International Journal of Plant Breeding and Genetics

International Journal of Plant Breeding and Genetics ISSN 2756-3847 Vol. 12 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Impact of Soil Nutrient Content and Moisture on Katumani Maize Yield in Semi-Arid Kenya

Maina Muniafu¹ and J. I. Kinyamario²

¹School of Arts and Sciences, United States International University, P.O. Box 14634 00800 Nairobi, Kenya.
²School of Biological Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.

Accepted 27 September, 2024

Abstract

Many farmers in Kenya’s semi arid lands cannot afford to purchase inorganic fertilisers to improve their crop yields. They thus rely on traditional agronomic practices such as addition of crop residues, animal manures or intercrops of cereals and legumes. This study investigated soil parameters and their influence on yield. It was carried out at the University of Nairobi’s Dryland, Research and Utilisation Station located at Kibwezi. Soil parameters measured included soil organic carbon, total soil nitrogen, available phosphorus, soil moisture and soil texture and nitrogen mineralization rates. There was significant correlation (p<0.05) in the growing seasons, between soil moisture and soil organic carbon (r = 0.66, 0.81 and 0.65 for seasons 1, 2 and 3 respectively) as well as total soil nitrogen (r = 0.73, 0.79 and 0.70 for seasons 1, 2 and 3 respectively) and available phosphorus (r = 0.55 for season 1) . Where rainfall was low, maize yield correlated negatively (p<0.05) with percent clay content (r = -0.4) in season one and showed no significant correlation (r=0.21) in season 3. Where rainfall amounts were high, (as in season 2), the correlation was significant (r = 0.75). Nitrogen mineralization rate did not seem to have a direct influence on yield but its effects were modified by soil moisture, soil texture and carbon to nitrogen ratios of the soil. Overall the organic inputs seemed to have minimal impact on yield though goat manure and pigeon pea intercropping had a melioration effect on the soil.

Key words: Soil nutrients, maize yield, semi-arid, Kenya.

International Journal of Plant Breeding and Genetics ISSN 2756-3847 Vol. 11 (5), pp. 001-012, May, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Exploring the Efficacy of Cultivar Selection and Resistance Inducers in Managing Botrytis cinerea in Pepper Plants

A. Kamara¹, E. El-Argawy²*, A. El. Korany² and G. Amer²

¹Plant Pathology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Egypt.
²Plant Pathology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Damanhour University, Egypt. *Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].

Received 23 October 2023, Accepted 22 November, 2023

Abstract

Four different highly economic value pepper cultivars Trezaa, Emberu, Mazurka and Taranto usually grown in Egypt were used to evaluate the efficacy of certain resistance inducers to enhance resistance of pepper fruits against gray mould fungus. Pathogenicity tests with Botrytis cinerea (BC-3 isolate) revealed that cv. Mazurka (Red Colour) was most tolerant and exhibited 40.15% rot severity, while cv. Emberu (Yellow Colour) was highly susceptible and showed 79.12% rot severity. The other two pepper cultivars, that is, cv. Trezaa and Taranto showed severity of 50.23 and 52.75%, respectively. Treatment of pepper fruits with resistance inducers salicylic acid (SA); abscisic acid, methyl jasmonate and calcium chloride significantly decreased gray mould development under laboratory conditions. Calcium chloride was the most effective on all pepper cvs. mentioned earlier and inhibited diameter of rotting area with overmean of 40.6%. This was followed by SA as 34.01%. Abscisic acid and methyl jasmonate, however, showed lower mean inhibition of 16.8 and 18.8%, respectively. Meantime, treatment of pepper fruits with such resistance inducers and calcium chloride increased activity of the defense related enzymes, that is, polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) as well as the total phenols where SA and calcium chloride were the most effective. This could explain potentiality of such compounds to enhance pepper resistance to control B. cinerea of the gray mould of pepper.

Key words: Pepper, gray mould, Botrytis cinerea, resistance inducers, calcium chloride, defence enzymes, phenolic content.
 

International Journal of Plant Breeding and Genetics ISSN 2756-3847 Vol. 11 (4), pp. 001-005, April, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Impact of pre-harvest interventions on cellulose degradation and berry quality during cold storage

S. K Jawandha*, P. P. S. Gill and Navjot

Department of Horticulture, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141004, India.

Accepted 20 July, 2023

Abstract

Studies were carried out to find out the effect of various pre-harvest treatments: CaCl2 (@ 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0%), Ca (NO3)2 (@0.5, 1.0 and 2.0%), GA3 (@ 20, 40 and 60 ppm) and Bavistin (@ 0.1%) on the cellulase activity and quality of 'Umran' ber fruits during cold storage. Marked trees were sprayed at colour break stage with the test chemicals. Fruits were packed in CFB boxes and placed in cold storage (3 - 5°C and 85 - 90% RH) for 30 days. The fruits were evaluated after 10, 20 and 30 days interval for various parameters such as cellulase activity, phenolic content, palatability rating and rotting percentage. Cellulase activity registered a gradual increase up-to 20 days of storage thereafter a decline was noted in all the treatments. The palatability rating increased up to 10 days of storage in all the treatments, except control but subsequently it decreased with longer in storage periods. Among the various pre-harvest treatments CaCl2 (2%) recorded minimum cellulase activity and rotting percentage and registered high palatability rating and phenolics content during cold storage conditions. Studies showed that pre-harvest application of CaCl2 (2%) maintained very good fruit quality and prolonged shelf-life for 20 days under cold storage conditions.

Key words: Ber, storage, cellulase, calcium, GA₃.
 

International Journal of Plant Breeding and Genetics ISSN 2756-3847 Vol. 11 (3), pp. 001-008, March, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Organic resource utilization: Boosting carbon and nitrogen mineralization for soil fertility in smallholder farms in zimbabwe

J. Nyamangara¹*, F. Mtambanengwe¹ and C. Musvoto²

¹Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, University of Zimbabwe, P. O. Box MP167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe.
²Institute of Environmental Studies, University of Zimbabwe, P. O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe.

Accepted 1 August, 2023

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the N release dynamics of three organic resources widely used by smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa to improve soil fertility. Addition of cattle manure, miombo and mango (Mangifera indica) litter to soil increased (p < 0.05) CO2-C evolution compared to unamended soil. Cumulative CO 2-C evolution in all the three organic amendments followed first order kinetics (R2 = 0.89 - 0.99). Slight N mineralization occurred when cattle manure was added to soil and addition of manure in combination with mineral N had no effect on the extent of N mineralization. Compared to unamended soil, miombo litter induced net immobilization of N for 60 days and thereafter net N mineralization occurred. Both untreated and composted mango litter immobilized N (up to 15 mg N kg-1) during the 77 day incubation. It was concluded that all the three organic resources were poor and inadequate sources of N for plant growth in the short term and should therefore be supplemented with mineral N to reduce N immobilization and consequent N deficiency in plants. However the organic resources may improve the soil physical environment and also contribute to soil organic matter build up in the long term.

Key words: Cattle manure, Mangifera indica, miombo litter, N mineralization and immobilization.

International Journal of Plant Breeding and Genetics ISSN 2756-3847 Vol. 11 (2), pp. 001-012, February, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Exploring improved farming techniques: A case study of vegetable production in Anambra State, Nigeria

A. H. Nwalieji and A. R. Ajayi*

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

Accepted 29 December, 2023

Abstract

The study was undertaken to evaluate the Fadama phase one vegetable production project in Anambra State. Data for the study were colleted from 160 vegetable growers (80 project farmers and 80 non-project farmers), through the use of a set of structured interview schedule. Percentages, mean scores and gross margin analysis technique were used in the data analysis. The result of the study indicates that majority (70.0%) of the project farmers (PFs) were males, while the majority (25.5%) of the non-project farmers (NPFs) were females. The vegetable growers had relatively large household size and long Fadama farming experience. The mean hectarage of Fadama vegetable farm size of PFs and NPFs were 0.87 and 0.63 ha, respectively. The Fadama vegetable production contributed 30.5 and 25.8% to the annual income of the PFs and NPFs, respectively. Telfaria and Okro production were the most preferred vegetables during dry and wet seasons, respectively, mainly due to high income generating capacity, high market demand, high yielding capacity, usefulness and availability to the family. Only improved vegetable seed, manure application and harvesting method were adopted. The study also revealed that the vegetables under study were profitable to the PFs, especially, during the project life.

Key words: Adoption, improved vegetable, production practices, farmers and national fadama development project.

International Journal of Plant Breeding and Genetics ISSN 2756-3847 Vol. 11 (1), pp. 001-008, January, 2024. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Sweet corn crosses for enhanced organoleptic and nutritional green maize varieties: insights from f₁ hybrids and f₂ populations

G. Olaoye*, O. B. Bello, A. K. Ajani and T. K. Ademuwagun

Department of Agronomy, University of Ilorin, P.M.B. 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria.

Accepted 8 October, 2023

Abstract

Reports of improvement in sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata) for grain yield and agronomic traits through introgression of genes from the field corn (Zea mays L.) are common in literature. However, few studies have reported improvement in field corn varieties for organoleptic and/or nutritional properties through the transfer of recessive alleles that condition sweetness in sweet corn into the field corn. Field and laboratory studies were conducted to determine changes in quantitative and qualitative characteristics of three F₁ hybrids derived by crossing sweet corn (pollen parent) unto field corn and their F₂ populations derived by sibmating approximately 200 ears from each of the F ₁ hybrids. Our results showed significant changes in grain yield, grain protein concentration, carbohydrate and calcium contents in the F₁ hybrids and F₂ populations. One hybrid (Pop31DMR x Sweet corn) had 21% grain yield advantage over the maternal parent while another hybrid (Obatanpa x Sweet corn) showed superiority for grain protein (27.3%) with corresponding lower carbohydrate content. Grains obtained from the F₂ populations had lower seed protein content than their respective maternal parents or the F₁ hybrids and with corresponding higher carbohydrate content. Percent (%) loss in grain protein in the F₂ seeds was higher than for other nutrient elements. Modest heterotic response was recorded for grain yield in Pop31DMR x Sweet corn cross and for grain protein concentration in Obatanpa x Sweet corn cross.

Key words: Grain yield, nutritional properties, inbreeding depression, heterotic response.