Agriculture

Biomass is a renewable energy source refers to living and recently dead biological materials that can reduce green house effect and clean surroundings. To estimate tree biomass individually from imagery, it is necessary to clarify the relationship between attributes of stand structure obtained by field measurement and remote sensing image.This study was carried out to estimate tree biomass in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) campus. Five plots were established (40 m x 40 m) and all trees with diameters at breast high (dbh) more than 30 cm , tree height and canopy size were measured. Each trees biomass were calculated by non-destructive method. Results show that tree volume is ranged from 1.75 m3 to 24.73 m3, wood density is ranged from 0.99 t/m3 to 14.10 t/m3. The overall wood densities for five plots (30 trees) are 23.35 t/m3. Meanwhile the biomass estimated is 7,644 t/ha. Study demonstrate strong correlations (p < 0.05) between field measurement and IKONOS tree canopy estimates (r2 = 0.95). The results obtained from the analysis are encouraging especially canopy measurement where it can be incorporated to the existing mensuration models. Estimating tree biomass through satellite images are recommended because remote sensing through image processing has potential to estimate biomass in large area.

This study aims to predict spatial distribution of deforestation and detects factors influencing forest degradation of Northern forests of Ilam province. For this purpose, effects of six factors including distance from road and settlement areas, forest fragmentation index, elevation, slope and distance from the forest edge on the forest deforestation are studied. In order to evaluate the changes in forest, images related to TM1988, ETM+2001 and ETM+2007 are processed and classified. There are two classes as, forest and non-forest in order to assess deforestation factors. The logistic regression method is used for modeling and estimating the spatial distribution of deforestation. The results show that about 19,294 ha from forest areas are deforested in the 19 years. Modeling results also indicate that more deforestation occurred in the fragmented forest cover and in the areas of proximity to forest/non forest edge. Furthermore, slope and distance from road and settlement areas had negative relationships with deforestation rates. Meanwhile, deforestation rate is decreased with increase in elevation. Finally, a simple spatial model is presented that is able to predict the location of deforestation by using logistic regression. The validation was also tested using ROC approach which was found to be 0.96.

The issue of poverty and strategies to deal with it has occupied the ‘minds’ of various Governments in Nigeria before and after independence in 1960. Indeed the scourge of poverty has been the bane of the Countries of sub Saharan Africa for decades. Each country has tried to devise strategies and methods of dealing with the problem. Poverty is actually a world wide phenomenon hence; it has always attracted the attention of International Organizations like the United Nations and its subsidiary Organizations like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), and a host of others. The concern over poverty and the need to alleviate it, is predicated on the fact that it is a social phenomenon with multifarious negative consequences on the health of the people, the socio economic dimensions of the country and the totality of the productive capability and capacity of any country.

The disease of rice was studied based on their priority according to the farmers of block Akaltara of district Janjgir -Champa of Chhattisgarh. 12 randomly selected villages were visited to determine most serious disease of rice based on qualitative data collected on farm level and analyzed as result Bacterial Leaf Blight, Brown Spot, Tungro and Khaira disease is found to be most serious disease of rice while Blast, Sheath Blight, Sheath Rot, and Stem Rot some what important disease of Rice while False Smut is the disease of minor importance.

Grain shape quality traits of twenty (20) rice genotypes were studied in order to understand the effects of drought stress on quality traits of rice. The result of Analysis of Variance clearly indicates that genotypes significantly differ for studied grain quality traits under both for normal as well as drought prone environments, except grain breadth /thickness without bran under stress condition. Higher heritability estimates for all quality traits under both environments indicate that these characters are controlled by multiple genes. Results showed that grain length was positively correlated with length to width ratio (0.863* and 0.668*) and negatively correlated with grain width (-0.614** and -0.313**) and grain breadth (-0.321**and -0.030ns) under both normal and stress conditions respectively. Grain width was positively correlated with grain breadth (0.711** and 0.486**) and negatively correlated with length to width ratio (-0.926* and -0.910*) under both conditions respectively. Grain width was highly correlated with yield per plant (0.386** and 0.315**) under both, normal and drought stress respectively. It shows that reduction in grain width has direct effect on grain yield. Under normal condition, yield was positively correlated with grain width (0.386**) and grain breadth (0.552*) indicating that grain width and grain breadth should be considered while screening high yielding genotypes under normal condition and grain width should be considered for drought stres

The field experiment on the influence of three legumes (groundnut, cowpea and soybean) on the agricultural yield and monetary income of an association of six crops (cassava, plantain, sweet potato, maize, rice and/or groundnut, cowpea, soybean), was conducted during two successive cropping seasons in a forest region of the DRC (Bengamisa). The results show that: - The crop association with cowpea numerically improved the agricultural yield of the components, the overall agricultural yield of the association and induced a better overall LER compared to the association with groundnut and soybean. - The crop association with groundnut, on the other hand, yielded a much higher gross margin of $2645.4/Ha, compared to the gross margin achieved by the association with cowpea ($1872.4/Ha) and that with soybean ($1847.6/Ha). - In the crop associations in this environment, cowpea is considered to be a factor in improving crop yields, while groundnuts are considered to be a factor in improving cash income.

Low soil fertility and drought condition are main crop production challenges that threatening food security in semi-arid areas. Use of fertilizer at micro dose rates together with in-situ rainwater harvesting using infiltration pits (IP) or tied ridges (TR) are low-input strategies to cope with these challenges. This research was conducted to investigate effects of integrating fertilizer micro dose rates and in-situ rainwater harvesting using IP and TR on groundnut yield and its household profitability to Tanzania smallholder farming groups. Field experiments were conducted from 2015/2016 to 2016/2017 cropping seasons. Infiltration pits and tied ridges increased groundnut yield significantly by 20.2 to 32.6 % and 34.2 to 46.6% respectively over flat cultivation. Fertilizer micro dose at 50% of recommended rate significantly increased yield by 50.8 to 64.7 % over zero application. Integration of TR with fertilizer at RR resulted into highest groundnut yield ranged from 1,034 to 1,096 kg/ha and highest NP ranged from 1,027 to 1,081 USD/ha. The integrations of TR and fertilizer micro dose at 50% of recommended had significant higher yield ranged from 748 to 1,086 kg/ha and higher NP ranging from 405 to 662 USD/ha compared to famer practice. The integrations of micro dose rate of 50% of recommended rate and tied ridges is therefore recommended to small holder’s famers located in semi dry areas of central Tanzania. This will enable farmers to achieve highly agronomic and economic performances compared to farmer practices.

Terrestrial heating is so real in Mwea that it has significantly reduced water levels in the canal; a catastrophe complexed with uphazard and unscheduling of irrigation in the scheme to the detriment of crops at its termini. In that view therefore, an experiment was set out at KALRO-Mwea to investigate on the effect of irrigation scheduling on yield components and grain yield of two Nerica rice varieties. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design in split-plot arrangement and replicated thrice. Four irrigation schedules (Daily (control), Every 3 days, Every 5 days and Weekly) formed main plots and two rice varieties (Nerica 4 and Nerica 11) formed the sub plots. Results indicated positive influence though not significant on filled grain number, shoot biomass, root biomass, unfilled grain number, productive tillers, panicle number, 1.5 m² plot grain weight, moisture content, and on grain yield in both seasons, while significant effect was exerted on 1000-grain weight, where highest and least 1000-grain weight of 55.92 g and 41.0 g in Nerica 4 on every 3 days and weekly schedules in season 1 were recorded respectively, while significant effect was elicited on unproductive tillers in season 2 where highest of 1.783 unproductive tillers in Nerica 11 on every 5 days’ schedule was recorded, while least of 0.75 unproductive tillers in Nerica 4 on weekly schedule was also recorded. Positive though insignificant effect was also observed in unproductive tillers in season 1, while the same was observed in 1000-grain weight in season 2. Grain yield (ton/ha) did not present any significant effect due to irrigation schedule treatments in both seasons, although variation in means of grain yield was observed, where highest grain yield of 1.003 tons / hectare was produced in Nerica 4 on weekly irrigation schedule in season 2, while least grain yield of 0.863 tons / hectare was produced in Nerica 11 on every 3 days’ irrigation schedule in both seasons. Nerica 4 outperformed Nerica 11 in productive tillers, 1.5 m² plot grain weight, 1000-grain –weight and on grain yield, while Nerica 11 outperformed it in unproductive tillers, filled grain yield, unfilled grain yield, shoot biomass, root biomass, panicle number, and on moisture content in yield. Nerica 4 on weekly schedule, while Nerica 11 on control, and on every 5 days’, and both on every 3 days’ schedule are recommended to farmers for adoption.

Rangeland ecosystems are dynamic and will change in the occurrence turbulences and will degrade if cross the threshold of rangeland health. We can judge on the effects of management activities by determination of rangeland health features. In this study using 17 ecological indicators, including rill, water flow pattern, Pedestal, bare ground, gully, wind-scoured, litter movement, soil surface resistance to erosion, soil surface loss or degradation, plant community composition and distribution relative to infiltration and runoff and, compaction layer, structural and functional groups, plant mortality, litter amount, annual production, invasive plants and reproductive capability of perennial plants for determination of three characteristics of rangeland ecosystems (soil and habitat stability, hydrological functions and health of living organisms). The main objective of this study is applying this concept in the area of Cheshme Anjir. Indicators were studied in three ecosystems characteristic expressed in five evaluation class and deviation degree of rangeland health features with reference area. The results showed that the key habitat in term of sustainability of soil and habitat in slight to moderate, hydrologic function slight to moderate, organisms’ health slight to moderate while critical habitat in term of soil sustainability and habitat in relatively extreme, hydrologic function in extreme and organism health located in extreme class.

Biofertilzers are substances obtained from living microorganisms with the potential to supply crops with useful nutrients. Commonly used Biofertilizers supply nitrogen and phosphorus, and these nutrients are the most limiting ones in Sub-Saharan African. Nitrogen has a higher leaching capacity and thus more losses are experienced in agriculture than what is up taken by crops for growth while P sources are getting depleted. Despite many soils lacking these elements, the peasant farmers cannot afford their high cost. On the other hand, if supplied in higher amounts, lead to pollution of ground and surface bodies and eutrophication in the water bodies in the catchment areas. Biofertilizers are therefore considered to be eco-friendly and cost effective. These micro-organisms once inoculated in the soil show different modes of action that promote nutrient availability to crops. These mechanisms include; scavenging for nutrients from soil layers, solubilization of some inorganic compounds, and production of growth promoting metabolites, decomposition, and fixation of the free nitrogen from the atmosphere. However, the use of these biofertilizers has different challenges which may contribute for low adoption by farmers. The review therefore seeks to understand mode of application, mechanisms of plant uptake and the reasons that dissuade farmers from adopt these noble techniques.