African Journal of Agriculture and Food Security

African Journal of Agriculture and Food Security ISSN: 2375-1177 Vol. 10 (4), pp. 001-008, April, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

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Micro-mineral contents in eight forage shrubs at three phenological stages in a Pakistan’s rangeland

Zaman Sher¹*, Farrukh Hussain² and Lal Badshah²

¹Government Degree College, Lahor, District Swabi, Pakistan.

²Department of Botany, Phytoecology Laboratory, University of Peshawar, Pakistan.

Accepted 20 July, 2021

Abstract

Livestock rearing is a common practice in Gadoon Hills by the locals to earn their livelihood. Low productivity due to poor health of livestock is major consideration in the study area. In order to know whether this low productivity and poor health might be due to poor quality of forage, eight shrubs, namely, Berberis lycium, Debregeasia salicifolia, Dodonea viscosa, Gymnosporia royleana, Indigofera heterantha, Justicia adhatoda, Rosa moschata and Zizyphus nummularia were analyzed for micro-mineral quantification at three phenological stages. The palatability of these species was recorded from the shepherds and after following the animals while grazing in the rangeland during this study. The samples were analyzed for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn and Mn minerals. Cd contents ranged from 0.205 to 0.217, Cr: 0.006 to 0.967, Cu: 0.031 to 0.123, Fe: 1.819 to 12, Ni: 0.109 to 0.184, Pb: 0.08 to 0.8, Zn: 0.082 to 0.371 and Mn: 0.077 to 0.432 ppm in different investigated forage shrubs. ANOVA (P = 0.05) revealed significant difference in micro-mineral contents among the various phenological stages of the different shrubs while insignificant difference was observed for these micro-minerals among the different shrubs except Cu and Fe levels, which showed significant difference. It is concluded that micro-minerals concentrations available in these forage plants to the grazing livestock were very low, hence this may be, one of the causes responsible for the pitiable health and productivity of the grazing animals in Gadoon Hills, KPK, Pakistan.

Key words: Micro-mineral contents, forage shrubs, phenological stages, livestock health, Gadoon Hills.

African Journal of Agriculture and Food Security ISSN: 2375-1177 Vol. 10 (3), pp. 001-004, March, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Studies on the effect of residual and applied phosphorus on the yield and quality of fodder sorghum based cropping system and relative economics of the system

Manzoor Ahmad Ganai¹*, Amarjeet S. Bali², M. A. Bhat¹* and I. A. Bhat²

¹Rice Research and Regional Station, Khudwani, India.

²Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu, India.

Accepted 13 November, 2021

Abstract

The experiment was carried out with the objective of studying the effect of phosphorus application timings and its sources in wheat-sorghum cropping system during rabi 2004 and kharief 2005, at the main campus Chatha of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, India. The soil was loamy in texture, neutral in reaction with low available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and organic carbon (OC) and medium in available potassium (K). The treatments comprises of two factors viz. four P application timings to preceding wheat crop while the second factor which comprises of four sources of P applied to the succeeding sorghum fodder crop were laid out in split plot design. Studies indicated that wheat crop performed better with basal application of P than its delayed application through improvement in P up-take. However, in subsequent sorghum fodder crop, delayed application of P in preceding wheat crop proved instrumental in production of higher fodder yield. Among the sources used farmyard manure (FYM) as a source of P in sorghum, caused phenomenal increase in growth parameters. Delayed application of P in wheat and application of P in sorghum through different sources favoured crude protein content. However, effect on crude fibre content of the fodder sorghum was not significant. Delayed application of P in wheat followed by recommended P through FYM in sorghum proved beneficial with a benefit cost ratio ranging from 2.07 to 2.08.

Key words: Yield, quality, economics, phosphorus sources, residual effect, wheat-sorghum.

African Journal of Agriculture and Food Security ISSN: 2375-1177 Vol. 10 (1), pp. 001-006, January, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

African Journal of Agriculture and Food Security ISSN: 2375-1177 Vol. 9 (2), pp. 001-014, February, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Enhancing governance and processes for food security resilience to climate risks in Burkina Faso: an attempt toward developing vulnerability-mapping tools

Idrissa SEMDE^1*, Arnaud OUEDRAOGO²_, Samuel YONKEU³, Mathieu BADOLO⁴ and Samuel PARE⁵

^1*Centre for Research and Studies in Management (CREM), University Aube Nouvelle, 06 PO Box 9283, Ouagadougou 06, Burkina Faso.

²University Norbert Zongo, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.

³University Aube Nouvelle, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

⁴African Center for Scientific Research and Training (Cres), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

⁵University Joseph Ki Zerbo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Abstract

Accepted 10 February, 2021

For many territories around the world, one of the threats linked to climate change would be increased pressure from disaster risks on economic and social development. Over the past decades, progress in the areas of early warning, response, disaster recovery and structural vulnerability management has been made in the Sahel region, particularly in the Food Safety. However, for Burkina Faso, the climate still induces serious constraints on social and economic development. This persistent effect of the climate results from various shortcomings in the solutions to reduce the vulnerability implemented, and more decisively from the structural challenges of the governance of disaster risks. One response to this threat is the promotion of better resilience to disaster risks, by improving the scientific bases, methodological and decision-making aspects of resilience processes and actions, developed in this article. The methodology used to develop these tools consists of a scientific approach based on the ClimProspect model coupled with a participatory approach involving the relevant stakeholders.

Keywords: Vulnerability, resilience, food security, Burkina Faso, Sahel.

African Journal of Agriculture and Food Security ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-011, January, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of electrical energy use efficiency in Nigeria food industry

A. O. Aderemi¹, M. O. Ilori², H. O. Aderemi³* and J. F. K. Akinbami⁴

¹Department of Electronic/Electrical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

²Technology Planning and Development Unit, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

³National Centre for Technology Management, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

⁴Centre for Energy Research and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Accepted 28 July, 2020

Abstract

This study examined various patterns of energy consumption; it identified the sources of energy wastage, and assessed the effectiveness of the strategies that were employed to reduce energy waste in the food companies. This was with a view to recommending policy measures that would enhance effective electrical energy savings in the industry. Random sampling technique was used to select the food companies in South-western Nigeria which represent more than 50% of the Nigerian food and beverage companies. Structured questionnaire, interview and direct observation were employed as research instruments. Analytical procedure as given by Knutson and ANSI/NEMP for calculating electrical energy lost to heat per hour (Wh/h) and power factor respectively was adopted for the study. The study showed that the pattern of electrical energy consumption in the food companies was mainly from generating set; this was due to either low voltage or epileptic power supply from national grid. Direct and indirect sources that lead to electrical energy waste and in-efficient energy utilization in the industry were identified such as energy loss as a result of worn out or slack / misaligned belts that need timely replacement or tensioning, training and retraining of staff, power factor of electrical equipment among others. Three out of eleven strategies were effective in reducing the companies’ electricity bill by 3% for the same quantity of production. These include: switching off most lighting during day time; instant replacement / tensioning of worn out / slack belts or chains and; disconnection of all faulty equipment. This finding shows that 72.8% of all the acclaimed strategies to reduce energy consumption were not effective. The study concluded that the factors that constituted electrical energy waste and energy use inefficiency in the food companies in the study area were very identical and recommendations for effective energy use efficiency in the firms were proposed.

Key words: Electrical energy, efficiency, energy waste, food industry, Nigeria.

African Journal of Agriculture and Food Security ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-007, January, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The nutritional composition, sensory evaluation and microbiological studies of fish cake made from shrimp bycatch

Osibona Adesola Olayinka¹*, Akinwande Akinpelu Tope¹, Ozor Patricia² and R. Akande Gbola²

¹Department of Marine Sciences, University of Lagos, Akoka. Lagos, Nigeria.

²Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.

Accepted 20 October, 2020

Abstract

This study reports on the nutritional composition, sensory evaluation and microbiological studies of fish cake made from shrimp bycatch. The yield of mince from the bycatch was 80.26% mince; 10.21% residue and 9.53% loss. The mince proximate composition was 66.32% moisture; 20.08% protein; 3.45% lipid and 3.93% ash. The proximate composition of the raw fish cakes was 64.40% moisture; 19.13% protein; 4.14% lipid; 6.11% ash and 6.22% carbohydrate. The deep fried fish cake had 60.12% moisture; 21.01% protein; 8.50% lipid; 6.30% ash and 4.07% carbohydrate. No significant difference (P > 0.05) was observed between the proximate composition of raw and deep fried fish cake. The peroxide values (PV) of raw and deep fried fish cake ranged from 7.20 - 22.00 mEqO₂/Kg of lipid during six week storage period. There was significant correlation between storage time and peroxide values in both treatments. Microbiological analysis showed that the Total Viable Count (TVC) decreased with increase in frozen period. The results obtained were within the acceptable limit of International Commission on Microbiological Specification for Food. The organoleptic properties of the deep fried cake indicated that the product was acceptable until about the fourth week. The study showed that fish cake from shrimp bycatch is microbiologically safe and nutritionally high in protein, fat as well as calcium.

Key words: Bycatch, fishcake, shrimp, sensory, proximate, mince, peroxide values, staphylococcus.