Effect of pH on Soil Chemical Properties and Maize Performance in Abakaliki, Nigeria

Background: Low soil productivity in Nigeria and Africa sub sahara is considered as one of the major causes of food insecurity and under nutrition. This area is considered among the most regions affected by acidity on soil nutrients optimization. Despite of its severity, there is limited knowledge about limiting effect of pH on nutrients availability and maize yield in the state. Evolving a technology that does not depend on traditional system of amendment for pH assessment for increased soil productivity must first of all go through a good knowledge of the nature and distribution of soil studied. The present study aimed to evaluate three pH (4, 7 and 9) values on soil chemical properties in the state and assess maize performance under these conditions in order to control and manage pH related problems. Methods: In the field-laboratory investigation during 2018-2019 at different localities of Ebonyi State were surveyed. Three sampling localities were selected based on geographical situation, climate and local condition. In the laboratory, the soil samples of natural stock collected were processed for mean pH values and confirmed with pH meter using standard laboratory method. Maize was used as test crop to assess effect of pH on its performance. Result: Our investigations in Ebonyi State have allowed us to inventory three pH values. Among the inventoried pH values, some are regarded adverse for soil productivity. The implication of soil pH on nutrients availability and maize performance was discussed. The current work will be a complementary contribution of detailed study of effect of pH on soil productivity.

Yield Reductions of Wheat Cultivar Obora (UTIQUE96/FLAG-1) due to Russian Wheat Aphid (Diuraphis noxia) Infestation under Field Conditions at Selected Districts of West Showa Zone, Ethiopia

Background: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is an important cereal crop as being consumed as staple food in the world as well as in Ethiopia. The production of wheat in Ethiopia decreased due to the incidence of insect pests. Out of insects’ pests the Russian wheat aphid (Diuraphis noxia) is the recent one that causes yield loss either directly or indirectly. Methods: The experiment was carried out at selected districts of West Showa zone, Ethiopia during off cropping season 2019 to evaluate the yield reduction in wheat crop due to the invasion of Russian wheat aphids. Malamar, Dimethoate, neem seeds, leaves, Beaveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae were used in form of spray. Result: However, Malamar and Dimethoate highly significantly lowered the population of Diuraphis noxia. The combination of Beaveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopleae significantly lowered the population of Russian wheat aphid. The combination of Neem leaf and Neem seeds, as well as Beaveria bassiana, proved to be effective against Russian wheat aphid yet they were protected and sound against the environments. Malamar showed the maximum decrease in Diuraphis noxia populations followed by Dimethoate, the combination of Beaveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopleae.

Evaluating the Antifungal Activity of Some Traditional Medicinal Plant Extracts against Alternaria solani (Tomato Early Blight Pathogen) in Ethiopia

Background: Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) belongs to the family Solanaceae. In Ethiopia, control of early blight is largely dependent on fungicidal application. There is a research need to identify effective botanical extracts to control Alternaria solani that cause early blight of tomato and for evaluation of plant extracts through different solvents on the target pathogen. Methods: In vitro experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of crude extracts of 16 selected medicinal plants against Alternaria solani. Thus, crude extracts were extracted from medicinal plants with different solvents (methanol, ethanol and petroleum at (25%, 50% and 100%) concentrations. The Alternaria solani was isolated from infected tomato leaves showing early blight symptoms. Evaluation of plant extracts was carried out against Alternaria solani using food poisoned technique on PDA. Result: Results showed that most of the methanolic extract plants were showed significant inhibition of the mycelial growth as compared to ethanolic and petroleum ether extracts. A higher rate of mycelial reduction was recorded by ethanol extracts of Allium sativum at all concentrations (100%) followed by methanol extracts of Allium sativum at 25%, 50%, 100% concentration (90.02%, 97.01%, 100% respectively). The effectiveness of extracts against Alternaria solani depends on use at the higher concentrations and various solvents. For crude extracts that have shown higher inhibitory effects against Alternaria solani in vitro conditions, actual chemical compounds should be identified. Furthermore, it is also important to evaluate these plants on other microbes, study to test in vivo and to assess their real potential field condition wherever early blight is an important disease of tomato.

Investigating Field Efficacy and Safety of Conjunctival Brucella abortus S19 Vaccine in Cattle

Background: Vaccination is the most fundamental strategy in the control and eradication of brucellosis. Several vaccination programs with different vaccines have been carried out in many countries in which brucellosis continues to be a problem in livestock. One of the recommended vaccines against brucellosis in cattle is the live Brucella abortus S19 vaccine. The aim of this study is to evaluate the results of field safety and efficacy trials for the conjunctival Brucella abortus S19 vaccine prior to the mass vaccination program. Methods: In this study, 81 female cattle were vaccinated with a reduced dose of Brucella abortus S19 vaccine with the conjunctival route. The immune response after vaccination was investigated by suggested serological tests; namely, Rose Bengal Plate Test, Serum Agglutination Test and Complement Fixation Test. Result: No adverse effect was observed within the scope of safety. Isolation of vaccine strain was observed only in a milk sample of lactating animals. Excluding the diagnosis criteria of the serological tests, humoral immune response was observed in most of the animals by all the serological tests one month after vaccination. Antibody levels lasted approximately 4 months after vaccination. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrated that besides vaccine-induced antibodies, the vaccine including changes in dose and administration way in this study did not cause any significant risks for the target animals.

Genetic Diversity Associated with Eco-geographical Parameters, Morphological Characteristics and Soil Analyzes of Common Vetch (Vicia sativa L.) in Algeria

Background: In the present study, we have set a goal, to study the genetic variability and phylogenetic affinities of 26 spontaneous Vicia sativa L. accessions collected in Algeria, as part of the recovery and enhancement of the local genetic heritage and its integration into the breeding and varietal creation programs. Methods: Morphological traits, performance parameters and phenological stages of each accession were tracked during an experimental test in pots under greenhouse conditions from December 29, 2019 to June 1, 2020. An eco-geographical characterization of samples was also carried out through geographical coordinates. On the other side and for the first time in Algeria, soil analyses of each site were undertaken. Result: The phylogenetic study of accessions confirm the taxonomic complexity of the group V. sativa L. According to the principal component analyses and kruskal-Wallis test, the most segregating variables with the highest values and the largest K variance ratios are most of the attributes associated with the flower, pod and seed. The association of the two dissimilarity matrix carried out by a Mantel test between the morphological and eco-geographic parameters showed a significant effect with a p value = 0.004 at the threshold of alpha=0.05 and a correlation coefficient r (AB) = 0.156.

The Effect of Intercropping of Lablab (Lablab purpureus L.) and Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) at Different Planting Densities on in vitro and in sacco Dry Matter Digestibility of Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum)

Background: The advantage of intercropping is the more efficient utilization of the all available resources and the increased productivity compared with each sole crop of the mixture. If cowpea and Lablab intercropping with Napier grass its nutritional values was improved. Methods: The experimental design was factorial combination arrangement in randomized complete block design with three inter and intra spaces (1 m × 0.5 m, 0.75 m × 0.5 m, 0.5 m × 0.5 m) and intercropping with two tropical legumes. Treatments were T1= Pure Napier grass at 1 m row spacing, T2= Napier grass intercropped with lablab at 0.75 m row spacing, T3= Napier grass intercropped with cowpea at 0.5 m row spacing, T4= Napier grass intercropped with cowpea at 1 m row spacing, T5= Napier grass intercropped with lablab at 0.5 m row spacing, T6= Pure Napier grass at 0.75 m row spacing, T7= Napier grass intercropped with lablab at 1 m row spacing, T8= Napier grass intercropped with cowpea at 0.75 m row spacing, T9= Pure Napier grass at 0.5 m row spacing and totally nine treatments were used. Soil samples were collected before and after forage harvested. Result: Napier grass intercropped with lablab and cowpea at different planting densities had significant effect (P less than 0.05) on the in vitro dry and organic matter digestibility (IVDMD, IVOMD) and increased digestibility. The OM degradation constant was significantly different (P less than 0.05) but ‘ED’ was not and for DM degradation ‘c’ and ‘b’ were non-significant (P greater than 0.05) for Napier grass intercropped with lablab and cowpea at different planting densities. In conclusion, Napier grass intercropped with lablab and cowpea at a planting density of 24 plants m-2 was better choice for high yield and forage quality.

Assessing Crop and Water Productivity Performance of Different Crops and Cropping Systems

Background: Freshwater in sufficient quantity and adequate quality is a prerequisite for human societies and natural ecosystems. To adequately feed 9.3 billion people in 2050, consumptive water use (i.e. transpired water) by all food and fodder crops needs to increase from its present estimated level of 7000 km3/year to 12,586 km3/year. However, fresh water resources are increasingly getting scarce because of increased competition among a multitude of users. Getting agriculture to perform with progressively smaller allocation of renewable water resources will remain a challenge on global scale. To meet the challenge there is an urgent need to improve the crop water productivity to ensure the sustainability of agriculture. Methods: An experiment was carried out at village Menawali, Hanumangarh, Rajasthan during both kharif and rabi seasons to assess productivity, economics, N-uptake and water use of different crops. An area of 187 ha comprising 25 farmers irrigated by common irrigation channels were selected to collect the information. The information required i.e. soil, crop management, growth, phonological, yields, water balance, N-uptake and water use efficiency of each crops were collected from 15 farmers. Bt-cotton and clusterbean of kharif and wheat and Indian mustard in rabi were prominent crops, cotton-wheat, cotton-mustard, clusterbean-wheat and clusterbean-mustard were major cropping sequences of the study region. Result: In kharif season, Bt-cotton gave higher economic yields than clusterbean and amongst rabi season crops, economic yields of wheat and mustard were 4255, 1778 kg/ha, respectively. The economic yield of cropping sequences varied from 3741-6514 kg/ha and were higher for cotton-wheat (6218 kg/ha), intermediate for clusterbean-wheat (5785 kg/ha) and lower for cotton-mustard (3741 kg/ha) and clusterbean-mustard (3308 kg/ha). The cotton-wheat (₹1181.2 mm) sequence had highest water use. Clusterbean-wheat cropping system recorded highest water productivity (16.5 kg/ha mm) followed by clusterbean-mustard (14.9 kg/ha mm). The clusterbean-mustard (₹456/ha mm) cropping sequence was most profitable and fetched highest net return followed by clusterbean-wheat (₹383/ha mm).

Seasonal Yield Response Factor for Red Bombay Onion (Allium cepa L.) Variety in Arba Minch, Ethiopia

Background: For better water resources management in the areas of water shortage for crop production, deficit irrigation is very important. The understanding of the yield response factor to water deficit is crucial for efficient irrigation water management. Deficit irrigation for studying yield response factors is always practiced in the way of stressing the demand of the crops. The present study was done for the determination of the seasonal yield response factor of red Bombay onion variety under Arba Minch agro climate condition. Furthermore, it also examined the effect of furrow irrigation systems on the seasonal yield response factor. Methods: The experiment was conducted from August to November 2019. The experiment had six treatments, which were the combination of two furrow irrigation systems and three irrigation levels. Data were collected for soil moisture before and after each irrigation and bulb yield. The seasonal yield response factors were determined through simple linear regressions using SPSS software. Result: When considering the furrow irrigation system as a factor, the seasonal yield response factor for alternate furrow irrigation system was 1.18 while for paired row furrow irrigation system was 1.07. This red Bombay variety of onion clearly shows more sensitive to water stress for alternative furrow irrigation systems than paired row furrow irrigation systems. Therefore, in the area of water shortage paired row furrow irrigation system is better than alternate furrow irrigation system. The seasonal yield response factor as a wall for red Bombay onion variety in Arba Minch agro-ecological condition was 1.12. Therefore, the red Bombay onion variety in Arba Minch agroclimate condition was sensitive to water stress.

Influence of Vegetable and Fruit Wastes Vermicompost on the Growth and Yield of Black Gram (Vigna mungo L.)

Background: Composting is the process of breaking down of organic matter using living organisms which can be used as manure for soil conditioning. Vermicomposting is the rapid decomposition of biowastes using earthworm species which will enhance the growth and yield of plants. Methods: The vermicomposting of vegetable and fruit wastes was carried out during summer season (May-July) and by using the vermicompost a pot culture experiment was conducted in black gram for three months from August to October, 2019. The treatments consist of combinations of vermicomposted wastes and cowdung along with bioinoculants, Soil served as control. The biometric parameters such as root length, shoot length, fresh weight and dry weight on 15, 35, 55 DAS and yield characters like number of pods/plants, number of seeds/pods, pod length, weight of seed/pod, pod fresh weight and pod dry weight were recorded and statistically analysed. The present study has been attempted to convert the vegetables and fruit waste into compost as manure and analyse its effect on vegetative growth and yield parameters of Black gram (Vigna mungo L.). Result: The highest value of shoot length, root length, fresh weigh and dry weight were noted in fruit waste + cow dung + Pleurotus eous (APK1) + Trichoderma asperelloides + Eudrilus eugeniae on 15, 35 and 55 day after sowing (DAS) and the least was reported in control (only soil). The application of T8 treatment reported the highest yield characters which were followed by other treatments and control on 15, 35 and 55 DAS. The study concluded that T8 (F.W + cow dung + P. eous + T. asperelloides + Eudrilus eugeniae) is an effective biocompost for the growth and yield of black gram (Vigna mungo L.) which is eco-friendly.

Cultural, Morphological and Pathogenic Variability in Alternaria cyamopsidis Causing Alternaria Blight of Clusterbean in Rajasthan

Background: Alternaria cyamopsidis (Rang. and Rao) causes Alternaria blight of clusterbean and it is one of the significant disease of clusterbean. Studies were conducted to compare the Cultural, morphological and pathogenic variability among ten isolates of Alternaria cyamopsidis from clusterbean, in five districts of Rajasthan viz., Bikaner, Barmer, Churu, Hanumangarh and Jaipur. Methods: During 2016-17 exhaustive survey was conducted in clusterbean growing areas of Rajasthan and collected diseased samples of clusterbean caused by Alternaria. All the samples were processed for isolation, purification and their pathogenicity was proved in cagehouse and laboratory and standard methods were adopted for cultural and morphological variability study. Result: All the isolates showed variation in their morphological characters, i.e., colony color and shape; conidial number, size, width, length, shape and septation on PDA. Out of ten isolates two isolate, viz., AlcyJp1 and AlcyJp2 showed maximum colony diameter 89.50 and 86.30 mm, respectively. All the isolates varied in their spore length and width and virulent on the tested variety of clusterbean for virulence. AlcyJp1 was the most virulent and produced maximum (65.50%) disease intensity, followed by AlcyJp2 isolate (61.22%).