ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science       ISSN 1990-6145
   
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ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science                August 2014 | Vol. 9 No. 8
 
Title:

Study on suitability for Nang Xuan rice variety by combination of soil database and climate change scenario

Author (s):

Nguyen Xuan Hai and Vu Van Manh

Abstract:

In land-use management, it is important to identify the suitable area for each unique plant, in order to have a good development planning. The issue even becomes more essential for the rapid developing city like Hanoi (Vietnam) where still have large agriculture land after re-organization in 2008 and being under the high pressure of economical development. The knowledge of which area is needed to be preserving for agriculture is important. Moreover, the climate changing plays a significant part to affect on plants, because of changing in temperature and rainfall year by year. In this study, we tried to combine the soil classification with climate condition, to sketch the changes in suitable area for the most important plant in Vietnamese agriculture: rice. The results could help decision-makers in land-use management, in order to ensure food security by preserving agriculture land out of urbanization process.

 
 
 
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Title:

Growth and absorbance of heavy metals of reed plants (Phragmites australis) in soil after mineral mining in Thai Nguyen province of Vietnam

Author (s):

Trần Thị Phả, Đặng Văn Minh, Dam Xuan Van and Lę Đức

Abstract:

Reed plant (Phragmites australis) is an indigenous and wild plant species which was found as a pioneer plant appearing in many places after mineral mining in Thai Nguyen province of Vietnam. This plant has the capacity to uptake heavy metals in soil so that it is considered to be a good biological control method in contaminated soils. The study was conducted to survey five (5) different places after mineral mining in Thai Nguyen  such as Trại Cau iron mine, Lang Hich lead-zinc mine, Muoi Nac lead-zinc mine, Cay Cham titanium mine 1 and Cay Cham titanium mine 2. The results showed that reed is a pioneer plant and appears in different topographical conditions from catchment areas to slope shoulder. However, dense plant populations were found in lower places with high soil moisture contents. Due to long mineral mining process, the topsoil has been shuffled, causing effects on the growth and the population distribution of plants. High contents of heavy metals were accummulated in reed plant body as follows: Zn 1154.66 mg/kg; Pb 243.92 mg/kg, Cd 35.84 mg/kg, and As 199.02 mg/kg. The accumulation of heavy metals in reed plant is proportional with the contents of heavy metals in soil and inversedly correlational with pH and organic carbon content in the soil. It is recognized that reed plants play an enormous role in absorbing heavy metals and in keeping the soil free from pollutants after mining.

 
 
 
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Title:

Production of energy sticks from the solid waste of straw mushroom cultivation

Author (s):

Prayong Keeratiurai

Abstract:

One community in Khon Buri district of Nakhon Ratchasima province was cultivated more straw mushroom. Cultivated straw mushroom will cause a lot of solid waste. The solid waste from straw mushroom cultivation created environmental problems and affected to the quality of straw mushroom cultivation. This research had the idea to study the utilization of solid waste of straw mushroom cultivation and solved environmental problems. The production of renewable energy in the form of the charcoal powder compressed to sticks and the green charcoal sticks from the solid waste of straw mushroom cultivation. This research also evaluated the heating value from the green charcoals and the charcoal powder briquettes that compared to normal wood charcoals. The method of green charcoal production was the solid waste from straw mushroom cultivation was crushed then was mixed with tapioca starch and was done extrusions. In addition, this study also brought the solid waste from straw mushroom cultivation to produce the charcoal powder briquette. By bringing it burned to black charcoal, then crushed and mixed with tapioca starch and compressed into the charcoal powder briquette. Then took the green charcoal sticks and the charcoal powder briquette, were tested to evaluate the heating value with the Bomb Calorimeter. This study was the water boiling to measure temperature of water increases with time. The heating value of the green charcoal sticks and the charcoal powder briquette were compared with results from the normal wood charcoal that was fuel in the same manner. This study tested to three times, using the quantities of the green charcoal sticks were 1 kg, 2 kg and 3 kg, the charcoal powder briquette were 1 kg, 2 kg and 3 kg and the normal wood charcoal were 1 kg, 2 kg and 3 kg. The results of this study showed the amount of the energy sticks had directly affects to the heating value and the duration of the fire. The quantities of green charcoal were 1 kg, 2 kg and 3 kg had the heating value were 0.339 kW, 0.611 kW, and 0.985 kW, respectively. The quantities of  charcoal power briquette were 1 kg, 2 kg and 3 kg had the heating value were 0.603 kW, 0.753 kW, and 1.005 kW, respectively. And the quantities of normal wood charcoal were 1 kg, 2 kg and 3 kg had the heating value were 0.703 kW, 0.746 kW, and 0.921 kW, respectively. The results of this study also showed that the heating value per unit of the green charcoal, the charcoal power briquette, and the normal wood charcoal were 0.324±0.017 kW/kg, 0.438±0.144 kW/kg, and 0.461±0.212 kW/kg, respectively. The charcoal power briquette and the normal wood charcoal had the duration of the fire were 83.33±25.17 minutes and 90.00±30.00 minutes, respectively while the green charcoal had the duration of the fire was 66.67±12.58 minutes. This study concluded that the green charcoal and the charcoal power briquette that made ​​from the solid waste of the straw mushroom cultivation could be used instead of the normal wood charcoal.

 
 
 
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Title:

Contribution of root and tuber crops in the agricultural transformation agenda in Nigeria

Author (s):

Eke-Okoro O.N., Njoku D.N., Mbe J.O., Awah J.I., Ezulike T.O. and O.C. Eke-Okoro

Abstract:

Nigeria, since 1960 has witnessed the birth and death of several notable Agricultural programmes fashioned to develop Agriculture, reduce rural poverty and earn foreign exchange. More than twenty agricultural programmes have been introduced by past and present government in Nigeria. Some of these programmes have made positive impact to the economy in boosting food production especially in Root and tuber crops. Currently, Nigeria is the largest producer of most of the root and tuber crops in the world but ninety-five percent of what is produced is consumed internally in unprocessed forms; hence Nigeria continues to import finished products such as starch, flour, sweeteners and adhesives that are made from root and tuber crops, and this is unacceptable. The present agricultural transformation agenda on root and tuber crops is mainly to engineer bulk of the root and tuber crops in the country into value-added products to match the increasing new tastes and needs for root and tuber crops products across the globe. It is also intended to provide job opportunities and generate income for Nigerians. The potential demand of 250,000 tons per year for high quality cassava flour by local and foreign companies, and replacement of bread flour by 40% cassava flour can only be met with root and tuber crops resources.

 
 
 
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Title:

Effect of acetosyringone on Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of cotton

Author (s):

Afolabi-Balogun N.B, Inuwa H.M, Ishiyaku M.F Bakare-Odunola M.T, Nok A.J and Adebola P. A

Abstract:

Genetic transformation method using Agrobacterium tumefaciens was developed for cotton plant species. Following the efficient regeneration of three cotton varieties, the effect of inclusion of acetosyringone in co-cultivation medium was measured. Subsequently, transformation was obtained by co- cultivation of 3 weeks old cotton apical shoot and A. tumefaciens strain LBA 4404 containing a plasmid harboring neomycin phosphotransferase and b-glucuronidase encoding genes. PCR analyses performed to identify the presence of marker gene (npt II) in the transgenic plants using primers used for amplification of a 700 bp fragment of the npt II gene showed that 87% of the transgenic plants selected for kanamycin resistance were transformed with the gene encoding b-glucuronidase. Routine transformation efficiency of cotton was established at 1.3%. The mean number of GUS positive apices was 67% higher when acetosyringone was included in the medium.

 
 
 
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Title:

Assessment of the knowledge level of citrus and pineapple farmers about occupational health hazards in selected states of southwestern Nigeria

Author (s):

Olajide-Taiwo F.B. and Olawoye J.E.

Abstract:

Farmers are generally exposed to different types of health hazards and illness conditions in the course of carrying out their farming activities. This study assessed the knowledge level of citrus and pineapple farmers about occupational health hazards in Southwestern Nigeria. Multistage random sampling technique was used to select four states representing 50% of the states in southwest agro ecological zone. The lists of citrus and pineapple farmers were generated through the assistance of Agricultural Development Programmes staff and recognized farmers’ associations in the selected states. A total of 426 farmers representing fifty percent of the farmers from the list were randomly sampled. Data were collected using pre-tested structured interview schedule and focus group discussion and analyzed using frequency counts and percentages. The mean age of the respondents was 50 years, 80.5% were females, 90.1% were married, 70.4% had one form of education or the other while 29.6% had no formal education. Respondents from Osun (82.0%) and Oyo states (54.4%) had low knowledge about health hazards and occupational-related illness while Edo state (61.3%) and Ondo state (75.5%) had high knowledge. Edo (57.0%), Oyo (56.7%) and Ondo (74.5%) states had low health and safety utilization measures. Concerted effort should be put in place to improve their knowledge in order to empower them and enhance their potentials in contributing to the value chain development in horticultural industry in Nigeria.

 
 
 
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