The experiment was conducted under in-vivo condition in a betelvine baroj at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU), Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh. Nineteen isolates of Sclerotium rolfsii collected from different regions of Bangladesh designated as isolate-1 to isolate-19. Soil inoculated with S. rolfsii exhibited mycelial growth on the soil surface and around the base of the betelvine plant within 2-4 days after inoculation. Only 2 days after inoculation were required to manifest cottony colony on soil surface near root zone of inoculated betelvine plants by the isolate-3, 5, 7, 9 and 12. The first disease symptoms were observed within 6 to 16 days after inoculation where minimum days were required by the isolate-9 and maximum by the isolate-2 and 14. The highest lesion length (6.50 cm) was produced by the isolate-9 and isolate-13. All the isolates were found to be pathogenic in some cases, disease delayed due to their degree of pathogenicity. The isolate-9 showed highest disease incidence of 100% which was superior as compared to all other isolates at 15 days after inoculation. The isolate-19 showed least disease incidence of 66.66% even at 30 days after inoculation. Among the isolates, the most pathogenic one was isolate-9 collected from Kaligonj upazilla of Jhenaidah.

The study attempted to examine the question whether rural farmers save their income. Rural farmers in Toro Local Government of Bauchi State, Nigeria were used as a case study. The factors that influence saving and investment were also determined. Out of the three districts in the LGA, two villages were purposively selected from each district and twenty farmers were randomly selected to bring the number of villages to six and total number of farmers to one hundred and twenty. This constituted the sample size; they were administered the questionnaires from where data for the study was generated. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The result indicated that contrary to traditional theory of saving where the poor are deemed incapable of saving, the rural farmers do indeed save from their little income. They need to be encouraged in this regard. The regression result showed that age, educational level, farm income, membership of cooperative societies, farming experience and access to credit were significant factors that influence saving. The result also revealed that inadequate income and too many children to carter for were major constraints to saving. To promote saving culture in the area, the capacity of the farmers to save should be enhanced by enabling them adopt birth control, providing them opportunities to work all year round and provision of simple preservation technologies.

The protected areas of Rwanda are facing various challenges resulting from the anthropogenic activities of the surrounding communities, especially in the adjacent area to Cyamudongo isolated rain forest, which results in soil degradation. Therefore, this study aims to broaden current knowledge on the impact of sustainable Agroforestry (AF) on soil-selected chemical and physical properties. To understand this, the permanent sample plots (PSPs) were established mainly in the designed four transects of four km long originating on the boundary of the Cyamudongo isolated rain forest following the slope gradient ranging from 1286 to 2015 m asl. A total number of 73 PSPs were established in the Cyamudongo study area. The Arc Map GIS 10.4 was used to design and map the sampling areas while GPS was used for localization of plots centers. Statistical significance was analyzed through R-software. The recorded soil pH means value across in Cyamudongo study area is 4.2, which is strongly acidic. The tests revealed that the soil pH, C, N, C: N ratio, OM, NH4+, NO3-+NO2-, PO43-, and CEC were significantly different in various soil depths. The pH, N, C: N ratio, CEC, NH4+, PO43-, and Al3+ showed a significant difference across land uses whereas the C and NO3-+NO2- did not show any statistical difference. All tested chemical elements showed a statistical difference as far as altitude ranges are concerned. The only NH4+, PO43-, and CEC showed significant differences with time whereas all other remaining chemical elements did not show any statistical significance. The soil pH was very strongly correlated with CEC, Mg, and Ca in cropland (CL) whereas it was strongly correlated in both AF and natural forest (NF) except for Mg, which was moderately correlated in AF. Furthermore, its correlation with K was strong in CL, and moderate in AF while it was weak in NF. Finally, the pH correlation with Na was weak in both AF and CL whereas it was negligible in NF.

The study assesses the two approaches of feminization: labor and managerial, and explores the implication of feminization in agricultural production in Gorkha and Chitwan district of Nepal. We examine the degree to which men, women or men and women jointly make agriculture-related decisions, and discuss the labor feminization and managerial feminization using five domains of the Women Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI), relative to the degree to which women’s decision-making power relates to the feminization of agriculture leading to women empowerment and food security. The results revealed that the average workload for women (86.50 hours/week) was more than that for men (55.52 hours/week). Workload was found significantly affected by the total cultivated area (ha), gender of household head, occupation, number of livestock holdings, number of children, number of elders and household location.All aspects of operational and strategic decision making were dominated by jointly made decisions, except in the case of income utilization where female showed dominance. The implication of feminization in agriculture is reflected by reduction in cropping cycle, lower productivity of cereals and vegetables which led to food insecurity by own production. The income from remittance was observed to be mainly used for consumption purposes to ensure food security. It appears that the feminization of agriculture leads to women playing not only important role in decision-making but also more responsibilities and heavier workloads without necessarily resulting in empowerment and improvement in well-being.

Agriculture is one of the sectors most affected by climate change, especially through the reduction in the number of rainy days in semi-arid areas, which require deficit supplementary irrigation (DSI) to minimise crop failures. Few studies have utilised soil quality indices (SQIs) to evaluate the quality changes of soils under DSI practices in semi-arid agricultural ecosystems. This paper examines the effects of DSI activities on soil quality in the Ingawa area of Nigeria’s semi-arid region. Plots subjected to different years of DSI (3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 14 and 15 years) practices were chosen to serve as the controls. Soil samples were collected from each of the nine sites at depths ranging from 0 cm to 20 cm and 25 cm to 40 cm. The collected samples were analysed for physico-chemical properties. Soil quality change was estimated by computing percentage equivalence values that define the extent to which mean values of soils under DSI vary from those of the control. The results obtained show that the practices have caused significant negative changes in the levels of most of the properties considered, with significant deleterious effects on the selected physical and chemical indicators of soil quality to extents that might preclude sustainable agriculture on the soils. Potassium, organic carbon, organic matter, and some other essential nutrients needed for plant growth and soil stability have dropped a lot in irrigated farms compared to control farms, but salinization hasn't happened much. It was suggested that the right steps be taken to prevent the loss of important nutrients that crops need to grow well.

The aim of this study is to determine the indicators used to determine the sustainability levels of nut farms and to establish a set of indicators that can be used to measure the level of sustainability of pistachio farms, based on the literature review. As a result of the literature review, among the indicators commonly used to measure agricultural sustainability, a total of thirty sub-criteria were identified, including fifteen sub-criteria for the economic aspect (farm size, yield, etc.), six sub-criteria for the environmental aspect (pesticide, fertilizer, water, energy usage, etc.) and nine sub-criteria for the social aspect (farmer’s age, education, etc.) which can be used in evaluating the sustainability of pistachio cultivation. According to this study's findings, although the theoretical principles, dimensions, and goals of agricultural sustainability are globally adaptable, the applicability of the indicators may vary between regions and countries due to geographic, climatic, and socio-cultural differences. Therefore, the sustainability assessment process requires special attention. Sufficient knowledge and expertise are required in setting goals, selecting indicators, and verifying indicators.

The chemical composition of propolis from Aegean Uşak (Balcıdamı and Kaşbelen), Afyon ( Emirdağ and Dinar), Manisa (Salihli and Kula), Denizli (Merkez and Çivril), Muğla (Milas and Merkez), İzmir (Kemalpaşa and Menemen), Aydın (Söke and Kuşadası) and Kütahya (Hisarcık and Tavşanlı) was studied in order to determine the major compounds by using GC-MS. In this study, 8 % ethanol extract of propolis prepared by mixing 920 ml of 70 % ethanol and 80 g of propolis was used. Chemical analysis of propolis extracts indicated that the propolis samples had high concentrations of the aromatic acids, esters and other derivatives which are responsible for the antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties of propolis such as benzyl cinnamate, methyl cinnamate, caffeic acid, cinnamyl cinnamate and cinnamoylglcine besides the most common compounds as fatty acid, terpenoids, esters, alcohols hydrocarbons and aromatic acids. Also, in this research the antifungal effects of 7 concentrations (6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 ppm) of propolis ethanol extract (PEE) against Fusarium oxysporum was investigated in vitro conditions. Propolis was mixed alone or in combination with potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium at various concentrations. The results indicated that the mycelial growth of the tested fungi decreased with each increase in PEE concentrations. Propolis extract collected from Muğla province showed 77.81% antifungal effect against Fusarium oxysporum at the highest concentration (50 ppm). The lowest antifungal effect (64.52%) against the pathogen was detected in the propolis extract collected from Denizli province.

The diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), is a severe and most destructive pest of cruciferous vegetables in many parts of the world, including Nepal. The natural history and ecology of the diamondback moth are summarized here, along with appropriate management options. Caterpillar is the most devastating stage of DBM that matures and causes “windowing” damage, leaving only the epidermis. Biological control, cultural practices, effective chemical control, botanical pesticides, and host plant resistance are the most viable options. Insecticide abuse and resistance concerns are likely to persist, as numerous research-based outcomes have proven that none of these measures will suffice independently. However, these techniques can complement each other and result in a better long-term management system when combined. This review highlights the integrated eco-friendly management strategies for DBM and other cruciferous insect pests. Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which focuses on sustainable production, has shown promising results. Modern management techniques include genetic modification, use of parasitoids, modified cultural methods, the precautionary application of chemicals, resistant cultivars, fungal, bacterial (Bt. based biopesticides), and viral entomopathogens, etc., which are found to be more effective and eco-friendlier.

Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) is one of the most important pests in greenhouses. This harmful pest has rapidly developed high resistance to many classes of acaricides. In this study, T. urticae populations were collected from cucumber greenhouses in Gümenek village, Tokat, Turkey. Growers in this location use acaricides such as abamectin, hexythiazox and spiromesifen to suppress T. urticae populations. The study aimed to determine the resistance levels of T. urticae populations against to mentioned acaricides. The LC50 values of the collected populations were determined by the spray tower-leaf disc method. The resistance rates were found by dividing the LC50 values of the collected greenhouse populations by the LC50 value of the susceptible population. The resistance levels of T. urticae were determined to be between 1.88-2.14-folds against abamectin, 1.67-1.84 folds against hexythiazox and 1.77-2.09 folds against spiromesifen. According to these results, a low rate of resistance development was observed against abamectin, hexythiazox and spiromesifen.

This study aimed to estimate two different types of Algerian honey: antioxidant contents (total phenols and vitamin C), and levels of antioxidant (DPPH assay) and reducing activity (FRAP assay). Honey samples were characterized by high content of total phenols (314.231 ± 281.346 – 394.231 ± 155.835 mg AG 100 g-1) and low vitamin C values (0.25 ± 0.05 – 0.35 ± 0.05 mg 100 g-1). As a result, the antioxidant activity and reducing capacity values were found to be 9.578 ± 3.157 and 11.255 ± 2.668% for DPPH and 15.240 ± 4.578 to 17.794 ± 8.179 µg 100 g-1 for the FRAP assay. Our data showed that dark honey contains bioactive compounds with significant antioxidant activity.