African Journal of Agriculture

African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 7 (10), pp. 001-008, October, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on early growth characteristics of Khaya ivorensis Chev (African mahogany) in nursery

Focho Derek Afa¹*, Eneke Bechem², Egbe Andrew², Fongod Augustina Genla², Fonge Beatrice Ambo² and Njoh Roland Ndah²

¹Department of Plant Biology, University of Dschang, P. O. Box 67 Dschang, Cameroon.

²Department of Plant and Animal Sciences, University of Buea, P. O. Box 63 Buea, Cameroon.

Accepted 09 September, 2020

Abstract

The effects of two inorganic fertilizers (urea and super phosphate simple) and organic manure (fowl droppings) on the early growth of seedlings of Khaya ivorensis in nursery were investigated using ten nutrient treatments, nine of which were nutrient combinations and one, a negative control. Urea was added at 0.75 and 112.50 mg while super phosphate simple (SPS) was added at 0.30 and 60 mg. Changes in plant height, leaf number, collar diameter and leaf area were evaluated fortnightly for 120 days. Total biomass was evaluated at the end of the experiment. All growth parameters improved with nutrient addition with the differences being significant in most cases at P=0.05. The highest seedling height (15.20 cm), leaf number (9), collar diameter (3.7 mm), leaf area (115.5 cm²), and biomass (19.3 g) were recorded when 75 mg urea and 60 mg SPS were added to seedlings. Results obtained suggest that the treatment combination N1P1 addition is necessary to boost the growth of this plant in nursery.

Key words: Khaya ivorensis, growth characteristics, fertilizers, mahogany.

African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 7 (10), pp. 001-004, October, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Biological activities of extracts from a naturally wild kiwifruit, Actinidia macrosperma

Yin Lu^1,2*, Yunpeng Zhao² and Chengxin Fu²

¹College of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, Zhejiang Province, P. R. China.

²College of Life Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P. R. China.

Accepted 18 April, 2020

Abstract

Actinidia macrosperma C. F. Liang is a medicinal plant in China and has been well known for its attraction to cats and activities against leprosy and cancers. In this paper, the petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-hexane and aqueous successive extracts from the stems of A. macrosperma were screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities in vitro for the first time, using the disc diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) / minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC). General toxicity of these extracts has also been assessed by brine shrimp lethality assay. From the results, the chloroform extract exhibited the most significant antimicrobial (MIC in the range of 60 to 500 µg/mL, MBC in the range of 150 to 1000 µg/mL, MFC in the range of 170 to 600 µg/mL) and cytotoxic activities (LC₅₀ = 16.82 µg/mL at 24 h).

Key words: Actinidia macrosperma; antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity, brine shrimp.

African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 7 (9), pp. 001-011, September, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Contribution of input trade fairs to food security in rural Swaziland: Case study of households under the Ngwempisi constituency

M. S. Mashinini¹, M. M. Sithole²* and M. L. Mabuza³

¹Sidwala School, P. O. Box 386, Mankayane, Swaziland.

²Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (CeSTII), Population Health, Health Systems and Innovation (PHHSI), Human Science Research Council (HSRC), P/Bag X9182, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa.

³Department of Agricultural Economics and Management, University of Swaziland, P O Luyengo, Swaziland.

Accepted 15 July, 2020

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine the contribution of input trade fairs (ITFs) to household food security in rural Swaziland. Given the prevailing drought condition, a number of interventions, including ITFs, have been attempted to mitigate the effects of natural disasters on the livelihoods of rural households. Through a survey of 92 randomly selected households, a regression model was used, where amongst other factors influencing net food availability, was a dummy variable indicating whether a household was a recipient or non-recipient of ITFs. Having tested for structural stability on whether the regression for recipients differs from that of non-recipients in terms of intercepts and coefficients, homogeneity and autocorrelation, the analytical results indicated that ITFs significantly contribute to household net food availability. The study, therefore, recommends that ITFs can be considered as a temporary measure to respond to the current food crisis. The long-term solution, however, lies with the full implementation of Swaziland’s newly formulated Food Security Policy.

Key words: Input trade fairs, food production, food security, drought, Swaziland.

African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 7 (9), pp. 001-006, September, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Use of pheromone traps against Tomicus piniperda and Tomicus minor in the Kazbegi National Park, Georgian Republic

Temel Gokturk¹* and Yasar Aksu²

¹Department of Forest Entomology and Protection, Faculty of Forestry, Artvin Coruh University, Artvin Turkey.

²Artvin Forest Department, Forest Protection, 08000, Artvin, Turkey.

Accepted 18 July, 2020

Abstract

In the forested lands of Georgia Kazbegi National Park, some kinds of insects have been significantly harming the bark beetle of trees as their population increases. The most harmful species within the 100 ha area of the national park, where Pinus sylvestris L. var. hamata (Steven) (Scots Pine) trees settle have been identified as Tomicus piniperda (L.) and Tomicus minor (Hartig) using bio-technic method (pheromone traps), has been implemented against them. The damages of T. piniperda and T. minor were measured from all the Scots Pine in Kazbegi National Park in 2008. One of the newly developed control methods used in the field with intensive T. piniperda and T. minor populations is the bio-technic method. Prepared pheromone traps were hung up on trees located in various places and captured insects were counted and the results recorded in 2008. T. piniperda and T. minor trapped in pheromone traps, hung from the pines of the Scots Pine outbreak area were significantly greater in study area (109.5±2.1 and 118.2±1.8 beetle/trap, both species respectively).

Key words: Tomicus piniperda, Tomicus minor, pheromone trials, Kazbegi National Park, Georgia.