International Journal of Agricultural Sciences

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 7 (1), pp. 1234-1240, January, 2017. ©International Scholars Journals

Review

Canal based irrigation scheduling and conjunctive water use planning for optimal cropping pattern - A review

^*1Deepak Kumar, ¹M. K. Tiwari and ²D. K. Vyas

¹Department of Soil and Water Engineering, College of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, Anand Agricultural University, Godhra, Gujarat, India,

²College of Agricultural Information & Technology, Anand Agricultural University, Godhra, Gujarat, India.

E-mail: [email protected]

Received 13 October, 2016; Revised 07 November, 2016; Accepted 14 January, 2017 and Published 24 January, 2017

Abstract

In irrigation projects, the success of the water delivery system is measured based on whether water is delivered according to the predetermined water delivery goals in an adequate, dependable, efficient and equitable fashion. One of the most critical issues affecting the inequitable distribution of water at the farmer’s field is due to the seepage loss that makes farmers at the tail end to get less water compared to farmers at the head of the water course. Therefore, a modeling approach can be adopted for incorporating the seepage loss along the length of water course /or it's branch. Conjunctive-use management has been the most suitable alternative for optimum utilization of available land and water resources. Many attempts have been made by different researchers to optimally allocate the land, water, and other resources of an area to meet different specific objectives. Therefore, in this study a comprehensive review of literature is undertaken considering the past, present methodologies applied to address these issues and future projections for efficient canal based Irrigation scheduling and conjunctive water use planning for optimal cropping pattern. 

Keywords: Canal irrigation, scheduling, performance indicators, equitable distribution.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 7 (1), pp. 1228-1233, January, 2017. ©International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Developing an efficient protocol for plant regeneration of manihot esculenta crantz via somatic embryogenesis induction from immature leaf and apical shoots

¹Do Hai Lan^*, ²Do Xuan Dong, ²Le Van Son, ²Le Tran Binh, and ²Chu Hoang Ha

¹Faculty of Biochemistry, Tay Bac University, Quyet Tam District - Sơn La City,

²Institute of Biotechnology, National Key Laboratory of Gene Technology.

Received 12 September, 2016; Revised 03 January, 2017; Accepted 16 January, 2017 and Published 16 January, 2017

Email:   [email protected] 

Abstract

In this study, we developed a method for the induction of somatic embryogenesis in two cassava genotypes from Vietnam is described. The explants used were immature leaves and apical shoots isolated from in vitro 2-3-week plants. Somatic embryogenesis was achieved at high frequencies by the addition in the induction medium of the auxin picloram over a wide range of concentrations. Our results show that the highest rate of somatic embryos formation for both cultivars was obtained by using 12 mg/l picloram supplemented to Murashigh - Skoog (MS) media. For immature leaves: the number of embryos per explant was similar between two cultivars for 4 weeks, the KM94 cultivar gave a higher rate (81,4 ±1,7%) than the KM140 cultivar (70,4 ± 2,9%). For apical shoots: the number of embryos per explant was similar between two cultivars for 4 weeks, the KM94 cultivar gave a higher rate (82 ±1.7%) than the KM140 cultivar (59.6 ± 2.9%). Somatic embryos were subsequently transferred onto media (MS supplemented with 0.3 mg/l BAP) for the highest frequency of plantlet regeneration (KM140 - 82,1 ± 3,1% and KM94 - 79,2 ± 2,3%), for immature leaves and (KM140 - 81 ±3.2% and KM94 - 79 ± 2.3%) for apical shoots. Shoots with the length of about 1.0-1.5 cm were transferred onto free - hormone MS media for 100% of rooting for 2 weeks. Complete plantlets were cultivated on a mixture of rice husk and sand-soil under ratio 4:6 in a greenhouse. This protocol required 16 to 18 weeks and is entirely appropriate for mass production of various cassava genotypes and further genetic transformation experiments.

Keywords: Cassava (Manihot esculentum Crantz), Callus culture, immature leaf, apical shoots, somatic embryos, regeneration.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 6 (12), pp. 1218-1227, December, 2016. ©International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Geographical distribution of Puccinia triticina physiologic races in Egypt during 2012-2014 growing seasons

Walid M. El-Orabey*, Minaas E. Sallam, Reda I. Omara and Nagwa I. Abd El-Malik

Wheat Diseases Research Department, Plant Pathology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt. *Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].

Received 24 April, 2015; Revised 23 August, 2015; Accepted 16 August, 2015 and Published 08 December, 2016

Abstract

Wheat leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina Eriks. is a common disease in Egypt and worldwide. Survey of wheat leaf rust samples and identification of physiological races using twenty single Lr genes are very important in describing virulence pattern variation, geographical distribution of leaf rust pathotypes and how its change in response to host selection. Variability in population of the causal organism is annually determined using samples collected from wheat growing areas in Egypt for three growing seasons that is, 2011/2012, 2012/2013 and 2013/2014. The results obtained showed a significant variability in pathotypes which are different from season to season. In the course of this study a total of 50, 65 and 33 leaf rust samples were collected in 2011/2012, 2012/2013 and 2013/2014, respectively from different wheat growing areas in eight governorates of Egypt that is, Beheira, Dakahlia, Gharbiya, Minufiya, Sharqiya, Domiatta, Qalyubiya and BaniSweif. A total of 118, 166 and 61 physiologic races were identified in 2011/2012, 2012/2013 and 2013/2014, respectively. The most frequent races included STTST and TKTTT (each with 2.54%) in 2011/2012; PKTST (6.63%), TTTTT (7.83%) and TTTST (10.24%) in 2012/2013 as well as FKTTT (4.92%) and PTTTT (11.47%) in 2013/2014. Race groups PT--- and TK--- were common at eight locations during the three growing seasons. Cluster analysis based on percentage frequency of virulence of P. triticina race groups in different location showed that in 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 growing seasons two main clusters were formed. While, in 2013/2014 growing season the cluster analysis was divided into six main clusters. Lines with Lr 1, Lr 2c, Lr 3, Lr 16, Lr 24 and Lr 26 were susceptible against most race groups, while, the leaf rust monogenic lines Lr 2a and Lr 9 showed different reactions against the tested race groups.

Key words: Wheat, Puccinia triticina, race analysis, geographical distribution, cluster analysis.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 6 (11), pp. 1210-1216, November, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Impact of training on knowledge and adoption of women entrepreneurs involved in food business

Chandrakala Hanagi¹ and Neena Joshi²

¹Krishi Vigyana Kendra Chamarajanagara, ²Department of food science and nutrition GKVK, UAS, Bengaluru, India.

Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 02 November, 2016

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is a vital area for overall economic sustenance and development of any nation. Women can be successful entrepreneurs in food businesses as they have qualities and traditional knowledge which are desirable and relevant for entrepreneurship development in this sector. Chamarajanagar is considered as a backward district, with about a 5.08 lakh women population; most of them live in rural areas, lacking in basic infrastructure and far away from structured market facilities. Here many rural women are actively engaged in various small scale food businesses. Hence, this study was conducted to analyse the impact of training and transfer of available technologies on knowledge and adoption among study group.  Primary data was collected through pretested schedule by selecting one hundred women entrepreneurs involved in home scale food business. To fill the gaps through training, educational interventions were planned for a sub group of 30 women entrepreneurs involved in food enterprise. After attending the technology transfer programme through training and method demonstration, their knowledge index regarding new food products had increased from 56.7 per cent to 90.32 per cent. Among all the products, ragi (66.66%) and maize (60%) papads were adopted by more number of women entrepreneurs. Technology transfer programme had greater impact on empowerment of women. Around 90 per cent of the participants agreed that training helped in increasing income, self confidence and over all personality development. From the present study it could be concluded that, rural women entrepreneurs having medium innovation capabilities can be motivated to achieve better success in their enterprise and can explore the opportunities to improve their incomes. The technology transfer intervention of the research played a strategic role in improving the knowledge, self confidence and the economic status of the entrepreneur through adopting good manufacturing practices and region specific traditional food product technologies. Hence technology transfer of food based technologies to existing rural entrepreneurs is effective.

Key words: Women entrepreneur, training, technology transfer. 

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 6 (11), pp. 1200-1209, November, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Intervention analysis of fertilizer input subsidy on maize production in Ghana

Ernest Zamanah

Department of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematical Sciences, University for Development Studies, P. O. Box 24, Navrongo, Ghana. E-mail: [email protected].

Received 15 July, 2016; Revised 26 September, 2016; Accepted 27 September, 2016 and Published 24 November, 2016

Abstract

In a response to global oil and food crisis in 2007/2008, the Ghana government introduced a fertilizer subsidy program as a measure to ease the effects of the food crisis by increasing food production through fertilizer use. Interrupted Time Series Analysis (Intervention Analysis) was used to investigate the effect of the fertilizer subsidy program on Ghana’s maize production in this work. Secondary data representing Ghana’s annual maize production from 1960 to 2015 were used for the analysis in this study. An ARIMAX model with a set of pulse functions was then developed to examine to the effect the fertilizer subsidy program. Estimation results of the ARIMAX model revealed that the fertilizer subsidy program contributed to significant improvements in maize production for 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012. For 2011, 2013 and 2015 however, the estimation results of the ARIMAX model revealed that the fertilizer subsidy program did not contribute to significant improvements in maize production in Ghana. On the basis of the research findings, the study was concluded by indicating the need for a proper reexamination and evaluation of the implementation process of the subsidy program in order to realize significant improvements in maize production in Ghana.

Keywords: Interrupted Time Series, ARIMAX, pulse functions, fertilizer subsidy. 

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 6 (11), pp. 1183-1199, November, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Eliciting farmers’ willingness to pay and adopt improved seed varieties in semi-arid counties of Machakos, Makueni and Tharaka-Nithi in Eastern Kenya

 Moni AN¹, Mulwa RM², Lutta M³

¹Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Nairobi, Kenya.

²Centre for Advanced Studies in Environmental Law and Policy, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya.

³Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 57811-00200, Nairobi, Kenya.

Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Received 16 August, 2016; Revised 30 September, 2016; Accepted 02 October, 2016 and Published 10 November, 2016

Abstract

This study examines the farmers’ willingness to pay and adopt improved seed technologies in three semi-arid Counties of Eastern Kenya namely Machakos, Makueni and Tharaka-Nithi. The study used cross-sectional data gathered from a household survey of 252 households in the three Counties. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used in identifying the target respondents. Descriptive statistics and Contingent Valuation Method were employed to address the problem at hand. From the willingness to adopt results, many farmers indicated that they were willing to take up new technologies. With regards to this, there has to be a conscious policy decision by the government to promote uptake of these technologies through different channels such as extension, media and other appropriate channels. The uptake of technology is also subject to the cost of that technology. From the willingness to pay results, it is clear that farmers will be willing to pay for new technologies up to a certain price. Thus, there is need to have consultation between the government (both national and county) and the seed suppliers on the supply prices. If such prices are without the reach of many farmers, then schemes such as subsidies could be introduced on certain targeted technologies, so as to improve their uptake. A number of farmers said some technologies like dolichos had no demand in the markets. Therefore, the government and other stakeholders should find a ready market for most of these crops so as to encourage more production by the farmers.

Key words: Willingness to adopt, willingness to pay, contingent valuation method, improved seed varieties, semi-arid counties.