February 2013
A novel method of analyzing rearing system on lamb growth and farm profitability
This experiment was conducted to compare the lamb growth performance under lamb suckling and milk replacer (MR) regimes. In total, forty four lambs (Cukurova Assaf (CA) and Cukurova Meat Sheep (CMS)) were consisted of the animal material. Artificial reared (AR) lambs were removed from ewes 2 days after postpartum and moved indoors. Lambs received calf milk replacer thrice daily until weaning at 6...
February 2013
Cross sectional study of bovine trypanosomosis and major clinical signs observed in Diga District, Western Ethiopia
A cross sectional study was conducted on a total of 410 zebu cattle in selected Kebeles of Diga Woreda, Western Ethiopia. The purposes of the study were to determine the prevalence and species of trypanosomes infecting cattle using buffy coat darkground-phase contrast technique and thin blood smear and to assess the associations of common complaints observed by cattle owners with detected trypanosomosis....
February 2013
The use of scientific and indigenous knowledge in agricultural land evaluation and soil fertility studies of two villages in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Local people and small-scale farmers have knowledge of their lands based on soil and land characteristics that remain largely unknown to the scientific community. It is therefore important for researchers to understand farmers’ knowledge of soil classification and management. To address this, indigenous knowledge was elicited by questionnaires from 59 households in two villages (Ezigeni and Ogagwini),...
February 2013
Soil depth inferred from electromagnetic induction measurements
There is a need for rapid cost effective methods to obtain spatially distributed data of soil depth. Soil depth determines the subsurface topography, a major control on the distribution of flowpaths in landscapes. An EM38 survey was conducted on a 12 ha site at Bloemfontein, South Africa. A significant linear relationship between soil depth and ECa were obtained with multiple linear regression (Soil...
February 2013
Competitive capacity of cassava with weeds: Implications on accumulation of dry matter
This work aimed to determine the competitive ability of two varieties of cassava against six weed species at initial growth stages, in relation to the allocation of dry mass in plants. The trial was conducted as a factorial experiment, with two cassava genotypes (IAC - 12 and Periquita) under competition with six weed species (Euphorbia heterophylla, Bidens pilosa, Cenchrus...
February 2013
Decomposition of blue gum (Eucalyptus maidenii) leaf litter may accelerate the maturation and senescence of spinach (Spinacia oleracea)
In order to study the effect of decomposition of eucalyptus leaf litter on crops in agroforestry ecosystems, a pot experiment was conducted with five treatments, that is, 0 (the control), 30, 60, 90, and 120 g of blue gum (Eucalyptus maidenii) leaf litter were mixed with 10 kg of soil, namely CK, L30, L60, L90, and L120, respectively. Spinach (Spinacia oleracea), the selected receptor, was seeded for...
February 2013
Effects of decapitation on dry fruit and seed yield of early (Abelmoschus esculentus) and late okra (Abelmoschus caillei) cultivars in South Eastern Nigeria
The effects of decapitation and non-decapitation on dry fruit and seed production by 12 cultivars of early and late okra cultivars were studied for two cropping seasons. The analysis of variance showed that year was very highly significant while decapitation-non decapitation, as well the interaction between year and decapitation- non decapitation, for the four treatments for both early and late okra types,...
February 2013
Influence of the drying temperature on the emergence and vigor of Pequi seedlings (Caryocar brasiliense Camb), an important species of the Brazilian cerrado
The aim of this present study was to evaluate the influence of drying time and temperature on the physiological quality of pequi diaspores (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.). The diaspores were maintained in a forced-air circulation oven at 57±2 and 37±2°C for 0, 4, 8 and 12 days. The diaspores that were dehydrated at 37±2°C for up to 12 days showed a linear increase in the speed...
February 2013
Effect of foliar application of nutrients and biostimulant on nut quality and leaf nutrient status of pecan nut cv. “Western Schleyâ€
A field study on pecan nut (cv. Western Schley) was conducted in the experimental orchard of the Department of Fruit science, Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan during the year 2008 to 2009. The study comprised of one experiment in which pecan trees under investigation were subjected to foliar spray of 0.5% urea, 0.1% boric acid, 0.5%, zinc sulphate, 5 ml/L supramino...
February 2013
Surface color based prediction of oil content in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) fresh fruit bunch
The oil palm, a perennial oil yielding crop, is the richest source of vegetable oils which can produce 4 to 6 MT of palm oil (mesocarp oil) and 0.4 to 0.6 t of palm kernel oil per hectare per annum. The extent of oil available/extractable depends on the ripeness stage of the fruits. The present study was undertaken to evaluate different maturity stages of oil palm fruits in terms of color and oil content,...
February 2013
The first report of Fusarium proliferatum causing garlic bulb rots in Mexico
Garlic bulbs were collected in the North of Aguascalientes, Mexico. The plant pathogens were isolated, purified and identified down to its species, based on taxonomic keys. Their identity was confirmed by Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) and pathogenicity tests were conducted under laboratory conditions. Fusarium proliferatum was identified by the pathogenicity tests. The fungus was isolated from...
February 2013
Ergonomic intervention in sugarcane harvesting knives
Ergonomic evaluation of farm tools is necessary to improve the fit between the physical demands of the tools and the worker who perform the work. In spite of improved farm mechnization, the use of the hand tools is inevitable in certain agricultural operations like sugarcane harvesting. Commonly used and high energy demanding tools like sugarcane harvesting knives of various models available in India were...
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