INFLUENCE OF GROWING HEIFERS INTENSITY ON MILK PRODUCTIVITY OF RED-AND-WHITE COWS

Therefore the intensification of the dairy cattle breeding industry gives priority to the realization of the genetic potential of dairy productivity of cows, the preservation of their health, good reproductive qualities and the duration of economic use.In this regard, the study of the influence of the intensity of cultivation on the productive qualities of red-and-white cattle is of scientific and practical importance.5 groups of red-and-white animals (20 heads in each group) were formed to conduct the experiments. Feeding was planned to receive an average daily increase in the first experimental group within the range of 850-900 g, the 2nd group received a diet planned for 800-850 g, the 3rd group for 750-800 g, the 4th for 700-750 g and the 5th household diet for 650-700 g of average daily growth. Based on the conducted research, it can be concluded that red-and-white animals are able to grow live weight at a young age, which indicates earliness of animals. Heifers of the first experimental group reached a live weight of 380 kg at 13 months of age, the 2nd experimental group at 14 months, the 3rd experimental group at 15 months, the 4th experimental group at 16 months, and the control group at 17 months. From heifers that reached a live weight of 380 kg and sired at the age of 14-15 months, they were subsequently milked for the first lactation of 6192 and 6345 kg, for all lactation of 24684-24944 kg of milk.

Energy capacity of modern technology for growing grapes and basic agricultural crops

The study aims to conduct an objective analysis of the eff ectiveness of modern technology of industrial grape plantations cultivation, to compare them with similar costs for cultivation of other agricultural crops considering the modern global trend. Planting prepared rootstocks in a permanent place, according to the scheme, followed by their grafting with the desired variety on the spot can be an option to the traditional technology of growing grafted seedlings and planting grape plantations. The introduction of alternative technology, using modern mobile tools (secateurs for grafting components on site, aquosorbents, biological adhesives), reduces fi nancial cost by 15.9 % and the cost of chemical and man-made energy by 71.7 % at the stage of growing grafted planting material grapes. It also provides for cost reduce for creation of its industrial plantations. The analysis of the eff ectiveness of traditional technology for growing grafted planting material shows that the technology is too burdensome for the industry and needs signifi cant revision in order to signifi cantly reduce fi nancial, resource and energy costs, to use natural energy fl ows more effi ciently. In general, the same applies to the technology of creation and productive cultivation of industrial grape plantations. Saving and further development of the industry, increasing the profi tability of viticulture, reducing anthropogenic pressure on the environment are possible on the basis of new, non-traditional energy-saving technologies for the creation of industrial plantations and their productive cultivation. Key words: energy indicators, energy intensity of cultivation, analysis of energy effi ciency, planting material, cultivation technology, industrial grape plantations.

Orange fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP) and productivity: the case of smallholders in Kwara State, Nigeria

In rural Nigeria, most households cannot afford food products rich in vitamin A which gave rise to the introduction of bio-fortified agricultural produces. One of these is the Orange Fleshed Sweet Potatoes (OFSP). Although introduced about six years ago, empirical evidence as regards the actual level of adoption as well as its effect on their productivity remains relatively scarce. The analysis was built on a field survey of 183 smallholders in Kwara State, Nigeria conducted in the year 2016. Tobit model and the Heckman’s two stage models were used to model the determinants the intensity of cultivation and the effect of OFSP’s cultivation on the income of the smallholders. Results indicate that almost 87% of the smallholders sampled were into the cultivation of OFSP with 56% of them cultivating it solely for family consumption and its nutritional value. Also, 44% of them put less than half a hectare of their farmland to the cultivation of OFSP. The result showed that aged smallholders, members of cooperative groups and those who cultivate OFSP solely have a smaller proportion of their farmland cultivated to OFSP. Similarly, the age of the smallholders, household size, years of schooling, cost of production were the factors that significantly influence the cultivation OFSP on the income of the smallholders. The policy implication of this is that the potentials of OFSP have to be promoted particularly among the rural smallholders most especially through the existing cooperative groups. This can either be through organized seminars or specifically through demonstration plots.

Micro-aggregate Indices and Structural stability of Soils under Different Management

Low water stability of soil micro-aggregates accentuated by increased intensity of cultivation and soil degradation are among the significant issues that draw the atten- tion of Soil Scientists due to their effects on soil physical conditions. The study was carried out to quantify changes in micro-aggregate stability indices of soils on coastal plain sands under contrasting land use and management. Soil samples were collected from cassava plots, plantain, maize, rubber plantation, oil palm and 2-season fallow plots with Calapogonium mucunoides. Results revealed significant changes in micro-and macro-aggregate stability indices. Clay dispersion index (CDI) was 0.46 and 0.39 respectively in cassava and maize plots. Parameters such as aggregated silt and clay (ASC), clay flocculation index (CFI) and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) used as estimates of soil structural stability were significantly (p < 0.05) increased due to 2-season fallow and 10-year oil palm plantation. Two-year fallow increased ASC and CFI by 57 % and 86.5% respectively compared with continuous maize culti- vation. Ten-year cultivation to cassava and maize increased sand content by 18 and 9% respectively and decreased the mean weight diameter (MWD) of water stable aggregates and Ksat. Relationships showed significant (p < 0.05) positive correlation between ASC and CFI and Ksat. Two-year fallow with Calapogonium mucunoides and 10-year oil palm plantation improved the soil micro- and macroaggregate indices. They could be used to conserve the soil and reduce the degradation of soil resources.

Productivity of white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) as an effect of diversified farming systems

A one–factor field experiment with white lupin cv. Butan was conducted in the years 2011–2015 in Gorzyñ (52°33’53 N, 15°53’42 E; Poland). The factor consisted of farming systems: low-input (LI), medium-input (MI) and high-input (conventional-CONV). The lowest weed density and biomass were found in CONV and the highest in LI. The weather conditions significantly influenced yielding. Each year the highest yield was found in CONV and significantly lowest in LI. On an average, the highest increase in the seed yield was obtained following increasing intensity of cultivation from LI to MI (20.3%). Farming systems did not influence the chemical composition of seeds. The highest protein yield was found in CONV (804 kg ha-1) and significantly lower – by about 6% in MI and about 19% in LI. The highest income and the lowest cost of production for 1 t of seeds and protein were recorded for LI.

Evaluation of size distribution of starch granules in selected wheat varieties by the Low Angle Laser Light Scattering method

&nbsp; &nbsp; The distribution of the size of wheat starch granules using the method LALLS (Low Angle Laser Light Scattering), followed by the evaluation of the effect of variety, experimental site and intensity of cultivation on the vol. % of the starch A (starch granules &gt; 10 &mu;m) was determined. The total starch content and crude protein content in dry matter of flour T530 in selected collection of five winter wheat varieties were determined. Vol. % of the starch A in evaluated collection of wheat varieties varied between 65.31 and 72.34%. The effect of a variety on the vol. % of starch A seemed to be more marked than the effect of site and intensity of cultivation. The highest vol. % of starch A reached evaluated varieties from the quality group C, i.e. varieties unsuitable for baking utilisation (except variety Contra with high total content of starch in dry matter of flour T530, but relatively low vol. % of starch A). A low vol. % of starch A was also found in the variety Hana (very good variety for baking utilisation). Certain variety differences followed from the evaluation of distribution of starch fractions of starch granules, forming starch A. In the case of varieties Hana, Contra and Siria higher representation of fractions up to 30 &mu;m was recorded, while starch A in the varieties Estica andVersailleswas formed in higher degree by size fractions of starch granules over 30 &mu;m and particularly size fraction &gt; 50 &mu;m was greatest in these varieties of all evaluated samples. With increasing total starch content in dry matter of flour T530 the crude protein content decreased; the vol. % of starch A not always increased proportionally with increasing total starch content.

Cultivation Intensity and Residential Site Structure: An Ethnoarchaeological Examination of Peasant Agriculture in the Sierra de los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico

Agricultural and residential space were integrated in prehistoric lowland Mesoamerica for productive and domestic activities to produce distinctive patterns of settlement and land use visible in the archaeological record. Ethnoarchaeological studies provide information on the behavioral component of site formation in such contexts. Contemporary residential refuse treatment and the use of infield agricultural land are examined here from a sample of farming households in the Sierra de los Tuxtlas of southern Veracruz, Mexico. A model of site structure (the House-Lot model) relates the maintenance of refuse-free (clear area) and refuse-laden (intermediate area) spaces within the house lot to household farming activities outside of the residential lot. Variation in the intensity of cultivation on infield plots is shown to correlate with variability in the size of areas within house lots. This research suggests that the distribution of prehistoric residential debris might be used to diagnose factors of ancient agriculture and settlement in contexts commonly encountered during archaeological excavation and survey.