Effect of Inorganic Fertilizers and Farm Yard Manure on Agronomic Characteristics of Upland Rice Straw in Taita Taveta Highlands, Kenya

The study evaluated upland rice varietal agronomic characteristics and differences due to effects of fertilizer treatment and season at Taita Taveta University, Ngerenyi campus. The experiment was conducted during the short rains of 2018 and long rains of 2019. The experiment was a Randomized Complete Block Design with 3 replications. Individual plots measured 2.5 m by 2 m. Varieties evaluated were 17KH09010093B, WDR73 Hybrid, NERICA 1, NERICA 10 and Komboka. The treatments included were farm yard manure (8 tons ha-1), DAP at 75 kg ha-1, NPK (17:17:17) at 65 kg ha-1, and no fertilizer. Plant height, panicle length, leaf length, number of tillers, fresh weight, and dry weight were assessed. Variety, fertilizer and season had significant effects (P=0.05) on the morphological variables. NERICA 10 was the tallest variety at a mean of 72 cm in 2018 and a mean height of 61 cm in 2019. DAP treated plants were the tallest in both 2018 and 2019. Varieties were significantly different (P=0.0004) for panicle length. NERICA 10 had the longest panicles. Varietal effect was significant (P<0.001) for leaf length. NERICA 1 had the longest leaves in both seasons. DAP had the greatest effect on leaf length. Varieties differed significantly (P<0.001) in number of tillers per plant. Variety 17KH09010093B had the highest number of tillers per plant of 34.78 obtained in 2018. DAP resulted in the highest number of tillers. Variety and fertilizers interacted significantly (P=0.007) for foliage weight. WDR73 Hybrid out-yielded other varieties (149.31g) in fresh foliage weight. DAP resulted in the highest fresh morphological yield followed by NPK. There were significant differences in dry foliage weight among varieties and between seasons (P<0.001). Variety 17KH09010093B had the highest dry weight. Further studies on the socio–economics of fertilizer use should be conducted to provide reliable recommendations for upland rice production as forage.

Study on waxing of cut foliage post harvest life of few ornamental species

Enhancing the vase life of cut foliages is one of the prime goals of floriculturist and it is very interesting and important aspect of floriculture.The efforts were made to find out best waxing treatment for enhancing the vase life along with excellent quality maintenance for few cut foliage species .The objective was to evaluate optimum percent wax solution for improving post harvest life and quality of ornamental plants. Different wax emulsion treatments (0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 %) showed significant results in both quantitative and qualitative attributes of ornamental species. In Asparagus densiflorus ‘Sprengeri’ and Eucalyptus teritecornis,0.75% wax emulsion concentration recorded minimum foliage weight (5.62, 20.49 g) and minimum water uptake (5.60, 32.73 ml) respectively on 3rd day, while maximum foliage weight (0.90, 6.84 g) and maximum water uptake (1.13, 13.77 ml) was recorded on senescence day. In Caryota urens (Fishtail palm) 0.50% wax emulsion concentration recorded minimum foliage weight (9.71 g), minimum water uptake (6.53 ml) on 3rdday, while maximum foliage weight(1.83 g) and maximum water uptake (1.20 ml) on senescence day. In Heliconia psittachroum cv. Golden Torch, 1.00 % wax emulsion concentration recorded minimum foliage weight (28.85 g), minimum water uptake (20.35 ml) on 3rdday, whereas maximum foliage weight (15.83 g)and maximum water uptake (5.75 ml) on senescence day. There was improvement and increament in post harvest quality and vase life of studied ornamental cut foliages.

Effect of seed rate and sowing method on foliage production of different genotypes of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.)

A field experiment on coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) was conducted at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur during February 2009 to April 2009 to find out the optimum seed rate in relation to sowing methods for maximizing foliage yield of coriander. Four genotypes (CS001, CS002, CS003 and CS008) and three sowing methods (continuous line sowing spaced at 10 cm, 20 cm and broadcast method) and three levels of seed rate (30, 40 and 50 kg/ha) were used as treatment variables.. The result showed that genotype CS003 singly gave the maximum plant height, number of leaves/plant, single plant weight and plant weight/m2 and thus gave the highest foliage yield/ha. Line sowing (10 cm), broadcast method with seed rate @ 50 kg/ha independently produced the maximum foliage weight/m2 and foliage yield/ha. Line sowing (10 cm) with 50 kg/ha seed rate produced the highest foliage yield in case of CS001, CS002 and CS003 genotypes, which was closely followed by broadcast method and the same seed rate. But line sowing (10 cm) as well as broadcast method coupled with 40 kg/ha seed rate gave better foliage yield in genotype CS008. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v38i3.16970 Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 38(3): 435-445, September 2013

Potential for Halosulfuron to Control Eclipta (Eclipta prostrata) in Container-Grown Landscape Plants and Its Sorption to Container Rooting Substrate

Eclipta is a seed-borne summer annual that is problematic in the production of container-grown landscape plants. Halosulfuron at 70 g/ha is registered as a directed application to landscape areas but not to container-grown landscape plants. Halosulfuron was applied preemergence (PRE) to seeded eclipta and postemergence (POST) to progressively older eclipta seedlings at rates ranging from 0.18 to 100 g/ha. For halosulfuron PRE treatments, eclipta control was determined from the foliage weight of surviving seedlings. For halosulfuron POST treatments, control was determined from the weight of foliage regrowth following the removal of the treated foliage 2 wk after treatment. Nonlinear regression and log-logistic analysis indicated that the rate required for 90% control (I90) for halosulfuron PRE was 45 g/ha. For halosulfuron POST, theI90was 60 g/ha for plants having five or fewer true leaves and 98 g/ha for plants that had lateral branching from the basal crown. Analysis estimated theI90for flowering-sized eclipta exceeded 300 g/ha. Selective placement studies revealed that the phytotoxicity resulting from POST treatments occurs by foliar and root uptake, with foliar exposure having greater activity. For POST treatments that were limited to foliage-only contact, a split application increased control up to 25% compared with a single application of the same total dosage. However, control remained inadequate because the rate required for 75% control (I75) was 157 and 121 g/ha for single and split applications, respectively. Halosulfuron sorption by a pine bark–based rooting substrate, as used in container production, was 96% of the amount applied. The propensity for surface-applied halosulfuron to be leached in this substrate was evaluated by eclipta bioassay. After 2 wk, with 23 cm of cumulative irrigation and rainfall, halosulfuron was detected 12 cm below the substrate surface. The propensity for substrate-adsorbed halosulfuron to return to the water phase may also contribute to PRE activity for eclipta control.

Short-Term Impacts of Thinning Ponderosa Pine on Pandora Moth Densities, Pupal Weights, and Phenology

Second-growth ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) stands with outbreak populations of the pandora moth (Coloradia pandora) were thinned from below removing about half of the basal area. Thinning had no effect on pandora moth pupal density or weight, or emerging adult density in the following generation. However, adult emergence and egg hatch occurred 7-10 days earlier in thinned plots compared with unthinned plots. Egg and larval densities on a foliage weight basis were not significantly different between thinned and unthinned plots. Thinning stands infested with pandora moth will not significantly affect the course of an outbreak for at least one generation. Timing of direct controls for the pandora moth should consider the effect of stand density on insect phenology. West. J. Appl. For. 10(3):91-94.