International Journal of Agricultural Sciences

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (8), pp. 001-008, August, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Influence of some chemical compounds as antitranspirant agents on vase life of Monstera deliciosa leaves

Nermeen T. Shanan¹* and Emad A. Shalaby²

¹Department of Ornamental Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt 12613.

²Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt 12613.

Accepted 14 May, 2019

Abstract

This study was designed to determine the influence of anti-transpiration agents, MgCO₃, Na₂CO₃ and glycerol, at four concentrations (2, 4, 6 and 8 %) on prolonging vase life of Monstera deliciosa cut leaves. For this purpose, two experiments were performed, through seasons 2008 and 2009. Each treatment sprayed three times 2, 4 and 6 days after cutting leaves. The results significantly revealed that glycerol at 2 or 4% extended vase life of M. deliciosa cut leaves by 7-folds of the control (7 days) and better than the other treatments. Also, glycerol treatment at the mentioned concentrations showed the lowest leaf weight reduction rate, as well as water loss rate, which obviously reflected on extending leaf vase life. The response of glycerol on prolonging leaf vase life was accompanied by a decrease in the degradation of pigments and protein as well as decrease the percentage of defense enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) and this correlated with decreasing leaf water loss.

Key words: Monstera deliciosa, anti-transpirants vase life, enzyme.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (8), pp. 001-005, August, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

An invasive alien weed giant sensitive plant (Mimosa diplotricha Sauvalle) invading Southwestern Ethiopia

Mulatu Wakjira

Department of Horticulture and Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, P. O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia.E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +251 (0) 471110102. Fax: +251 (0) 471110934.

Accepted 18 March, 2019

Abstract

An assessment was carried out on the highway from Jimma to Addis Ababa in November 2009 to investigate the incidence and distribution of Mimosa diplotricha. This assessment revealed the occurrence of the weed M. diplotricha on the road sides from Jimma to Wolisso town. The roadsides from Beda Buna, near Jimma town, to Assendabo were seriously invaded whereas patches were observed from Asendabo to Wolisso. The farmers indicated that the weed has invaded the area for the last three to five years and confirmed that the spread of the weed was associated with the road construction from Addis Ababa to Jimma and the allied movement of soils and heavy machineries and vehicles. The literature study confirmed that the weed was known in many parts of the world as an invasive weed. In Ethiopia, there are evidences that indicate the presence of the plant in Southwestern Ethiopia for more than 20 years with the name Mimosa invisa. Mechanical, chemical and biological control methods were attempted in different countries with varying degrees of success. An integrated control method with land management practices has been suggested as the most effective. Though some farmers around Jimma started controlling the plant thicket by burning, no other control method was attempted. To this end, a country-wide survey was suggested on distribution and impacts of the weed and investigations on its biology, ecology, mechanisms of invasion success and its management.

Key words: Giant sensitive plant, invasive alien weed, Mimosa diplotricha.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (8), pp. 001-007, August, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Nutritional efficiency of selected silkworm breeds of Bombyx mori L. reared on different varieties of mulberry under temperate climate of Kashmir

Awquib Sabhat, M. A. Malik*, Firdose Ahmad Malik, A. M. Sofi and M. R. Mir

Division of Sericulture, Sher- e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Mirgund- Post Box No. 674, G. P. O. Srinagar 190 001 (Jammu and Kashmir) India.

Accepted 22 April, 2019

Abstract

Three silkworm breeds namely, SK1, SH6 and NB4D2 were reared on three different mulberry varieties such as Ichinose, Kokuso -20 and Goshoerami under temperate climates of Kashmir to find out the combined effect of the leaf quality and rearing season. The nutritional parameters such as leaf ingested, leaf digested, efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI) and efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD) into body matter, approximate digestibility (AD), growth rate (GR), consumption index (CI) and coefficient of metabolism (COM) were studied. During spring, the dry matter ingestion and digestion was significantly higher in silkworm races fed with Goshoerami variety in addition to better efficiency of conversion of ingested and digested food into body substance. The bivoltine breeds of NB4D2 and SK1 were the better converters of ingested as well as digested food into body biomass. Seasons also significantly affected the efficiency of conversion of ingested and digested food irrespective of the varieties. Goshoerami was qualified as the best suited host plant for bivoltine silkworm breeds in all the seasons.

Key words: Silkworm, Bombyx mori, mulberry, nutritional efficiency, temperate climate.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (7), pp. 001-006, July, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Potential use of green manure legume cover crops in smallholder maize production systems in Limpopo province, South Africa

Jude J. O. Odhiambo

Department of Soil Science, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +27 15 962 8431. Fax: +27 15 962 4749/8598.

Accepted 12 April, 2019

Abstract

Much of the smallholder farming sector in Limpopo province of South Africa is located on infertile degraded soils, with nitrogen being one of the predominantly deficient nutrient. The use of green manure legume cover crops in combination with Nitrogen (N) fertilizers is one option for improving N inputs into such farming systems. The objectives of this study were to (1) screen a number of green manure legume cover crop species, mucuna (Mucuna pruriens); sunhemp (Crotalaria juncea), lab- lab (Lablab purpureus); cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea) in order to determine their suitability for the region and (2) to determine the effect of the green manure and nitrogen fertilizer on maize yield. The legumes were screened during the winter seasons of 2005 and 2006 and the summer seasons of 2005 - 2006 and 2006 - 2007. The best-bet legumes (mucuna, sunhemp and lab-lab) were then evaluated to determine their effect on maize grain yield with or without nitrogen fertilizer. The treatments imposed were mucuna, sunhemp, lab-lab, and a control with (75 kg N ha^-1) or without (0 kg N ha^-1) N fertilizer. Maize was harvested at maturity to determine the grain yield. In the screening trials, legume biomass yield ranged between 41 to 1,672 kg ha^-1, while the N content ranged between 2 to 58 kg N ha^-1 in the winter trials. In the summer trials, biomass yield ranged from 899 to 13,586 kg ha^-1, while the N content ranged between 27 to 302 kg N ha^-1. Maize yield ranged between 4.0 to 6.4 tons ha^-1 in the 2006 - 2007 seasons and between 5.8 to 8.4 tons ha^-1 in the 2007- 2008 season. Control (-N) treatment had the lowest yield in both seasons. Overall, legume treatments, with or without N fertilizers produced between 19 to 58% more grain yield than control (-N). Of the green manure legumes screened, mucuna, lablab and sunhemp seem to be the most suitable green manure legume cover crops for this area and should be planted in the early summer season to maximize biomass production and N accumulation. Use of green manure legumes has the potential to increase maize yield in smallholder farms in Limpopo province.

Key words: Green manure legumes, maize, N fertilizer, smallholder farms.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (7), pp. 001-005, July, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Mineralization of nitrogen from ¹⁵N labeled crop residues at varying temperature and clay content

M. De. Roy^1,2*, P. K. Chhonkar¹ and A. Patra¹

¹Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi–12, India.

²STL, Pulses and Oilseed Research Station, Berhampore, West Bengal.

Accepted 24 March, 2019

Abstract

A laboratory incubation experiment was carried out for 85 days to monitor the N mineralization during the decomposition of ¹⁵N labeled wheat and rice straws incorporated at 5 g kg^-1 soil at varying temperatures and with soils of varying clay content. Results have shown that N mineralization surpass immobilization 40th day onwards. Irrespective of temperature and clay content, mineralization of rice residue N was found to be significantly higher than that of wheat residue throughout the incubation period. Increasing temperature and clay content both had positive effect on residue N mineralization. At 85th day after incubation N mineralization from the residues was found to be 13 - 14%. Clay content, temperature, composition of the residues are important factors controlling plant residues decomposition under laboratory conditions.

Key words: Rice and wheat residues, straw, N-mineralization, immobilization.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 9 (7), pp. 001-005, July, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Phytochemical characterization of the extracts of Aframomum danielli flower, leaf, stem and root

M. O. Afolabi¹*, G. O. Adegoke¹ and Mathooko, F. M.²

¹Department of Food Technology University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

²Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture and Technology, Jomokenyatta, P. O. Box 62000, Nairobi 00200, Kenya.

Accepted 21 April, 2019

Abstract

Phytochemical screening of methanol extracts of the leaves, flowers, stems and roots of Aframomum danielli revealed the presence of alkaloids, cardenolides, flavonoids and polyphenols. Fractions from the extracts were tested for antioxidant activities and lipoxygenase enzyme inhibition. Flower fraction FF5 and leaf fraction LF4, which were the most potent fractions, gave antioxidant effectiveness values of 85.32 ± 0.27 and 53.92 ± 0.03%, respectively on 1,1, diphenyl 1,2 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals at a level of 750 µg/ml. The lipoxygenase enzyme inhibition at 750 µg/ml was 87.11 ± 5.13% (FF5) and 82.55 ± 2.62% (LF4). All fractions inhibited Bacillus subtilis, staphylococcus aureaus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteriditis, Candida albicans and Aspergillus flavus.

Key words: Phytochemical, Aframomum danielli, leaf, flower, stem, root, characterization.