Effects of Different Organic Materials Application on Soil Physicochemical Properties in a Primary Saline-Alkali Soil

Eurasian Soil Science - The application of agricultural wastes to the soil does not only improve soil fertility but also helps in the recycling of agricultural waste resources. However, the effects...     

Growth and reproductive performance of two rabbit breeds reared under intensive system in Ghana

A study on the growth and reproductive performance of two rabbit breeds was undertaken. Data on 588 kits and 97 does of California White and 574 kits and 90 does of New Zealand White rabbits reared under hot and humid environment in Ghana were taken. The reproductive performance of the two breeds, in terms of litter size at birth and weaning, litter weight at birth and weaning, kindling interval, age at sexual maturity, and gestation length as influenced by breed, season of kindling (rainy and dry), year of kindling (2005–2012), and parity (first to sixth and over) were determined. The performance of California White in terms of litter size at birth, at weaning, kit weight at birth, and age at first kindling was 5.9?±?0.2, 4.6?±?0.1, 54.7?±?0.4 g, and 159.8?±?0.2 days, respectively. That of New Zealand White was 5.9?±?0.1, 5.1?±?0.1, 55.2?±?1.0 g, and 159.9?±?0.2 days, respectively. The results obtained also showed a significant breed effects on kit weight at birth, litter weight at weaning, and mortality; whereas no significant differences (p?>?0.05) were observed between the two breeds regarding the other traits measured. Parity had significant effects (p?<?0.05) on all the growth and reproductive parameters measured with the exception of age at first kindling. Year of kindling also had significant effect on litter weight at birth, kit weight at birth, and at weaning (p?<?0.05) but did not have any significant effect on the age at sexual maturity and mortality. Season also had significant (p?<?0.05) effects on kit weight at birth, gestation length, kindling interval, and mortality with better performance experienced during the rainy season.

     

Underplanting oil palm with cocoa in Ghana

Mature oil palms at the Oil Palm Research Institute at Kusi, Ghana were underplanted with cocoa to study the feasibility of mixed cropping of the two crops under West African conditions. The oil palm trees used in this trial were planted in 1970 and had achieved maximum canopy formation. Three triangular spacings of the oil palms used were 8.7, 9.9 and 10.5 m. The cocoa was underplanted in June 1988 at a spacing of 2.4 m triangular using mixed hybrids. There were no significant differences in oil palm yield between plots with cocoa and the controls. There was no appreciable damage to the cocoa trees from falling palm fronds and fruits during harvesting or pruning. Cocoa seedling growth and yield were significantly better under the oil palm spaced at 9.9 or 10.5 m triangular than under oil palm space at 8.7 m triangular.     

Estimating gene action,combining ability and heterosis for grain yield and agronomic traits in extra-early maturing yellow maize single-crosses under three agro-ecologies of Ghana

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the most important cereal crop produced in Ghana. However, yield of the crop is generally low, producing just about 1.7 t/ha. The low yield is attributed to continuous use of local/unimproved varieties. Generally, hybrid varieties have proven to out-yield the local/unimproved varieties due to improved vigour. Development of hybrid varieties depend on good understanding of combining ability and inheritance of important quantitative traits such as grain yield (GY). 45 half-diallel crosses generated from 10 extra-early maturing yellow inbred lines were evaluated in 2015 under rain-fed conditions. The objectives were to determine the genetic control, breeding value and estimate heritability for GY and agronomic traits of the inbred lines under contrasting growing environments in Ghana. General combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were important in the inheritance of GY and agronomic traits of the inbred lines. However, GCA was more important than SCA across environments to suggest that additive gene action was more important than non-additive gene action in the inheritance of GY and agronomic traits in the inbred lines. High broad-sense heritability, for GY and other agronomic traits indicated preponderance of additive gene action in trait expression, thus, selection based on phenotypic expression could be feasible. Inbred lines P1, P4 and P8 were good combiners for high GY. The genotype, P4 × P8, was identified as the ideal and most yielding single-cross hybrid across research environments and should be further tested on-farm before commercialization.     

Avoiding bites and scratches? Understanding the public health implication of human–bat interactions in Ghana

Zoonotic pathogens cause an estimated 70% of emerging and re‐emerging infectious diseases in humans, affecting various aspects of human development on a global scale. The significance of bats as a source of emerging infectious diseases is being progressively appreciated. This study was undertaken post‐Ebola virus disease in West Africa and assessed the public health implications of human–bat interactions by exploring the reasons for contact between humans and bats, as well as reported actions taken upon experiencing bat bites or scratches. The paper highlights the nuances of human–bat interactions, stressing zoonotic disease risk awareness as well as the sources of information. The study used questionnaires to solicit information from 788 respondents in five communities with significant bat populations. We show that bat consumption was one of the main reasons for human–bat interactions. More men across the various communities ate bat meat. Only a small number of respondents (4.4%) reported being bitten by a bat, and 6.1% had been scratched by a bat. More than 21% had come into direct contact with bat blood. An even lower number went to the hospital after been bitten or scratched by bats. There was little knowledge on post‐exposure management. The most common places human–bat interactions occurred were at home and on farms. Seventy‐three per cent of the respondents believed that bats carried diseases, with Ebola virus disease being the most mentioned. Respondents indicated that the way they interacted with bats had not changed, even though they believed bats carried diseases and 46% stated that they had not changed the way they interacted with bats over the last two years. Apart from providing information on avoiding bites and scratches, a more holistic framework is needed to reduce human–bat interactions. The paper recommends a comprehensive and coordinated approach to optimizing an effective response to a potential bat‐borne zoonotic disease spillover.     

Assessing the impact of non-governmental organization's extension programs on sustainable cocoa production and household income in Ghana

Globally, cocoa is famous for the production of chocolates and beverages. However, it also serves as a source of raw material for the manufacturing of high-quality cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. Due to its high demand, cocoa is regarded as a major commodity for poverty alleviation in deprived cocoa farming communities. Government has therefore instigated relevant measures to address issues facing the sector by investing in extension programs. These programs act as information dissemination tools for teaching modern farming technologies and enhancing learning among farmers. This study highlighted the effects of the Cocoa Life Project(CLP) by Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere(CARE) International on farm productivity and income of 200 cocoa farmers in three districts of the Eastern Region, Ghana. Regression on covariates, Heckman's treatment effects model, and propensity scores were used to test the robustness of the estimates. A positive association between extension program participation, farm productivity, and household income was discovered. Specifically, after correcting for selection bias, the estimated results of the Heckman's model showed that the extension program significantly increased participating farmers' cocoa yield by 14.3%. The effects on total farm income showed a significant increase of 25.1 and 42.9%, respectively from regression on propensity scores and the Heckman's model. Across all three models, program participation led to an increase in total household income by 46.1, 31.7, and 69.3%, respectively. Other variables such as farming characteristics, institutional and demographic factors affected farmers' income, depending on the estimation method used. This study reiterated the supporting role played by extension programs in enhancing cocoa production and increasing household income in Ghana. Conclusively, government and development partners should invest in extension programs by providing enough logistics, training qualified agents, and creating a conducive atmosphere to support learning and technology adoption.     

Evaluation of different dietary additives based on growth performance,innate immunity and disease resistance in juvenile Amur catfish,Silurus asotus

Three different dietary additives were evaluated based on growth performance, innate immune responses and disease resistance in juvenile Amur catfish Silurus asotus. Four diets were prepared by supplementing 0.4% Song-gang® stone (SG), 0.05% Yucca meal (YM), 0.05% β-glucan (BG) in combination with 0.04% SG and 0.05% BG (SG + BG) to a basal commercial diet (control; CONT). Triplicate groups of fish averaging 4.95 ± 0.05 g were fed one of the test diets between 3 and 5% body weight for 8 weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, weight gain, specific growth rate, feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio of fish fed SG and SG + BG were significantly higher than those of fish fed the BG and CONT diets (P < 0.05). Lysozyme activity in fish fed the SG, YM, and SG + BG diets was significantly higher than those of fish fed the CONT diet. Super oxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly higher among fish fed the SG, YM, BG and SG + BG diets than fish fed the CONT diet. After 14 days challenge test with Edwardsiella tarda, cumulative survival rates of fish fed the SG and SG + BG diets were significantly higher than those of fish fed the BG and CONT diets. Results revealed that dietary SG or SG + BG diets had positive responses over other additives in juvenile Amur catfish. However, Song-gang® stone is proposed to be a cheaper dietary additive contributing 0.04 cents/kg of feed based on economic point of view.     

Administration of probiotic Bacillus licheniformis induces growth,immune and antioxidant enzyme activities,gut microbiota assembly and resistance to Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Litopenaeus vannamei

This study aimed to elucidate the effects of dietary Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 11946 (BL) on the growth, immune and antioxidant activities, intestinal morphology and microbiota, and susceptibility to Vibrio parahaemolyticus (VP_AHPND) in juvenile pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei (LV). Juvenile LV (initial weight = 0.63 ± 0.001) were fed diets containing varying BL concentrations (0 (BL0), 10⁶ (BL1), 10⁷ (BL2) and 10⁸ (BL3) CFU/g feed) for 8 weeks. Growth performance, immune and antioxidant enzyme activities, and intestinal morphology significantly improved in the probiotic‐treated groups than the untreated. Regardless of the treatment group, the two dominant phyla were Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, whereas the two dominant genera were Ruegeria and Vibrio. Increasing inclusion of probiotics in diets led to significant increase in beneficial bacterial genera (Ruegeria, and Pseudoalteromonas) and a significant decrease in some known opportunistic pathogens (Vibrio, Tenacibaculum, Photobacterium, Kangiella and Spongiimonas) with the BL3 group witnessing the best. A 7‐day challenge study with VP_AHPND showed significantly high protection in the probiotic‐treated groups, with the BL3, BL2 and BL1 obtaining 51%, 34% and 22% relative percentage survival, respectively. In conclusion, BL at 10⁸ CFU/g feed should be used to help in shrimp production since it attained the most significant improvement.     

Current knowledge and breeding perspectives for the spider plant (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cleome gynandra</Emphasis> L.): a potential for enhanced breeding of the plant in Africa

Cleome gynandra is one of the most promising African leafy vegetables consumed in most parts of Africa. The crop is a rich source of vitamins A and C and minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium and protein. The leaves and seeds of spider plant are used in indigenous medicine in several countries. Despite the numerous nutritive benefits and ethnopharmacological uses of the plant, C. gynandra is still underutilized due to lack of awareness and promotion of production technologies and utilization. Available information is limited and short on several relevant and rudimentary components. Hence, this review focuses on the current knowledge on C. gynandra, with regards to its botany, ecology, cultivation systems, utilization, nutraceutical properties as well as the breeding avenues that will contribute to promoting the species, aimed at ensuring food and nutritional security and efficient management of its genetic resources. Breeding programmes aimed at minimizing the bitterness of the leaves so to arouse the interest of consumers, and the mechanisms involved in the responses and adaptation of C. gynandra as a C₄ plant to salinity stress, were also explored.