Agriculture

Termites are significant agents behind organic decomposition in or at the surface of the soil. They thrive in great abundance in terrestrial ecosystems and play important role in biorecycling of lignocellulose... Macrotermitinae are the dominant termite family which cultivate fungal combs within the mound chamber. The termites and fungi, form a agricultural beneficiary relationship which is one of the most spectacular example for mutualistic symbiosis The key activities attributed to the fungal partner in this mutualistic symbiosis are extensive delignification of the substrate and the conversion of plant fiber to fungal biomass .The fungal population aids in the decomposition of cellulose and supply other nutritional requirements for the termite.

Ozone(O3) is a beneficial gas which is used for elimination of microorganisms. This gas provided from O2 and it is very unstable and reactive. The Ozone can be used as a disinfectant, decolorizer, detoxifier, precipitant, coagulant and also for removing taste. In this paper, the ozone used to control root-knot nematode in potato greenhouse. Ozone generator that designed for this purpose, produced 36 mgO3/m3. Ozone is injected to water with venture and greenhouse irrigated with ozonated water. After 20 days it is shown that disease have been controlled and stoped, crop increased between 30% and 40%, weeds decreased and plant’s daily growth enhanced.

Worldwide, sugarcane is the major raw material used in the production of domestic sugar. It accounts for 80% of the sugar consumed. Kakamega and Bungoma Counties account for about 80% of the locally processed sugar. There is evidence of increased investment in the industry as characterized by growth in the number of millers across the country. Information about this growth and challenges on sugarcane transportation is scanty to enable policy makers in making informed decisions on improving efficiency in the sub sector. The study is guided by the objective to evaluate the characteristics of sugarcane transportation in western Kenya sugar belt region. Descriptive survey was carried out to achieve the study objective. The study tool was a pretested orally administered structured questionnaire with questions testing the following variables: characteristics of sugarcane transportation, prevalent livelihoods and strategies that can improve livelihoods. The study involved 384 respondents. Purposive, stratified and simple random sampling were used in determining respondents that were used in the study. Data was analysed using Excel and Statistical Package for Social Scientists (a computer programmes). Presentation was done in tables, graphs and pie charts. Research questions were subjected to Pearson Correlation and Regression coefficients to ascertain their significance. The study revealed that sugarcane transportation may have resulted in wide road network (32%) and improved access to the farms (68%). Tractors is the main means of transportation for sugarcane (67%) in the region. In conclusion, most of the cane growing farms are owned and operated by individual families. It was established that transportation cost was high in the region, which was attributed to poor road networks and frustration from millers. The study recommends improvements on the state of road network; there is need for creating right institutions and mechanisms to carry out road maintenance in the sugar belts of Kenya. The study recommends future research on poor road networks traversing western region sugar belts.

The study was to investigate the factors affecting the adoption of upland NERICA rice in the Ejura-Sekyeredumase District in the Ashanti Region. The simple random sampling technique was used to select 100 rice farmers in the district. About 20% of the farmers had fully adopted the upland NERICA rice. It was found that adoption of upland NERICA rice was dependent on NERICA farm size, accessibility and income level at 5% significant level. The main challenge associated with the production of upland NERICA rice is low rainfall causing total loss of yield. Farmers should form groups to make accessibility to incentives and other benefits easy. They should also cultivate the local rice alongside NERICA to supplement their income and finally, extension agents should increase their contacts with the low adopters of NERICA rice.

The field experiment was conducted during two consecutive kharif seasons of 2012-13 and 2013-14 at the research farm of College of Agriculture, Lembucherra, Tripura to find out the potentiality of pigeonpea intercropping for mid hills of northeastern region. The treatment comprised 9 intercropping systems apart from sole of intercrops. Intercropping system of single row main crop (pigeonpea) with two rows for cowpea, blackgram, greengram and sesame, where 1:1 system have blackgram, greengram, sesame and groundnut at 30cm apart respectively. The investigational results exhibited that pigeonpea + black gram (1:1) intercropping performed better than other combinations followed by pigeonpea + green gram (1:1) with reference to PEY (pigeonpea equivalent yield) and net return. Growing of pigeonpea under intercropping system with blackgram found to be highly remunerative with proper utilization of land under rainfed mid hills of northeastern region.

The occurrence of drought leads to reduction in reservoir and tank levels and depletion of soil moisture and groundwater. There is a need to develop suitable criteria for planning supplemental irrigation to crops for increasing and stabilizing crop yields during non-drought conditions, and minimizing crop damages during drought. The present study is aimed to study metrological drought and agriculture aspects of drought in Mirzapur districts the recurrence of drought in these parts of the country in recent years have caused unprecedented economic losses and great suffering to the affected areas. The study is based on the analysis of rainfall and critical dry spell (CDS). In this study, crop water requirement and irrigation requirement for the crop during the drought situation is also analyzed and introducing the supplemental irrigation under drought condition. In Mirzapur district the deficiency of annual rainfall is observed up to 16%. In the district approximately one out of every four to five year is drought year. The year 2007 and 2009 was most severely affected as most of the area of the district was under drought and major area of the district is found as drought prone. In the district on an average three critical dry spells (CDS) have been observed during the monsoon season.

The present study aimed to map irrigable lands in Bugesera Agro Ecological Zone (AEZ) in the Eastern Province of Rwanda, using spatial information’s. The related Concerns were to determine the suitable area for irrigation that can include all different parameters which influence irrigation. The methodological approach consisted of processing Aster Landsat and DEM; gathered by Radar Satellite acquired at CGIS/NUR, using appropriate packages-software ILWIS 3.3, Erdas8.7 and ArcGIS 9.2. Satellite image was used to determine land use and land cover classification of the study area and the DEM to determine slope classification. The results showed maps that are describing different type of layers classified according to purpose of irrigation, slope, water proximity, percentage of clay and sand and type of land use. Those maps helped to produce a model design that conducts us to determine the most suitable area for irrigation. The model designed would be used as a planning tool to optimize agriculture in the Eastern Region of Rwanda.

Pot culture experiment was conducted using 35S tracer to quantify plant available sulphur to main and residual crop in terms of ‘A’ values. Farmyard manure, poultry manure, vermi compost and sewage sludge were compared with the single superphosphate, all at 75 kg S ha-1. These with control were replicated four times in CRD. Activity of 35S sulphur in groundnut and soil were analyzed. Poultry manure increased sulphur availability and uptake by groundnut. Sdfs and Sdff was high in Poultry manure and Single superphosphate respectively. ‘A’ values were highest in poultry manure.

An important social impact assessment of an intervention is the extent to which the project/intervention has impacted positively on the welfare of the beneficiaries. To this end, a comparative assessment of the impact of National Fadama Development Project (NFDP) - 11 on the beneficiaries and non – beneficiaries was conducted. Two local governments (one each from benefiting and non – benefiting) state was selected into the study. Internationally acceptable measures (age for weight, age for height of children (girls) of 0 - 3 years) were collected from the benefiting and non – benefiting farmers. Questionnaires were administered on 100 purposively selected fadama famers from each of the local government to elicit information on their NFDP – II benefits and fadama practices. Average weights and heights of the sampled children and their respective standard deviations were: 13.56 ± 3.45(kg); 78.9 ± 0.99(cm) and 9.93 ± 2.54(kg); 61.6 ± 1.31(cm) for the benefiting and non - benefiting farmers. Statistical analysis of the data indicated that there are significant differences in the heights and the weights of the children of benefiting and non – benefiting farmers. When sampled data were compared with the modeled data from FAO, 2006, the results indicated that there is no significant difference in the weights and heights of all the children. The increased income and improved standard of living of the benefiting fadama farmers could be attributed NFDP - 11 interventions. While the findings of this study should be applied with caution, it has however provided the scientific basis for the continuation of the programme in the benefiting areas and the initiation of the programme in the non – benefiting areas.

The purpose of contour farming is to reduce runoff and soil erosion on mild slopes. This practice can also increase crop yield through the soil moisture retention in arid and semi-arid regions. Results showed contour cultivation reduced the annual runoff as 10% in compared with cultivation perpendicular to the slope. Also cultivation and planting along contour lines in comparison with cultivation and planting downwards the slop reduced soil losses and water losses as 49.5 and 32%, respectively. Although contour farming reduces runoff and soil erosion largely, but when it's combined with other conservation tillage such as no-tillage or minimum tillage can be more effective. Contour farming on permanent raised beds combined with residue retained on the soil surface is suggested according the results of previous studies as the best practice on mild slopes.