Survey of Underutilized Grain Legume Production Systems in the Southwest Agricultural Zone of Nigeria

ABSTRACT

A socio-economic survey of production systems was carried out in four out of the eight states that make up the southwest agricultural zone of Nigeria. A total of 157 minor grain legume farmers selected by multi-stage sampling were interviewed using structured questionnaires. The study shows that lima bean, pigeon pea, African yam bean, and bambara groundnut are the prominent minor grain legumes grown on less than 10% of the total cultivated land area. The minor grain legumes are grown on an average land size ranging from 0.2 to 0.4ha and predominantly in mixture with crops like cassava, maize, yam, sorghum, cocoyam, etc. The use of modern inputs like herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, and improved varieties is uncommon in minor legume production systems. The cultivation of these legumes is more popular among the older members of the farming communities, about 78% of which are above 40 years of age. The average yield of the legumes on farms is considerably low, estimated at 271kg/ha, 265kg/ha, 174kg/ha, and 275kg/ha for lima bean, pigeon pea, African yambean, and bambara groundnut, respectively. Major constraints identified by the farmers include low market demand, inadequate seed supply, high cost of labour, and low yield. Research work is therefore needed in agronomy and breeding for improved yield and utilization for expanded market and, consequently, increased production.     

Farmers' land management practices and status of agricultural land in the Jos Plateau,Nigeria

A wide range of land management practices, including application of fertilizers, contour‐plowing, stone bunds, mulching and agroforestry, have been adopted by farmers in the Jos Plateau to control degradation. This study examined the relative popularity of 13 land management practices based on mainly qualitative primary information collected through a questionnaire survey of 150 farm households and group discussions held during May to August 2007. The results of the analysis revealed four practices, namely, application of chemical fertilizers and farm yard manure, intercropping and crop rotation were highly popular. These practices generally need little technical skills, show positive short‐term benefits and short establishment time, suggesting that the benefits of increased productivity can be obtained quite quickly. Practices like agroforestry, mulching, legume cultivation and crop residue barriers were moderately popular as they take time, sometimes up to 3 years, before some benefits could be manifested. For farmers dependent on the farm income without any financial back‐up, this is too long as many do not have the economic capital to apply a practice that will only start showing benefits after a few years. The least popular practices were stone and earthen bunds, grass strips, alley cropping and contour‐plowing. These prove to be more labour intensive, and with dwindling labour force in the area, the adoption trend favours other practices requiring relative less labour. Farmers could not control land degradation effectively, despite their efforts made to manage land. Broad policy recommendations are made in line with findings of the analysis. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

农户土地利用投入变化及其土地利用意愿分析

认识农户土地利用投入的变化规律,把握当前农户的生产意愿,对制订相关政策,确保国家的粮食安全具有重要意义。该文采用分层随机抽取样本的方法,基于湖北省咸宁市1 252个农户家庭的调查数据,从粮食生产过程中涉及到的劳动力、土地资源、农业机械、化肥与农药等生产因素方面,对1981年以来农户的土地利用投入要素的变化特征及当前的土地利用意愿进行了分析。结果表明:近30 a来,农户在土地利用过程中投入的劳动力与用于主要粮食生产的土地面积明显下降,而化学肥料与农药总投入量明显增加;经济因子与农机技术进步是驱动农户行为变化最重要的2个因素,劳动力转移与"三补一免"等惠农政策对农户土地利用投入变化的影响有限;农户农地利用的目标出现显著分化,传统"全民式粮食生产模式"正向"专业化规模化农户生产模式"转变,专业化规模生产农户应是国家惠农政策重点补贴与扶持的对象;国家在进一步促进土地流转的同时,如何有效稳定主要粮食作物的生产面积,需要更加积极的调控对策引导;随着边际土地从农地利用范畴析出,区域性生态好转出现新的机遇,国家宜出台生态用地整理的相关政策,提升区域性生态服务功能。     

中国南方稻作区不同规模农户土地集约利用行为的差异比较

认识不同规模农户土地集约利用行为的差异规律,正确引导规模农户走可持续集约用地的道路,对国家的粮食安全与生态建设具有重要意义。该文基于湖北省江汉平原地区4县(市)8乡(镇)16个村(组)480个农户家庭的调研数据,在划分规模农户类型的基础上,对小、中与大农户农地集约利用的目标、要素投入行为及其利用效率等方面的差异进行了对比分析。结果表明:1)农村"非农"与"非粮"农户增多,超过1/4的家庭不再从事粮食生产活动,现阶段小农户的数量还较多,但中、大农户已成为本区土地经营最重要的组织形式;2)不同规模农户土地集约经营的价值取向与集约偏好差异明显;3)大农户的劳动生产率、土地生产率与粮食商品率均比中、小农户高,大农户的发展处在土地规模经济阶段,但其农药与化肥等要素的投入出现过度集约问题,国家需要出台相关政策,引导大农户走土地资源可持续集约化的道路。     

The impact of drought on sorghum production,and farmer's varietal and trait preferences,in the north eastern Ethiopia: implications for breeding

Purpose: Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] has been cultivated for centuries as a staple food crop for millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. In Ethiopia a total of 4.34 million tons of sorghum is being produced per annum, predominantly in the arid and semi-arid areas. However, the yield and quality of sorghum is affected by a wide array of production constraints, notably severe and recurrent drought stress. The aim of this study were to determine the impact of drought on sorghum production and productivity over time and space, and to identify farmers’ trait preferences, production constraints and coping strategies when dealing with drought in north eastern Ethiopia.

Materials and methods: Participatory rural appraisal (PRA) was employed in three administrative zones of north eastern Ethiopia. One Woreda from each Zone and two Kebeles from each Woreda were selected on the basis of sorghum area coverage, production, consumption and prior information on the intensity, duration and spatial coverage of drought. In each kebele, 30 respondents were selected for interview and 12 key informants were selected for group discussions and transect walk personal observations. Data collected from 180 respondents was subjected to statistical analysis and the information gathered from 72 key informants through focus group discussions and transect walk observations were used in discussing the results.

Results and discussion: The present study found that productivity of sorghum was challenged by recurrent droughts, Striga infestation, insects, birds, diseases, a lack of varieties with farmers-preferred traits and high yield potential, limited policy support, a lack of improved seed system, poor sorghum production practices and application of crop input and poor soil fertility, in a decreasing order of importance. Among the listed sorghum production constraints, severe drought in the post-flowering stage was identified by most interviewed farmers as the leading constraint across the three study zones. Focus group discussions and transect walk observations held in each Kebele revealed that farmers’ had lost numerous valuable local landrace varieties due to extreme drought conditions over the years. A significant number of interviewed farmers preferred to grow high grain and biomass yielder medium-maturing sorghum varieties which can be sown at the normal planting time but which would escape post-flowering drought.

Conclusion: Overall, sorghum breeding programme should be directed at developing farmers’ ideal sorghum varieties with high grain and biomass yield, adequate level of drought and Striga tolerance. In addition, development of farmer preferred medium-maturing sorghum varieties suitable for April planting should be strengthen to boost its productivity and to increase varietal adoption rate in the area.     

Nutrition Management and Farm’s Age Affect Saffron Daughter Corms Behavior,Nutrients Uptake and Economic Water and Fertilizer Use Efficiency: A Large Scale On-farm Experiment in Torbat Heydarieh,Iran

ABSTRACT

Evaluation of the relationships between nutritional patterns and farms’ age with the behavior of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) daughter corms based on farmers’ management (on-farm) can be crucial in improving saffron sustainable yield. Furthermore, in commercial saffron production, especially in small farms, the purchased water and fertilizers are the basis of sustainable saffron profitability, hence, recognizing the relationships between economic water use efficiency (EWUE) and economic fertilizer use efficiency (EFUE) can be important. An on-farm experiment was conducted on a large scale based on farmers’ management in Torbat Heydarieh, Iran. The farms’ age (1–6 years old) and fertilizers management approaches (organic, mineral and integrated) were considered as the first and second factors, respectively. Large-sized daughter corms number and weight and corms N and P content increased with increasing farms’ age from 1 to 4 years old. However, these parameters decreased with increasing farms’ age from 4 to 6 years old. Irrespective of saffron farms’ age, the minimum large-sized daughter corms number and weight were observed when mineral fertilizer management was practiced. By contrast, the maximum values were related to integrated fertilizer management. In each type of fertilizer management, EWUE and EFUE (based on large-sized daughter corms monetary value) increased with increasing farms age from 1 to 4 years. However, increase in farms age from 4 to 6 years caused a significant reduction in mentioned indices. Overall, if high-quality saffron corm production is needed, corms should be harvested in the fourth year to gain the maximum yield and profit.     

Farm-related Factors Influencing the Adoption of Short-rotation Willow Coppice Production Among Swedish Farmers

The area of short-rotation willow coppice energy plantations on Swedish farmland increased quickly in the early 1990s because of subsidies for energy crop production, an increased CO₂ tax on fossil fuel and an already existing biofuel market in the country. In this study farm-related determinants for the adoption of short-rotation willow coppice production among Swedish farmers are identified and estimated. A Tobit model is applied to cross-sectional data on Swedish farmers in 1995. The results show that the decision to plant willow and the areas planted depend positively on arable land area, forest land area, the area of other land types, leasing out of arable land and tractor ownership. Negative factors are pasture area, tenancy and animal production. Differences in willow growing between ownership types, age groups and geographical regions are also important. The policy implications of the results are discussed.     

基于随机前沿的灌溉用水效率及影响因素研究——以陕西关中地区小麦为例

农业部门是我国用水大户,随着水资源短缺问题的日益严峻,提高农业灌溉用水效率是实现农业可持续发展的重要途径。本文基于陕西关中地区小麦种植户实地调研数据,选取C-D生产函数构建随机前沿模型(SFA)测算小麦种植中的生产技术效率与灌溉用水效率,在此基础上选取农户个人特征、家庭特征、灌溉特征和耕地特征相关变量,采用Tobit模型进行影响因素分析,以识别限制和促进灌溉效率的关键因素。研究结果显示,关中地区小麦生产技术效率较高,为0.7~1.0,均值为0.87。灌溉用水效率远低于生产技术效率,为0~0.5,均值仅为0.31,存在较大的提升空间。对影响因素的研究发现,农户教育水平、家庭经济水平、灌渠完好程度、用水紧缺程度和节水灌溉技术等对灌溉用水效率等有显著的正向影响,农户非农就业、家庭非农收入比例为负向影响,农户年龄、灌溉水价、经营规模和耕地块数与灌溉用水效率没有明显相关性。说明关中地区灌溉用水具有节水空间,可通过维修灌渠、改进节水灌溉技术、适当提高水价等,逐步提高灌溉用水效率。     

Neutral Ammonium Citrate Extraction of Biosolids Phosphorus

Abstract

Matching biosolids application rates to crop phosphorus (P) needs requires quantifying the P fertilizer replacement value of biosolids. Neutral ammonium citrate (NAC) extraction of P, used for assessing available P in mineral fertilizers, was evaluated for 35 different biosolids. Biosolids NAC‐P was not statistically different (p=0.05) from total P using strong acid digestion (EPA 3051‐P). High P recovery by NAC was attributed to dissolution of P‐containing iron (Fe)/aluminum (Al) oxides under the aggressive extracting conditions (0.88 M citrate at 65°C). Citrate effectively dissolves P‐binding Fe/Al hydrous oxides, the very components that reduce phytoavailability when biosolids are land applied. Greenhouse studies with pasture grass (Paspalum notatum Flugge) grown in P‐deficient soils amended with biosolids revealed P phytoavailability was not correlated (r²=0.10) with biosolids NAC‐P. Phytoavailability was inversely correlated (r²=0.66) with biosolids total Al+Fe content. The NAC extraction, designed for commercial fertilizers, is inappropriate for quantifying biosolids phytoavailable P.     

False expectations of labour participation in the construction of permeable infiltration dams in burkina faso

Study of the labour participation in constructing permeable infiltration dams for soil and water conservation to increase agricultural production in the Province of Bam, Burkina Faso, revealed a progressive decline in cooperation at the village level, despite the high profitability of the completed structures*. This decline was mainly because not all the participating people could obtain such a dam for themselves due to constraints in rights to land and limited possibilities for an individual to mobilize labour. Development agencies can stimulate better labour participation by organizing cooperation on a smaller scale (i.e. village section or ‘quartier’, instead of village) or, probably with more success, by putting project means at the disposal of individual farmers, to enable them to mobilize labour for constructing permeable infiltration dams on their own plots.     

青海春油菜养分管理现状调查与分析

为了明确我国春油菜的施肥和生产现状,2015年在青海省春油菜典型种植区选取了3个县做了400余户实地调查与分析。结果表明:调查区有87.3%的农户春油菜产量都超过常年春油菜平均产量(1 674.17~2 158.36 kg/hm2)。30.0%的农户氮肥投入适中,40.7%偏高和很高,29.3%偏低和很低;与2009年和2010年调查结果相比,农户施氮水平总体在下降,但仍存在很大的减氮空间。调查区37.4%的农户磷肥投入适中,32.8%偏高和很高,29.7%偏低和很低;与2009年和2010年调查结果相比,施磷量提高。钾肥、有机肥用量极低,中微量肥料投入基本为空白。总之,青海春油菜氮、磷肥投入过量与投入不足现象并存。因此,要根据土壤养分状况,依据测土配方实行平衡施肥,主要是控制氮磷肥用量,适当增施微肥和有机肥,保证春油菜的营养需求。     

Changes in growth,microbial and enzyme activities in oil palm nursery in response to bioinoculants and chemical fertilizers

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted to assess the influence of bioinoculants and chemical fertilizers on survival and enzymes activity of microbes in rhizosphere and growth of oil palm seedlings. Bioinoculants namely Azotobacter chroococcum, Azospirillum brasilense, Bacillus megaterium, Frateuria aurantia and Glomus aggregatum were applied individually, combindly and integrated with chemical fertilizers. Most convincing and highly significant results for growth parameters, phosphatases, dehydrogenase and trehalase activity were observed in potting mixture with application of bioinoculants + 25% recommended dose of chemical fertilizers (RDF). Extreme levels of esterase in potting mixture were noticed under the treatment with bioinoculants + 50% RDF followed by bioinoculants + 25% RDF. The highest population of Azotobacter, Azospirillum, Bacillus and Frateuria in potting mixture was enumerated with consortium of bioinoculants + 25% RDF. Glomalin content and root infection recorded in Glomus aggregatum was ostensibly superior to rest of the treatments except consortium of bioinoculants + 25% RDF. Correlation analysis revealed significant and positive interaction between microbial population and enzyme activities. The study suggests that integrated use of bioinoculants along with 25% RDF play a significant role in enhancing oil palm seedling growth through increased microbial population and enzyme activity in rhizosphere.     

Effectiveness of Egyptian phosphate rock on clover production in Ethiopia

Abstract

The majority of soils in Africa are phosphorus (P) deficient, but the high cost of water‐soluble P fertilizers limits their use by resource‐poor farmers. A low‐cost alternative is to use phosphate rocks. We evaluated the effectiveness of Egyptian phosphate rock (EPR) relative to triple superphosphate (TSP) applied at 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 kg P ha^‐1 to annual Trifolium species grown on a P‐deficient Vertisol. The fertilizers were applied once and their effects were followed on seven consecutive annual clover crops. Clover responded to P at all the rates used. Significant (P<0.05) P effects on clover P content and DM yields were observed up to the fourth crop. Over all the seven crops, EPR was 89% as effective as TSP in increasing herbage DM and 93% as effective in increasing herbage P content. Its substitution rates were 79% for DM yield and 86% for clover P content. Therefore, EPR was highly reactive and its use could elevate the P status of the P‐deficient Vertisols and increase feed and livestock productivity in the Ethiopian highlands.     

Host-status and host-sensitivity of wild Cucumis species to Meloidogyne incognita race 4

Abstract

Wild watermelon (Cucumis africanus) and wild cucumber (Cucumis myriocarpus), which are highly resistant to the southern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) race 2, have the potential for serving as seedling rootstocks for the highly nematode-susceptible watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) cultivars. In South Africa, due to high labour costs, most cotton farmers are turning to watermelon production. In these regions, there is high incidence of M. incognita race 4. A pot experiment in the greenhouse was, therefore, initiated to investigate the host-status and host-sensitivity of Cucumis africanus and Cucumis myriocarpus to M. incognita race 4, when inoculated with 0, 200, 600, 100, 1400, 1800 and 2200 eggs and second-stage juveniles (J2s). At harvest, 56 days after inoculation, the reproductive factor values at all levels of inoculation were less than one. Penetration indices on both plant species were greater than one, suggesting that the resistance was post-infectional and therefore, introgressible. Sex (male: female) ratios of M. incognita race 4 on the two Cucumis species were greater than one, suggesting that more J2s were converted into males. Infection of Cucumis species by the test nematode had no effect on yield components of the two plant species due to poor feeding sites. The two Cucumis species were, therefore, resistant to M. incognita race 4, with post-infectional resistance, where the sex ratio was skewed towards maleness. Thus, the two Cucumis species have the potential to be used as nematode-resistant rootstocks in watermelon production.     

Plant Yield,Antioxidant Capacity and Essential Oil Quality of Satureja Mutica Supplied with Cattle Manure and Wheat Straw in Different Plant Densities

ABSTRACT

Satureja mutica is a medicinally important plant, which may be affected by organic fertilizers and cultivation methods. To investigate the effect of cattle manure (30 ton/ha) and wheat straw (10 ton/ha) as organic fertilizers and plant density (80000, 40000, and 26666 plan ha^?1), an experiment was carried out as split plot with three replications during 2017 and 2018 on plant yield, total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), essential oil (EO) yield and composition of S. mutica in the rainfed condition. The results showed that the highest fresh weight yield (FWY) and dry weight yield (DWY) were observed in high plant density in second year. TPC in interaction of second year and cattle manure was higher than others. The greatest TFC was observed in plants supplied with interaction of second year and wheat straw. EO content and yield in plants treated with the interaction of second year and high plant density were higher compared to those in other plants. The GC/MS analysis showed that the main EO components were thymol, carvacrol, γ-terpinene and p-Cymene, representing different concentrations by using the organic fertilizers and plant densities. In summary, the use of cattle manure and high plant densities can result in higher plant production.     

Root distribution patterns of white yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir.): a field study

Abstract

The productivity of white yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir) must increase to sustainably meet the demand of the increasing populations in the developing world where this is a staple crop. Although this could be achieved through the use of mineral fertilizers, reports indicate limited effects of these inputs on tuber yield. We hypothesized (i) that D. rotundata has a small and shallow root system and (ii) that this root system does not respond to mineral fertilizer application. Two field experiments were conducted in Côte d'Ivoire in year 1 and in year 2 to test these hypotheses. In the first field experiment we measured biomass production, as well as root density during plant growth in fertilized and unfertilized plots while in the second experiment, we analysed the distribution pattern of roots in horizontal and vertical root profiles in fertilized plots. The root system of D. rotundata consisted of seminal, adventitious and tubercular roots. Only the adventitious roots remained alive until the end of the growth cycle. The root length density was very low with a maximum of 0.25 cm cm^?3. No roots were observed in the 15–30 cm horizon at 50 cm from the plant's crown. The horizontal and vertical root maps revealed that roots were mostly distributed in clumps, and there was a good correlation between the two methods of root sampling for this species. Fertilizer application had no significant effect on plant biomass, fresh tuber yield or on root growth. However, thinner and longer roots and higher tuber yields were observed in year 1 than in year 2. The different weather conditions and more specifically the higher soil temperature might explain the results obtained in year 1. Therefore, it could be recommended to farmers not to fertilize D. rotundata.     

内蒙古河套灌区盐碱地治理中农户参与意识及其影响因素

内蒙古河套灌区土壤盐渍化现象非常严重,而对于在盐碱地治理中起重要作用的基层农户,其参与意识及影响因素仍不明确。本研究利用参与式调查方法,对内蒙古河套灌区农户的种植结构、管理方式、盐碱地认知程度及参与盐碱地治理意愿等方面进行了深入了解,并利用相对感知强度和多元逻辑回归等方法,分析了农户盐碱地治理的参与意识及主要影响因素。结果表明,河套灌区长期采用大水洗盐的灌溉方式,施肥类型以化肥为主,有机肥施用较少。大水洗盐导致地下水位普遍偏高,春季返盐现象严重;较少施用有机肥不利于土壤结构的改良,可见河套灌区农户没有通过改变种植和管理方式来治理盐碱地的意识。有54%的农户认为自家的耕地土壤盐渍化较为严重,但是很少有农户主动采取治理措施。有72%的受访者表示愿意投入资金治理盐碱地,但能接受的投入成本较低(不超过750元·hm-2)。影响农民参与盐碱地治理意识的主要因素是文化程度(P0.05),另外投入成本过高、缺乏技术支持等也是重要因素。因此,调整农作物管理模式、加强宣传教育、增加对农户的补助及技术支持是河套灌区盐碱地改良的必要方式。该结果可为扩大盐碱地治理的群众基础以及制定相关政策提供科学依据。     

Soil acidity under multiple land-uses: assessment of perceived causes and indicators,and nutrient dynamics in small-holders’ mixed-farming system of northwest Ethiopia

Knowledge on farmers’ perspectives is of paramount importance in order to design appropriate agricultural research and development interventions attuned to local farming systems. A participatory rural appraisal was conducted in order to understand perceived causes and indicators of soil acidity under multiple land-uses in three Districts of northwest Ethiopia. Soil samples were also collected from five dominant land-uses. The samples were analysed for soil pH, exchangeable acidity and other physico-chemical properties. The result indicated that the pH_(H2O) of most of the soils in the study sites were in a strongly acidic range (4.6–5.5). Gashena Akayita of the Banja District was the most acidic of all. Among the land-uses, eucalyptus fields were the most acidic followed by crop outfields and grazing lands in that order. At all the study sites, exchangeable Al was detected in soils having a pH of less than 5.0. Overall, the nutrient dynamics showed variation across land-uses and study sites. Farmers’ perceived causes of soil acidity included: soil erosion; contending use of fertility replenishing local resources; abandoning traditional fertility management practices and minimal use of external inputs. The farmers attributed the exclusive use of acid-forming inorganic fertilizers to exhaustion of the soil. Various land and soil characteristics, plant growth attributes, changes in genetic diversity were mentioned as indicators of soil acidity. Particularly, the farmers used prevalence of acidophilic weed species on crop fields and grazing lands as marker of strongly acidic soil. Farmers’ perceived causes and indicators were in agreement with scientific facts and can be utilized as input in designing sustainable acid soil management strategies. Decline in genetic diversity of the once widespread crop species and land races, and expansion of newly introduced soil acidity tolerant species, suggests the need to undertake rescue collections in these areas.     

Prediction of profile soil moisture for one land use using measurements at a soil depth of other land uses in a karst depression

Purpose

Information on root-zone soil water content (SWC) is essential for vegetation restoration, irrigation scheduling, and hydrological modeling. However, measurements of SWC within a variety of land uses may be time-consuming and labor-costing. This study tested whether SWC at a depth of a land use can be used to predict profile SWC of other land uses in terms of temporal stability analysis at a karst depression area in southwest China.

Materials and methods

A total of 30 datasets of root-zone SWC from 0.1- to 0.5-m depths were collected by time domain reflectometry probes for three typical land uses from March 12 to November 8, 2015.

Results and discussion

Results showed that the profile mean SWC and its associated standard deviation (SD_P) and coefficient of variation (CV_P) differed significantly (P?<?0.05) among the grassland, farmland, and forestland. The profile SWC was more temporally stable according to the apparently lower CV_T in comparison with CV_P. The similarities of the vertical patterns of SWC were strong for the same land uses, while were relatively weak between the different land uses. The SWC measurements of the most temporally stable depth can be used to accurately predict profile SWC for both the same land use and other land uses.

Conclusions

This study further expands the application of the temporal stability analysis and can aid water resource management in areas with diverse land uses.

     

基于中国知网的有机无机配施对烤烟产量与品质影响的整合分析

为在全国及区域尺度上,定量评价烤烟产量和品质对有机无机肥料配施的响应及其影响因素,为烤烟科学施肥以及提高生产效益提供依据,通过中国知网数据库,选择"烤烟""有机肥"和"产量"为主要关键词检索期刊文献,将单施化肥处理作为对照,选择反应比作为效应量,采用文献整合分析方法进行了研究.结果表明:与单施化肥处理相比,有机无机配施...