International Journal of Agricultural Sciences

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 2 (3), pp.113- 115, March, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of germination media and seed size on germination and seedling vigour of fluted pumpkin (Telferia occidentalis) Hook. F

Ndor, E.¹*, Dauda, N. S.², and Chammang, H.B³

¹Department of Crop Production Tech., College of Agriculture, Lafia. Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

²Department of Horticulture and Landscape Tech., College of Agriculture, Lafia. Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

³Department of Basic Science, College of Agriculture, Lafia. Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

Corresponding Author’s E-mail: [email protected]

Received December 18, 2011; Accepted March 22, 2012

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted in the green house at the College of Agriculture Lafia, located between lat.08.33N and long. 08.32E, to determine the effects of different germination media and seed sizes on germination and seedling vigour of fluted pumpkin (Telferia occidentalis). The treatments consisted of four (4) germination media (wood shaven, sawdust, river sand, and topsoil) and two seed sizes (small sizes: 20-24 cm and big sizes: 25-30 cm, diameter) forming eight treatments which were laid in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and replicated three times. The result showed that River sand has the shortest number of 10.17days to germination which is statistically the same with sawdust and topsoil that germinated at 10.67days and 10.67days respectively. However, wood shaven recorded a significantly longer period of 12.67days to germination. A significant difference was observed on the seed sizes, the smaller seeds germinated earlier (10.75 days) than the bigger seeds that germinated at 11.33 days latter. Sawdust significantly produced the best seedling vigour index of 340.37 which is statistically different from the other germination media. However, wood shaven produced seedlings with low vigour index of 162.18. On the other hand, the bigger seed statistically produced seedling of very high vigour index of 320.35  compare to the small seeds which produce seedling that have low vigour index of 301.38.

Key words: Germination, germination media, seed sizes, seedling vigour, fluted pumpkin.  

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 2 (2), pp. 100- 108, February, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

 
Socio-economic, food and nutrient intake factors and nutritional status indicators associated with successful Livestock Development Programmes in Western Kenya

Mary Khakoni Walingo

Maseno UniversityBox 333, Maseno, Kenya

Corresponding Author's E-mail: [email protected] and [email protected]

Received December 12, 2011; Accepted February 22, 2012

Abstract

Livestock projects were established to improve household food security and the nutritional status of household members by increasing the consumption of dairy products. Dairy farming dominates the livestock contribution to household economies and is one of the highest deliverer of the per capita milk availability in sub-Saharan Africa. Effort was been made to identify factors that associated with the success of dairy programmes by comparing beneficiary and non-beneficiary households of a dairy project on selected household variables in Kenya. Successful dairying was associated with increased; expenditure of time and income expended in the dairy enterprise, on veterinary services, and in knowledge on dairy management; increased consumption of milk and milk products and green leafy vegetables; increased intake of protein, vitamin A. The identification of household factors that were improved by dairy projects had promising returns for sustainable dairying, improved food and nutrient intake in households, and nutritional status of women and their preschool children. Inclusion of livestock as a policy issue in national goals and objectives could result in improved nutritional status and improved living standards.

Key Words: Livestock, dairy project, food and nutrient intake, women, preschool children, Western Kenya.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 2 (1), pp. 090-093, January, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A survey of insect pests of pigeonpea and their predators in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India

Marimuthu Ramar¹, Siva Kamalakannan² and Anto Claver¹

¹Department of Zoology, St. Andrew’s College, Gorakhpur 273 001, India.

²Division of Entomology, Department of Zoology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India

*Corresponding Author’s E-mail: [email protected]

Received 24 January, 2012; Accepted 27 February 2012

Abstract

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) is an important crop in semi-arid tropical and subtropical farming systems, providing high quality vegetable protein, animal feed, and firewood. Insect pests feeding on flowers, pods, and seeds are the most important biotic constraint affecting pigeonpea yields. Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) is an important crop in semi-arid tropical and subtropical farming systems, providing high quality vegetable protein, animal feed and firewood. Insect pests feeding on flowers, pods, and seeds are the most important biotic constraint affecting pigeonpea yields. This study summarizes the biology and ecology of the three most important groups of pests: flower- and pod-feeding Lepidoptera, pod-sucking Hemiptera, and seed-feeding Diptera and Hymenoptera. Recent research investigating the complex interactions among pigeonpea, its key pests, and their natural enemies is also studied. These relationships have implications on the pest status of individual species and on possible control strategies.

Key words: pigeonpea, Cajanus cajan, Pest, Natural Enemies 

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 2 (1), pp.094-099,February, 2012.  © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Identification and pathogenicity of phytopathogenic bacteria associated with soft rot disease of girasole tuber in Egypt

Ismail M E¹, Abdel-Monaim  M F²  and Mostafa Y M³

¹⁾ Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, El-Minia University, Minia, Egypt

²⁾  Plant Pathology Research Institute, Agric. Res. Center, Giza, Egypt

³⁾ Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, El-Minia University, Minia, Egypt

Corresponding author’s Email: [email protected]

Received December 17, 2011; Accepted February 02, 2012

Abstract

Six bacterial isolates were isolated from naturally infected tubers of girasole plants (Helianthus tuberosus L.) cv. Balady showing soft rot collected from experimental Farm of Fac. of Agric., Dept., Horticulture in El-Minia Univ. during 2010 and 2011 growing seasons.  Pathogenicity tests showed various virulence for the isolated bacteria toward girasole tubers found pathogenic and were characterized as rod-shaped, Gram negative, α-methyl-d-glucoside medium, reducing substances from sucrose, phos, phatase activity and deep cavities on pectate medium. Otherwise, diagnostic tests suggested that the pathogen was Erwinia carotovora sub sp. carotovora. The isolated bacterial caused soft rot of wounded tubers when inoculated into tissues. The bacterial isolates were compared for their degree of pathogenicity as well as for differences in the specific symptoms induced in the different hosts. The tested isolates could infect several host range such as fruits of apricot, apple, olive, lemon, squash, eggplant and potato tubers and cloves of bulbs and garlic and onion, root of radish, carrot, sweet potato and rape were infected by the tested isolates. On the other hand, no symptoms were exhibited on pods of bean and cowpea, faba bean, fruits of pepper and tomato. The extracts of experimentally diseased girasole tubers were active in pectinase at pH 6 and also caboxymethyl cellulose on pH 6 compared to enzyme activities in healthy tissues. Also, the bacterial isolated increased the total and reducing sugars in infected than healthy tissues.

Keywords: Girasole, Erwinia carotovora sub sp. carotovora, pectinase and caboxymethyl cellulose, total and reducing sugars

Full Length Research Paper

Physicochemical and Organoleptic Assessment of Patties from Beef and Antelope Meat

*Apata¹, E.S;¹ Eniolorunda, O.O; ¹Ayantuga, D.T; ²Apata, O.C. and ³Okubanjo, A.O. 

¹ Meat Science Laboratory; Department of Animal Production,

²Department of Home and Hotel Management, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Yewa Campus,  P.M.B 0012, Ayetoro, Ogun State, Nigeria.

³.Department of Agriculture and Industrial Technology, Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria.

⁴National Productivity Centre, Sokoto,  Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author’s E-mail: [email protected]

Received December 9, 2011; Accepted December 27, 2011

Abstract 

A study was carried out to assess the physicochemical and sensory properties of patties from beef and antelope meat. Fresh 3kg each of beef and antelope meat were purchased and chilled at 4⁰C for 24 hours. They were thawed and ground, 2.3kg of each meat type was divided into five portions of 0,25, 50, 75 and 100% after mixing the two meat types into 0g, 115g, 230g, 345g and 460g of antelope meat. The meat patties were broiled and cooled to room temperature. The weight, thickness, diameter, cooked, patties stability, colour change, shear force, pH, water holding capacity, proximate composition and sensory attributes of the patties were determined. The results showed that physical, chemical and sensory attributes were higher (P<0.05) in patties with high level of antelope meat inclusion. Also, patties with low levels of antelope meat inclusion were preferred more (P<0.05) than those with high levels of antelope meat inclusion. The results revealed further that antelope meat inclusion between 25% and 50% was sufficient to provide the varieties the consumers need in meat patties from beef and antelope meat. It is suggested therefore, that antelope meat inclusion in meat patties be limited to those two levels for consumers’ maximum consumption of patties from beef and antelope meat.

Keyword: Beef, Antelope meat, Patties, Physicochemical, Organoleptic.

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol. 2  (1), pp. 081-086,  January 2012, ISSN: 2167-0447 ©2012 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Study on the dry matter components of two cucumber varieties using farm yard manure 

Eifediyi E. K, S. U. Remison and V. B. Okaka

Department of Crop Science, Ambrose Alli University, P. M.B. 14, Ekpoma, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author's E-mail: kevineifediyi@ yahoo.com

Received December 14, 2011; Accepted January, 24, 2012

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted  at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria  Lat 6^o 45¹ N and Long 6^o 08¹E. during the 2008 planting season to evaluate the effects of farmyard manure on the dry matter content of two cucumber varieties (Ashley and Palmetto).The farmyard manure was applied at the rates of 0, 5 and 10t/ha two weeks before the commencement of the experiment to the plots and worked into the soil using hoes The experiment was laid out in 2 x 3 factorial scheme fitted into a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Data were collected on vegetative traits – vine length, number of leaves, leaf area and number of branches; dry matter weight – leaf, stem, fruits and total dry matter and yield characters – fruit length and fruit girth, fruit number per plant, fruit weight per plant and yield per hectare. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out by using Genstat  version 12 soft ware.  The result of the study showed that increasing the farmyard rates led to an increase in the dry matter weights of the two varieties of cucumber. Farmyard manure at 10t/ha increased the dry matter content of cucumber. Palmetto was however more responsive to FYM application, with the rate of 10t/ha out yielding the control by 60% in contrast to Ashley, in which 10t/ha of FYM out yielded the control by only 30 %.

Keywords:  Farmyard manure, two cucumber varieties, dry matter accumulation and yield.