African Journal of Agronomy

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN: 2375-1185 Vol. 10 (9), pp. 001-006, September, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Non-Destructive Detection of Moldy Chestnuts via Near Infrared Spectroscopy

J. Liu¹, X. Y. Li¹*, P. W. Li^2, W. Wang¹, J. Zhang^1,3, R. Zhang¹ and P. Liu¹

¹College of Engineering, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China. ²Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, China. ³Key Laboratory for Highway Construction Technology and Equipment of Ministry of Education, Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710064, China.

Accepted 16 August, 2024

Abstract

One of the key agricultural crops, particularly in Asia, is chestnut. However, following harvest, mildew causes a significant loss of chestnuts. Finding and removing mouldy chestnuts is a crucial step in preventing and minimising widespread mildew. Additionally, this method is crucial in the manufacturing of food products made from chestnuts. In this study, we used near infrared spectroscopy to pinpoint mouldy chestnuts. A discriminating model was built using the near infrared spectra of 109 samples of chestnuts, including 40 samples without mildew, 40 samples with severe mildew, and 29 samples with mild mildew, spanning the wavelength range of 833 to 2500 nm. For the model's validation, a second set of samples with three mixed groups—chestnuts without mildew (n = 20), chestnuts with severe mildew (n = 20), and chestnuts with light mildew (n = 8)—was employed. The findings demonstrate that by utilising the first derivative and vector normalisation for spectra preprocessing and the Ward's algorithm as a distance algorithm approach, the best classification model based on the spectral band of 1818 - 2085 nm was attained. Sound chestnuts, somewhat mouldy chestnuts, and severely mouldy chestnuts were correctly classified at rates of 100, 92.8, and 100%, respectively. These findings showed that the near infrared spectral analysis-based discriminating model can successfully identify rotten chestnuts.

Key words: NIR, supervised pattern recognition, nondestructive detection, chestnuts, mildew.

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN: 2375-1185 Vol. 10 (8), pp. 001-008, August, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Biodiversity and Conservation Strategies for Termite Species in the Lush Ecosystems of Northeastern Puducherry, India

G. Kaur, T. Anantharaju, S. Gajalakshmi and S. A. Abbasi*

Centre for Pollution Control and Environmental Engineering, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry 605014, India.

Accepted 14 April, 2024

Abstract

A systematic survey of termite species in Northeastern Puducherry which is part of peninsular India, was carried out. As there is no pre-existing report on the richness or diversity of termifauna in this region, the present work aims to fill this major knowledge gap. The findings are discussed in the context of the quantitative studies on termifauna carried out across the world, as also in terms of the defining traits of the species identified in the survey vis a vis their possible use in biodegrading ligninous biowaste. The latter aspect is particularly relevant to the controlled use of termites by the process named ‘termigradation’, which denotes termite-based biodegradation of waste.

Key words: Termites, termigradation, indices, India, Puducherry.

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN: 2375-1185 Vol. 10 (7), pp. 001-008, July, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Review

Assessment of Health Risks Linked to Pesticide Residues in Tomatoes Cultivated in Tanzania

Victoria Kariathi*, Neema Kassim and Martin Kimanya

School of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P.O Box 447, Tengeru, Arusha, Tanzania.

Accepted 15 May, 2024

Abstract

Tomato contributes the highest percent to the fruit and vegetables consumed in Tanzania. Its high consumption is attributed to the presence of bioactive compounds and vitamins known to prevent non-communicable diseases. Pesticides used to control pests and diseases cause direct accumulation of pesticide residues in food. Consumption of pesticide contaminated tomato increases the risk of pesticide exposure. This review is on types of pesticides used in tomato production, health effects of pesticides, levels of pesticide residues in tomatoes, dietary pesticide exposure, awareness on pesticides effects and preventive measures as well as policies governing pesticide use in Tanzania. Clearly, there is evidence of extensive use of pesticides in tomato production, limited knowledge regarding pesticide use, as well as weak regulatory framework for pesticide use. Importantly, levels of pesticide residues in tomatoes consumed in Tanzania exceed the recommended maximum residual limits. In order to assure pesticide safety of food, there is a need to identify and control farmers' practices which are highly associated with pesticide contamination in tomatoes.

Key words: Contamination, exposure, pesticide, residues, tomato.

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN: 2375-1185 Vol. 12 (6), pp. 001-011, June, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of optimizing organic fertilizer doses on Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) production in Mali

Guindo Moumini1, Coulibaly Alou², Traoré Bouba^1,3, * and Birhanu Zemadim Birhanu⁴

¹Institut d’Economie Rurale (IER), Centre Régional de la Recherche Agronomique de Sikasso, BP 16, Mali; [email protected]; [email protected], (M.G)
²Institut Polytechnique Rurale de Formation et de Recherche appliquée (IPR/IFRA) de Katibougou, BP 06, Koulikoro, Mali; [email protected], (A.C)
³International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT); [email protected] (B.T.), ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4458-6440
⁴International Water Management Institute (IWMI), PMB CT 112, Accra, Ghana; ([email protected]) (B.Z.B), ORCID ID: 0000-0002-3497-2364; Auteur correspondant: [email protected]; (+223)76084540 / 65886834.

Received 22 February, 2024;  Accepted 21 April, 2024 and Published 19 June, 2024

Abstract

The recommandation of 5 t ha-1 of organic manures (O.M.), whatever the type, is inadequate, given their diversity. The aim of the study is to identify the types of organic manure, the doses used by farmers, determine optimised doses according to their qualities and assess the effect of the different doses on sorghum. A survey of 45 farmers in Koutiala identified, farmyard manure, compost and cattle yard manure as the main manures used. The doses are low, 1.33 t ha-1, 0.88 t ha-1 and 0.25 t ha-1 respectively for these fertilizers. After analyzing NPK in these fertilizers, the optimised doses calculated for the needs of sorghum producing 2 t ha-1 grain were 7.27 t ha-1, 3.20 t ha-1 and 2.18 t ha-1 respectively for the types of organic manure identified. Experimentation with optimised doses of compost and cattle yard manure yielded 2361.5 kg ha-1 of sorghum grain and 9288 kg ha-1 above-ground biomass, similar to the yields obtained with the recommended dose of 5 t ha-1 for organic fertilizer. Farmers need to rethink their organic input practices by adopting optimised doses, while intensifying manure production.

Keywords: Organic manure, manure quality fertilizers, optimized doses, sorghum, yield, Mali.

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN: 2375-1185 Vol. 12 (6), pp. 001-007, June, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The Role of Environmental Disturbances in Pathogen Dispersion: A Study of the 2012 Thailand Floods

Supattra Suwanmanee¹ and Natthanej Luplertlop²*

¹Department of Tropical Pathology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.

²Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.

Received 9 January, 2024; Accepted 19 May, 2024

Abstract

Fungi and bacteria in water samples taken from various flooded areas in Narathiwat Province, Thailand, were investigated. They were isolated by filtration from water samples, and identified by examining macroscopic and microscopic features for fungi and using biochemical methods for bacteria. Nine species of filamentous fungi and two yeast species were isolated. Water contaminated with dermatophytes contained Trichophyton mentagrophytes (44%), Trichophyton rubrum (19%) and Microsporum canis (15%). The yeast Candida albicans was also found (75.5%). Water samples were contaminated with fungi, identified as non-cutaneous mycoses. The dominant fungi were Aspergillus niger (73%), Cladosporium spp. (58%) and Aspergillus flavus (41%). Thirteen bacterial strains were isolated from the samples; Gram-negative bacteria were most prevalent. The three dominant Gram-negative bacteria were Escherichia coli (62.5%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (61%) and Enterobacter spp. (59.5%). The two most abundant Gram-positive bacteria were Corynebacterium spp. (59.5%) and Bacillus spp. (not Bacillus cereus) (52.5%). These results suggest contaminated flood areas may be a transmission route for pathogens, and increase the risk of abnormal skin conditions among people exposed to the area.

Key words: Flood, Thailand, fungus, bacteria, yeast.
 

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN: 2375-1185 Vol. 12 (6), pp. 001-006, June, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Exploration of Phenol Degradation Capabilities in Microbes from Olive Mill Waste: A Phenotypic Analysis

M.A. El-Khateeb^1,2*, Bilal Ahmed Tantry³, Abdul Hafeez Mohammed³ and Shaik Rahiman⁴

¹Chemistry Department, College of science, AlJouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia.
²Water Pollution Control Department, National Research Center, Dooki, Cairo, Egypt.
³Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, AlJouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia.

⁴Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, AlJouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia.

Received 11 January, 2024, Accepted 12 April, 2024

Abstract

The growth of the olive oil production in Saudi Arabia particularly in Al Jouf region in recent years has been accompanied by an increase in the discharge of associated processing waste. Olive mill waste is produced through the extraction of oil from the olive fruit using the traditional mill and press process. Deterioration of the environment due to olive mill wastes disposal is a serious problem. When olive mill waste is disposed into the soil, it affects soil quality, soil micro flora and also toxic to plants. The aim of this work is to isolate microorganism (bacterial or fungal strains) from OMW capable of degrading phenols. Olive mill wastewater, olive mill waste and soil (beside oil production mill) contaminated with olive waste were used for isolation of phenol tolerant microorganisms. Four strains (two fungal and two bacterial) were isolated from olive mill waste. The isolated strains were Candida tropicalis and Phanerochaete chrysosporium (fungal strains) and Bacillus sp. and Rhodococcus sp. (bacterial strains). These strains were able to degrade phenols and could be used for bioremediation of olive mill waste.

Key words: Bioremediation, bacteria, fungi, Sakaka.