African Journal of Agronomy

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN: 2375-1185 Vol. 3 (1), pp. 224-227, March, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Genetic variability and path coefficient analysis in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) (R.Br)

Yakubu Yahaya¹, C A. Echekwu² and S G. Mohammed ³

¹Lake Chad Research Institute P.M.B, 1293, Maiduguri, Borno State Nigeria.

²Institute for Agriculture Research Samaru, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria.

³Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agronomy, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria.

Corresponding author's E-mail address: [email protected]

Accepted 22 January, 2015

Abstract

The range, mean genotypic, phenotypic and environmental coefficients of variations and heritability estimates for five agronomic characters in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L) R. Br. studied showed a wide range of variations and highly significant genotype difference. The genotypic correlation coefficients were higher than phenotypic and environmental coefficients for the characters studied. All the characters were highly significant and positively correlated with grain yield genotypically. Path coefficients analysis revealed the true nature of cause and effect relationship of plant height. Panicle length, tiller count, head weight and grain mass with grain yield. Genotypic correlation is correlation of breeding value and was used to calculate direct and indirect effects of plant height, panicle length, tiller count, head weight and grain mass on grain yield.     

Key words: Genetic, variability, path coefficients, heritability, pearl millet. 

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN: 2375-1185 Vol. 2 (10), pp. 219-223, November, 2014.  © International  Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Textile effluents changes physiochemical parameters of water and soil: Threat for agriculture

Akbar Hossain Kanan^1*, Sabiha Sultana Marine², Farzana Raihan³, Mohammad Redowan⁴ and Md. Danesh Miah⁵ 

^{1, 3, 4}Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh

²Department of Fisheries Technology and Quality Control, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh

⁵Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong 4331, Bangladesh

E-mail:[email protected]

Accepted 21, March 2014

Abstract 

Textile is the foremost part of industrial sectors in Bangladesh and is the major source of water and soil pollution. More than 80% people are depending on agricultural sectors for their livelihood in Bangladesh. This study investigates the impacts of textile pollution on agricultural land and water in NarsingdiSadar. A total of 50 water and soil samples were collected from the study area and analyzed to determine concentration of physiochemical parameters of water and soil. Analysis revealed the values of the parameters are as pH (7.56-9.68), EC (17040-38040 µs/cm), Temperature (30.24-51.22°C), DO (1.16-4.65 mg/L), COD (810.60-1430.43 mg/L), BOD (305.58-608.16 mg/L) and TDS (3456.75-38450.26 mg/L). These values are negatively deviated from the standard values set by the Department of Environment (DOE)for textile effluents. The amount of N (0.217-0.787 µg/g), P (27.50-30.70 µg/g) and K (0.165-2 µg/g) were also found deviated from the standard values prescribed by Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) for agricultural soil. Major rivers flowing over these industrial regions, like Burigonga, Sitalokka and Turag, have been severely polluted by textile and other pollutants as well as causing serious impact on environment. Government should strictly implement the existing environmental and industrial laws in textile effluent management.

Key words: Physiochemical parameters, Textile effluents, Soil, Water, Agriculture.

African Journal of Agronomy Vol. 2 (9), pp. 211-218, September, 2014. International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of length of pre-harvest drying-off period during the cool season on soil moisture content and cane quality of sugarcane cultivars at Metahara Sugar Estate

¹Abiy Getaneh and ²Tadesse Negi

Sugarcane Agronomist, Sugar Corporation, Research and Training, P.O.Box-15, Wonji, Ethiopia. Email: [email protected]

Accepted 11, June 2014

Abstract

An investigation was undertaken on clay soils in cool season (November – January) of two crop years at Metahara Sugar Estate to study the relationship of length of pre-harvest drying-off period with cane quality parameters. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with four replications. The main plot factor was sugarcane varieties, namely ‘B52298’, ‘B41227’, ‘NCo376’ and ‘NCo334’ which were evaluated by subjecting them to eight length of drying-off periods (sub-plot). The result of the study in both years showed that drying off period treatment resulted in gradual decline in soil moisture percentage. In crop year 1 better estimate recoverable sugar (ERS) were obtained for soil moisture between 24-28% which observed within 5 to 9 weeks drying off period treatment. In crop year 2, soil moisture was initially very low and the rainfall shower improved juice quality as it relieved the crop from being drastically harmed by extended moisture stress. When rainfall occurred after the cane is subjected to moisture stress, proper monitoring of soil moisture status is recommended to decide when to harvest the crop. Generally, the result of the study in both years indicates that drying off treatment exerted its effect on cane quality through its influence on soil moisture status, which in turn is dictated by soil moisture regime and prevailing weather condition in each year. Thus, to attain high cane quality, it is essential to precisely determine soil moisture status during pre-harvest drying off treatment. 

Key words: Drying-off, juice quality, recoverable sugar, soil moisture, sugarcane.

African Journal of Agronomy Vol. 2 (8), pp. 200-210, August, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Organization of nitrogen fertilizer, irrigation and plant concentration in onion production using response surface method as optimum approach

Amoon S. Afsaneh, Ramah G. Hatima and Radmehr P. R Arsham

Department of Plant and Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, East Azarbaijan Province, Iran.E-mail: Radmehr [email protected]

Accepted 22 July, 2014

Abstract 

Response surface methodology (RSM) is defined as a collection of mathematical and statistical methods that are used to optimize a product or a process. In order to determinate optimum levels of nitrogen (N), water volume and plant density of onion (Allium cepa L.), and field experiment was carried out according to a central composite design as RSM in Azarshahr County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran –repeated over two years (2011 and 2012). The treatments were designed based on low and high levels of N, irrigation and plant density as independent variables. Furthermore, bulb yield, N losses, N uses efficiency (NUE) and water use efficiency (WUE) were measured as response variables in a full quadratic polynomial model. Optimum rates of N, irrigation and plant density was suggested to achieve the target range of response variables based on three scenarios: Economic, environmental and eco-environmental. The results showed that increasing of N fertilizer up to 160 kg N ha^-1 led to increase in bulb yield. The amounts of 93.48 kg N ha^-1, 8930 m³ water ha^-1 and 42.67 onions m^-2 was found to be the optimum conditions for eco-environmental scenario. In general, it seems that resource use based on eco-environmental scenario may be the most favorable cropping strategy in onion production.

Key words: Environment N losses, N uses efficiency (NUE), water use efficiency (WUE).

African Journal of Agronomy Vol. 2 (8), pp. 194-199, August, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Outcome of rich farmyard manure and inorganic fertilizers on grain yield and harvest index of hybrid maize (bh-140) at Chiro, eastern Ethiopia

Misganaw R. Beyza

Department of Plant Science, College of Agriculture, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia. Email: [email protected]

Accepted 4 July, 2014

Abstract 

Application of farmyard manure (FYM) alone or in combination with inorganic fertilizers helps in proper nutrition and maintenance of soil fertility in maize fields when applied at proper doses replenishing the most deficient macro and micro nutrients which in turn help in getting the highest grain yield and harvest index in hybrid maize varieties. The harvest index determines how many photosynthates are transformed into economic yield. It is the ratio of economic yields to biological yield. A study was conducted at the Haramaya University Chiro Campus to determine the effect of enriched FYM and inorganic fertilizers on grain yield of maize and harvest index. FYM was used either alone or in combination with inorganic fertilizers as follows: control (zero fertilizers and FYM), 10 tons/ha FYM, 8 tons/ha FYM and 25 kg/ha of (Nitrogen (N) + 20 kg/ha Potassium (P), 6 tons/ha FYM, 50 kg/ha N + 40 kg/ha P, 4 tons/ha FYM, 75 kg/ha N + 60 kg/ha P, 2t ons/ha FYM , 100 kg/ha N+80 kg/ha P 100 kg/ha N + 100 kg/ha P. The treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design with four replications from 2008 to 2010. Result from the combined analysis of variance on hybrid maize (BH-140) yield and harvest index over years showed the presence of no significant difference among treatments with 10 tons/ha FYM and 100 kg/ha N +100 kg P/ha (p < 0.05). The pooled analysis of variance over years also revealed the existence of no significant differences among Treatments 2, 6, and 7 viz (10 t/ha FYM + 0 N and P, 2 t/ha FYM and 100 kg/ha N + 80 kg/ha P and100 kg/ha N + 100 kg/ha P), respectively at (p < 0.05) on grain yield of hybrid maize (BH-140) and the harvest index. But 4 tons/ha FYM and 75 kg/ha N + 60kg/ha P increased maize yield from 5.1 tons/ha in 2009 to 8.15 tons/ha in 2010. Similarly, the harvest index has increased from 0.33 to 0.58 (33 to 58%) at this rate. From this finding it was noted that, enriching FYM with inorganic fertilizers can boost hybrid maize grain yield significantly through improving the physico-chemical properties of the soil and contribute to the highest value of harvest index. Therefore, on the basis of these results, it can be concluded that, enriched FYM could be used for hybrid maize production at western Hararghe in order to get maximum grain yield and the highest value of the harvest index. Thus, it is recommended that, application of 4 tons/ha FYM incorporated with 75 kg of N and 60 kg of P at Chiro can significantly increase hybrid maize (BH-140) yield and sustain its productivity over years. Besides, it also contributes in reducing the cost of inorganic fertilizers which has been a bottle neck to smallholder farmers of eastern Ethiopia. However, profitability of this technology needs to be tested at different locations and in different seasons.

 Key words: Farmyard manure, soil fertility, hybrid maize (bh-140), harvest index, inorganic fertilizers, biological yield, photosynthates.

African Journal of Agronomy Vol. 2 (7), pp. 188-193, July, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Microbial dynamics as subjective by inorganic fertilizer and concentrate manure in alluvia soil of Varanasi, India

Gaurav Kaushik, Jadav Vishnu and Ranjan Arslan

College of Agriculture, Faculty of Crop Physiology, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, India.E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 28 June, 2014

Abstract 

A field experiment was conducted during rabi season, 2009-2010 at Agricultural Research Farm, BHU, Varanasi, on alluvial soils to determine the effects of concentrate organic manure (wellgrow formulations) with levels of inorganic fertilizers. The results reveal that the higher soil microbial population was seen with the application of 100% NPK + 300 kg wellgrow soil ha^-1. Soil enzymes varied with the production systems. The urease, phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities were higher in wellgrow dose application with recommended dose of NPK. The soil enzymes and microbial population (bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes) were very responsive to organic manure application, but their levels and activities were not reflected in wheat crop under alluvial soils. Enzymatic activities were positively and significantly correlated with content of organic carbon.

Key words: Dehydrogenase, phosphatase, urease, bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, wellgrow.