Agriculture

This study analysed the efficiency of resource use in cassava production in Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria. It focused on the socio-economic characteristics of cassava farmers, input-output relationship and the efficiency of resource use in cassava production. Data were collected from a random sampling of 120 cassava farmers using pre-tested questionnaire. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, regression technique and stochastic frontier analysis (SFA). Result showed that the average age of the respondents was 49 years;average year of schooling was 7 and average households’ size consistsof 7 members. The result further revealed that the average farm size of the respondents was 4.59 hectares. The double-Log function of the multiple regression analysis gave best fit with R2 of 92.3% and it indicated that farm size, hired labour used, quantity of herbicides and fertilizer used significantly influenced cassava output. For the efficiency analysis, farm size (ha), cost of factor input and chemicals (fertilizers and herbicides) used per hectares were the major determinants of farm level efficiency among the cassava farm households in the study area.

This study concerned the study of the diatomic flora of the Djubudjubu stream in the urban region of Kisangani (Tshopo/ DRC). Samples were taken at the source, in the middle and at the outfall of the stream. The results obtained revealed a great diversity of 119 species, 38 genera distributed in 24 families. The source contained many species (51 species) than the other stations. The Shannon and Weaver biodiversity indices revealed a great diversity. The Evenness index showed an equipartition of species. The species Pinnularia sp8 and Nitzschia palea are the most abundant (13.68 and 10.25% respectively). The specific relative abundance is very high at the source (42.69%) than at the other stations. The different groupings of species and samples depend on their environment having similar ecological conditions at the different stations.

This research was carried out during the 2016-2017 growing season at Bayburt University, Food and Agriculture and Livestock Application and Research Center (40°24'05.7"N 40°08'31.3"E). In the research determined morphological and agronomic characteristics of organic and conventionally grown common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes. In the study, 13 local bean genotypes and 3 registered varieties (Onceler-98, Aras-98 and Gungor) were used. A randomized complete block design was organized as a split parcel trial design with three replication. Common bean which was organic and conventionally grown, plant height, first pod height, stem diameter, pod width, pod length, pod number per plant, seed number per pod, 1000 seed weight, seed yield parameters were measured. It has been determined that there were significant differences in some traits between the genotypes. According to the results obtained from study, the Petekli local bean genotype has the same statistical group as the common bean cultivars (Gungor, Onceler-98, Aydintepe) in terms of seed yield. On the other hand there was no significant difference between organic and conventional farming methods in terms of seed yield. 

Yam cultivation requires loose soil, and tillage is essential for better production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of soil preparation on the number and yield of yam tuber (Dioscorea cayenensis). A randomized full-block system with three treatments (mound, ridge and no tillage) and repeated three was implemented. Vegetative parameters and performance components were measured. The results obtained showed that: ? The method of soil preparation had definite effects on the growth and number of tubers; ? An increase in the number of tubers was observed for mounded plots compared to those with ridges and no tillage ; ? The mound increased tuber yield compared to the ridge and control.

A study on the distribution of ticks infesting cattle in ituri province was undertaken. A thousand two hundred (1 200) specimens of ticks collected and thousand six hundres and fifty – two (2 652) cattle of local race mainly ( Hema, Alur , Lugbara) and Sanga or metis from crossing between locals composed the study equipment the determination keys used were those of Chartier et. al, 2000 ; Bouattour, 2002 ; Walker et al., 2003. At te end of the observations, the results obteined are that : - The cattle in the Province are infested by Ambyomma hebraeum, A. latum, A. variegatum, Demacentor marginatum, Haemaphisalis punctata, Hyalomma marginatum, Ixodes pilosus, I. ricinus, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and R. microplus ; - A. variegatum (100%) and R. microplus ( 96,66%) are the mos tat abundant folow – up of Hyalomma marginatum (46%), Ixodes pilosus (38,34%) and A. hebraeum (34%) are relatively few ; - The territoires of Mahagi and Djugu have a tick resemblance of 85% and these with that of Aru 62%. These three territoires resemble that of Irum in ticks by 28% ; - The means of control of ticks used are above all the chemical control followed by rotation of animals on the meadows and finally, the use of bush fire.

Abstract: The present field study was conducted to find out the effect of different planting dates during rabi season from November to February in 2012-13 and 2013-14, respectively on the infection of various viral diseases caused by Aphids, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and Aphis gossypii Glover and white fly, Bemisia tabaci Genn on potato at Adisaptagram Block Seed Farm, Hooghly, West Bengal. The four types of viral diseases, viz. mild mosaic, severe mosaic, leaf roll and apical leaf curl diseases were found to infect the potato crop in this locality. The incidence of viral diseases on potato crop was observed in between first and third week of January and then their infection was gradually increased up to full maturity of the crop. The percentage of viral disease infection was higher in late planted and harvested crop compared to those planted and harvested early. Per cent viral disease incidence was found maximum in P5 (26.25-35.50%), followed by P4 (28.00-30.75%), P3 (26.00-29.00%), P2 (24.00-25.50%) and P1 (17.75-18.00%) respectively. The per cent leaf roll disease incidence (9.00-20.75%) outnumbered the other viral diseases and maximum percentage of PLRV infection was found during later stage of the crop grown in all the five planting dates. The incidence of mild mosaic was slightly higher (4.00-8.00%) than the incidence of severe mosaic (2.50-5.50%) and it was mainly confined in early to middle phase of crop growth. The incidence of apical leaf curl disease was least and its infection was always higher in later planted crops. The maximum yield of potato tuber was found in P2, followed by P1, P3 and P5 respectively.

To provide cashew seedlings with the optimum growing conditions possible during the early phases of establishment, it is crucial to reduce stress. The purpose of this study was to analyze the physiological response of cashew to soil moisture and light conservation under various shading regimes. The seedlings were raised in a 2.8 litter plastic container filled with topsoil under partial shade, semi-partial shade and unshaded (control) conditions at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, (CRIN) Ibadan. The experiment was laid out in a Complete Randomized Design with 4 replications per treatment. The shade effects were studied for 7 months and data on morphological parameters such as plant height, stem girth, numbers of leaves were collected. Light and moisture meter were used to read the amount of sunlight penetration and soil moisture. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and treatment means. From the result, plant height growth was highest in the control (full sun) at 50.52cm as the control also had the thickest stem girth and highest number of leaves. Shade imposes a limitation on growth and development of cashew seedlings but varies with shading levels. It should be noted that the results observed in this study are specific to the environmental conditions of the study site.

This study aims to contribute to the knowledge of Rodents and insectivora population of the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve (YBR). Some aspects have been treated and are related to diversity, reproduction, structure of Rodents and insectivorous populations aforesaid Reserve. Sampling collection place from 22nd to 25th September 2019 using trapping technic trapping in parallel and horizontal lines using Sherman and small Victor traps. For a total of 489 harm-trap, 43 specimens were captured, with a success of captures of 8,79% testifying an abundance of the Rodents and the Insectivora of the YBR. The 35 captured Rodents belong to 5 genera and 5 species (Hybomys lunaris, Hylomyscus stella, Lophuromys luteogaster, Praomys. cf. jacksoni and Stochomys longicaudatus) and 8 Insectivora are regrouped in Crocidura sp. On the whole, the ecological indices of Shannon-Wiener, Simpson and Equitability show that the biodiversity of small mammals is high. The analysis shows that the reproduction of males and females is higher, during the period of study. The average of litters varies according to species (1 to 2 embryos). Finely, some stability was observed in the structure of Rodent and Insectivora’s populations where the sex-ratio was in balance, because the difference was non significantly among males and females individuals and we had observed some stability in population’s structure by the presence of 3 classes who are: the adults (26 individuals), the subadults (2 individuals) and the young (8).

The test on  in vitro antagonistic acitivity in dual culture showed significance reduction in the radical growth of Rhizoctonia bataticola and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum  over control (90 mm colony diameter) and in the field trial study seed treatment with strains of Pseudomonas fluorescence significantly reduced the disease incidence of dry root rot and stem rot  in all  treatments  in comparison to uninoculated control, however Pseudomonas fluorescence strains BHUPf₄ was found more effective in mycelial growth reduction as well as disease reduction of both fungal pathogen namely Rhizoctonia bataticola and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum this is followed by strains BHUP₅, BHUP₆ and BHUPsb.

The importance of erosion in relation to variability of water and soil losses from a parcel of land can be revealed in the measurements of the infiltration characteristics and runoff under a comparable vetiver grass strips and collection tanks within the plots. This experiment is aimed at assessing the variability of runoff and soil loss due to infiltration characteristics of the runoff plots. This study involved three vetiver plots of 20 m interval measured out of six plots (40 m × 3 m each) randomly distributed over a land area of 0.072 ha. The study was conducted on a 6 % slope experimental plot, along Parry Road of the University Ibadan, during the 2007 raining season. The texture of the soil was generally loamy sand. Mean total runoff among the plots was in the trend of no-vetiver plots > vetiver plots (13.50mm > 4.99 mm), the same was true for mean total soil loss (28.78kg/ha > 12.96kg/ha). Variability in the amounts of runoff was moderate in vetiver plots and highly variable in no-vetiver plots (CV = 24 % and 40 % respectively. The correlation between measured soil physical properties and infiltration characteristics with runoff revealed that fine sand content of the soil was negatively related with runoff (r = 0.6450*), but the reverse relationship was true for porosity inferred from soil bulk density and sorptivity of the soil (r = -0.7650*, and -0.8956* respectively).