African Journal of Agriculture

African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 12 (5), pp. 001-012, May, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Altitudinal Variations in Soil Seed Bank Persistence in the Qilian Mountains: Implications for Conservation

Qiuyan Li1, Haiyan Fang2*and Qiangguo Cai2

1College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China. 2Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.

Accepted 31 January, 2025

The qualitative and quantitative parameters of persistent soil seed bank, including species composition, seed density, vertical distribution and the relationship of soil seed bank and vegetation, were assessed along an altitudinal gradient in seven communities in shady slope, sunny slope and summit plain of Qilian Mountains. The highest density of soil seed bank of 3946 seeds m-2 was found in grassland in summit plain, and lowest of 225 seeds m-2 in the dwarf scrub grassland in shady slope, while the highest numbers of species of 21 species in per sampled area of 962 cm2 was found in grassland in sunny slope and lowest of 5 species in per sampled area of 962 cm2 in scrub land in shady slope. Of the species 18% were annuals and 73% perennial herbs, only 1 shrub of Salix gilashanica was recorded. Considerably more seeds were concentrated in the upper layer (0 to 5 cm), and seed density declined by 71.10% in the lower layer (5 to 10 cm). There was a tendency for the soil seed bank to decrease in density with increasing elevation in both shady slope and sunny slope, although this pattern is complicated by the occurrence of different plant communities and species at different altitudes. Sorensen similarity index between soil seed bank and vegetation of the seven habitats was very low, and Picea crassifolia was absent in the soil seed bank despite being a prominent component of the surface vegetation at woodlands; thus, P. crassifolia has no persistent seed bank. It will be important to maintain the existing vegetation in the future management.

Key words: Soil seed bank, seed density, altitudinal gradients, slopes, conservation.
 

African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 12 (5), pp. 001-005, May, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The Role of Soil Clay Minerals in the Sorption and Environmental Fate of Biphenyl 

Roman Tandlich1,2* and Štefan Baláž1,3

1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105, USA. 2Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, P. O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa.
3Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences-Vermont Campus, Colchester, VT 05446, USA.

Accepted 22nd March, 2025

Only limited information is available in the literature on the role of soil mineral surfaces in the sorption of hydrophobic organic pollutants. This knowledge gap is addressed through the assessment of biphenyl sorption to kaolinite, illite and bentonite; using the batch equilibration technique with incubations lasting 6 or 21 days at 28 ± 2°C in the dark. Sorption of biphenyl onto kaolinite followed the Freundlich sorption isotherm, whereas linear sorption isotherms were observed on illite and bentonite. The biphenyl sorption partition coefficient on kaolinite ranged from 0.1 to 9.1 cm3.g-1 after 6 days and no sorption was observed after 21 days. This could have been caused by a completely reversible sorption or a loss of binding capacity after 21 days. The respective values of the biphenyl sorption partition coefficient on illite and bentonite ranged from 20.3 ± 0.3 to 120 ± 8 cm3.g-1. Sorption equilibrium on the internal clay surfaces was reached after 6 days, as indicated by the sorption data for illite and bentonite. Access of biphenyl molecules to the internal clay surfaces is a function of the ionic strength of soil solution and the soil organic matter is the dominant site for biphenyl sorption after 6 to 21 days.

Key words: Biphenyl, sorption, kaolinite, illite, bentonite.
 

African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 12 (4), pp. 001-005, April, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The Weed Seedbank as a Target for Integrated Management in Soybean Systems

Branko Konstantinović1*, Maja Meseldžija1, Milena Korać1 and Bojan Konstantinović2

1Faculty of Agriculture, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 8, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
2Agrimatco group – Dipkom d.o.o., Narodnog fronta 73/1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.

Accepted 02 April, 2025

In the period 2007 to 2010, at localities Backi Maglic and Krivaja studies of weed seedbank were performed under soybean crop. Results showed that weed seed separated at Backi Maglic in all years dominated in the top soil layer, while the lowest quantities were separated from the deepest layer, and that number of weeds declined annually. At Krivaja, the lowest weed seed stocks were found in the top layer, and the highest in the deepest layer. At this locality, number of weed seeds kept rising from season to season, which was the consequence of application of different cultural practices.

Key words: Soybean, weed seedbank, Amaranthus retroflexus L., Chenopodium album L., Datura stramonium L.
 

African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 12 (4), pp. 001-007, April, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Interactive Effects of Water Deficit and Organic Fertilization on Cumin Yield, Essential Oil, and Chemical Profiles (Cuminum cyminum)

Ahmad Ahmadian1*, Abolfazl Tavassoli2 and Ebrahim Amiri3

1Engineering and Technical Faculty, Torbate Heydariye, Iran.
2Young Researchers Club, Islamic Azad University, Shirvan Branch, Iran.
3Department of Agriculture, Lahijan branch, Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran.

Accepted 21 March, 2025

Water stress enhances essential oils content in medicinal plants. Manure in soil prepares essential elements and increase quality and quantity of plant products. To study the effects of water stress and manure application on yield components, oil percentage and its main constituents on CUMINUM CYMINUM, this experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station of Zahak, Zabol, south east of Iran in a complete randomized block in factorial design with four replications. Treatments including irrigation intervals (I1: two times irrigation, I2: three times irrigation and I3: four times irrigation that are irrigation in germination, seedling, flowering and seed filing stages) and manure application (F1: without manure application, F2: 20 t/ha manure application). The chemical composition of the essential oil was examined by GC and GC-MS and they were significantly affected by water stress and manure (P<0.05). Three irrigation times with manure treatment produced the highest number of umbrella per plant, seed and biological yield and the lowest 1000 – seed weight and number of seed per umbrella. The effect of water stress and manure were significant on essential oil and its constituents. Three irrigation times with manure treatment caused the highest amount of cumin aldehyde and ρ-cymene and the lowest of β-pinene, γ-terpinene and α-pinene. Results showed that a relationship exist between the main constituents of cumin essential oil under water and manure application.

Key words: Cuminum cyminum, manure, irrigation, oil, oil constituents.
 

African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 12 (4), pp. 001-006, April, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Protective Dye as a Varnish Modifier: Evaluating Hardness, Scratch Resistance, and Gloss Effects across Diverse Blockboard Types

Nevzat Çakicier1, Süleyman Korkut1*, Derya Sevim Korkut1, Ahmet Kurtoğlu2, E. Seda Erdinler2 and Goksel Ulay3

1Duzce University, Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Industrial Engineering, 81620 Duzce-Turkey.
2Istanbul University, Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Industrial Engineering, 34473 Bahcekoy-Sariyer-Turkey.
3Yuzuncuyil University, Van Vocational School Furniture and Decoration Program, Van-Turkey.

Accepted 18 January, 2025

This study is carried out for determining the changes occurring on the amount of the material used on the protective layer when polyurethane and acrylic (lacquered) dye is applied on the test samples prepared from sandwich type composite (blockboard) boards with their surface coated or uncoated with paper, which are used for the yacht furniture and interior decoration. After applying polyurethane and acrylic dye on the 30 test samples prepared as coated or uncoated with paper with 10 x 10 x 1.6 cm sizes from blockboard, the surface hardness values of the protective layer as applied in ASTM D 4366-95 (1984) were determined, the scratch resistance were determined according to the essentials specified in TS 4757 (1986), and the glossiness were also determined according to the essentials specified in TS 4318 EN ISO 2813 (2002). According to the result of the study, concealing dyeing is obtained with much surface hardness, scratch resistance and glossiness by using less lacquer dye on the boards coated with paper. With this study, it is possible to suggest that coating with paper before lacquer dyeing can be a preferable application in terms of cost and time saving.

Key words: Blockboard, polyurethane dye, acrylic dye, hardness, scratch resistance, glossiness.
 

African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 12 (4), pp. 001-005, April, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Impact of Environmental Conditions on Germination and Nutritive Properties of Stylosanthes guianensis in the Sambisa Game Reserve, Borno State, Nigeria

Y. P. Mbaya, A. Usman* and N. Yekini

Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maiduguri P. M. B 1069, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.

Accepted 17 September, 2024

Abstract

The study is on the introduction of perennial pasture crop Stylosanthes guianensis (Stylo) into the Sambisa Game Reserve in Borno State, Nigeria. Stylo is a tropical herbaceous legume primarily used as a pasture crop for humid tropical regions. The objectives were to observe the growth and establishment of stylo in the game reserve of Sudan Savanna ecological zone of Nigeria; examining the emergence rates using some pre germination treatments, determine the yield and the nutritive value of herbage. Viability of 65% was obtained although the emergence was highest when sulphuric acid was used as pre germination treatment. There was no significant difference between the treatments (P > 0.05). A yield of 308 kg DM/ha was obtained. The sample herbage for determination of yield and chemical composition were determined to be 93.0% DM; 5.95% CP; 3.0% EE; 38.0% CF and 5.0% ash. The cultivation of stylo is therefore, recommended in game reserves for increased forage quality and quantity to herbivorous game animals as a conservation strategy.

Keywords: Sudan savanna, stylo, germination, dry matter yield and nutritive value.