International Journal of Agricultural Sciences

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 7 (7), pp. 1332-1337, July, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Economic assessment and biological feasibility of summer sesamum based intercropping systems

¹Dinesh Kumar*, ¹RB Ardeshna, ¹AK Patel and ²Narendra Singh

¹Dept. of Agronomy, N. M. College of Agriculture, NAU, Navsari – 396 450, ²Assistant Professor, Dept. of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, NAU, Bharuch, Navsari – 392012.

*Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 08 June, 2017

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at College Farm, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari (Gujarat) to study the production potential and economic assessment of various sesamum based intercropping systems during summer season of 2016. The total nine treatments were tested in randomized block design with four replications. Green gram and cowpea were intercropped in sesamum with 2:1 and 3:2 row ratios. Sole green gram gave highest net return (Rs. 56441/ha) and found to be most beneficial treatment among all of the nine treatments. Intercropping of green gram with sesamum was found more beneficial over sole sesamum. Among the intercropping treatments, sesamum + green gram (3:2) gave maximum sesamum equivalent yield (944 kg/ha), land equivalent ratio (1.18), area time equivalent ratio (1.13), income equivalent ratio (1.18), monetary advantages (Rs. 10515/ha), net return (Rs. 48118/ha) and benefit cost ratio (3.01).

Keywords: Intercropping, sesamum, green gram, cowpea, productivity, economics.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 7 (6), pp. 1323-1331, June, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of the digestibility of probiotic-treated rice straw using the in vitro gas production technique

A. S. M. Selim^1*, M. M. Rahman.², M. Jahan³, S. A. M. Hoque⁴, M. E. Rabbi⁵, M. D. Hossain¹, M. Fonseca⁶, W. L. Crossland⁶ and L.O. Tedeschi⁶

¹Department of Animal Science & Nutrition, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agriculture University (BSMRAU), Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh.

²Department of Dairy and Poultry Science, BSMRAU, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh.

³Department of Microbiology and Public Health, BSMRAU, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh.

⁴Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, BSMRAU, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh.

⁵Research Assistant, KGF Project, Department of Animal Science & Nutrition, BSMRAU, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh.

⁶Department of Animal Science, Texas A & M University, College Station, 77843-2471, TX, USA.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel. +88-01718370722; Fax: +88-02-9205336

Accepted 20 June, 2017

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to use the in vitro gas production (IVGP) technique to evaluate the pattern and parameters of anaerobic fermentation of probiotic-treated rice straw collected from local market of Gazipur district, Bangladesh. Probiotic-treated rice straw was assessed for their chemical composition, total digestible nutrients (TDN), the fractional rate of degradation (kd) characteristics, and in vitro gas production measurements. In general, probiotic treatment improved the crude protein (CP) content and maximum increase was 15%. The response to urea treatment on CP content almost doubled the CP content of untreated straw. Trichoderma spp. and Aspergillus spp. also increased the CP content. However, the ADF content in the probiotic-treated rice straw was similar to control but significantly higher in urea, Trichordema, and Aspergillus spp.The trend of total in vitro gas production increased up to 48 h for all treatments. Most of the probiotic-treated rice straw showed similar TDN and kd, but there were some differences. Mineral concentration did not vary among treated groups. Non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) concentration was almost half in the probiotic-treated rice straw, suggesting a greater release of NFC for microbial utilization. Moreover, the relative feed value was higher in treated straws compared to control. In conclusion, the probiotic-treated rice straw improved nutritional quality and provided better fermentation pattern regarding the kd and gas production.

Keywords: Probiotics, urea, trichoderma, aspergillus, degradation, gas production.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 7 (5), pp. 1317-1322, May, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Cost and return analysis of blackgram in Lalitpur District of Uttar Pradesh

Nimit Kumar and Gunadhar Dey

Department of Agricultural Economics, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal – 741252, India.

*Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 25 April, 2017

Abstract

The study was conducted in four development blocks of Lalitpur district during the agricultural year 2014-15. Five villages from each block were selected randomly. Further, from each village 15 farmers were selected randomly so as to constitute a total sample size of 300. Primary data on cost and return of blackgram were collected by interviewing the farmers with the help of specially structured and pre-tested schedule. For computation of costs and returns, the concept framed by CACP was used. In the study per hectare cost of blackgram was highest in semi-medium size category of farms. This was lowest in large size category of farms. Irrespective of size categories i.e., for all farms cost per hectare was Rs. 27779.31. The gross return per hectare of all farms was Rs. 41535.04. The Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) was highest in case of marginal farms and it was found to be 1.54, followed by 1.52, 1.51 1.48, and 1.45 in medium, large, small, and semi-medium farms respectively. This gradual decrease in BCR could be explained in terms of declining gross return across the higher size categories of farms. However, for all farms BCR was 1.49.

Keyword: Simple random sampling without replacement, cost concept, CACP, yield, gross return, net return and benefit cost ratio (BCR).

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 7 (5), pp. 1309-1316, May, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Dynamics of nutrients of aquatic crop (Gorgon nut or Makhana) under different systems of cultivation-A review

Indu Shekhar Singh

ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Research Centre for Makhana, Darbhanga-846005.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 29 March, 2017

Abstract

To improve the productivity of any kind of land, the crop diversification is the need of the time. In order to enhance the land productivity, the lowlands were used to adopt crop diversification technology and integrated farming system. Integrated farming system (IFS) is also in operation at scattered places wherein farmers have been using excreta of livestock and droppings of poultry for fish culture and replenishment of nutrient to the soil which gets exhausted by crops. However, the yield potential of field-based Makhana cultivation was recorded to be higher than the pond-based Makhana (Euryale ferox Salisb.) cultivation under IFS model. This is attributed to the more efficient harvesting of Makhana seed from under the water in the shallow agricultural field system due to lesser depth of water as compared to deep pond-based Makhana cultivation under IFS system. Pertaining to the improvement of soil fertility, the key of success may be rested on the selection of efficient cropping systems and integrated assessment of various cropping systems in the wetland ecology. The major finding is that E.ferox-water chestnut-berseem is found to be the most judicious cropping system pertaining to improvement of soil fertility.

Keywords: Cropping systems, Euryale ferox Salisb, integrated farming system, plant essential nutrients, nutrient uptake, nutrient contribution, soil fertility.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 7 (4), pp. 1298-1308, April, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Effects of aflatoxin contamination of grains in Ethiopia

Mekuria Wolde

Madda Walabu University, School of agriculture, P. Box 247, Bale Robe, Ethiopia.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 28 April, 2016

Abstract

This review was conducted to investigate the effect of aflatoxin contamination in Ethiopia. Risk of aflatoxin contamination of commodities in Africa, especially in Ethiopia is increasing. Aflatoxin can occur in a wide range of important commodities, including cereals, nuts, spices, figs and dried fruit. AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG1, AFM1 and AFM2 are the most common type of aflatoxin. Aflatoxin contamination of agricultural commodities poses considerable risk to human and livestock health and economic losses. Exposure to aflatoxin leads to several health-related conditions in human including acute and chronic aflatoxicosis, immune suppression, liver cancer, liver cirrhosis, stunted growth in children and many others. In Ethiopia aflatoxins are detected from several crops especially from maize and groundnut. Several researches show that AFB1 is the most common aflatoxin in Ethiopia from most commodities at a very much higher level. AFM1 was also detected greater than the standard from milk and milk products in Ethiopia. This indicates that a lot of Ethiopian people are at danger of aflatoxin contamination. Lack of awareness on aflatoxin contamination increases the risk of damage to human and animals. High economic losses due to aflatoxin occur in the country crops and animals.

Keywords: Aflatoxin, Ethiopia, health effect, liver cancer, economic loss.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 7 (3), pp. 1292-1297, March, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Vitamins, minerals, protein digestibility and antioxidant activity of bread enriched with spirulina platensis powder

Vatsala Saharan*and Sudesh Jood

Dept. of Foods and Nutrition, College of Home Science, CCS Haryana Agriculture University, Hisar-125004, India.

*Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 24 March, 2017

Abstract

Bread is one of the most popular bakery products, generally made from refined wheat flour which is limiting in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and dietary fibre. Therefore, in the present study, wheat flour was supplemented with Spirulina powder at 2, 4, 6 and 8% levels to improve its nutritional quality. Developed enriched breads were found organoleptically acceptable by the panelists up to 6% level. With regard to nutritional quality, among the fortified breads, 6% Spirulina fortified bread yielded higher contents of protein (15.43%), in vitro protein digestibility (69.17%), β-carotene (7.81 mg/100g), total carotenoids (28.97 mg/100g) and total lysine (2.24 g/16gN). Total and available calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron and zinc contents were also found higher in 6% Spirulina supplemented bread as compared to control bread. Antioxidant activity (16.61%) and total phenolic contents (1.89 mg GAE/g) were also found significantly higher in 6% Spirulina enriched bread.

Keywords: Spirulina platensis powder, bread, supplementation, organoleptic acceptability, nutritional quality.