2017 - Volume 12 Issue 1

Changes in Soil Microbial Community Structure and Functional Diversity in the Rhizosphere Surrounding Tea and Soybean

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Changes in Soil Microbial Community Structure and Functional Diversity in the Rhizosphere Surrounding Tea and Soybean Qin, Xiaomin; Wei, Chizhang; Li, Jinting; Chen, Yuanquan; Chen, Hai Sheng; Zheng, Yi; Nong, Yuqin; Liao, Chunwen; Chen, Xing; Luo, Yanfei; Lu, Jinmei; Zeng, Zhiyun; Wei, Jinjian Field trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of different planting patterns (tea monocropping, tea and soybean intercropping, soybean monocropping) on microbial community structure and microbial functional diversity using Biolog technique. Results showed that intercropping treatment exhibited higher average well color development (AWCD), diversity indices and community functional diversity as compared with monocropping. The microbial utilization of 6 types of carbon source indicated some differences. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis demonstrated that intercropping treatment significantly changed the functional diversity of the soil microbial community, mainly depending on carbohydrates and carboxylic acids. Our findings suggested that soil microbial metabolic activities and functional diversity were significantly changed by tea-soybean intercropping

Effectiveness of Extension Service Delivery and Productivity of Cassava Farmers in Southwestern Nigeria

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Effectiveness of Extension Service Delivery and Productivity of Cassava Farmers in Southwestern Nigeria Aderinto, A; Agbelemoge, A; Dada, O. M Cassava production in Nigeria is limited by poor downstream activities. Effective support servicesof relevant stakeholders are critical in removing the limitations. Effectiveness of services of extension agencies as it affects productivity of cassava farmers in southwestern Nigeria was therefore examined. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select cassava farmers from 20% of Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) extension blocks in Oyo, Ogun and Ondo states based on intensity of cassava production. Forty percent of cassava farmers in 10% of ADP cells in selected blocks were randomly selected, producing 153, 127 and 96 respondents for the states respectively. Data obtained through interview schedule were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics at p=0.05. Most respondents were males (74.7%), married (97.1%) and members of farmers’ association (71.0%) while 59.6% had no formal education. Mean age was 47.9±11.79 years, farm size 4.6±2.03/ ha, family size 6.5±0.46 persons and farming experience 24.7±12.55 years. Most respondents were males (74.7%), married (97.1%) and members of farmers’ association (71.0%) while 59.6% had no formal education. Mean age was 47.9±11.79 years, farm size 4.6±2.03/ ha, family size 6.5±0.46 persons and farming experience 24.7±12.55 years. Majority of the respondents had low access to extension (4.62±1.24), Service effectiveness rating was low for extension (13.3±5.16). Respondents considered irregular visits of extension agents (100.0%) as the most severe constraints to utilization of services. Majority (80.9%) recorded low productivity. Respondents’ productivity was influenced by farming experience (β= -0.193), family size (β=-0.111), farm size (β=-0.187), membership of association (β=0.112), and production capacity (β=0.096. Extension agencies were not effectively meeting the aspirations of cassava farmers. Extension agencies should therefore be more accessible and provide cassava farmers with effective support services for improved productivity.

Effect of Potassium Fertilizer Split Applications together with Straw on Optimum Level in Leaf and Stem of Rice

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Effect of Potassium Fertilizer Split Applications together with Straw on Optimum Level in Leaf and Stem of Rice Pavithira, E; Sirisena, D. N; Herath, H. M. S. K Effect of long term K fertilizer application together with rice straw on optimum K level in leaf and stem of rice plants was evaluated in a field experiment. No K fertilizer (T1), rice straw only (T2); 20 kg K2 O ha–1of K (both at basal dressing and panicle initiation) with rice straw (T3), 20 kg K2 O ha–1of K (at basal dressing) with rice straw (T4), 20 kg K2 O ha–1of K (at panicle initiation) with rice straw (T5), and 20 kg K2 O ha–1of K (both at basal dressing and panicle initiation) (T6) were applied. Rice straw was amended at the rate of 5 t ha–1. Soil samples were analysed for exchangeable K and non-exchangeable K during the growing season and plant samples were analysed for K content in leaf and stem at maturity (12 weeks after planting). At harvesting, total grain yield and number of panicles were recorded. Soil and plant K contents under no K fertilizer (T1) were significantly lower (P<0.05) throughout the cultivation period compared to all other treatments. However, shoot dry matter, number of panicles, and grain yield were not significantly different (P>0.05) among treatments. All K fertilizer applied plots depicted higher K content in leaves and stem of rice plants, compared to the no K fertilizer treated plots, irrespective of straw application. The highest exchangeable K and non-exchangeable K contents were recorded in the treatment received with K fertilizer at the rate of 20 kg K2 O ha–1(at basal dressing and panicle initiation) with rice straw, T3). When consider plant K uptake in relation to the non-exchangeable K there was a positive relationship irrespective of the type of treatment and the number of weeks after planting. According to these results it can be concluded that to maintain optimum K content (1.5 %) in leaf and stem of rice plant, it is needed to apply K fertilizer together with rice straw.

Learning Style and Academic Performance of First Year Agricultural Undergraduates: A Case in Rajarata University of Sri Lanka

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Learning Style and Academic Performance of First Year Agricultural Undergraduates: A Case in Rajarata University of Sri Lanka Karalliyadda, S.M.C.B In Sri Lankan universities, lecturers are trained and requested to conduct learning style assessments to design strategies for better educational environments. Even though, limited attention has been acquired in the area of learning styles and academic performances, less literature is found related to agricultural undergraduates. This study has attempted to investigate the learning styles of first year agricultural undergraduates in one of the Sri Lankan universities. The objective was thereby, to examine any association between learning styles and academic performances. A Cross sectional survey was administered using a structured questionnaire consisting of the VARK learning style tool. Results illustrated that most of the students have multimodal learning styles and, those styles were independent from gender or their high school academic discipline pertaining to agriculture or biology. Among these learning styles, kinesthetic style has gained a reasonable attention. The study concluded no substantial association between learning styles and academic performances. Availability of multimodal learning styles are suitable to use blended teaching aids such as lectures, video and illustrations as well as to encourage students to take self-notes etc. Moreover, facilitating each student to gain hand on experience can be used to enhance the learning. Finally, this study can also be performed using some other available methods to avoid the biased errors and to understand the learning styles in different angles.