World Journal of Agricultural Research

The study was undertaken at Dingaputa haor and its surrounding area with a view to investigate the biodiversity of plants, and birds. The taxonomic status of the species of the area was categorized into threatened, endangered, common, few and very few based on their richness, uses and conservational viewpoints. The total number of plant observed 152 species under 79 families and 37 species of birds under 24 families. The present total species diversity index H represent that plants belonged that 71 1.27 species, 41families.Cultivated crops have 24 species 2.40 and 11 families. The weeds had 57 species 1.51 and 23 families. The birds had 37 species 1.89 and 24 families, other aquatic faunal species 17 2.66 and 16 families. In the biodiversity of Dingaputa haor was decreasing day by day. Agricultural crops and other aquatic fauna were listed maximum but plants, and weeds diversity index were minimum.

World Journal of Agricultural Research. 2013, 1(4), 70-76. DOI: 10.12691/wjar-1-4-5
Pub. Date: August 03, 2013

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Optimization of Culture Conditions Affecting Carboxy Methyl Cellulase Production by Aspergillus Species

by K. V. Pavani, Gayathramma K. and N.Sunil kumar

Original Research

The aim of this study was to determine the potential of new Aspergillus strain isolated from electroplating industry to produce Carboxymethyl Cellulase from agriculture waste. Agricultural wastes have great potential for the production of value added products with special reference to enzymes. Corn husk was used as substrate for Carboxymethyl Cellulase (CMCase) production by Aspergillus species through submerged fermentation. Optimization of parameters such as pH, temperature, substrate concentration was performed for the optimal production of CMCase. The fungal strain produced highest CMCase activity (3.3±0.01 IU/ml) at 5% (w/v) level of corn husk as substrate at 28°C and pH 8 over 72 hrs of incubation.

World Journal of Agricultural Research. 2013, 1(4), 65-69. DOI: 10.12691/wjar-1-4-4
Pub. Date: August 03, 2013

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Allelopathic Effect of Some Weeds on the Germination of Seeds of Selected Crops Grown in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

by P.E. Usuah, G. N. Udom and I.D. Edem

Original Research

The allelopathic potentials of six dominant weeds at the Teaching and Research Farms of the Akwa Ibom State University and adjoining areas, often used for mulching and green manuring, were evaluated on the germination of the seeds of six commonly grown crops of the region. Extracts from 500g of finely chopped tops and roots each of Aspilia africana (Pers) C. D. Adams, Emilia sonchifolia (L) DC, Crotalaria retusa L, Chromolaena odorata (L) King & Robinson, Panicum maximum L., and Cyperus esculentus L., were obtained with one litre of distilled water. These were applied to seeds of Zea mays L., Citrullus lanatus Thunb, Abelmoschus esculentus (L) Moench, Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp, Glycine max (L) Merr, and Arachis hypogaea L. in petri dishes. The equivalence of 0, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0 and 12.0 Mg ha^-1 of finely chopped fresh tops of each weed were also applied to 1.0kg of heat-sterilized soil in planting polybags as mulches. Water extracts of the weeds (shoots and roots) reduced germination counts of the seeds by 10 to 100%. Cyperus esculentus L.shoots extracts was the most phytotoxic, followed by Panicum maximum L and Chromolaena odorata. The decomposing mulches showed varied but less inhibitory effects on the seeds with a trend toward increasing inhibitory power with increasing mulch level and decreasing seed size. The results revealed that a possible relationship between the low seed germination and poor seedling growths often observed in the area. However, further studies are needed to confirm the findings.

World Journal of Agricultural Research. 2013, 1(4), 59-64. DOI: 10.12691/wjar-1-4-3
Pub. Date: August 02, 2013

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Effect of Ultisol Structural Development in Two Land Forms of South Eastern Nigeria

by Edem I. Dennis, Uduak C. Udo_Inyang and Rosemary A. Essien

Original Research

Aggregate stability is an important factor in the functioning of soil. This is because it influences plant growth, root penetration, soil temperature, erosion and water transport and seedling emergence. Some soil characteristics play important role in improving soil aggregation and hence soil structure. Twelve soil profiles were sunk for the study. The relationship between structural indices; Mean weight diameter (MWD) and Water-stable aggregate from one side and some soil properties on the other side were assessed to compare the relative stable aggregates between the landforms. Structural development of CPS improved maize yield by 67.5% and cassava 35.3%. However, the linear regression results revealed that significant difference in the aggregate stability between the landforms was a function of organic C and hydrated iron oxides. Calcium contents also influence aggregation, but do not correlate well with any of the aggregation indices in these landforms. Moreover, the increase in sand and Na contents leads to dispersion of soil aggregate in the BRS and bad effect on soil drainage system and crop yield. Therefore, couple with high level of acidity, lime application in these soils would be antagonistic to aggregation, rather conservation farming is recommended.

World Journal of Agricultural Research. 2013, 1(4), 54-58. DOI: 10.12691/wjar-1-4-2
Pub. Date: June 28, 2013

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Genetics of Reniform Nematode Resistance in Gossypium arboreum Germplasm Line PI 529728

by John E. Erpelding and Salliana R. Stetina

Original Research

Reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis) is a serious pathogen of cotton in the United States and management has been difficult due to the lack of resistant upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) varieties. The diploid G. arboreum germplasm line PI 529728 was identified as a potential new source of R. reniformis resistance. Line PI 529728 was crossed with the highly susceptible G. arboreum germplasm line PI 529729 to develop F₁, BC₁F₁, and F₂ populations that were screened for nematode resistance under controlled environmental conditions to determine the genetics of resistance. The 10 F₁, 69 BC₁F₁, and 332 F₂ plants were inoculated with 1,000 vermiform nematodes and the number of swollen females on the root systems was determined 28 days after inoculation. The F₁ plants supported more nematodes than the susceptible control genotype PI 529251 (G. hirsutum accession Deltapine 16) indicating resistance was a recessive trait. For the BC₁F₁ and F₂ populations, plants supporting the same or a reduced level of infection that developed on the resistant control genotype PI 163068 (G. barbadense accession Texas 110) were rated as resistant. Based on this classification of resistance and susceptibility, it was predicted that a single recessive gene was conferring resistance; although, the BC₁F₁ population had more susceptible plants than expected. Additionally, highly resistant plants were observed in the BC₁F₁ and F₂ populations. This information will aid in the introgression of R. reniformis resistance from PI 529728 into upland cotton for the development of resistant varieties.

World Journal of Agricultural Research. 2013, 1(4), 48-53. DOI: 10.12691/wjar-1-4-1
Pub. Date: July 01, 2013

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19293 Views6709 Downloads34 Likes4 Citations