Abstract. Brako CN, Darkwah DO, Lutuf H, Sarkodie J, Banafo SA, Anning DK, Danso I. 2026. Comparative effects of organic mulch materials on growth and nutrient uptake of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) seedlings. Asian J Agric 10 (2): g100228. https://doi.org/10.13057/asianjagric/g100228. Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is an important tropical oilseed crop that produces the highest oil yield per unit area. Mulching is an important agronomic practice that can improve soil conditions and enhance seedling performance. However, limited information exists on the effectiveness of locally available mulching materials for oil palm seedling production in Ghana. This study was conducted at the Oil Palm Research Institute (OPRI), Kusi in the Eastern Region of Ghana to evaluate the effects of different mulching materials on oil palm seedling growth and leaf nutrient content under nursery conditions. Seven treatments: no mulch (control), sawdust, Gliricidia sepium dry leaves, decomposed spikelet, rice husk, maize husk, and palm kernel shells were arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications. The results showed that among the mulch treatments, Gliricidia leaves significantly enhanced oil palm seedling growth and nursery soil conditions, recording the highest plant height (52.50 cm), leaf production (11.0 leaves), root dry weight (20.82 g), butt dry weight (25.85 g), and frond dry weight (93.00 g), while maintaining favorable soil conditions with 24.35% soil moisture and 27.35°C soil temperature at 11 months after planting (MAP). Mulching materials improved soil moisture conservation and reduced soil temperature compared with the unmulched control. At 11 months after planting (MAP), mulched treatments maintained higher soil moisture levels ranging from 20.14-24.35%, compared with 16.75% under no mulch, while reducing soil temperature from 31.75°C in the control to 27.21-28.14°C under mulch treatments. The results indicate that using locally available organic mulches, particularly Gliricidia leaves, can improve nursery conditions and enhance oil palm seedling production.
Abstract. Arfarita N, Qur’ania A, Nakamura S, Imai T. 2026. Development of VP3-biofertilizer pellets from seaweed waste and its implications for bacterial-fungal viability and solanaceous seedling performance. Asian J Agric 10 (2): g100222. https://doi.org/10.13057/asianjagric/g100222. The development of stable and effective biofertilizer formulations remains a major challenge in sustainable agriculture, particularly in maintaining microbial viability during storage while ensuring agronomic benefits after application. This study developed a pelletized biofertilizer based on seaweed waste and evaluated its ability to preserve beneficial microorganisms and promote the early growth of solanaceous crops. The formulation combined the VP3 bacterial consortium, consisting of nitrogen-fixing Bacillus licheniformis, phosphate-solubilizing Pantoea ananatis, and exopolysaccharide-producing Pseudomonas plecoglossicida, with the beneficial fungus Trichoderma viride FRP3. Different drying temperatures (40°C and 50°C) and packaging methods were investigated to determine their effects on the viability of the microbial agents contained in the pellets. Pellets dried at 40°C maintained higher bacterial viability than those dried at 50°C. After 30 days of storage, pellets dried at 40°C with non-vacuum packaging showed a bacterial viability of 3.8 × 10⁹ CFU/g (V3T1), compared with 1.8 × 10⁹ CFU/g under vacuum packaging (V4T1). After 30 days of storage, fungal viability reached 1.5 × 10⁷ CFU/g in pellets dried at 40°C with non-vacuum packaging (V3T1), compared with 1.3 × 10⁷ CFU/g under vacuum packaging (V4T1). After 30 days of storage, pellets dried at 40°C maintained the highest bacterial viability (6.9 × 10⁹ CFU/g). The packaging method did not significantly affect microbial viability, although non-vacuum packaging showed a tendency toward higher bacterial and fungal counts than vacuum packaging. In addition, the biofertilizer was applied to chili pepper, eggplant, and tomato seedlings to assess its influence on seedling performance. Application of the seaweed waste-based VP3 pellets significantly enhanced seedling height, fresh biomass, and root development in most tested crops compared with the control, although no significant effect was observed on tomato root length. These findings demonstrate the potential of seaweed waste-based biofertilizer pellets to maintain microbial viability during short-term storage and promote early seedling growth under nursery conditions.
Abstract. Husen S, Iriany A, Garfansa MP, Andarista AP, Wahono W. 2026. Cocopeat-based substrate and fertilizer interaction for G0 potato minituber production. Asian J Agric 10 (2): g100216. https://doi.org/10.13057/asianjagric/g100216. G0 potato minituber production from rooted cuttings requires appropriate combinations of growing substrate and fertilization regime to support vegetative performance and minituber yield. This study evaluated the interaction between four cocopeat-based substrate compositions and two fertilization regimes on vegetative performance at 49 day after transplanting (DAT), yield components, and selected minituber size-class responses of potato (Solanum tuberosum) cv. Granola Kembang under screenhouse conditions. The experiment was arranged in a factorial randomized complete block design with three replications, resulting in 24 seedbeds as experimental units and 192 initially transplanted plants. Yield measurements were based on actual number of surviving and intact plants in each seedbed. The analyzed size classes were small tubers (<5 g) and 20-100 g tubers; therefore, the grading data represented selected size-class responses rather than a complete tuber-size distribution. The substrate-fertilizer interaction significantly affected vegetative variables at 49 DAT, minituber yield components, and selected size-class proportions. H4P2 had the highest numerical mean for plant height, although it was not significantly different from H4P1. H4P1 showed the highest numerical means for several canopy-related traits, but these values were not always significantly different from those under H4P2. H4P1 also showed the highest numerical means for individual tuber weight and tuber fresh weight plant-¹, whereas H3P2 had the highest numerical mean for tuber number plant-¹. Although H4P1 had the highest numerical proportion of 20-100 g tubers, this size class remained uncommon across all treatments. These numerical patterns suggest that treatment combinations associated with greater tuber number may differ from those associated with greater individual tuber weight and fresh yield. Under the tested conditions, substrate-fertilizer selection should therefore be aligned with the intended production target. However, the findings represent treatment-specific responses from one cultivar, season, location, and screenhouse environment and require further validation before broader recommendations are made.
Abstract. Aigbe HI, Obasogie OF, Japheth DH, Onyema MA, Aja OO, Arigor AJ, Umeojiakor AO, Onyemauwa CS, Ekwugha UE, Nnebue OM, Duru CI, Okeke AN, Azubuike NO, Ebu VT, Oruh EK, Bassey PW, Anoh RA, Idiege AO, Igiri MR. 2026. Farm-level profitability of snail farming in Imo State, Nigeria, based on evidence from smallholder farmers. Asian J Agric 10 (2): g100237. https://doi.org/10.13057/asianjagric/g100237. The study aimed to evaluate the profitability of snail farming and factors affecting the net returns among sampled snail farmers in selected snail-producing Local Government Areas ( LGAs) of Imo State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed, and a total of 96 snail farmers were sampled in the six purposively selected LGAs where snails were actively being raised. Structured questionnaires were employed to collect the data. The results suggested that smallholder farmers predominated in snail farming operations and that Achatina achatina was the most commonly reared snail species because it offered advantages in reproduction and profit. The snail farming cost and return analysis showed that the farming is profitable, with a gross margin of ₦175,403.81 (USD 128.04) and net farm income of ₦150,000.27 (USD 109.49) per production cycle. The benefit-cost ratio (2.84) and rate of return on investment (1.84) also showed the economic viability of the enterprise. The regression results showed that education level, farming experience, credit access and extension contact were significant at 1% level and positive factors associated with net returns, whereas age was a negative factors associated with profitability at 10% level. The main constraints reported by farmers were high hatchling mortality, inadequate extension contact, insufficient finance for expansion, limited information on financing sources and insufficient production inputs. The study concludes that snail farming is a viable livelihood and income diversification option, and has proven that the economic performance of snail farming relies on the production magnitude, producers’ managerial competency, institutional assistance and production cost.
Abstract. Nhan P, Phong LV. 2026. Effects of rainy-season by-product mixture in Boer crossbred goat diets on fecal traits, growth, and feed efficiency. Asian J Agric 10 (2): g100220. https://doi.org/10.13057/asianjagric/g100220. Rainy-season goat production in tropical smallholder systems is challenged by fluctuating feed availability, high dietary moisture, and the cost of conventional feed resources. This study evaluated whether locally available banana stem (Musa spp.), sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas), and brewers’ grains could partially replace the basal diet while maintaining fecal stability and growth in Boer crossbred goats (Capra hircus). Thirty-two healthy goats, with an initial body weight of 19.86 ± 1.07 kg and approximately 5-6 months of age, were assigned to a completely randomized design with four treatments and eight goats per treatment. The control group received the basal diet, whereas PB10, PB20, and PB30 received diets in which 10%, 20%, and 30% of basal diet dry matter were replaced by the by-product mixture, respectively. The mixture contained banana stem, sweet potato vine, and brewers’ grains at a 40:40:20 ratio on a dry matter basis. The trial lasted 70 days, including 10 days of adaptation and 60 days of data collection. Fecal traits, dry matter intake, feed refusal, body weight gain, average daily gain, feed conversion ratio, and selected health observations were recorded. Treatment effects were significant for mean fecal score (P < 0.001), fecal moisture (P = 0.002), average daily gain (P = 0.003), feed conversion ratio (P = 0.005), and feed refusal (P = 0.012). PB20 showed the most favorable response, with better growth and feed efficiency while maintaining lower fecal score and moisture than PB30. Under single-farm rainy-season conditions, 20% replacement appeared to provide the best balance between by-product use, fecal stability, and productive performance.
