Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 2 (2), pp. 060-066, February, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Optimum concentration of boric acid and sodium molybdate for enhancing mungbean productivity in Nepal

Ahmad Ghasemi¹* Mostafa Rostam Ansari² and Ruhollah Omidyar²

¹Resource Identification and Management Society, Dhadging, Nepal.

²Professor, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science,  Department of Agronomy,  Rampur Nepal.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 28 January, 2016

Abstract 

An experiment was carried out at farmer’s field in Shivanagar VDC, Chitwan to evaluate the response of three level of microfertilizers both sodium molybdate and boric acid loading (250, 500 and 750 ppm), 500 ppm of sodium molybdate mixed with 500 ppm of boric acid, water priming and unprimed; and economics of mungbean production under the period of March to June, 2010. All treatments except control were primed either in nutrient solution or water for 6 h and shade dried for 30 min before sowing. Nine treatments and four replications were arranged in randomized complete block design. The research revealed significantly early seed emergence on priming and/or nutrient loading than unpriming (5.5 day), but flowering and maturity were not affected significantly. Higher grain yield (1583 kg ha^-1) was obtained under 250 ppm boric acid loading as compared to unprimed (1237 kg ha^-1) and priming (1318 kg ha^-1) but at par to 250 ppm sodium molybdate and 500 ppm boric acid loading. Grain yield increment was 28 and 17% in 250 ppm boric acid loading over the control unprimed and water priming, respectively. The higher grain yield was due to higher number of clusters per plant, grains per pod and hundred grain weights. Higher protein content (23.3%) was recorded in 750 ppm sodium molybdate and mixed nutrient loading. Fat and metabolic energy were significantly the highest and lowest total ash content in 500 ppm sodium molybdate loading. There was no significance on cost of production but Rs. 61 higher in mixed micronutrient loading than control or plain water priming (Rs. 48855 ha^-1). Higher protein content (23.3%) was recorded under 750 ppm sodium molybdate and mixed nutrient loading. Fat and metabolic energy were significantly higher where total ash content was significantly the lowest under 500 ppm sodium molybdate loading. Cost of production was the lowest under control and water priming (Rs. 48855 ha^-1). Benefit/cost ratio was significantly the highest under 250 ppm boric acid loading (2.75) being at par with 250 ppm sodium molybdate and 500 ppm boric acid loading. However, priming, that is, non monetary input and/or low concentration of micronutrients loading led to grow faster, flower earlier and yield higher as low cost technology. Finally, 250 ppm boric acid loading proved outstanding in all respects, that is, growth, development, yield attributes, yield and economics.

Key words: Micronfertilizer loading, mungbean phenology, productivity, nutrient content, yields.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 2 (3), pp. 079-084, March, 2016.  © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation and other growth attributes in sesame genotype under rain-fed conditions.

Hamouda Fadlalla El Soury¹* and Galal El Bashir² and Magid K. Ginaro²

¹Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Gedarif, P. O Box 449, Gedarif, Sudan.

²Gedarif Agricultural Research Station, Gedarif, Sudan.

E. mail: [email protected]

Accepted 9 February, 2016

Abstract

An experiment was carried out at Gedarif Agricultural Research Station, Sudan, for two consecutive rainy seasons (2009 and 2010) to estimate the phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation, heritability in broad sense, genetic advance and genetic advance as percentage of the mean for yield and other growth attributes in seven sesame genotypes. A randomized complete block design with four replicates was used. The parameters were days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of capsules/plant, seed yield/plant (g) and seed yield (kg/ha). A wide range of variability was detected among the genotypes for all characters in both seasons. The earliest maturing genotype combined over two seasons (77.00 days) was SPS2003T10 whereas the latest one (87.10 days) was Gedarif -1. The lowest yielder genotype (361.00 Kg/ha) was Ziraa-9 whereas the highest yielder (591 Kg/ha) was Gedaref-1 which out-yielded the overall mean yield by 28.43% in the first season and by 23.88% in the second season. High heritability coupled with low genetic advance was recorded for days to 50% flowering, days to maturity and plant height which indicate dominant and epistatic gene action while low to moderate heritability with high genetic advance was recorded for the yield and its components which indicate the additive nature of inheritance. Therefore, direct simple selection may improve the morphological traits of the crop, whereas, other mechanisms may be needed to improve the seed yield and its components. 

Key words: Sesame, genotypes, phenotypic, variability, heritability, genetic advance.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 2 (3), pp. 092-098, March, 2016.  © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Declining population density of Silver Catfish, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus in Cross River State, Nigeria

Dele Martins Momodu*, Alinko S. Ahmed and Ali Henry Gaye

Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Cross River University of Technology, P.M.B. 102, Obubra Campus, Nigeria.

E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 12 February, 2016

Abstract

The study assessed quantitatively the threat status of Silver Catfish, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (Lacépède: 1803) in Cross River, Cross River State, Nigeria. C. nigrodigitatus is a highly valued food-fish in Cross River State and represents the dominant commercial landings exploited in Cross River, Nigeria. To provide useful biological data for management, samples were collected monthly from Cross River over a period of three years, from June 2009 to May 2012, in twelve sampling points along 200 km length of the Cross River. A total of 3351, 1409, and 319 C. nigrodigitatus were collected in 2009/2010, 2010/2011, and 2011/2012 respectively, amounting to a total sample size of 5079 for the sampling period. C. nigrodigitatus was caught in both dry season (October - March) and wet season (April - September) with the highest abundance in June 2009. The declining population density of the species was attributed to the interactions of many factors in the river such as habitat and breeding ground, low breeding rate, overexploitation of the species, and migration behavior of the species. To stop further decline of the species from Cross River, various conservation efforts are needed. The recommended conservation efforts include stocking of the species, habitat restoration, capture-release mechanism, control of invasive species, fishing legislations and regulations, and public awareness and education. These conservation efforts would enhance the fisheries of the River, improve aesthetical and economic values and preserve the genetic diversity of the species. The result of this work shows that Silver Catfish is endangered in Cross River, Nigeria. Therefore, for the fish to be protected there is a need to place it on the threatened and endangered species list of the Federal and State Endangered Species Acts (ESA).

Key words: Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, fishing, conservation, Cross River, overexploitation.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 2 (2), pp. 033-041, February, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Biological activity of S. longepedunculata against S. zeamais and C. maculatus

Efua N. Gideon^1*, Akosua Adu Quarshie² and Abedi Gyan Yeboah³

¹African Regional Post Graduate Programme in Insect Science (ARPPIS), University of Ghana Legon, Ghana.

²Department of Animal Biology and Conservation Science University of Ghana, Ghana.

³Crop Science Department, University of Ghana, Ghana.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 5 January, 2016

Abstract

The powders of the roots of S. longepedunculata with the roots of Zanthoxylum xanthoxyloides acting as reference product at two concentrations (1 and 5% wt/wt) were screened in the laboratory against S. zeamais and C. maculatus. The root powder of S. longepedunculata proved effective at 1 and 5% against S. zeamais and C. maculatus due to the presence 2-hydroxy-benzoic acid methyl ester (methyl salicylate, I) which is responsible of their biocide effect against the stored grain insects. Methanol extracts of root powders of S. longepedunculata and Z. xanthoxyloides were effective at 0.0, 0.04, 0.06 0.08 and 0.1 g/ml, significantly reducing (P<0.05) the development of eggs and immature stages and emergence of C. maculatus and S. zeamais progenies. The number of grains damaged by C. maculatus and S. zeamais were significantly reduced (P<0.05) by the extract of S. longepedunculata and Z. xanthoxyloides. These products also invoked 30-70% repellency against the beetles. The potential use of S. longepedunculata for the protection of stored product is discussed.

Key words: Securidaca longepedunculata, Callosobruchus maculatus, Sitophilus zeamais, 2-hydroxy-benzoic acid methyl ester (methyl salicylate, I), methanol extract, root powder.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 2 (2), pp. 028-032, February, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Bio control disease agents exposed to pathogens of chickpea by different combinations under field condition

Kamran Khomeini¹, Rostam Daneshjoo², Mousavi Rosie Nasr³* and Mahmoud Bakhtiar⁴

¹Department of Agriculture Payame Noor University (PNU), 19395 - 3697, Iran. ²Agriculture and Natural Resources Research Center of Ardabil Province, 56951- 365, Iran. ³Genetic Resources Institute of ANAS, Baku AZ1106, Azerbaijan.

⁴Department of Agriculture Payame Noor University (PNU), 19395 - 3697, Iran.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 5 January, 2016

Abstract

The capability of Trichoderma (T.) harzianum (T1), T. asperellum (T2) and T. virens (T3) as bio control agents for two pathogens of chickpea roots, Fusarium solani and Fusarium oxysporum were evaluated alone or in combination under field and greenhouse conditions. Chickpea planted in artificial soil infested with pathogens F. solani and F. oxysporum were treated with T1, T2, T3, T1+T2, T1+T3, T2+T3, T1+T2+T3. Our results indicated that the best biocontrol treatment occurred in groups infested with F. solani and treated with T1+T2+T3 (84%), followed by groups exposed to F. oxysporum with the same treatment (83%). The least effective group was roots infested with both Fusarium spp. and treated with T. virens (T3). It is concluded that although all bio control agents that were applied individually reduced disease incidence, synthetic treatments showed a more protective effect as a biocontrol for chickpea fields exposed to F. solani and F. oxysporum under greenhouse condition.

Key words: Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum, Trichoderma, biocontrol, chickpea