International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 7 (10), pp. 001-010, October, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium on farm plantations of various agroeclogical zones of Punjab, Pakistan

Syed Muhammad Akmal Rahim¹*, Shahida Hasnain² and Jabeen Farkhanda³

¹Punjab Forest Department, Pakistan.

²Departments of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Punjab, Pakistan.

³Department of Botany, University of the Punjab Lahore, Pakistan.

Accepted 15 April, 2019

Abstract

The immense impact of trees in the development of a country cannot be denied and over-emphasized. Pakistan has a narrow forest resource base extending over only about 4.8% (4.59% excluding farmland plantations) of its area, which is insufficient to provide the material needs for the growing population, expanding and to retard and arrest the ongoing environmental and ecological degradation process. Based on physiographic, climate and ecology, Pakistan is divided into nine major ecological or vegetative zones, which are further sub-divided into 18 habitat types, an arrangement for the development of protected areas system in terms of representative ecotypes. During the survey of farm plantations, about 400 soil samples were collected and their physical and chemical analysis was conducted for the comparison of the four agro ecological zones of the Punjab Province of Pakistan with regards to agroforestry. A comparison of the characteristics of soils taken from various farm plantations necessitated a prior evaluation of their calcium magnesium, sodium and potassium in order to ascertain whether the soils were similar or not. In case of agroforestry, the type of soil is one of the major factors for the classification of different suitable species of plants. The results of the soil analysis of various agro ecological zones and the consequent recommendation of the associated suitable species, aids the agrofarmers to pick out the best possible option.

Key words: Soil analysis, agro-ecological zones, agroforestry, calcium magnesium, sodium, potassium.

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 7 (9), pp. 001-005, September, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of storage temperature and packaging materials on seed germination and seed-borne fungi of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.) in South West Nigeria

Owolade O. F.¹, Olasoji J. O.¹* and Afolabi C. G.²

¹Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ibadan, Nigeria.

²Department of Crop Protection, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

Accepted 21 April, 2019

Abstract

A laboratory experiment was conducted at Ibadan, Nigeria to determine the effect of storage temperature and packaging materials on the germination and associated seed-borne fungi of two accessions of sorghum seed (NG/SA/07/0194 and NGB/08/0270). The seeds were stored at three different storage temperature (gene bank temperature -5°C), freezing temperature (-20 ± 2°C) and ambient temperature (25 ± 3°C), while the packaging materials were in an aluminum can, plastic container and polyethylene bag. The result showed that sorghum seeds stored inside gene bank and freezer irrespective of the packaging materials and type of accession retain their viability to the tune of 90.67 to 100%. Whereas seeds stored at ambient temperature had low germination percentage (10.67 to 28.00%) except those stored in aluminum can (41.33%). A total of six seed-borne fungi species were isolated from the two accessions of sorghum seeds irrespective of storage temperature and packaging materials. These included Fusarium, Drechslera, Alternaria, Curvularia, Aspergillus and Penicillium. The incidence of seed-borne fungi were more on seeds stored at ambient temperature (12.00 to 66.33%) irrespective of the storage materials. The results also recorded that the higher the infections by seed-borne fungi, the lower the germination.

Key words: Sorghum, fungi, storage condition, packaging material.

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 7 (8), pp. 001-006, August, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Sunflower seed invigoration by chemical manipulation

Chandan Kumar Pati¹* and Aloke Bhattacharjee²

¹Department of Botany, Saldiha College, Saldiha-722 173, Bankura, West Bengal, India.

²UGC Centre for Advanced Study, Department of Botany, University of Burdwan, Burdwan-713 104, West Bengal, India.

Accepted 13 April, 2019

Abstract

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. Morden) seeds lose viability at a rapid pace under accelerated ageing (AA) condition. Pretreatment of the seeds with salicylic acid and ascorbic acid for 8 h before imposition of accelerated ageing treatment in desiccator (99.1% RH and 32 ± 2°C) or continuous treatment of the seeds with Eucalyptus oil vapour for 60 days in a separate desiccator under the same ageing condition slowed down the ageing-induced rapid loss of germination. Plant performance was found to be much better when they were developed from seeds which underwent chemical pretreatment measured in terms of field emergence capacity, root length, shoot length, fresh weight and dry weight of plants. Plant potential was also higher in the pretreatments as evidenced from the treatment-induced higher chlorophyll, protein, DNA and RNA levels as well as activities of catalase and peroxidase enzymes in spite of adverse storage situation. Yield attributes like diameter and fresh weight of capitulum, seed number per capitulum, 1000 seed weight were found significantly higher in plants raised from pretreated seed samples. Results, therefore, pointed out that in spite of experiencing accelerated ageing treatment, the chemical-pretreated seeds retained higher seed vigor and produced healthier plants which resulted in enhancement of crop yield.

Key words: Eucalyptus oil, accelerated ageing, ascorbic acid, salicylic acid, seed viability, sunflower, yield.

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 7 (8), pp. 001-007, August, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Response of Ethiopian durum wheat genotypes to water deficit induced at various growth stages

Ashinie Bogale¹* and Kindie Tesfaye²

¹Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, P. O. Box 312 Code 1250, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

²Haramaya University, P. O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.

Accepted 18 April, 2019

Abstract

Understanding the effect of water stress on yield and its components is the essential step in developing of high yielding and stable genotypes. Substantial reduction in grain yield can be caused by water deficit depending on the intensity, duration and the developmental stage at which water stress occurred. An experiment was conducted in the lathouse at Sinana Agricultural Research Center in 2006/2007 to evaluate the effect of water deficit on grain yield and yield components of eighteen durum wheat genotypes induced at different growth stages. Grain yield and other agronomic traits of all genotypes were significantly reduced and the reduction was much more pronounced under stress induced from tillering to crop maturity. Grain yield per plant was reduced by 72, 37 and 17.1% due to stress induced at tillering, flowering and grain-filling stages as compared to the well-watered treatment, respectively. Kilinto and Gerardo were found to be stable and drought tolerant genotypes whereas S-17B and Boohai were highly susceptible. The most drought tolerant genotypes were found to maintain relatively high levels of kernel numbers per spike and hundred-kernel weight. Mean kernel weight was associated to the duration of grain filling and grain filling rates and these traits contributed to a greater yield under water stress conditions.

Key words: Durum wheat, water deficit, yield components.

International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 7 (7), pp. 001-007, July, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Innovations in resource management for sustainable rice based farming

S. K. Rautaray

Regional Rainfed Lowland Rice Research Station (CRRI-ICAR), Gerua, via- Hajo, Kamrup, Assam 781 102, India. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 13 April, 2019

Abstract

Agricultural practice cannot be sustainable unless and until it is improving or at least conserving the natural resource base. There is need for a shift in outlook of viewing only the immediate benefits of farming practices. Rather, farming practices should be judged in terms of its effects on natural resources and environment, besides benefits in terms of yield and quality. Some ways and means of managing external resources, natural resources and stakeholders are discussed for resource conservation, in the context of agriculture and betterment of the environment as a whole. Knowledge on natural resources for farming and means of their conservation, need to be enriched and linked to stake holders through information technology. A few success stories in natural resource management under rice based farming around the globe are reviewed in this article.

Key words: Farming practices, natural resources, environment.