Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer and Inter Row Spacing on Leave Length and Width of Rhodes Grass (Chloris gayana) Tan in the Dry Sub Humid Zone of Sokoto Nigeria

A field experiment was conducted during the 2016 and 2017 rainy seasons at Centre for Agriculture and Pastoral Research (CAPAR) of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria to study the effect of nitrogen fertilizer and inter-row spacing on Leave length and Leave width of Rhodes grass as indices of growth. A factorial combination of five fertilizer levels (0, 100, 120, 140 and 160 kgNha-1) and three inter row spacing (30, 50 and 70 cm) were used, making fifteen treatments combinations, which were laid out in a RCBD replicated four times. Determination of leave length and leave width was done at 3, 6, 9 and 12WAS using a meter rule. The data obtained were statistically analyzed by using analysis of variance (ANOVA), using the GenStat 64-bit Release 17.1 (software) to elucidate the valid information from the data. The result revealed that, application of 160 KgNha-1 generally produced plants with longer and broader (P<0.05) leaves compared to the rest of the treatments, however there was generally significant (P>0.05) effect of inter row spacing in both 2016, 2017 and the years combined, inter-row spacing of 70 cm showed superiority amongst the treatments in the leaves length and leave width parameters investigated as compared to 50 and 30 cm spacings.

Effects of Harvest Intensities on Tragacanth Gum Production and Health of Astragalus Verus

In recent decades, tragacanth gum extraction from Astragalus verus has dramatically increased across Iranian rangelands. However, little information is available about the best method of gum harvest, which is economically efficient and maintains the health of the plant. This research was conducted as a factorial combination and in a completely randomized design, during spring and summer of 2018-2019, at Baraghban rangeland. Three levels of stem cuts (i.e. 1, 2, and 3 cuts on the main stem of each plant) and four frequencies of gum removals (1 to 4 times) with 10 replications were applied on 120 individual plants. Results indicated that all cut and gum removal levels significantly reduced the vigor of A. verus, but no significant relationship was detected between gum removal levels and plant vigor. There was an increase in the gum yield by increasing the number of gum harvests, but no increase was found by increasing cut numbers. Based on the ecological and economic comparisons (estimating costs and benefits), we suggest one cut and four times of gum removal as the most suitable method.

Decreasing the mob size but not stocking rate of ewes at lambing increases the survival of twin lambs born on farms across southern Australia

Context Data collected from producers in south-eastern Australia found that the survival of twin-born lambs decreased by 3.5% for each extra 100 ewes in the mob at lambing. Increasing stocking rate by 1 ewe/ha decreased lamb survival by a further 0.7%. These survey findings suggest that lamb survival could be improved by optimising the allocation of ewes to mobs and paddocks at lambing. Aim The present paper reports two experiments. Experiment 1 tested the hypotheses that (1) the survival of twin-born lambs would be greater when ewes lamb in smaller mobs and at lower stocking rates, and (2) the effects of mob size and stocking rate would be greater in Merinos than in non-Merino breeds. Experiment 2 tested the hypothesis that the survival of twin-born Merino lambs would be greater at lower mob sizes when ewes lambed at stocking rates &lt;4 ewes/ha. Methods Experiment 1 investigated a 2 × 2 factorial combination of mob size (high or low) and stocking rate (high or low) on the survival of twin-born Merino and non-Merino lambs at 70 on-farm research sites across southern Australia. Experiment 2 investigated the effect of high or low mob size on the survival of twin-born Merino lambs when ewes lambed at stocking rates of &lt;4 twin ewes/ha at 15 on-farm research sites. In both experiments, adult twin-bearing ewes were randomly allocated into a treatment and lambing paddock on Day 140 from the start of joining at each farm. Lamb survival in each mob was calculated based on lamb losses between pregnancy scanning and lamb marking. Key results In both experiments, the effect of mob size on lamb survival was found to be linear, with survival of twin-born lambs decreasing by between 1.9% and 2.5% per additional 100 ewes in the mob at lambing, regardless of breed (P &lt; 0.001). In Experiment 1, there was no effect of stocking rate or mob size by stocking rate on lamb survival. Conclusions The present research demonstrated that reducing mob size but not stocking rate will improve the survival of twin-born lambs to marking for extensive enterprises in Australia where ewes lamb at stocking rates of up to 12 ewes/ha. Implications These findings will contribute to guidelines for optimising ewe nutrition and resource allocation to improve lamb survival.

PENGGUNAAN KOMPOS TANDAN KOSONG KELAPA SAWIT SEBAGAI SUBTITUSI PUPUK NPK DALAM PEMBIBITAN AWAL KELAPA SAWIT

[THE USE OF OIL PALM EMPTY-FRUIT-BUNCHES COMPOST AS THE SUBTITUTE FOR NPK FERTILIZER IN THE OIL PALM PRE-NURSERY]. Compost of oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) is rich in nutriets needed to support the plant growth and offers as the substitute for chemical fertilizers. The purpose of this study was to determine the rates OPEFB compost and NPK fertilizer applications on the best suited for the growth of oil palm seedlings during pre-nursery. The OPEFB compost at 50, 100, and 150 g/pot was applied in factorial combination with with NPK at 0.0, 2.5, and 5.0 g/pot. Data were collected for seedling height, stem diameter, leaf number and leaves greenness. Higher leaf number was observed when OPEFB compost applied at 100 or 150 g/plot with or without additional NPK. Seedling height, stem diameter, and leaves greenness were increased with the application of OPEFB compost at 50 g/pot but no further increase with the additional rates. Additional application of NPK only increased the leaf greenness.

Estilos de afrontamiento en entrenadores: un análisis entre mujeres y hombres yucatecos (Coping styles in coaches: a study on men and women from Yucatan)

Un afrontamiento inadecuado puede producir serias repercusiones negativas tanto sobre aspectos emocionales como en la capacidad para ejecutar cualquier tipo de tarea, es por ello que el objetivo de este trabajo fue identificar los estilos de afrontamiento de los entrenadores deportivos del estado de Yucatán, México; así como determinar las diferencias en el estilo de afrontamiento según el sexo y la relación entre las subescalas, sexo y tipo de deporte. Participaron 81 entrenadores de los cuales el 67.9% (55) son hombres y el 32.1% (26) mujeres, con una edad promedio de 35.42 años de edad y 11.32 años ejerciendo como entrenadores. A todos los participantes se les administró el Inventario COPE (Escala Multidimensional de Evaluación de los Estilos de Afrontamiento) que evalúa 15 dimensiones de afrontamiento al estrés que siguiendo el modelo de teórico de Folkman y Lazarus y el modelo de Anshell, se agruparon en una combinación factorial de segundo orden en: afrontamiento centrado en el problema, de evitación y afrontamiento centrado en la emoción. Respecto al estilo de afrontamiento mayormente utilizado es el centrado en el problema (M=3.01; DT=.37), no encontrando diferencias significativas respecto al sexo. Sin embargo, se encontraron correlaciones significativas entre las subescalas de afrontamiento y el tipo de deporte mayores a .05. Se puede observar que los análisis más detallados muestran algunas relaciones entre subescalas dependiendo del sexo y tipo de deporte. Abstract. Inadequate coping can lead to serious negative repercussions on both emotional aspects and the ability to perform any task. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify coping styles of sports coaches from the state of Yucatan, Mexico; in addition, to determine differences in coping style by gender, and to assess the relationship between subscales, gender, and type of sport. 81 professionals (67.9% [n = 55] men; and 32.1% [n = 26] women) with an average age of 35.42 years old and 11.32 average years working as coaches were selected. All participants were given the Multidimensional Scale in Coping Style (COPE) Inventory, which assesses 15 dimensions of coping with stress. Based on the theoretical models proposed by Folkman and Lazarus, and Anshell, these dimensions can be grouped in a second order factorial combination as follows: coping focused on the problem, avoidance, and coping centered on emotion. Regarding the coping style used, it is mostly centered on the problem (M = 3.01, SD = .37). Likewise, significant correlations between the subscales of coping and the type of sport (p < .05) were found. More detailed analyses show relationships between subscales depending on gender and type of sport.

Growth of Cyanobacteria in saline soil amended with NP fertilizers

Assessment of cyanobacterial population in saline soil amended with three rates of each of N (0, 50, 100 kg ha-1) and P (0, 25, 50 kg ha-1) fertilizers in a factorial combination showed a significant variation during growth of rice. Quantitatively the population of cyanobacteria ranged from 26.90 to 70.83 × 104 g-1, 32.07 to 82.03 × 104 g-1 and 31.03 to 74.47 × 104 g-1 soil at 30, 60 and 90 days of transplantation of rice seedlings respectively. The highest and lowest values were encountered in N50P50 and N100P0 treatments respectively irrespective of the sampling intervals. Addition of P accentuated the proliferation of cyanobacteria while that of N inhibited their abundance significantly with increasing level of the applied fertilizers. Joint contribution of P and N stimulated significantly better growth of cyanobacteria. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jasbs.v39i2.17852 J. Asiat. Soc. Bangladesh, Sci. 39(2): 167-171, December 2013

Callus induction in Bertholletia excelsa immature seeds

Bertholletia excelsa H.B.K.,known as Brazil nuttree, belongs to the Lecythidaceae botanic family and is endemic to the AmazonianRegion. Its nuts have high economic and nutritional value. The objective of this work was to establish efficient protocols for callus induction from immature seeds of B.excelsa, as a preliminary step to its further micropropagation. After disinfestation, fragments of immature seeds were cultivated in WPM (Wood Plant Medium) supplemented with 2,4-D (0, 1, 2, 4 and 8 mg.L-1) and TDZ (0, 1.6 and 3.2 mg.L-1) in factorial combination. Twenty-one days later the callus induction was evaluated. Cultures were kept in a growth room in the dark at 24±2ºC. The highest percentage of callus induction was found with the combination of 2 mg.L-12,4-D with 3.2 mg.L-1TDZ.

Fertilization with filter cake and micronutrients in plant cane

The response of sugarcane to application of micronutrients is still not very well known. In view of the need for this information, the aim of this study was to evaluate the application of the micronutrients Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, B, and Mo to plant cane in three soils, with and without application of filter cake. This study consisted of three experiments performed in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, (in Igaraçu do Tiete, on an Oxisol; in Santa Maria da Serra, on an Entisol, both in the 2008/2009 growing season; and in Mirassol, on an Ultisol, in the 2009/2010 growing season) in a randomized block design with four replications with a 8 x 2 factorial combination of micronutrients (1 - no application/control, 2 - addition of Zn, 3 - addition of Cu, 4 - addition of Mn 5 - addition of Fe, 6 - addition of B, 7 - addition of Mo, 8 - Addition of Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, B, and Mo) and filter cake (0 and 30 t ha-1 of filter cake) in the furrow at planting. The application of filter cake was more efficient than of Borax in raising leaf B concentration to sufficiency levels for sugarcane in the Entisol, and it increased mean stalk yield in the Oxisol. In areas without filter cake application, leaf concentrations were not affected by the application of Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, B, and Mo in the furrow at planting; however, Zn and B induced an increase in stalk and sugar yield in micronutrient-poor sandy soil.

Air and root medium temperature and the rooting of chrysanthemum and rose cuttings

Cuttings of the chrysanthemum cultivar 'Horim' and rose cultivar 'Garnette' were rooted at 21°C, 24°C, 27°C root temperature in a factorial combination with 15°C, 18°C and 21°C air temperature. In each of the air and root temperatures, rose cuttings from different positions of the flower shoot were rooted. The effects of air and root temperatures and their interactions on root formation of chrysanthemum and rose cuttings were studied. Increasing the air temperature from 15°C to 21°C accelerated rooting and distinctly increased the number of roots per cutting on both plants. Higher root temperatures (24°C, 27°C) had a favorable influence on the rate of the rooting process but did not enhance the number of formed roots. Increasing both temperatures significantly increased the growth of the roots and their fresh and dry weight. An adverse effect of the root temperature was noticed on the breaking and growth of rose buds. Increasing the temperature from 21°C to 27°C strongly decreased the percentage of breaking buds and their growth. The results are discussed from the point of view of the influence air temperature on the contents of growth substances in the cuttings.