ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science       ISSN 1990-6145
   
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ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science          November 2010 | Vol. 5 No. 6
 

Title:

Growth performance of nestling barn owls, tyto Alba javanica in rat baiting area in Malaysia

Author (s):

Mohd. Naim, Hafidzi Mohd Noor, Azhar Kasim and Jalila Abu

Abstract:

The growth of nestling barn owls, Tyto Alba javanica in immature oil palm in Malaysia were investigated under rat baiting with three different rodenticides. Four treatment plots were established with three plots baited each with warfarin, brodifacoum and a protozoan based biorodenticide, Sarcocystis singaporensis plus a fourth non-baited control plot. Three rat baiting campaign were carried out during the study, the first rat baiting campaign was conducted in October 2008, the second was in March 2009 (except for biorodenticide baiting was conducted a month earlier), and the last third baiting campaign in October 2009. The baiting campaigns coincided with the breeding season of barn owl. Nestlings body measurements namely: body mass, culmen length, tarsus length, wing length and tail length were taken after the third baiting campaign, from August to December 2009. Measurements were recorded every three days from hatching up until 49 days old, i.e., several days before fledging. Nestlings in control plot showed superior for all parameter taken compared to rodenticides treated plots. Body mass of nestlings in control plot were heavier by 8.17%, 13.04%, and 6.88% compared to warfarin, brodifacoum and biorodenticide treated plots respectively. The culmen and tarsus length of nestling barn owls reached the adult size during the growth period; while culmen length in control plot was longer by 3.07%, 5.28%, and 1.41% compared to warfarin, brodifacoum and biorodenticide treated plots respectively. The tarsus length of nestlings in control plot was also longer by 2.40%, 3.08% and 3.36% compared to warfarin, brodifacoum and biorodenticide treated plots respectively. In contrast with culmen and tarsus length, wing and tail length still grew until day 49 i.e., several days before fledging. The wing and tail length in control plot was shorter by 15.77% and 13.73% compared to adult size. Teratogenic sign was shown by one nestling in brodifacoum treated plot, where its primary feathers were malformed rendering it flightless besides tail length that were very short if compared to nestlings in control plot.  Wing and tail length in brodifacoum treated plot was shorter by 15.26% and 18.24% respectively compared to control plot.

 
 
 
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Title:

Study the correlation, regression and path coefficient analysis in sweet corn (zea mays var. saccharata) under different levels of plant density and nitrogen rate

Author (s):

F. Khazaei, M. AghaAlikhani, L.Yari and A. Khandan

Abstract:

In order to evaluate the effect of plant density and nitrogen rate on ear yield of sweet corn (Zea mays var. saccharata) cultivar KSC. 403, an experiment was conducted at research field of Tarbiat Modarres University on summer 2008. The experiment was carried out in a split plot design based on randomized complete blocks with four replications. In this research plant density (60000, 80000 and 100000 plant/ha) and nitrogen rate (120, 180, 240 and 300 kg N/ha) were arranged in main plots and sub plots respectively. Seeds were sown on these plots on July 3rd and were harvested at soft dough stage on September 24th. Sweet corn yield components including ear number.m-2 C row number .ear-1, grain number per row, 1000 grain weight and grain yield.m-2 were measured. Some morphological traits like as plant height, leaf area, ear length and diameter have also investigated. Correlation, regression and path coefficient analysis were used to better understanding the direct and indirect effects of plant density and nitrogen rate on sweet corn ear yield and yield components. The results revealed that the grain yield was affected by plant density but it was not affected significantly by different levels of nitrogen rate. However by increment of plant density, the ear number.m-2 and grain yield were increased in expense of ear weight. The higher ear length and ear number was obtained in the lowest plant density and nitrogen rate (D1N1). Highly significant and positive correlation was observed between grain yield with ear number, 1000grain weight and grain number per ear. In this respect D3N1 treatment (60000 plant.ha-1 and 120 kg N.ha-1) which produced more ears and grain yield are recommended for the sandy soil as superior treatment, in studied area. The results of regression analysis by stepwise method for grain yield showed that Grain number and 1000 grain weight made 98 percent of the grain yield variation. It is concluded that sweet corn grain yield can be improved by increment of grain number per m2 and 1000 grain weight through increasing of plant density.

 
 
 
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Title:

Investigation of seed moisture content at harvest time as an empirical index  for improving viability and seed vigor of two oil-seed rape cultivars

Author (s):

Sadeghi H., Khazaei F., Aghaalikhani M., Sharafinezhad M.

Abstract:

In order to evaluate the role of seed moisture content (SMC) at harvest time two oil-seed rape cultivars (Hyola 401 and Hyola 308) in seed viability and vigore, a laboratory investigation was conducted at Seed & Plant Certification and Registration Institute (SPCRI) in Karaj, Iran. Seed samples provided from 2007 and 2008 growing season of a trade oil-seed rape field which is located at Dezful region, Khuzestan province, Iran. Enough seed samples were prepared from each cultivar contained 10, 15, 25 and 35 percent of moisture at harvest time and studied foe several germination indices. Experimental data were arranged in a 2×4 factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with three replications. Results showed that the highest primary and final germination percent for both cultivars were earned at 15% of SMC. Also the highest rate of mean daily germination, seedling fresh weight, seedling dry weight and seedling vigor index were obtained at seed moisture content. Meanwhile it was found that Hyola 401 cultivar was superior to Hyola 308 in all treatments and both year for primary and final germination percent. Altogether Since the seed quality has been affected by experimental condition, harvesting two investigated cultivars of oil-seed rape with 15% of SMC is recommended.

 
 
 
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Title:

Comparative susceptibility of fayoumi, indigenous and white leghorn chicks to infectious bursal disease

Author (s):

Pankaj Chakraborty, Babul Deba Nath, Md. Rafiqul Islam and Priya Mohan Das

Abstract:

A research was undertaken in order to compare the susceptibility of Fayoumi, Indigenous and White Leghorn (WLH) chicks to infectious bursal disease (IBD). But indigenous chicks were naturally infected with IBD prior to experimental infection. Even though IBDV bursal homogenate [20 % (w/v)] (collected from a field sample) was prepared and virus challenge given @ 50 ml/bird on their 35th days (day 0) of age. After challenge, clinical signs, morbidity and mortality of birds were recorded and histopathology of lymphoid organs was studied either from dead or sacrificed birds on day 0 and days 3, 7 and 14 post challenge. Antibody levels were detected at different ages by using commercial IDEXX ELISA kit. Cumulative morbidity and mortality were found higher (88.46% and 80.77%, respectively) in Fayoumi birds than those of WLH birds (31.25% and 18.75%, respectively). Indigenous chicks were infected naturally with IBD at their 24th days of age and at that time 12 birds affected and 9 birds died. Indigenous birds did not show any morbidity and mortality after experimental challenge. In ELISA, antibody level at day-one was found lower (titer 1288) in Fayoumi than in WLH birds (titer 2293). On the other hand, it was lowest (titer 304) in indigenous chicks at day-one. Following virus challenge, antibody levels of Fayoumi birds increased in higher rate than WLH birds. Characteristic microscopic lesions, such as- hemorrhage, lymphoid depletion, cystic atrophy in bursa, increased bursal lesion scores, hemorrhagic and congested spleen, thymus and caecal tonsil were observed. In conclusion, it can be said that under confinement, indigenous birds are susceptible to infectious bursal disease. In between Fayoumi and WLH birds, Fayoumi are more susceptible to IBD than WLH.

 
 
 
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Title:

Growth rate of various indigenous breed fed on shandar wanda at livestock research and development station surezai Peshawar

Author (s):

Rajwali Khan, Sajjad Ahmad, Khisro Kaleem, Muhammad Shahid, Parvez Khan, Muhammad Irshad and Muhammad Rizwan

Abstract:

In the absence of any typical beef breed in Pakistan cattle and buffaloes, the present study was conducted to exploit the potential of beef production of indigenous breeds fed on Shandar Wanda. Total 43 calves contained 8 cross bred calves, 7 Dhani calves, 6 Lohani, 6 Sahiwal, 6 Bhagnari and 10 Nili Ravi buffaloe calves were selected and purchased from local market for this trail. The calves were fed on Shandar Wanda and weekly growth rate was recorded.  Sahiwal calves showed highest daily weight gain 0.47 kg/day. During first period (1-7 week) and In 2nd period (7-14 week of experiment the highest BW (body weight) was found in Nili Ravi buffaloe calves (112.9 kg and 133.7 kg respectively). During 3rd period of experiment the highest Body weight was found in Sahiwal calves 149.25 kg. The final BW in 3rd Period of experiment ranged from 108 kg in Lohani breed calves to 149.25 kg in Sahiwal breed calves. The time period effect on growth rate was significant (P<0.01). It is concluded from the present study that the Sahiwal breed of cattle and Nili Ravi buffalo have a potential of beef production on special fed ration.

 
 
 
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Title:

Interaction between salinity and potassium on grain yield, carbohydrate content and nutrient uptake in pearl millet

Author (s):

Heidari M. Steppuhn H. and Jamshidain P

Abstract:

To study the effects of different salinity levels and potassium supply on grain yield, yield components, carbohydrate content and nutrient uptake in pearl millet, a plot experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at university of Zabol, Iran. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized factorial design with three replicates. Potassium sulfate was used as the potassium source. The rate of potassium treatment was 0, 100 and 200 kg ha-1. Pearl millet was subjected to different salinity levels (0, 4, 8 and 12 ds/m) through addition of NaCl to irrigation water. Results showed by increasing salt concentration from control to 12 ds/m grain yield (45.6%), biological yield (35.3%), harvest index (15.1%) and 1000 seed weight (60.1%) decreased. In this study salt stress remarkably elevated the carbohydrate content at vegetative and reproductive stages in leaves of millet. Salinity treatment decreased potassium and magnesium uptake but application potassium increased potassium and magnesium content in leaves at two stages until 200 kg.ha-1. Potassium application had significantly effect on grain yield and yield components and increased them.

 
 
 
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Title:

Characterization and fodder production potential of local cowpea germplasm

Author (s):

Asim Muhammad, Mohammad Akmal Khan, Sultan Mehmood Wazir and Shah Faisal Mohammad

Abstract:

In order to improve the acute scarcity of fresh fodder in the country, four local fodder legumes (cowpea) namely CP-1, CP-8, CP-31 and CP-801 were compared for plant characteristics and fresh fodder production potential at NWFP Agriculture University, Peshawar.CP-1 required minimum days to emergence (4.7 days), flowering (87 days) and pod formation (94.7 days) and the shortest plant length (235 cm). CP-8 produced the longest plants (382 cm) though statistically not different than CP-31 and CP-801. CP-8 gave the maximum grain yield (969lg.ha-1), seeds pod-1 (11.3) and 100 seed weight (11.4g). The pods plant-1and grain yield ha-1produced by CP-1 were significantly lower than the other three germplasms. Generally the fresh fodder yield in all germplasms gradually increased from 14 ton ha-1, 50 days after emergence to 64.2 ton ha-1,125 days after emergence. However slight decline was observed with further interval of 25 days. CP-8 produced 30-40 percent more fresh fodder than the other germplasm, and accumulated 638 kg ha-1 fresh fodder compared with CP-1 (460 kg ha-1). It is concluded that maximum fresh fodder can be obtained 125 days after emergence and CP-8 gave the maximum grains as well as fresh fodder yield among the germplasms tested.  

 
 
 
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Title:

Yield gap analysis in rice production from stakeholders’ perspective at annum valley bottom irrigation project at nobewam in Ghana

Author(s):

E. Ofori, N. Kyei-Baffour, E. Mensah and W. A. Agyare

Abstract:

Rice is a major food crop in Ghana. Local production falls below demand and invariably large quantities are imported to meet consumption. Suitable rice growing ecologies exist in the Annum Valley Irrigation and also some level of inputs which includes planting varieties with high yielding potential also exist. The Nobewam project average yield was 3.87 t/ha and that on the researchers’ fields were between 4-11 t/ha with an average of 7.5 t/ha for Sikamo. There is therefore the need to identify and remove constraints to improving/increasing yield for each production ecology. A survey was conducted based on FAO yield gap determinants (technical, biophysical, socio-economic and policy) to identify constraints to yield from the perspective of major stakeholders (farmers, researchers and project management). Results show that the dominant constraints to yield are poor access to credit, low market price, inadequate market access , low knowhow in cropping techniques and poor extension and research support which are all policy related. Others are poor water application, high incidence of pest, low soil fertility, unreliable water supply for all year round farming, untimely availability of inputs and services, inadequate machinery for land preparation and low seed quality. Proper policy initiative could set in motion actions by farmers to eliminate most of the constraints with support from research, extension and management. Policy direction could create suitable collaboration between farmers, research and extension.

 
 
 
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Title:

Enrichment of some summer season vegetables with selected minerals that may potentially act as hypoglycemic agents in the control of diabetes and can play important role in the elimination of other deficiency diseases

Author (s):

Javed Abbas Bangash, Abdus Sattar Khan, Muhammad Arif, Faizullah Khan and Faridullah Khan

Abstract:

Three summer season vegetables Bitter gourd (Momordica-charantia), Bath sponge (Luffa-acutangula) and Bringal/Egg-plant (Solanum-melongena) were included in the present study to determine some of their mineral components and see if some of their mineral (Cr, Zn, Mn, Cu, Mg and Fe) content could be increased by supplementation through their roots. Thus calculated amount of Cr, Zn, Mn, Cu, Mg and Fe salts (as fertilizer) were applied in solution form to the roots of vegetables in different concentration as individual or in combinations. These vegetables were grown from seeds in the soil plot, having three columns marked as boxes (Box-A, Box-B and Box-C), each box further divided in to four sub-boxes (A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4) (B-5, B-6, B-7, B-8) and (C-9, C-10, C-11, C-12) respectively. Thus one row had twelve sub-boxes. Box C-12 was not supplemented for comparison. Before sowing seeds, soil samples were taken and analyzed for pH at different depth levels; 7.4 (0-15cm); 7.3 (15-30cm) and 7.3 (30-45cm ) with an average of pH 7.3, electrical conductivity (EC) at different depths 0.10 dsm-1 (0-15cm); 0.11 dsm-1 (15-30cm) and 0.11 dsm-1(30-45cm) with an average EC of 0.12 dsm-1., texture Clay-loam, organic matter of different depths; 0.92% (0-15cm); 1.19% (15-30cm) and 1.18% (30-45cm), lime content (CaCO3) at different depths: 12.66% (0-15cm); 13.33 % (15-30 cm) and 13.45% (30-45 cm) with an average of (13.15%), Potassium at different depths; 206ppm (0-15cm); 192ppm (15-30cm) and 185ppm (30-45cm) with an average of 195ppm, Phosphorus at different depths; 7.23ppm (0-15cm); 6.66ppm (15-30cm) and 6.32ppm (30-45cm) with an average of 6.74ppm and concentrations of extractable metals (Cr, Zn, Mn, Cu, Mg and Fe) found in soil on dry weight basis at different depths were: 2.42±0.006, 5±0.011, 20.69±0.115, 6.90±0.023, 35.30± 0.202and 39.00±0.231mg/kg at (0-15cm) 2.40±0.006, 4.26±0.006, 19.54±0.087, 5.40± 0.006, 33.82±0.115 and 38.92±0.173 mg/Kg at (15-30 cm); 2.44±0.011, 4.50±0.017, 19.37±0.069, 5.20±0.006, 32.86±0.086 and 38.46±0.144 mg/Kg at (30-45cm). Irrigation water was also analyzed for pH 7.2, conductivity (EC) 0.38 dS/m, Chloride 31.14 mg/L, sulphate 30.19 mg/L and Cr, Zn, Mn, Cu, Mg and Fe concentrations, (0.06±0.000, 0.07±0.006, 0.02±0.000, 0.05±0.000, 21.81±0.040, and 2.39±0.011) (mg/L) respectively. After harvesting vegetables were dried, acid digested and analyzed for Cr, Mn, Zn, Cu, Fe and Mg on Hitachi Zeeman Japan Z-8000, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. In these vegetables total increase in minerals concentration milligram per Kilogram dry weight basis observed was for chromium; Momordica-charantia 90, Luffa acutangula, 14 and Solanum-melongena 4. for zinc; Solanum-melongena 108, Luffa acutangula 104 and Momordica-charantia 52. for manganese; Momordica-charantia 32, Luffa acutangula and Solanum-melongena 10. for copper; Momordica-charantia 40, Luffa acutangula 20 and Solanum-melongena 12. for magnesium; Luffa acutangula 962, Momordica-charantia 176 and Solanum-melongena 134. for iron; Momordica-charantia 508 and Solanum-melongena 56. From the present study it can be concluded that by changing the soil minerals environment the uptake of required mineral content of vegetables, perhaps could be enhanced. This in turn could play important role in diabetes control and also in the elimination of other deficiency diseases like anemia etc.

 
 
 
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Title:

Occurrence of escherichia coli infection among the women of Dhaka City

Author (s):

Syeda Jabun Nahar, Hamida Khanum and Kazuhiko Shimasaki

Abstract:

Urinary tract infections are among the most common infectious diseases encountered in humans. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the most predominant organism and its prevalence varies in different studies. The aim of this study were to determine the prevalence of Escherichia coli during the summer and winter season, were detected in different age group of male and female. A retrospective study was carried from urine samples that were received at Shandhani Diagnosis Complex, Unit-2, Mirpur-10, Dhaka, Bangladesh throughout from November 1999 to January 2000 (winter) and from April to June 2000 (summer). Growth on Mac-Conkey’s agar and blood agar plate was analyzed by colonical characters. During the study period, 2000 urine samples were analyzed both the two seasons of the year and 952 urine samples showed Escherichia coli infection. A total of 794 urine samples were analyzed for the different adult age groups (from 16-80 years) of male and female during the summer season of the year. A total of 444 (55.91%) urine samples showed E.coli infection; among them 64.18% were prevalent of female and 35.81% were prevalent of male. During winter season, total 443 male and female were examined, 56.98% cases were positive; the prevalence of the UTI was 63.63% in female and 36.36% in male. The results of this study indicate E. coli is prevalent in women and it possesses virulence associated properties. So, appropriate measures should be taken for detection and treatment of such cases. From the present study it appears that the urinary tract infection is fairly common in women.

 
 
 
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