African Journal of Agronomy

African Journal of Agronomy Vol. 2 (4), pp. 148-155, April, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research paper

Crop-livestock diversification patterns in relations to income and manure use: A case study from a Rift Valley Community in Kenya

Fujihiro Achu, Nkkiko Kanmi and Chio Katzo

Department of Agricultural science, Faculty of Agriculture and food science, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo, Japan. Email: [email protected]

Accepted 06 March, 2014

Abstract 

Most rural households in the semi-arid regions of sub-Saharan Africa practise mixed crop- livestock farming. With population growth and the subsequent scarcity of land available for extensive farming, the only option available for these households is to intensify production. For this to be successful, one must understand the divergent patterns of intensification and their relation to the economic needs of households. In a Rift Valley community in Kenya, inter-household heterogeneities in adopting distinctive combinations of particular crop and livestock productions (they are defined as ‘crop-livestock diversification’ or CLD patterns) were observed. Principal component analysis was used to identify the dominant CLD patterns which reflect complementarities between crop and livestock types. This was followed by an assessment of the association between the CLD patterns and the economic returns and manure use of the households. Among the five dominant CLD patterns identified, households that kept improved cattle and grew fruits were found to earn higher incomes and apply more organic manure. Conversely, households that grew staple crops with or without indigenous animals were found to apply less manure. Education, participation in farmers’ groups, access to the training centre, and family size were key factors affecting the adoption of CLD patterns.

Key words: Crop-livestock integration, sustainable intensification, income, manure application, rural Kenya

African Journal of Agronomy Vol. 2 (3), pp. 144-147, March, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Outcomes of irrigation regimes and nitrogen fertilizer on seed yield of calendula (Calendula officinalis L.)

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: [email protected]

Accepted 20 February, 2014

Abstract 

This research was conducted in experimental field of Islamic Azad University of Takestan branch in Iran during 2006. The experimental unit was designed by achieved treatment in factorial on the basis of completely randomized block design with four replicates. The nitrogen was applied to the main plots at the rate of non-application, 30, 60 and 90 kg N ha^-1 and the irrigation after 40, 80 and 120 mm water evaporation from evaporation pan assigned factorially to the subplots. The results showed that irrigation had a significant effect on seed yield, thousand seed weight, head diameter and number of seeds per head (P 0.01) such that maximum head diameter (25.67 mm), number of seeds per head (31 seed/head), thousand seed weight (15.18 g) and seed yield (3044 kg ha^-1) were achieved under irrigation after 40 mm evaporation. Nitrogen had a significant effect on all plant characteristics (P 0.01) and highest thousand seed weight (12.66 g), seed yield (1998 kg ha^-1), head diameter (23.96 mm) and number of seeds per head (29.25 seed/head) achieved after application of 90 kg N ha^-1. The results of this experiment showed that nitrogen increased the seed yield and delay of irrigation reduced seed yield of calendula significantly.

Key words: Nitrogen, irrigation, seed yield, head diameter, calendula.

African Journal of Agronomy Vol. 2 (3), pp. 137-143, March, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effects of farmyard manure and straw mulch on runoff, erosion, in-situ water conservation (Reservoir), and yield and yield components of wheat at the high ground of Bale, south eastern Ethiopia

Desalegn F. Habte, Makonnen V. Tsehafi and Imru S.

Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Mizan–Tepi University, Mizan Teferi, Ethopia. Email:[email protected]

Accepted 9 February, 2014

Abstract 

A field experiment was conducted under natural rainfall conditions to investigate the effects of farmyard manure and straw mulch on runoff, soil loss, in-situ water conservation, and the yield and yield components of an improved bread wheat variety (HAR-1480) grown on vertisol of Sinana area, south eastern Ethiopian highland. The experimental design used was randomized complete block design (RCBD) with seven treatments involving three levels of farmyard manure (2, 4 and 6 ton ha^-1), three levels of barley straw mulch (2, 4 and 6 ton ha^-1), and a control without manure and mulch that were replicated three times. The results revealed that there was a highly significant difference (P<0.0001) between the treatments regarding their effect on runoff depth, soil loss and in-situ water conservation. However, there was no significant difference in grain yield due to the treatments. Moreover, compared to straw mulch, manuring was found to be less effective in reducing runoff and soil loss in the first season of application. Additionally, the soil loss measured for all straw mulch rates were not significantly different, implying that the 2 ton ha^-1 mulching rate can effectively check soil erosion under the existing slope and rainfall conditions of the study area.

Key words: Bale highland, runoff depth, soil conservation, grain yield, sediment concentration.

African Journal of Agronomy Vol. 2 (2), pp. 130-136, February, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The result of pellet fertilizer application on corn yield

Ramah T. Mohammadi, Shahram 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: [email protected]

Accepted 22 January, 2014

Abstract 

Increased use of chemical nitrogen fertilizers (N) in agricultural production continues to raise concerns, because of the risk of surplus N leaving the plant-soil system and thereby causing environmental contamination. Therefore, decreasing nitrate leaching from crop production fields, such as in corn fields, is of considerable importance. Against this backdrop, a field experiment was conducted to assess the effect of pelleted fertilizer, produced by mixing urea and dry cow dung manure, on corn yield and its components. The study was carried out, during the 2009 corn-growing season, at the experimental farm of College of Abouraihan, University of Tehran in Iran. The factorial design of the study comprised of randomized complete block with three replications. Factors this experiment involved: first factor was two levels of fertilizer application method which include pellet and mixed with soil, and second factor was four levels of nitrogen fertilizer pulse dry cow dung (46+600, 92+600, 138+600 and 184+600 kg/ha). The biological yield, grain yield, number of grains per ear, grain weight, harvest index, and grain protein content was calculated. Treatment T8 (184+600 kg/ha pelleted fertilizer) significantly produced better harvest index, highest 1000 grain weight, the maximum biological yield, the maximum grain yield and highest grain protein content per hectare. The use of pelleted fertilizer is therefore a better alternative to uncoated nitrogen fertilizer due to its slow and continuous nutrient release for plant uptake at different stages of its growth.

Key words: Biological yield, dry cow dung, urea, grain protein content, corn, grain yield.

African Journal of Agronomy Vol. 2 (2), pp. 124-129, February, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The interfacing effect of water stress and manure on yield components, essential oil and chemical Make-up of cumin (CUMINUM CYMINUM)

Bagheri G.Hatami and Ahmed Arsham and Arya Hesamedin

Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Email: [email protected]

Accepted 08 January, 2014

Abstract 

Water stress enhances essential oils content in medicinal plants. Manure in soil prepares essential elements and increase quality and quantity of plant products. To study the effects of water stress and manure application on yield components, oil percentage and its main constituents on CUMINUM CYMINUM, this experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station of Zahak, Zabol, south east of Iran in a complete randomized block in factorial design with four replications. Treatments including irrigation intervals (I₁: two times irrigation, I₂: three times irrigation and I₃: four times irrigation that are irrigation in germination, seedling, flowering and seed filing stages) and manure application (F₁: without manure application, F₂: 20 t/ha manure application). The chemical composition of the essential oil was examined by GC and GC-MS and they were significantly affected by water stress and manure (P<0.05). Three irrigation times with manure treatment produced the highest number of umbrella per plant, seed and biological yield and the lowest 1000 – seed weight and number of seed per umbrella. The effect of water stress and manure were significant on essential oil and its constituents. Three irrigation times with manure treatment caused the highest amount of cumin aldehyde and ρ-cymene and the lowest of β-pinene, γ-terpinene and α-pinene. Results showed that a relationship exist between the main constituents of cumin essential oil under water and manure application.

Key words: Cuminum cyminum, manure, irrigation, oil, oil constituents.

African Journal of Agronomy Vol. 2 (1), pp. 118-123, January, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The outcome of aeration and application of manure and fertilizer on the hay yield and botanical composition of the abandoned range

Seyma S. Ozcan, Kurt Balta and Tamer K. Akande

Department of Plant and Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ege University, Bornova, izmir, Turkey. Email: [email protected]

Accepted 30 December, 2013

Abstract

The research was carried out in order to investigate the effects of aeration, organic and commercial fertilizers on hay yield, hay quality and botanical composition of an abandoned old range. The experiment was carried out in strip plot design with four replications. Six levels of fertilizers and three levels of aeration were used as treatments. The two-year results indicated that all of the fertilizers increased the hay yield and the effects of commercial fertilizers were higher than those of the organic types. Effects of fertilizers on crude protein content were negative. Fertilizers decreased the dry weight proportions of legumes but increased those of grasses. The effects of fertilizers on hay quality were of contradiction. Aeration decreased crude cellulose content of hay. Aeration with tined harrow decreased hay yield and crude protein. Springed cultivator decreased the proportion of legumes but increased that of grasses. Both commercial and organic fertilizers can be proposed to strengthen and sustain a vegetation of abandoned ranges of Sub-Mediterranean climate such as in the research conditions. However, commercial fertilizers were more effective than organic ones as far as hay yield was concerned. Thus, commercial fertilizers could be prioritized in fertilization of these types of vegetations. On the other side, no clear effects of aeration methods were found in this study. This kind of researches requires long-term studies.

Key words: Abandoned range, botanical composition, chemical composition, sod ripping, manure, fertilizer.