A survey of 200 farmers in the Mampong Municipality in the Ashanti region was conducted between June and October 2016. It was to determine their knowledge of different pests and disease control methods employed, access to extension services, pesticides use and other pests control methods. The study relied on data collected from respondents, 12 key informants (pesticides dealers, vegetable buyers and local chief farmers), field surveillance and observation as well as the reports of the Directorate of Agriculture in the Municipality. Data were captured and analyzed using MS Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPPS) version 16 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) and interpreted into simple percentages on tables and charts. The result showed that farmers are above 20 years and 18% were female. The majority (74%) have at least basic education with six (6) or more years’ of experience in tomato production. Sixty-four percent (64%) had no access to extension services due to poor contact with the agricultural extension agents (AEAs). Most respondents (70%) lacked education on pesticides and alternative (e.g., integrated pests’ management) control. Nine-two percent acknowledged the dangers of pesticides to public health. Sixty-four percent practice bi-weekly calendar spraying while 30 % and 6% practice weekly and occasional spraying respectively. Forty-four percent of farmers throw used containers or leave them on the farm. More education is needed to ensure safe use of pesticides and wholesome tomatoes for the public.

The main objetive of this research, was to evaluate the artificial grow system of Lucerna calves, by using a mixture of skim milk and buttermilk. The test was carried out at Lucerna farm, which is located at the Cauca Valley of Colombia. Sixteen calves arranged in two groups, were used and analized statistically under a complete random design. The treatments were as follows: the chek group, fed during 110 days with 320 kg of a complete milk, and the experimental group, fed with 320 kg of a mixture of 50% of skim milk and 50% of buttermilk. The parameters under study were the mean weight, the toraxic diameter and the size of calves. The statistical analizes did not show any significant differences between treatments, but these were highly significant when analized over the time and the interaction between treatments and time. These results suggest a tendency of the two experimental groups to show differences in their biological responses, depending on the time in which they were analized. Regression analizes by adjusted polynomial confirm the results. It is suggested that by the use of skim milk and buttermilk mixture it is possible to obtain grow and normal development of Lucerna calves. | Se evaluó un sistema de crianza artificial en terneras Lucerna con una mezcla de leche descremada y suero de mantequilla, en la Hacienda "Lucerna", en Bugalagrande, Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Se distribuyeron 18 animales en dos grupos en un diseño completamente al azar. El grupo control recibió, durante 110 días, 320 kg de leche entera y el grupo experimental, 320 kg de una mezcla de 50% de leche descremada y 50% suero de mantequilla. Se estudiaron los promedios del peso corporal, perímetro torácico y la alzada de las terneras. Los análisis de varianza no indicaron diferencias significativas entre los tratamientos, pero éstas fueron altamente significativas cuando se analizaron en el tiempo y en la interacción tratamientos por tiempo, lo que presupone que los dos grupos experimentales, tendieron a presentar diferencias en sus respuestas biológicas durante la época en que se suministraron. Pruebas de regresión por polinomios ajustados, confirmaron los resultados de los análisis de varianza. Se infiere que por el uso de leche descremada y suero de mantequilla se puede obtener un crecimiento y desarrollo normal en terneras Lucerna.

Researchers treated seed technology and crop yield as exogenous, thereby generating bias estimates. In practice, seed technology increases yield and it’s stimulated by social capital and other factors. This paper develops a choice model of maize-seed exogenously, then tested and corrected for causality. A multistage sampling procedure was adopted using seven Agricultural Development Programme zones drawn from purposively selected Oyo and Osun states. A block each was randomly selected per zone. Twenty-one cells were randomly selected, then data were collected from 385 respondents using a structured questionnaire: Data were analyzed using Ordinary Least Square and Two-Stage Least Square α 0.05. Durbin score chi2(1) = 6.65 (p= 0.009) and Wu-Haussmann F (1,37) = 6.431 (p = 0.012), showed reverse causality that was resolved by the Two-Stage Least Square model. The Two-Stage Least Square result indicated that education (β=-0.53), seed quantity (β=-0.13), seed price (β=-0.08), negatively affected the choice of seed and yield while farm size (β=2.05), fertilizer (β=0.004), herbicide (β=0.22), output-price (β=0.02), meeting attendance index(β=0.02), and improved seed ((β=2.66), had a positive influence. Social capital spurs the use of improved seed, thereby increase maize yield. Consequently, active participation in social groups and the use of improved seed is recommended to increase yield.

The purpose of this study was to compile all the available information on tropical fruit pests in order to provide the Colombian farmers of basic knowledge with respect to limiting pests in fruit culture. General facts concerning insect biology, host plants, critical damage seasons, type of damage, management and other useful details are given, such as the visual identification of the pests and this damage. | El trabajo se realizó con el fin de compilar la información disponible sobre plagas en frutales tropicales, para tratar de llevar al público del sector agrícola colombiano un conocimiento básico sobre algunas plagas limitantes de los cultivos frutales. Se mencionaron generalidades sobre biología, plantas hospedantes, época crítica de daño, tipo de daño, manejo y otros detalles útiles como la identificación visual de la plaga y su respectivo daño

An experiment was conducted during Kharif-1 of 2022 at Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), Substation, Satkhira to know the effect of foliar application of micronutrients (zinc and boron) on the growth and yield of mungbean. There were three levels of zinc (Zn) (0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%) and boron (B) (0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%) along with a blanket dose of urea (35 kg ha-1, triple super phosphate (TSP) (80 kg ha-1), murite of potash (MoP) (40 kg ha-1) and Sulphur (60 kg ha-1). The growth and yield of mungbean was significantly affected by foliar application of different levels of Zn and B. Results revealed that foliar application of Zn at the rate of 0.6% and at the rate of B 0.6% along with recommended dose at 45 days after sowing increases the branches/plant, fresh weight (g), dry weight (g), chlorophyll content, flower/plant, pod/plant, seed/pod thereby increase seed yield. Therefore, the foliar spray of 0.6% Zn significantly increased and influenced 1000 seed weight (g), decreased days to flowering, increased number of seed/pod and yield ton/ha along with blanket dose of Urea, TSP, MoP, gypsum might be considered as suitable dose for mungbean production in southern region of Bangladesh.

Resumen La compactación del suelo es un proceso físico complejo que afecta el desempeño del cultivo por limitar la expansión de las raíces y la reducción de agua y asimilación de nutrientes desde el suelo. Debido a la variabilidad espacial de la compactación del suelo, las necesidades de las prácticas de remediación, pueden variar respecto al suelo. Sin embargo, el mapeo de compactación del suelo estimado mediante los datos del índice de cono (IC), es una tarea difícil. El objetivo de este estudio fue el de examinar la variabilidad espacial de los datos del IC en un suelo Typic Argiudoll en el centro de la provincia de Santa Fe, Argentina bajo un sistema de no labranza y el delineamiento de zonas para labranza en sitio específico basado en mapas de probabilidades de ocurrencia de compactación del suelo desarrollada usando el kriging indicador. Se registraron 69 IC georreferenciados y determinaciones volumétricas de agua (SWC) en un área experimental de 70 x 110 m. Los sitios de muestreo fueron distribuidos de acuerdo a una malla psedo- regular, evitando la huella visible de la maquinaria. Se creó una variable indicadora mediante el agrupamiento de los sitios de muestreo en dos grupos según los perfiles de IC dentro de los 30 cm de profundidad. La estructura espacial de los datos de IC agregados por capas de 10 cm y la variable del indicador, fueron evaluados mediante un enfoque basado en el modelo. La alta variabilidad y la pobre estructura espacial observada en los datos IC, fueron atribuidas al efecto de la labranza y al tráfico bajo la escala del muestreo. Esta característica de los datos limitó la aplicación de técnicas de interpolación para este atributo de suelo. Sin embargo, los mapas de probabilidad de ocurrencia de la compactación del suelo en la zona radicular, fueron obtenidos mediante la integración de los datos del índice de cono del horizonte arable (0-30cm), usando el enfoque del kriging indicador. Tales mapas de probabilidad podrían ser útiles para el delineamiento de zonas potenciales para labranza en sitio específico. | Abstract Soil compaction is a complex physical process that affects the crop performance by limiting the expansion of the roots and the reduction of water and nutrients uptake from soil. Due to the spatial variability of soil compaction, the needs for remedial practices may vary within the field. However, mapping soil compaction estimated by cone index (CI) data is a difficult task. The aim of this study were to examine the spatial variability of CI data in a fine-mixed-thermic Typic Argiudoll soil form the center of Santa Fe, province -Argentina under no-till system, and to delineate zones for site-specific tillage based on maps of probabilities of occurrence of soil compaction developed using indicator kriging. Sixty nine georeferenced CI and volumetric water content (SWC) measurements were recorded in a 70 x 110 m experimental area. Sample locations were distributed following a pseudo-regular grid avoiding visible machinery footprint. An indicator variable was created by splitting the sampling locations into two groups based on the CI profiles within 0-30 cm depth. The spatial structure of the CI data aggregated by 10-cm layers and the indicator variable was assessed by a model-based approach. The high variability and poor spatial structure observed in CI data was attributed to the effect of tillage and traffic under the sampling scale. This feature underpinned the application of spatial interpolation techniques for this property. However, maps of the probability of occurrence of soil compaction in the root zone were be obtained by integrating the cone index data of the arable horizon (0-30 cm) using the indicator kriging approach. Such probability maps could be useful for the delineation of potential zones for site-specific tillage.

Soil compaction is a complex physical process that affects the crop performance by limiting the expansion of the roots and the reduction of water and nutrients uptake from soil. Due to the spatial variability of soil compaction, the needs for remedial practices may vary within the field. However, mapping soil compaction estimated by cone index (CI) data is a difficult task. The aim of this study were to examine the spatial variability of CI data in a fine-mixed-thermic Typic Argiudoll soil form the center of Santa Fe, province -Argentina under no-till system, and to delineate zones for site-specific tillage based on maps of probabilities of occurrence of soil compaction developed using indicator kriging. Sixty nine georeferenced CI and volumetric water content (SWC) measurements were recorded in a 70 x 110 m experimental area. Sample locations were distributed following a pseudo-regular grid avoiding visible machinery footprint. An indicator variable was created by splitting the sampling locations into two groups based on the CI profiles within 0-30 cm depth. The spatial structure of the CI data aggregated by 10-cm layers and the indicator variable was assessed by a model-based approach. The high variability and poor spatial structure observed in CI data was attributed to the effect of tillage and traffic under the sampling scale. This feature underpinned the application of spatial interpolation techniques for this property. However, maps of the probability of occurrence of soil compaction in the root zone were be obtained by integrating the cone index data of the arable horizon (0-30 cm) using the indicator kriging approach. Such probability maps could be useful for the delineation of potential zones for site-specific tillage.

While shellfish species are widely consumed due to their nutritional advantages, they are also among the top eight food items for food-borne allergies. Five distinct thermal processing techniques were applied to the crustacean to investigate the tropomyosin level variations caused by heat processing. Fresh shrimp and prawns were utilized as controls for the determination of allergen-encoding genes. Prior to molecular analysis, the proximate composition and acidity of raw and processed samples were also performed. The yield and purity of DNA were also determined. Melting curve and gel electrophoresis tests verified the existence of allergen-coding genes. Thermal processing procedures affected the proximate composition, particularly the total protein and fat concentrations, according to the findings. Following the heat treatment, the pH levels decreased, particularly in the grilled samples. There were also significant differences in the quantity and quality of the extracted DNA. Regardless of crustacean species, the tropomyosin-encoding gene was detected in both fried and grilled samples. These findings demonstrated that RT-PCR identification and validation of the crustacean allergy gene by gel electrophoresis might be a reliable approach for the thermally treated shrimp and prawn samples. This study shows that investigating the allergen coding gene might provide a viable way for detecting food-borne allergens in other thermally processed food items, which are becoming more concerned about food safety.

This study aimed to evaluate the biochemical and nutritional profiles of three cauliflower cultivars—Valentena, Carotena, and Snow White—focusing on chlorophyll, carotenoids, anthocyanins, vitamin C, flavonoids, phenolics, and antioxidant activity. Uniform curds were harvested at 60 days post-sowing from Baratia, Dumuria, Khulna, and analyzed at Khulna Agricultural University. Valentena exhibited the highest chlorophyll content (40.06±0.39 µg/100g FW chlorophyll a, 28.98±3.35 µg/100g FW chlorophyll b), superior lycopene (8.71±0.38 µg/100g FW) levels. Carotena showed the highest total carotenoid content (60.52±1.76 µg/100g FW) and β-carotene (26.99±0.44 µg/100g FW), while Snow White had the lowest values across most parameters. Valentena also led in anthocyanins (101.56±3.9 mg/L FW) and total flavonoids (79.56±10.36 mg/100g FW), with Carotena having the highest vitamin C content (60.05±2.93 µg/g FW). DPPH assays indicated that Valentena showed the most effective antioxidant (IC50 = 43.65±3.56 mg/mL FW), followed by Carotena and Snow White. Hierarchical clustering and pricipal component analysis (PCA) revealed distinct biochemical profiles: Valentena and Carotena shared similarities in carotenoids and antioxidant activity, whereas Snow White differed significantly. Linear discriminant analysis identified lycopene, chlorophyll b, and β-carotene as major differentiators, highlighting the diverse nutritional and antioxidant properties of these cauliflower varieties. The findings highlight the potential of Carotena and Valentena for health-conscious consumers seeking nutrient-rich, antioxidant benefits in functional meals.

En un invernadero del Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, CIAT, Cali (Colombia) se evaluó la aplicación de cinco inóculos de hongos micorrícico arbusculares, HMA: Kuklospora colombiana, Gigaspora margarita, Glomus manihotis y la mezcla de estos con y sin esterilización, en sustrato sin desinfectar (SD) y desinfectado (D) sobre variables de rendimiento (biomasa aérea y radical, longitud radical), colonización por HMA y concentración foliar de nutrientes en la gramínea Melinis minutiflora Beauv., con el objetivo de seleccionar los inóculos más eficientes. Se utilizaron como unidades experimentales materos de 13.5 x 16.0 x 14.0 cm. El sustrato empleado fue suelo procedente de un Inceptisol con baja disponibilidad de nutrientes, tamizado y mezclado con arena. Los inóculos de Gi. margarita y Gl. manihotis presentaron los mejores resultados en la acumulación de biomasa aérea y radical, longitud radical, porcentaje de colonización micorrícica y concentración de elementos. Kuklospora colombiana presentó efectos inhibitorios sobre las variables evaluadas. La condición del sustrato SD favoreció la acumulación de biomasa aérea y radical y la concentración de fósforo (P) en la biomasa aérea, además, estimuló la longitud radical de M. minutiflora. La concentración de N, K, Ca y Mg en la biomasa aérea fue mayor en el sustrato D. Los resultados muestran que Mellinis minutiflora con inoculación HMA es promisoria para la recuperación de suelos degradados. | The effect of five inocula of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the grass Melinis minutiflora Beauv. was investigated under greenhouse conditions at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Cali, Colombia, with the aim of selecting the most efficient AMF inocula. Non-disinfected (ND) and disinfected (D) substrates were studied. Inocula were: Kuklospora colombiana, Gigaspora margarita, Glomus manihotis and a mixture of those three species of AMF with and without sterilization. Yield parameters were aerial and radical biomass, root length, mycorrhizal colonization and N, P, K, Ca, and Mg concentrations in the aerial biomass. Pots measuring 13.5 x 8.0 x 14.0 cm were used as experimental units. Inceptisol soil, with low nutrient availability, previously sieved and mixed with sand was used as substrate. Gi. margarita and Gl. manihotis inocula showed the best results in the accumulation of aerial and root biomass, root length, mycorrhizal colonization and concentration of elements in the aerial biomass, while Ku. colombiana presented inhibitory effects on the variables evaluated. ND substrate condition increased accumulation of aerial and radical biomass and P concentration in the aerial biomass, also stimulated root length of M. minutiflora. Aerial biomass had higher concentrations of N, K, Ca, and Mg in D substrate. Mellinis minutiflora is a promising grass species for rehabilitation of degraded soils in combination with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation.