Root rot is a major constraint to bean production in western Kenya causing poor crop stand and high yield losses. The disease is caused by a complex different pathogens which together exhibit synergistic effects. The pathogens survive in soils as resting spores and options of managing the disease are limited This study evaluated the effectiveness of incorporating lablab biomass in managing root rot of beans in maize intercrop system. The experimental treatments evaluated were incorporation of lablab biomass over the whole plot, biomass placed between rows of beans, biomass removed from the plot plus application of inorganic fertilizer and biomass removed from the plot without fertilizer application. In each experimental treatment, four bean varieties KK8, KK15, KK072 (tolerant to root rot) and GLP2 (susceptible to root rot) were planted intercropped with maize. The experiment was carried out at two agro-ecologically and soil fertility diverse sites. Incidence of root rot and chafer grub was determined at early growth stages while biomass and yield of both maize and beans were determined at harvest. Incorporation of lablab biomass increased soil carbon and nitrogen content but reduced both pH and cation exchange capacity. However, it reduced root rot incidence for the root tolerant bean varieties at the low soil fertility site but increased chafer grub incidence. Bean stem bases from the high soil fertility site had higher incidences of infection with Fusarium oxysporum while Fusarium solani and Macrophomina phaseolina were more prevalent in the low soil fertility site. Addition of lablab biomass significantly increased both bean biomass and seed yields in both low and high soil fertility sites. The positive effect on yield was more pronounced at the low soil fertility site. The study indicated that addition of lablab biomass to soils is beneficial in managing root rot of beans and improving crop yields in low soil fertility areas. The use of green manure soil amendments is an ecologically sustainable way of increasing bean yield for small scale farmers.
Banana, with crop coverage of about 3500 acres is one of the most important fruit crops in south-eastern Iran. This study identified fungal pathogens on banana tree (Musa acuminata L.) in the provinces of Hormozgan, Sistan & Bluchestan during 2005-2007. Trees with symptoms of disease were identified and then samples of infected tissue were collected and cultured. Fungi were isolated from small pieces of leaf, corm, pseudostem and fruit from diseased samples then the tissue surface was sterilized with 5% hypochlorite sodium and cultured on a potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium containing lactic acid. Growing colonies of fungi were purified by single spore and hyphal tip methods. Based on the morphological characters and pathogenicity tests, fungal species were identified as follows: Fuasarium oxysporum that caused wilting; Cercospora musae, Colletotrichum musae, Aspergillus carnenus, Acremonium sp., F. verticillioides, F. semitectum, F. subglutinans, F. sambucinum, F. moniliforme and Musicillium theobromae that caused diseased fruit; Cylidrocarpon sp. and Rhizoctonia solani caused corm and root disease; and species Alternaria alternata, Drechslera gigantean and F. proliferatum that caused leaf disease. This was the first report of occurrences of these fungi in banana trees in Iran.
A detailed knowledge of the bio-physical environment in the Moist Savanna of Benin is crucial for regional land use planning and for the initiation and diffusion of improved nutrient management techniques. For this reason, the "SOTER Database Benin" (BENSOTER) has been developed. It comprises comprehensive information on soils, landform and climate. Based on topographic maps and field surveys, the landscape in the study area was divided into 7 terrain units (Mountains, Hills, Footslopes, High and Low peneplains, Plateaus and Floodplains) characterised by overall slope gradient and relief intensity. Depending on geology and soil parent material, these terrain units were subdivided at second level into 26 terrain components and 45 terrain sub-components. Soil transects with a total of 445 analysed profiles and topographic information were combined and extrapolated to provide information on spatial variability of soils within the terrain sub-components. For the management of soil and terrain data the SOTER (Soil and Terrain Digital Database) approach was used 26 profile sets, which consist usually of not more than two soil types, were morphologically distinguished in the field and correlated with the terrain sub-components. The profile sets differed especially in terms of their chemical characteristics such as exchangeable bases, CEC, pH, PBray, Nt, Corg. With respect to these six fertility parameters a fertility sequence was established: Clayey soils on gneiss, basalt and gabbro basements sandy loam alluvial soils sandy clay soils on gneiss and gabbro sandy-clay-loam hydromorphic soils loamy sandy colluvial soils sandy-clay-loam well-drained soils on all basements loamy sandy soils on granite. The levels of exchangeable bases seems to be sufficient for crop production in all soils, except in loamy sandy soils on Footslopes (on quartzite, granite, gneiss or rhyolite) and on High peneplains (on gneiss or mylonite) with continous cultivation. Overall, P seems to be the most limiting factor for crop production, followed by N on Arenosols and Planosols occuring in the terrain units Plateaus and Footslopes on gneiss or in the High peneplains on granite. The present investigation reveals a large heterogeneity of the soils in the Moist Savanna of Benin with respect to soil physical and chemical properties. The SOTER methodology constitutes a tool in the assessment and spatial quantification of soil variability, which may be useful in identifying soil fertility constraints and suitable management options for extension services and regional planning authorities.
A study was conducted using sixteen West African dwarf (WAD) ewes (Initial BW 17.50±0.19kg) were used in a completely randomized design to study the effects of increasing level of Mexican sunflower leaf (MSL) on Nitrogen balance. The experimental animals were assigned to 4 treatment groups A,B,C and D of 4 replicates each and were fed with Grass (Panicum maximum) plus Concentrate diet mixture of Mexican sunflower leaves (MSL) and Wheat bran (WB) such that 0%, 15%, 30% and 45% of Wheat bran was replaced by weight with MSL gravimetrically. The experiment lasted for one week. Digestibility was determined using a 6-d total urine and fecal collection. Ewes were given ad-libitum access to feed and water and routine vaccination and medication followed standard procedures. Parameters measured were nitrogen intake, nitrogen balance, nitrogen apparent digestibility and nitrogen retention. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA. Positive nitrogen balance was observed for animals on all treatments. Urinary nitrogen g/day was significantly higher (p<0.05) with increasing inclusion of MSLM in the ration while protein retention increased (90.40 - 90.80%) from treatment A (0%MSLM) to treatment B (15%MSLM) and subsequently decreased (90.80 - 84.98%) from treatment B (15%MSLM) to D (45%MSLM). Data obtained for N- balance in this study ranged from 6.28 – 15.01g/day. Animals on treatment B (15.01g/day) had the highest N-balance, and this was significantly (p<0.05) higher compared to animals on treatment D (6.28g/day) but numerically higher than observed values for animals on treatments C (9.05g/day) and A (9.32g/day). This trend was the same for Nitrogen intake (7.39 – 16.53g/day) and absorbed (6.36 – 15.07g/day). Nitrogen balance was positively related to DM intake and N intake. The overall regression were NB =2.39 + 0.068 DMI; R 2 = 0.9340, (P= 0.3728) and NB= 0.72 +0.9152 NI; R 2 =0.9954, (P=0.1318). It shows that a higher level of nitrogen intake and dry matter (DM) intake significantly (p<0.05) improved N-balance. Mexican Sunflower Leaf Meal incorporation up to 30% in the diets of sheep improved nitrogen intake, balance and retention.
This study aimed the evaluation of corn gluten meal (CGM) as a fish meal (FM) replacer in diets of two banded seabream, Diplodus vulgaris, juveniles. Five isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets were formulated containing %0, %15, %30, %45 and %60 CGM, and two banded seabream juveniles with an average weight of 5.92±0.004 g. were fed. Experimental fish stocked in to 84 L glass aquariums with a stocking density of 20 fish.aquarium -1 were hand fed twice a day for a 60 days period. Fish fed on the diet containing %15 and %30 CGM showed the best growth performance compared to the other experimental groups. During the course of the study, no mortality was recorded in any treatment groups. The results of the study showed that CGM, up to %30, can replace FM with no negative effects on growth performance and feed utilization of two banded seabream.
This study examined the application of the stochastic production frontier function model to cassava production in the floodplain area of Rivers State, Nigeria. The need to evaluate the physical productivity consideration (technical efficiency) in cassava production in the floodplain necessitated this study. The objectives of the study include; identify socio-economic characteristics of the farmers; level of technical efficiency, determinants of technical efficiency and inefficiency. 170 respondents were randomly selected. Data was collected using questionnaire and farm records. Descriptive statistics and stochastic production frontier function model were the analytical tools used. The result indicated that the average age of the farmers was 44 years and mainly females. The average family size was 8 persons, majority (49.4 %) of the respondents had primary school certificate and 28.8% of the farmers had farm size of less than 0.4 hectare. The result of the technical efficiency indicated that farm size and number of labour used positively influenced the technical efficiency at 1 percent level of significance. The estimated gamma parameter of the model was 0.62, which implied that 62 percent of the total variation in cassava output among the producers could be attributed to differences in the technical efficiencies. The mean technical efficiency was 70 percent. None of the variables included in the model exerted a significant relationship on the technical inefficiency of the farms. Farmers were advised to increase the volume of input use of farm size and quantity of labour in order to achieve the best frontier in cassava production in the study area. Keys words: stochastic frontier model, cassava production, floodplain area, Rivers State, Nigeria
Mkwawa University College of Education and The Eastern Arc Mountains Conservation Endowment Fund and the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE).
An experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka in the 2006 cropping season, to assess the effects of planting distance and organic manure rates on dry matter and fresh vegetable yields of waterleaf at Nsukka in Southeastern Nigeria. Treatments comprised five plant spacings and four manure rates. The plant spacings were 25 cm x 10 cm, 25 cm x 15 cm, 25 cm x 20 cm, 25 cm x 25 cm and 25 cm x 30 cm corresponding to 1,000,000; 444,444; 250,000; 160,000 and 111,111 plants per hectare, respectively. The manure rates were 0, 10, 20 and 30 t ha -1 . All possible combinations of spacing and manure rates were laid out in a factorial arrangement using randomized complete block design in twenty treatment combinations per block, and there were three replications. Yields tended to decrease with wider spacing. The closest spacing of 25 cm x 10 cm gave the highest fresh vegetable yield. Fresh vegetable yield was significantly (P < 0.05) lowest with where no manure was applied. Application of manure at 30 t ha -1 significantly yielded higher than application of either 10 or 20 t ha -1 . Combination of organic manures at 30 t ha -1
