International Journal of Agriculture and Biosciences

All farmed shrimp are of the family Penaeidae, and just two species namely litopenaeus vannamei (Pacific white shrimp) and Penaeus monodon (giant tiger prawn) account for roughly 80% of all farmed shrimp. There are more than 50 varieties of shrimps and seven of them are identified for aquaculture. The amount of total dissolved solids in water may be taken as a measure of organic load. In shrimp culture, waste from the artificial food pellets, shrimp excrement, fertilizers and mineral conditioners used to boost the growth of the phytoplankton are some of the reasons to increase solids in pond water. This research is integrated shrimp farm Gwatar region in the east city of chabahar in sistan and baluchestan was carried out. Chabahar is a free port (Free Trade Zone) on the coast of the Gulf of Oman. Total Dissolved Solids of the sea has not changed much before entering the pools. But the quantity of effluent from ponds slightly increased. This amount has remained almost stable into the sea.

Keywords: TDS, TSS, Nitrate

The deficit of feed oil in Iran has been observed by imports that have entailed considerable costs. For making up the deficit of feed oil in Iran, oil seed production can be increased by planting oil plants in dry land areas with deficit water. According to annual precipitation, many regions in Iran suffer from water deficit. Under water deficit it is important the time of irrigation to maintain and /or improve soil water availability for crops. Drought, salinity, heat and freezing are environmental conditions that cause adverse effects on the growth of plants. Water deficit more than other stresses limits the growth and the productivity of crops. Field experiment was laid out split plot with randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments included drought stress (control, complete irrigation, Irrigation from planting to flowering, Water cut in the pod and grain filling, Irrigation from planting to rosette, Water cut in the flowering) and potassium fertilizer (control, 175, 225 and 275 kg). Analysis of variance showed that the effect of water stress and potassium on all characteristics was significant (except biological yield).

Keywords: Brassica napus, Components yield, Harvest index

There are many reports on the role of methanol (ME) foliar application for increasing drought tolerance in C3 plants. For this reason, we examined the effects of ME treatments on photosynthetic and growth responses of lentil to water shortage stress. This study was a factorial experiment with a completely randomized design and three replications. ME spraying was at five levels; control (0), 5, 15, 25 and 35%. Water stress was applied in three regimes of field capacity (FC); well-watered (WW, 100% of FC), moderate water-limited (MWL, 75% of FC) and severe water-limited (SWL, 25% of field capacity). ME application was carried out three times per 10 days in the growing season. We found that the ME treatments under WW and MWL conditions had a positive role in enhancing growth and photosynthetic parameters. Results demonstrated that under WW and MWL, plant height, number of pods, leaf dry weight (DW), shoot DW, root DW, chlorophyll (Chl) a, b, total Chl content (Chl a+b), leaf water content (LWC), maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), net photosynthetic rate (PN) and water-use efficiency (WUE) were significantly increased compared with control. Under SWL, plant height, leaf and stem DW, Fv/Fm, Ci and PN increased by ME treatments. The results suggest that ME foliar application can ameliorate the negative effects of water shortage stress on lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.).

Keywords: Abiotic stress, Chlorophyll content, Gas exchange, Methanol spraying, Water-use efficiency

Although it is not widely publicized, over 25% of the two million dairy farms in China are smallholder dairy farms with less than 20 cows. These cows comprising up to 40% of the national dairy herd, have lower milk yields and milk quality than the bigger farms with 50 or more dairy cows. As well as having limited resources, such farmers suffer from poor knowledge and management skills in dairy production technology. This paper delivers an integrated approach to improving their farm management practices in a newly developed extension program called the Dairy Smallholder Innovative Program. This adult learning program is based on:
• A series of simple “take home” messages (namely the Golden Rules)
• Feedback mechanisms to assess their comprehension (namely Key Performance Indicators)
• “hands on” experiences via practical workshops and demonstrations on model farms
• First hand validation in collaboration with objective measures of changes in farm business performance (via the model farms)
• Facilitated sharing of knowledge (within farmer discussion groups)
• An opportunity to assess on farm changes (improvements) in farm profitability and sustainability through individual monitoring of their own farm business performance
Thus ensuring a more optimistic future for China’s SHD farmers

Keywords: China, Dairy farming, Small holder, Capacity building

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the world’s widely grown highland cereal and primary staple food crop in many developing countries. In the world production, maize is ranked as the third major cereal crop after wheat and rice. Nitrogen management in agro-ecosystems has been extensively studied due to its importance in improving crop yield and quality, and in mitigating the negative effects of fertilizer N losses such as nitrate contamination of groundwater, eutrophication of surface water, and greenhouse effect. The field experiment was laid out factorial with randomized complete block design with four replications. Treatments included variety (K.S.C 302 (A1) and K.S.C 704 (A2) ) and nitrogen fertilizer consisted of control (B1), 75(B2), 150 (B3) and 225 kg/ha (B4). Analysis of variance showed that the effect of variety and nitrogen fertilizer on all characteristics is significant.

Keywords: Biological yield, Harvest index, Plant height, Variety

Nitrogen (N) is one of the critical nutrients for crop production and is generally applied in large quantities in form of fertilizer to soils. However, most plants only utilize less than one-half of fertilizer N applied, and the loss of fertilizer N was high. Wheat is the most important agricultural good in international market and also it is one of the strategic agricultural productions which have daily and universal consumption. Wheat production in Mediterranean region is often limited by sub-optimal moisture conditions. In general, phosphatic fertilizers are recommended to be broadcasted and incorporated into soil before sowing. The average recovery of phosphorus fertilizer by crops is very low and varies from 15-20% on single crop basis. The field experiment was laid out factorial with randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments included mycorrhiza in two level (No inoculated mycorrhiza (a1) and inoculated mycorrhiza (a2)), Nitrogen fertilizer (Control (b1), 50 kg/ha (b2) and 150 kg/ha (b3)) and phosphorus fertilizer (control (c1), 50 kg/ha (c2) and 100 kg/ha (c3)). Analysis of variance showed that the effect of mycorrhiza, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer on all characteristics was significant.

Keywords: Mycorrhiza, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Wheat

The organic manures are numerous, they prepared initially from either animal or plant residues. All organic manures improve the behaviors of several elements in soils through that active group (filvic and humic acids) which have the ability to retain the elements in complex and chelate form. Humic acid improves the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil and influences plant growth. Humic substances are recognised as a key component of soil fertility properties, since they control chemical and biological properties of the rhizosphere. Black cumin, Nigella sativa L. plant belongs to Ranunculaceae family, common known as black cumin (is cultivated for seed yield and oil production. The whole seeds contain 30- 35% of oil which has several uses for pharmaceutical and food industries. The field experiment was laid out factorial with randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments included fertilizer in five levels (100% manure (F1); 75% manure + 25% chemical fertilizer (F2); 50% manure + 50% chemical fertilizer (F3); 25% manure + 75% chemical fertilizer(F4) and 100% chemical fertilizer (F5); and humic acids in two levels control (H1) and 0.001 liter (H2). Analysis of variance showed that the effect of manure and humic acid on all characteristics was significant.

Keywords: Black cumin, Chemical fertilizer, Manure, Humic acid

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the world’s widely grown highland cereal and primary staple food crop in many developing countries. It was originated in America and first cultivated in the area of Mexico more than 7,000 years ago, and spread throughout North and South America. In the world production, maize is ranked as the third major cereal crop after wheat and rice. Intercropping systems as an example of sustainable agricultural methods and objectives such as ecological balance. Interest the most out of resources. Increase the quality and quantity performance and development decrease of pests. Diseases and weeds traces. Intercropping systems use resources more effectively than a Mono cropping takes place and therefore the amount of available material for use weed decreases. The field experiment was laid out factorial with randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments included plant date (D1: 24 March, D2: 8 April and D3: 18 April) and intercropping (I1: pure mung bean, I2: pure maize, I3: 25% maize + 75% mung bean, I4: 75% maize + 25% mung bean). Analysis of variance showed that the effect of plant date and intercropping on all characteristics was significant.

Keywords: Intercropping, Plant date, Maize, Mung bean

Salicylic acid (SA) belongs to phenolic compound and is an endogenous growth regulator which participates in regulation of physiological processes in plants such as seed germination, fruit yield, glycolysis, flowering and heat production in thermo genic plants. Gladiolus is prized by florists for their showy flower spikes, and by growers for their relative ease of production. Like other flowers with spike inflorescences, gladiolus is normally harvested with relatively few open florets, and the life of the flower is a function both of the life of individual florets, and of the postharvest expansion and opening of the buds remaining on the spike. To evaluate the effect of ascorbic acid and acetyl salicylic acid on the quality and vase life of cut flowers gladiolus (Gladiolus persicus), this experiment as factorial in a randomized complete block design with four replications has been conducted. Ascorbic acid in concentrations of 0, 2, 4 and 6 mM as the first factor and salicylic acid in concentrations of 0, 50, 100 and 150 mg per liter were considered as the second factor. Analysis of variance showed that the effect of salicylic acid and ascorbic acid on all characteristics was significant.

Keywords: Gladiolus, Ascorbic acid, Salicylic acid, Lifetime

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is gaining popularity as an oilseed and a feedstock crop, because it shares several positive agronomic features with other common oil crops such as canola and soybean, yields well in a variety of conditions and can be grown easily and profitably at both small farms and large field scale. Deficit irrigation and use of biological fertilizers are the critical components to crop production in sustainable farming systems. In such a system, fertilizing with organic fertilizers such as vermicompost, farm-yard manure, nitrogenous bio-fertilizer and phosphatic bio-fertilizers (Phosphate Solubilizing Microorganisms) are noticed. The field experiment was laid out factorial with randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments included bio fertilizer (control (A1), Nitroxin (A2), Biosulfur (A3), Phosphate fertile 2 (A4)) and Ascorbic acid in three levels control (B1), 100 mg/l (B2) and 200 mg/l (B3). Analysis of variance showed that the effect of bio fertilizer and ascorbic acid on all characteristics was significant.

Keywords: Biological yield, Grain yield, Harvest index

In order to study associations between traits in F4wheatfamiliesunder rain-fed conditions, diverse wheat genotypes including80 F4lines as well as their parents (Sardari and Azar 2) were evaluated in a randomized complete blocks design with three replications in experimental field of University of Mahabad, Iran during 2013-2015 cropping seasons. According to the results, significant differences between genotypes for all understudy traits were obtained. In this research significant and positive correlations between grain yield and number of tillers, spike length, grain per spike numbers, plant height, awn length, and fertile tillers per plant, 1000 kernel weight, harvest index and biological yield were measured. In addition, in regression analysis (stepwise method), biological yield, harvest index, number of grains per spike and 1000 kernel weight remained in the final model (R2 = 0.83). Path analysis revealed that, biological yield, harvest index, number of grains per spike and 1000 kernel weight showed significant direct positive effects on grain yield, while number of grains per spike had the highest indirect effect on yield through biological yield. Also factor analyses showed three main factors (groups) which justified for 67.3% of the total data variations. It was finally concluded that selection of F4genotypes on the basis of the grain yield, biological yield, harvest index, number of grains per spike and 1000 grain weight as election criteria seems to be more useful than the others to achieve more grain yield in breeding programs under rainfed conditions.

Keywords: Correlation, Drought, Genetic diversity, Path analysis, Yield

Drought affects morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular processes in plants resulting in growth inhibition, stomata closure with consecutive reduction of transpiration, decrease in chlorophyll content and inhibition of photosynthesis and protein changes. Important stages of photosynthesis are the light reactions of photosynthesis, Calvin cycle and starch biosynthesis that each of them have important molecular into self-processes. Recognize and study of these proteins and molecular are important for breeding programs. Proteomics is a potent tool for understanding basic processes in plant growth and development, as well as for examining changes in specific proteins in response to environmental fluctuations. By analyzing differentially expressed proteins under drought conditions we sought deeper knowledge, attempted to identify key protein-encoding genes that could be used as candidate marker protein and drought stress responsible proteins have been analyzed in plant. So, study and understanding of molecular pathway in plantcell such as these pathways into chloroplast and related to photosynthesis have a high importance.

Keywords: Drought stress, Energy production, Molecular mechanism, Photosynthesis

Phytophthora sp. was isolated from naturally infected kola (Colanitida) fruits and cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) pods. Artificial inoculations were made on healthy kola and cocoa fruits, using these isolates, grown on an artificial medium. They were compared using morphological and physiological criteria. The mode of infection of kola by this fungus was studied. The physiological isolate from kola is infecting cocoa. It is a secondary parasite on the studied kola tree. All the isolates studied could be P. megakarya. The study for disease transmission in kola fruits permitted detection of the parasite on mosses and barks of the kola tree trunk between 0 and 2 meters. Disease transmission is due to piercing and flying insects and water from sporulation, when these are above the kola fruits. In a cocoa plantations, the attacked kola tree is a source of inoculum. Its impact on the epidemiology of cocoa black pod disease needs further investigation by plant pathologists and entomologists.

Keywords: Kola, Cocoa, Epidemiology, Cameroon, Phytophthora sp.

The study aims to determine the correlations between testicular and body morphometric traits of Djallonke and Ouda sheep breeds reared on natural pasture in Benin. Data were collected on 70 mature rams including 45Djallonke rams and 25Ouda rams, from January 2015 to September 2016. These data were analyzed with SAS software (2006). It appears that in Djallonke rams, apart from scrotal length, mean testes density and mean epididymal density the all other testicular morphometric parameters were strongly and positively associated with the live weight (0.45≤r≤0.90; P<0.001). The whither’s height was fairly and positively correlation with the chest circumference and the pelvis length (r=0.45 and 0.49 P<0.01), but strongly and positively associated with the scapulo-ischium length, shoulder width, scrotal length, scrotal circumference, paired testes weight, mean testes length, testes diameter, mean testes volume, paired epididymal weight, mean epididymal length and mean epididymal volume (0.55≤r≤0.71; P<0.001). Furthermore, the scrotal length was very highly and positively associated with the scrotal circumference, paired testes weight, mean testes length, testes diameter, mean testes volume, paired epididymal weight, mean epididymal length and mean epididymal volume (0.73≤r≤0.78; P<0.001). The scrotal circumference was strongly and positively associated with the paired testes weight, mean testes length, testes diameter, mean testes volume, paired epididymal weight, mean epididymal length and mean epididymal volume (0.68≤r≤0.93; P<0.001). As for Ouda sheep breed, the whither’s height was weakly and positively with pelvis length, paired testes weight, mean testes length and mean epididymal density (0.20≤ r ≤0.39; P<0.05), but strongly and positively associated with the mean epididymal length and mean epididymal volume (r=0.15 and 0.27; P<0.001). Scrotal circumference, paired testes weight, mean testes length, testes diameter, mean testes volume, paired epididymal weight, mean epididymal length and mean epididymal volume were strongly and positively associated with the scrotal length (0.66≤r≤0.74; P<0.001). Scrotal circumference was strongly and positively correlated with the paired testes weight, mean testes length, testes diameter, mean testes volume, paired epididymal weight, mean epididymal length and mean epididymal volume (0.74≤r≤0.93; P<0.001). Furthermore, the paired testes weight was strongly and positively associated with the mean testes length, testes diameter, mean testes volume, paired epididymal weight, mean epididymal length and mean epididymal volume (0.81≤r≤0.99; P<0.001). Therefore, improve body size will improve the reproductive organ traits as a correlated response.

Keywords: Benin, Djallonke, Ouda, Correlations, Sheep gonads, Morphometric traits

Fenugreek (Trigonellafoenum-graecum L.) is an annual crop belonging to the legume family. This crop is native to an area extending from Iran to northern India, but is now widely cultivated in China, north and east Africa, Ukraine and Greece. In parts of Asia, the young plants are used as potherbs and the seeds as a spice or as herbal medicine. The field experiment was laid out factorial with randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments included vermicompost (control (A1), 5 weight percent (A2), 10 weight percent (A3), and salt stress (control (B1), 100 mM (B2) and 200 mM (B3).Analysis of variance showed that the effect of vermicompost on all characteristics was significant. The maximum of number of seed per pod, Number of pod, Number of sub branch and Plant height of treatments 10 weight percent, was obtained. The minimum of number of seed per pod, Number of pod, Number of sub branch and Plant height of treatments control, was obtained. Analysis of variance showed that the effect of salt stress on all characteristics was significant. The maximum of number of seed per pod, Number of pod, Number of sub branch and Plant height of treatments control, was obtained. The minimum of number of seed per pod, Number of pod, Number of sub branch and Plant height of treatments 200 mM, was obtained. During the onset and development of salt stress within a plant, all the major processes such as photosynthesis, protein synthesis and energy and lipid metabolisms are affected.

Keywords: Plant height, Number of pod, Vermicompost

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the world’s widely grown highland cereal and primary staple food crop in many developing countries. To face the growing need for dietary sources, increasing of crop yield is essential. The field experiment was laid out factorial with randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments included manure in three level (F1: control, F2: 15 ton.ha and F3: 30 ton.ha) and inter-cropping in four levels (I1: sole peanut, I2: sole maize, I3: one row maize + three rows peanut and I4: one row peanut + three rows maize).Analysis of variance showed that the effect of manure on all characteristics was significant. The maximum of peanut harvest index, grain yield, biological yield and plant height of treatments 30 ton.ha was obtained. Analysis of variance showed that the effect of inter-cropping on all characteristics was significant. The maximum of peanut harvest index, grain yield and plant height of treatments one row maize + three rows peanut was obtained. Yield advantage occurs because growth resources such as light, water, and nutrients are more completely absorbed and converted to crop biomass by the intercrop over time and space as a result of differences in competitive ability for growth resources between the component crops, which exploit the variation of the mixed crops in characteristics such as rates of canopy development, final canopy size.

Keywords: Intercropping, Maize, Peanut, Yield

Inoculation of plant roots with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi may be effective in improving crop production under drought conditions. Colonization of roots by AM fungi has been shown to improve productivity of numerous crop plants in soils under drought stress. The effects of humic substances have been directly correlated with enhanced uptake of macronutrients, such as N, P and S, and micronutrients like Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn. The field experiment was laid out factorial with randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments included mycorrhiza in three levels (M1: Control, M2: Glumusmossea and M3: Glumusetanicatum) and humic acid (S1: Once a week, S2: once every two weeks, S3: Once every three weeks and S4: once every four weeks).Analysis of variance showed that the effect of humic acid on all characteristics was significant. The maximum of biological yield, plant dry weight, Number of sub branch and Plant height of treatments S2was obtained. Analysis of variance showed that the effect of mycorrhiza on all characteristics was significant. The maximum of biological yield, plant dry weight, Number of sub branch and Plant height of treatments G. mossea was obtained. Inoculation of plant roots with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi may be effective in improving crop production. Colonization of roots by AM fungi has been shown to improve productivity of numerous crop plants.

Keywords: Mycorrhiza, Humic acid, Roselle

Today, intercropping is commonly used in many tropical parts of the world particularly by small-scale traditional farmers. Foliar applications of methanol in various plants have been reported to improve yield and reduce stress mainly via enhancing CO2 fixation rates. Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) belongs to the family Malvaceae. The field experiment was laid out split plot with randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments included methanol foliar application (10, 20 and 30 volumetric percentage) and intercropping (sole peanut, sole roselle, sole Aloe vera, 50% roselle + 25% peanut + 25% Aloe vera, 100% roselle + 50% peanut + 50% Aloe vera, 40% roselle + 30% peanut + 30% Aloe vera, 100% roselle + 25% peanut + 75% Aloe vera, 60% roselle + 20% peanut + 20% Aloe vera, 100% roselle + 75% peanut + 25% Aloe vera). Analysis of variance showed that the effect of Methanol on all characteristics was significant. The maximum of Peanut biological yield, boll wet weight and roselle biological yield of treatments 30 % was obtained. The minimum of Peanut biological yield, boll wet weight and roselle biological yield of treatments 10% was obtained. Research in different countries reveals that in addition to increasing the ecological and economic diversity, intercropping brings an increase in production or yield benefits, more efficient use of water resources, land, nutrients and labors, reduction in problems caused by pests, diseases and weeds.

Keywords: Biological yield, Intercropping, Methanol

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is gaining popularity as an oilseed and a feedstock crop, because it shares several positive agronomic features with other common oil crops such as canola and soybean, yields well in a variety of conditions and can be grown easily and profitably at both small farms and large field scale. The assessment of plant N nutrition status is far more complex than that of plant water status, because both in-soil and in-plant biological processes directly interfere with N availability and uptake, and even under optimum conditions, N concentration in the plant diminishes continuously during crop development. The field experiment was laid out factorial with randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments included variaty (Record and Azargol) and nitrogen fertilizer (Control, 100 kg/ha, 125 kg/ha, 150 kg/ha, 175 kg/ha, 200 kg/ha). Analysis of variance showed that the effect of variety and nitrogen fertilizer on all characteristics was significant. The maximum of capitule dry weight, Leaf dry weight, and Stem dry weight and Plant height of treatments Record was obtained. Nitrogen management in agro-ecosystems has been extensively studied due to its importance in improving crop yield and quality, and in mitigating the negative effects of fertilizer N losses such as nitrate contamination of groundwater, eutrophication of surface water, and greenhouse effect.

Keywords: Variety, Sun flower, Nitrogen fertilizer

Three groups of 6 healthy Yankasa rams aged 2.0-260 years were assigned to either 49.50i.u (T2), 99.00i.u (T3) or 148.50i.u (T4) (Pergonal®) injections (of Ferring LABS, USA), each divided into 3 doses and given for 3 consecutive days. Another group of 6 rams was given normal saline (1.00ml) during the same period to serve as control (T1). All treatments were given to study the effect of the drug on body confirmation and sperm reserves. All the treatments were given by intramuscular injections. The results showed no significant differences (P>0.05) among the treatment groups in body weight. However, there were significant differences (P<0.05) among the treatment of group in scrotal circumference, withers height, heart girth, testes, testicular parenchymal, caput, corpus, cauda and vas deferens weights. The results further showed that there were significant differences (P<0.05) among the treatment groups in testicular, caput, corpus, cauda and vas deferens sperm reserves. High correlations were observed between body weight, scrotal circumference, withers height, heart girt and caput, corpus, cauda and testicular sperm reserves. The results on this study indicate that apart from body weight, the body conformation, testis, epididymal, and vas deferens weights and sperm reserves of Yankasa rams may be affected when 49.50 iu or more of Pergonal are used for induction of spermatogenesis.

Keywords: Yankasa rams, body size, sperm reserve, reproductive characteristics, gonadotrophin (Pergonal®)