International Journal of Agricultural Sciences

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 3 (3), pp.445-449, March, 2013. © International Scholars Journals
 

Full Length Research Paper

Gender differential in yam production in Ogbomoso Agricultural Zone of Oyo State: Data envelopment analysis

Ogunniyi, L.T., Adepoju, A.A., Olagunju, F.I., Ojedokun, I.K. And Ganiyu, M.O

Department of Agricultural Economics Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso,  Oyo State, Nigeria.

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

Accepted 02 February, 2013

Abstract

Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is a non parametric method of measuring the efficiency of a decision making unit (DMU), first introduced into Operations Research literature by Charnes et al., 1978. This study used primary data with the aid of structured questionnaire to elicit information on relevant variables such as the inputs and output and their prices. Data envelopment analysis was used to measure the profit efficiency while ordinary least square (OLS) was then used to determine producer characteristics that are likely to lead to higher profit efficiencies and findings compared on the gender basis. The average profit efficiency score was 0.20 and 0.16 for male and female farmers respectively implying that the average male and female farmers producing 20 and 16% of yam could improve profit by 80 and 84% respectively by improving their technical and allocative efficiency. Estimation of profit – loss given prices and fixed factor endowments revealed that yam farmers are losing to the tune of N33, 811.69k, N 35,341.88k and N 39,086.66k for male, female and pooled data respectively. The determinants of profit loss were examined and significance evidence was found that education, experience, farm size and extension visit determined the variation in profit loss among yam farmers in the study area.

Key word: Yam, DEA, Gender, Profit efficiency, Profit loss. 

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 3 (3), pp.439-444, March, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Rapid agro-waste composting with biogeyser as a by product

¹Haider Khan, Z. Ali, F. Azam, and Mukhtiar Ali

¹Nuclear Institute for Food & Agriculture (NIFA) Tarnab, Peshawar, Pakistan

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

Accepted 21 February, 2013

Abstract

Agro-waste material like crop residues of maize, chickpea, sorghum/barley, mustards, mungbean, sesbania, autumn leaves lawn clippings, and pruned products of trees and field weeds have been chopped and mixed in layers in a pit, pile and above the ground single /multi-bin composters. Garden soil or liquid culture of some selective compost activating fungi (Trichoderma harzianum) has been sprayed upon the composting feed as inoculums for rapid composting. The composting material was maintained regularly by periodic forking (fortnightly) and water application to maintain the moisture level of the composting feed at 40%.Temperature of the composting material was regularly monitored with the help of compost thermometer. Compost samples were collected for different analysis including moisture, total carbon, organic carbon, total N, inorganic N, organic N, phosphorus, potash, trace elements and humates content. The prepared compost is being evaluated for its effect on the yield and quality parameters of vegetables (Tomato, Potato, Gobi, Vegetable pea, Onion and Shamla merch), ornamental plants (Araucaria & Palm) and Peach nursery. These studies revealed that 1 % compost application significantly enhanced the yield and quality of all the tested vegetables. Compost applied up to 5% significantly increased the growth parameters of the ornamental plants. During composting of agricultural wastes, a sizeable heat was generated which reached as high as 90^oC within 4-5 days. This heat was utilized for heating of water and such type of energy free facility by the microbial degradation of agricultural waste was termed as a Bio-geyser. This kind of bio-geyser is environment friendly, and provides hot water in winter and also produce quality compost, a slow release organic fertilizer for nurseries and horticultural crops. On experimental basis, a pilot scale modest bio-geyser facility adjacent to NIFA mosque that uses lignocelluloses and an assortment of effective microorganisms has been established. The facility is providing 1000 liters warm water (40-50^oC) to100-150 persons per day for ablution. Since it will be the first ever bio-geyser constructed in the country, therefore, NIFA plans to patent this technology.

Key words: Agro-waste, composting feed, microbial degradation, forking, C/N ratio, Bio-geyser.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 3 (1), pp. 455-458, March, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper
 
Survey on screening resistance resources in some chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes against gram pod borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner)(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) pest
 
Muhammad Sarwar
 
Nuclear Institute of Agriculture (NIA), Tandojam-70060, Pakistan. E-mail: [email protected].
 
Accepted 24 December, 2012

Abstract
 
These efforts examined sources of resistance in some chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes to its foremost insect pest gram pod borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner). The susceptibility of 23 chickpea genotypes was checked at the farm conditions. Overall, pod borers infestation throughout cropping season remained variable on different genotypes. A peak pest population density and its damage, and reduction in grain yield and its quality occurred in CM-1594/01 genotype. At the same environmental conditions, decreased pest population and peak yield were observed in genotype CH-31/99. This was definitely due to occurrence of variable genetic potential of resistant or susceptible genotypes towards pest tolerance and yield enhancement. For that reason, genotype CH-31/99 may be used as resistant donor in the genetically crossing program to evolve pod borer resistant/ tolerant varieties of chickpea. Hence, host plant resistance could be considered as the most sustainable approach to reduce losses due to insect pests.
 
Key words: Resistance, Helicoverpa, pod borer, chickpea, Cicer arietinum.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 3 (2), pp. 435-438, February, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Mulching and field burning influence on soil seedbank and wheat crop performance in rainfed conditions

Fathi Abdulkareem Omer*, Dilsouz Noori Abbas, and Nahla Mohammed Saleem

Field Crops Department, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry University of Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

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

Received 04 January, 2013; Accepted 28 February, 2013

Abstract

Increasing yield per unit area with maintaining soil properties and preserving the ecosystem at the same time is the chief concern for agronomists all over the world. Field burning along with the history was considered a cheaper tool which is still use by most farmers for weed control in open fields. A study was therefore applied to investigate the effect of mulcher (subsurface tillage) and field burning on soil seedbank, soil properties, and performance of subsequent wheat crop under rainfed conditions of Duhok region. This study was conducted at the faculty of Agriculture and Forestry/University of Duhok during 2011-2012 growing season. The results indicated that both soil seedbank and field weed population were significantly increased by mulcher and decreased when the field was burnt in the summer; meanwhile, some soil properties such as balk density and porosity were improved by mulcher and were not or slightly affected by field burning. As for wheat growth and yield, excluding the number of tillers per plant (2.34) in field burning treatment, all other traits were not affected significantly by the factors under the study.

Key words: Mulcher, field burning, Seedbank, Wheat, Rainfed.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 3 (2), pp. 428-434, February, 2013.  © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The effects of manure application and branch management methods on some agroecological aspects of summer squash (Cucurbitapepo L.) in a low input cropping system

Mohsen Jahan, Alireza Koocheki, Reza Ghorbani*, Mehdi Nassiri and Mohammad. D. Salari

Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Division of Agroecology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, P. O. Box: 91775-1163, Mashhad, Iran.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Fax: +98 511 878 7430.

Received 06 July, 2012; Accepted 09 February, 2013

Abstract

Squash (Cucurbitapepo L.) is an important oil seed and medicinal plant which produces unsaturated fatty acids, cosmetic medicine and health products. In order to study the effects of different cattle manure levels and branch management methods on organic production of Summer squash, two field experiments were conducted during years 2005 and 2006. Treatments consisted of four manure levels (10, 15, 20, 25 t ha^-1) and two branch management methods (with and without wood pole), which were allocated to main plots and subplots, respectively. Results showed that branch management method without wood pole was more efficient than with wood pole. Increasing manure level had significant effect on fruit and seed yields; however, these traits were not significantly affected by manure levels residual effect at the second year. There were no differences in the number of seeds per plant due to manure levels in either year. Seed oil content slightly increased when manure level increased from 10 to 25 t ha^-1. This researchindicated that application of 20 t ha^-1 cattle manure with no-chemical fertilizer is an appropriate method for organic production of Summer squash which produce greater yield with high seed oil contents.

Key words: Pumpkin, Schneider squash, manure, seed oil, yield, organic production.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 3 (2), pp. 419-427, February, 2012. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper

Analysis of occupational diversification among rural women in Anambra State, Nigeria

Ajani E. N.  and Igbokwe E. M.

Department of Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.

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

Received 09 July, 2012; Accepted 19 February, 2013

Abstract

The study examined determinants of occupational diversification among rural women in Anambra State, Nigeria. Interview schedule was used to collect data from a sample of four hundred and sixty-two rural women. Data were analysed using percentage, mean score, standard deviation and factor analysis. The duration of the study was between August 2010 and June 2011. Results of the study indicated that the major reasons for occupational diversification were assurance of household food security (M= 3.8), generate additional income (M= 3.8), control of available additional income (M=3.7), reduction of poverty and vulnerability (M= 3.6) and so forth. The study recommends that appropriate measures should be put in place by the federal, state and local government councils in order to ensure adequate training opportunities of rural women on skill acquisitions for greater involvement in occupational diversification.

Key words: Occupational diversification, rural women, Anambra State, Nigeria.