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Impact of Plant Spacing and Picking Interval on the Growth, Fruit Quality and Yield of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)
Rajendra Prasad Maurya,
Jamar A. Bailey,
Jeff St. A. Chandler
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 4, November 2013
Pages:
48-54
Received:
29 August 2013
Published:
30 September 2013
Abstract: A field experiment was conducted on okra to determine the optimum plant spacing (30 cm x 45 cm, 60 cm x 30 cm and 60 cm x 45 cm) and picking interval (1 and 2 days) regime which would promote the maximum yield with quality fruits of okra cv. ‘Clemson Spineless’. The study was carried out in the Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences during April – July 2012. The six treatments were laid out in a randomized complete blocked design (RCBD), using three replications. The thickest (2.50 cm) stem diameter, greatest (41.86 cm) leaf diameter and maximum (1.72) number of branches per plant and the highest (415.60 g) yield per plant was recorded at the widest (60 cm x 45 cm) spacing. However, the yield per hectare was decreased with the increasing plant spacing. The highest (147.20 cm) plant height and (18.96 tons) yield per hectare was obtained in the closest spacing (45 cm x 30 cm). The longest (15.96 cm) length, widest (2.22 cm) diameter, fresh (27.23 g) and dry (5.38 g) weight per fruit per plant were recorded at 2 days fruit picking interval and all fruits were tender and very marketable. The highest (23.99 tons) yield per hectare was recorded at the closest spacing of 45 cm x 30 cm at 2 days picking interval which was significantly higher than any other combination of plant spacing and picking interval.
Abstract: A field experiment was conducted on okra to determine the optimum plant spacing (30 cm x 45 cm, 60 cm x 30 cm and 60 cm x 45 cm) and picking interval (1 and 2 days) regime which would promote the maximum yield with quality fruits of okra cv. ‘Clemson Spineless’. The study was carried out in the Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences during ...
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Crop Biodiversity: Potential of Sustainability Indicators and Poverty Reduction in Farming Systems in Sudan
Raga Mohamed Elzaki,
Azharia Abdelbaghi Elbushra,
Ali Musa Eissa,
Shams Eldein Hassab Alla Ahmed
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 4, November 2013
Pages:
55-62
Received:
23 September 2013
Published:
30 October 2013
Abstract: This paper presents a theoretical and empirical analysis of the impact of crop biodiversity on poverty reduction and to evaluate the biodiversity of cropping system and its effects on ecological sustainability in rural Sudan. It is based mainly on primary data collected from the household survey. The study focuses on the problem of rural farmers from a broader perspective, among agricultural farming systems in rural Sudan, named as traditional rainfed, irrigated and mechanized rainfed farming system. Poverty line and indicators were analyzed using the Foster Greer and Thorbecke method. The results of the study reveal that the poverty in rural Sudan had been more wide spread and deep in traditional and mechanized farms in contrast with the irrigated farms. In the irrigated farms the farm size is small and the framers are governed by government towards cropping systems and types of crops cultivated. In the mechanized and traditional farms the land size was large, so no rule of what types of crop cultivated. Biodiversity of the three farming systems is differed and concentrated in crop and livestock practices, no aquatic fisheries was practices in farms. The crop diversity is more practices by the non- poor farmers. Results also proved a significant correlation between crop biodiversity indicators with ecological sustainability in the cropping systems. The cultivation of the forage legume is a highly significantly affecting the sustainability in farms. Crop residues management has significantly a positive effect on the water use in the farms. Efficiency and sustainability of crops production would help poor farmers rise out of poverty.
Abstract: This paper presents a theoretical and empirical analysis of the impact of crop biodiversity on poverty reduction and to evaluate the biodiversity of cropping system and its effects on ecological sustainability in rural Sudan. It is based mainly on primary data collected from the household survey. The study focuses on the problem of rural farmers fr...
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Economic Analysis of Mixed Sorghum with Cowpea Production in Guyuk Local Government Area, Adamawa State, Nigeria
J. W Zalkuwi,
O. Gwandi,
Dia Y. Z
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 4, November 2013
Pages:
63-67
Received:
13 September 2013
Published:
30 October 2013
Abstract: A study on the economic analysis of sorghum under mixed (with cowpea) cropping system in Guyuk Local Government area of Adamawa State, Nigeria was carried out with a focus on the socio-economic characteristic of the farmers, profitability and resource productivity of mixed sorghum production. Descriptive statistics, budgeting technique and stochastic frontier production analysis were applied to primary data collected from a random sample of 100 mixed sorghum producer. The results shows that 79% of the respondents were male, 80% had formal education and their average farm size 2.5 hectare. A gross margin and net income of ₦44,764.87 and₦ 42,414.01per hectare respectively revealed that mixed sorghum production is profitable. The result of the stochastic frontier production analysis shows that the variance parameter, that is sigma squared (ɗ2) and gamma (ϒ) were statistically significant at 1% level. The coefficient of farm size and seed were positive and significant at 1% level while family and hired labour were negative and insignificant. Profit level can be increased by increasing the amount of farm size and quantity of seeds and decreasing the use of manual labour. Mean efficiency was 0.8823 meaning that farmer operates at 11.77%below frontier level due to variation in technical efficiency. Major problems identified were pest and diseases, shortage/high cost of input, and shortage of storage facility. Timely supplies of input at subsidized rates and financial support to farmers among others were proffered.
Abstract: A study on the economic analysis of sorghum under mixed (with cowpea) cropping system in Guyuk Local Government area of Adamawa State, Nigeria was carried out with a focus on the socio-economic characteristic of the farmers, profitability and resource productivity of mixed sorghum production. Descriptive statistics, budgeting technique and stochast...
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In Vitro Selection of Rock Phosphate Solubility by Microorganism from Ultisols in South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Muh Jayadi,
Baharuddin,
Bachrul Ibrahim
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 4, November 2013
Pages:
68-73
Received:
18 November 2013
Published:
20 December 2013
Abstract: Phosphorus (P) is the second most required nutrient of plants, but its availability in ultisols is relatively low. Source of P can be found from rock phosphate (RP) which has low solubility level. Use of microbial solubilizing phosphate such as bacteria, fungi or combination of both is potential to increase availability of P. This research was aimed to find bacterial or fungal isolates that are high potential in solubilizing of RP. In vitro selection was conducted to obtain indigenous bacteria or fungi from Ultisols of South Sulawesi. Selection of microbes for their capability to solubate rock phosphate qualitatively, conducted through measuring the solubility index (SI) and solubility efficiency (SE) on pykovskaya solid medium and on National Botanical Research Institutes phosphate-bromophenol blue (NBRIP-BPB) medium. The results of this study indicated that from SI and SE highest values, four high potential isolates were selected namely, Aspergillus niger JTM 2, Bacillus sp JTM 3, Aspergillus niger JTM 6 and Pseudomonas sp JTM 10. Ability of solubilizing phosphate from the four isolates was then tested in liquid medium pikovskaya either in single or mixed combination. Solubilizing phosphate of RF was determined according to [1] method. The results of test on solid media indicate that Bacillus sp JTM 3 and Pseudomonas sp JTM 10 have SI and SE higher than both Aspergillus niger JTM 2 and Aspergillus niger JTM 6. Futhermore, test on Pikovskaya liquid media confirmed that Aspergillus niger JTM 6 and Pseudomonas sp JTM 10 gives the higher results than other single isolates and control, whereas the combination of isolates Bacillus sp JTM 3 and Aspergillus niger JTM 2 indicated significantly higher solubilizing phosphorus production than all other treatments.
Abstract: Phosphorus (P) is the second most required nutrient of plants, but its availability in ultisols is relatively low. Source of P can be found from rock phosphate (RP) which has low solubility level. Use of microbial solubilizing phosphate such as bacteria, fungi or combination of both is potential to increase availability of P. This research was aime...
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An Effect of Fertilizer Management Practices on the Yield of T. Aman Rice under Tidal Ecosystem
M. Debnath,
Md Torikul Islam,
Esmat Jahan Emi,
S Hasna,
Md Harun-Or-Rashid,
Swadesh Chandra Samanta
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 4, November 2013
Pages:
74-79
Received:
26 December 2013
Published:
20 February 2014
Abstract: The experiment was carried out at the field laboratory of Department of Agronomy, Patuakhali Science & Technology University, Dumki, during the period from July 2011 to December 2011 to assess the comparative advantages of using Urea Super Granule (USG) and NPK briquette over normal urea, Triple super phosphate and Muriate of Potash and also predict the better performing T. aman rice. The effect of different levels of fertilizer was studied on growth, yield and yield attributing character of T. aman. Six fertilizer Treatments (F0= Control(No urea), F1 = Total urea (150 kg ha-1)during land preparation at available tide free time, F2 = Urea (75 kg ha-1)at 2 split, F3 = Urea (50 kg ha-1)at 3 split, F4 = Urea Super Granule (54 kg N ha-1) at 10 days after transplanting and F5 = NPK briquette ( 42Kg N ha-1 9 Kg P ha-1 12 Kg K ha-1)at 10 days after transplanting of T. aman rice). Besides, TSP, MOP , zinc sulphate and Gypsum were applied @100, 70, 50 and 12 kg ha-1 respectively as basal dose. The experiment was laid out in a Split plot design with 3 replications. The analysis revealed that different fertilizer management practices with a few exceptions significantly influenced the growth, yield and yield attributes of the T. aman rice. Plant height, number of effective tillers hill-1, number of non-effective tillers hill-1, panicle length (cm), number of grains panicle-1, number of sterile spikelet’s panicle-1, nitrogen use efficiency (%), straw yield(t ha-1) and grain yield (t ha-1) were found highest when NPK briquette was applied and all the characters showed lowest value when control. Highest number of effective tillers hill-1 (13.00) and grain yield (6.60 t ha-1) was obtained from NPK briquette and where lowest number of effective tillers hill-1 (5.66) and grain yield (4.48 t ha-1).The NPK briquettes showed higher agronomic efficiency than Prilled urea(PU) and Urea super granule(USG). The small size briquettes (2.4 g) could save 33 kg N ha-1 compared to recommended PU. There was no residual effect of NPK briquettes on soil chemical properties.The NPK briquettes were found beneficial to the farmers in tidal ecosystem.
Abstract: The experiment was carried out at the field laboratory of Department of Agronomy, Patuakhali Science & Technology University, Dumki, during the period from July 2011 to December 2011 to assess the comparative advantages of using Urea Super Granule (USG) and NPK briquette over normal urea, Triple super phosphate and Muriate of Potash and also predic...
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