World Journal of Agricultural Research

Risks and uncertainties associated with poultry enterprises is great to an extent of undermined the productivity and sustainability of the sector by reducing the availability of institutional credit for investment in agriculture. This study was carried out to determine the factors influencing the level of poultry farmers’ participation in agricultural insurance scheme in Kwara State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to select a sample size of 150 farmers and structured questionnaire was used to elicit data from the farmers. The data collected from the farmers was analysed using descriptive statistics and logit regression model. The findings revealed that 74% of the farmers were aware of the existence of Agricultural insurance scheme but only 32.7% of the farmers participated in the agricultural insurance scheme. The logit regression showed that age, educational level, farm size and accessibility to credit were significant variables that influenced the probability of participation of the farmers in agricultural insurance scheme while household size, membership of association and contacts with extension agents were found to be insignificant in influencing the farmers’ participation in agricultural insurance scheme. The major challenge faced by farmers in the course of their participation in agricultural insurance schemes was delay in indemnity payment. It is recommended that effective service delivery by insurance service providers will ensure continuity of farmers’ participation in agricultural insurance and also participation by farmers who are yet to participate.

World Journal of Agricultural Research. 2013, 1(5), 96-100. DOI: 10.12691/wjar-1-5-5
Pub. Date: October 18, 2013

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Effect of Root Age and Day-Length Extension on Sugar Beet Floral Induction and Fertility

by Salah F. Abo-Elwafa, Husein M. Abdel-Rahim, Adel M. Abou-Salama and El-Mahdy A. Teama

Original Research

Bolting tendency in the crop species Beta vulgaris, which includes the sugar beet, is a complex trait governed by various environmental cues, including prolonged periods of cold temperatures over winter (vernalization) and photoperiod. This work was carried out as a part of a series of experiments on sugar beet floral induction under Egyptian conditions as part of the effort to breed and select sugar beet cultivars adapted to local environmental conditions. Ten diploid cultivars were sown in the field at three dates on 15^th, 30^th July and 15^th August to provide roots at the ages of 120, 135 and 150 days, and harvested on the 15^th of December. The roots were vernalized at 4°C for 45 days before replanting in the field. Extended vs. natural day-length were applied 3 weeks after replanting. Data was collected on flowering behavior, pollen fertility seed setting and seed germination. The results indicate that cultivars’ responses are the main factor that controlled the response to the imposed treatments. The response of cultivars varied according to root age, and day-length treatments. In most of the flowering cultivars, extended day-length improved the measured traits. Older root age also tended to enhance the measured traits with minor exceptions. The findings of this work are a step towards the definition of techniques that can be used to start a sugar beet breeding program under Egyptian conditions.

World Journal of Agricultural Research. 2013, 1(5), 90-95. DOI: 10.12691/wjar-1-5-4
Pub. Date: October 17, 2013

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Studies on Population Dynamics of Senegalese Grasshopper (Oedaleus senegalensis) in Kordofan of Sudan

by Abdelmanan E. H. Elamin, Abdalla M. Abdalla and Ahmed M. El Naim

Original Research

The Senegalese grasshopper (Oedaleus senegalensis) is a serious pest affecting cereal crops and grassy pastures in western Sudan. Intensive and extensive field’s surveys were conducted over a three-year period targeting O. senegalensis to study its ratio among other grasshopper species, in addition to its density and population structure/dynamics. Observations made twice a week, between April and November for three years (2006-2008) in two sites in Kordofan. Light traps installed in three selected areas to study nocturnal activity and migration every night from April to November for two seasons (2007/2008). The density assessed by visual counts of the nymph instars in 100 m² and adults in 1,000 m². The obtained data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results revealed that the Senegalese grasshopper is dominant over other grasshopper species and that the adults and nymphal instars appeared in two morphs: green and brown, according to prevailing environmental conditions. Mean population density was 1037 adult/ha and 3464 adult/ha in Kuik and Gellabiya sites, respectively; for nymphal instars, 2145 nymph/ha and 5500 nymph/ha, in Kuik and Gellabiya sites respectively.

World Journal of Agricultural Research. 2013, 1(5), 85-89. DOI: 10.12691/wjar-1-5-3
Pub. Date: September 19, 2013

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Rupture Studies on Kokum Wax Coated Urea Briquettes

by M. Ramananda Bhat, D. V. R. Murthy, M. B. Saidutta and Sahitya Reddivari

Original Research

Applying a coating on the commercially available urea briquettes by materials such as kokum wax can assist in slowing down the dissolution of urea from briquettes in wet soils and hence the loss of urea-N occurring by various mechanisms can be minimized. Since Kokum wax coatings succumbed to rupture in wet soils, stability of the coating was assessed by subjecting coated briquettes to urea release in water. Results indicated that both observed lag period and time taken for rupture increased with increasing coating thickness. Time required for rupture increased relatively rapidly with increasing coating thickness than the lag period. Strength of the coating material, if enhanced by methods such as crosslinking, can delay the onset of rupture initiation.

World Journal of Agricultural Research. 2013, 1(5), 82-84. DOI: 10.12691/wjar-1-5-2
Pub. Date: August 24, 2013

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Comparative Pharmacognostic Evaluation of Munronia Pinnata (Wall.) Theob. (Meliaceae) and Its Substitute Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall. Ex Nees (Acanthaceae)

by Dharmadasa R.M., Samarasinghe K, Adhihetty P and Hettiarachchi P.L

Original Research

Background: Munronia pinnata (Wall) Theob. (Meliaceae), a rare, therapeutically important medicinal plant, which is often adulterated by materials of Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall. ex Nees (Acanthaceae). However, adulteration of M. pinnata with A. paniculata without scientifically proven data on important quality standards might adversely affect the therapeutic properties of herbal drugs. Methodology: Therefore, the present study was undertaken to establish a comparative quality standards on morphological, anatomical, powder microscopical, phytochemical, physicochemical and antioxidant activity of M. pinnata and A. paniculata by using established protocols. Principal Findings: Results demonstrated that M. pinnata could be distinguished from A. paniculata by comparing polymorphic morphological characters, anatomical and powder microscopic characters. Major phytochemical groups were present in leaves, stem and roots of both plants. Results of TLC exhibited the highest number of common spots in leaf (R_f 0.10, 0.23, 0.30, 0.56, 0.86 and 0.96) followed by stem and root extracts for both M. pinnata and A. paniculata. Both plant species possess notable total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of all three parts tested. However, higher TAC was exhibited in A. paniculata compared to M. pinnata. Order of increase of TAC was leaf > stem > root for M. pinnata and stem > leaf > root for A. paniculata. Conclusions/Significance: The presence of certain similarities in major phytochemical groups, and in antioxidant capacity of M. pinnata and A. paniculata to some extent justifies the use of A. paniculata as a substitute for M. pinnata in traditional systems of medicine in Sri Lanka which needs to be confirmed after further clinical trials.

World Journal of Agricultural Research. 2013, 1(5), 77-81. DOI: 10.12691/wjar-1-5-1
Pub. Date: August 15, 2013

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32037 Views12045 Downloads42 Likes13 Citations