African Journal of Agriculture and Food Security

African Journal of Agriculture and Food Security ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 6 (3), pp. 224-228, March, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper 

A study of the physical properties of three watermelon seed varieties

Ali Araki¹, Hassan Natiq¹ and Luay Yaqoobi²

¹Department of Food Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

²Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Ardabil Province, Iran.

*Corresponding author’s E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 10 July, 2016

Abstract

Watermelon seeds of three major local Iranian varieties, Sarakhsi, Kolaleh and Red, at the moisture content of 4.55, 4.75 & 5.02% (w.b.), were selected to study the physical properties, respectively. Linear dimensions, mean diameters, sphericity, surface area, volume, true and bulk densities, porosity, repose angles and static coefficient of friction of the three varieties’ seeds were measured using standard methods. The results showed that the length, width, thickness, arithmetic mean diameter and geometric mean diameter of watermelon seeds varied from 13.45 to 18.97 mm, 8.4 to 10.7 mm, 2.91 to 3.10 mm, 8.256 to 10.894 mm and 6.893 to 8.456 mm, respectively. While The sphericity by Jean & Ball’s method, sphericity by the Mohsenin’s method, surface area by McCabe et al’s method and surface area by Jean & Ball’s method, changed from 2.004 to 2.125, 0.446 to 0.513, 149.68 to 225.03 mm2, 128.09 to 198.01 mm2, respectively. The values of the seed volume, true density, bulk density and porosity of watermelon seeds were between 179.53-311.62 mm3, 861.75-866.66 kg/m3, 416.33-527.265 kg/m3 and 39.14-51.68% respectively. The study over the coefficient of friction of watermelon seeds on some materials such as plywood, galvanized metal sheet, glass, fiberglass and rubber showed that the static coefficient of friction varied from 0.26 on glass to 0.676 against rubber. Furthermore, the filling and funneling angles of repose for three watermelon seeds ranged from 27.092 to 32.38, 21.662 to 28.146, respectively. It is concluded that the physical properties of watermelon seeds vary from variety to variety and it is also a function of the seed moisture content, environmental and growth conditions.

Key words: Watermelon seeds; gravimetrical properties; geometrical properties; frictional properties.

African Journal of Agriculture and Food Security ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 6 (1), pp. 212-214, January, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

A study of crop management technique as a means of reducing the effect of Striga hermonthica

Abubakar Umar¹*, Ibrahim Aliko¹ and Ahmed Tijani²

¹Department of Food Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

²Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Bayero University Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding authors E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 12 April, 2016

Abstract

A trial was conducted in the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) research farm in Kano, Nigeria during the 2002/2003 cropping season to evaluate the effect of intrarow and interrow mixing of sorghum with two varieties of cowpea on host crop yield in a Striga hermonthica infested field. Significantly (P 0.05) highest number of Striga per sorghum plant were obtained with sorghum only, which also have the lowest yield (2370 kg/ha). A significantly (P 0.05) higher yield (3709 kg/ha) was obtained with intra-row mixture of sorghum and densely planted cowpea variety, IT96D -452-1. This treatment also had the least number of Striga per net plot and per plant, which may be attributed to the effectiveness of the cowpea trap crop in stimulating the suicidal germination of the Striga seeds which would have otherwise attacked and reduced the productivity of the host plant. It may also be attributed to the effectiveness of the cropping method, with a ratio of sorghum : cowpea plants of 1:13, which improves the productivity of the system and at the same time suppresses the germination of Striga seeds.

Key words: Sorghum, yield, Intra-row, inter-row, cowpea, mixed-cropping.

African Journal of Agriculture and Food Security ISSN: 2375-1177 Vol. 5 (5), pp. 202-208, September, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Perspective

The paradox of food insecurity in Nigeria (2011-2017)

Martin Nwalie

University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted  27 August, 2017

Abstract

This paper argues that agricultural policies alone, no matter how well formulated and implemented cannot ensure food security in Nigeria without a corresponding sound macroeconomic management, poverty reduction strategy and social safety net. We argue that increase in domestic food production will only positively affect the supply side of food security while poverty rate if unattended to will negatively affect the demand side ensuring the persistence of food insecurity.

Keywords: Food security, agriculture, policy, macroeconomics.

African Journal of Agriculture and Food Security ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 5 (4), pp. 193-201, April, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Food insecurity and the food store environment in the Southern United States: A Case Study of Alabama counties

¹Berneece Herbert, ²Colmore S. Christian, ³Chukudi V. Izeogu and ³Olayemi Babalola

¹Interim Chair and Program Coordinator, Department of Community & Regional Planning J.I. Dawson Building Rm 308 Alabama A&M University Normal AL 35762 USA.

²Alabama A&M University, Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences, Normal Alabama 35762 USA.

³Alabama A&M University, Department of Community & Regional Planning, Normal Alabama 35762 USA.

Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]. Tel: 256-372-4988 or 256-653-4751; Fax: 256-372-5906

Accepted April 27, 2017

Abstract

Access to nutritious and healthy food, a key pillar of food security, has become a national and global challenge particularly for individuals and families living in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. Although no real consensus exists about the definition of food access, researchers have agreed that the components include nutritionally adequate, culturally appropriate and affordable food. Access involves households possessing sufficient income to purchase healthy food and includes proximity and the ability to travel to sources that offers such food. The lack of access contributes not only to poor health outcomes but to social inequity. Studies that measure food insecurity find major disparities in the food store environment by race and income and other socio-economic measures. This research assesses food store density as an indicator of the health of the food environment and its relations to food insecurity. It concluded that food insecurity rates were highest in rural, high minority counties located primarily in Alabama Black Belt. The results question the role of supermarkets as a solution to food security and conclude that the location of supermarkets and large grocery stores may not be the most effective solution to the “grocery gap” in low-income communities.

Key words: Food security, food access, food store density, food environment, grocery gap.