The impact of charcoal production on soil hydraulic properties, runoff response and erosion susceptibility were studied in both field and simulation experiments. Core and composite samples, from 12 randomly selected sites within the catchment of Kotokosu were taken from the 0-10 cm layer of a charcoal site soil (CSS) and adjacent field soils (AFS). These samples were used to determine saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), bulk density, total porosity, soil texture and color. Infiltration, surface albedo and soil surface temperature were also measured in both CSS and AFS. Measured properties were used as entries in a rainfall runoff simulation experiment on a smooth (5 % slope) plot of 25 x 25 m grids with 10 cm resolutions. Typical rainfall intensities of the study watershed (high, moderate and low) were applied to five different combinations of Ks distributions that could be expected in this landscape. The results showed significantly (p < 0.01) higher flow characteristics of the soil under charcoal kilns (increase of 88 %). Infiltration was enhanced and runoff volume reduced significantly. The results showed runoff reduction of about 37 and 18 %, and runoff coefficient ranging from 0.47-0.75 and 0.04-0.39 or simulation based on high (200 mm h -1 ) and moderate (100 mm h -1 ) rainfall events over the CSS and AFS areas, respectively. Other potential impacts of charcoal production on watershed hydrology were described. The results presented, together with watershed measurements, when available, are expected to enhance understanding of the hydrological responses of ecosystems to indiscriminate charcoal production and related activities in this region.Index terms: hydro-physical properties, infiltration, simulated runoff, watershed hydrology.(
Management of tomato early blight pathogen (Alternaria solani) has relied principally on application of synthetic fungicides. The use of biological control agents has been recognized as a viable option to synthetic chemicals in plant disease control. The present study evaluated the effects of Pseudomonas fluorescens, P. aeruginosa, P. putida, and P. cepacia on tomato early blight pathogen and investigated their efficacy on the yield components and yield of tomato plants infected with A. solani. Tomato seeds raised in the nursery beds were transplanted to the main field after three weeks. The experiment was laid in a randomized complete block. Treatment application was done by immersion of roots of threeweek-old seedlings of tomato in Pseudomonas solution prior to transplanting. The treatments consisted of plots treated with P. fluorescens, P. aeruginosa, P. putida, P. cepacia and the control. Data were collected on disease severity, plant height, stem girth, number of fruits per plant, fruit length and fruit weight. Tomato plants in the control plot had significantly (p<0.05) higher disease severity (52.0) There was no significant difference in the severities of early blight on tomato plants treated with P. fluorescens, P. putida and P. cepacia. Tomato plants treated with P. aeruginosa had significantly (p<0.05) higher height (39.0 cm) than all other treatments. There was no significance difference in the fruit weights of tomato plants treated with P. fluorescens, P. aeruginosa, P. putida, and P. cepacia. Tomato plants in the control plots had a significantly lower fruit weight (69.5 g). Findings of the present study demonstrated a promising approach of biological control of early blight pathogen with Pseudomonas species. Results of this work could be used as bedrock for formulation of an effective and eco-friendly strategy for the management of early blight disease.
Extracts of four plant species, red acalypha (Acalypha hispida), siam weed (Chromolaena odorata), aidan (Tetrapleura tetraptera), and neem (Azadirachta indica) were screened in-vitro for fungitoxicity against Lasiodiplodia theobromae (cashew inflorescence blight pathogen) at four different concentrations viz., 10, 20, 40 and 80%. The result shows that the plants extracts significantly (P < 0.05) reduced mycelia growth of the fungus. The fungitoxicity of the plant extracts against L. theobromae also varied with concentration. Extract from T. tetraptera exhibited maximum efficacy in reducing the mycelia growth of L. theobromae to 9.83 mm at 80% concentration while the highest mycelia growth of 59.33 mm was recorded in extract of A. hispida at 40% concentration. C. odorata at 10% concentration reduced the colony diameter to 50.50 mm while 20% T. tetraptera inhibited the pathogen to 42.33 mm. The percentage reduction in colony diameter by each of the phytoextracts ranged between 30.20 and 88.44%. Findings from this study reveal the possibility of utilizing naturally available plant chemicals for controlling L. theobromae with the ultimate goal of eliminating pesticide residues in the marketable products of cashew.
In organic pasture systems, the balance of soil fertility is maintained by maximizing the cycling of on-farm nutrients. In this study, the effect of fertility management on dry matter yield in organic pasture systems was examined using an unreplicated 25 factorial design. The factors were nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), compost and seaweed extract, each at two levels (with [+] and without [−]). The trials were conducted in 2000 and 2001 at two fields on an organic dairy farm in Nova Scotia, Canada. The pasture mix is predominantly perennial ryegrass, orchardgrass and white clover. The fertility treatments were applied in spring, and forage yield was collected from early-, mid- and late-summer harvests. The analysis revealed the significance of several interaction effects, which varied considerably from harvest to harvest. Both +N and +Compost treatments were associated with increased yield. High levels of P and K already present in the soil either diminished or varied the effects of P and K treatments. Seaweed extract enhanced the effectiveness of N and compost, but reduced yield when used alone. The results suggest that the commonly recommended use of seaweed extract for organic pasture management can be detrimental to biomass production unless sufficient nitrogen is provided. Despite the unusually dry weather in the 2 years, the study demonstrated the applicability of unreplicated two-level factorial experiments in agricultural field studies.
The nutrients requirement for Cucurbita pepo L. (summer squash) for optimal yield and quality fruits production can be achieved through adequate nutrient supply. A field experiment was carried out during the cropping season of 2015 and 2016 at Landmark University Teaching and Research Farm, Omu-Aran, Nigeria to investigate the impact of Tithonia diversifolia, poultry manure and NPK fertilizer on the growth, yield, mineral and vitamin C content in the fruit of C. pepo. The experiment consisted of T. diversifolia at 30 tons ha−1, poultry manure at 10 tons ha−1, T. diversifolia at 30 tons ha−1 + Poultry manure 10 tons ha−1, T. diversifolia at 30 tons ha−1 + NPK (20:10:10), NPK (20:10:10) and control (no amendment of any kind) arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The growth and fruit yield of C. pepo using the mean of the two years was increased by 68% and 2% respectively by T. diversifolia + poultry manure as compared to control due to an increase in nutrient availability in the soil with the amendment used. Also, Vitamin C content and Mg value of the fruit was increased by application of T. diversifolia as soil amendments as compared to the control. While the application of NPK fertilizer alone significantly increased the Ca, Mn and Fe contents of fruits. Fruit content of K was increased by 39 % by the application of T. diversifolia + NPK. Therefore, for the purpose of growing squash for the quality of fruits (vitamin C), the use of T. diversifolia at 30 tons ha−1 as organic fertilizer is sufficient for the cultivation, while for growing the crop with interest in quantity, application of T. diversifolia at 30 tons ha−1 + poultry manure at 10 tons ha−1 is recommended.
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