Agricultural Research最新文献

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate adaptability and phenotypic stability of 24 exotic advanced sugarcane genotypes across three major sugarcane producing agro-ecologies of Ethiopia and identify ideal location for genotype evaluation via GGE biplot analyses. The trials were conducted for 3 years involving three crop cycles or three cuttings corresponding to plant cane and first and second ratoon crops representing nine environments (location-cut combinations). Data for estimable recoverable sugar percent (ERS), cane yield (CY) (tons/ha), and sugar yield (SY) (tons/ha) were collected from the trials and subjected to ANOVA and GGE [genotype (G) plus genotype-environment (GE)] biplot analysis. ANOVA portrayed that genotype by environment interaction (GEI) accounted for 42.74%, 54.70% and 60.52% of the total variation for ERS, CY and SY, respectively, indicating GEI variation was a substantial proportion of the total variation in all the traits. High broad sense heritability (H²) was recorded for ERS (79.28) whereas that of SY was extremely low (2.90) showing difficulty of this trait to improve by simple phenotypic selection. GGE biplots for ERS, CY and SY showed that the first two principal components (PCs) together explained 59.01%, 80.54% and 71.73% of the total variation, respectively. GGE biplot analysis also revealed high positive correlations among crop cycles at all locations for all measured traits implying evaluation of genotypes across locations could give reliable information on the performance of the genotypes than testing for ratooning ability. The location Metehara, being both discriminating and representative, was identified as ideal for genotype evaluation. Genotypes G1 (PSR-9784) and G7 (VMC95-252) having high mean performance for cane yield (152 tons/ha and 142 tons/ha) and sugar yield (18 tons/ha and 18 tons/ha) and stability across environments, were recommended as ideal genotypes. These genotypes could be commercially grown at the studied locations or similar agro-ecologies.

Water contamination and land pollution are becoming severe environmental concern worldwide. Constant monitoring of the contaminants is indispensable for keeping the groundwater, freshwater, and land safe for various life forms. In aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, along with different crucial nutrients like nitrate, phosphate, and sulfur, the optimal pH level plays a significant role in plant and animal growth. Therefore, the demand for a real-time pH monitoring and control system is essential for agricultural and aquaculture applications. This work presents the development of an Internet of Things (IoT)-based pH monitoring system that examines the real-time pH level of rainwater, agricultural land, and aquaculture tanks and accordingly adapts it to the desired level using a dispenser system. Along with pH monitoring, the location-based intelligent sensing system with IoT connectivity is equipped to transmit a warning signal to the concerned authorities in case of heavy acidic rain. IoT-based pH monitoring also facilitates the transmission and reception of data from various remote locations in terms of a swarm intelligent approach. A learning algorithm instructs the NodeMCU-based system and measures the pH level in rainwater samples and marine and agricultural land areas. The performances of the employed sensing system are stable, dependable, and repeatable to be effective in intelligent sensing networks of farming applications.

Phytoextraction is a cost-effective technique to remediate contaminated soil. The efficiency of the phytoextraction process is limited by the slow growth, small biomass production of hyper-accumulator plants, and lower phytoavailability of contaminants in soil. The study is focused on comparing the efficiency of the three reported accumulator plants for phytoextraction of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) from contaminated soil and their effect on the bioavailability/toxicity of the elements after harvest. In a pot experiment, sunflower, marigold, and spinach were grown in Zn and Cu-contaminated soil. After harvest, the effect of phytoextraction on the distribution of Zn and Cu in various soil-solid phases was studied through a fractionation study as an indicator of bioavailability. The efficiency of phytoextraction was compared in terms of the metal uptake ability of the plants. The highest biomass yield of accumulator plants was obtained with marigold (30.1 g pot⁻¹), followed by sunflower (16.3 g pot⁻¹) and spinach (7.75 g pot⁻¹). The concentrations of Zn and Cu in the three plants ranged from 58.0 to 222 mg kg⁻¹ and 6.33 to 13.3 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. In both the cases of Zn and Cu, sunflower was found superior to the other two plants in terms of phytoextraction of the metals from the contaminated soil. A fractionation study showed that in sunflower and marigold-grown soil, the carbonate bound fraction of Zn enriched water-soluble and exchangeable fraction of Zn, while in spinach-grown soil, the dissolved carbonate bound fraction of Zn enriched the organically bound fraction. Thus, it can be inferred that sunflowers and marigolds increased the bioavailability and toxicity of Zn and Cu more than that of spinach.

Termites provide ecosystem services and have been used as a biological index of soil quality and fertility because of their key role in soil nutrient cycling that enables trees associated with their activities to remain evergreen throughout the year. To gain further insight into this situation, we compared the soil physico-chemical properties of termitaria and their surrounding soils in three Nigerian ecological zones including savannah, derived savannah and rainforest. Parameters evaluated were the pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), organic carbon (OC), available phosphorus (Av.P) and total nitrogen (TN); base saturation (BS) and soil texture were also determined alongside the elemental (K, Na, Ca, Mn, H, Al) composition. The pH, OC, Av.P and TN in the termitaria were significantly higher than those in the surrounding soils. There were significant differences in the composition of the elements among sites in the termitaria and surrounding soils. The predominant analyte in the termitaria was Al, being in significantly higher concentration than in the surrounding soil. Na and Ca were also much higher in the termitaria than the surrounding soils in the guinea savannah zone. Soil pH had strong positive correlation with OC and CEC in the termitaria soil, but negative correlation with the surrounding soils outside the termitaria. On the other hand, both the termitaria and surrounding soils, base saturation, cation and soil texture were highly correlated between the ecozones. The findings from this study might promote nature conservation and enrichment of biodiversity in the different ecological zones, and could also support the local and poor farmers’ decisions in growing specific crops closer to the termitaria, especially the crops that require higher uptake of OC, N, Na and Ca for their growth and yields.

This study reports information on the small-scale mass production of spirulina utilizing low cost and locally available media under refined culture conditions in northern Mindanao, Philippines. A low-cost alternative culture medium was formulated using NPK 30-10-10 fertilizer as the main nutrient source, after which the optimum nutrient levels were first determined, followed by refinement of the culture conditions (i.e., salinity, aeration intensity, photoperiod, inoculum density, and inoculum growth phase). Furthermore, the proximate composition of the product, spirulina powder, was determined, and a cost-return analysis was performed. The optimum level for the NPK 30-10-10 fertilizer was found to be 1.0 mM N, which resulted in the highest biomass production of 0.750 ± 0.06 g L⁻¹. The highest biomass and best growth indices were observed at 30 ppt salinity, 90 L h⁻¹ aeration intensity, 24:0 L:D photoperiod, and 1.5 g L⁻¹ inoculum density in the exponential phase. The spirulina powder produced was of good quality based on its proximate composition, with 62.87 ± 1.38% crude protein, 6.62 ± 0.05% minerals, 0.38 ± 0.01% crude fat, 3.91 ± 0.47% crude fiber, 14.84 ± 1.76% carbohydrate, 11.38 ± 0.02% moisture, and 314.24 ± 2.04 kcal 100 g⁻¹ total digestible energy. The cost-return analysis showed that small-scale production is profitable, with a 65.22% return on investment and a payback period of 1.82 years. This small-scale production technology of spirulina can be adapted by local companies and cooperatives to spur local spirulina production in the country.

The cultivation of acai palm (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) is widely practiced in the Amazon region due to its economic and nutritional value. However, to ensure sustainable and productive cultivation, it is essential to understand the factors influencing its nutrition, including the availability of magnesium (Mg). In this context, this study aimed to investigate the impact of acai palm plant age on total and effective Mg requirements, as well as on the accumulation, use, and dynamics of this nutrient. The experiment was conducted in a commercial acai palm cultivation area in Tomé-Açu, Pará, Brazil. The experimental design used was in strips, with six treatments corresponding to different crop ages (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 years), with four replications. The results demonstrated that the Mg accumulation in different parts of acai palm plants increased with plant age up to a certain point, showing a tendency to stabilize at more advanced ages. Furthermore, variations were observed in the rates of immobilization, recycling, and export of Mg throughout the plant ages, with greater immobilization at the expense of recycling and export. Total and effective Mg requirements also increased with the advancement of plant age. In conclusion, the age of acai palm plants influences both total and effective Mg requirements, as well as the processes of nutrient use. This information is relevant for appropriate nutritional management of acai palms, aiming to ensure an adequate supply of Mg throughout the plant’s life cycle and maximize its growth and yield.

The study explored the impacts of climate change on poultry production in Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria. Other control variables such as gross national income (GNI) per capita (GNI), official exchange rate of the Naira and value of loans guaranteed to the poultry sector were also considered. Times-series data from 1981 to 2020 were obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin, World Development Indicators, FAOSTAT and World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal. Leveraging on the autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL) and threshold analysis the study revealed that 1% increase in annual days with heat index > 35 °C will cause a significant decrease in poultry production by 0.14% in the long-run. In addition, the coefficient of annual maximum number of consecutive dry days was positively related to poultry production. It was revealed that 1% increase in rainfall will cause a significant increase in poultry production by 0.84% in the long-run and 0.60% in the short-run. The study further indicated that 1% increase in GNI per capita will lead to a 0.38% increase in poultry production in the short-run and 0.54% in the long-run. In accordance, the official exchange rate of the naira was also positively related to poultry production and 1% increase in official exchange rate tends to result in 0.04% and 0.05% increases in poultry production in the short-run and long-run. However, increase in value of loans guaranteed to the poultry sector appeared to be insignificant and could assist the poultry farmers in sourcing for poultry inputs targeted at increasing poultry production. According to threshold analysis, the country's poultry output may be negatively impacted by rainfall and dry days above certain threshold levels, which are 122–135 days and 1146–1237 mm, respectively. The findings of the study present an opportunity for poultry farmers in Nigeria to embrace climate smart agricultural practices in the face of changing climate in Nigeria. The Nigerian government should maintain stable and sustainable exchange rate of the naira and sustain the loans guaranteed to the poultry sector to improve the uptake of climate smart poultry production, increase agricultural gross domestic product and gross national income in the country.

Juglans regia L. (Walnut) generally renowned as English Walnut or Persian Walnut. It is popular for its quality edible nuts and strong wood resulted into cultivation in wide area. Walnut is a prime member of Juglandaceae family with sporophytic chromosome number 2n = 2x = 32. The Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir had a significant walnut gene pool represented by seedling trees for decades. The region’s rich walnut diversity in terms of morphology, phenology, biochemical and biological traits is due to presence of the large variability of native Walnut trees. This largely resulted from cross-pollination and seedling propagation. This study was conducted during 2021–2022 in JKUT and Himachal Pradesh. It was based on data collected during a preliminary survey during the current research work. As part of our research, the variability and genetic parameters of nut characters were evaluated to identify and marking of elite walnut genotypes owning superior characteristics and high-quality traits and also to understand the existing genetic variability in walnut germplasm. The data were collected from one hundred two (102) walnut trees located in various geographical regions of JKUT and Himachal Pradesh. We also calculated phenotypic and genotypic variances (PCV and GCV), heritability (in a broad sense), and expected genetic gain (GG percentage of the mean) on the basis of data collected during the research work and resulted into the high heritability (h²) and high to moderate genetic gain (GG) in the walnut species from JKUT and Himachal Pradesh.

This study was carried out in Morogoro district, Tanzania to characterize and classify soils using USDA Soil Taxonomy and World Reference Base (WRB) for Soil classification methods. The site characteristics were identified during the reconnaissance survey for the determination of sampling units. Six soil profile pits namely TUG-P1, TUG-P2, TUG-P3, TUG-P4, TUG-P5, and TUG-P6 were excavated, described, and sampled for laboratory physico-chemical analysis. Topsoil bulky densities were determined and ranged from 1.23 to 1.37 g cm⁻³. The surface soil pH ranged from moderately acidic to slightly acidic (5.69–6.58) and subsoil from strongly acidic to neutral (4.72–7.30). Soil organic carbon (OC) was low for both top (2.93–4.79 g kg⁻¹) and subsoil (2.34–3.51 g kg⁻¹). Total nitrogen was medium (2–4 g kg⁻¹ for the topsoil and 2–3 g kg⁻¹ for the subsoil. Available P rated low with the top soil having 4.81–6.22 cmol kg⁻¹ and subsoil recording 3.12–6.14 cmol kg⁻¹. The cation exchange capacity for topsoil ranged from 5.31 to 8.10 cmol kg⁻¹ whereas for subsoil it was 4.91–8.10 cmol kg⁻¹. Using the USDA Soil Taxonomy, soils were classified as Rhodic Siderudox (TUG- P1), Typic Sombrustert (TUG- P2), Typic Eutrustolls (TUG- P3), Psamm Haplustepts (TUG- P4), Typic siderustepts (TUG- P5) and Typic Siderudox (TUG- P6). Under WRB, soil was classified as Rhodic Umbric Ferralsols (Eutric, Arenic) (TUG- P1), Haplic Vertsols (Aric, Orchric) (TUG- P2), Rhodic Eutric Cambisols (Arenic, Aric) (TUG- P3), Haplic Arenosols (Aric, Orchric) (TUG- P4), Rhodic Umbric Ferralsols (Eutric, Arenic) (TUG- P5) and Umbric Ferralsols (Eutric, Arenic) (TUG- P6). Soils showed a high level of weathering of parent material with deep depth, and fine texture dominated by sesquioxides and kaolinitic clays. To sustain yields, the soil’s nutrient management ought to involve the use of integrated approaches such as the application of inorganic (synthetic fertilizer) and organic nutrient inputs.

Market traders have recently deceived consumers about the quality and fair price of rice in Bangladesh, causing serious health concerns and unintended financial losses for consumers. Therefore, this study explores the availability, market share, concentration, and traces the varietal origin of popular rice brands in the market. Moreover, it shows the food security consequences of over-polishing in the manufacture of popular rice brands. Primary data were collected through an intensive survey with rice farmers, paddy and rice traders, and millers. We employed a snowball sampling technique and evaluated 30 different supply chains as case studies to find out the varietal sources of different rice brands. The results show that BR28 was the most popular rice brand, representing about 40% of the rice available in the Upazila-level markets, followed by Miniket (17.7%), Swarna (14.5%), BR29 (12.1%), and others (15.7%). In contrast, in the city markets, the contribution of Miniket was the highest (33.5%), followed by BR28 (19.4%), Zira (19.2%), Nazir (8.5%), and others (19.4%). The traders and millers did not confirm any specific variety against the available popular rice brands in the markets. We explored the varietal origin and found that the brand name Miniket is given to every kind of rice that falls under the medium-slender-type grain category. The market traders concentrated on producing the top four to five rice brands without exercising competition. Producing rice brands by over-polishing and receiving returns from by-products are indeed a double-edged benefit for millers, whereas consumers are paying more for finer polished rice without considering its nutritional value. Therefore, strong market regulations, notably on rice milling and branding, should be enforced to protect against adverse health conditions and financial losses, and also to ensure food and nutrition security in Bangladesh.