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Impact of the Mineral Fertilization on the Germination and Growth of Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth by the Soilless Technique in Nursery
Chauvelin Douh,
Clément Sosthène Oko,
Ayessa Lekoundzou,
Armain Louis Hollat,
Mercia Niméliane Mouandza,
Félix Koubouana
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 3, May 2023
Pages:
74-81
Received:
8 December 2022
Accepted:
3 January 2023
Published:
24 May 2023
Abstract: The growing demand in wood energy requires mechanisms of production of the seedlings with a view to proceed reforestation to answer the needs of the populations. The study evaluates the germination and growth of Acacia auriculiformis seedlings in two types of substrates by the soilless technique. The seeds of A. auriculiformis species have been collected in Democratic Republic of Congo and sent at the Bateke Brazzaville Forest Plantations Society (SPF2B-nurseries God willing). They have been kepted cold for 20 days in a refrigerator at an temperature of about 5°C. A complete device of two substrates (substrate fertilized with NPK 11-7-6, and unfertilized substrate, i.e. 1152 seeds per substrate) has been set up at the Batéké Brazzaville Forest Plantations Society. For NPK fertilization, we have taken 1000 grams of NPK (i.e. a 1 liter cup soaked in a 10 liter watering can). Seeds have been sowned individually in each alveolus after treatment. The results reveal germination rates of 20.8% to 23.7%, respectively for the unfertilized substrate and the fertilized substrate. However, the mortality rates of 76.3% to 79.2% have been respectively recorded in the fertilized substrate and the unfertilized substrate. The Kolmogorov-Smirlov test demonstrated that there are significant differences (p-value = 0.86 and p-value = 0.200) on seed germination. As far as that goes, NPK 11-7-6 fertilization had a significant effect (p-value= 0.307) on seedlings growth. The effect of the fertilization on the mean number of phyllode demonstrated that the Shairo-Wilk test values are significant (p-value = 0.243 for the unfertilized substrate and p-value = 0.436 for the fertilized substrate). In so far as the industrial production of the seedlings of A. auriculiformis requires mineral fertilizer contribution in nursery, the study suggests large-scale reforestation of A. auriculiformis with seedlings from nurseries to ensure the sustainability of the plant considering of importance it plays with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil.
Abstract: The growing demand in wood energy requires mechanisms of production of the seedlings with a view to proceed reforestation to answer the needs of the populations. The study evaluates the germination and growth of Acacia auriculiformis seedlings in two types of substrates by the soilless technique. The seeds of A. auriculiformis species have been col...
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European Union in the Context of the Current Model of Production and Consumption: Food Self-Sufficiency from a Photosynthetic Energy Perspective
Joan-Carles Gil-Martin,
Yvonne Colomer-Xena,
Eusebi Jarauta-Bragulat,
Ramon Clotet-Ballus
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 3, May 2023
Pages:
82-91
Received:
25 April 2023
Accepted:
17 May 2023
Published:
5 June 2023
Abstract: For their effective management, food systems need to have an understanding of their capacity for self-sufficiency in a sustainable environment, not only to achieve goal 2 (zero hunger) of the 17 United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but also considering all the interrelationships between them. The European Union (EU) can be considered a complex food system due to the territorial identity of regulations that define it from production to consumption, so it makes sense to study the balance of food energy produced and consumed in its different forms. The complexity of this system requires to have detailed data for its study; The available official data often lacks these details, so it has been necessary to carry out an extensive additional search for complementary data. In this work, the EU is considered as a closed system both in population and in exchanges of valid products for its food and refers exclusively to food energy, its production and consumption, without taking into account the consumption of energy corresponding to the operation of all the agri-food chain. Food consumption, intake plus waste, has been calculated considering as intake not only basic energy consumption, but also extra consumption due to cultural, social or behavioral causes. The availability of real food energy has been evaluated from the initial value obtained from all sources and from there the photosynthetic energy dedicated to intensive livestock and equivalents and that destined to other non-food uses has been deduced. Apart from the partial data (see comments and conclusions), the global results of this study show a dietary energy deficit of the order of 17%, due to an excess of consumption, waste and the allocation to collateral uses of a part of the available energy. The information and knowledge provided by the results obtained have to be valid in order to contribute to the analysis of food strategies in the EU and provide solutions.
Abstract: For their effective management, food systems need to have an understanding of their capacity for self-sufficiency in a sustainable environment, not only to achieve goal 2 (zero hunger) of the 17 United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but also considering all the interrelationships between them. The European Union (EU) can be cons...
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Survey and Identification of Plant Parasitic Nematodes on Tomato Crop in Ethiopia
Belay Feyisa,
Gemechu Kebede,
Fikremariam Yimer
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 3, May 2023
Pages:
92-97
Received:
21 April 2023
Accepted:
27 May 2023
Published:
9 June 2023
Abstract: A survey was conducted to identify and quantify the frequency and population density of plant parasitic nematodes genera associated with tomato in Ethiopia, during 2018 cropping season. A total of one hundred nineteen composite soil and root samples were randomly collected from tomato growing areas of Oromia, SNNP, Tigray and Amhara regions. A total of eight plant parasitic genera were detected in the surveyed regions, viz Meloidogyne, Helicotylenchus, Pratylenchus, Criconema, Rotylenchulus, Scutellonema, Paralongidorus and Hoplolaimus. Meloidogyne was the most abundant and frequent genus with 283 nematodes/10g root and 45% frequency occurrence respectively. Helicotylenchus was second most frequent genus with (36%) frequency of occurrence. But in terms of abundance Pratylenchus was the second most abundant genus with mean population density of 73 nematodes/10g root followed by Helicotylenchus (62 nematodes/100ml soil). Of all the genera detected the least frequency of occurrence of (2%) and (3%) were observed with genera Criconema and Paralongidorus respectively. Additionally, Criconema and Paralongidorus were observed with lowest equal mean population density of 20 nematodes/100ml. The aim of the study was to know the distribution of plant parasitic nematodes across the four regions. Among the surveyed four regions Oromia was positive for all of the eight detected plant parasitic nematode genera while SNNP for five genera and Amhara and Tigray were positive for four and two nematode genera respectively. Criconema and Rotylenchulus were only detected in Oromia region. Moreover, the agro-ecological difference present in the sampling sites might be the underlying causes for the variation of nematode prevalence, abundance and diversity across the four regions. The study encourages more research work on establishing economic importance and designing management strategies on reported nematode pests.
Abstract: A survey was conducted to identify and quantify the frequency and population density of plant parasitic nematodes genera associated with tomato in Ethiopia, during 2018 cropping season. A total of one hundred nineteen composite soil and root samples were randomly collected from tomato growing areas of Oromia, SNNP, Tigray and Amhara regions. A tota...
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Assessment of Indigenous and Exotic Chicken Production Performance and Production Constraint at Aneded District of East Gojam, Amhara Region, Ethiopia
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 3, May 2023
Pages:
98-104
Received:
5 August 2022
Accepted:
22 September 2022
Published:
27 June 2023
Abstract: A structured survey was conducted in Aneded district, North West Ethiopia to assess the production performance of existing village chicken and exotic breeds. A formal structured survey was used to collect all the relevant data, using a multi-stage sampling technique. Six farmer administrative district (three peri urban and three from rural area a total of 60 village chicken owner households were considered for the study. The result revealed that the dominant (60.9%) chicken production system was an extensive/traditional type of production, using scavenging with supplementation of homemade grains and household food leftovers. And average age of cockerels at first mating and pullets at first egg laying were 6.4 and 6.05 month respectively for local chickens 4.74 month and 5.5 month for exotic breed respectively. The average number of total clutch periods/hen/year was 2.88 (ranged 2 - 6) for locals chickens and annual egg production performance of local hen was 64.2 eggs/hen and 137 egg/hen/year for exotic chickens under farmer’s management condition. The result revealed that majority of interviewed chicken owners experienced chicken disease problems, mainly Newcastle disease (93.3%). The major constraint of production system were disease, feed shortage, and breed distribution, predator and market access. The present study ensured that there is a strong desire to increase existing village chicken production and productivity by using indigenous chicken and exotic breeds in a highly organized and intensive manner. Generally ensuring sustainable exotic chicken distribution, veterinary service and giving training in the district is important to make small holder farmers capable in better poultry production.
Abstract: A structured survey was conducted in Aneded district, North West Ethiopia to assess the production performance of existing village chicken and exotic breeds. A formal structured survey was used to collect all the relevant data, using a multi-stage sampling technique. Six farmer administrative district (three peri urban and three from rural area a t...
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Growth and Yield Response of Green Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) to Application of Nutriplant Organic Plus Fertiliser
Mushekwa Sakumona,
Maambo Malambo Mweene,
Able Chalwe,
Rusmas Masinja
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 3, May 2023
Pages:
105-111
Received:
28 May 2023
Accepted:
14 June 2023
Published:
27 June 2023
Abstract: Production of green beans in Zambia is still low despite high demand on local and the global market. With increasing prices in vegetable basal and top dressing fertilisers, use of alternative nutrient sources such as Nutriplant Organic Plus Fertiliser (NOPF) could reduce the cost of production and induce more smallholder farmers to engage in vegetable production. Contender a dwarf variety with self-support growth mechanism popularly grown by farmers was planted in a randomized complete block design with four replications and applied with inorganic fertiliser, NOPF and the combination of the two treatments. Plant height, leaf length, leaf width, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, pod length, pod mass and yield were assessed and analysed using GENSAT Eighteenth Edition. Treatment means were separated by using Turkeys LSD test at 5% confidence level. Results showed significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) among the treatments for all parameters measured. The means of combined treatments and NOPF remained statistically the same. Green beans plants applied with NOPF recorded longer and wider leaves, and taller plants compared to the inorganic fertilisers. Similarly, NOPF plants recorded more branches than inorganic. Also, longer and heavier fresh pods were obtained from NOPF–treated plants than from inorganic fertiliser-treated plants, ultimately resulting into higher yield. Thus, the results suggest that use of organic fertiliser could double the yield of green beans and boost its production while encouraging environmental stewardship in agriculture production.
Abstract: Production of green beans in Zambia is still low despite high demand on local and the global market. With increasing prices in vegetable basal and top dressing fertilisers, use of alternative nutrient sources such as Nutriplant Organic Plus Fertiliser (NOPF) could reduce the cost of production and induce more smallholder farmers to engage in vegeta...
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Intra- and Inter-Season Stability of Cassava Plant Morphological Traits Associated with Host-Plant Resistance Against Cassava Green Mite in Zambia
Chalwe Able,
Melis Rob,
Shanahan Paul,
Chiona Martin,
Sakumona Mushekwa
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 3, May 2023
Pages:
112-118
Received:
30 May 2023
Accepted:
19 June 2023
Published:
27 June 2023
Abstract: Cassava genotypes that combine earliness with prolonged underground storability are most preferred for food security under subsistence farming. However, the long growth cycle of cassava coupled with the delayed harvesting by local farmers in Zambia exposes the crop to cassava green mite (CGM) attack which contributes to instability in yield performances of cassava. Various plant morphological traits have been recognized as direct or indirect defense mechanisms that enhance host plant resistance (HPR) to CGM. However, little research has been done to understand the stability of such traits despite their potential impact on the durability of HPR. With this background, field trials, involving sequential harvesting of cassava at 9, 12, and 15 months after planting (MAP) were conducted for two seasons. The objective of the study was to understand the variability of the indirect plant defense mechanisms, and how the interactions of genetic factors with crop age and season influence the expression of these vital traits. The genotype stability index was computed for each genotype for CGM population density and leaf damage, leaf retention, stay green, and apical leaf pubescence. There were highly significant differences among genotypes at different sampling dates for all the traits studied. Genotypes TMS 4 (2) 1425, L9.304/175, and L9.304/147 exhibited high intra-season and inter-season stability for low CGM-induced leaf damage. Genotypes Kapeza, Bangweulu and I60/42 exhibited a tolerance mechanism towards CGM. Two of these genotypes L9.304/175, and TMS 4 (2) 1425 also combined high intra-season and inter-season stability for increased leaf retention and apical leaf pubescence, while Kapeza and Bangweulu combined high inter-season stability for increased stay green and leaf retention. Genotypes that combined intra- and inter-season stability for both Low CGM population density and low CGM-induced leaf damage were also identified.
Abstract: Cassava genotypes that combine earliness with prolonged underground storability are most preferred for food security under subsistence farming. However, the long growth cycle of cassava coupled with the delayed harvesting by local farmers in Zambia exposes the crop to cassava green mite (CGM) attack which contributes to instability in yield perform...
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