African Journal of Agriculture

African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 6 (6), pp. 001-005, June, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Calculation of peanut production cost and functional analysis in Osmaniye Province of Turkey

Ha im Özüdo ru

Faculty of Industrial Arts Education, Gazi University, 06830 Gölba i/Ankara/Turkey. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 14 January, 2019

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the physical input quantity used in peanut production and unit cost, and to make the functional analysis of the aforementioned production in the farms of Osmaniye province. The data used in the study belongs to 2009 growing season and they are collected by finite population sampling method from 44 farms in the 27 villages of 6 counties in Osmaniye province. The inputs used per decare in peanut production are determined as follows respectively: 1 h male labor force, 0.54 h tractor traction, 8.60 kg seed, 21.40 fertilizer and 0.25 kg pesticide in averages. 1 kg peanut cost is 1.10 TL in 2009 prices. The determined by using Cobb-Douglas production function analysis between production and inputs used. Multiple correlation coefficient (R²) is 0.578. The sum of production elasticities for production function is.

Key words: Turkey, peanut, cost, Cobb-Douglas production function.

African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 6 (5), pp. 001-007, May, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessing N-use efficiency, planting time and economics of fertilizer N in rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L’ Herit) in Western Himalayan Region of India

Rajesh Kumar Verma¹*, Laiq-ur-Rahman¹, Ram Swaroop Verma¹, Alok Kalra², Arun Kumar Kukreja², Anand Singh Bisht¹, Amit Chauhan¹ and Suman Preet Singh Khanuja²

¹Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Resource Centre, Purara, P. O. Gagrigole 263 688, District Bageshwar, Uttarakhand, India.

²Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), P. O. CIMAP, 226 015, District Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Accepted 18 November, 2018

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of N levels and planting times on growth, biomass and oil yield attributes, agronomic efficiency (AE) and partial factor productivity (PFP), and economics of N application through marginal analysis. Results indicated that reducing the duration (from planting to harvesting) from December (144 days) to April (74 days) significant result in reduction in percent dry matter production, biomass, oil yield, PFP, AE and net income. Nitrogen application significantly increased dry matter production, leaf/stem ratio, biomass and oil yield in February planted crop. The AE of applied N, were also higher in February planted crop. The AE of applied nitrogen at 50, 100 and 150 kg N ha^-1 were 188, 224 and 200 kg^-1 kg N respectively. At 100 kg N ha^-1 the crop earned a maximum profit Rs. 30.02. The quality of essential oil was not significantly influenced by application of different nitrogen levels.

Key words: Nitrogen, fertilizer, agronomic efficiency, scented geranium.

African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 6 (4), pp. 001-008, April, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

An evaluation of the nutritional quality evaluation of three cultivars of Syzygium samarangense under Malaysian conditions

K. M. Moneruzzaman*, A. M. Al-Saif, A. I. Alebidi, A. B. M. S. Hossain, O. Normaniza and A. Nasrulhaq Boyce

Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Accepted 09 January, 2019

Abstract

A study was carried out to selected physiological and biochemical characteristics of Syzygium samarangense for their physiological and biochemical characteristics at Functional Food Laboratory, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. Various physiological and biochemical parameters were monitored during two seasons of fruit growth between October, 2009 to August, 2010 with the ‘Giant green’, ‘Masam manis pink’ and ‘Jambu madu red’ cultivars of S. samarangense. Ripened fruits of the different cultivars were collected from the experimental field of Banting, Selangor and analyzed for selected physiological parameters namely chlorophyll fluorescence, quantum yield, fruit weight, total yield, number of seed per fruit, seed weight and dry matter content and some biochemical parameters that is, juice content, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), glucose, fructose, inverted sugar, ethanol, total flavonoids, phenols and anthocyanins content. It was observed that highest chlorophyll fluorescence, maximum quantum yield (0.79), fruit weight, seed number (4) and seed weight per fruit (4.56 g) were in the ‘Giant Green’ cultivar while total yield, glucose (9.83%), fructose (9.9%), inverted sugar (9.57%), ethanol (20.5%), flavonoids (914.1 mg/100g) and phenols (326.67 mg GAE/100g) were in the ‘Masam manis pink’ cultivar, and the highest juice content (76.33 ml), highest total soluble solids (8.76ºBrix) and anthocyanins (2.78 mg/L) were in the ‘Jambu madu Red’ cultivar. From this study, it can be concluded that ‘Masam manis pink’ and ‘Jambu madu red’ cultivar are comparatively better than ‘Giant green’ cultivar under South Asian conditions.

Key words: Syzygium samarangense, nutritive value, cultivar, Malaysia.

African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 6 (4), pp. 001-007, April, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Influence of organic and conventional production systems on the quality of tomatoes during storage

Hüsnü Ünlü¹*, Halime Özdamar Ünlü¹, Ya ar Karakurt¹ and Hüseyin Padem^1,2

¹Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey.

²International Burch University, Francuske revolucije bb. Ilidza, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Accepted 16 December, 2018

Abstract

Consumers generally believe that organically grown tomatoes taste better and have higher nutritional value than their conventionally grown counterparts. The study was conducted to compare quality properties of tomato cultivars grown using organic and conventional production systems during storage at 13°C for 35 days. Results indicated that fruits grown using organic production system retained their firmness better during storage than their conventionally grown counterparts. However, conventionally grown fruit showed significantly higher red coloration. Other quality parameters examined in the study for organically produced fruit were either lower or similar to those in conventionally grown fruit. Microbial fertilization and plant activator significantly increased total soluble and reducing sugar contents. Thus, no definite conclusion can be reached with respect to the superior quality of organically grown fruit compared to their conventionally grown counterparts. The influence of growing system appears to be cultivar and growth condition dependent.

Key words: Microbial fertilization, plant activator, quality, tomato, storage, organic, conventional.

African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 6 (3), pp. 001-006, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Determination of spring rigidity and fruit detachment force with respect to harvesting technique in pistachio nut trees

Refik Polat¹*, Izzet Acar², H. I. Cem Bilim², Ramazan Saglam³ and A. K. Bekir Erol³

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Karabuk University, 78100 Karabuk, Turkey.

²Pistachio Research Institute, 27060, 27060, Gaziantep, Turkey.

³Faculty of Agricultural, Harran University, 63040 Sanliurfa, Turkey.

Accepted 14 December, 2018

Abstract

It is necessary to identify some of the tree and fruit features in order to design and select machines that harvest fruit with mechanical methods. This work aims to identify the dynamic tree features of vibration rigid and fruit holding force for harvesting with mechanical methods. The work investigated the vibration rigid for both limb and trunk of pistachio tree. Also, it determined the effect of the diameters of limb and trunk on vibration rigid. The ratio of fruit holding force and fruit weight was identified. The results have shown that the vibration rigid of tree increases with the diameter of limb and trunk. At the implications for Siirt type pistachio, at 10,0 – 15,1 cm stem thickness the stiffness rigidity is 219,38 N/cm and at 30,1 – 35,0 cm it is 416,41 N/cm. At another implication for Uzun type pistachio, at 10,0 – 15,1 cm stem thickness the stiffness rigidity is 240,23 N/cm and at 30,1 – 35,0 cm it is 392,42 N/cm. The FDF/W ratio for Uzun cultivar Pistachio Nut varied from 235, 57 N/g to 57, 27 N/g within one month of tests. The FDF/W ratio for Siirt cultivar Pistachio Nut varied from 346,03 N/g to 52,67 N/g.

Key words: Fruit detachment force, spring rigidity.

African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 6 (3), pp. 001-011, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Response of improved cassava varieties in Uganda to cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and their inherent resistance mechanisms

J. Adriko¹*, W. S. Sserubombwe², E. Adipala¹, A. Bua² and J. M. Thresh³ and R. Edema¹

¹Department of Crop Science, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.

²National Crop Resources Research Institute (NACRRI), P.O. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda.

³Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham, ME4 4TB, UK.

Accepted 14 December, 2018

Abstract

Field based trials were setup to evaluate response and inherent resistance mechanisms to cassava mosaic disease (CMD) of four improved varieties; Nase 9, Nase 11, 00036 and 00057 together with Nase 4 and Bao as resistant and susceptible standards, respectively. These were grown in a CMD epidemic hotspot at Namulonge in Central Uganda. There were differences in sensitivity to CMD and whitefly populations among tested varieties. The improved varieties were less affected by CMD than the susceptible standard Bao. Three resistance mechanisms were exhibited by the varieties tested, namely; low infectibility (00036), recovery (Nase 9 and Nase 11) and reversion. Two of the varieties, that is, Nase 4 and 00057 showed all three resistance mechanisms. High whitefly populations characterized Bao, Nase 4 and 00057. Most of the varieties had a higher infestation of whiteflies on healthy than diseased plants. Results also showed that growth and yield parameters depended on the variety, growth stage at infection and health status of the cuttings used with improved varieties recording lower yield losses than the susceptible Bao. Also, plants infected earlier in the growth period suffered higher yield losses. Furthermore, plots planted from diseased cuttings recorded higher yield losses compared to those planted from healthy cuttings.

Key words: Cassava mosaic disease, improved cassava varieties, resistance mechanisms.