International Journal of Agricultural Sciences

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 10 (9), pp. 001-007, September, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of land use and soil management practices on soil fertility quality in North China cities' urban fringe

Jing-wei Jin¹, Yue-fei Xu², Hui-chun Ye¹, Chong-yang Shen¹ and Yuan-fang Huang¹*

¹Department of Soil and Water Science, College of Resources and Environment, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.

²College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.

Accepted 08 April, 2020

Abstract

The objective of this study was to explore the spatial variation of soil fertility quality and the influence factors of human land use and soil management practices on soil fertility quality in North China cities' urban fringe of Beijing using data for 2007 and grey relational analysis (GRA) and geographic information systems (GIS). Soil total nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, available copper, zinc, iron and manganese, soil organic matter and pH were measured. The GRA was used to calculate the grey relational degree and Kriging method was applied to map the spatial patterns of soil fertility quality. The distribution map of soil fertility quality showed that soil fertility quality was best in the southeast and well in the North, South, Northwest and East. The area of first-grade quality (I), second-grade quality (II) and third-grade quality (Ⅲ) was 120.10, 734.37 and 184.53 km², respectively. The main factors influencing the spatial distribution of soil fertility quality were land use and soil management practices. The increasing trend of soil fertility quality might be attributed to the widespread practices of straw returning and organic manure applications.

Key words: Soil fertility quality, spatial variability, land use, soil management practices, urban fringe, North China plain.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 10 (9), pp. 001-008, September, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Predication of soil water storage by spatial dependence in a deposited soil farmland

Pei Zhao¹ and Mingan Shao²*

¹Key Laboratory of Mountain Environment Evolvement and Regulation, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China.

²Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100101, China.

Accepted 20 March, 2020

Abstract

Spatial dependence was widely recognized in field observations and the existence was very helpful to the development of precision agriculture. On the Loess Plateau of China, the soil water contents (SWCs) at a deposited soil farmland (DF) were measured using the neutron tubes on two sampling lines during two years. The objectives of this research were to recognize their spatial dependence to predict soil water storage (SWS) and to divide the DF for future study in such kind farmland. The results showed that the mean SWCs of 0-80 cm soil depth decreased at the prior part and increased at the later part of the DF. The coefficient of variation (CV) decreased exponentially with the mean SWC on all observations. Estimated autocorrelation values began at higher value than critical criteria and gradually decreased towards negative values following the increased lag distance. The Moran’s I and ACF both illustrate the existence of spatial correlation of neighboring points on the silting direction, and the cluster characteristics were used to predicate SWS and divide the DF. The topsoil water contents (10 cm) have a good linear relationship with its SWSs (80 cm) since the deposition characteristics of sediment. Three parts of DF should be divided in the related studies on such land. Future studies should focus on the spatial dependence of more soil variables at the DF to help the development of precision agriculture and manage soil resources.

Key words: Autocorrelation, check-dam, linear regression, soil water content.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 10 (9), pp. 001-012, September, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Microcosm study of the long term effect of endosulfan on enzyme and microbial activities on two agricultural soils of Yaounde-Cameroon

Michel Amery Defo^1,2*, Thomas Njine², Moise Nola² and Florence Sidonie Beboua²

¹Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Centre Eau Terre, Environnement, de la Couronne, Quebec, Canada.

²Laboratory of General Biology, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde , Yaounde, Cameroon.

Accepted 17 August, 2020

Abstract

Soil samples with different physical and chemical characteristics were taken from two sites, Minkoa-Meyos and Mendong, in Yaounde. These samples were treated with the insecticide endosulfan, using commercially recommended rates (1.5l ha^-1), and incubated in the laboratory at 20°C in glass flask for 75 days in order to evaluate their toxic effects on enzyme activities, organic matter content and the availability of phosphorus in the soils studied. The enzyme activities studied included dehydrogenase, β-D glucosidase, acid and alkaline phosphatases. The results showed that, on one hand, endosulfan inhibits dehydrogenase, acid and alkaline phosphatase activities in both soils. β-D Glucosidase activity was inhibited in Mendong soil, but this activity seems not to be affected by endosulfan in Minkoa-Meyos soil. On the other hand, endosulfan appeared to have no measurable effect on the organic carbon content and on the availability of phosphorus in Minkoa-Meyos soil. However, these two functions were inhibited in the Mendong soil. Moreover, significant correlations in the Mendong soil at the highest concentration were obtained between acid phosphatase activity and the available phosphate (P = 0.024; r = 0.821), and between alkaline phosphatase activity and the available phosphate (P = 0.014; r = 0.858).

Key words: Endosulfan, soil microcosm, enzyme and microbial activities, exposition time.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 10 (9), pp. 001-006, September, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Point prevalence study of gastro-intestinal parasites in village chickens of Centane district, South Africa

Marizvikuru Mwale¹ and Patrick J. Masika²*

¹Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, P. Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa.

²Agricultural and Rural development Research Institute, University of Fort Hare, P. Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa.

Accepted 09 July, 2020

Abstract

Village chickens improve rural farmers’ nutritional and income status. Nonetheless, chicken productivity is chiefly hampered by gastro-intestinal parasites and there is dearth of information on the prevalence of these parasites in village chickens in South Africa. Point prevalent study was, therefore, conducted in two villages of Centane district to determine the prevalence of gastro-intestinal parasites in village chickens. Seventy households were randomly selected for compound sampling of fresh faecal samples of chickens. Modified quantitative McMaster technique was used for examination of nematode and cestode eggs, and coccidial oocysts. Qualitative sedimentation technique was used to detect trematode eggs. About 99% of the chickens were infested with various gastro-intestinal parasites. Hetarakis gallinarum was the most prevalent (25.72% Qolora by-sea and 27.14% Nontshinga) together with coccidia (41.43% Qolora by-sea and 25.71% Nontshinga village). Trematodes and cestodes were the least prevalent. Prevalence of parasites varied between villages (P < 0.05); most parasites were prevalent in Nontshinga village. Generally gastro-intestinal parasites were prevalent in village chickens of Centane district. Sustainable ways of controlling these parasites need to be designed for improved village chicken production and ultimately rural livelihoods. Further studies on period prevalence of gastro-intestinal parasites in chickens in South Africa need to be conducted.

Key words: Parasites, prevalence, rural, village chickens.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 10 (9), pp. 001-007, September, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Morphological, physiological and biochemical responses of plants to drought stress

Shakeel Ahmad Anjum¹, Xiao-yu Xie¹*, Long-chang Wang¹, Muhammad Farrukh Saleem², Chen Man¹ and Wang Lei¹

¹College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.

²Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan.

Accepted 15 April, 2020

Abstract

Plants in nature are continuously exposed to several biotic and abiotic stresses. Among these stresses, drought stress is one of the most adverse factors of plant growth and productivity and considered a severe threat for sustainable crop production in the conditions on changing climate. Drought triggers a wide variety of plant responses, ranging from cellular metabolism to changes in growth rates and crop yields. Understanding the biochemical and molecular responses to drought is essential for a holistic perception of plant resistance mechanisms to water-limited conditions. This review describes some aspects of drought induced changes in morphological, physiological and biochemical changes in plants. Drought stress progressively decreases CO₂ assimilation rates due to reduced stomatal conductance. It reduces leaf size, stems extension and root proliferation, disturbs plant water relations and reduces water-use efficiency. It disrupts photosynthetic pigments and reduces the gas exchange leading to a reduction in plant growth and productivity. The critical roles of osmolyte accumulation under drought stress conditions have been actively researched to understand the tolerance of plants to dehydration. In addition, drought stress-induced generation of active oxygen species is well recognized at the cellular level and is tightly controlled at both the production and consumption levels, through increased antioxidative systems. This review focuses on the ability and strategies of higher plants to respond and adapt to drought stress.

Key words: Drought stress, growth, yield, gas exchange, photosynthetic pigments, antioxidative system.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 10 (8), pp. 001-011, August, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Analytical globalized state intervention model in rice production development

Iraj Malekmohammadi, Seyed Jamal Farajollah Hosseini, Saeed Yazdani and Shahin Shadfar*

Department of Agricultural Development, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University,Tehran – Iran.

Accepted 21 July, 2020

Abstract

States are interfering in all economic sectors. States intervention is an accepted driven factor in many developing countries. On the other hand, rice is half of the world’s population food. In addition, rice self-sufficiency is the desire of many Asian countries where rice is a food security matter. This paper is about state intervention in major rice producing countries, and how to identify common areas of state intervention in rice production development. Different state policies in rice sector in world top rice producing countries are reviewed and compared. Based on the universally explored policies affecting rice production, the global theoretical model for the state intervention is proposed to secure rice production increase/development.

Key words: Rice production development, state intervention, policy making model.