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| ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological
Science
April 2017 | Vol. 12 No. 4 |
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Title: |
Response of different NPK
fertilizer rates on the growth and yield of two local
varieties of pepper (Capsicum annuum L) in Ogoo farm,
western area, Sierra Leone |
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Author (s): |
Salia M. Kanneh, Peter D. Musa,
Michael K. Osei, Dan. D. Quee, Richard Akromah and Musa
Lahai |
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Abstract: |
The overall objective of this
study was to evaluate the effect of different rates of NPK
on the growth and yield of two local pepper varieties. The
trial was conducted at the Kabala Horticultural Crops
Research Centre, Ogoo Farm, Freetown from November 2015 to
February, 2016 cropping season. The experiment was laid out
in a randomized complete block design with three
replications using two varieties of local pepper (Small hot
pepper and Gbengeh) grown in the Inland Valley Swamp. Almost
all parameters measured showed significant differences for
the two local pepper varieties with respect to different
rates of fertilizer applied. However, small pepper at 4
weeks after transplanting had no significant difference for
canopy spread and weight of nonmarketable fruit. For the
gbengeh variety, T3 (120 Kg/ha) recorded the highest 100
fruit weight while in the small pepper T4 (150 Kg/ha) had
the highest 100 fruit weight. The Control treatment had the
least values for all measured parameters. The rate of
fertilizer can influence growth and yield of pepper
considerably. However, increasing the rate of fertilizer
above 120 Kg/ha showed some negative effects on certain
parameters. Best fertilizer regimes observed fall between 90
- 120 Kg/ha. |
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Title: |
The critical period for
weed competition in soybean Glycine max (L.) Merr. under
Iraqi irrigated areas |
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Author (s): |
Ahmed A. Almarie |
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Abstract: |
A field experiment was
conducted during season 2012 to determine the Critical
Period for Weed Competition in soybean crop growing under
irrigated areas in Iraq to prevent unacceptable losses in
yield. This period, expressed according to the growing
periods of the soybean crop. The experiment included keeping
plots free of weed at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 weeks after
emergence of soybean by removing weeds manually. Then,
allowed weeds to grow after these periods until the end of
the growing season. Results showed through the seasonal
study that this period was during the fifth week after
emergence depends on acceptable yield losses 3-5% in
comparison of yield of free weed plots. Yield Losses of
soybean resulting from weed competition along the growing
season were 29.04%. Accordingly, this study recommends that
weed control must continue until the fifth week after
emergence and not to delay it for this period by using
mechanical control methods or by using herbicides, which
still effective against weeds until this period to avoid
unacceptable loss of the economic yield and minimizing the
negative impact of weeds environmentally and economically. |
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Title: |
Economic benefits of
maize and legumes (Common Bean and Dolichos lablab)
intercrop as influenced by rhizobial inoculation |
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Author (s): |
Prosper I. Massawe, Kelvin M.
Mtei, Linus K. Munishi and Patrick A. Ndakidemi |
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Abstract: |
This study was conducted to
assess the economic benefits of maize-legumes intercrops as
influenced by Rhizobium inoculation. To achieve this aim,
field experiments were conducted at Selian Agricultural
Research Institute (SARI) farm in northern Tanzania for two
cropping seasons. A randomized complete block design was
used in a 3-factorial arrangement with two levels of
Rhizobium (with and without rhizobia), 2 legumes (Phaseolus
vulgaris and Lablab purpureus) and 5 cropping systems (sole
maize or sole legumes, 1 row maize to 1 row legumes (1:1)
i.e. 0 m or 0.45 m of legume from maize row, 1 row maize to
2 rows of legumes (1:2) i.e. 0.1 m or 0.2 m of legumes from
maize rows). Economic analysis was done based on simple
fiscal analysis. Land equivalent ratios (LERs) for
maize-legumes intercrops were greater than 1 in both
cropping seasons indicating resource use efficiency in
intercrops compared with sole crop. The LERs in this study
provided insight that, in order to produce the same yields
of both legumes and maize in the separate, more than 100% of
land will be required. The results further showed that
Rhizobium inoculation significantly (P = 0.001) increased
marginal net return (MNR) and marginal rate return (MRR) for
both maize and legumes in the two cropping seasons. The
intercrop maize was most profitable than sole maize with an
increase of more than 25% compared with sole maize. In
conclusion Rhizobium inoculation in the maize legumes
intercrops resulted in superior and robust improvements in
crop yields and therefore economic benefits, relative to the
uninoculated plots. These led to high net return per dollar
of investment and marginal returns in the intercropped plot
followed by sole legumes. |
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Title: |
Development of Lasioderma
Serricorne (F.) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) on dried root and
tuber chips |
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Author (s): |
Bernard Agyeman Boateng,
William Azalekor Eric Amoafo Boamah and Edith Nonye Nwankwo |
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Abstract: |
The cigarette beetle (Lasioderma
serricorne) successfully develops on a wide range of stored
products. This study was conducted to determine the
development of the cigarette beetle on some roots and tubers
namely; cassava, yam, cocoyam and sweet potato chips at
laboratory conditions. The developmental period of the
insect, involving the egg incubation period, larval, pupal
and adult period were recorded. The adult body weight, adult
longevity and the amount of frass produced were also
determined. The cigarette beetle was a ble to complete it
life cycle from the egg stage to the adult stage on all the
different root and tuber chips. Sweet potato chips produced
significantly better in all the variables evaluated, whereas
cocoyam chips consistently served as a poor substrate for
the development of the cigarette beetle. The result of the
study has implication for long term post harvest storage of
these roots and tuber crops as chips. |
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Title: |
Effects of priming and
salt stress on seed germination and emergence
characteristics of asafetida (Ferula Assa Foetida); a
laboratory and glasshouse trial |
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Author (s): |
Somayeh Elyasirad, Sied
Gholamreza Mousavi and Gholamreza Sanjari |
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Abstract: |
The gum of asafetida (Ferula
assa-foetida) has a very high demand in market while the
supply is limited and fully dependent on natural habitats.
The objectives of this research were to evaluate the effects
of hydropriming and osmopriming on germination and emergence
characteristics of asafoetida under salt stress condition at
laboratory and glasshouse levels. The results showed that at
laboratory experiment, the germination traits (germination
percentage, germination rate, vigor index, seedling dry
weight, root and shoot lengths) increased to higher
significant levels in primed seeds with more successful
outcomes by hydroprime and osmoprime (CaCl2 at -2 MPa)
compared with un-primed in salinity condition. In glasshouse
experiment and under salinity condition, hydroprime and
osmoprime treatments achieved a much higher results than
control in almost all the emergence attributes (emergence
percentage, emergence rate, vigor index, seedling dry
weight, root and shoot lengths, root: shoot ratio, proline
content and relative water content). Based on the results of
this research we conclude that priming techniques have
capacity to significantly improve germination and emergence
characteristics of asafoetida and to reduce or in some cases
fully overcome the negative effects of the salt stresses. |
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