African Journal of Soil Science

African Journal of Soil Science ISSN 2375-088X Vol. 11 (4), pp. 001-006, April, 2023. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Genotype x environment interaction and stability analysis for yield and its components in lentil

S. R. E. Abo-Hegazy¹*, T. Selim² and A. A. M. Ashrie²

¹Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

²Food Legume Crops Research Section, Field Crops Research Institute, ARC, Giza. Egypt.

Accepted 25 March, 2023

Abstract

The objective of this investigation is to determine the performance and stability of 24 lentil (LENS CULINARIS Medik.) genotypes under a wide range of variable environments. The regression model and ecovalence (W_i) were used to analyze the response of the lentil genotypes to variable environmental conditions for yield and some of its components in six experiments in three seasons under two locations. Results indicated that both environmental conditions (E) and studied genotypic accessions (G) influenced significantly on the performance of yield and yield components. Moreover, the performance of genotypes varied highly significantly from environment to another for all traits, except 100 seed weight as proved by significance of G x E. Therefore, further stability analyses were performed for traits that recorded significant G x E. Four genotypes were stable for pods plant^-1 either measured by W_i or S²_d. For this trait, all genotypes were non responsive to environmental conditions except PL81-17 which may behave positively to pod bearing conditions. For seed yield plant^-1 only Sinai 1 was significantly unstable measured by W_i and S²_d, respectively. The significance of b's for seed yield feddan^-1 proved that only 3 genotypes were responsive to environments. Two of them (XG88-17 and Giza 51) may behave better under good environments and the third (Giza 4) may be recommended under poor ones. It may be concluded in lentil breeding programs, which the performance of genotypes under each location should be evaluated firstly and those reliable ones will be tested for stability across various environmental conditions prior to recommendations.

Key words: Lentil, Lens culinaris, G x E interaction, regression, stability analyses, ecovalence.

African Journal of Soil Science ISSN 2375-088X Vol. 11 (4), pp. 001-005, April, 2023. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Nature of gene action for yield and yield components in exotic genotypes of Italian millet [SETARIA  ITALICA  (L.) Beauv]

P. Lakshmi Prasanna*, J. S. V. Samba Murthy, P. V. Rama Kumar and V. Srinivasa Rao

Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Agricultural College, Bapatla 522101, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Accepted 20 March, 2023

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out with the objective to find out the extent of genetic variation, heritability and genetic advance for 13 characters in 34 exotic genotypes of Italian millet during Autumn 2008 and Spring 2009. High phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV) coupled with high genotypic coefficients of variation (GCV) were observed for grain yield per plant, ear weight, calcium content and carotene during both seasons. The trait 1000 grain weight recorded high PCV and GCV during Autumn, whereas number of productive tillers per plant and straw weight during Spring. Straw weight showed high GCV during Autumn. It indicated presence of wider variability for these traits in the genotypes studied. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean recorded for all characters except days to 50% flowering, days to maturity and plant height during both seasons reveals operation of additive gene action in the inheritance of these traits and improvement in these characters is possible through simple selection.

Key words: Italian millet, gene action, Seteria, foxtail millet.

African Journal of Soil Science ISSN 2375-088X Vol. 11 (3), pp. 001-007, March, 2023. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Seasonal incidence of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) and its associated natural enemies in major crucifer growing areas of Kenya

Ruth Kahuthia-Gathu

Kenyatta University, 43844-00100 Nairobi, Kenya.

Accepted 5 January, 2023

Abstract

Seasonal incidences of Plutella xylostella, diamondback moth (DBM) and its associated natural enemies were investigated in two agro-ecological zones of the major crucifer growing areas of Kenya in 2005 and 2006. DBM larvae and pupae were collected from the cabbage and kale crops grown in farmers’ field and maintained in the laboratory for the emergence of parasitoid or DBM. Four larval, one larval-pupal and one pupal parasitoid species were recorded from DBM. The parasitoids recovered were Diadegma semiclausum, Diadegma mollipla, Itoplectis spp., Cotesia plutellae, Apanteles spp., Oomyzus sokolowskii and Brachymeria species. D. semiclausum was the most dominant species throughout with highest parasitism rates of over 70% recorded in the highlands. C. plutellae, Apanteles and Brachymeria were recovered from mid-altitude semi-arid areas. Generally, parasitism was significantly higher on Brassica oleracea var. capitata. D. semiclausum displaced the indigenous parasitoids from B. oleracea var. capitata.

Key words: Brassica oleracea, parasitoids, diamondback moth, seasons, agro-ecological zones.

African Journal of Soil Science ISSN 2375-088X Vol. 11 (3), pp. 001-005, March, 2023. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Selection of pepper parent from a collection of CAPSICUM  ANNUUM  landraces based on genetic diversity

Karima Lahbib*, Fethi Bnejdi and Mohamed El Gazzah

Biodiversity, Biotechnology and Climate change Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences El Manar University, 2092 Tunis- Tunisia.

Accepted 3 December 2022

Abstract

Phenotypic divergence among eleven landraces belonging to a collection of CAPSICUM ANNUUM species and maintained at the Faculty of Science, University of Tunis, was quantified by multivariate analysis for seven morphological traits. The multivariate data set was analyzed by canonical discriminant analysis in combination with a clustering procedure using generalized Malahanobis distance D2. The first two canonical variates were significant and accounted for 84.524% of the total variability. Using generalized Mahalanobis distances, all the 11 landraces were grouped into three clusters. The genetic stocks within cluster had smaller D2 values among themselves than those belonging to different clusters. Accessions FTC-6 and FTC-11 (clusters II and III, respectively) had distinct identity. Multivariate analysis performed indicates large magnitude of phenotypic divergence in the landraces studied and was successful in differentiating the accessions into similar groups on the basis of the measured traits. The characteristics that played the greatest role in differentiation were number of fruits per plant, fruit diameter, placenta weight and fruit length. Plant breeders can use the information on variation among C. ANNUUM landraces for pepper improvement yield and for obtaining good segregants in pepper breeding programs.

Key words: Capsicum annuum, morphological traits, canonical discriminant analysis, Malahanobis, yield improvement, breeding programs.

African Journal of Soil Science ISSN 2375-088X Vol. 11 (2), pp. 001-014, February, 2023. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Determination of climate parameters effect on soil carbon fluxes along the north-south moisture gradient in the kalahari ecosystem

M. Bitsang¹, O. Dikinya¹, B. G. Moganane¹ and B. Mosetlhi¹

¹Department of Environmental Science, University of Botswana, Private bag 00704 Gaborone, Botswana.

Accepted 17 May, 2019

Abstract

Temperature and rainfall patterns have globally, regionally and locally changed. At global and regional level, temperature and rainfall are dominant factors affecting soil organic storage and that carbondioxide emissions increases with increasing rainfall and decreasing temperature. The objective of this study was to determine “in situ” the effects of temperature and rainfall on soil carbon emissions in the Kalahari, south west of Botswana. Data on temperature and rainfall for a period of 35 years were collected for trend analysis. Six sites were selected across different land use zones in the area to measure soil CO₂ emissions. Results indicated a trend towards an increase in mean annual temperatures and for rainfall, the extreme southern part of the study area is becoming wetter and in the north a moderate trend towards a decrease was observed. CO₂ emissions were significantly (p<0.05) higher at watering sites and declining with distance in both the wet and dry seasons. Wet season emissions were significantly higher (64.50 µmol/m²/s) than during the dry season (4.72µmol/m²/s). Findings showed that the region is experiencing the impact of climate change and variability. Temperature and rainfall are the major factors affecting soil carbon emissions in the Kalahari ecosystem.

Keywords: CO₂ emissions, land use, Kalahari, temperature and rainfall.

African Journal of Soil Science ISSN 2375-088X Vol. 11 (2), pp. 001-012, February, 2023. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Price and non-price determinants of farm household demand for purchased inputs: Evidence from northern Ghana

Akwasi Mensah-Bonsu

Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana. E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]. Tel: +233-24-4768353; +233-26-6414906.

Accepted 05 January 2023

Abstract

The study examined the factors that influence the use of purchased inputs (fertilizer, hired labour, seed and ploughing services) by smallholders in Northern Ghana. The seemingly unrelated regression technique was used to estimate a system of cost share equations of the factor inputs. The elasticities of substitution and factor demand have been estimated. The estimated results suggested that higher amount of remittance received and the attainment of basic education significantly led to higher fertilizer expenditure, suggesting that credit and basic education programmes were important for increasing expenditure on production enhancing inputs like fertilizer. The own-price elasticities of demand for the inputs were significant and had the expected negative signs. The demand for seed and ploughing services were quite price inelastic, while the demand for fertilizer and hired labour were price elastic. The estimated own-price elasticities of demand for fertilizer and hired labour indicated substantial high degrees of price responsiveness of farmers for them. The estimated cross-price elasticities suggested that smallholders would substitute relatively more hired labour for fertilizer, if the relative price of fertilizer to hired labour is increased.

Key words: Purchased inputs, cost shares, elasticities, smallholders, Northern Ghana.