Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2023. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Scientific research in Africa in the 21st century, in need of a change of approach*

Kees Stigter

Agromet Vision, Groenestraat 13, 5314 AJ Bruchem, The Netherlands ([email protected]; Tel. 31 418 642906)

Accepted 10 August, 2022

Abstract

The scientific research environments in industrialized and non-industrialized countries are compared, mainly as far as supportive industries and services to agricultural producers are concerned. Further environmental deterioration and alienating poverty are often a consequence of the observed absence of focused assistance. It is then discussed why and how Africa should change its scientific research and develop its own approach. This asks for new scientific research policies in Africa. The central thesis of this paper is that as agricultural scientists we have come closer than ever to farmers, but we are farther away than ever from policy makers. A simple conceptual and diagnostic framework is discussed by which this situation in scientific research can be easily explained. TTMI- Project results on agrometeorological services in Sudan are discussed in that new context. The paper concludes with first wording in this same new context the final implications for the change in scientific research approach needed in Africa, including a short comparison of research on health services with those on agricultural services. Finally, such implications are discussed the same way for higher education in Africa, also again referring to another important recent development, that of diagnostic studies, that is used as reference throughout this paper.

Keywords: Africa; agricultural services; agrometeorology; higher education; livelihood of farmers; policy environments; scientific research; research approach.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 8 (2), pp. 001-009, February, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of the efficacy of soil amendments in management of root infection by Fusarium spp. in maize and beans

Sheila Okoth* and Elizabeth Siameto

School of Biological Sciences, University of Nairobi, Kenya.

Accepted 04 January, 2022

Abstract

Fusarium root rot of maize and beans is a common problem in Taita District, Kenya causing reduction in yields to the small scale farmers. The pathogen attacks maize and beans at all growth stages and causing rot at the seedling stage, yellowing of the leaves, stunted growth and death if severe. Potentially effective crop rotations to maintain the pathogen at low levels are not currently acceptable in this region due to the small size of farms and prices of fungicides which are out of reach to the small scale farmer. This study is aimed at assessing alternatives to the use of fungicides in controlling root infection by Fusarium spp in maize and beans. Field trials were done in Taita District where agriculture contributes to 95% of household income with very little or no fertility inputs in farms. The following were tested in the trial: three kinds of fertilizers, cow manure and Trichoderma seed coating. Planting was done during the long and short rains. Soil and roots were collected from the rhizosphere during harvesting and assessed for inoculum density, while the roots were evaluated for incidence of infection by Fusarium spp. The most common species in both soil and roots were Fusarium oxysporum (Schlecht) Snyd. et Hans. and Fusarium sporotrichoides Sherb. Addition of soil amendments had a positive effect of reducing root infection and in some cases lowering inoculum density in the soil. Of the four fertilizers tested, Mavuno had the highest yield and was the most effective in suppressing root colonisation by Fusarium spp.

Key words: Fusarium spp, root infection, fertilizers, Trichoderma, soil amendments.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 8 (2), pp. 001-007, February, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Bio-methanisation of Jatropha curcas defatted waste

Nafisa Ali*, A. K. Kurchania and Swati Babel

Department of Renewable Energy Sources, College of Technology and Engineering, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur -313001, Rajasthan, India.

Accepted 03 January, 2022

Abstract

The study deals with the use of Jatropha curcas defatted waste as an alternative feed in biogas plant for its bio- methanisation. As it remains as defatted cake after the extraction of non-edible oil from Jatropha seeds, it cannot be used directly for any purpose due to presence of toxic substance called ‘curcin’. This toxin renders it unsafe for the animal feed and other purposes. It contains 5.73% nitrogen, 1.5% phosphorus and about 1% potassium. On the basis of its chemical composition, its application as substrate to the biogas plant can be a sustainable alternative as compared to the other applications of Jatropha press cake. The study was conducted on a floating drum type biogas plant. It was observed that the biogas plant, initially charged with pure cattle dung, when gradually replaced with Jatropha oil cake (0 - 100%), it increased the biogas production up to approximately 25% in reasonable time duration. A significant increase in the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium during the bio-fermentation process invokes the use of the effluent slurry as organic manure. Simultaneous reduction in the amount of the oil (5.67 to 3.95%) sustains the possibility of degradation of oil during methanisation. The plant has showed higher biogas yields at low temperatures also. Therefore, Jatropha defatted waste can successfully be used as a adduct as well as substrate in already running cattle dung based biogas plant to get high yield of biogas in comparison to cattle dung feed.

Key words: Jatropha oil cake, biogas production, gas yield, Pragati biogas plant.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 8 (1), pp. 001-006, January, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Economic assessment of fertilizer use and integrated practices for environmental sustainability and agricultural productivity in Sudan savannah zone, Nigeria

Ayoola Josephine Bosede

Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Kogi State University (KSU), Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: (+234) 8054447964.

Accepted 14 November, 2021

Abstract 

An assessment of fertilizer use and other integrated practices was carried out with two hundred farmers selected by stratified random sampling from twenty villages in Kano and Katsina States of Nigeria. The farming system was mixed farming (legume-cereal-livestock mixture), as a strategy both to address nutrient management as well as their livelihoods (both food and income security). The major crops comprised maize, sorghum, millet, rice, soybean, groundnut and cowpea. The average farm size was 7.4 ha and livestock comprised an average of 14 goats, 15 poultry birds, 7 sheep and 9 cattle. An average of 63 kg fertilizer was applied per ha of land relative to about 649 kg of fertilizer requirement per hectare of the crops grown, very low relative to Asia and some other African countries such as South Africa, Malawi, Benin and Ethiopia. The livestock mix provided substantial farmyard manure for fertilizing the soils and supplemented farm drought animals / animal traction while the crop residues (legumes and cereals) provided feeds for the livestock. It was found that fertilizer use multiplies the returns on farmers’ output by a factor of 2.1-14.6, which was relatively higher than previous findings (IFDC, 2002) for the same crops in Nigeria, but crop yields were comparatively less for other Sub-Saharan and Asian countries. The observed higher response coefficient could be explained by the use of organic/farmyard manures and other soil conservation practices. Farmers exploit land and the natural fertility of the soil through continuous cropping and poor fertilization (organic and inorganic). Critical environmental issues emanating from these are soil nutrient depletion, soil degradation by erosion, weed and pest invasion, all culminating in sustained low productivity. It was therefore concluded that sustained growth in agricultural productivity without environmental exploitation and degradation cannot be achieved unless efforts to enhance farmers’ fertilizer use and organic fertilization are taken seriously. Efforts should be put in place to correct fertilizer market inadequacies, particularly to monitor the quality standard and guarantee farmers’ access to fertilizers, as well as encourage National research and extension programs to emphasize economic use of basic local materials for effective fertilization of farmers’ fields, reduced vulnerability to nutrient loss and drought, and increased agricultural productivity.

Key words: Organic, inorganic, fertilizer, nutrient loss, environmental, exploitation, degradation, soil conservation, agricultural productivity.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2756-326X Vol. 7 (1), pp. 001-004, January, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of cassava powder as material for production of calcium gluconate by Penicillium citrinum SCG-112

Hai-Yan Sun^1,2, Pingjuan Zhao^1,2, Juanhua Li¹, Enshi Liu¹ and Ming Peng^1,2*

¹Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Tropical Crop Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Haikou 571101, China.

²School of Agriculture, Hainan University, Haikou 571101, China.

Accepted 25 September, 2020

Abstract

The feasibility of using cassava powder as the main material for production of calcium gluconate by Penicillium citrinum SCG-112 was evaluated in this study. The effect of incubation temperature, initial pH of the medium and inoculum size on production of calcium gluconate was investigated. The maximum yield of calcium gluconate (155 g/L) was obtained after 36 h incubation. The result was both technically competitive and economically attractive.

Key words: Calcium gluconate, cassava, Penicillium citrinum.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2756-326X Vol. 7 (1), pp. 001-004, January, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of cassava powder as material for production of calcium gluconate by Penicillium citrinum SCG-112

Hai-Yan Sun^1,2, Pingjuan Zhao^1,2, Juanhua Li¹, Enshi Liu¹ and Ming Peng^1,2*

¹Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Tropical Crop Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Haikou 571101, China.

²School of Agriculture, Hainan University, Haikou 571101, China.

Accepted 25 September, 2020

Abstract

The feasibility of using cassava powder as the main material for production of calcium gluconate by Penicillium citrinum SCG-112 was evaluated in this study. The effect of incubation temperature, initial pH of the medium and inoculum size on production of calcium gluconate was investigated. The maximum yield of calcium gluconate (155 g/L) was obtained after 36 h incubation. The result was both technically competitive and economically attractive.

Key words: Calcium gluconate, cassava, Penicillium citrinum.