Economic Performance of Soil and Water Conservation Practicesin Burkina Faso

The continuous degradation of agroecosystems is a major concern for Sub-Saharan African countries, particularly Burkina Faso. To fight against this problem, various research projects and programs have implemented Soil and Water Conservation practices (SWC) in Northern Burkina Faso. The objective of this study was to assess the economic performance of stone rows, grass strips, zaï, filtering dikes, half-moons and agroforestry on agricultural production in this part of Burkina Faso. Stochastic Frontier Analysis was used to estimate SWC’s technical efficiency. Results indicated that the cost for SWC construction did not influence white sorghum and pearl millet yield. However, an increase of 1% in the investment for SWC implementation results in a 0.42% increase in groundnut yield and 0.19% in cowpea yield. Although, the half-moon technique had a positive effect on the farmer’s technical efficiency, the effects of stone rows, filtering dikes, zaï and grass strips were not significant. Given the tremendous efforts that farmers develop to implement these anti-erosion practices, one recommendation is that policy makers strengthen the technical, financial and equipment supports to farmers for efficient implementation of SWC techniques to ensure sustainability of agricultural production systems in Northern Burkina Faso.

The Effect of Rainfall on Yellow Crude on Mangosis Fruit (Garciniamangostana L.)

The research was carried out through case studies at six locations of mangosteen production centers in West Sumatra during the 2018 harvest season. The results showed that mangosteen fruit damage by yellow sap was distinguished from yellow sap in exocarp and endocarp with varying percentages between research locations. There was no correlation between yellow sap in exocarp and endocarp (r=0.0656). Yellow sap in exocarp and endocarp correlate with rainy days. The intensity of rainfall during the fruit development period does not correlate with yellow latex in the endocarp but the fluctuation in rainfall is very influential. Yellow sap at the lowest endocarp (15%) was found at the location of Station-5 with the lowest rainy day (44 days) and low rainfall fluctuations (40-240 mm/month) and the highest (47%) at Station-3 (104 days rain and rainfall fluctuations 96-512 mm/month). The Station-4 area with lower rainy days (80 days) but has high rainfall fluctuations (73-954 mm/month) also shows yellow latex at a higher endocarp (35%) compared to other locations. Yellow gum at the lowest exocarp (32%) found in Station-2 (63 rainy days, 00 m asl) and highest (69%) in Station-6 (94 rainy days, 490 m asl). Effect of rainy days and altitude on the sap yellow on the skin of the fruit can be explained through its relationship with environmental conditions needed for the proliferation of insects that cause yellow sap on the mangosteen rind.

Adaptive Management to Climate Change and Its Barriers in the Brazilian Amazon

Studies on barriers to climate change adaptation identify many underlying drivers but describe few processes whereby adaptation is implemented. We contribute to the literature by describing how adaptive capacity relates to project cycle in small-scale communities where local stakeholders combine knowledge and barriers affecting adaptive management. Our study focused on two floodplain landscapes in the Brazilian Amazon where fisheries were identified as a current concern, potentially leading to future social conflict if not properly addressed. At both sites, we adopted participatory research to design an adaptive management framework for the analysis of socio-ecological barriers influencing local decision-making by fishermen and farmers. The comparative analysis provided insights into several actions that could support overcoming barriers to the governance of natural resources in each phase of the project cycle. Adaptation actions included fostering local participation and tools to facilitate knowledge generation and revising the role of the central government in natural resource management. We found that due to the slow capacity to adapt their practices, institutions regulating fisheries tend to work as a barrier for adaptation processes.

Effect of Nitrogenous Fertilizer on the Vegetative Growth and Yield Attribute of Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of chemical fertilizer on the pea growth and yield attributes. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of chemical fertilizer alone and in combination. This study consists of three different nitrogen levels (90, 100 and 110 kg ha-1as urea), three different levels of phosphorus (60, 70 and 80 P2O5 kg ha-1 as DAP) and their combination. Treatments were arranged in a complete randomized block design with three replications. The results showed that both the single and combined application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer increased the growth and yield attribute of the pea plant. Maximum number of primary (6.91) and secondary branches per plant (7.97), number of leaves per plant (12.50) and plant height (51.24 cm) was attained by the combine application of P80+N110. Similarly, the maximum increase in yield parameters such as pod length (7.5 cm), number of pods per plant(7.23), pod weight (12.50 g) and number of grains per pod was obtained in P80+N110. In general, combined application of fertilizers significantly increased all the growth and yield attribute of the pea plant when compared to fertilizers applied alone with respect to control.

Use of Agro-Industrial By-Products in Animal Feed at Modern and Semi-Modern Farms of Urban Community of Niamey (UCN): State Places

<em>The study was conducted in Urban Community of Niamey at modern and semi-modern farms provided an overview use of agro-industrial by-products in animal feed. Among 57 farms only 17 farms, including 10 beef farms, 2 sheep farms and 5 poultry farms were systematically surveyed. All farm managers are men. 60 and 33% are respectively officials at the level of poultry farms and ruminant farms. Farmers make up 25%, all of which own beef farms. There is also a predominance of adults, 60% at poultry level and 58.33% at ruminant farms. We note the use of a variety of agro-industrial by-products in animal feeds, in this case by-products derived from vegetable processing (wheat bran, exfoliated cotton cake) and animal processing (fish and fish meal ...). There are also some concentrates for poultry feed. Agribusiness by-products are increasingly used in urban livestock production but their valorization needs to be improved.</em>

The Influence of Plastic Mulching Materials and Sowing Dates on the Yield and Yield Components of Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

<p><em>The use of plastic mulches affects the microclimate in the vicinity of the</em><em> </em><em>plant by modifying the radiation on the soil surface and reduce the loss of water. </em><em>Pea is more nutritious and 2^nd food source after cereals at Pakistan, but due to lake of proper management, yield is still not up to mark as compare to developed world</em><em>. To reduce this problem, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of mulching material and sowing dates on the yield of Pea.</em><em> The study consisted of three different mulching materials (Polythene Black, Polythene Blue and Polythene Brown) with three different sowing dates (1^st, 15^th and 30^th</em><em> </em><em>October) arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design</em><em> </em><em>with three replications. The results showed that different sowing dates and mulching materials had significant</em><em> </em><em>effect on the yield parameters of Pea. Regarding sowing dates, maximum</em><em> </em><em>days to pod formation (8.08 days), pods plant^?1 (21.25), Pod weight (18.84 g) and pod yield (4.39 tons ha^?1) were noted in pea sown on October 1^st. Whereas, minimum data of days to pod formation (3.08 days), pod plant^?1</em><em> </em><em>(15.34), pod weight (13.17 g) and pod yields (2.69tons ha^?1) were recorded in pea sown on October 30^th. In case of mulching types maximum number of pods plant^?1 (19.00), pod length (6.89 cm), seeds pod^?1 (7.78), pod weight (17.34 g) and pod yield (3.69 tons ha^?1) were observed in pea mulched with Polythene Black, while minimum</em><em> </em><em>pods plant^-1, pod length, seeds pod^-1, pod weight and pod yield were found in control. The study suggested that pea should be sown on October 1^st while mulched with Polythene Black to produce maximum yield and production in agro environment of district Peshawar.</em></p>

Lime Fertilizer with Prolonged Balanced Effect Period

<p><em>Soil acidification and decalcification are mostly continuous. From the aspect of soil quality maintenance and improvement, the soil requires stable calcium content. The more acidic is the soil and the finer are the lime fertilizer particles, the easier they dissolve, and the soil becomes poor in calcium. In order to modify the rate and duration of lime fertilizer dissolution, this work included investigation of solubility and dissolution rates of various fractions of limestone. Based on the dissolution rates of particles with different sizes, the content of different fractions can be calculated so as to make the solubility of lime fertilizer more stable and long-term. A long-term uniform solubility provides a more stable available calcium content in the soil, which facilitates the formation and development of beneficial soil characteristics. In the field trials, upon liming with a fertiliser with prolonged effect time, the content of available Ca in soil was more stable and remained at optimum level also in 4^rd</em>-<em>5^th year. </em></p>

Experiment of Dutch Tulip Cultivation in Open Field in Shanghai, China—Effect of Temperature Change on Flowering Duration

<p><em>In recent years, a large number of Dutch tulip varieties have been cultivated in the open field of Shanghai Flower Port (The biggest tulip park in China). In this paper, nine tulip varieties’ growth period data were recorded for this experiment. By comparing the flowering duration of different varieties, it is concluded that planting early flowering varieties in Shanghai is more economical. At the end of this paper, by correlation detection method, it is concluded that there is a negative correlation between the flowering duration and temperature in Shanghai, China.</em></p>

Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Rhizosphere Soil

<p><em>The rhizosphere soil arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi will affect the absorption of heavy metal substances by the host plants. The effects of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are inhibitory and conversion effects. The type and quantity of AMF fungi are different, and there are also differences in the absorption of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere soil. Changes in the accumulation of heavy metals will affect the growth of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere soil. In this paper, a preliminary investigation is made as to whether the AMF fungus number will affect the absorption of heavy metal Cd. Experiments show that with the increase of soil spores, the available cadmium content of soil also tends to increase.</em></p>

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Historical and Projected Methane Emissions from Rice Cultivation in Malaysia (1990-2030)

<p><em>Global warming and climate change has reached the alarming levels due to increase of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere which includes carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O). Flooded rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation has been identified as one of the prominent global agricultural sources of anthropogenic CH₄ emissions. Moreover, it has been estimated that global rice production is responsible for 11% of total anthropogenic CH₄ emissions. The inventory of CH₄ emission from rice cultivation in Malaysia was estimated from 1990 to 2014 and was also used as basis for computing the projected emissions up to 2030 by using Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model. Results showed that CH₄ emissions is higher from granary area (continuously flooded) than non-granary area (rain-fed) due to different water management practices. Continuously flooded irrigation system which lead to anaerobic conditions emit almost (75%) higher CH₄ than rain-fed irrigation system. Emissions forecasted will be continuously increase from 2015 to 2030 within the confidence limits. Emissions were forecasted to increase up to 88 Gg by 2030 due to increase of country population which will lead to expansion of cultivation area in order to fulfil country needs.</em></p>