International Journal of Agriculture and Biosciences

The invasive weeds like Cassia uniflora Mill. non Spreng and Synedrella nodiflora (L) Gaertn, are showing dominance in Pune University campus. They are observed in the form of pure stands reducing the phytodiversity in the areas studied. The allelopathic potential of invasive weeds was screened by using their aqueous leaf leachates for seed germination bioassay which indicated that the seed germination, root and shoot length, root: shoot ratio and vigour index were significantly inhibited in mungbean at all concentrations. The results of seed germination bioassay were in conformity with that of seedling physiology. The effect of Synedrella leachates was more pronounced than that of Cassia. It was confirmed that both the weeds had strong allelopathic or phytotoxic influence due to presence of different allelochemicals.

Keywords: Allelobiogenesis, Cassia uniflora, germination studies, Synedrella nodiflora

This study was carried out to determine selected physical properties of Moringa oleifera seed for post-harvest equipment design. Four levels of moisture contents ranging from 10.250-32.343% dry basis were used in the study. The properties studied were: major (length), intermediate (width) and minor (thickness) dimensions, arithmetic, geometric and equivalent sphere diameters, surface area, sphericity, unit volume, unit mass, aspect ratio, true and bulk densities, porosity, dynamic angle of repose, angle of internal friction, angle of friction, coefficient of static friction, 1000 grain mass and initial moisture content. The effect of moisture content on the properties of unshelled Moringa oleifera seed was investigated and the mean values of the physical properties of the seeds were determined as length ranged from 11.964-12.813mm, width from 9.983-10.803mm, thickness 9.421-10.226mm, arithmetic mean diameter of 10.456-11.280mm, geometric mean diameter of 10.388-11.210 mm, equivalent mean diameter of 10.392-11.217 mm, sphericity of 0.872-0.880, aspect ratio of 84.013-84.987%, thousand grain mass 273.95-329.20g, bulk density 0.247-0.279 g/cm3, particle density 0.594-0.658 g/cm3, porosity 58.271-7.503%, surface area 342.528-397.397 mm2, unit volume 604.734- 697.673 mm3. The angle of internal friction measured on plywood was 42.374°-52.619°, mild steel 36.630°-48.514°, glass 33.619°-41.878°; angle of repose measured 17.643°-23.500°, coefficient of friction as measured on plywood was 0.570-0.749, mild steel 0.480-0.674, glass 0.436-0.562. Both linear and quadratic regression equations established had very high coefficients of determination (R2>0.9), which indicates that they described the relationships reasonably. The coefficient of static friction of seed was higher on plywood surface and lowest on glass. This information will provide engineers and designers the relevant data for efficient process handling and equipment design.

Keywords: Coefficient of static friction, Coefficients of determination (R2), Moringa oleifera, Physical properties, Sphericity

One hundred and eighty 35-day old broilers were used in a 21 days feeding trial to determine the effect of premixes prepared from locally sourced ingredients on the performance and carcass characteristics of broiler finishers. Five (5) broiler finisher diets were formulated such that Diet 1 was the control and contained the commercial premix. Diets 2 and 3 contained 2.3% and 4.6% of premix 1 respectively. Premix 1 was formulated with blood meal, fish meal, wood ash and Moringa oleifera leaf meal. Diets 4 and 5 had 2.3% and 4.6% of premix 2 respectively, prepared from blood meal, fish meal and poultry litter ash. The birds were randomly allotted to the five diets in a Completely Randomized Design. Each treatment comprised of three replicates of 12 birds per replicate. The results showed live weight (1538.00¬-1702.00g), daily feed consumed (75.04-112.08g), and feed: gain ratio (2.42-4.01) were significantly (P<0.05) affected by the treatments. Cost of feed/kg and cost of feed consumed per bird were affected (P<0.05) by the type of premix. Feed cost /kg gain was not significantly (P>0.05) influenced, the control (diet1) was the least economical in terms of economy of utilization. This may indicate that production of premix from locally sourced materials could result in higher profit margin for poultry farmers. The experimental diets had no significant (P>0.05) effects on carcass weight, dressing percentage, intestinal weight and intestinal length of the sacrificed birds.

Keywords: Broiler, Performance,Premix

Studies have shown that oxygenated compounds are important in food products. It seems that seasonal variation has a profound influence on this factor. The goal of the present study is to investigate on seasonal variation of sour orange leaf components. About 500 g of leaves were collected from many parts of the same trees during the vegetation season (in March, June, September and December 2012). Leaf components were extracted using water distillation method and then analyzed using GC and GC-MS. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan’s multiple range tests. The amount of oxygenated compounds ranged from 78.39 to 89.13%. Among four seasons examined, September showed the highest content of oxygenated compounds. As a result of our study, we can conclude that the seasonal variation can influence the quantity of oxygenated compounds present in the oil.

Keywords: Flavor components, Leaf oil, Seasonal variation, Water-distillation

Plants need certain mineral nutrients to grow and to produce yield. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are required in the largest quantities and usually become deficient first in the soil, with nutrient availability being observed to be directly related to yield. In Nigeria, farmers realize the need for soil amendments by using available resources such as crop wastes; farmyard manure and poultry waste. Thus research was conducted on Kogi State University Student Research and Demonstration Farm (Longitude 07°061 N; 43°E), Anyigba, Kogi State, to investigate the effect of nutrient sources and rates on yield components and yield of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). The experiment consisted of three nutrient sources: organic manure (poultry droppings), inorganic fertilizer (NPK 15:15:15 + Urea), and a mixture of both at 50:50 ratio, each supplying three nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P2O5) rates of 100 kg N+59 kg P2O5, 200 kg N+118 kg P2O5 and 300 kg N+177 kg P2O5 giving a total of a nine (9) nutrient rates plus a control, though the treatment also supplied K2O. The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications. The parameters measured included: number of branches, number of fruits, fruit diameter and yield per hectare. The results of the study show that the application of organic, inorganic and the mixture of both had significant influence (p≥0.05) on the parameters measured compared to the control. However, inorganic nutrient source influenced the best performance, thus recommended. Due to the high cost of Agro-chemicals and access to fertilizer, the use of organic source of nutrient can be adopted at 300 kg N+177 kg P2O5 for the production of eggplant. The integrated manure application can also be adopted supplying nutrient at 300 kg N+177 kg P2O5 for the production of eggplant.

Keywords: Eggplant, Number of branches, Number of fruits, Fruit diameter, Fruit yield

The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of planting density and growth bed on growth and flowering of snapdragon. Different substrates including cocopeat+pearlit (40, 60%), cocopeat + pearlit + vermicompost (20, 60, 20%), cocopeat + pearlit + vermicompost (10, 60, 30%), pearlit + vermicompost (60, 40%), farm soil (100%), farm soil + vermicompost (80, 20%), farm soil+ vermicompost (70, 30%) and farm soil+ vermicompost (60, 40%) with density one and three plant in each pot were used. The experiment was carried out in completely randomized design. Each treatment was consisted of 1 or 3 plants and was replicated thrice. The data for parameters analyzed statistically showed significant effect of media combinations and density. Regarded parameters of growth and flowering such as flower length (cm), flower diameter (cm), root length (cm), stem length (cm), fresh weight (g) and longevity (day) exhibited the best media are the media that content 20%-40% vermicompost in compounding with soil (T: 7) or perlit except longevity that in medium content 20% vermicompost with 60% perlit showed the most amount.

Keywords: Antirrhinum majus, Growth medium, Planting density, Snapdragon

A study was conducted with 300 “Bachelor” brown laying birds to determine the influence of neem leaf meal on the serum biochemistry and yolk cholesterol of laying birds. The birds were randomly selected after being raised from day old to laying stage into five treatment groups with three replicates per treatment; with each replicates containing twenty birds each. The experiment was carried out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), with diet 1serving as the control with 0% NLM, while diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 had inclusion levels of 2, 4, 6 and 8kg/100kg NLM respectively. Results show that there was significant (P<0.05) difference in the values obtained for serum cholesterol, high density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein; but there was no significant (P>0.05) difference in the values obtained for creatinine and urea. The result for yolk cholesterol shows that there was significant (P<0.05) difference in the values across the treatment group. The level of yolk cholesterol decreased significantly (P<0.05) as the level of neem leaf meal increased in the diet of the birds. Thus, there is evident from the present study that neem leaf meal can be included in the diet of the birds up to 8kg/100kg without any negative effect and also lead to a better egg choice with low level of cholesterol.

Keywords: Laying birds, Neem leaf meal, Serum biochemistry, Yolk cholesterol

Lilies are among export flower crops which maintaining the freshness and extending the vase life of cut plants are very important to the success of their exports quality. During post harvesting period maintaining physiological functions of cut flowers vary actively even after harvest and the beginning of their senescence very often found depends on ethylene. The uses of preservative solutions are considered a common practice for the storage of floral stems. These treatments allow to control ethylene synthesis, pathogen development, maintenance of hydric and respiration balance, and latter to complete their development. The research project was conducted to study the vase life of cut lilium flower with preservative materials used as pulsing solution contain 8-hydroxyquinoline sulphate (8HQS) and silver thiosulfate (STS) under room conditions. We found different factors influenced on vase life of cut lilium flowers which had not show the same efficacy when applied together. STS pre-treatment did not effective under high concentration of exogenous ethylene treatment.

Keywords: Ethylene, Lilium, Packaging, Post-harvest, Pulsing solution

Gerbera is known as an important plant in flower industry, and is considered as a favorite floricultural crop worldwide, ranked fourth among the top cut flowers. This research was conducted to investigate the effects of different concentrations of benzyladenine (BA) [1, 2, and 3 mgL-1] solely and or in combinations with naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) [0.2 and 0.4 mgL-1] on the induction, multiplication and proliferation of shoots in Gerbera gamesonii Bolus cv. Royal Soft Pink from shoot tip explants in a Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. For rooting of shoots three concentrations of NAA (0, 0.5 and 1 mg L-1) were examined. The results showed that the induction and proliferation of shoot were affected by the combination of BA and NAA. The highest number of shoots after two sub culture were obtained in MS medium supplemented with 2 mgL-1 BA and 0.2 mgL-1 NAA (10 shoots per explant). Considering root fresh and dry weights and root length in rooted plantlets it was not shown the significant difference between 0.5 and 1 mg L-1 NAA for rooting of shoots.

Keywords: Gerbera, Micropropagation, Rooting, Shoots proliferation

Five, ten and fifteen percent methanolic extracts (ME) and aqueous extracts (AE) of six plants namely, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Artemisia, Thyme, Savory and Datura were evaluated for their antifungal effect against Fusarium solani, the causal agent of potato dry rot under lab. condition and also for their efficacy in reducing dry rot development in potato tubers during 2013. Methanolic extracts of all tested plants exhibited better antifungal activity compared to their corresponding aqueous extracts against F. solani in vitro & in vivo. Artemisia (ME), 15, 10 and 5% followed by Eucalyptus (ME), 15, 10 and 5% performed best antifungal activity in inhibiting the mycelial growth of F. solani but in respect to spore germination inhibition, 15% methanolic extracts of Artemisia, Thyme and Eucalyptus exhibited best effect compared to control respectively (P=0.01). Methanolic extract of Artemisia (15%) followed by methanolic extract of Eucalyptus (15%) performed best activity for reducing dry rot development in potato tubers (P=0.05).

Keywords: Antifungal, Fusarium solani, Plant extracts, Potato dry rot