INCREASING THE CLIENT ORIENTATION OF MAIZE BREEDING USING FARMER PARTICIPATION IN EASTERN INDIA

2005 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 413-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. S. VIRK ◽  
M. CHAKRABORTY ◽  
J. GHOSH ◽  
S. C. PRASAD ◽  
J. R. WITCOMBE
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Programme ◽  
Mass Selection ◽  
Participatory Plant Breeding ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Eastern India ◽  
Maize Breeding ◽  
Maize Varieties ◽  
Resource Poor ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Oriented Approach

A maize-breeding programme was targeted at resource-poor farmers of eastern India using a client-oriented approach (often called participatory plant breeding). Farmers tested a range of varieties in a participatory varietal selection programme but none proved to be very popular. Information from these trials was used in a breeding programme to develop a broadly-based population from three yellow- and three white-grained maize varieties that were either identified in the trials or had traits liked by farmers. The population was subjected to several cycles of random mating. In the C3, C4 and C6 cycles, subpopulations were extracted and subjected to mass selection over several generations in environments that represented well the target population of environments of resource-poor farmers' fields in eastern India for traits identified by farmers. To identify better the required traits, in some generations the selection was carried out by farmers on a research farm under fertility levels that approximated farmers' practice. The improvement of the subpopulations resulted in several varieties that performed well in research station and on-farm trials. One of them, BVM 2, was released in Jharkhand state, India. In multilocational research station trials, it yielded more than the control variety BM 1 but silked earlier. In the less favourable environments of on-farm trials, its yield superiority, in percentage terms, was higher. Farmers perceived BVM 2 to have better grain quality and stover yield than the local varieties. BVM 2 was specifically bred to meet the needs of the clients (resource-poor farmers with no access to irrigation) and has earlier maturity combined with higher grain yield. The returns were higher from this highly client-oriented approach, than by classical breeding, mainly because uptake was faster as a result of research and extension being done in tandem.

scholarly journals Revisiting strategies to incorporate gender-responsiveness into maize breeding in southern Africa

2021 ◽  
pp. 003072702110454
Author(s):  
Jill E Cairns ◽  
Frédéric Baudron ◽  
Kirsty L. Hassall ◽  
Thokozile Ndhlela ◽  
Isaiah Nyagumbo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Maize Breeding ◽  
Agronomic Practices ◽  
Agronomic Management ◽  
Maize Varieties ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Trait Preferences

In sub-Saharan Africa there is increasing focus on identifying women’s trait preferences within crop breeding to enable gender-responsive product development. In the case of maize, breeding programs are ready to incorporate specific traits to increase gender-responsiveness but lack guidance on what these specific traits might be. We propose an inductive approach to determine a pathway towards increasing gender-responsiveness within maize breeding. A survey of 306 farmers was conducted to determine gender differences in maize varieties used together with key agronomic practices. Variety was a significant predictor of the gender of the plot manager and of the household head in contrast to previous surveys conducted in researcher-led on-farm trials. On-farm trials are conducted using pre-defined agronomic management practices and preferences identified at harvest are likely to centre around yield. This study highlighted significant differences in several agronomic practices used by female plot managers and female household heads. Although further studies are required to understand preferences associated with varietal choice, our results suggest that current researcher-led on-farm trials may not identify gender-specific trait preferences driving varietal choice. Furthermore, a trait-specific approach is not the only avenue towards increasing gender-responsiveness in maize breeding in southern Africa. The scope for increasing gender-intentionality in maize breeding could be expanded to incorporate selection environments more relevant to agronomic management practices used by female plot managers and households at advanced stages of the breeding pipeline. This approach could provide an immediate entry point to increase gender-intentional maize breeding in southern Africa.

Rethinking the Farmer's Role in Plant Breeding: Local Bean Experts and On-station Selection in Rwanda

1993 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 509-519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Sperling ◽  
Michael E. Loevinsohn ◽  
Beatrice Ntabomvura
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Plant Breeding ◽  
Breeding Programme ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Heterogeneous Environments ◽  
Home Environments ◽  
On Farm

SummaryVarietal selection is particularly difficult for very heterogeneous environments where farmers have a range of preferences. To address these issues in Rwanda, local bean experts, generally women, are invited to the research station to assess cultivars and to select those they prefer for their plots. Farmers use observed yield as only one of several criteria to predict varietal performance in their more stressed home environments. The varieties they choose are often higher yielding on-farm and are retained longer by farmers than those selected by the breeders. The results of early farmer involvement also compare favourably with those of the standard breeding programme in terms of enhanced genetic diversity and reduced research costs. There are few pre-conditions for developing such a client-driven breeding programme.Papel del agricultor en la selección de variedades para una estación inaestigación

scholarly journals Long-term on-farm participatory maize breeding by stratified mass selection retains molecular diversity while improving agronomic performance

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 254-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mara Lisa Alves ◽  
Maria Belo ◽  
Bruna Carbas ◽  
Cláudia Brites ◽  
Manuel Paulo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Diversity ◽  
Mass Selection ◽  
Agronomic Performance ◽  
Maize Breeding ◽  
On Farm

scholarly journals Maize Breeding in the Highlands of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia: A Review

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 212
Author(s):  
José Luis Zambrano ◽  
Carlos F. Yánez ◽  
Carlos A. Sangoquiza
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Public Institutions ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Participatory Plant Breeding ◽  
Maize Breeding ◽  
Andean Region ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Maize Cultivars ◽  
Maize Varieties ◽  
Breeding Techniques

Maize is one of the most important staple crops in the highlands of the Andean region of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Most seeds come from landraces, with their own kernel characteristics. The kernels are used for the elaboration of traditional dishes and other elaborates for human consumption. In this region, maize breeding is conducted mainly by public institutions. In this review, we outline the methodology that has been used by the maize breeding programs (MBPs) of the National Institutes for Agricultural Research and other institutions in the highlands of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia during the last 20 years. The main objective of MBPs in the region has been to develop more uniform and productive open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) of floury maize (Zea mays L. var. Amylacea), which is the most important type of maize in the area. Participatory plant breeding, combined with half-sib, has been used to breed new maize varieties. At least 18 OPVs of floury maize have been released into the Andean region in the last 20 years. Breeding this type of maize has been very important to conserve diversity and promote consumption in the region, but they have had very little impact on yield. The yield of floury maize is around three times below that of dent or semident maize grown in the region. Therefore, there is a need to apply new breeding techniques in the region to accelerate the development of more productive floury-maize cultivars.

scholarly journals The Value of Zoos for Science and Conservation

Oryx ◽  
1967 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Jarvis
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Breeding Programme ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Wild Animals ◽  
Cultural Institution

For too long zoos have been regarded as places of entertainment where people go to laugh at the animals. But the modern zoo has important functions to fill and must take its place as a scientific and cultural institution beside the museum and the research station. The author, editor of the International Zoo Yearbook, suggests that zoos have three main functions: firstly, educational, where their opportunity is enormous — 150 million people a year go to see the half-million vertebrate animals in the 500 zoos and aquaria listed in the Yearbook; secondly as repositories of data about wild animals; thirdly, as breeding centres for endangered species. She believes that a united organised breeding programme, using large units and with each zoo specialising in certain animals, could save many endangered species.

PLANT BREEDING PROGRAMME FOR 1935 RELATIVE TO GRASSES AND CLOVERS

1935 ◽  
pp. 84-89
Author(s):  
L. Corkill
Keyword(s):  
Plant Breeding ◽  
Breeding Programme ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Breeding Technique ◽  
Plant Research ◽  
Plant Breeding Programme

The purpose of this paper is to outline the general breeding technique adopted at the Plant Research Station in regard to the improvement of grasses and clovers to pedigree standard.

scholarly journals The Effect of Amino Acids and The Date of Planting on Yield and Some Yield Components of Three Maize Varieties

2021 ◽  
Vol 904 (1) ◽  
pp. 012066
Author(s):  
Y A Al-Janabi ◽  
N M Abood ◽  
M I Hamdan
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Spring Season ◽  
Planting Dates ◽  
Maize Varieties ◽  
Biological Yield

Abstract The experiment was carried out according to the randomized complete block design (R.C.B.D) and the arrangement of split-split plot with three replications, at the Field Crops Research Station of the Agricultural Research Department - Abu Ghraib during the spring season for the years 2019 and 2020. With the aim of studying the effect of amino acids, planting dates and their effect on some of the yield characteristics and its components for three varieties of maize in the spring season. Planting dates (March 15, March 25 and April 5) occupied the main plots, while amino acids and the control treatment (proline, arginine, and distilled water) occupied the sub-plot, whereas the varieties (Rabi, Baghdad 3 and Fajr 1) occupied the sub-sub-plot, and the most important results were summarized as follows:The two cultivars, Rabi and Fajr-1, achieved a significant increase in most of the yield characteristics and its components for the seasons. The addition of the amino acid proline also led to a significant increase in most of the studied traits (the number of grains in ear, weight of 500 grains, total grain and biological yield, and harvest index), planting dates also have a significant effect on most of the studied traits. The first date (15/3) recorded increase in the number of grains per ear, the weight of 500 grams, and the grain and biological yield. The plants of the Rabi variety when cultivated on March 15 th and sprayed with the amino acid proline achieved the highest average for the grain yield, which reached 7.48 ton. ha-1 for spring 2019.

scholarly journals Mitigating Striga hermonthica parasitism and damage in maize using soybean rotation, nitrogen application, and Striga-resistant varieties in the Nigerian savannas

2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 620-632
Author(s):  
Alpha Y. Kamara ◽  
Abebe Menkir ◽  
David Chikoye ◽  
Abdullahi I. Tofa ◽  
Aminu A. Fagge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Management ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Striga Hermonthica ◽  
Nitrogen Application ◽  
N Application ◽  
Resistant Varieties ◽  
Moisture Deficit ◽  
Maize Varieties ◽  
Control Technologies ◽  
On Farm

AbstractStriga hermonthica infestation causes significant losses of maize yield in the Nigerian savannas and several technologies have been developed and promoted to control Striga in maize. However, since no single technology has been found to be effective against Striga, integrated management is needed to achieve satisfactory and sustainable Striga control. Both on-station and on-farm trials were undertaken from 2013 to 2015 in Bauchi and Kano States of Nigeria to evaluate the performance of integrated Striga control technologies. In the on-station trials, a soybean–maize rotation did not suppress Striga in maize in either location. However, nitrogen application suppressed and reduced Striga infection, except in Bauchi in 2014. The soybean–maize rotation accompanied by N application reduced Striga damage in both locations. On farmers’ fields, rotating soybean with maize significantly reduced Striga infection. At the same time, the use of maize varieties with a combined tolerance to drought and resistance to Striga parasitism also increased maize grain yield on farmers’ fields, probably due to three factors: a reduction in Striga infection, reduced effects of a mid-season moisture deficit, and increased uptake of nutrients from the soil. We concluded that the use of Striga-resistant maize varieties in combination with the application of N fertilizer and rotation with soybean could increase the productivity of maize in Striga-infested fields in the Nigerian savannas.

Effects of summer irrigation and trampling in dairy pastures on soil physical properties and earthworm number and species composition

1997 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 1059 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa A. Lobry de Bruyn ◽  
T. J. Kingston
Keyword(s):  
Soil Surface ◽  
Sampling Period ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Lumbricus Rubellus ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
Main Plot ◽  
On Farm

In 1989 a replicated split-plot trial on a Krasnozem soil was established at Elliott Research Station (ERS) in the north-west of Tasmania, as well as 14 on-farm trials in newly irrigated pastures on 3 different soil types (Alluvial, Podzolic, Krasnozem) in the dairy districts of Scottsdale, Smithton, and Deloraine. There were 3 main treatments at ERS: irrigated before grazing, irrigated after grazing, and grazed and not irrigated. Part of each main plot was fenced to prevent trampling but still allowed grazing. Effects of summer irrigation and trampling by dairy cows were examined for pasture production, and soil chemical and structural properties. Summer irrigation at ERS and on-farm trials has led to a decline in soil structure indicated by slower ponded water in filtration rates on irrigated plots compared with the dryland plots. The decline in ponded water in filtration rates suggests a reduction in macroporosity, especially in the soil surface. However, other indicators for soil structural change in the top 100 mm|percentage water-stable aggregates (>2·5 mm) and bulk density|revealed no significant variation between the irrigated and dryland paddocks. There were, however, higher water in filtration rates and lower bulk densities in the untrampled areas than the trampled areas at ERS. Pasture production at ERS was about 50% more with irrigation in each of the 2 years of the study. Data collected at ERS in autumn and spring on the numbers of Aporrectodea caliginosa(Savigny) and Lumbricus rubellus (Hoffmeister) earthworms showed that they respond quite differently to irrigation. After 2 irrigation seasons, A. caliginosa numbers in irrigated plots dropped by over 50%, whereas in the dryland plots densities of this earthworm have remained around 390 earthworms/m 2. In contrast the densities of L. rubellus at ERS rose under irrigation practices, especially in the autumn{winter sampling period. Therefore, with the advent of summer irrigation at ERS, there was a shift in earthworm composition from a fauna dominated by A. caliginosa to a fauna with an increasing proportion of L. rubellus and a decreasing number of A. caliginosa. The typical dairy pasture in the on-farm trials recorded 2 main species, A. caliginosa (70%) and L. rubellus (30%). Total earthworm densities were highest in the north-west (Smithton) region of the State (293{351 earthworms/m 2) regardless of soil type, and the lowest densities were recorded in the Alluvial soils of Deloraine (96 earthworms/m 2). The north-west area also had the most diverse earthworm fauna, with 5 species recorded in one site: A. caliginosa, A. longa, Allolobophora chlorotica, L. rubellus, and O. cyaneum. Summer irrigation effects after 2 seasons on earthworm composition and abundance on dairy farms caused no significant change in A. caliginosa numbers, but there was a 45% increase in the numbers of L. rubellus in irrigated treatments. L. rubellus was considerably more active over summer in irrigated paddocks (25 earthworms/m 2) than in non-irrigated paddocks (7 earthworms/m 2). In contrast the number of A. caliginosa recorded in dryland paddocks was not statistically different to the irrigated paddocks, but the A. caliginosa in dryland paddocks were mostly inactive 8-20 mm from the soil surface.

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