ISSN 2756-326X
Research Article
Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 4 (11), pp. 001-009, November, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Growth performance of bamboo in tobacco-growing regions in South Nyanza, Kenya
J. K. Kibwage1*, G. W. Netondo1, A. J. Odondo1, B. O. Oindo1, G. M. Momanyi1 and F. Jinhe2
1Maseno University, School of Environment and Earth Sciences, Tobacco Control Research Project Office, P. O. Box 333, Maseno, Kenya.
2International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), P. O. Box 100102-86, Beijing, China.
Accepted 08 March, 2018
Abstract
The study was carried out on 120 field experimentation sites where 2420 bamboo cuttings were planted under the same natural tobacco growing conditions in five different zones (that is, zone A = hillside/steep sloping farmland, B = hillside/gentle sloping farmland, C = flat farmland/not wetland/ riverbank, D = flat farmland/wetland and E = homestead) based on each farmer’s preference during the short rain season between September and October 2006. The experiment comprised of 1210 giant bamboo (Dendrocalamus giganteus) and 1210 common bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris). Each cutting was planted in a cubical hole measuring 0.6 x 0.6 x 0.6 m. Each farmer was given 20 bamboo cuttings (that is, 10 each of giant bamboo and common bamboo). Out of the 20 cuttings planted, five clumps of each species were randomly selected and tagged for monitoring survival rates, number of culms, culm heights and culm diameter. Frequency tabulations were used to present the data. Both species of bamboo perform well in gentle slopes and flat farmlands but not on wetlands. A part from the wetlands, survival rates of B. vulgaris and D. giganteus were ranging between 69 and 94% respectively. B. vulgaris established faster and withstood water logging than D. giganteus. The findings show that the two species of bamboo can do well in soil and agro-climatic conditions similar to those of tobacco. To replace tobacco with bamboo in Kenya, this experiment needs to be replicated in the other 10 remaining tobacco -growing regions in the country. Capacity building will be very important through training and farmers empowerment in bamboo farming and processing.
Key words: Tobacco, bamboo, growth performance, Kenya.
A. J. Odondo, G. M. Momanyi and F. Jinhe, J. K. Kibwage*, B. O. Oindo, G. W. Netondo
Page: 1 - 9
https://doi.org/10.46882/AAAS/1070Research Article
Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 4 (10), pp. 001-005, October, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Evaluation and release of new sweet potato varieties through farmer participatory selection
Laurie, S.M.* and Magoro, M.D.
Agricultural Research Council (ARC) - Vegetable and Ornamental Plant, Pretoria, South Africa.
Accepted 11 March, 2018
Abstract
Low yields and yield instability due to the use of old land races were limiting sweet potato production by resource-poor farmers in South Africa. Participatory Varietal Selection (PVS) is considered an appropriate method to develop varieties for low input agricultural systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate advanced sweet potato genotypes, using PVS, to determine their adaptability and acceptability in targeted production areas. Advanced sweet potato lines and varieties were tested in multi-location trials, maintained collaboratively by resource-poor farmers, agricultural extension officers and research technicians at six sites across the period 2000/2001 to 2002/2003. This study resulted in varietal recommendations for six areas, the release of seven cream-fleshed varieties and one new orange-fleshed variety for alleviation of vitamin A deficiency. Farmer participation proved useful, though a number of shortcomings were identified and recommendations have been made to improve the procedure.
Key words: Multi-location trials, participatory varietal selection, sweet potato.
Laurie , S.M.* and Magoro, M.D.
Page: 1 - 5
https://doi.org/10.46882/AAAS/1069Research Article
Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 4 (10), pp. 001-017, October, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Combining multi-agent simulations and cost-benefit analysis to evaluate policy options for the management of livestock effluents in Réunion Island
Stefano Farolfi1* Louise Erasmus†2 Christophe Le Page3 and Pierre Bommel3
1CIRAD, UMR G-EAU and CEEPA, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
2CEEPA, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
3CIRAD, UPR GREEN, Montpellier, France.
Accepted 04 April, 2018
Abstract
This study uses a multi-agent system to simulate the behaviour of economic players in a context of rapidly evolving environmental policy. The area under study is represented by a sector of a French overseas Department, Réunion Island, with a high concentration of pig farms in the upland region and extensive sugarcane plantations in the coastal zone. We first simulate local pig farmers’ reactions to several policy options aimed at reducing the pollution coming from pig rearing. Multi- agent simulations are then coupled with cost-benefit analysis in order to calculate the net present value of different policy options. Advantages and limits of the use of the proposed methods to support decision-making are finally discussed.
Key words: Environmental policy, decision-making, livestock effluents, Réunion Island, multi-agent system, cost-benefit analysis.
* Louise Erasmus, Christophe Le Page and Pierre Bommel, Stefano Farolfi
Page: 1 - 17
https://doi.org/10.46882/AAAS/1068Research Article
Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 4 (9), pp. 001-009, September, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Eggshell crack detection by acoustic impulse response and support vector machine
Xiaoyan Deng1, Qiaohua Wang2*, Lanlan Wu2, Hong Gao1, Youxian Wen2 and Shucai Wang2
1College of Basic Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, P.R. China.
2College of Engineering and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, P.R. China.
Accepted 09 January, 2018
Abstract
This paper investigates the effect of support vector machine (SVM) for the classification of intact and cracked eggs. The four frequency features of the sound impulse resonance of an egg excited with a light mechanical impact on the equator of the eggshell are extracted, including the normali-zation average of the frequency domain, the first dominant frequency, and the average x - and y – coordinates of the centroid for the frequency domain. These features and also the various combina-tions of them are used to construct SVM classifiers. It is shown that the SVM-PFXY classifier based on all the four frequency features gives the best classification effect with 98% testing accuracy, 98.18% crack detection and 2.11% false reject, and that the SVM -P, SVM-PF and SVM -PFY are res-pectively the best single-feature, binary -feature and three-feature SVM classifiers. It is also revealed that the SVM classifier associated with more features generally gives a better classification effect. For evaluating the effects of SVM classifiers for actual crack detection, this paper proposes a detec-tion scheme of eggshell cracks based on four measurements, and the experimental example achieves the highest crack detection of 98.77% and the smallest false reject of 1.87%.
Key words: Eggshell crack, detection, acoustic impulse response, frequency feature, support vector machine.
Xiaoyan Deng, Youxian Wen and Shucai Wang, Hong Gao, Lanlan Wu, Qiaohua Wang*
Page: 1 - 9
https://doi.org/10.46882/AAAS/1067Research Article
Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 4 (9), pp. 001-013, September, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Land ownership security in Malawi
Greenwell Matchaya
Leeds University Business School, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK. Leeds University Business School, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +44(0)7810202942.
Accepted 23 March, 2018
Abstract
This study examines factors that determine land ownership security among households in the rural areas (customary tenure sector) in Malawi. A framework for understanding land ownership security in the customary sector is proposed and using empirical data from different parts of Malawi, logistic regression analysis shows that the developed framework helps to explain land ownership security in practice. Though land ownership insecurity is almost negligible in the studied areas, this study has found that households that are categorized by the framework as non- indigenous (the weakest category of the four) are associated with a higher likelihood of feeling land tenure insecurity than the other categories (indigenous, weakly indigenous, absolutely indigenous). The modes of land acquisition, years that one resides in a community and gender of the household head also do determine land tenure security and women are found to be relatively land tenure secure than men. This study argues that outcomes from studies seeking to examine the link between land tenure security and land use efficiency in Malawi may become clearer if the developed framework or its variants are used to model the influence of customary land access systems on land ownership security because titling/no titling dummy variables do not say much about land ownership security in areas where customary systems dominate. Since women have a higher probability of feeling land tenure secure in matrilineal systems, development projects should endeavour to empower them as well so that they may equally participate in household level decision making as this would help them effectively use their land even in cases where their husbands feel land tenure insecure and hence withdraw their expertise from production. Again, the traditional system of land transfer is found to be resilient and this leads to questions about whether land titling could be an urgent need for people in the studied areas.
Key words: Customary systems, Land tenure, matrilineal systems, Malawi, land ownership security.
Greenwell Matchaya
Page: 1 - 13
https://doi.org/10.46882/AAAS/1066Research Article
Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 4 (8), pp. 001-010, August, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Assessing the sweetpotato virus disease and its associated vectors in northwestern Tanzania and central Uganda
Joseph Ndunguru1*, Regina Kapinga2, Peter Sseruwagi3, Bulili Sayi4, Robert Mwanga3, Silver Tumwegamire2 and Celestine Rugutu5
1Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute (MARI), P. O. Box 6226, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
2International Potato Center (CIP), P. O Box 22274, Kampala, Uganda.
3Namulonge Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCCRI), P. O. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda.
4Maruku Agricultural Research Institute, P. O. Box 127, Bukoba, Kagera, Tanzania.
5Ukiriguru Agricultural Research and Development Institute, P. O. Box 1433, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Accepted 13 March, 2018
Abstract
A study was conducted in sweetpotato farmers’ fields in Tanzania and Uganda to determine the status of sweetpotato virus disease (SPVD) incidence and its vectors. SPVD incidence was high (66 to 100%) in Tanzania but low (10 - 40%) in Uganda. SPVD symptom expression and severity were highly variable both within and between countries. Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) but not aphids were observed in all the fields and their abundance varied remarkably between locations. In Tanzania, sweetpotato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV) was serologically detected in 50% of the samples and sweetpotato feathery mottle (SPFMV) in 45% often in dual infection. Sweetpotato mild mottle virus (SPMMV), sweetpotato mild speckling virus (SPMSV), sweetpotato chlorotic fleck virus (SPCFV) and sweetpotato virus G (SPVG) occurred in low frequency. However, SPCSV was detected in (100%) of the samples collected from Uganda followed by SPFMV (67%). The nature of SPVD incidence, symptom severity, whitefly, and aphid abundance observed in this study suggest the complex nature of SPVD in East Africa. Immediate prospects for controlling SPVD will depend on an enhanced understanding of disease variables and their ecological relationships.
Key words: Sweetpotato, incidence, severity, whitefly, aphids.
Robert Mwanga, Bulili Sayi, Peter Sseruwagi, Regina Kapinga, Silver Tumwegamire and Celestine Rugutu, Joseph Ndunguru*
Page: 1 - 10
https://doi.org/10.46882/AAAS/1065