International Journal of Agricultural Sciences

Global Journal of Food and Agricultural Sciences Vol. 10 (3), pp. 001-014, March, 2023. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effects of cropping system, planting location and inorganic nitrogen on quality of bean seed in Western Kenya

¹Ogutu M.O*, ²Muasya R and ³Ouma G

¹Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, P.O Box1490-40100, Kisumu, Kenya

²Department of Seed Crop and Horticultural Sciences, Moi University P.O Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya

³School of Agriculture, Food Security and Biodiversity, Bondo University College P.O Box 210-40601 Bondo, Kenya

Accepted 16 October, 2022

Abstract

Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are important crop in Kenya and the world for consumption and the attainment of quality food security. Studies were conducted in Kenya in the year 2006 to investigate the effects of N fertilizer application at the rates 0kg N per ha and 50 Kg N per ha and cropping system of mbili technology and pure stand of beans on bean seed quality at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (K.A.R.I) centre at Kisii and Kibos. Maize hybrid seed, 614D and bean variety, KK8 were used. The design of the experiment was a 2 × 2× 2 factorial arrangement in a Randomized Block Design replicated four times. Data was collected using standard procedures, comprising seed length, seed width, seed vigor, and seed germination percent, shoot and root length and seedling growth rate. Statistical analysis was carried out by analysis of variance and mean separation by the Least Significant Difference method at 5%.The results showed that mbili system significantly (p≤0.05) increased seedling dry matter and seed vigor by 42% and 42% respectively. However, bean quality parameters such as seedling growth rate, shoot length and seed sizes were unaffected by the cropping system. Addition of N fertilizer increased 1000 seed weight at Kisii by 45% while at Kibos it reduced the shoot length by 42%. Shoot length, seed germination, 1000 seed weight were higher at Kisii than Kibos while cropping System × fertilizer × location interactions increased seedling growth rate and vigor by 20% and 18% respectively. It is concluded that cropping system increased seedling dry matter and seed vigor while application of N fertilizer increased 1000 seed weight and reduced shoot length. Bean seed quality was affected by planting location while cropping system × N fertilizer location increased seed vigor.

Key Words: cropping, seed quality, fertilizer, seed vigor, seed germination, seedling growth rate

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447Vol. 12 (2), pp. 001-009, February, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Interrupted Time Series Analysis on maize production in Ghana: The case of Planting for Food and Jobs program

Ernest Zamanah¹ and Suleman Nasiru²

¹²Department of Statistics, School of Mathematical Sciences, C.K.Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, P. O.Box 24, Navrongo, Ghana, West Africa.

Accepted 04 January, 2022 

Abstract

The Planting for Food and Jobs program was a government policy implemented in 2017 with the aim of improving the production of major food crops such as maize in Ghana.  In this paper, we used Interrupted Time Series Analysis to investigate whether there was any structural change in the mean level of Ghana’s maize production. To this end, we developed an interrupted time series model with a set of pulse functions to evaluate any possible structural change in the production of maize in Ghana. The datawe used for the analysis in this paper were secondary data representing Ghana’s annual maize production from 1960 to 2020. Estimation results of the interrupted time series model revealed that significant improvements in maize production were realized in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Overall, the study was concluded by indicating that the significant improvements in the maize production could be attributed to the Planting for Food and Jobs program as well as other possible underlying factors.

Keywords: Interrupted Time Series Analysis, pulse functions, extension services.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 12 (2), pp. 001-008, February, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Key words: Biodiversity, mammals, Artvin-Turkey.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 12 (2), pp. 001-006, February, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of protein and energy quality of poultry by-product meal using poultry assays

Masoud Jafari¹*, Yahya Ebrahimnezhad¹, Hussein Janmohammadi², Kambiz Nazeradl¹ and Mahboob Nemati³

¹Department of Animal Science, Shabestar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shabestar, Iran.

²Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran.

³Faculty of pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran.

Accepted 18 October, 2021

Abstract

In the present study, two experiment were conducted to evaluate three poultry by-product meal (PBM; A, B and C), that is produced in commercial rendering plants. In first experiment, true amino acids (AA) digestibility and TMEn of the PBM were determined using the precision-fed cecectomized rooster. In second experiment, 1 week old male chicks were fed from 8 to 21 days of age with a corn-SBM diet or diets containing 5 or 10% PBM C formulated to be equal in total or digestible AA to the corn-SBM diet. TMEn and true amino acid digestibility varied among PBM (P < 0.05). Mean true digestibility coefficients (percentages) for AA in PBM A, B, and C were 81.75, 67.80 and 66.31, respectively. Feed efficiency of chick fed diet containing 5 or 10% PBM C on a digestible AA basis or 5% PBM C on a total AA basis was not significantly different (P > 0.05) than that of the chicks fed the corn- SBM diet. The results of this study indicated that PBM has substantial nutritional value for poultry and diets containing 10% PBM in chick diets had no detrimental effects on performance if the diets were formulated to contain adequate levels of digestible AA.

Key words: Energy, protein quality, poultry by-product meal.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 11 (10), pp. 001-012, October, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Past Hydrological Drought Characteristics of River Enyau Sub-Catchment, Northern Ugand

I Eremugo¹, G Gabiri³, MM Tenywa¹, P Wamala¹, M Bagalwa¹, EM Bagula¹, AO Kalala²,S Akello¹, JGM Majaliwa¹

¹Department of Production, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala Uganda.

²Department of Geomatics and Land Management, College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala Uganda.

³Department of Geography, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn Germany.

Accepted 12 October, 2021 

Abstract

River Enyau sub-catchment, the only reliable source of surface water supplying Arua Municipality and its surroundingis experiencing increasing frequency of hydrological drought attributed to climate and landuse/cover change. This rise in the hydrological drought in the sub-catchment threatens 72% of the household’s access to safe water and increases their vulnerability to food insecurity, water and sanitation challenges. This study aimed to reconstruct past (1980 – 2009) hydrological drought characteristics in River Enyau sub-catchment to create a better understanding of sustainable water resources planning and management. Historical discharge of the sub-catchment was analyzed for hydrological drought frequency, duration and severity using the Threshold Level Method inR software version 3.5.2. Results showed that the sub-catchment experienced hydrological drought in the past that mainly started in the month of March and ended in the month of April in drought years. There was a significant difference (p<0.001) in the hydrological drought frequency, duration and severity among the different drought years of the past. Therefore, restoration of water towers, best agricultural management practices and proper urban planning are highly recommended in order to reduce the hydrological drought impact on River Enyau sub-catchment.

Keywords: Threshold level method, hydrological drought characteristics, Frequency, Duration, Severity, River Enyau sub-catchment, Northern Uganda.