Search results

1

THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT MOLECULAR WEIGHTS OF CHITOSAN ON THE YIELD, QUALITY, AND HEALTH-PROMOTING PROPERTIES OF STRAWBERRIES

100%

Ochmian I., Lachowicz S., Krupa-Małkiewicz M.

Progress on Chemistry and Application of Chitin and its Derivatives

|

2022

|

vol. 27

194-203

EN

Chitosan could be an alternative to synthetic plant protection chemicals commonly used in strawberry cultivation. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of chitosan with different molecular weights on the yield, health, and quality of Korona cultivar strawberries. The largest number of strawberries was harvested from plants sprayed with chitosan with a molecular weight of 50k kDa (611 g/plant). On the other hand, the largest (1017 g/100 fruit) and the firmest (225 G mm) strawberries were harvested from plants sprayed with chitosan125k kDa. Compared with the control, chitosan with a molecular weight >50 kDa also increased the contents of l-ascorbic acid and polyphenols and the antioxidant activity and improved fruit colour compared with the control. The plants were also more resistant to grey mould infestation. The experiment has shown that how chitosan interacts with fruit depends on its molecular weight, and chitosan with a higher molecular weight has a better effect on most traits determining fruit quality.

2

Potential of Moringa oleifera as nutrient–agent for biofertilizer production

100%

Adiaha M. S.

World News of Natural Sciences

|

2017

|

vol. 10

101-104

EN

The results of this research reveal Moringa oleifera to be an effective nutrient-agent for biofertilizer production. Herein, plant analysis data indicate Moringa to be a good nutrient carrier of elements that can enhance effective and productive cultivation of crops, while in-turn maintaining soil fertility status.

3

Production of Adhesive from Cassava Starch in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

100%

Chukwuemeka I. S., Ugochukwu I. W.

World News of Natural Sciences

|

2017

|

vol. 11

5-10

EN

In this work, the potentials of adhesives production from cassava starch were investigated. An adhesive product produced from Manihot utilissima was compared with a commercially available adhesive. Improvements in the properties of the cassava-based adhesive were achieved by investigating the effects of temperature and the addition of a viscosity enhancer/stabilizer (borax) on the density of the produced adhesive. The results obtained provide a wide range of insight into the production potentials of using cassava starch as a raw material in the production of large scale adhesives.

4

Effect of Green Manure on Soil Infiltration Rate, Soil Moisture Retention of Desert Plain Soils and Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Yield in the Northern State, Sudan

100%

Ahmed I. A., Ahmed M. M., Hamad M. E.

World News of Natural Sciences

|

2023

|

vol. 46

14-29

EN

This the study was conducted for two successive seasons 2014/15 and 2015/16 on a desert soil with the aim to investigate the effect of green manure on infiltration rate and soil moisture retention of desert soil and wheat yield in the Northern State of Sudan as well. Four types of green manure Vigna radiate (Green gram), Vigna sinensis (Cowpea), Dolichos lablab (Lablab bean) and Sesbania canabina (Sesbania pea) were selected as green manure corps with three levels. The first level was a seed rate of 12 kg ha-1, 18 kg ha-1, 24 kg ha-1, 12 kg ha-1 respectively. The second level was two times of the first level and third level was three times of the first level. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results showed that the effect of green manure was effective in improving the soil physical properties under investigation. The green manure application decreased soil infiltration rate on the average across the two seasons varied from 3.5 cm hr-1 for the control to 1.7 cm hr-1 (105 %) in the green manure treatments except lablab been treatments, and improved the soil moisture retention as well and also, increased available water on the average across both seasons varied form 17 mm in the control to 27.6mm ( 58 %) in the green manure treatments except lablab bean treatments. The result also showed that the effect of green manure obtained very highly significantly (P≤0.001) increase in the grain yield of wheat on the average across the two seasons varied from 0.71 ton ha-1 in the control treatment to 3.21 ton ha-1 (352 %) in the green manure treatments except lablab bean treatments. It is recommended that Green gram (12 kg ha-1), Cowpea (18 kg ha-1) and Sesbania pea (12 kg ha-1) which are available and cheaper are suitable types of green manure crops for soil reclamation of the desert plain soils of Sudan.

5

Effects of grey water irrigation on the cultivation of African spinach (Amaranthus hybridus)

100%

Nwaokobia K., Ogboru R. O., Idibie C. A.

|

EN

Water is a limited resource, hence there is a need for its judicious use. This study was designed to investigate the utilization and the effects of grey water irrigation on the growth parameters of African spinach (Amaranthus hybridus) and its soil properties when planted in a green house. The irrigation treatment consisted of Tap water (TW) and grey water (GW) collected from Akindeko Hostel in Federal University of Technology, Akure. The vegetables were planted in five bucket samples for each irrigation treatment. The water samples were assessed to determine chemical properties, while soil samples were collected and analysed before irrigation application and after harvest. Crop morphology that includes the plant height, number of leaves and stem girth parameters were recorded weekly after emergence. Our results indicate that the grey water type has the highest chemical parameters. These included TSS, SAR, pH, HCO3ˉ, Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+. What is more, soil pH decreased in all the soil samples after the different water applications, the lowest pH being from grey water. The sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) also decreased in all the irrigation treatments. In addition, the plant height, number of leaves and stem girth of the crop were affected by the water type used. Herein, the crop irrigated with grey water had the highest morphology parameters. Furthermore, soil chemical properties were significantly affected by the use of grey water, hence, appropriate wastewater treatment and water management practices have to be followed to remove the toxic elements that could be hazardous to human health when crops produced on them are consumed.

6

Study of cropping system characterization, seed production and storage practices of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Lamjung, Nepal

100%

Lamsal S., Adhikari B. B., Chhetri L. B., Bhandari Y.

|

EN

This study was carried out in Harrabot village of Tarkughat VDC, Paundi and Majuwa village of Sundarbazar Municipality of Lamjung district during 2015/2016. Thirty households (10 HH from each village) who were involved in seed production were purposively selected for survey. The respondents’ knowledge was gathered through focus group discussions and household surveys, using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Seed routine test was carried out in the Agronomy lab of Lamjung Campus. Results revealed that the dominant features of farming in the study areas were small land holdings, fragmented and sloping land with rainfall-dependent farming. Land distribution pattern was 12.93% marginal land, 16.35% upland and 70.72% irrigated lowland. Farmers grew rice, maize, mustard and pulses as major crops and fruits, vegetables, potato and flowers as minor crops. Major cropping pattern were Rice-Mustard-Maize, Maize-Rice-Fallow, Rice-Fallow-Rice etc. Nutrient-poor soils, low pH, farmers' poor access to inorganic fertilizers, soil-depleting cropping patterns, lack of technical knowledge on crop management, soil erosion and degradation are major challenges. Insects, diseases and weeds were major biotic constraints, while lack of irrigation, drought and lack of technical support were major abiotic constraints of rice production. Sukhadhan-2, Sukhadhan-3, Sukhadhan-4, Sukhadhan-5 and Sukhadhan-6 were planted in rain-fed lowland, whereas Ramdhan, Sunaulo sugandha, Loktantra, Sabitri and Makwanpur-1 were grown in irrigated lowland. Seed producers used 39.07% of the land for seed production with 4.78 tons ha-1 of seed productivity. Most of their produced seed was send to Sundar Seed Coop Ltd., Paudibazar, while some seed were stored in their home by using local containers such as earthen pots, plastic drums, metal bins, Dali, Kotho, Bhakari etc. The tested seed quality parameter in the lab showed that the average moisture, purity and germination percentage of the seed samples were 13.87%, 94.13% and 96.72%, respectively.

7

Origin of cattle breeds in East Africa and introduction to general breeding science: A – review

100%

Mengistie D.

|

EN

Since the domestication of cattle more than 10,000 years ago, cattle have been critical in the shift of human society from nomadic hunter-gatherers to sedentary farming communities across most of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Although our understanding of ancestral population relationships is limited, cattle domestication is thought to have occurred on two or three occasions, giving rise to the taurine (B. taurus) and indicine (B. indicus) species, which share a common ancestor with the aurochs (B. primigenius) 250,000 years ago. Indicine and taurine cattle were domesticated in the Indus Valley and the Fertile Crescent, respectively; however, a third domestication event for taurine has been hypothesized in Egypt's Western Desert. Because of their recent split, African indicine cattle share a lot of genetic variation with Asian indicine cattle, as well as with African taurine cattle through gene flow. Although further research is needed to detangle the complicated human-mediated dispersion patterns of domestic cattle, scenarios involving unidirectional or bidirectional migratory events between European taurine and Asian indicine cattle are also feasible. As a result, our research contributes to a better understanding of the impact of previous demographic history on present cow genetic variation, laying the groundwork for future research into alternate migration pathways for early domestic populations.

8

The Excessive Use of Chemical Fertilizers & Dynamic Soil pH on Agricultural Land: The GIS-Based Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW)

100%

Jisna M. F., Nuskiya M. H. F., Iyoob A. L.

|

vol. 39

113-129

EN

Chemical fertilizer use is highly increasing in farming activity, and the process has a significant impact on soil quality and pH which is the measurement of the acidity or alkalinity. Therefore, soil pH is the main variable because it regulates plant nutrition availability by controlling the chemical forms of various nutrients in agricultural activity. This research aims to find out the excessive use of chemical fertilizers & dynamic soil pH on agricultural land. The primary data had collected by using questionnaires, interviews, Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and soil testing. For the soil testing experiment, simple random sampling method was used to collect the sample in 11 agricultural continents using GPS technology to identify the land location and 22 soil samples were collected based on pre and post applied chemical fertilizer stage. In order to pH value were tested from the collected soil samples. Accordingly, the data were analyzed by ArcGIS 10.3 using the IDW technique. Therefore, the results find out the condition of soil quality during the pre-chemical fertilization, 9% of the land found to be slightly acidic, 27% of the land with neutral soil structure and 15% of the land with salinity soil structure. During the post-chemical fertilization, 9% of the land was found to be moderately acidic, 41% of the soil was found to be strongly acidic, 32% of the soil highly acidic and 18% of the land be moderately pH. The result of the study shown, chemical fertilizers use highly impact on soil quality and agricultural land productivity.

9

Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Production as Affected by Irrigation Intervals and Planting Methods in Guneid Area, Sudan

100%

Basheeir E. M. H., Dahab M. H., Mohammed H. M.

World News of Natural Sciences

|

2023

|

vol. 48

95-106

EN

The present study was carried out at Guneid Research Sugar Cane Center during the two seasons of 2014 and 2015.The objective was to investigate the effect of three irrigation intervals 7, 10 and 14 days and two planting methods manual and mechanical on sugar beet crop growth and yield. The parameters measured were germination ratio, root thickness, root number/ha, leaf weight, root crop yield, polarization, estimated recovery sugar and sugar beet production. A split plot design with four replications was used. Irrigation intervals significantly (P≤0.05) affected root crop yield, root thickness and sugar beet production. The maximum values of root crop yield (65.4 ton/ha) and root thickness (35.2 cm) were obtained under 10 days irrigation interval, while the maximum values of sugar beet production (10 ton/ha) was obtained under 7 days interval. Methods of planting significantly (P≤0.05) affected root crop yield, root thickness, root number/ha, germination ratio, polarization, estimated recovery sugar and sugar beet production. The maximum values of root crop yield (65.2 ton/ha), root number/ha (67375 roots/ha), germination ratio (79.8%) and sugar beet production (9.7 ton/ha) were recorded for the manual planting method, while the maximum values of root thickness (35.6 cm), polarization (18.4%) and estimated recovery sugar (15.8%) were recorded for the mechanical planting method. The combined of irrigation intervals and sowing methods (irrigation intervals 7 days with manual planting methods and irrigation intervals 10 days with mechanical planting methods) resulted in hiegh polarization (18.5, 18.5 %), estimated recovery sugar (16, 16 %) and sugar beet production (10.7, 9.7 ton/ha), respectively, compared to other treatments. Irrigation intervals 10 days with mechanical planting method can be recommended to prevent loss of sugar content in sugar beet roots.

10

Rice Blast Biology and Reaction of Host to the Disease

100%

Zewdu Z.

|

vol. 39

11-21

EN

Rice blast (Magnaporthe grisea) is first reported in China and then in Africa in1922. The disease is now the most widespread and devastating rice disease in all rice producing areas of the world. The disease can cause from mild yield reduction to total crop loss as depends on the variety and severity level. The rice blast isolate is closely related to the isolate of other blast like fungus and distinctly described as Magnaporthe grisea. Rice blast fungus starts the infection cycle after a three-celled conidium lands on the rice leaf surface. Thousands of spores can be produced from a single lesion within 15 days after infection. Symptoms on leaves start as small brown necrotic lesions that evolve to larger elliptical or spindle-shaped lesions, colored whitish to gray with darker borders while infected seeds display brown spots, which may result from the infection of the florets as they matured into seeds. The rice blast needs at least a 12-hour period of moderate temperatures (25 to 30 °C), high relative humidity (90-92 %), and high moisture which are conducive for its development. The disease can be managed by using resistant varieties, using integrated disease management options and nutrient managements like application of recommended nitrogen fertilizers and application of silicon fertilizers. The rice plant responds differently for reducing the occurrence and damage of the disease either fungus is incapable causing sporulating lesions on the plant or the plant develop residual resistance that remains when complete resistance has been overcome by the pathogen.

11

Direct and Residual Effects of Green and Farmyard Manures on some Physical Properties of Sandy Soil and Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Yield in El Multaga Area of Northern Sudan

100%

Ahmed I. A., Mohammed A. A., Hammad A. W., Hamad M. E., Mohamed H. A., Mohammed H. M.

World News of Natural Sciences

|

2023

|

vol. 48

1-13

EN

Soil characteristics are important indicators of the potential for agricultural production. This study investigates the direct and residual effects of green and farmyard manures on soil dry bulk density, total porosity, soil moisture percentage, infiltration rate and wheat grain yield of a desert plain soil in Northern Sudan during three successive seasons 2007/08 (direct effect), 2008/09 (direct and residual effects) and 2009/10 (residual effect). Treatments consisted of green manure produced from green gram (Vigna radiate) with two seed rates (0 and 12 kg ha-1), and farmyard manure with two levels (0 and 10 ton ha-1) arranged in a split plot design with three replicates. The results revealed that all studied treatments significantly decreased soil bulk density and infiltration rate (P ≤ 0.01), and increased total soil porosity and soil moisture percentage (P≤0.001), as compared to the control in response to the application of the two types of manures. The results also showed that the direct and residual effects of manures caused significant increase in the wheat grain yield of the desert plain soils. It can be concluded that green and farmyard manures had continuing positively effects on the desert plain soil to produce higher grain yield of wheat. Green manure, therefore, may be used in vast desert plain soils areas as it may pose a solution to the problems of the infertility and unavailability of organic manure and farmyard manure may be useful in small areas in the Northern State of Sudan.

12

Weed persistence, crop resistance and herbicide phytotonic effects in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L] Walp) under various weed control treatments in Kano, Nigeria

100%

Shittu E. A., Bassey M. S.

|

EN

The yield of cowpea (var. IT99K-573-1-1) was tested in a field experiment using 12 different weed control treatments during the wet seasons of 2019 and 2020. The results showed that hoe weeding at 3 and 6 WAS had the highest weed persistence index, crop resistance index, and agronomic management index, closely followed by pendimethalin 2.0 kg a.i.ha-1 fb SHW at 6 WAS, and metolachlor 2.0 kg a.i.ha-1 fb SHW at 6 WAS. The most effective phytotonic practices were hoe weeding at 3 and 6 WAS, pendimethalin 2.0 kg a.i.ha-1 fb SHW at 6, and metolachlor 2.0 kg a.i.ha-1 fb SHW at 6. The best weed control methods for cowpea production from environmental point of view, were metolachlor at 2.0 kg a.i.ha-1 fb SHW at 6 WAS and pendimethalin at 2.0 kg a.i.ha-1 fb SHW at 6 WAS. Lower persistence of escaped weeds were seen with pendimethalin at 2.0 kg a.i.ha-1 fb SHW at 6 WAS and metolachlor at 2.0 kg a.i.ha-1 fb SHW at 6 WAS, indicating that these treatments had a broader weed-controlling impact than the other treatments.

13

Performance of Fodder Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) in a Sandy Soil as Influenced by Application of Manure and Canal Sediment

100%

Abdalla M. A., Mohammed A. A., Ahmed I. A., Hammad A. W., Elhadi E. A., Rezig F. A. M.

|

EN

This the study was conducted for two successive seasons(winter and summer seasons of 2017/2018) on a desert soil with the aim to investigate the effects of canal sediment (CS) and chicken manure (CM) on some properties of a desert soil and performance of fodder sorghum. The treatments (CS, CM, and their combinations and a control) were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Some selected soil properties and dry matter yield were determined. Canal sediment and CM were effective in improving soil moisture content and had minor increase in organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and potassium. Canal sediment and CM can be ranked according to their effectiveness in improving the soil properties and increasing dry matter yield of fodder sorghum as follows: the chicken manure (4 t ha-1) + N 86 kg, canal sediment (30 t ha-1) + chicken manure (4 t ha-1) + N 86 kg, canal sediment (10 t ha-1) + chicken manure (4 t ha-1) + N 86 kg, N 86 kg, canal sediment (30 t ha-1) and lastly canal sediment (10 t ha-1).

14

Application of a Knowledge-based Decision Support Model for Soil Tilth Assessment

100%

Abbas O. M., Elfadil A. D., Mohammed H. I.

|

vol. 44

121-137

EN

The objective of this article is to apply a developed knowledge-based decision support model for soil tilth assessment, based on the "tilth index", to help to select the suitable implement for conducting tillage operation. A field experiment was conducted using a randomized design with a strip-plot arrangement, and three replications to quantify the effects of four tillage implements (chisel, disc harrow, disc plow, ridging and split ridging, and wide level disc), on soil physical properties, tilth index of seedbed preparation of Sesame crop, in El Seleit Irrigation Scheme in Botana area, during seasons 2018 and 2019. Tillage operation significantly affected soil physical properties showing an increase in soil moisture content, soil porosity, and decrease in soil bulk density and soil penetration resistance. The highest values of moisture content were at wide level disc, and the lowest values were with chisel plow. The highest values of soil bulk density were under disc harrow tillage which was more than chisel strips, and the lowest values were under ridging and wide level disc. The highest values of soil porosity were under chisel plow and at the wide level disc and the lowest values were under disc harrow which was less than chisel strips. The highest values of soil penetration resistance were under the moldboard, and chisel plow and the lowest values were under the moldboard. The tillage methods significantly affected the plant yield. The highest value of Sesame yield was at the disc harrow and the lowest value was at Chisel. It can be concluded that shallow and intermediate tillage treatments along with disc harrow and wide level disc operation were found inferior in improving soil physical properties. Tilth index rank top the non-soil inversion operations.

15

Application of different organic manures in optimizing optimum yield for wheat in calcareous soil

100%

Jamal A., Fawad M.

World News of Natural Sciences

|

2018

|

vol. 20

23-30

EN

A field experiment was conducted during winter season of 2014-2015 at a farm field located in Swabi Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan with the main aim to evaluate the influence of different organic manures on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with four replications. The treatments were: T1 (control, no manure), T2 (Cattle manure), T3 (Poultry manure) and T4 (Sheep manure). All the organic manures were applied at the rate of 10 t ha-1. At maturity, plant height (cm), number of grains per spike, grain yield and biological yield were recorded. Results led to the conclusion that T3 (poultry manure) gave the best results, as compared to other treatments. The values of plant height, biological yield and grain yield were 87 cm, 13.66 t ha-1 and 5.750 t ha-1, respectively, for poultry manure treatment. Results for number of grains per spike and 1000-grain weight were found non-significant in the prevailing soil condition.

16

Study on the survival in liquid nitrogen (LN) of the three rice seed cultivars collected from Nagaland

100%

Lanuinla L.

World News of Natural Sciences

|

2020

|

vol. 30

|

issue 2

136-143

EN

The effect of cryopreservation on seed germination and seed vigour, and seeds with different moisture regimes have been studied to find out if they are a good candidate for LN by storing seeds in liquid nitrogen (196 °C) for 24 and 72 hours from three rice seed cultivars, namely Lisem, Manen, and Mapok. For all the three cultivars studied, cryopreservation did not decrease germination percentages or seed vigour and it also appears that seed moisture content ranging from 10% to 18% is not a determining factor for the survival of seeds up to 72 hour storage of the seed in LN.

17

Effect of Tillage Systems and Irrigation Intervals on Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Production in Guneid Area, Sudan

100%

Basheeir E. M. H., Dahab M. H., Mohammed H. M.

|

vol. 44

260-274

EN

The present research study was carried out at Guneid Research Sugar Cane Center during the two seasons of 2014 and 2015.The objective was to investigated the effect of four tillage systems (mouldboard plowing, disc plowing, chisel plowing and disc harrowing) and three irrigation intervals (7, 10, and 14 days). The parameters measured were some crop parameters (germination ratio, root thickness, root number per hectare, leaf weight, root crop yield, polarization or sugar content, estimated recovery sugar and sugar beet production. A split plot design with four replications was used in this study. Different tillage systems significantly (P≤0.05) affected root number per hectare and germination ratio. The maximum value of root number per hectare 62254 roots/hectare, germination ratio (76.2%) and sugar beet production (10 ton/hr) and were given by disc plowing treatment, while the maximum root thickness (35.5 cm) were recorded by chisel plowing treatment and the maximum values of polarization or sugar content (18.6%) and estimated recovery sugar (16.9%) were recorded by disc harrowing treatment. While the minimum values of root crop yield, (58.55 ton/hectare) and germination ratio (66.5%) were given by chisel plowing treatment. Also irrigation intervals significantly (P≤0.05) affected root crop yield, root thickness and sugar beet production. The maximum values of root crop yield (65.45 ton/hectare) and root thickness (35.2cm) were obtained under an10 days irrigation interval, while the maximum values of sugar beet production (9.71 ton/hectare) was obtained under a 7 days irrigation interval. It was concluded that using disc plowing increased sugar production from sugar beet crops at Guneid Research Sugar Cane Center.

18

Intercropping Impact on Weed Dry Matter, Soil C and N, Sugar Quality and Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) Productivity

100%

Bassey M. S., Shittu E. A., Ngonadi E. N.

World News of Natural Sciences

|

2023

|

vol. 48

28-39

EN

The effects of intercropping on weed dry matter, soil C and N, sugar quality and sugarcane productivity were investigated at Badeggi, Nigeria in 2016 and 2017. The results revealed that application of Sugarcane + Groundnut intercropping produced lower weed dry matter comparable to Sugarcane + Soybean intercropping which significantly increased growth and yield attributes of sugarcane. Application of Sugarcane + Groundnut intercropping, resulted in a comparable germination count, Tiller count, plant and stalk height to Soybean intercropping. Similarly, Sugarcane + Groundnut intercropping and Soybean intercropping produced comparable stalk height and brix content. Also, Sugarcane + Groundnut intercropping generated more millable canes and stools per plot. Application of Sugarcane + Groundnut intercropping proved equally effective as Soybean intercropping in contributing the highest soil C and N and cane yield. In the same way, Sugarcane + Groundnut intercropping and Soybean intercropping produced comparable sucrose and glucose content. Lower weed dry matter was found in Sugarcane + Groundnut intercropping, and taller plant and stalks, girth, brix content, millable cane, stools, sucrose, glucose content. and cane yield were observed in Sugarcane + Groundnut intercropping. In conclusion, application of Sugarcane + Groundnut intercropping or Soybean intercropping effectively controlled weeds, increased Soil C and N, plant and stalk height, girth, brix content, millable cane, stools and cane yield of sugarcane.

19

Effects of local liming materials on soil properties and yield of waterleaf (Talinum fructicosum (L.) Juss.) in an ultisol of southeast Nigeria

100%

Iren O. B., Uwah I. D.

|

vol. 21

53-63

EN

Soils of the tropics are generally acidic mainly due to the high and intensive rainfall that causes excessive loss of the basic cations. High soil acidity is often a limiting factor for plant growth. Liming is the most widely used method to neutralize acidity and improve crop performance. A field trial was conducted at two locations in the University of Calabar Teaching and Research Farm, Calabar, to determine the effects of local liming materials on soil properties and yield of waterleaf. Seven treatments consisting of wood ash (WA), oil palm bunch ash (OPBA), cocoa pod ash (COPA), periwinkle shell ash (PSA), cassava peels ash (CAPA), and carbide waste (CW), each applied at 8 t /ha, and a control (no lime applied) were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The result showed increase in soil pH from 4.5 before experiment to 5.93 in the plot treated with wood ash. Over all, soil organic carbon, available phosphorus, basic nutrients (Ca, Mg, K, Na) and base saturation were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in plots treated with lime materials. Plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, stem girth, leaf area, fresh and dry matter yield of waterleaf were all significantly increased. However, the highest mean fresh yield of 4.61 t/ha obtained from the WA treated plot was not significantly (P > 0.05) higher than the yield of 4.36 t/ha obtained from OPBA treated plots, but was higher significantly than other treatments. The fresh yield increase was 61, 58, 46, 45, 39 and 35%, while the dry matter yield percentage increase was 63, 56, 53, 50, 42 and 22 for WA, OPBA, COPA, PSA, CAPA and CW. Therefore, for amelioration of soil acidity and better crop performance in the acid Ultisol of Southeast Nigeria, application of either wood ash or oil palm bunch ash is recommended.

20

Effect of wood ash, river sand, mineral oil and dry pepper (Capsicum spp) dust on the population of Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky, 1855) (maize weevil) in maize grain storage

100%

Adiaha M., Agba O., Obio E., Undie U., Asuquo O.

World News of Natural Sciences

|

2018

|

vol. 18

|

issue 2

241-251

EN

An experiment to evaluate the effect of wood ash, river sand, mineral oil and dry pepper (Capcium spp) dust on the population (control) of Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky, 1855) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) (maize weevil) was conducted. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) consisting of five (5) treatments; 0g, 5g river sand, 5g dry pepper dust, 5g wood ash and 5g mineral oil. All treatment were replicated three times. Data were taken on the number of population of Sitophilus zeamais emerging from individual treatments. Herein, weight loss on grain maize was taken for S. zeamais infestation. The effect of the various treatments on maize seed with S. zeamais was not significant (P>0.05), although the highest population numbers of the weevil was recorded in the control (0g). Zero population of S. zeamais was recorded in wood ash treatment at 5g, which significantly (P<0.05) protected the grains over the control. Significant (higher) weight loss was recorded in the control since no treatment was applied. All treatments except the control indicate the potential of reducing (controlling) weevil numbers. Data obtained in these experiments reveal that wood ash, pepper dust and river sand produced the most protective/control effect on the population of the weevil over the control. Result of the study show that river sand, pepper dust, wood ash and mineral oil (vegetable oil) performed positively, and hence, exert protectant properties on maize grains.

Refine search results

THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT MOLECULAR WEIGHTS OF CHITOSAN ON THE YIELD, QUALITY, AND HEALTH-PROMOTING PROPERTIES OF STRAWBERRIES

Potential of Moringa oleifera as nutrient–agent for biofertilizer production

Production of Adhesive from Cassava Starch in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Effect of Green Manure on Soil Infiltration Rate, Soil Moisture Retention of Desert Plain Soils and Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Yield in the Northern State, Sudan

Effects of grey water irrigation on the cultivation of African spinach (Amaranthus hybridus)

Study of cropping system characterization, seed production and storage practices of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Lamjung, Nepal

Origin of cattle breeds in East Africa and introduction to general breeding science: A – review

The Excessive Use of Chemical Fertilizers & Dynamic Soil pH on Agricultural Land: The GIS-Based Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW)

Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Production as Affected by Irrigation Intervals and Planting Methods in Guneid Area, Sudan

Rice Blast Biology and Reaction of Host to the Disease

Direct and Residual Effects of Green and Farmyard Manures on some Physical Properties of Sandy Soil and Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Yield in El Multaga Area of Northern Sudan

Weed persistence, crop resistance and herbicide phytotonic effects in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L] Walp) under various weed control treatments in Kano, Nigeria

Performance of Fodder Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) in a Sandy Soil as Influenced by Application of Manure and Canal Sediment

Application of a Knowledge-based Decision Support Model for Soil Tilth Assessment

Application of different organic manures in optimizing optimum yield for wheat in calcareous soil

Study on the survival in liquid nitrogen (LN) of the three rice seed cultivars collected from Nagaland

Effect of Tillage Systems and Irrigation Intervals on Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Production in Guneid Area, Sudan

Intercropping Impact on Weed Dry Matter, Soil C and N, Sugar Quality and Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) Productivity

Effects of local liming materials on soil properties and yield of waterleaf (Talinum fructicosum (L.) Juss.) in an ultisol of southeast Nigeria

Effect of wood ash, river sand, mineral oil and dry pepper (Capsicum spp) dust on the population of Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky, 1855) (maize weevil) in maize grain storage