International Journal of Agricultural Sciences

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 6 (4), pp. 1011-1015, April, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

Response of crop yields to magnesium fertilization: A meta-analysis in China

Yue-Hong Wang¹, Yu-Jia Li¹, Xin-Hua He^{1, 2}, Md. Rezaul Karim³, Xiao-Jun Shi^{1, 4}, De-Ti Xie¹and Yue-Qiang Zhang^{1, 4*}

¹College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.

²University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.

³EXIM Bank Agricultural University, Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Bangladesh.

⁴National Monitoring Stations of Soil Fertility and Fertilizer Efficiency on Purple Soil, Chongqing 400716, China.

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

Accepted 21 February, 2016

Abstract

Crop magnesium (Mg) deficiency is widespread in global agriculture, but limited assessment is available on how crop yield could respond to Mg fertilization at national or regional scale. This meta-analysis from 196 paired datasets evaluated the different yield responses of 49 crop species under Mg fertilization at the southern and northern region of China where 50% soils were Mg-deficient. The results showed that under Mg fertilization the crop yields were averagely increased by 19.2%, 11.3% and 16.6% in southern China, northern China and the whole country, respectively. Meanwhile, significantly greater yield increment of crop types under Mg fertilization ranked as vegetables (20.1%) ≈ fruits (19.6%) >cereals (6.5%). In conclusion, Mg fertilization is recommended to enhance yield and quality of fruit and vegetable crops in subtropical and tropical China and other similar countries.

Key words: Soil exchangeable magnesium, deficiency, yield increment, soil pH.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 6 (4), pp. 1023-1029, April, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of premix and seaweed additives on productive performance of lactating friesian cows

Bendary M.M.¹, Bassiouni M.I², M.F. Ali², Gaafar H.M.¹ and Shamas A.Sh.¹

¹Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.

²Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 14 January, 2016

Abstract

Eighteen lactating Friesian cows with average body weight of 534.44±13.04 kg, ranging from 450 to 660 kg, average milk production of 12.16±0.10 kg/day, ranging from 9.52 to 14.80 kg/day and average parity of 2.22±0.33; ranging from 1 to 5 were used during the summer season from June to November 2011, for 150 days starting with one week after parturition. Animals were divided into three similar groups with six cows in each group based on body weight, milk production and parity. All animals were fed the basal ration consisted of 40% concentrate feed mixture + 40% corn silage + 20% rice straw (on a DM basis) without additive (control) or with 25 g premix/head/day (premix) or with 50 g seaweed/head/day (seaweed). The seaweed treatment showed significantly (P<0.05) the superior digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, CP, EE and NFE and subsequent nutritive values followed by premix treatment, while the control treatment revealed the lowest digestibility. While, CF digestibility was significantly higher (P<0.05) for seaweed treatment than that of other treatments. Seaweed treatment showed significantly (P<0.05) the highest average daily intake of TDN and DE followed by the premix treatment, while the lowest intake was in control treatment. The highest ruminal pH values was detected with premix treatment followed by seaweed treatment, while the lowest values were observed with control treatment. Seaweed treatment recorded the highest ruminal TVFA's concentration and the lowest NH₃-N concentration followed by premix treatment, while the control had the opposite concentrations. Seaweed treatment revealed significantly (P<0.05) the highest total protein and globulin concentrations followed by premix treatment, while the control treatment had the lowest concentration. Feeding treatments not significantly (P>0.05) affected the concentrations of albumin, creatinine and bilirubin and the activities of AST and ALT in serum. Average daily actual milk yield and the percentages of fat, lactose, SNF, TS and ash were significantly higher (P<0.05) and somatic cell count (SCC) in milk was significantly lower (P<0.05) for premix and seaweed treatments compared to the control treatment. Meantime, seaweed treatment recorded significantly (P<0.05) the highest 4% FCM yield and protein percentage followed by premix treatment, while the control treatment had the lowest values. The amounts of DM and DCP required for producing 1 kg 4% fat corrected milk (FCM) were significantly lower (P<0.05) for premix and seaweed treatments than those of control treatment. While, the amount of TDN and DE required for producing 1 kg 4% FCM were nearly similar for the different treatments. Feed cost (LE/ day) were nearly similar for the different treatments. While, feed cost per one kg 4% FCM was significantly lower (P<0.05), but the total and net revenue were significantly higher (P<0.05) for premix and seaweed treatments compared to control treatment.

Keywords: premix, seaweed, feed intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation, milk yield and composition, feed conversion, economic efficiency.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 6 (3), pp. 984-1000, March, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of the morphocultural and pathogenic variability on wheat cultivars from Argentina

¹Julio Berti Milito*, ²Enrique José Paletta and ²Poppy Diego Lucas

¹Laboratorio de Biología Funcional y Biotecnología (BIOLAB-CEBB-INBA-CONICET)- Facultad de Agronomía de Azul, UNCPBA.

²Cátedra de Microbiología Agrícola, Fac. de Agronomía, UNCPBA.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 11 January, 2016

Abstract

Wheat is presently considered as one of the most important crops world-wide. Among the fungal diseases of this crop, tan spot produced by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis is one of the most important. Tan spot increased its incidence, prevalence and severity in Argentina and South America. The aim of this work was to generate information about the morphocultural and pathogenic variability on wheat cultivars from Argentina. The results showed that isolates of P. tritici-repentis, originated from diverse localities of Argentina differed in their morphocultural characteristics and in their level of severity. The cluster analysis of morphocultural characteristics among 155 isolates of the pathogen defined 44 morphotypes according with the Jaccard’s coefficient (CCC=0.79). Pathogenicity tests determined on a set of eight wheat cultivars under greenhouse conditions showed the presence of physiological specialization in 33 isolates of P. tritici-repentis. The efforts to link morphocultural and pathogenicity features to the geographical origin of the isolates were mostly unsuccessful. The isolates tested appeared in different groups and most of the isolates which shared the highest similarity coefficient were collected from different localities and different wheat cultivars.

Keywords: Morphocultural, pathogenicity, Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, tan spot, variability, wheat.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 6 (3), pp. 963-968, March, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

To determine variability of soil physical and chemical properties of a typical land disposal catfish effluent in South Western Nigeria

¹Omofunmi, O.E and ²A.A. Alli

^1,2Department of Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering, Yaba College of Technology, Yaba- Lagos, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. 08033046416; 08076510369.

Accepted 03 January, 2016

Abstract

Soil physical and chemical characteristics of catfish effluent disposal land at fish farm village in Ikorodu district; Lagos State, Nigeria was investigated. The physical and chemical properties investigated include: textural class, bulk density, water holding capacity, porosity, hydraulic conductivity, organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and potassium. The required physical and chemical properties were measured at various depth ranges from 00cm to 90cm at 30cm intervals and analyzed. Results showed that the soil of the study area belongs to two different textural classes: clay loam and sandy clay loam. The sandy clay loam was dominant with 67% proportion of the prevalent soil textural class in the study area. The means values across the depth 00- 90cm for Bulk density (1.43 ± 0.22) g/cm³, Water holding capacity (25.05±0.65) %, Porosity (36.87 ± 10.55) %,  Hydraulic conductivity (0.22 ±0.14) cm/hr, Organic carbon (0.66 ± 1.55) mg/kg, Nitrogen (24.30 ± 1.50) g/cm³, Phosphorus (6.93 ± 0.20) g/cm³ and Potassium (3.40 ± 0.10) g/cm³ were within the recommended critical values of 1.25 – 1.45 g/cm³, 26.25 – 35.50%, 26.25 – 50.00%, 0.20 – 0.30cm/hr, 5.0 – 7.5, 10 – 12mg/kg, 20 – 30g/cm³, 6.6 – 18.0g/cm3 and 3 – 6g/cm³ respectively for optimum agricultural production. Hence the soil physical and chemical properties obtainable at fish farm village land are suitable for micro irrigation systems (sprinkler and drip) as well as agricultural production.

Key word: Catfish, crop production, effluent, irrigation, soil nutrients, soil physical properties.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2167-0447 Vol. 6 (3), pp. 969-974, March, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of the characteristics of fungus and native olive reaction in Golestan province of Iran

*Nabavi Mostafa, Mohammad Ardakani and Hasan Heidar Arfaa

*Department of Plant Protection, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran.

 *Corresponding author E-mail: nabavi_ mb3 @yahoo.com

Accepted 21 October, 2015

Abstract

Diseased stem and root samples from 20 olive nurseries of Golestan province, northern Iran, Fifty six Macrophomina phaseolina isolates were recovered from different nurseries. The recovered M. phaseolina isolates were characterized for pathogenicity and colony phenotype on PDA and chlorate selective media. Inoculum density for all nurseies varied between 4 and 9 propagules per gram of air-dried soil with average 7.61±0.73. All the recovered isolates were pathogenic to the tested cultivars, Mary, Rooghany and Zard, as incited stem lesions ranged between 6.01 cm and 9.02 cm and plant death percent ranged between 56.7 and 78.6 in the pathogenicity test. One color phenotypes (brown colony color) on PDA and three growth patterns were recognized on chlorate media. Chlorate sensitive isolates divided into two classes. Isolates of the first class grew sparse with a feathery like pattern, being the most frequent (94%), and the secondary had a completely restricted radial growth. All the recovered M. phaseolina isolates tested were pathogenic to the tested olive cultivars (Mary, Rooghany, and Zard). Analysis of variance of the interaction between olive cultivars and isolates of M. phaseolina showed significant (p=0.05) effects of cultivar (Table 1) but nonsignificant effects (p=0.05) for isolate, and cultivar × isolate interactions for the tested parameters. Cultivar × isolate interactions were not important factor in determining the variation in root damage.

Keywords: Macrophomina phaseolina, olive, Iran.