Agriculture

This study aimed to determine the haematological values as well as the phenotypic correlation among the parameters of haematology. One hundred and twenty (120) Japanese quails were raised on a deep litter system. Two experimental diets (starter diet and layers diet) were given to the birds. Blood samples were taken from the birds at six (6) weeks for haematological analysis. According to the result obtained, sex did not have any significant (P> 0.05) effect on any of the haematological parameter. Meanwhile, it was also observed that increment in body weight was found supportive of the haematological parameters.

Although the magnetic field is an indispensible environmental factor for plants in soil, there is dearth of research regarding its effect on plant growth. In order to evaluate the effect of magnetic water on concentration of micronutrient elements in basil leaves, the present experiment was conducted under completely randomized factorial design with two treatments and three replications in greenhouse. The treatments consisted of the kind of water (magnetic and nonmagnetic water) and salinity treatment in three levels (distilled water, 30 mM and 50 mM salinity). The results indicated that the maximum effects on Mn, Zn and Cu concentration in basil leaves were produced by magnetic water. Concerning salinity treatments, the maximum effects on Mn, Zn, Cu and Total Fe in basil leaves were for water with 30 mM salinity. The interaction effects between the kind of water and salinity levels showed that maximum effects on these elements were related to magnetic distilled water.

In the present study, we tested the possibility of developing an appropriate technical itinerary for the green carpet crop system (ATV) involving pruning of grass hedges, composting of their clippings, direct seeding and fertiliser application that would ensure high overall productivity and major agroecological benefits. Compost with NPK 17- 17- 17 was applied to some plots of degraded soil in the ATV production system, while other plots were either treated with pig manure with NPK 17- 17- 17 on the side of the Slash and Burn production system. All treated plots are then used for maize (Zea mays L.) cultivation. A split-plot design was used with five replications per treatment. The study showed that the large amount of both forage and soil biomass was observed on the plots that received composts and chemical fertilizers in the ATV production system. These different results show that the ATV production system combined with organo-mineral fertilisation is a good source of mineral elements and make it possible to envisage its use in programmes to restore degraded soils.

This study aimed at identifying constraints of yam and soil fertility evaluation and management among smallholder farmers in Kabba/Bunu area. Ten communities were purposely selected and ten yam farmers randomly selected from each community.100 questionnaires were administered to and collected from the farmers. The questions were collated and analyzed using frequency, mean and percentage. 98% of the farmers cultivate white yam and 64% are aware of the existence of improved varieties. Constraints to yam production are lack of access to finance (84%), poor market/sales (71%), availability and cost of seed yam (70%), Lack of access to improved varieties (68%), low soil fertility (64%) and lack of access to fertilizer (56%). Prominent soil fertility indicators are soil colour, crop performance, vegetation type, presence of earthworm activities and topographic position. 59% of the farmers assessed their farm soil to be fertile while 41% is non-fertile. Fertility management practices adopted among the farmers are: mulching (98%), use of legume in intercropping system (62%) and post-harvest residue management (50%). The adoption and cultivation of other varieties of yam apart from white yam, use of organic manure and post-harvest residue management of slash-and-mulch as well as intervention of government and non-governmental organization were recommended.

Quail is a robust small bodied and easy to keep the bird. They can adapt to any climatic condition. Therefore the growth performance and carcass characteristics of this bird was determined using One hundred and twenty (120) Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were raised on a deep litter system. Two experimental diets (starter diet and layer diet) were given to the birds. The average weight and performance characteristics of the birds were determined. Carcass characteristics of selected birds (five males and five females) were slaughtered when the birds reach six (6) weeks of age. According to the results obtained, sex did not have any significant (P>0.05) effect on the performance characteristic. Also, most of the parameters of the carcass characteristic were not influenced (P>0.05) by sex. Age was found to have significant (P<0.05) effect on the performance characteristics. It was discovered that most of the body measurements were good estimators of each other because of the positive phenotypic correlations existing among them. The increment in body weight was found supportive of the haematological parameter.

Prior knowledge about the presence of a plant pathogen in an infected plant material and natural reservoir is the first requirement for a successful disease management strategy. This becomes more crucial in case of quarantine pathogen like T. indica in order to alleviate unnecessary restrictions that prevent the movement of wheat across the globe and tells how this pathogen hinders the wheat trade of India. More over the potential risk of its dissemination in international wheat trade and germplasm exchange, there is a need for quick, sensitive, reliable and alarming method to identify T. indica to facilitate implementation of specific disease control strategies and for accurately selecting areas for quarantine. The detection of Karnal bunt (KB) is based primarily on the presence of teliospores on wheat seeds. However, accurate and reliable identification of T. indica teliospores by spore morphology alone is not always possible. Research based on genomic advances and innovative detection methods as well as better knowledge of the T. indica life cycle will facilitate their early and accurate detection, thus improving the sanitary status of cultivated plants in the near future. A new, novel, highly accurate molecular tests are emerging which help in surveillance of KB. This brief review will present the overview of classical and emerging T. indica detection and diagnosis assays and a repertoire of molecular diagnostic tools that can serve as a foundation stone for identifying and detecting T. indica inoculum load on multiple, rapid-cycling, real-time, PCR platforms both in vitro and in vivo conditions. This also provide an efficient way for disease surveillance and disease forecasting

To evaluate the natural rejection capacity of six plantain cultivars collected in five territories in the province of Maniema, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The trial was conducted using an experimental system of subdivided plots and observations were made on the number of naturally formed shoots, the diameter, the height of the pseudo-trunk and the leaf area of the plant. The correlation between the number of shoots and these three parameters was calculated. The results obtained were as follows: 8.17 ± 2.72 shoots were produced in the control, 8.50 ± 2.62 in the sawdust and 8.26 ± 2.68 in the decomposed rice husks. The averages per cultivar for all fertilisers and per cultivar were 9.37 ± 0.11 for C6 (Otangala); followed by 8.76 ± 0.65 for C4 ((Mbonjilo) ; 8.43 ± 0.12 for C5 (Kambelekete) ; 8.03 ± 0.48 for C1 (Kyankola)1 ; 7.89 ± 0.19 for C3 (Mbudi 2) and 7.37 ± 0.48 for C2 (Mbudi 1). It was found that these numbers of rejections do not differ statistically between fertilisers and between cultivars. The correlation coefficients are therefore generally low or mogged, negative or positive. The data are heterogeneous within fertilisers and homogeneous within each cultivar.

The experiment was conducted to study the effect of varying plant population of two sorghum cultivars on growth and yield at three sites(Degain,Tendeli 8 and Tendeli 12) within the Gash delta Eastern Sudan , during 2014/15 and 2016/17) seasons. The RCBD design used for split-split plot trail. The treatments include two cultivars (Tabat andAklamoi) and three planting densities spacing within the row of 30, 45 and 60 cm between holes. Correlation analysis technique has been used for finding association between agronomic characters in the three sites. Generally the mean number of tillers, phonology, seeds/panicle, panicle length and 100-seed weight had positive strong significant correlation with plant height, and phonological attributes but they had moderate positive correlation with LAI, panicles/m2 and grain yield/ha. 100-Seed weight and panicle length were positively correlated with all characters except stem diameter, panicles/m2 and grain yield/ha. Likewise, LAI and number of tillers had significant and positive correlation with all characters. Grain yield per hectare was positively and significantly correlated with most of the studied traits. Results of analysis revealed significant and positive correlation among the variables and showed that these variables could play a vital role in increasing yield of sorghum hybrid.

This present article highlights the influence of the cutting performed on samples of agricultural products as well as their nature of products on the assessment of their convective drying quality. Sweet potato and taro were used for the study. It emerges that the size of the cut plays an important role in the evaluation of mass transfers during convective drying. At 100 minutes of drying and a temperature of 70°C, cubes with dimensions of 1cm, 1.5cm, 2cm, and 2.5cm reached moisture content levels of 40wt.%, 60wt.%, 78wt.%, and 80wt.% of their initial moisture content, respectively. This trend generalizes: the larger the size, the slower the drying. Similarly, the shape slightly influences the transfer process. Furthermore, the experiments showed that at the same temperature and similar dimensions regardless of the cutting shape, taro exhibits greater resistance to transfers than sweet potato.

The objective of this work is to provide breeders in the pig industry with technical and economic data that can be used for the proper functioning of a piggery. This is an analysis of pig production in the Province of Maniema in general, more precisely in the town of Kindu. The methodology uses surveys (transversal and retrospective) among producers targeting the profile of breeders, their practices, zootechnical and socio-economic performances. The majority of breeders are Catholic Christians, most of whom are employed and practice breeding as a secondary activity. They are 90% men. The pigsties are either semi-modern (6/10) or modern (4/10). The food is based on rice bran and corn flour which are used by all breeders. Fish meal is used by 80% of breeders and cassava by 70%. Large White pigs dominate the different farms. The average herd is 86 pigs. The age at first farrowing varies between 11 to 14 months and the average number of farrowings per year is two. The average numerical productivity per female per farrowing is 10 piglets. The age at weaning varies between 45 and 90 days. The dominant pathologies remain external parasitoses and digestive diseases causing diarrhea. These pathologies are present in all the farms visited. The farms display an average annual gross profit between 40 and 60 pigs/year depending on their size, based on 3600 FC/kg or 2.1 $ dollars per carcass. Once we can estimate that the farm generates a result of 2,400 $ to $3,600 dollars per year or $ 200 to $ 300 dollars per month in income for the family. Young sows are put into breeding at 10 or 12 months when their weight reaches 80 or 100 kg live weight. Litter size is 8-12 piglets born alive and 6-8 piglets are weaned on average. Females are mated on average two to three times during heat, until the sow refuses mating. Future breeders are sold at $ 40 to $ 70 for piglets 2 to 3 months old. Breeders sell their pigs to commission agents who act on their behalf and make group purchases from breeders before proceeding with slaughter. The slaughter and consumption of pigs is also done locally. The animals are purchased at a price of 3,600 FC per kg of carcass. Slaughtering takes place at the slaughterhouse after payment of a tax of 1,500 FC. Once the animals have been slaughtered, skinned and inspected, the carcass is then transported on the back of a cart or on a motorcycle taxi to be sold at the Kindu central market at a price of 4,500 FC to 5,000 FC/kg. The roasters, for their part, offer meat skewers or pieces of cooked pork to consumers at prices ranging from 1000 FC per skewer at the restaurant bar and 1000 FC or 2000 FC per piece of meat. This study shows that pig farming is a very profitable activity as long as it is well managed. The constraints remain linked to management, the quality of production and processing. Improvement strategies should focus on the organization, accountability and supervision of stakeholders for better management of production in the interest of the development of this breeding.