International Journal of Agricultural Sciences

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 10 (11), pp. 001-009, November, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Investigation of the structure and distribution diameter classes models in beech forests of Northern Iran

Ali Reza Eslami¹*, Bahman Karimi², Hamid Payam³ and Ome Kolsoom Derakhshan⁴

¹Department of Forestry, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran. ²Forests and Rangelands Organization, Iran.

³Department of Forestry, Lahijan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran.

⁴Young Researchers Club, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran.

Accepted 18 September, 2020

Abstract

The study of natural stands structures and investigation of the utilization facility from probable theories can be a suitable instrument for future natural stands planning. Anyway, the present study was conducted at beech stands of uneven-aged from the southern aspect of Dorfak at a height of 1200 m of sea level in number 21 of the watershed basin, Guilan province. Four sample plots with 1 ha of dimensions’ 100*100 were chosen in four aspects of the region (northern, southern, western and eastern). Inventory of trees was taken with an upper diameter of 7.5 cm as 100%. Then necessary measurements were done by drawing the horizontal and vertical profile on the tape with dimensions’ 100*100 in the eastern north side of each plot. Based on analysis of the obtained data, the estimated frequencies calculated from the result of different statistical distributions were considered by CHI-Square test. The results showed that between different statistical models, the calculated Beta model created good fitting with the frequency diagram for three (southern, western and eastern aspects) of the four studied aspects. As such, the fact that today Meyer Model is used as a pattern to guide the stand by the selection system method, which in most cases does not accommodate the study’s forest sites, should be taken into consideration. In the site of the study (the southern aspect stands), the Beta model can be used to guide and manage the natural stands.

Key words: Guilan beech, south aspect, statistical distributions, beta model.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 10 (11), pp. 001-009, November, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Heavily stocked 5-paddock rotational grazing effect on cross-bred Afrikaner steer performance and herbaceous vegetation dynamics in a semi-arid veld of Zimbabwe

Bethwell Moyo^1,2, Sikhalazo Dube³*, Charles Moyo⁴ and Edward Nesamvuni⁵

¹Matopos Research Station, P. Bag K5137, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

²University of Fort Hare, Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, P. Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa.

³Natural Resources and the Environment, Ecosystems Dynamics and Processes Group, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, P. O. Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.

⁴Khulasizwe Trust, P. O. Box QP 23, Queenspark, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

⁵Department of Agriculture, Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Accepted 24 September, 2020

Abstract

A ten-year high stocking rate trial, mimicking communal areas was initiated at Matopos Research Station, Zimbabwe. Afrikaner steer crosses grazed continuously or rotationally at a high stocking rate (0.4 LU.ha^-1) in two 45 ha areas, with one fenced into five 9 ha camps each for the rotational grazing sites, with 30 animals per site. It was hypothesized that, heavily stocked rotation will not improve herbage biomass, decreaser species abundance, basal cover or animal performance. Biomass, basal cover and decreaser species abundance were not (P > 0.05) significantly different between the grazing systems, save for Themeda triandra, Setaria incrassata and Panicum novemnerve, but were significant (P < 0.05) in terms of annual variation. Mean maximum steer weight gain was higher (P < 0.05) under continuous grazing. It was concluded that, the creation of rigid rotational grazing schemes in communal areas without proper stocking rates will not improve animal performance, herbage production, basal cover, but might have an effect on species abundance. In higher rainfall years, heavy stocking has no adverse effects on performance. Hence, any plans of grazing interventions on livestock management in communal areas, should consider stocking rate and rainfall, with a rapid stock reduction strategy in projected low rainfall years.

Key words: Basal cover, communal areas, grazing system, herbage biomass, stocking rate, weight gain.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 10 (11), pp. 001-007, November, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Productivity assessment of agricultural crops in existing agrihortisilvicultural system of mid hills of Central Western Himalaya, India

Arvind Bijalwan

Faculty of Technical Forestry, Indian Institute of Forest Management, P.O. Box 357, Nehru Nagar, Bhopal-462 003, India. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 17 August, 2020

Abstract

The paper summarizes the productivity of various agricultural crops under existing agrihortisilviculture (AHS) system in northern and southern aspects of mid hills of Central Western Garhwal Himalaya (Narendra Nagar block of district Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand), India between 1000 to 2000 m asl during Rabi (winter) and Kharif (summer) seasons. The northern aspect was more diverse and formed good vegetation composition, both in terms of forest crops and in agricultural productivity. The tree diversity and richness was recorded to be higher in northern aspect. A total of 18 tree species were reported in the northern aspect and 13 in the southern aspect of AHS systems. The Grewia optiva was observed as dominant tree species and Citrus sinensis as co-dominant species in the northern and southern aspects. The northern aspect observed with higher grain productivity under tree (1326 kg/ha/year) and sole cropping (2471 kg/ha/year) compared to southern aspect; similarly, the northern aspect proved to be higher in straw productivity under trees (3587 kg/ha/year) and treeless (4510 kg/ha/year) situation for both Rabi (winter) and Kharif (summer) crops. Overall, there is an average reduction of 45.05% in gain yield and 29.53% in biological yield compared to sole agricultural cropping in northern aspect. The average reduction in the grain yield (29.08%) and biological yield (28.77%) was lower in the southern aspect. It was summarized that the reduction in the agricultural produce under agrihortisilviculture system is supplemented by multiferous benefits of woody perennials which is life supporting to the rural community of this hilly landscape.

Key words: Agrihortisilviculture (AHS) system, grain productivity, biological productivity, northern aspect, southern aspect, IVI (importance value index).

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 10 (11), pp. 001-011, November, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Time study and productivity analysis of chainsaw mounted log debarker in southern pine forests of Turkey

Mehmet Eker¹*, H. Oğuz Çoban¹ and H. Hulusi Acar²

¹Süleyman Demirel University, Faculty of Forestry, 32260, Isparta, Turkey.

²Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Forestry, 61080, Trabzon, Turkey.

Accepted 18 April, 2020

Abstract

In timber harvesting process, the debarking activity time covers more than 50% of the total production time especially for coniferous trees. The debarking operations are usually carried out by forest villagers with an axe because of the abundance of labor force and subvention applied for forest villagers. Recently, in the face of labor shortage, in order to shorten harvesting time and to accelerate the operations, chainsaw mounted log debarking attachments has also been used. The aim of the study was to obtain information about time consumption and productivity of debarking with log debarker. Debarking time with log debarker belonging to Brutian pine logs was found to be 11.71 min/m³ and the work productivity was 5.12 m³/h. It was determined that the use of log debarker could be achieved; the time saving by 80% compared with conventional debarking method (with axe) and increased the work productivity up to 5 times. It can provide various advantages in terms of prevention of bark beetles damages, fast and fresh product supply, reduce dependence on the number of human resources and improvement the production rate.

Key words: Debarking, log debarker, productivity, time study, chainsaw attachments, log wizard.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 10 (11), pp. 001-007, November, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Germination and growth performance of Aloe turkanensis and Aloe secundflora under different substrates

K. W. Mukonyi*, V. O. Oeba, R. Chiteva, J. Lelon and M. W. Gathara

Kenya Forestry Research Institute, P. O. Box 20412, Nairobi- 00200 Kenya.

Accepted 21 October, 2020

Abstract

Income generated from indigenous Aloe sap taping has been a source of livelihoods to most communities in drylands of Kenya. Most of the Aloe leaf harvesting takes place in the wild, threatening the natural Aloe populations. This calls for establishment of Aloe plantations as alternative source of sustainable sap tapping. Currently there is lack of information on propagation methods of commercial indigenous Aloes in Kenya. Investigation undertaken to establish Aloe propagation methods showed that different factors determine Aloe germination and growth which need to be considered in Aloe propagation. Findings showed that Aloe seed germination under greenhouse began on the 9^th day and maximum germination took place between 2^nd and 3^rd week of sowing. Addition of vermiculite and sawdust to soil from natural Aloe growing zones improved germination. Aloe turkanensis showed better germination percentage as compared to Aloe secundflora in most of the growing substrate. Forest humus soil blended with sawdust, showed the highest germination of 28%, after 21 days for Aloe turkanensis followed by substrate containing soils from natural habitat blended with vermiculite, then loam soil at 18 and 11% blended with sawdust and vermiculite, respectively. The vermiculite and sawdust blended media showed poor growth performance as revealed after 5 months of germination. Substrate from natural habitat enriched with manure showed good growth performance, while those enriched with sawdust had poor growth performance. Results indicate that different substrate may be used for germination and potting. Those that show high germination are not good for Aloe growth, but those enhancing growth did not show better germination.

Key words: Livelihoods, sustainability, Aloe propagation, substrate.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 10 (11), pp. 001-009, November, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Aclonifen: The identikit of a widely used herbicide

Özgür Kilinç

Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine (LECA, UMR 5553), Equipe Pollution Environnement Ecotoxicologie Ecoremédiation, Domaine Universitaire de Saint-Martin d'Hères. 2233, rue de la piscine Bât D Biologie, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France.

Accepted 05 September, 2020

Abstract

Aclonifen is a herbicide with a diphenylether nucleus which has been authorized for agronomic use in France and Europe in 1983 (Corn, 1 kg.ha^-1 and sunflower, 2.7 kg.ha^-1 in pre-emergence) and in Turkey since 1994 (sunflowers, 1.8 kg.ha^-1 and lentils, chickpeas, 0.75 kg.ha^-1). This a.i. shows several characteristics which differ from the other members of its chemical family, especially its two complementary modes of action and a very high conjugation potential in sunflower. These features explain its high selectivity for sunflower and also explain that, after pre-emergence treatment, the a.i. was readily transformed into polar derivatives which remain segregated inside the roots. Thus, the chemical derivatives issued from the use of this a.i. are absent from the sunflower leaves and, consequently, from the flowers and the seeds. The modes of action, uptake, transfer and conjugation of this a.i. in sunflower, as compared to the weeds associated to this culture; show that not only pre-emergence treatments are possible for this a.i. but also post-emergence application.

Key words: Aclonifen, herbicide, diphenylether, modes of action, selectivity, metabolism.