This paper assesses the additional benefits of a homestead gardening program designed to control vitamin A deficiency in Bangladesh. In February and March 2002, data were collected on the food security and social status of women from 2,160 households of active and former participants in the gardening program and from control groups in order to assess the impact and sustainability of the program. The proportions of active and former-participant households that gardened year-round were fivefold and threefold, respectively, higher than that of the control group (78% and 50% vs. 15%). In a three-month period, the households of active participants produced a median of 135 kg and consumed a median of 85 kg of vegetables, while the control households produced a median of 46 kg and consumed a median of 38 kg (p and consumed a median of 38 kg (p and consumed a median of 38 kg (< .001). About 64% of the active-participant households generated a median garden income of 347 taka (US$1 = 51 taka), which was spent mainly on food, and 25% of the control households generated 200 taka in the same period (p generated 200 taka in the same period (p generated 200 taka in the same period (< .001). The garden production and income levels of formerly participating households three years after withdrawal of program support were much higher than those of the control households, illustrating the sustainability of the program and its ability to increase household food security. Significantly more women in active-and former-participant households than in control households perceived that they had increased their economic contribution to their households since the time the program was launched in their subdistricts (> 85% vs. 52%). Similar results were found for the level of influence gained by women on household decision-making. These results highlight the multiple benefits that homestead gardening programs can bring and demonstrate that these benefits should be considered when selecting nutritional and development approaches targeting poor households.
Total number of root penetrations of compacted subsoil layers have been commonly used to assess plant tolerance to subsoil compaction. Root‐type specific responses to compacted subsoil layers have not been investigated despite the documentation that plant root types are physiologically and genetically different. A set of maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) cultivars were grown in growth chambers in containers with compacted middle layers (1.2 and 1.65 Mg m−3) of Howard soil (loamy skeletal, mixed, mesic Glossoboric Hapludalf) with 17% clay content. The containers were exposed to a neutron beam to determine the relative root lengths (RRL) of taproot (RTRL) and basal root (RBRL), the numbers of lateral roots in the compacted layer, and lengths of lateral roots above the compacted layer. The resulting neutron radiographic images revealed that maize ‘SA‐3’ and soybean ‘PI 416937’ taproots penetrated the compacted layer and maintained >90% RTRL in the subsoil, but their basal roots hardly penetrated the compacted layer. In contrast, maize ‘La Posta’ and soybean ‘Weber’ taproots were severely restricted by the compacted layer, but their basal roots penetrated the layer and had >70% RBRL in the subsoil. Maize ‘TS‐6’ taproots were also restricted by the compacted layer, but TS‐6 basal roots had a moderate penetration that produced a 38% RBRL in the subsoil. On the other hand, soybean ‘Perry’ had a moderate penetration and RRLs in the subsoil with both tap and basal roots. This variation in root type response to subsoil compaction among cultivars stresses the importance of considering different root types as distinct entities in studies on plant tolerance to compacted subsoil conditions.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.