International Journal of Agricultural Research, Innovation and Technology

10-17

Authors: M. Malla, G. Tesema, S. Tesema, A. Hegano and S. Negash

Depletion of soil fertility, depletion of macro- and micro-nutrients and soil organic matter and inappropriate and imbalanced fertilizer application are among the most important factors that reduces the food barley production in Ethiopia. Therefore, the experiment was conducted to evaluate NPSB blended fertilizer rate effect on improving production of food barley in Semen Ari District, Southwestern Ethiopia during main cropping season. Control, (142 NPS + 159 Urea) kg ha-1, (150 NPSB + 41 Urea) kg ha-1, (200 NPSB + 72 Urea) kg ha-1, (250 NPSB + 102 Urea) kg ha-1 and (100 NPSB + 161 Urea) kg ha-1 treatments were used for the experiment which laid out in RCBD following three replication with spacing of 20 cm between rows; and HB 1307 improved food barley seeds were drilled on prepared rows. Full dose of blended and potassium fertilizers were applied at planting time and urea was applied in two split. The result revealed that food barley responded well to application of N, P, S and B than the unfertilized one. Application of 100 kg ha-1 NPSB + 161 kg ha-1 Urea resulted in highest grain yield of 3806.3 kg ha-1, while the lowest grain yield of 1939.2 kg ha-1 was recorded from the nil. Moreover, the highest net benefit of 32124.56 ETB ha-1 and economic returns of 942.2% was recorded in response to application of 100 kg ha-1 NPSB + 161 kg ha-1 Urea. Application of 100 kg ha-1 NPSB + 161 kg ha-1 Urea gave 49.05% yield increment and 40.24% increment in economic return over the control. Therefore, we recommend application of 100 kg ha-1 NPSB + 161 kg ha-1 Urea for farmers and investor’s in study area and similar agro-ecologies as it was optimum for improving food barley production. Further studies and investigation should be done on plant nutrient uptake, nutrient use efficiency and over location.

27-36

Authors: O.S. Oduniyi, M.A Antwi and A.N. Mukwevho

The participation of emerging farmers in high-value agricultural markets in South Africa cannot be over-emphasized. It is one of the objectives of the government to assist emerging farmers with the necessary resources and programmes to enable them to meet the requirements and participate in high-value markets. The study investigated the impact of participation in the high-value market on cattle production (cattle sold). A systematic random probabilistic sampling technique was used to obtain a sample of 55 emerging beef farmers. Interviews were undertaken using questionnaires to collect data. Descriptive statistics and econometric methods such as Tobit model and a treatment effect model using propensity score matching estimator were employed for the data analysis. The results of binary logit regression from the PSM revealed that participation in a high-value market was significantly affected by age, household size, years of farming and difficulty accessing a high-value market. The average treatment effect of the treated showed a negative impact and decreases the number of cattle sold by 58%. The recommendations informed by the findings from the study are that youth in the study area should be involved in beef farming, appropriate training should be given to the farmers and farmer's advisor should motivate farmers to sell more cattle and participate in a high-value market, and educate them about the requirements to participate in the high value markets. The DARD lease assistance should continue and include the lease of more land.

42-51

Authors: A. Kolapo, O.V. Ogunyemi, O.M. Ologundudu, I.A. Adekunle, M.O. Akinloye and F. Komolehin

In this study, we used a household level survey to assess choices of varieties and demand for improved cassava varieties. A multivariate probit model was used to examine the determinants of choice decisions of the farmers for different varieties preventing potential endogeneity and measurement error. A Linearized Almost Ideal Demand System (LA/AIDS) model was used to analyze the demand system for improved cassava varieties. The results of the (LA/AIDS) model indicated farmers were very price sensitive to changes in improved stem prices and incomes. We suggest that intervention program that will improve the purchasing power of the farmers should be targeted towards the smallholder cassava farmers to accelerate adoption of improved cassava varieties.

61-68

Authors: Y. Alemayehu

This study mainly aimed at analyzing market chain analysis of coffee in the Debub Ari District. The descriptive and S-C-P model was used. Both primary and secondary data were collected from the study area. The multi-stage sampling technique employed for this study. A total of 194 coffee producer household heads have been randomly selected and interviewed with the help of pre-tested structured questionnaire. The focus group discussion and key informants interviews were conducted to supplement the formal data. The results of S-C-P model indicated that the four firms concentration ratio (CR4) result in the study area was found to be tight oligopolistic for both red and dry coffee which accounts 89.2 and 80.0%, respectively. About 72% of price setting was done by buyers, 27% negotiation and 1% by the producers. There are seven market channels, which have been identified in the study area. The computed marketing margin among different actors and channels indicated that the total gross marketing margin (TGMM) of coffee is high in channel I, II, III whereas the producers marketing margin (GMMp) was highest in channel VII. Therefore, the intervention is needed to improve coffee marketing chain through promoting cooperatives, infrastructural development and timely market information for efficient marketing system in the study area.

72-75

Authors: Y.D. Nayak and A.P. Sahoo

Entrepreneurs are credited with playing a key role in wealth creation and economic development. There has been enough focus of empirical literature on linking entrepreneurship and employment generation, reducing income disparity and contributing to balanced regional development. However, the environment catastrophe, world is facing, has made it imminent for the business to find new ways of doing business. Green Entrepreneurship, however nascent, provides a gleam of hope to in the direction of sustainable development. Growing consumer awareness and preference towards environmentally friendly products has also made embedding green concepts in business models a source of competitive advantage. This study is exploratory in nature as it offers insights into the emergence of the concept of green entrepreneurship and its role in the Indian context. Based on available literature, the study proposes a conceptual model explaining a link between various social, environmental and institutional factors and green entrepreneurship, leading to sustainable development. The study also explores current green entrepreneurship scenario in the light of opportunities and challenges by presenting the case studies of successful green ventures in India.

85-94

Authors: T.N. Shila, M.S. Islam, M.M.M. Hoque, M.H. Kabir, M.R. Jamil and U. Kumar

The study was conducted to investigate the soil properties and pesticide intensity in rice, banana and brinjal growing agricultural land of Delduar and Sakhipur upazila of Tangail district during July 2019 to June 2020. Forty five soil samples were collected from different crop land at the study area and analyzed in the Soil Resource Development Institute to determine the soil properties as pH, total organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), available sulfur (S), available zinc (Zn), exchangeable potassium (K), exchangeable magnesium (Mg) and exchangeable calcium (Ca). However, pesticide used intensity was also evaluated through questionnaire survey with farmers and stakeholders in the study area. Results showed that pH, OM, available N, exchangeable Ca and exchangeable Mg content were significantly higher in rice growing land than banana and brinjal. On the other hand, available P, exchangeable K and available Zn content were substantially higher in brinjal growing land than rice and banana. The OM showed significant positive correlation with soil pH, available N, available S, exchangeable Mg and exchangeable Ca (r=0.37, 0.99, 0.31, 0.59 and 0.63, respectively), indicated rice growing land built up these soil properties through increasing soil OM. The available P showed significant and positive correlation with K and Zn (r=0.55 and 0.74, respectively), but negative correlation with exchangeable Mg and exchangeable Ca (r=-0.53 and -0.32, respectively). The exchangeable K showed significant and positive correlation with available Zn (r=0.45) but negative correlation with exchangeable Mg (r=-0.37). The Mg showed significant negative correlation with available Zn (r=-0.45) but positive correlation with exchangeable Ca (r=0.87). Results also revealed that pesticide used intensity was higher in brinjal followed by banana and minimum in rice crop. Study suggests that farmers require up-to-date information on soil nutrient status so that they may use the proper utilization of fertilizers and avoid using excessive amounts of fertilizers and pesticides in their crop land.

103-107

Authors: A. Kolapo, A.S. Ogunleye, A.D. Kehinde and A.A. Adebanke

The study examined the determinants of farmers’ access to microcredit from cooperative societies in Ondo state. A multistage sampling technique was used to obtain data from 100 respondents. Primary data was collected for the purpose of the study. We used descriptive statistics and logit regression model to analyses the data collected. Result showed that the farmers were mostly male farmers (64%) while majority of the farmers had a mean age of 44.10 ± 14.70. It was also revealed that consumer cooperative society, producer cooperative society, marketing cooperative society, cooperative farming society and credit and thrift cooperative society were the major forms of cooperative used by the farmers. The result also shows that age, marital status, farm size, farming experience, credit from another source and number of years in the cooperative significantly influenced farmers’ access to microcredit from cooperative society.

117-123

Authors: Wakuma Merga Sakata

The inconsistence of genotypes across location during plant breeding is the major challenges to the breeder. That is the differential response of genotypes to different environment. Meanwhile stability is the ability of a genotype to withstand stressful conditions and yet be able to produce yield. Thus, stability is an absolute and relative measure. Arabica coffee has location specific adaptation nature and that leads to highly significant instability in its breeding program. In the study of coffee bean yield stability cultivars tested at multi- locations within the domain of coffee growing ecologies of Ethiopia, showed a significant genotype x environment interaction. The review of previous research also indicated inconsistent effects of genotype x environment interaction on cup quality. Yield-stability analysis is very important in measuring cultivar stability and suitability for growing crops across seasons and agro-ecological region to identify stable genotype. The yield stability have been challenge to the plant breeders and biometricians, it complicates the selection of superior genotypes. It is important to minimize the usefulness of the genotype across environments for selecting. Since approach of plant breeding is to develop genotypes that are, optimum for the condition under which they will be grown breeders have to manage yield instability throughout formalized procedures of plant breeding. During stability measurement if the variance is found to be significant, various methods of measuring the stability of genotypes can be used to identify the stable genotype(s). Most of stability analysis parameters are briefly discussed in this review.

133-138

Authors: Susmita Das Riya

The study targets at farmer’s perception and their cognition how they conceive that agricultural performance has been affected and devastated through industrial work. It reviews and investigates the opinion of 25% farmers of two villages from each upazila of two named Madhapur and Habiganj sadar upazila in Sylhet division where Charu Ceramic Industry Limited and Olipur industry are located respectively from mid-September to mid-October, 2021 through survey of questionnaire, interview and group discussion. According to 85% farmers, the industry shades agriculture by imposing an adverse and toxic impact on agricultural exposure and development. Among them, (41.6% and 48.4%) of farmers realize that the industry creates high propensity of losing standard quality of soil and water, respectively. They (40.2%) notice that invasion of several dangerous insects on crops has become prominent and unmanageable near the industrial area. The study represents such kind of realization of farmers to show a salient feature in view of their finding causes and intuition with significant numerical data.

147-150

Authors: G. Biruk, T. Awoke and T. Anteneh

Field experiment was carried out during the 2017-18 cropping season at Kako, Bena-Ttsemay woreda, South Omo zone, Southern Ethiopia to determine the effect of intercropping of maize and cowpea on the yield, land use efficiency and profitability of both crops. The experiment consisted of 4 treatments (sole maize, sole cowpea, one row maize to one row cowpea and one row maize to two-row cowpea) and laid in RCBD in four replications. Intercropping of one row maize to one row cowpea and one row maize to two-row cowpea, resulted in 55.8% and 27.9% greater land use efficiency than for either crop grown alone. The highest MAI was obtained by growing one row of maize to one row of cowpea (11563.17) followed by one row maize to two-rows of cowpea (6783.50).Based on the present finding, intercropping of one row maize and one row cowpea more economic advantage than the other crop combination or grown alone. Therefore, intercropping of one row maize to one row cowpea is an advantageous to farmers in the study area since it would provide additional crop yield with the same piece of land and more profitable related to cost benefit.

10-16

Authors: M.H. Kabir, F.S. Tisha, H.R. Nayan, M.A. Islam, M.A. Kashem, M.I. Uddin, M.R. Islam and M.B. Meah

Wheat blast, caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae pathotype Triticum (MoT), constitutes one of the major obstacles to the expansion of wheat production in Bangladesh. In the absence of resistant variety, fungicide control is the first-hand effort. Determining an effective and economic fungicide spray schedule in controlling blast disease of wheat was aimed. Ten fungicides were tested during two consecutive cropping seasons of 2018-2019 to 2019-2020. The wheat plants of blast susceptible cultivar BARI Gom 26 were inoculated with spores (107 spores ml-1) of MoT at pre-heading stage of wheat (52 days age). Fungicides were applied both before inoculation and after the appearance of blast symptoms in cocktail for three times starting from booting of wheat at 7 days interval. Plants received the combination of Filia (Tricyclazole 40% + Propiconazole 12.5%) and Seltima (Pyraclostrobin 10%) had significantly lower blast incidence and severity (1.23% and 3.33%) against untreated plants. Cocktail of Nativo and Trooper (Tricyclazole 75 wp) proved 2nd best curative measure. Application of Nativo (Tebuconazole 50% + Trifloxystrobin 25%) alone ranked third in its efficacy. The fungicide spray schedule covered booting, pre-heading and heading stages of wheat. The results indicate a mixture of Tebuconazole + Tricyclazole + Pyraclostrobin is more effective (97% blast reduction) and economic (BCR 1.45) than a single compound application in reducing incidence and severity of wheat blast.

26-28

Authors: S. Shibeshi and D. Kassa

Durum wheat productivity in Ethiopia is hindered by different factors mainly lack of improved adapted varieties for specific locations. This experiment was done to identify the most performing durum wheat varieties in the tested environment. The average productivity of the tested genotypes were evaluated at two locations (Alicho and Analimo) using randomized complete block design with four replication for two consecutive years (2016 and 2017). The experimental material consists of seven improved durum wheat genotypes. The Combined analysis of variance showed significant (P<0.05) difference among tested genotypes on collected parameter indicating the presence of adequate variability. The highest average grain yield recorded was 4446 kg ha-1 from Hitosa variety while the lowest obtained was 3634 kg ha-1 from Denbi variety. Grain yield had strong positive correlations (P<0.01) with plant height, number of seed spike-1 and biomass.

37-48

Authors: A. Dinku, B. Abebe, A. Lemma and M. Shako

The study was designed to analyze beef cattle marketing channel choice under transaction costs. Multistage sampling technique was used to acquire primary data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Multinomial Logit Model. The findings verified that most of the respondents (49%) were selling at the village markets, followed by farm gate and secondary market with 28% and 23%, respectively. The model results revealed that the probability of selling at farm gate and village market versus selling at secondary market increased with season sales, indicating level of market uncertainty. The results affirmed the probability of selling at village market versus selling at secondary market outlet increased with knowledge of buyer and decreased with trust in buyers. Other significant predictors were volume of beef cattle supplied, farmers' experience, and education level. Thus, policies aimed at improving the smallholder farmers’ access to cattle marketing channels should be informed by these factors.

60-68

Authors: B. Lemage, M. Tsegaye and Y. Anmaw

Smallholder farmers influenced from the challenges of production constraints to afford farm family with surplus food. To improve this problem the present study was designed to evaluate legume shrubs hedgerow intercropping with maize. In the present study, the growth performance of Sesbania sesban and Cajanus cajan was evaluated to determine their potential in hedgerow intercropping. The result revealed that Sesbania sesban performs better than Cajanus cajan in terms of biomass provision in the successive pruning, mean height, branching, diameter at breast height and root collar diameter. Biomass produced from Sesbania sesban was significantly higher than Cajanus cajan, this plays great role in soil nutrient improvement and maize yield also increased. There was an increasing trend in soil properties in terms of organic C, total N, in legume treatments especially in Sesbania sesban hedgerow to the initial and control soils. Maize grain yield higher under Sesbania sesban hedgerow plot than Cajanus cajan, maize with fertilizer and control. This should be intensively demonstrated to sustain the agricultural production as an organic farming through integration of easily adapting, less competing with the companion crop, deep rooted and fast growing legume tree/shrub species. Further research is important in areas of determining decomposing rate of different parts, pruned biomass and potential species should be identified.

74-83

Authors: W. Adila, H. Terefe and A. Bekele

Common bacterial blight, caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli, is an economically important disease of common bean and causes significant yield losses in Ethiopia. A field survey was conducted to understand the spatial distribution, relative importance and association of common bacterial blight epidemics with agro-ecological factors in low and mid-land areas of Southwestern, Ethiopia, during the 2018-19 cropping season. A total 85 bean fields were assessed in four common bean growing districts. High diseases incidence and severity was recorded at Debub Ari (77.6 and 52.7%, respectively) while the lowest was from Male (38.5 and 28.0%, respectively). The associations between disease parameters and agro-ecological factors were analyzed using multiple logistic regression models. Agronomic practices including NPS fertilization, preceding crop, weed management and plant population had highly significant (P<0.0001) association with both disease incidence and severity. Also, altitude, seed source and cropping system significantly (P<0.05) influenced disease severity while cropping pattern showed significant (P<0.05) association with disease incidence in the reduced model. Higher mean disease severity (≥40%) had high probability of association with district, absence of NPS fertilization, poor weed management practice, and preceding crops, than their counter parts. Adequate NPS fertilization increases growth performance of the crop in turn decreases disease intensity, weed serve as alternate host for incoming inoculum and previous crops were source for inocula as well as crop rotation used as reduce inoculum load. Therefore, the present study showed that the disease is a major production constraint of common bean, and suggested proper nutrient and weed management practices, and crop rotation to reduce common bacterial blight in the study areas.

92-100

Authors: G. Genemo and T. Seyoum

Flow rate and furrow length are the main irrigation decision variables currently affecting yield and water productivity at farm level. Improper selection of these variables produces an over use of water and loss in crop production. The general objective was to investigate the effect of decision variables on yield and water productivity of onion under conventional furrow irrigation system, with specific objective to analyze the effect of flow rate, furrow length and their interaction on yield and water productivity of onion. The field experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement of three levels of flow rate (0.7, 0.98 and 1.3 L/S) and three levels of furrow length (25, 35 and 50 m) with three replications. Inflow out flow method was used to determine the infiltration characteristics of the soil and Irrigation depth was controlled by using 3-inch Parshall flume. The maximum non-erosive flow rate to the experimental site was fixed through design equation considering soil textural class and furrow bed slope. Effect of furrow length and flow rate on yield and water productivity of the onion were used for evaluation. Their analyses indicated that effect of furrow length and their interaction with flow rate on yield were not significant (p<0.05). However, the flow rate showed highly significant (p<0.01) effect on yield of onion. The ranges of mean yield gained from furrow length and flow rate were F1 (14.75 ton ha-1) to F3 (15.96 ton ha-1) and Q1 (13.59 ton ha-1) to Q3 (19.69 ton ha-1), respectively. The effect of furrow length on crop water use efficiency and field water use efficiency was not significant (p<0.05). However, the flow rate has showed highly significant (p<0.01) effect on crop water use efficiency and field water use efficiency. The range of mean crop water use efficiency and field water use efficiency from furrow length and flow rate were F1 (33.65 kg/ha/mm) to F3 (36.41 kg/ha/mm) and Q1 (30.99 kg/ha/mm) to Q3 (38.65kg/ha/mm) and F1 (2.06 kg/m3) to F3 (2.23 kg/m3) and Q1 (1.89 kg/m3) to Q3 (2.36 kg/m3), respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that a furrow length of 50 m is suitable to use 1.3 L/S of flow rate for better onion yield and water productivity under similar soil type of study area.

109-116

Authors: Darwel, R. Selvia, F. Fadillah, Mahaza and E. Zicof

Compost can be used to reduce waste, it formed naturally, but it will take a long time, around 6-12 months. Bioactivators accelerate composting process; one of them is a solution of LMO (Local Microorganism) coconut pulp. The purpose of this study to determine the effectiveness of LMO coconut pulp for the composting time. The method in this research is quasi-experimental. This study consists of 3 treatments with 5 replications. Treatment 1 composting with the addition of LMO coconut pulp 50,000 ppm; treatment 2 composting with the addition of LMO coconut pulp 100,000 ppm; treatment 3 composting with the addition of LMO coconut pulp 200,000 ppm. The materials used in this study are vegetables and sawdust and the composting process carried out aerobically. From the observations, the average time to compile with LMO coconut pulp 50,000 ppm is 21.00 (21 days), 100,000 ppm 18.60 (19 days) and 200,000 ppm 18.20 (18 days). Based on the ANOVA test, the p value is 0.0001 (p <0.05) which means that H0 rejected, that there is a significant difference in composting time using LMO coconut pulp 50,000 ppm, 100,000 ppm, and 200,000 ppm. The most significant difference is between compost with LMO coconut pulp 50,000 ppm and compost with LMO coconut pulp 200,000 ppm. It is recommended for the further researchers using other types of waste, and test the quality of compost produced especially C/N compost. The community can use coconut pulp as a bioactivator in accelerating the composting process.