International Journal of Scientific Research in Agricultural Sciences

80-89

Authors: Henry Oppong Tuffour, Mensah Bonsu

Soil aggregation is an important process in carbon sequestration and therefore a useful strategy to mitigate the increase in the concentration of atmospheric CO2. The study was, carried out on an Acrisol at the KNUST Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) plantation. Samples, covered with deep litter, shallow litter and no litter were taken from the 0 – 15 cm depth from three different locations at the sampling site. The organic carbon content and aggregate stability were determined on air – dried samples sieved through graduated sieves into sizes of 0.5 – 1.0 mm, 1.0 – 2.0 mm, 2.0 – 4.0 mm and 4.0 – 6.0 mm using the loss- on- ignition method and modified wet-sieving method, respectively. The study showed that SOC sequestered was highest in the deep litter and the aggregate sizes of 4.0 – 6.0 mm at all sites. The weighted mean of organic carbon for all sizes were 3.02% for deep litter, 2.84% for shallow litter and 1.55% for no litter spots, respectively. The aggregate sizes of 4.0 – 6.0 mm also had the highest stability to external forces. There was also a positive correlation between SOC and aggregate stability. The study confirmed that mature cocoa farms have the potential to store more organic carbon and are relatively stable to reduce erosion and enhance root penetration.

56-66

Authors: Abdelraouf Ramadan Eid, Ahmed Mohamed El-Farouk, Bakry Ahmed Bakry, M. KH. Elbegawy

As for population of more than 90 million, Egypt cannot meet its need for food as adequate water is not available for crop production .So to identify and adopt measures that will reduce water use and increase crop production, this study was conducted in farmers' fields during 2009/2010–2010/2011to evaluate the water use efficiency and economic viability of sprinkler irrigation system for growing wheat crop. Two field experiments were conducted in the Research and Production Station of the National Research Centre in El-Nubaria El-Behera Governorate. The water-use characteristics of wheat were studied in the field under sprinkler irrigation system. Treatments consisted of two sprinkler irrigation systems, solid set sprinklers (S1) and hand move laterals (S2), and three irrigation frequencies (IF1: once per week; IF2: twice per week, IF3: three times per week). Total irrigation amount values varied from 3924.373 to 4081.3 m3.ha-1 in 2009-2010 and 4313.6 to 4486.2 m3.ha-1 in 2010-2011. The highest seasonal ET was obtained from the S2IF3 treatment in 2010-2011 (5417.1 m3.ha-1); the lowest value was observed in the S1IF1 treatment in 2009-2010 (4513.0 m3.ha-1). On average, the S1IF3 treatment gave the highest grain yield (5832.5 kg.ha-1), whereas S2IF1 treatment gave the lowest grain yield (3332.5 kg.ha-1). IWUE values varied from 1.0 to 1.43 kg.m-3 in 2009-2010 and from 0.87 to 1.34 kg.m-3 in 2010-2011. WUE values varied from 0.87 to 1.19 kg.m-3 in 2009-2010 and from 0.79 to 1.16 kg.m-3 in 2010-2011. Also, under solid set sprinkler irrigation system and irrigation frequency occurred maximum value of net income. For winter wheat in the El-Nubaria, the recommended sprinkler system and irrigation frequency for each event is solid set sprinkler (S1) and irrigation three times per week (IF3).

43-49

Authors: Tilak Chandra Nath, Md. Jamal Uddin Bhuiyan, Mohammad Al Mamun, Real Datta, Shaymal Kumar Chowdhury, Muhammed Hossain, Mohammad Shafiul Alam

Goat is an important source of nutrition and integral part of rural economy in Bangladesh. Goats are affected by several infectious diseases which can affect their growth. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of common infectious diseases of goat in Chittagong district of Bangladesh. The study was carried out in S.A Quaderi Teaching Veterinary Hospital, CVASU, Chittagong in between November 2011 to October 2012. The diseases were diagnosed on basis of clinical signs, owner's statement and laboratory diagnosis. The prevalence of Peste des Petis of Ruminant (PPR) was highest (11.33%) whereas babesiosis was less common (0.40%). The prevalence of infectious disease was highest in 13-18 month age group (68.00%) and lowest at 19-24 month age group (53.73%). The prevalence of infectious disease was highest at Black Bengal breed (64.23%) and lowest in Jamunapari cross (57.39%). Prevalence of PPR was found highest both for male and female goat. Highest percentage was observed in case of mixed infection (49%) and lowest in case of fungal infection (4%). Occurrence of various infectious diseases was higher in rainy season (36.43%) followed by winter season (34.94%) and summer season (28.62%). Female goat was found to be more susceptible (64.22%) than the male animal (35.77%). These results indicate the high incidence of various infectious diseases in the goats of Chittagong region. Thus, there is a need for an immediate action by the veterinary workers, development partners to come forward in order to prevent and minimize the loss caused by infectious diseases in goats.

23-31

Authors: Aqeel Hasan Rizvi, Vipin Kumar Dwivedi, Raj Kumar Sairam, Shyam Singh Yadav, Chellapilla Bharadwaj, Ashutosh Sarker, Afroz Alam

Drought is a major constraint that limits seed yield in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). It is important to establish the relative importance many of these drought-related traits for prioritizing their consideration in breeding for drought tolerance improvements. The objective of this study was to categorize the drought tolerant and susceptible chickpea genotypes on the basis of physiological parameters. An experiment was conducted with five chickpea genotypes in field under irrigated and rain fed conditions. Observations were recorded on relative water content (RWC), and the contents of chlorophyll (Chl), carotenoid (Car), proline (Pro) and protein in the five chickpea genotypes. RWC and contents of Chl, Car and protein decreased under moisture stress, whereas Pro content increased with the increase in moisture stress. Pusa-1108, Pusa-362, Pusa-1103 were able to maintain relatively higher RWC, Chl, Car and protein content and greater Pro accumulation, while Flip 90-166 and SBD-377 showed comparatively greater decline in the RWC, Chl, Car and Protein and less accumulation of Pro under moisture stress. The data suggest that chickpea genotypes can be categorized into drought tolerant and susceptible types based on the variations in RWC, Chl, Car, Pro and protein content.

6-15

Authors: Sonali Pandey, Shivani Ror, Dipjyoti Chakraborty

A complex response (in terms of physiological, biochemical and molecular level) is shown by plants exposed to drought and depending on that, plants show differential adaptation and tolerance mechanisms. Drought stress effects on plants are generally evident in terms of reduced growth, loss of membrane stability and integrity, reduction in essential pigments like chlorophyll etc. The pulse crops black gram (Vigna mungo L.) is an important protein source that is grown in all over India. In addition, it also plays an important role in sustaining soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen. However, productivity is adversely affected by various biotic and abiotic stresses necessitating screening of newer varieties for better adaptation to local conditions. In the present study, three varieties of Vigna mungo, viz., IPU 94-1, PU 40 and PU 19, widely grown in the northern India were evaluated for their response to short term drought stress at early growth stage. Drought stress had detrimental effect in several biochemical parameters like chlorophyll content, lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress, generation of H2O2. Modulations of several metabolic components like phenolics, proline and antioxidant enzymatic responses of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase were observed in drought and recovery to combat the stress.