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| ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological
Science
September 2013 | Vol. 8 No. 9 |
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Title: |
Research
and assessment of surface water quality in Xuan Thuy Ramsar
site |
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Author (s): |
Tran Thi
Kim Tinh, Nguyen Xuan Hai, Vu Duc Loi and Duong Tuan Hung |
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Abstract: |
Xuan Thuy Ramsar site is recognized the first
Ramsar site in Vietnam and South East Asia in 1989. This is
an internationally important wetland area for migratory
water birds and shorebirds, regularly supporting several
globally threatened species. It comprises of three islands
and mudflats, the most important habitat being the
intertidal mudflats and natural mangroves. The mangrove
forest is one of considerable importance in maintaining the
fishery, as a source of timber, and in protecting coastal
settlements from the full impact of typhoons. Water quality
is main component that plays important role with the
development of mangrove ecosystem and aquatic species.
Today, there are a lot of activities as fishing and
aquaculture, which carries out in the Ramsar site and they
can cause influence in water quality and ecological
character of Ramsar site. This research focus on survey,
collection of surface water samples and analysis these
samples, and assessment of water quality via some of
parameter as pH, BOD, COD, T-N, T-P, T-coliform and metals.
Result research showed that all of parameters are in
allowable limit of Vietnam Standards on surface water and
coastal water quality, except for BOD and COD in some
positions of Ramsar site are higher than that in Vietnam
Standards. So that, Xuan Thuy Ramsar site should implement
on wise use of wetland in order to manage and control the
surface water quality for sustainable development of Ramsar
site. |
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Title: |
Assessment of the carbon emitted from the layer and young
chicken farming under the uncertainty |
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Author (s): |
Prayong
Keeratiurai, Nathawut Thanee and Panisara
Vichairattanatragul |
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Abstract: |
Decision making under
uncertainty could analyzed environmental problems from the
energy using of the tender young chicken and layer farms in
egg production. The analysis was based on pay of matrix
principle by using all alternatives such as the energy
sectors, situations of carbon emission from young chicken
farms and layer farms. Then make the decision follow Pay off
Matrix, Laplace Rule, Maximax Rules and Minimax Regret Rule
on environmental problems.
Life cycle inventory is a useful tool for estimating carbon
mass of the food support eating. Layers were energy using
animals that were raised for their egg, and produced
emissions of green house gases such as CO2 and CH4.
Therefore it was important to study and understand the
relationship between the carbon emissions and carbon mass
transfer for egg production. This case study of egg
production were studied to evaluate carbon emission on layer
farms, to investigate the rate of carbon massflow from layer
feed to layers and egg in farms and to study the carbon
emission in energy patterns from electric energy and petrol
used of the tender young chicken and layer farms in egg
production. The study showed that total carbon emission per
individual per year for production of layers was 0.030 tonC./ind./year.
According to theories and rules applied in making the
decision on environmental problems, they could be concluded
that LPG and electricity were the best alternative but
transportation energy for layer and egg production caused
highest environmental problems among these three
alternatives of the energy sectors. The study also showed
that in both provinces, Nakhon Nayok and Khon Kaen, immature
layers emitted carbon from the use of energy less than
mature layers. The carbon emission from the using of
transportation energy was quite high in terms of energy
using but low in the using of electricity and LPG
activities. Therefore,
farmers should reduce emissions from energy consumption such
as reduce distance for layer feed and layers transportation
to farms. The using of fuel for transportation should be
reduced because it creates the highest carbon emission. |
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Title: |
Aging
affects the number of WBC and its subsets in a Pakistani
cohort of young and elderly women |
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Author (s): |
Rahmat
Gul, Iftikhar Alam,
Ibrar Alam, Saleem Khan and Pervez I Paracha |
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Abstract: |
Aging is a universal
phenomenon with an inconspicuous decline in nutrition and
immune functions. The present study was undertaken to
establish the effect of aging on selected cells of immune
function in a cohort of young and elderly female in
Pakistan. A sample of 60 (30 each young and elderly)
generally healthy women participated in the study.
Anthropometrics (weight, height, WC) were measured and BMI
and WHR were calculated following standard procedure.
Dietary intake was assessed by 24-hr dietary recall. Fresh
blood samples were used for WBC and its differential counts.
The results demonstrated age-related changes in the number
of WBC and its subsets. The number of atelets decreased
significantly with increasing age (p>0.0001). The number of
WBC and its subsets (basophils and neutrophils) decreased
with increasing age. However, these trends were
statistically non-significant (p, for all trends >0.05).
Monocytes significantly increased with increasing age
(p=0.0096), while lymphocytes decreased with age but only
with a borderline statistical significance (p=0.051). In
conclusion, normal aging has a significant effect on the
number of platelets, WBC and
its fractional counts. Most of the cells decrease with
increasing age. These changes may have important clinical
implications and therefore, further investigations are
needed. |
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Title: |
Groundnut
(Arachis hypogaea L) varietal response to spacing in
the humid forest zone of Ghana |
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Author (s): |
Konlan S,
Sarkodies-Addo J, Asare E, Adu-Dapaah H and
Kombiok M. J |
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Abstract: |
An experiment was conducted at
Anwomaso in the Ashanti Region to investigate the response
of groundnut varieties to spacing arrangement in the humid
forest agro-ecological zone of Ghana. The experiment was
laid in randomised complete block (RCB) design with three
replicates. Six groundnut varieties (Adepa, Azivivi, Jenkaar,
Kpanieli, Nkosuor and Manipintar) were studied using three
spacing arrangements (30 cm x 15 cm), (40 cm x 10 cm) and
(50 cm x 10 cm). The Adepa and Kpanieli varieties
significantly improved pod yield by 6.3 and 10.2 %
respectively in 2006 and 2007 while the 30 cm x 15 cm
spacing significantly increased pod yields by 16.8 and 0.6 %
respectively, in 2006 and 2007. In both years, the 50 cm x
10 cm spacing arrangement increased mean seed weight by 4.1
and 3.7 % respectively. Stover N (kg N ha-1) was
improved by Jenkaar (4.1 %) and Kpanieli (6.4 %) while the
30 cm x 15 cm spacing improved stover N by 4.4 and 7.4 %
respectively, in 2006 and 2007. Based on the results, the
recommended groundnut varieties for adoption and further
research in the humid forest agro-climate were Adepa and
Kpanieli with the 30 cm x 15 cm as the promising spacing
arrangement. |
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Title: |
Effect of
2% fenugreek (Trigonella fænum græcum L)
supplementation on performance and the lactation curve of
rabbit does |
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Author (s): |
I. Rekik
and R. Bergaoui |
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Abstract: |
The influence of adding the fenugreek (Trigonella
fænum græcum L.) on the lactation curve was studied in
the rabbits does (New-Zealand X Californian X local). Thirty
does were randomly divided into three groups (n =10)
considering live weight, parity. Two types of diets were
used: A control group was fed a normal diet (C), while the
treated groups (E1 and E2) received
the diet (C) supplemented with 2% of fenugreek (E). The does
of group E1 consume
the E diet and those of E2 consume
the diet E only during two weeks before weaning otherwise
does eat diet (C). The groups were nursed until weaning at
35 days of age. Milk yield was measured daily until day 35
with separation of kits and weighing the does immediately
before and after controlled sucking. Findings of induction
of 2% fenugreek in diet establish that the mortality at the
birth is lower than the control groups. We observed
especially in group E1 that the weight of the rabbits before
weaning is 58, 14g±9, 86; and the quantity of milk produced
is significantly important (p<0.05) than the other groups
with a peak of 237, 17g for the group E1 and 163,
95g for the control group. |
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Title: |
Current
status and future opportunities of pepper production in
Eritrea |
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Author (s): |
Brhan K.
Saleh, Nyende A.B., Kasili R. Mamati E. and Woldeamlak Araia |
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Abstract: |
Pepper has been grown in Eritrea
for a very
long period. The crop was well utilized during the 1950s up
to 1970s when the export demand was high. Currently yield
per hectare of pepper is continuing to decline from 10.6
t/ha in 2008 to 4t/ha in 2011. A study was conducted in 10
major pepper growing sub-regions located in four regions for
determining the major constraints and opportunities of
pepper production in Eritrea. A participatory rural
appraisal method that included collection of secondary data,
key informants interviews, focus group discussions and
formal household survey was used. The major constraints
identified were unavailability of improved and quality seed,
inputs and services, insect pests and diseases, small
acreage and discouraging land tenure system, improper
marketing chain, poor extension service and persistent
drought that affect water availability. Opportunities are
availability of vast lands, favourable climate, domestic and
export markets and experienced farmers with high willingness
to grow pepper. The results of the study show that average
family size was 8.2±3.2, working members of the family were
3±2.2 and male to female ratio was 1.1:1. The age of the
respondents ranged from 24-86 with average of 53.2±13.5
years and 98% of the interviewed households were man headed.
Respondents who had formal education were 73% and illiterate
15.9% while 11% could read and write. Experience in growing
pepper ranged from 1 to 66 years with average of 16.4±13.8.
Cereals and vegetables producers comprised 49.5% of the
respondents while 31.3% were active in vegetable production.
The percentage of respondents growing green pepper was
40.7%, dry pepper 25.8% and both types 33.5%. Average land
size was 3.66±8.1ha and area allotted to pepper 1±2.22.
Farmers who kept their own seed were 69.2% and those who
produced their own seedlings are 82.4%. Days from sowing to
transplanting ranged from 20-90days with average of 44±13
days. Majority of farmers (86.3%) grow pepper once a year,
73.6% of them plough the land 2 or 3 times, 51.6% use animal
driven equipments for plough and 83.5% transplant into
narrow ridge. Average spacing between rows was 51.4±13.2cm
and between plants in row was 29.6±12.2 resulting in 51, 154
plants/ha. Majority of the farmers applied fertilizers. The
percentage of respondents who applied organic and mineral
fertilizers was 76.9% and 70.9% respectively; however, the
amount is far below the recommended. Severity of insect
pests, diseases and weed problems were found to be 58.8,
56.6 and 42.3% respectively. Eritrea has great potential for
pepper production however, constraints need to be overcome
and opportunities maximized. |
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Title: |
Assessment of the carbon massflow from the layer farming
with life cycle inventory |
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Author (s): |
Prayong
Keeratiurai, Nathawut Thanee and Panisara
Vichairattanatragul |
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Abstract: |
Life cycle inventory is a
useful tool for estimating carbon mass of the food support
eating. Layers were energy using animals that were raised
for their egg, and produced emissions of green house gases
such as CO2 and CH4. Therefore it was
important to study and understand the relationship between
the carbon emissions and carbon mass transfer for egg
production. This case study of egg production were studied
to evaluate carbon emission on layer farms, to investigate
the rate of carbon massflow from layer feed to layers and
egg in farms and to study the carbon emission in energy
patterns from electric energy and petrol used in egg
production. The study showed that the weight measurements of
layer on farms found that a layer was 1.91 ± 0.15 kg/head at
400.63 ± 109.72 days. The egg weight measurements of
layer on farms found was 0.047
±
0.009 kg/head/day. The study also showed that the carbon
emitted per unit from a layer of the young chicken farms and
layer farms in Khon Kaen and Nakhon Nayok provinces were
0.004
±
0.003 and 0.006
±
0.003 kg.C/individual/day, respectively and the carbon
emission from the using of transportation energy was 94.29
%, the carbon emission from the using of electricity energy
and the carbon emission from the using of LPG was 2.86 % and
2.86 %, respectively. The productive carbon footprint of 1
kg of egg was 5.612 kg.CO2.equivalent. The carbon
fixation in eggs was 0.013
±
0.003 kg.C/individual/day, and the rate of carbon massflow
from layer feed (Cinput) of Khon Kaen and Nakhon
Nayok provinces were 0.027
±
0.004 and 0.042
±
0.004 kg.C / individual / day, respectively. The ratio of
total carbon emitted per unit to total carbon contents per
unit in layer feed (Cemitted / Cinput)
of Khon Kaen and Nakhon Nayok provinces were 14.80 and
14.29, respectively. The ratio of total carbon emitted per
day to carbon fixation per day in layers (Cemitted
/ Cfixation) of Khon Kaen and Nakhon Nayok
provinces were 17.39 and 16.67, respectively. The carbon
emission from the using of transportation energy was quite
high in terms of energy using but low in the using of
electricity and LPG activities.
Therefore, farmers should reduce emissions
from energy consumption such as reduce electricity
utilization in layer farming and reduce distance for layer
feed and layers transportation to farms. The using of fuel
for transportation should be reduced because it creates the
highest carbon emission. The
result of this study also showed that the average egg weight
was 62.8
±
4.45 g. / egg and 308.11 eggs / head at 80 weeks old of
layer. The relation between the average egg weight (g.) and
phase out of egg laying (weeks) was the average egg weight
in gram = 5.4368 * Ln * (phase out of egg laying in weeks) +
44.935 at R2 = 0.8388. The layer had the highest
percentage of the rate of egg laying in range 84 - 86 % at
27 - 28 degree Celsius. The relation between the rate of egg
laying (%) and temperature (°C)
was the percentage of rate of egg laying = 1.5605 *
(temperature in
°C)
4 -172.2 * (temperature in
°C)
3+7117.6 * (temperature in
°C)
2-130611 * (temperature in
°C)
+ 897897 at R2 = 0.1631. |
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