evaluated for responses to Tribolium castaneum (rust-red flour beetle) infestation in the laboratory under prevailing conditions (25-30°C and 70-90 RH) for a period of 90 days. 10 g of either chips or flour of each of the yam...

Author(s): Zakka, U., Lale, N. E. S., Duru, N. M. and Ehisianya, C. N.