International Journal of Agricultural Sciences

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 10 (1), pp. 001-017, January, 2020. © International Scholars Journals 

Full Length Research Paper

Access to and utilisation of forest resources: Evidence from common property forest management in Swaziland

Getrude Sithole

AMADI-Midlands State University 1st floor Embassy House, Gwamile Street/Msakato Street P. O. Box 6146 Mbabane Kingdom of Swaziland.

Accepted 13 September, 2019

Abstract

A major challenge facing Swaziland is how to maximise the use of forest resources while still maintaining their sustainability. Forest resources are being depleted and degraded due to poor access controls, inequities in land-tenure and user rights. The research was conducted using the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework as the underlying scheme. The main objective of this study was to investigate access to and utilisation of forest resources in the selected chiefdoms in Mahlangatsha Inkundla. The survey methodology whose target population was from the two chiefdoms were household heads was adopted in this study (N = 185). Data were collected using questionnaires. Stratified random sampling technique which combined both stratification and randomization were used. Findings revealed that, access levels of households to forest resources were different. Whilst access to community forest resources was restricted, the natural forest resources were open to extraction by anyone. Institutional and community rules that are used to regulate access to forest resources lack effectiveness. Consequently, there are problems of deforestation, degradation, illegal harvesting, and lack of involvement by community members to manage forest resources. The study recommends that, local people should be educated about rules that regulate access to forest resources and common rules be set at the local level.

Key words: Utilisation of forest resources, Accces of forest resources, forest management, sustainability.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 10 (1), pp. 001-009, January, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Performance of soybean plants originated from seeds of high and low vigor submitted to water deficit

Lizandro Ciciliano Tavares¹*, Cassyo de Araújo Rufino¹, Lilian Madruga de Tunes² and Antonio Carlos Souza Albuquerque Barros¹

¹Department of Plant Science, Federal University of Pelotas, UFPel/FAEM, Brazil.

²Department of Plant Science, Federal University of Santa Maria, UFSM, Brazil.

Accepted 14 November, 2019

Abstract

This study had the objective of evaluating the effect of water deficit on the growth of soybean plants from seeds with high and low vigor. It was conducted at the Faculdade de Agronomia "Eliseu Maciel” (FAEM-UFPel) using the cultivar M-SOY 8008 RR. The experimental design was a completely randomized in factorial AXB (Factor A: Variables 2, 3, 4 and 5 water deficits; Factor B: two levels of seed vigor, high and low) and a total of ten treatments with four replications. Evaluations of fresh mater, plant height, leaf area and dry weight, at the 10, 20, 30 and 40 DAE. Soybean plants from high vigor seeds have higher fresh weight, plant height, leaf area and dry weight until 40 DAE, and provide higher rates of growth up to 40 DAE. High vigor seeds have better performance than plants of low vigor, when submitted to water deficit until 40 DAE. Water deficit reduces the performance of both plants grown from seeds of high and low vigor.

Key words: Glycine max (L.) Merrill, initial growth, physiological quality, growth rate.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (9), pp. 001-005, September, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Constraints of floating farming in Haor area of Bangladesh

M.A. Islam^*, M.S.A. Khandoker, S. Choudhury

Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh

Accepted 19 July, 2019

Abstract

In Bangladesh, Haor type ecosystem is found about 80,000 square kilometers in north eastern Bangladesh where floating farming is gradually becoming popular in order to minimize the adverse impact of climate change related hazards on crop production. But due to some socio-economic situational drawbacks, this farming could not get proper priority to the farming community at a large scale. So, the main focus of the study was to determine and describe constraints faced by the farmers in practicing floating farming. Data were collected from the sampled respondents of three villages of Lakkansree union under Sunamganj district using pre-tested interview schedule during September to December, 2017. A total of 30 constraints covering knowledge, skill to socio-economic aspects of the Haor farmer were recognized as the extreme obstacles regarding floating farming. Out of these, lack of adequate knowledge about floating farming; input related constraints like scarcity of water hyacinth for bed preparation; complexity in bed preparation; and leech biting during intercultural operations impacted significantly in refraining farmers from this potential farming.

Key words: Farmer, Haor, water, constraints, floating farming.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (9), pp. 001-007, September, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Comparative analysis of on-farm timber conversion systems in Kenya

George Muthike¹*, Christopher Kanali² and Douglas Shitanda³

¹Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) Forest Products Research Centre, P. O. Box .64636-00620, Kenya.

²Department of Biomechanical and Environmental Engineering, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya.

³MultiMedia University of Kenya, Kenya.

Accepted 17 June, 2019

Abstract

Exploitation of trees on private farms in Kenya is mainly by chain, bench and pit sawing systems, whose efficiency has not been well established. The sawing systems were evaluated for their performance using three species: Eucalyptus saligna, Grevillea robusta and Prosopis juliflora. Data was subjected to analysis of variance and mean comparisons. Results showed significant differences (P<0.05) among the sawing systems. Chainsaw system recovered more logs from the trees with a log recovery rate of 76%, which was significantly higher than those of 65 and 63% for bench and pit saws respectively. Timber recovery rates of 39.8, 35.9 and 30.0% for pit, bench and chain saws respectively were observed. The chainsaw system produced the highest rate of timber output (0.23 m³/man-hour), differing significantly from benchsaw (0.17) and pit saw (0.08). Chain and bench saws recorded significantly different fuel consumption rates of 8.41 and 14.86 m³l^-1 respectively. Timber sawn with the chain saw had the highest dimensional deviation (+/-5.53 mm), which was significantly higher than deviations for benchsaw (+/-3.55 mm) and pitsaw (+/-2.44 mm). The study shows that, although chainsaw recorded the highest timber production rate per man hour, it had the lowest timber recovery. Timber sawn with this system had the highest dimensional deviations. Bench saw was more economical for sawing large diameter logs, with chainsaw performing better for small diameter logs. The three systems recorded very low recovery of timber and are thus not suitable for processing timber, in this error of diminishing tree cover unless they are improved.

Key words: Efficiency, sawing systems, timber recovery, production rate, size, deviation.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (9), pp. 001-008, September, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Review

A review of the control of reproduction and hormonal manipulations in finfish species

Yousefian Mehdi* and Mousavi, Seyed Ehsan

Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr branch, Iran.

Accepted 15 May, 2019

Abstract

Control of reproductive is essential for the sustainability of commercial aquaculture production. The reason for breakage of ovulation and spawning is failure of the pituitary to release gonadotropin hormones. Gonadotropin hormones secretion is under a dual control, by gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), and inhibition by dopamine on the actions of GnRH. The inhibitory actions of dopamine on GTH secretion can vary in potency between species. In some fish it is necessary to use dopamine blocker, such as domperidone, results in potentiation of the actions of GnRH analoge, leading to a large release of GTH-II and ovulation. In some other injection of a high dose of GnRH analoge alone is effective. In several marine species GTH-II secretion is not under dopaminergic inhibitory control but sensitive to exogenous analoge hormones (GnRHa). In many fishes, synthetic analoges of lutenizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRHa) are widely used for inducing spawning. In several tropical freshwater and marine finfishes the human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), pituitary homogenate and semi-purified fish gonadotropin are used. Rrecently the replacement of natural GnRH are used and had resulted in a centuple increase in the effectiveness of luteinizing hormones secretion induction.

Key words: Reproduction induced spawning, dopamine antagonists, GTH-II- HCG.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (9), pp. 001-014, September, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Review

A review on sweet potato postharvest processing and preservation technology

M. O. Oke* and T. S. Workneh

Bioresources Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Kwazulu Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, Kwazulu Natal, 3209 South Africa.  E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

Accepted 24 July, 2019

Abstract

Sweet potato (SP) is an important root crop grown all over the world and consumed as a vegetable, boiled, baked or often fermented into food and beverages. It could be a very good vehicle for addressing some health related problems and also serve as food security. The research into sweet potato processing has established the fact that there is a lot more in sweet potatoes than its starch. The review has established that the nutritional quality content in sweet potatoes can be enhanced by developing new varieties from available germplasm. Natural colourant and antioxidant present in purple- and red-flesh potatoes can be used for developing functional foods. Available evidence for Africa suggested that postharvest processing and subsequent storage of sweet potatoes need further research to explore the ways by which the new cultivars could be used for industrial and export purposes. Based on the report of the review, study of the combined effects of blanching and/or freezing pre-treatments with higher drying temperatures, determination of moisture diffusivity and activation energy during different drying conditions are recommended for future research.

Key words: Sweetpotato, processing, preservation, storage, postharvest.