African Journal of Tropical Agriculture

African Journal of Tropical Agriculture ISSN 2375-091X Vol. 4 (8), pp. 001-004, August, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Pestalotia spp. causes leaf spot of Vitellaria paradoxa in Ghana

A. Y. Akrofi* and F. M. Amoah

Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, P. O. Box 8, Akim Tafo, Ghana.

Accepted 15 February, 2016

Abstract

Attempts were made at Bole, Ghana to determine the incidence and severity of leaf spot of Vitellaria paradoxa (shea), identify the causal pathogen and alternative hosts, and assess the impact of disease incidence on shea nut yield. Each of 4960 shea trees and surrounding herbs, shrubs or trees were inspected for symptoms of leaf spots. Disease severity was scored on a scale of 0 to 4 on each of 30 leaves randomly sampled from the lower, middle and upper canopy of each of 64 selected trees categorised into eight different classes on the basis of age and leaf characteristics. Out of the 4960 V. paradoxa plants inspected, 2976 (60%) was infected with the disease. A range of fungi was isolated from the infected leaves but only Pestalotia spp. was found to be the causal pathogen of leaf spot of V. paradoxa. Nauclea latifolia Smith, a Rubiaceae and Daniellia oliveri Hutch and Dalz, a Caesalpiniaceae were found to be alternative hosts. The disease was most severe in the lower portion of the canopy and it adversely affected yield. This is the first report of Pestalotia leaf spot disease on N. latifolia and D. oliveri.

Key words: Vitellaria paradoxa, alternative hosts, leaf spot, Nauclea latifolia, Daniellia oliveri.

African Journal of Tropical Agriculture ISSN 2375-091X Vol. 4 (7), pp. 001-005, July, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Pure breeds and crossed caprine genotypes effect in the oases of southern Tunisia

Amor Gaddour* and Sghaier Najari

Arid Land Institute, 4119 Medenine, Tunisia.

Accepted 09 January, 2016

Abstract

Data from 16 years performances schedule of local goat, Alpine, Damascus, Murciana and crossed groups were used to study the genotypes productive behaviour under Tunisian oases conditions. The aim was to evaluate the possibilities of local goat productivity improvement by cross-breeding in intensive mode and also, to choose the better improving breed and the propice crossing level. So, data of periodic individual weighing were used to estimates kids weight at some standard ages and dairy performances such as, daily milk average, total production by lactation and milking period of studied genetic goat groups. Statistical analyses of about 1928 kids' weights and 1923 individual goat milking showed that the cross-breeding allowed to improve the growth performances since the first generation with respect to local population production. ANOVA test showed an important effect of genotypes and environment upon kids weights (P < 0.01). The mean kid's weight at birth and at 120 days age were 3.49 and 15.78 kg respectively. The cross breeding second generation allowed the improvement of local goat potentialities kids weight at 120 days reaches 16.19 kg for Damascus*local goat cross. The dairy production with this generation was 164.5 kg for the Alpine one, 183.4 kg for Damascus, 179.5 kg for Murciana and 133.5 kg by lactation for the local breed. All imported breeds registered low performances than those known in their original regions.

Key words: Cross breeding, dairy production, Kids growth, local goat, Oases, Tunisia.

African Journal of Tropical Agriculture ISSN 2375-091X Vol. 4 (7), pp. 001-012, July, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Applying evapotranspiration reference model and rainfall contribution index for agricultural water management plan in Burkina Faso

Y. M. Wang^1*, S. Traore² and T. Kerh¹

¹Department of Civil Engineering, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan, R.O.C.

²Department of Tropical Agriculture and International Cooperation National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan, R.O.C.

Accepted 19 November, 2015

Abstract

Agriculture in Burkina Faso is largely dominated by 75% of rainfed crop production, which is characterized by short and unevenly distribution of annual rainfall. The shortage of water for crop production is not only a consequence of water scarcity, but also the mismatch between water supply and demand. The cropping calendar approach has been widely suggested as a strategy management to mitigate the water shortage to crop. This study introduces a new agriculture water management plan in two important areas; Banfora and Ouagadougou based on evapotranspiration reference model and rainfall contribution index. The results showed that Banfora has a higher agricultural potential than Ouagadougou, and also proposed a suitable cropping calendar under rainfed condition for the study areas. Furthermore, from the index estimated for Banfora, it is found that, after the first crop, the rainwater can possibly contribute 39.1 and 42.4% to the water requirements of maize and bean respectively while the plating date is September 1^st. The new water management plan recommended for Burkina Faso in this study may increase agricultural production for solving part of the local food shortage problem.

Key words: Evapotranspiration, water scarcity, rainfed, cropping calendar, irrigation efficiency, food production.

African Journal of Tropical Agriculture ISSN 2375-091X Vol. 4 (6), pp. 001-007, June, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Empirical assessment of short-term preferences of tropical forages by crossbred bull calves

D. M. Komwihangilo^1*, F. P. Lekule², D. M. Mgheni², P. H. Petersen³, L. A. Mtenga², G. C. Kajembe⁴ and R. L. Kurwijila²

¹National Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 202 Mpwapwa, Tanzania.

²Sokoine University of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science and Production, P. O. Box 3004, Morogoro Tanzania.

³Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Department of Large Animal Sciences, Grønnegødsvej 3, DK  1870 – Frederiksberg C, Denmark.

⁴Sokoine University of Agriculture, Department of Forest Mensuration and Management, P. O. Box 3013 Morogoro, Tanzania.

Accepted 11 April, 2016

Abstract

Short-term preference studies were carried out with growing calves based on diets of local grass forages found in Turiani division, Morogoro, Tanzania. Four intact crossbred male calves aged 7 - 8 months and weighing 82.75 kg were used. Four grass species were provided either singly [Panicum maximum (T1), Panicum trichocladum (T2), Pennisetum purpureum (T3) and Rottboelia cochinchinensis (T4)] or in combinations of two forages in equal proportions [P. maximum + P. trichocladum (M1), P. maximum + R. cochinchinensis (M2), P. trichocladum + R. cochinchinensis (M3) and P. purpureum + P. trichocladum (M4)]. The single grass species and mixtures were respectively fed for four days. Animals were simultaneously observed while each animal was feeding on one of the four treatments in sequential periods of 15 min each in random orders (1, 2, 3 and 4) every test-day. The amounts of herbage eaten were estimated by differences between offered and left feed. The intake rate of 15.72 gDM/min, bite rate of 5.31 bites/min and bite mass of 3.11 g/bite for T3 was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than other single grass forages. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between intake rate of T1 (9.78 g/min) and T2 (9.36 g/min). Total DM intake of M3 and M4 of 224.54 and 232.52 g/15 min respectively were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of M1 and M2. All grass mixtures had bite mass significantly different (P < 0.05) from each other although that of 3.34 gDM/bite M4 was the highest thus suggesting that whether singly or in mixture P. purpureum was the most preferred grass forage in the study area. It is concluded that in order to optimize DM intake farmers should consider the type of grasses and their level of inclusion in grass mixture depending on their preference by cattle

Key words: Preference, calves, Panicum, Pennisetum, bite rate, intake.

African Journal of Tropical Agriculture ISSN 2375-091X Vol. 4 (6), pp. 001-002, June, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

Drying process and Ghanaian green coffee quality crude protein, pH and caffeine levels

Samuel Tetteh Lowor*, Franklin Manu Amoah and Kwabena Opoku-Ameyaw

Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, P. O. Box 8, Akim Tafo. Ghana.

Accepted 10 March, 2016

Abstract

Green coffee beans were dried using three methods (drying on raised platform, drying on polythene sheet kept on ground and drying on concrete floor) at three different densities (20, 30 and 40 Kg/m²). All drying methods and densities had no effect on % crude protein and caffeine levels while strongly affected the pH of dried beans. Drying on concrete floor at 40 kg/m² density yielded a significantly lower pH.

Key words: Green coffee, pH, crude protein and caffeine.

African Journal of Tropical Agriculture ISSN 2375-091X Vol. 4 (5), pp. 001-011, May, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Cassava production and processing characteristics in southern Cameroon: An analysis of factors causing variations in practices between farmers using Principal Component Analysis (PCA)

G. Essono²*, M. Ayodele¹, A. Akoa², J. Foko^{3, 4}, J. Gockowski⁵ and S. Olembo⁶

¹International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

²The University of Yaoundé I, Department of Plant Biology, Yaoundé-Cameroon

³University of Dschang, Faculty of Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Plant Protection, Dschang-Cameroon.

⁴African Center for Research and Phytosanitary Training, ACRPT, Dschang-Cameroon.

⁵International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ghana Station, Ghana.

⁶Commission of the African Union, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Accepted 16 December, 2015

Abstract

A questionnaire-based survey study was carried out during a 3 month period, from January to April 1998, in 45 villages belonging to three locations (Yaoundé, Mbalmayo, and Ebolowa) of southern Cameroon. The survey was aimed at collecting constraints and processing practices related information from farmers growing cassava and transforming it into chips. Information in the questionnaire contained some characteristics associated with cassava chips production (processing methods, forms of chips produced, their end uses, drying and storage facilities used, the major problems associated with their production) and cassava cultivation (cassava varieties, harvesting periods of these varieties, and their preferred attributes). A total of 225 farmers were interviewed and the results obtained showed that farmers in Yaoundé and Mbalmayo processed and stored chips in similar ways. Similarly, harvesting periods after planting also differed between Ebolowa and both Yaoundé and Mbalmayo. Storage methods and storage facilities were mainly related to the different forms of chips produced. Chips’ discoloration frequently reported by the majority of farmers (87%) was as a result of their insufficient drying. Principal component analysis was implemented to determine those factors accounting for differences observed in farmers’ practices. Eleven principal components were derived from the variables used in analysis. Five principal components accounting for 72.75% of the total variations were associated with the data set collected in Yaoundé and Mbalmayo. An equal number expressing 78.2% of the overall variance was likewise obtained at Ebolowa. For a number of reasons such as traditional patterns of nutrition, market purposes, the relative proximity with the nearest city, these components suggested that storage methods, end uses, and production constraints were differently perceived by the respondents. They also showed that the different forms of chips produced were more market oriented, and that a number of constraints experienced by farmers were closely related to the way they managed their fields, or market outlets.

Key words: Cassava; Cameroon; PCA; Survey; variations.