Agriculture

The aim of this study was to determine the amount of input-output energy used in broiler production and to make an economic analysis for broiler production in different sizes of farms in Iran. Data were collected from 70 producers, using face to face questionnaire method in Ardabil province. The surveyed farms were classified into three groups of small (less than 15000bird), medium (15000 to 30000 bird) and large farms (more than 30000 bird). The results indicated the total average energy input and output of 154and 27 GJ (1000bird)-1, respectively. The highest share in energy consumption belonged to fuel (61%) followed by feed (35%) and electricity (3%). Also, the results showed that large farms use the least amount of total energy per 1000bird; while, the highest energy output was obtained from medium farms. The share of direct, indirect, renewable and non-renewable energies was 64.62%, 35.38%, 35.28% and 64.72% respectively. The average energy use ef?ciency and productivity were calculated 0.18 and 0.02 kg MJ-1, respectively. Cost analysis showed that total average cost of production was 3349 $ (1000bird)-1. The bene?t-cost ratio and productivity were 1.09 and 0.77 kg $-1, respectively. Mainly, the large farms had the highest energy ratio (0.21) and benefit to cost ratio (1.11); indicating a better management of energy and input consumptions in these farms.

Drought stress is one of the major abiotic stresses in arid and semi-arid land of agriculture worldwide. This study was performed to evaluation of Drought stress on vegetative and reproductive characteristics of Zinnia elegans . Experimental design was CRD with 3 replication, At elongation stage, the plants were provided different degrees of drought stress: (1) mild drought with 65–70 % of the soil water capacity; (2) moderate drought with 45–65 % of the soil water content; (3) severe drought with 20–30 % of soil water capacity and; (4) control with 70 % of soil water capacity. Studied traits included: height, number of branches, stem diameter, leaf number, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root fresh weight, root dry weight, proline, total chlorophyll. Totally, our results showed that drought stress reduced all studied traits except proline, and by increasing of stress, reduction was increased but this trend was different for proline. Severe stress showed 54, 40, 40, 46, 48, 64, 34, 66 and 53% reduction for height, number of branches, stem diameter, leaf number, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root fresh weight, root dry weight and total chlorophyll in compare to control, respectively.

farm households’ access and constraints to portable and irrigation water supply in Ebonyi State, Nigeria was studied. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select a total of 180 farm households. Primary data were collected with the use of structured questionnaire and interview schedule; the data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The result of the study shows that the farmers lacked access to sanitation, potable and irrigation water. Farm household access to potable and irrigation water were 46% and 0% with average potable and irrigation water insecurity level at 77%. Most of the household water collection was supplied by the children and this affected class attendance and school enrolment. The result of X2 and regression shows that there is a strong relationship between the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers and their access to water. The respondents identified poor government attitude towards potable and irrigation water provision, lack of money to pay for the users cost, and seasonality of natural water sources as the constraints to access water. The respondents further identified Government and Non Governmental Organization full involvement in the provision of potable and irrigation water, education or public awareness campaign for proper water management and utilization as ways of mitigating water scarcity. It was recommended that government should articulate and integrate rural water provision into the mainstream policy framework among others.

In this study, the effect of paddy dehusking rate in rubber the roll sheller at four levels of 60, 70, 80 and 90% were investigated on some milling properties as head brown rice yield (HBY), head rice yield (HRY) and whiteness of three Iranian rice varieties namely Binam, Khazar and Sepidroud was examined. The results revealed that the HBY decreased from 92.58 to 89.72%, 90.83 to 86.61% and 84.83 to 78.18% for Binam, Khazar and Sepidroud varieties, respectively as the paddy dehusking rate increased from 60 to 90%. However, the highest HRY of 82.17% was observed for Binam variety at the dehusking rate of 80% and the lowest value of 65.97% was recorded for Sepidroud variety at the husking rate of 60%. There was an increasing trend for rice whiteness with decreasing in paddy dehusking rate. It was decreased from 36.1 to 30.8, 36.5 to 30.1 and 35.4 to 29.8 for the varieties of Binam, Khazar and Sepidroud varieties, respectively as the paddy dehusking rate increased from 60 to 90%.

The study was carried out for two winter seasons of 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 at the Demonstration farm of Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources ,University of Kassala ,Halfa aljadidah. The objective of this to study the effect of sowing date and faba bean cultivar on the icidence of the leaf miner in faba bean. The Four cultivars were Hudeiba93, SML, Bassaber, Elddamer while three sowing dates were 5 November, 20 November and 5 December. Data were recorded for leaf miner infestation and grain yield components (number of pods, weight of 100 seed and seed weight kg /ha ).The results indicated that mean number of mines of L.trifolii in the third sowing date higher than those of first and second sowing dates, respectively. Also ,the highest number of pods per plant (6.27) was recorded in Hudeiba 93 which was significantly higher than SML cultivar. Moreover, the highest seed yield (871kg /ha) was recorded from Eddamer followed by Hudeiba 93(792kg /ha) and Bassaber (755 kg/ha) while lowest seed yield of (571 kg/ha) was recorded from SML. In conclusion, the highest seed yield of 1017kg /ha was recorded in Eddamer at second sowing date.

Rice is an important crop that plays a vital role in diets and economy of farmers in Katsina-Ala in northcentral Nigeria. In this study, Fuzzy set theory, parametric and limitation models were applied to determine the suitability of Katsina-Ala flood plains for rice production. Soils of two pedons were analyzed and the characteristics used as inputs in the model application. The result showed variability of suitability of the land qualities. Climate, soil depth and flood duration were highly suitable (S1= 95). Texture was moderate (S2). Soil pH and available P ratings showed currently not suitable (N1=20) for both pedons. Soil organic carbon was moderately suitable (S2) but most critical in the normalized pairwise comparison matrix. Salinity (EC) and CEC suitability was moderately suitable (S2). Parametric and non-parametric aggregate suitability showed moderate suitability (S2=63.8) for current index with fertility limitations (S2f). The potential index was high suitability (S2) for both pedons. Fuzzy regression between land index and observed rice yield was high (R2 = 0.90). The use of the three models could serve as spatially based decision-making parameters in agricultural land use planning but fuzzy method was recommended based on its relative advantage to other predictors.

Phenotypic and genotypic variability, heritability and correlation among growth parameters were examined in Dura x Pisifera (DxP) oil palm seedlings at the Oil Palm Research Institute Kade between July 2008-Feb 2010. All the characters studied were significantly and positively correlated with each other except leaf area ratio (LAR) in which the correlations were negative with 7 other traits. The highest correlations were between total plant dry weight and crop growth rate (CGR) and between leaf area and plant height. Net assimilation rate (NAR) and (CGR) had the highest phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation. For plant biomass the highest variation was observed in total plant dry weight. Broad sense heritability estimates (for growth parameters) were highest for LAR, NAR, LAI and CGR while for plant biomass the highest was for total plant dry weight. The implications of these findings in oil palm nursery management and seedlings selection are discussed.

Studies on levels of micronutrients and heavy metal concentration in soils provide vital information for best management options at all times. The study investigated levels of concentration of some heavy metals (Lead-Pb, Iron-Fe, Copper-Cu, Zinc-Zn and Manganese-Mn) on soils along Enugu-Abakaliki major express way in southeastern Nigeria in relation to the environmental and agronomic implication. Forty soil samples were collected at 0-40 cm depth from two environments (A and B). Results showed highly significant (P<0.01) mean lead (Pb) (16.37 mgkg-1) on the soils of Environment A than B (9.5 mgkg-1). Mean Pb in Ishieke I soil was significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of Boundary point II, Ezzamgbo II, and Ezzamgbo. Except Zn that was statistically similar, other metal mean values varied in concentration. Deficiency symptoms of macro- and micro-nutrients were observed on maize and tomato crops. Lime fertilizer was recommended. Continuous evaluation of soils for heavy metals should be an integral part of land use planning for long-term sustainability of farming systems and environmental stability.

Front line demonstrations on rain-fed direct seeded upland rice were carried out by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Simdega, Jharkhand. To demonstrate the improved technologies, frontline demonstrations were conducted in farmers fields. The objective was to show the potentiality of technologies along with package of practices analyse the constraints to provide feedback to the research system. The demonstration were conducted by selecting technologies on the basis of agro-ecosystem analysis through using PRA tools.. Intervention points were identified by consultation with farmers from problem- cause diagram. The deciding factors for selecting technologies under demonstrations were yield gap and percentage of farmers not following the recommended improved practices. Based on the finding it may be concluded that the top-down approach should be avoided and scientist- farmer interaction should be operationalised for programme formulation, implantation and assessment. This approach led to selection of right interventions for convincing the farmers in a better way about the production potentials of selected technologies. Due to selection of better technologies yield advantage was received to an extent of 58.9 %.

The present study discusses the growth performance of major agricultural crops in Maharashtra state, India. Important variables like area, production and yield were compiled for the period 1992-93 to 2011-12 from various published sources. There is a marked shift from the cultivation of food grains to commercial crops. Among food grains, the yield under coarse wheat declined 1.34 per cent between 1992-93 to 2011-12. Similarly, the performance of cotton, soybean, maize and gram in terms of area, production and yield was impressive during the study period. The use of modern varieties, irrigation and fertilizers were important factors that ensured higher growth in crop production. The results of crop growth indicate that the enhanced capital formation, better irrigation facilities, normal rainfall and improved fertilizer consumption helped to improve crop output in the state.