Farm and socio-economic characteristics of smallholder milk producers and their influence on technology adoption in Central Mexico

In order to identify the factors influencing adoption of technologies promoted by government to small-scale dairy farmers in the highlands of central Mexico, a field survey was conducted. A total of 115 farmers were grouped through cluster analysis (CA) and divided into three wealth status categories (high, medium and low) using wealth ranking. Chi-square analysis was used to examine the association of wealth status with technology adoption. Four groups of farms were differentiated in terms of farms' dimensions, farmers' education, sources of incomes, wealth status, management of herd, monetary support by government and technological availability. Statistical differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the milk yield per herd per year among groups. Government organizations (GO) participated little in the promotion of the 17 technologies identified, six of which focused on crop or forage production and 11 of which were related to animal husbandry. Relatives and other farmers played an important role in knowledge diffusion and technology adoption. Although wealth status had a significant association (p < 0.05) with adoption, other factors including importance of the technology to farmers, usefulness and productive benefits of innovations together with farmers' knowledge of them, were important. It is concluded that the analysis of the information per group and wealth status was useful to identify suitable crop or forage related and animal husbandry technologies per group and wealth status of farmers. Therefore the characterizations of farmers could provide a useful starting point for the design and delivery of more appropriate and effective extension.     

Simple protoplast isolation system for gene expression and protein interaction studies in pineapple (Ananas comosus L.)

Background

Seed viability monitoring is very important in ex situ germplasm preservation to detect germplasm deterioration. This requires seed-, time- and labor- saving methods with high precision to assess seed germination as viability. Although the current non-invasive, rapid, sensing methods (NRSs) are time- and labor-saving, they lack the precision and simplicity which are the virtues of traditional germination. Moreover, they consume a considerable amount of seeds to adjust sensed signals to germination percentage, which disregards the seed-saving objective. This becomes particularly severe for rare or endangered species whose seeds are already scarce. Here we propose a new method that is precise, low-invasive, simple, and quick, which involves analyzing the pattern of dehiscence (seed coat rupture), followed by embryonic protrusion.

Results

Dehiscence proved simple to identify. After the trial of 20 treatments from 3 rice varieties, we recognized that dehiscence percentage at the 48th hour of germination (D(48)) correlates significantly with germination rate for tested seed lots. In addition, we found that the final germination percentage corresponded to D(48) plus 5. More than 70% of the seeds survived post-dehiscence desiccation for storage. Hydrogen peroxide (1 mM) as the solution for imbibition could further improve the survival. The method also worked quicker than tetrazolium which is honored as a fast, traditional method, in detecting less vigorous but viable seeds.

Conclusion

We demonstrated the comprehensive virtues of dehiscence method in assessing rice seed: it is more precise and easier to use than NRSs and is faster and more seed-saving than traditional methods. We anticipate modifications including artificial intelligence to extend our method to increasingly diverse circumstances and species.

     

Use of additives to capture nitrogen in ammoniated wheat straw: Intake, ruminal parameters, digestibility and nitrogen utilization in buffaloes

This study examined the influence of urea treated wheat straw (UTWS) ensiled with additives on feed intake, digestibility, ruminal characteristics and N utilization in Nili-Ravi buffalo bulls (Babulus bubalis) fed ad libitum. Wheat straw was treated on large scale with 4% urea at a 50% moisture level. The UTWS was ensiled with 6% CSL, 6% acidified molasses, 2% acetic acid and 2% formic acid on DM basis in four different cemented trench silos for 15 days. Four diets each having 50% dry matter (DM) from UTWS ensiled with acetic acid (AD), formic acid (FD), acidified molasses (MD) or corn steep liquor (CD) and 50% DM from concentrate mixture were fed to ruminally cannulated bulls in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Ruminal total VFA, acetate, cellulolytic ruminal bacterial count, DM and NDF degradability were significantly higher with MD and CD diets compared with AD and FD diets. Intake of different feed fractions was higher in bulls fed MD and CD diets. Total tract apparent digestibility of nutrients was similar across all treatments. Nitrogen retention was higher in bulls fed MD and CD diets than those fed AD and FD diets. Ensiling UTWS with fermentable carbohydrates sources having low pH compared to organic acids increased the N fixation in the matrix of cell wall fiber thus slowing its release at ruminal level that probably enhanced the N synchronization with carbon skeleton (fiber fermentation) and this consequently improved the N utilization.     

Soil Application of Boron Improves the Tillering,Leaf Elongation,Panicle Fertility,Yield and its Grain Enrichment in Fine-Grain Aromatic Rice

Boron (B) is one of the essential micronutrients having a specific role, particularly during reproductive phase, in rice. In a previous experiment on aerobic rice, panicle sterility was noted as one of the major challenges. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of soil-applied B on tillering, panicle sterility, water relations, and grain enrichment in fine-grain aromatic rice cultivars ‘Super Basmati’ and ‘Shaheen Basmati’. Boron was soil applied at 0.50, 0.75, 1, 1.25, and 1.50 kg ha^?1 while the control treatment did not receive B. Rate of leaf emergence and elongation and tiller appearance were significantly improved by B application. Likewise, B application also improved the leaf chlorophyll contents and water relations in both rice cultivars. Substantial improvement in kernel yield and yield contributing traits was also observed by B application owing to decrease in panicle sterility. A linear increase in leaf and kernel B contents was observed with increase in B application rate. However, the range for an optimum B application rate is very narrow and increase of B application beyond 1 kg ha^?1 was toxic. In conclusion, soil application of B is an effective way to decrease panicle sterility and increase the kernel yield and grain B enrichment in rice.     

Bioavailability of Calcium,Iron and Zinc Fortified Whole Wheat Flour Chapatti

The bioavailability and interactive effects of calcium, iron and zinc fortified whole wheat flour chapattis on female Sprague–Dawley albino rats were determined. The whole wheat flour was fortified with CaCO₃, FeSO₄ and ZnSO₄ at 1000, 40 and 20 mg/kg, respectively and fed to 64 female Sprague–Dawley rats for 4 weeks. Retention of Ca, Fe and Zn was determined in plasma, femur and liver tissues. Ca levels in plasma and liver did not alter significantly while the Ca retention in femur changed significantly with the change in fortificants. The calcium retention was higher in the femur of rats fed on the diet supplemented with Ca + Zn (221 ± 13.61 mg/g) than the rats fed on the diet supplemented with Ca + Fe (219 ± 18.92 mg/g). The iron in plasma, liver and femur ranged from 2.19 ± 0.11 to 2.77 ± 0.10 μg/ml, 203.5 ± 13.24 to 251.5 ± 17.19 μg/g and 43.5 ± 1.05 to 52 ± 2.07 μg/g while zinc content ranged from 1.31 ± 0.089 to 1.55 ± 0.114 μg/ml, 89.5 ± 3.41 to 132 ± 6.10 μg/g and 175 ± 8.29 to 191 ± 10.85 μg/g, respectively. The minerals interacted with each other resulting in decrease of bioavailability among each other. The absorption was higher in the rats fed on fortified diet than those fed on unfortified chapatti diet. Hence, it is concluded that fortification of whole wheat flour is feasible to overcome the Ca, Fe and Zn malnutrition in the vulnerable groups.     

Plant density and nitrogen effects on growth dynamics,light interception and yield of maize

Maize (Zea mays L.) growth and yield are most sensitive to variations in plant density and nitrogen (N) in north-western Pakistan. This study was conducted on the Agricultural Research Farm of NWFP (North West Frontier Province) Agricultural University, Peshawar, from 2002–2004 to establish an accurate plant density and N management system aimed at high yield of maize. The 2 × 3 × 6 factorial experiment was designed having two plant densities (P1 = 60,000 and P2 = 100,000 plants ha^?1) and three nitrogen rates (N1 = 60, N2 = 120 and N3 = 180 kg N ha^?1) applied to the main plots, while six split application for N in different proportions were applied to subplots at different growth stages of maize in two equal (S1), three equal (S2), three unequal (S3), four equal (S4), five equal (S5) and five unequal splits (S6) at sowing and with 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th irrigation at two-week intervals. Growth rate and yield increased with elevated dose and number of N split applications. Improved endurance to high stands allowed maize to intercept and use solar radiation more efficiently, contributing to the remarkable increase in the crop growth rate and yield.     

Seroprevalence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Toxoplasma gondii</Emphasis> in sheep and goats in Rahim Yar Khan (Punjab), Pakistan

Toxoplasmosis, an infection caused by Toxoplasma (T.) gondii Apicomplexa protozoan, is widespread in humans and other animal species, having already been reported in many countries and different climates. In Pakistan, no data is available on this aspect among food animals. This study was undertaken to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in sheep and goats. A total of 200 serum samples from sheep and goats, were collected from urban area of Rahim Yar Khan (Punjab), Pakistan and tested for Toxoplasmosis with a commercial latex agglutination kit (Eiken Chemical Co., Ltd. Japan). The overall seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis was 19%. Goats had a significantly higher (p < 0.01) prevalence (25.4%) as compared to the sheep (11.2%); and higher (p < 0.01) in the female (24%) than in the males (19%) for both species. In the present study the male (both in sheep and goat) are found less seropositive T. gondii (OR = 0.23; 99% C.I. = 0.01, 1.81) as compared to female sheep and goat. The prevalence was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in adult sheep than younger animals. Among both the sheep and goats the group from 1–1.5 years are highly seropositive (OR = 1.75; 99% C.I. = 0.47, 6.51) as compared to the group less than one year of age followed by the 2–2.5 years age group (OR = 1.63; 99% C.I. = 0.50, 5.74) whereas group with more than 3 years of age least seropositive.