International Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol. 7 (3), pp. 1287-1291, March, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study on the effects of genetic parameters on the genetic improvement of Lohi sheep in Pakistan

Muzaffar Tahir-ul-Qadri, Abdus F. salam and Mujahid Ahmad

Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.

Accepted 4 January, 2015

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

The aims of the study were to investigate the fixed effects which are considered to influence ewe productivity and to estimate the genetic parameters for ewe productivity traits of Lohi sheep. Genetic parameters were estimated by restricted maximum likelihood (REML) procedure using the GENSTAT program. The effects of year and age of ewe were significant for fertility, litter size at birth (LSB), litter size at weaning (LSW), litter weight at birth (LWB) and litter weight at weaning (LWW). The least squares means of fertility, LSB, LSW, LWB and LWW were 0.904, 1.422, 1.358, 6.689 kg and 41.577 kg, respectively. The means of total number of lambs born (TLB), total number of lambs weaned (TLW), total birth weight of lambs (TWB) and total weight of lambs weaned (TWW) per ewe over four lambing opportunities were 5.48, 5.25, 25.61 kg and 162.47 kg, respectively. Estimates of heritability for fertility, LSB, LSW, LWB and LWW were 0.0250, 0.0533, 0.0430, 0.0462 and 0.0255, respectively; and estimates of repeatability for these traits were 0.1242, 0.0787, 0.0772, 0.0882 and 0.0715, respectively. The low estimates of heritability and repeatability obtained in the current study for ewe productivity traits indicate that selection based on the ewe's own performance may result in slow genetic improvement.

Key words: Genetic parameter, litter size, ewe productivity.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 7 (3), pp. 1282-1286, March, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Standardization of date of sowing and stage of pinching on fenugreek yield and quality parameters

¹Bali Singh*, ²Kumar Nanavati, ³ Sirpurkar W.M and ⁴Nanavati V.S

¹Department of Plantation, Spices, Medicinal and Aromatic Crops, K.N.K. College of Horticulture, Mandsaur - 458 001, R.V.S.K.V.V, Gwalior (M.P.),

²Department of Horticulture, Karnataka, RVSKVV, Gwalior,

³Department of Plantation and Spice crops, College of Horticulture, Mandsaur, RVSKVV, Gwalior,

⁴Department of Agronomy, KVK, College of Horticulture, Mandsaur, RVSKVV, Gwalior.

E-mail: [email protected]

Received 21 December, 2016; Revised 24 February, 2017; Accepted 05 March, 2017; Published 09 March,  2017.

Abstract

A field experiment entitled by “standardization of date of sowing and stage of pinching on Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum- graecum L.) Yield and Quality Parameters” was conducted during kharif 2015 at College of Horticulture, Mandsaur. The experiment consists of 4 different dates of sowing and 3 stages of pinching at different intervals. These treatments were evaluated under split plot design with three replications. Among various dates of sowing D₂ (10^th October) treatment exhibited significantly higher number of pods plant^-1, length of pod (cm), weight of pod (mg), number of seeds pod^-1, weight of seeds pod ^-1 (mg),  thousand seed weight (g), seed yield (q ha^-1), straw yield (q ha^-1),  biological yield (q ha^-1), harvest index (%), SPAD value, germination percentage of seeds, seedling vigour index, and protein (%) comparison to D₁, D₃ and D_4. Among the various Pinching stages, P₃ exhibited maximum number of pods plant^-1, length of pod (cm), weight of pod (mg), number of seeds pod^-1, weight of seeds pod ^-1 (mg),  thousand seed weight (g), seed yield (q ha^-1), straw yield (q ha^-1),  biological yield (q ha^-1), harvest index (%), germination percentage, seedling vigour index and protein (%) in comparison to other Pinching stages. On the basis of one year research it could be concluded that the yield and quality of fenugreek crop can be increased by sowing on 10^th October with the pinching at 35 DAS.

Keywords: Fenugreek, flowering, date of sowing, pinching, yield, quality.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 7 (3), pp. 1271-1281, March, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of cropping system on soil moisture content, canopy temperature, growth and yield performance of maize and cowpea

¹Ndiso J. B., ²Chemining’wa G. N., ²Olubayo F. M. and ¹Saha H. M.

¹Department of Crop Sciences, Pwani University, P.O.Box 195 – 80108, Kilifi, Kenya.,

²Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Nairobi, P.O.Box 30197 00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya.

E-mail:    [email protected]

Received 10 October, 2016; Revised 25 October, 2016; Accepted 03 February, 2017 and Published 08 March, 2017

Abstract

An experiment was carried out at Pwani University and Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization-Mtwapa to determine the effects of intercropping on soil moisture, canopy temperature and yield performance of maize-cowpea intercrops in the coastal lowland of Kenya in 2011 and 2012. Randomized complete block design with a factorial arrangement of treatments used and replicated thrice. Data collected included: soil moisture content, canopy temperature, weed biomass, chlorophyll content, percent ground cover, leaf number, plant height, grain weight and grain yield for both maize and cowpea. Cowpea root nodule number, number of pods per plant, number of grains per pod and maize ears per plant and stover yield. Data collected were analyzed using the general linear model (GLM) procedure for analysis of variance using SAS statistical package and means separated using least significant difference (LSD) test at p = 0.05. Sole cowpea and maize-cowpea intercrop had higher moisture content than sole maize plots. Intercropping reduced chlorophyll content, weed biomass, growth attributes, yield and yield components of maize and cowpea, but increased canopy temperature and cowpea nodule numbers. Land equivalent ratios for Lamu-cowpea and DH04-cowpea intercrops were 1.23 and 1.49, respectively. Intercropping enhanced moisture retention and was more productive than sole cropping.

Keywords: Cowpeas, growth, maize, intercropping, yield

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 7 (3), pp. 1265-1270, March, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Manpower requirements for various sections in Agricultural science universities library

Panavar F. Ranvid¹* Ahdeji Vijay Khan and kumar Singh Praveen²

¹Kuvempu University Library, Jnana Sahyadri, Shankarghatta, Shimoga: 577 451, Karnataka, India.

²Gulbarga University, Gulbarga: 585 106, India.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 10 February, 2017

Abstract

Manpower is an important resource in every organization. Inadequate manpower in organizations affects the functions and services in libraries adversely. As such, manpower planning is needed to know about the staff pattern, functions of the organizations, job analysis, effective providing of library services, etc. The present study identified the manpower working and manpower requirements in the Agricultural Science University Libraries in India. The paper concluded with the remarks as all the libraries are working without adequate managerial and supervisory staff, there is need to recruit these staff, other wise the functions and services of the agricultural science universities will get affected adversely.

Key words: Agricultural science university libraries, manpower planning, India

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 7 (2), pp. 1258-1264, February, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Level of retention of Agricultural Science knowledge in secondary schools students in Nigeria

Abdulahi Lawal Musa

Vocational and Technology Education Programme, School of Technology Education, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, P. M. B. 0248, Bauchi, Nigeria.

Email: [email protected]

Accepted 15 January, 2017

Abstract

This study determined the effect of two teaching methods (demonstration and discussion) on student’s retention of Agricultural Science knowledge in secondary schools of Bauchi metropolis. The study was guided by two research questions based on the specific objectives and three null hypotheses, tested at 0.05 level of significance. The pretest-posttest control group quasi-experimental design was employed. All the students from three intact SS II classes were used; one class each from three randomly selected schools. A 20 item multiple choice achievement test was administered to the two treatment groups before and after the treatment and the scores so obtained were analyzed by mean, standard deviation and t-test. The findings revealed that both the two teaching methods have significant effect on student’s retention of Agricultural Science knowledge. Demonstration method was found to be more effective in making the students to remember Agricultural Science knowledge. It was therefore recommended that the demonstration method be used with confidence to teach Agriculture Science in Bauchi State secondary schools.

Key words: Teaching methods, student’s retention, Agricultural Science, secondary schools.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 7 (2), pp. 1248-1257, February, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effects of variety and insecticide spray application on pest damage and yield of cowpea

¹Ndiso J. B., ²Chemining’wa G. N., ²Olubayo F. M. and ¹Saha H. M.

¹Department of Crop Sciences, Pwani University, P.O.Box 195 – 80108, Kilifi, Kenya,

²Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Nairobi, P.O.Box 30197 00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya. 

Received 05 October, 2016; Revised 28 January, 2017; Accepted 03 February, 2017 and Published 27 February, 2017

Abstract

Experiment was conducted at Pwani University farm under irrigation to evaluate the effects of variety and insecticide spray application on pest damage and yield of cowpea. Randomized complete block design with a split plot arrangement was used and replicated thrice. Main plots were two pest management levels while the sub-plots included cowpea varieties. Data collected included: insect pest damage at pre-flowering, flowering, podding and maturity stages, number of pods per plant, number of grains per pod, 100-grain weight and grain yield. Data subjected to analysis of variance using the SAS statistical package. Insecticide application reduced pest damage at pre-flowering, flowering and podding by 23.5%, 20.6% and 52.3%, respectively. Pod borer damage was 49.9% lower in sprayed than unsprayed plots. Insecticide application significantly increased cowpea grain yield, with the increase ranging from 11.6% in Nyekundu to 662.5% in Macho. Varieties such as KVU 419, Macho, Kaima koko and Nyeupe had lower pod borer damage than K80, Mwandato and Nyekundu which had the highest damage under no insecticide spray. All cowpea varieties were similarly affected by insect pests, indicating that application of insecticide is necessary for sustainable cowpea production. Insecticide spray at podding stage is more critical than at pre-flowering and flowering stages.

Keywords: Cowpea, insecticide, pest, spray, varieties.