Farmers’ perspectives on factors limiting tomato production and yields in Kabete,Kiambu County,Kenya

A survey was carried out in Kabete, Central Kenya to establish the limitations and constraints experienced by farmers growing tomatoes. A structured questionnaire was prepared and tested in the field before the actual survey was carried out. Fifty farmers were interviewed and the data analysed established that most farmers lacked enough land, irrigation water, credit and technological knowledge to enable them to optimize tomato production, especially during dry spells when they could fetch premium prices. The average farm size ranged from 0.13 to 1.5 ha and ownership was on a freehold basis. Most households (43%) consisted of five people. A major constraint facing farmers was soil moisture, cited by 50% of farmers interviewed. Nematode infestation and low fertility came second at 25% each. About 60% of the farmers used diammonium phosphates (DAP) for planting and 20% top dressed with calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN). In conclusion, there is a need to provide farmers with reliable irrigation water at affordable prices and credit facilities to enable them to afford inputs such as quality seeds and fertilizers. This will allow them to produce in the dry seasons to take advantage of premium market prices.     

秋季叶面喷肥对红地球葡萄生长及果实品质的影响

【目的】研究秋季叶面喷肥对红地球葡萄树体生长和果实品质及产量的影响,从而获得最佳秋季喷肥配方,为红地球葡萄优质丰产栽培提供理论依据。【方法】于2012-10在陕西渭南红地球葡萄果实采收后,以喷清水为对照,设置4个不同配方叶面喷肥,每10d喷施1次,共喷施3次,在2013年春季测定不同处理红地球葡萄萌芽期冬芽的纵横径,于新梢生长期测定新梢直径及长度,于花蕾期测定花粉生活力及叶面积,于果实成熟期测定果实的外观品质、营养品质和产量。【结果】与对照相比,各喷肥处理使红地球葡萄的冬芽纵、横径,新梢直径、长度及叶面积和花粉生活力等均有不同程度的提高,增幅分别为12.15%~43.81%,1.84%~32.24%,8.08%~11.86%,26.62%~68.56%,3.23%~9.81%,13.68%~58.50%。各喷肥处理的百粒质量和百粒体积分别较对照增加10~20g,2.1~11.9cm3;各喷肥处理果蒂拉力和硬度分别为6.87~7.21N,3.90~4.58kg/cm2,均低于对照(7.72N,4.60kg/cm2)。各喷肥处理的可溶性固形物、Vc含量、糖酸比分别较对照高0.7%~2.1%,0.012 5~0.248 8mg/hg,9.343 6~16.070 3,且可滴定酸含量均低于对照。各喷肥处理的总产量增幅为21.47%~57.25%,其中处理4和处理5的总产量增幅都达到57%左右。【结论】与其他喷肥处理相比,处理4和处理5可以有效促进红地球葡萄树体生理生长、改善果实品质及提高果实产量。处理4(第1次.1.5%磷肥+0.6%铁肥+0.5%钙肥;第2次.2.0%磷肥+2.0%铁肥+1.0%钙肥;第3次.2.0%磷肥+2.0%铁肥+1.0%钙肥)和处理5(第1次.1.5%磷肥+0.6%镁肥+0.5%锌肥;第2次.2.0%磷肥+2.0%镁肥+1.0%锌肥;第3次.2.0%磷肥+2.0%镁肥+1.0%锌肥)是较好秋季喷肥配方。     

Effects of tractor wheeling on root morphology and yield of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.)

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of soil compaction on the herbage yield and root growth of lucerne ( Medicago sativa L.). A field experiment was conducted on a silty loam Mollic Fluvisols soil in 2003–2006. Herbage yield and root morphology, in terms of root length density, mean root diameter, specific root length and distribution of dry matter (DM) in roots, were measured. Four compaction treatments were applied three times annually by tractor using the following number of passes: control without experimental traffic, two passes, four passes and six passes. The tractor traffic changed the physical properties of the soil by increasing bulk density and penetration resistance. Soil compaction also improved its water retention properties. These changes were associated with changes in root morphology and distribution of the DM in roots. Soil compaction resulted in higher proportions of the DM in roots, especially in the upper, 0–10 cm, soil horizon. Decreases in the root length density were observed in a root diameter range of 0·1–1·0 mm. It was also found that roots in a more compacted soil were significantly thicker. An effect of the root system of lucerne on soil compaction was observed. The root system of lucerne decreased the effects of soil compaction that had been recorded in the first and the second year of the experiment. An increase in the number of passes resulted in a decrease in the DM yield of herbage in the second and third harvests each year.     

Biochemical comparison of lectins among three different color strains of the red alga Kappaphycus?alvarezii

The red alga Kappaphycus alvarezii is economically important as an edible species and as a source of carrageenan, and has been extensively cultivated in many tropical countries. For this species, different color strains, which differ from each another in growth rate and carrageenan content, have been reported for decades. In this study, lectins from brown, red, and green strains of K. alvarezii cultivated in Vietnam were isolated and characterized for evaluation of their biochemical properties and contents. The results showed that each color strain contained in common the three lectins, named KAA-1, KAA-2, and KAA-3, which shared the hapten-inhibition profile of hemagglutination, 20 N-terminal amino acid sequence, and equivalent molecular mass within a range of 28,016 ± 1.2 to 28,021 ± 1.8 Da, but differed in their yields, with the highest yield of KAA-2. These properties of the three isolectins were also comparable among the three different color strains. However, the sum of the yields of the three isolectins decreased in the order: red (21.4 mg) to green (15.9 mg) to brown strains (15.1 mg), from 500 g fresh alga. Thus, this algal species can be a good source of useful lectins, irrespective of color strain.     

近50年金沙江干热河谷区泥沙变化及影响因素分析——以云南省元谋县为例

 以金沙江干热河谷典型区域元谋县为例,通过对该区龙川江小黄瓜园水文站20世纪50年代以来输沙量的变化分析,结果表明,河流输沙量有增加的趋势,特别是80年代末至2000年,年均输沙量由400万t(1971—1980年)增加至750万t(1991—2000年)。为研究输沙量变化的原因,为当地生态环境建设提供理论指导,采用统计分析等方法对输沙量增加的影响因素进行分析,结果表明:50年来局地气候变化,特别是降雨量及降雨强度的增加使地表侵蚀加速,进入河道泥沙增多。同时,由于受牲畜数量快速增加、人口的迅速膨胀、生产方式的落后及农作物市场价格等因素影响,土地覆被及结构变化明显,即覆被盖度减小,坡耕地增加,灌草地等蓄水保土作用好的地类面积迅速减少,进而导致生态极为脆弱的元谋干热河谷区土壤侵蚀加剧,河道泥沙含量增加。此外,元谋县强烈的冲沟侵蚀也是龙川江输沙量增加的重要原因之一。     

Growth rates,establishment, and effects on herbage yield of introduced earthworms in grassland on reclaimed cutover peat

Summary Lumbricus terrestris L. juveniles confined in nylon mesh bags grew at mean rates of 6–12 mg ind^–1 day^–1 in reclaimed peat grassland soil, while the growth rates of Aporrectodea caliginosa (Sav.) juveniles were 1.5–2.1 mg ind^–1 day^–1. Earthworm population densities exceeding 700 m² had become established within 1 year adjacent to sods transplanted from an old pasture, while microplots enclosed in nylon mesh cages had mean population densities of 318–408 earthworms m^–2 and biomass of 89–111 g m^–2 3–4 1/2 years after inoculation. Herbage yields were 25% greater in the 2nd year and 49% greater in the 3rd year in earthworm-inoculated microplots which received an annual application of cattle slurry compared with similarly fertilized, non-inoculated cages.Dedicated to the late Prof. Dr. M.S. Ghilarov     

Enhancing nutrient translocation,yields and water productivity of wheat under rice–wheat cropping system through zinc nutrition and residual effect of green manuring

Abstract

Efficient nutrient and water use are two important considerations to obtain good harvests of wheat. This necessitates the development of an effective nutrient management technique that not only increases yield, but simultaneously can save nutrient and water use. In this context, a field experiment was conducted at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India to evaluate the residual effect of sesbania and rice bean (in-situ), subabul (ex-situ) green manuring and Zinc (Zn) fertilization, using chelated Zn-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Zn-EDTA) on nutrient use, yields and water productivity of wheat under rice–wheat cropping system. Among residual effects of green manure crops and Zn fertilization, sesbania and foliar spray of 0.5% chelated Zn-EDTA at 20, 40, 60 and 80 days after sowing (DAS) recorded significantly higher nutrient content and uptake and yields than other green manure crops and Zn treatments. Residual effect of sesbania saved about 46.5?×?10³ and 30.5?×?10³ L irrigation water per tonne of wheat over subabul and rice bean, respectively. Foliar spray of 0.5% chelated Zn-EDTA at 20, 40, 60 and 80 DAS saved about 55.5?×?10³, 47?×?10³ and 13?×?10³ L irrigation water per tonne wheat over residual effect of 5?kg Zn ha^?1 through chelated Zn-EDTA as soil application, 2.5?kg Zn ha^?1 through chelated Zn-EDTA as soil application + 1 foliar spray of 0.5% chelated Zn-EDTA at flowering and foliar spray of 0.5% chelated Zn-EDTA at active tillering?+?flowering?+?grain filling, respectively. Correlation analysis showed positive correlation between Zn uptake and grain yield.     

东港气候变化特征及其对水稻生长的影响

利用东港市26年来地面观测资料,结合水稻生育期的逐年变化以及水稻产量资料处理分析,得出:东港市20世纪90年代受4~5月降水多光照少的影响,造成水稻减产。近5年8~9月降水增多、光照减少,但由于品种优化和农业生产水平的提高,水稻产量依然保持上升的态势,但增速放缓。     

不同耕作方式对冬播亚麻成苗及原茎产量的影响

通过成苗数、苗期根系生长、有效收获株数、收获时主要经济性状及原茎产量的考查结果分析，认为免耕、免镇压等耕作方式对亚麻成苗数和苗期根系生长有一定的影响。但由于亚麻自．身群体结构调控能力较强，各处理在收获时其有效收获株数、收获时主要经济性状及原茎产量差异不大。建议南方冬播亚麻生产区在土壤、气候条件适宜的情况下，可采用免耕、免镇压措施，降低种植亚麻的劳动强度和生产成本，促进农民种植亚麻的积极性．提高种植亚麻的经济效益．     

Maize Yields as Affected by Short- and Long-Term Improved Fallows: A Comparative Analysis in the Asian Humid Tropics

Improved short‐ or long‐term fallows are considered suitable low external input technologies for maintaining productivity and sustainability of tropical smallholder upland cropping units, although comparisons on the benefits of this technology are not widely reported. A field study evaluated the impact of improved short (6 months) and long‐term fallow (18 months) using Crotalaria juncea and Tithonia diversifolia, in relation to a natural fallow of the same durations, on the productivity of maize (Zea mays), the most important upland cereal in tropical Asia, over a minor season. The use of improved fallows, especially Tithonia, increased maize yields over the Crotalaria or natural fallow. While the overall yields of maize after a long fallow were greater, the beneficial impact of the green manures was significantly higher in the short fallows. The causal factors for this trend, including biomass production of the improved fallows and possible impact on soils, along with the greater benefits of short‐term fallows for increasing maize yields in the tropics due to lower requirements of unproductive time are presented.