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| ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological
Science
December 2011 | Vol. 6 No. 12 |
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Title: |
Estimating the preservation value of Taleghan Lake’s
ecosystem and distinguishing between use and non-use value |
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Author (s): |
Mona
Aghabeygi, Mohammad Kavoosi Kalashami and Mohammad Sadegh
Allahyaric |
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Abstract: |
Regarding the importance
of natural resources in preserving natural ecosystem and
human being survival, protecting these resources and
preventing their demolition will be necessary. Since
Taleghan Lake, located
in Iran, is the habitat for plants and animals the present
study determined the preservation value of this lake and
estimated the willingness to pay of people (WTP) for this,
using the contingent valuation method (CVM). Also,
hierarchical analysis method was used to determine the
shares of use and non-use values in the whole economic
value. Results from logit model showed that the maximum
willingness to pay amounting to 41400 rials for each person
per month. On the basis of AHP approach 3150 rials and 10350
rials out of 41400 rials have been estimated as use and
non-use value, respectively for each person per month. Also
in the second method, willingness to pay using the
open-ended method has been determined as 58390 rials for
each person per month from which 43792.5 rials and 14597.5
rials have been related to used and non-used values of the
lake, respectively. Results from the two models for
distinguishing between the use and non-use values are
indicatives of allocating more amounts for use value
compared with non-use value. This can be led to depletion of
natural and environmental resources of the lake. |
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Title: |
Effective
extension methods in improving sustainable forest management
in Iran |
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Author (s): |
Seyed
Jamal Hosseini |
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Abstract: |
Forest and range managers were surveyed in
order to explore their perception about effective extension
methods in improving the sustainable forest management in
Iran. The methodology used in this study involved a
combination of descriptive and quantitative research. The
total population for this study was 154 manager of forest,
range and watershed organization in which 105 responded to
the questionnaire. Based on the
perception of the respondents, the result of
regression analysis by stepwise method indicates that 73% of
the variance in the perception of managers could be
explained by four variables of providing material incentives
for managers, knowledge about indicators of sustainable
forest management, extension/education classes and working
experience. Respondents indicated that visiting successful
projects and practical training were the most effective
method in improving sustainable forest management. |
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Title: |
Bacterial
seasoning in tropical peatsoil sustaining methane reducing
activities |
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Author (s): |
I. Made
Sudiana and Maman Rahmansyah |
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Abstract: |
Soil ecology of tropical
peatsoil faced to serious consequence of climate change.
Microbial communities that have function for
decomposing
of organic
matter in
peatsoil might have role
to reduce
methane
emission because of
mutual occupancy within their ecologic niche to
methanotrophic bacteria. Hence, key into consider of
microbial population in peatsoil, the bulk samples that
gathered from peatsoil in Kalampangan, southern of central
part of Borneo, were studied. The isolates belong to its
functional ability as
amylolitic bacteria (ALB),
phosphate
solubilizing bacteria (PSB), and
sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB)
determined
in addition to
methanotrophic bacterial (MCB) activities were kept and
revised. Those isolates were studied to understand their
function in rations to methanotrophic actions. Four isolates
from 15 of ALB isolates, 3 from 6 of PSB isolates, 2 from 6
of SRB isolates, and 4 from 6 of MCB were choose further to
revise as due to their vigorous growth. The selected
isolates also studied for genetic recognition (gen NirK, gen
ow, and gen NifH), and also morphological distinctive of
ALB-2 and PSB-1 which both were producing phytohormone (indole
acetic acid) metabolite. Methanotroph bacterial group in
peatsoils samples were able to assimilate methane in this
study, and it might be as due to nutritive availability
produced by
other groups of microbes in
peatsoil. |
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Title: |
Moisture
adsorption isotherms of Lavandula officinalis L.
flowers at three temperatures |
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Author (s): |
Hossein
Ahmadi Chenarbon and Seyedeh Masoomeh
Hasheminia |
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Abstract: |
Lavander
has been used as a medicinal plant and to treat several
diseases. Knowledge of moisture adsorption isotherms is
useful in storage condition. The equilibrium moisture
content for Lavandula officinalis L. flowers were
measured by using the gravimetric static method with water
activity ranging from 11% to 85% and three temperatures of
30, 40 and 50ºC. Five mathematical models (modified
Henderson, modified Oswin, modified Halsey, modified Chung -
Pfost and GAB equations) were used to fit the experimental
data of adsorption. The modified Chung - Pfost model was
found to be the best model for describing adsorption
isotherms curves. |
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Title: |
Trends,
growth and variability of major fruit crops in Balochistan - Pakistan:
1989‑2009 |
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Author (s): |
Mohammad Pervez Wasim |
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Abstract: |
The present study was
undertaken with a view to analyze trends, growth and
variability of major fruit crops in two different periods of
Balochistan. Period I (1989‑90 to 1998‑99) and Period II
(1999‑00 to 2008‑09). Major fruit crops were apple, grapes,
pomegranate, dates, apricot, peach, plums and almonds. The
study reveals that in period I in the majority of fruit
crops, the increase in production growth is mostly due to
its area growth rather than productivity growth.
Productivity growth contributed to some extent for apple,
pomegranate, dates, apricot and almonds. It means that the
farmers of these fruits were utilizing new farm technologies
mainly because, to grow these fruit crops are profitable to
the farmers due to its favorable price incentives, good
irrigation facilities and good quality of trees and
favorable climatic conditions. The study also reveals that
the productivity growth of all the fruits except plums,
recorded negative and significant growth in period II
compared to period I. The decline in production and
productivity growth in period II were mainly due to drought
from 2000 onward, and lack of marketing infrastructure and
facilities like farm-to-market roads and sale centres. The
study also confirms that the magnitude of variability in
production of apple, grapes, dates, apricot and plums
declined in period II relative to period I. The synchronized
movements in area and productivity both were responsible for
low instability/variability in apple, grapes, dates, apricot
and plums production in period II compared to I. |
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Title: |
Extent of
suppression of rice ear head bug, Leptocoryza acuta.
Th
population by different neem formulation in field of paddy
cultivar Swarna mashuri (MTU 7029) during kharif
season |
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Author (s): |
Kaushik
Chakraborty |
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Abstract: |
Extent of suppression of rice
ear head bug (gundhi bug), Leptocoryza acuta
Th. population by six selected neem formulations were
carried out in the field of paddy cultivar Swarna mashuri
(MTU 7029) during four consecutive kharif
crop seasons of 2005-2008 at Raiganj, Uttar Dinajpur, West
Bengal, India. Apart from this there is a plot with no
pesticide application considered as control. Experiment was
laid out in randomized block design and had three
replications for each year. All the treatments were
effective significantly to suppress L. acuta
incidence and accordingly the extent of grain damage. Chaffy
grain formation due to L. acuta infestation was also
minimized in all cases. Numerically least damage with
minimum L. acuta incidence was noted from the field
treated with monocrotophos 36 WSC (1.46 adult + 2.01 nymphs
/5 hills and 2.41 chaffy grains). This was followed by
commercial formulation of nimbecidine (5%), neem oil (2%),
neem seed kernel extract (5%), neem leaf extract (5%), neem
root extract (5%) and neem bark extract (5%) in descending
order. The pesticide untreated plot has registered 4.73
adult+8.62 nymphs’ population /5 hills and 33.81% chaffy
grains. In consideration of yield increase over control,
maximum efficacy was registered when monocrotophos 36 WSC
was applied @ 1125ml/ha. This was followed by commercial
formulation of nimbecidine, neem oil, neem seed kernel
extract, neem leaf extract, neem root extract, neem bark
extract in descending order. |
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Title: |
Estimating land production potential for barley in Damghan
plain of Iran |
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Author (s): |
Shahram
Ashraf |
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Abstract: |
This investigation was conducted to estimate
the potential of barley
production.
The
methodology was based on
simulation model developed by FAO for calculating crop
potential maximum biomass and yield.
The study
area is located in south of Damghan city, Semnan province
northeastern-Iran. The land suitability class was determined
by using Storie method and Square method. The results of
physical evaluation revealed that the most important
limitations for crop production in the area are the
salinity, alkalinity, acidity, high lime and drainage. For
determining the accuracy of the applied land suitability
evaluation methods, yield potential of irrigated barley,
climatic conditions situation of the region were first
evaluated. In the next step land production potential
(predicted performance of wheat) was calculated by using
irrigated yield potential and soil limitating factors.
Finally the evaluated performance was compared with Farmers
performance. Regarding FAO model, barley production
potential under favorable soil and climatic conditions was
estimated about 8812.70
kg.ha1-. The good accordance between eestimated
yield potential and observed yield potential in Square
method approve that Square method has more accuracy and
efficiency than another one. |
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Title: |
The role
of solar energy in reducing pasture degradation in Iran:
A case of carbon sequestration |
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Author (s): |
Seyed
Jamal F. Hosseini |
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Abstract: |
The main purpose of this study
was to examine the perception of pasture owners about the
role of solar energy in reducing degradation of pastures in
South Khorasan Province of Iran. The research design was
carried out by descriptive and analytical methods. The data
collected by using questionnaire and 310 respondents
returned the questionnaires. Results of stepwise multiple
regression showed that 31% of the variance in perception of
respondents about the role of solar energy in protecting
pastures could be explained by variables of their knowledge
about importance of pastures, interests about solar energy
and satisfaction about solar energy. |
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Title: |
Estimation of genetic parameters and selection for egg
production traits in a Nigerian local chicken ecotype |
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Author (s): |
Vivian U.
Oleforuh-Okoleh |
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Abstract: |
Genetic evaluation and selection of a
Nigerian local chicken ecotype was carried out over three
generations. Heritabilities, genetic and phenotypic
correlations in body weight at first egg, egg number and egg
weight were estimated. The estimates were used to a
construct selection index in each generation which was used
to select the hens used as parents in the next generation.
Pooled heritability estimates (over the three generations)
of body weight at first egg, egg number and egg weight were
0.56, 0.44 and 0.28 respectively. Genetic and phenotypic
correlations between body eight at first egg and egg weight
were 0.41 and 0.70 respectively, with egg number: -0.18 and
-0.28 respectively. They were estimated to be -.23 and -.39
for egg number and egg weight respectively. Selected birds
performed significantly (p<0.05) better than the base
population in terms of egg production traits studied. The
results of this study suggest that the egg production traits
studied can be improved with selection in the Nigerian local
chicken ecotype. |
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Title: |
Protectant effect of plant oils against cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus
maculatus) on stored cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) |
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Author (s): |
I. O. Udo
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Abstract: |
Groundnut oil and palm oil were evaluated in
the laboratory against Callosobruchus maculatus by
admixing 5ml, 10ml and 20ml with 50g of grains to assess
progeny development, damage caused, insect mortality and
effect on grain germination. The experiment was laid out in
a complete randomized design and data generated were
subjected to analysis of variance while means were separated
using least significant difference. Results obtained showed
groundnut oil significantly (P<0.05) reducing damage caused
and inhibiting progeny emergence at 20ml treatment level
while adult mortality was significant at 10ml treatment
level. A significant effect was observed from palm oil on
progeny development while insect mortality was only affected
after seventy two hours after treatment. The oils did not
affect the germinating ability of the seeds and the
potential of plant oils as stored cowpea protectant against
C. maculatus infestation is discussed. |
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