ISSN 2375-1231
Research Article
African Journal of Crop Science ISSN 2375-1231 Vol. 3 (6), pp. 183-189, August, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Contribution of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) to household food security among farmers in Kilosa District, Tanzania
Davis F. Mwakanyamale*, Geoffrey S. Mkamilo and Bernadetha P. Kimata
Naliendele Agricultural Research Institute, P.O.Box 509, Mtwara, Tanzania.
Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 25 May, 2015
Abstract
The study was conducted to assess the contribution of sweetpotato to food security among farming households in Kilosa District in Eastern Tanzania. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 120 randomly selected households. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze socio-economic characteristics of the selected households whereas logistic regression was used to test variables that determined household food security in the study area. Results showed that the size of farm devoted to sweetpotato cultivation contributed positively and significantly to household food security. Household heads’ age, gender, years of schooling and off-farm income were also significantly impacting household food security. This study, therefore, recommended emphasis on favourable land policies to sweetpotato growers, enhancing accessibility of improved sweetpotato technologies, training programmes on good agricultural practices and creation of income generation opportunities in order to improve household food security in Kilosa District.
Key words: Households, sweetpotato, food security, determinants, logistic regression.
Geoffrey S. Mkamilo and Bernadetha P. Kimata, Davis F. Mwakanyamale*
Page: 183 - 189
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJCS/1027Research Article
African Journal of Crop Science ISSN 2375-1231 Vol. 3 (6), pp. 190-195, August, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Assessment of the influence of morphological traits to variability in some accessions of rice
*1Olagunsoye Momodu, 1Tamarabo B. Onyitaremi and Oviri T. Jerry2
1Department of Crop Production, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
2Department of plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, Nigeria.
Email: [email protected]
Accepted 16 July, 2015
Abstract
Field experiment was conducted at Edozhigi, National Cereal Research Institute experimental field, to assess the contribution of morphological traits to variability in some accessions of rice. The field was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Thirty nine entries collected from farmer’s field and National Cereals Research Institute gene Bank were planted in a plot size of 5 × 1 m. The experiment was conducted in 2009 and 2010 cropping seasons. Data were collected on twelve morpho-physiological traits. The results of the principal component analysis showed that the first 5 principal component axes explained 68.9% (first year) and 61.6% (second year) of the total variations in the rice population. The combined results showed that 65.4% of the variations were accounted for by the first 5 principal components axes. Number of grains per panicle loaded more on the component loading correction plot using the combined results. It accounted for about 17.8% of the variation in the population. High levels of variability were expressed among the varieties and the characters studied which will allow further improvement in the varieties.
Key words: Variation, principal component, rice, variety.
Tamarabo B. Onyitaremi and Oviri T. Jerry, *Olagunsoye Momodu
Page: 190 - 195
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJCS/1026Research Article
African Journal of Crop Science ISSN 2375-1231 Vol. 3 (5), pp. 176-182, July, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
A study on the use of various PGR combinations for efficient in vitro regeneration of cv. kufri jyoti in kumaun hills, India
Chanakya M.S, Maurya K.A and Hargobind W.F
School of Crop Improvement, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Pusa, Delhi, India. E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 02 January, 2015
Abstract
The present study demonstrated the use of various PGR combinations for efficient in vitro regeneration of cv. kufri jyoti in kumaun hills. Best callus induction and proliferation was observed in MS medium supplemented with 13.59 µM 2,4-D alone and 2,4-D + kinetin (9.06 + 1.16 µM) out of different concentrations of 2,4-D (4.53 to 18.12 µM) alone and 2,4-D (0 to 18.12 µM) with kinetin (1.16 µM). Leaf explants were more efficient in producing callus as compared to internodes. Medium supplemented with BA + GA3 (8.88 µM + 1 µM) initiated shoot induction out of various combinations of BA (4.44 to 13.22 µM) and GA3 (1 µM) after 7 days of incubation with significantly high average number of shoots, average shoot length and average number of leaves per explant. MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of zeatin (4.56, 9.12 and 13.68 µM) with IAA (5.71 µM) and GA3 (8.49 µM) was tried for direct regeneration of shoots through nodes out of which zeatin + IAA + GA3 (13.68 µM + 5.71 µM + 8.49 µM) served to be the best combination and the raised plantlets were found to produce microtubers in a period of 8 to 10 weeks. 2.45 µM IBA in full strength basal MS medium induced highest number of roots. In addition to an efficient regeneration protocol, the microtuber production was also studied in the present piece of work. The research protocol may also be utilized for Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation towards the biotic and abiotic stress tolerant potato crop.
Key words: In vitro, potato, callus, direct regeneration, microtubers.
Maurya K.A and Hargobind W.F, Chanakya M.S
Page: 176 - 182
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJCS/1024Research Article
African Journal of Crop Science ISSN 2375-1231 Vol. 3 (5), pp. 165-175, July, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Effect of green manuring jantar (Sesbania Acculata. l.) on the growth and yield of crops grown in wheat-based cropping systems
Javed Kamal
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.
Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 28 July, 2015
Abstract
A proposed field study of wheat-based cropping systems was conducted at Faisalabad (Post-Graduate Research Station). We used 7 treatments and Jantar as a green manuring crop to increase the fertility status of soil; after the vegetative phases of wheat, rice, sorghum, and mungbean, the agronomic parameters of these crops were recorded. hopefully all increased with jantar treatment when compared with controls. The benefit: cost ratio and physicochemical characteristics of the soil before and after the crop harvest were also calculated.
Key words: Benefit cost ratio, fertility status of soil, Jantar, physicochemical characteristics of the soil, wheat-based cropping systems.
Javed Kamal
Page: 165 - 175
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJCS/1025Research Article
African Journal of Crop Science ISSN 2375-1231 Vol. 3 (5), pp. 162-164, July, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Effect of growth regulators on micropropagation of potato cultivars
Manpreet Kaur, Rabinder Kaur, Chhaya Sharma*, Navraj Kaur and Ajinder Kaur
School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab.
Corresponding author. *E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 24 July, 2015
Abstract
The effect of growth regulators on in vitro micropropagation of three potato cultivars (Solanum tuberosum L.) were evaluated. In the present study nodal explants of potato cultivars (Diamont, 1533 and Kufri Badshah) were cultured on MS basal medium supplemented with different hormonal combinations (BAP and GA3). Out of four different media combinations, MS + BAP (1.0 mg/l) gave maximum shoot regeneration on all the three cultivars of potato. Successful rooting was achieved by placing the shoots on half strength MS basal medium. The combination of sand: soil (1:1) was the best for plant acclimatization as 90% of the plants survived and became established.
Key words: Potato, nodal explants, micropropagation, cultivars.
Rabinder Kaur, Manpreet Kaur, Chhaya Sharma*, Navraj Kaur and Ajinder Kaur
Page: 162 - 164
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJCS/1023Research Article
African Journal of Crop Science ISSN 2375-1231 Vol. 3 (5), pp. 156-161, July, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Yield and nutrient concentration of Anchote [Coccinia abyssinica (Lam.) Cogn.] affected by harvesting dates and in-situ storage
Girma Abera and Dereje Haile
School of Plant and Horticultural Sciences, College of Agriculture, Hawassa University, Ethiopia.
Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].
Received 03 June, 2015; Accepted 02 July, 2015; Published 25 July, 2015
Abstract
Anchote is an indigenous root crop that is commonly produced by Oromo Nation in Ethiopia. Its production extension to the Southern Nations Nationalities Peoples (SNNP) Regional State may be useful in contributing to food security in the region. Traditionally, farmers use in-situ stored Anchote tuber with the hypothesis of nutrient concentrateon increase over time. Thus, we tested farmers’ hypothesis through investigating yield and nutrient concentration of Anchote as affected by harvesting dates and in-situ storage (at 4, 7, 10, 13 and16th months) at Hawassa College of Agriculture Research Farm. Extending the harvesting dates and in-situ storage from 4 to 7th month significantly increased fresh and dry tuber yield by an average of 450%. The results confirmed that delayed harvesting dates and in-situ storage improved Anchote tuber nutrient concentrations, largely Ca and Fe. Remarkably, Anchote leaf and tuber tissues exhibited higher crude protein and nutrient contents than anticipated values for most root and tuber crops. Nutrient analyses revealed that Anchote tuber contains 19 g N, 122.6 g K, 7.4 g P, 5.1 g Ca and 316 mg Fe kg-1 of dry weight, suggesting that Anchote can contribute more nutrients than equal amount of vegetables and root crops. The results indicated that Anchote could be a healthy food crop that has enormous potential to fill food security gap besides providing essential mineral elements both in its tuber and leaf parts.
Key words: Anchote, harvesting dates and in-situ storage, nutrient concentration, yield.
Girma Abera, Dereje Haile
Page: 156 - 161
https://doi.org/10.46882/AJCS/1022