Influence of Twig Removal on Yield and Economics of Pea Varieties

The experiment was conducted at the Research field of Agronomy Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur during rabi seasons of 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 to evaluate the effects of twig removal on yield and yield attributes, and extra benefit incurred due to removal of twig as a leafy vegetable in pea varieties. Treatments consisted of three varieties such as V1=Natore local, V2 = BARI Motorshuti-1 and V3= BARI Motor-1 and five twig removal variables, viz. T1= control (no removal), T2 = removal of 5 cm twig at 25 DAE, T3= removal of 7.5 cm twig at 25 DAE, T4=removal of 10 cm twig at 35 DAE, T5= removal of 12.5 cm twig at 35 DAE. Leafy vegetable yield varied among the varieties and twig removal variables. The highest leafy vegetable yield (778 and 975 kgha-1) over the years was recorded in BARI Motorshuti-1 when 12.5 cm twig removed at 35 days after emergence which was at par with BARI Motor-1 at the same cutting time and the same length. The maximum pod yield (9.15 t ha-1 and 9.52 t ha-1) was recorded in BARI Motorshuti-1 when 5cm twig removed at 25 days after emergence (DAE), which was statistically similar to the same variety with twig removal of 7.5 cm at 25 DAE. The highest gross return (Tk. 76522.00 ha-1), gross margin (Tk.48272.00 ha-1) and BCR (2.71) was recorded in BARI Motorshuti-1 when twig removed 5 cm at 25 DAE, which was similar to the same variety with 7.5 cm twig removed at 25 DAE. The result revealed that 5-7.5 cm twig removal at 25 DAE from the tip might be a profitable technique for pea (var. BARI Motorshuti-1) production for dual purpose as vegetables and pod yield. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2021, 24(1): 37-42

Can Internet Use Improve Farmers' Welfare Effect——A Case Study of Chinese Vegetable Growers

This article uses the data of 797 vegetable growers in Shouguang, Shandong Province, and the endogenous conversion model to investigate the impact of Internet use on household welfare. We select the per-mu vegetable yield, net income, and per capita net income of households as welfare indicators. The results show: ① Internet use can significantly improve the farmers' welfare effect. ②Under counterfactual assumptions, when farmers who use the Internet do not use it, the farmers' vegetable yield per mu, net income and household per capita net income will drop by 10.88%, 13.96% and 9.46%. When farmers who do not use the Internet use it, the farmers' vegetable output, net income and family per capita net income will rise by 13.62%, 16.66% and 11.64%. Internet use has the most excellent effect on the net income of vegetables, followed by the yield per mu, and the net income per household is the lowest. ③ Compared with small-scale farmers, Internet use has a better impact on the welfare of large-scale farmers, which also widens the welfare gap between farmers to a certain extent. Based on this, make suggestions to strengthen information infrastructure, improve information technology training, and adjust support policies promptly.

Use and Management of Animal Manure by the Communal Farmers, Seke District, Mashonaland East Province, Zimbabwe

Poor handling and storage practices reduce the manure quality as a fertilizer. A survey was done in the Seke communal area, Zimbabwe to establish common manure management practices, determine factors that influence use of manure and determine effects of the manure management practices on vegetable yield. A structured questionnaire was administered to 222 respondents from April to August 2019. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were done using SPSS. Chi-square tests and Spearman rank correlation were done to test for associations and the non-cause-effect relationship between different independent variables and farmers’ management practice of manure respectively. 88% of the respondents owned <1 ha of land and chicken manure was frequently (51%) used but with least (<0.5 t/ha) application quantities. Cattle manure was applied in largest (> 0.5 t/ha) quantities and >50% of the farmers were void of information on animal manure management. Fencing only was the common type of animal housing but had negative effects on quantity and quality of the manure. Drylot was most common (90%) manure management practice and different manure management practices had significantly (P<0.05) varied effects on vegetable yield. Drying manure resulted in significantly (P<0.05) low losses in manure quality. Generally, poultry and pigs manure had higher nutrient content compared to cattle and goat manure. Animal housing affected the quantity and quality of the manures as a fertilizer. Extension service programs like vocational training on manure management, exposure visits between farmers as well as a lead farm approach are necessary.

Performance of IPM Techniques on Pesticide use and Yield of Vegetables

Background: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an approach for plant protection that was de­signed to reduce the need of chemical control. It is a complex, knowledge-based technology that combines biological, cultural and chemical control methods to keep pests below economically acceptable level. This study was done to assess the impact of IPM technology on pesticides use and yield of vegetable crops.Methods: A total of five hundred vegetable grower farmers from Banke and Surkhet districts of Lumbini and Karnali provinces, respectively, were purposively selected as the study area. These districts are the major vegetable growing areas in Nepal. Yield function was developed in estimating the functional relationship. Pesticide input was used as independent variable to know the effect of pesticide on vegetable yield. To detect the impact of IPM-technology on vegetable yield linear regression was used in this study.Result: IPM practicing farmers were significantly younger and more educated than control farmers. Pesticides and bio-pesticides were the major inputs used for controlling pests and diseases. Based on the sign and coefficient of the IPM (practice) variable, it has been concluded that use of IPM has positive and significant effect on the net revenue from the vegetables.

Autumn Leaf Litter and Its Biochar Amendment on Soil Nitrous Oxide Emission, Plant Growth, and Nutrient Uptake of Komatsuna and Spinach Grown in Potted Soils

A pot experiment was conducted to assess the effect of fallen leaf litter and its biochar amendment on vegetable growth and N2O emissions from two successive vegetable crops. Four treatments; 1) control (no amendment), 2) leaf litter, 3) leaf litter biochar, and 4) combination of leaf litter and biochar were established before planting the first crop (komatsuna) but no additional amendment was done for the second crop (spinach) to assess the residual effects of the treatments. The results showed that application of leaf litter either alone or combined with biochar significantly decreased vegetable yields and nutrient uptake while increasing N2O emissions from both crops. Conversion of leaf litter to biochar and its amendment showed no significant differences in vegetable yield, but nutrient uptake was improved when compared with the control. Biochar amendment significantly reduced soil N2O emission in the first crop but no significant effect was observed in the successive spinach crop although the amount emitted was less compared with the control. Therefore, conversion of municipal leaf litter to biochar and its amendment to vegetable soils will be one of the best solutions for reducing soil N2O emission while maintaining vegetable yield.

Suitabilityof Different Winter Vegetables with Sweet Gourd

The experiment was conducted at Joydebpur and Rajbari Farm of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute during two successive rabi seasons (2014-16) to find out the suitable vegetable for intercropping with sweet gourd for higher productivity and economic return. Six intercrop combinations of sweet gourd and vegetables viz., T1 = Sole sweet gourd, T2 = Sweet gourd (2 m x 2 m) + cabbage (50 cm x 50 cm), T3 = Sweet gourd (2m x 2m) + cauliflower (50 cm x 50 cm), T4 = Sweet gourd (2 m x 2 m) + radish (20 cm x 25 cm), T5 = Sweet gourd (2 m x 2 m) + lettuce (50 cm x 50 cm), T6 = Sweet gourd (2 m x 2 m) + tomato (50 cm x 50 cm) were tested at Joydebpur and Rajbari. The highest mean sweet gourd yield (31.37 t ha-1 at Joydebpur and 34.54 t ha-1 at Rajbari) was recorded in sole sweet gourd over the years. The highest mean vegetable yield (42.87 t ha-1 at Joydebpur and 61.40 t ha-1 at Rajbari) was recorded in sweet gourd + cabbage combination. Maximum mean sweet gourd equivalent (SEY) yield (72.55 t ha-1), highest gross return (Tk. 362775 ha-1 and BCR (2.98) were recorded in sweet gourd + cabbage combination over the years at Joydebpur. The maximum mean SEY (79.38 t ha-1), highest gross return (Tk. 396905 ha-1) and BCR (3.25) were recorded in sweet gourd + cauliflower combination at Rajbari. Two year results revealed that sweet gourd + cabbage and cauliflower might be suitable intercrop combination for getting maximum yield and economic return Bangladesh Agron. J. 2018, 21(2): 7-11

Response of Bio-priming in okra for vegetable production

The field experiment was conducted at District Seed Farm, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal in summer season of 2011 and 2012. Pre-sowing bio-priming was done with Trichoderma viride and Pseudomonas fluorescens with an un-primed control to assess the trend of okra varieties viz., Lalu, Arka Anamika, Ramya, Satsira, Lady Luck,Debpusa Jhar,Japani Jhar and Barsha Laxmi due to bio-priming of seeds towards vegetable production Significant variation among the varieties was noted for all the characters studied. Okra variety Lalu gave highest vegetable yield per plant in both years and it was statistically at par with Arka Anamika. Vegetable yield per plant was increased by 4.33 to 20.08% in first year and 3.68 to 19.60% in second year with T. viride as compared to P. fluorescens and un-primed control. Individual varieties indicated that vegetable yield per plant was maximum with Lalu when priming was made with both the bio-inoculants followed by Arka Anamika during both years. Hence, Lalu and Arka Anamika may be recommended for experimental region for higher yield and pre-sowing seed bio-priming may be recommended with both T.viride and P. fluorescens for enhanced vegetable yield of okra.