Iris Publishers Agriculture Soil Science

  Potentials of Commercialization of Smallholder Farming in Kigoma Region, Tanzania: Gross Profit Margin Analysis of selected Crops in Selected Districts, Kigoma Region Authored by Chami Avit A Commercialization of smallholder farming (SF) is of paramount importance for African rural economic transformation. This study was undertaken to reveal the less known potentials of commercialization of SF in Kigoma Region. The Gross Profit Margin Analysis of beans, maize and cassava in Kasulu, Kakonko and Kibondo districts from Kigoma Region was performed. Descriptive cross-sectional research design was employed and both primary and secondary data were utilized. The target population of 10,708 smallholder farmers (SFs) resulted to the sample size of 400 SFs (at 95% confidence level and 5% confidence interval (0.05 sampling error)). The study revealed majority of households were male-headed households, 57% of the households had the household size ranging from 6 to 10 members while 96.5% of a...

The Untapped Mystery and Potentials in Termites Authored by Beck Arebamen Akhiwu Introduction Termite (Termitoidae) is one of the most underrated and disrespected insects. The positive impacts of termites have not yet well explored. Termites belong to Order: Blattodea and Ifraorder: Isoptera commonly referred to as destroyer of wood or white ants but not white [1]. Termites are eusocial insects. They live in a colony, only some individual is able to reproduce. They are well behaved, meticulous and highly organized insects. They exhibit a division of labor with individuals taking up different roles, such as defense or foraging. Termites emerged 298.9 million years ago. There about 3,106 species [2], these species are grouped into three, dampwood (mostly found in coniferous forest), drywood (found in hardwood forest) and subterranean termites (found in widely diverse area). There are 435 species found in Asia, 1000 species found in Africa, 50 species in North America, 400 species foun...

Pedigree Selection for Lint Yield in Two Segregation Populations of Egyptian Cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.) Authored by JAbd El Sameea AA Cotton is the most important crop in the world. Cotton is still considered as an important crop in Egyptian Agriculture, although the decrease of its growing area and also, the decrease of its contribution in the national income. Great efforts were paid by the Egyptian cotton breeder to maintain its fiber quality traits and improve its yielding ability, also around the world. Plant breeders are continuously searching for a more effective and efficient selection methods. Although several selection methods were used for improving several traits in cotton yield, pedigree selection methods have become the most popular of plant breeding procedures. Most of Egyptian Cotton varieties were produced through this method by cotton Instituted center (C.I.C). younis [1] found that The phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variability (PCV and GCV) decrease r...

Effect of Consorted PGPMs and Mineral Fertilizer on Grain Yield of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and Malt Barely (Hordium vulgar L) in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia Authored by Abere Mnalku Agriculture accounts for 41% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 85% of total export and is providing the source of livelihood for the great majority (over 80%) of the Ethiopian population of 102 million in 2017 [1]. However, the sector is still characterized by low productivity, dominated by subsistence, low input and low output rainfed farming systems in which biotic and abiotic factors periodically reverse performance gains with adverse effects on household food security particularly on the staples [2]. Ethiopia is one of the largest wheats and malt barely producers in sub- Saharan Africa. However, wheat yield levels are low with a national average of about 2.2t/ha, which is well below yields obtained from research stations, i.e., 5t ha-1 in 2017 [3]. Diagnostic studies with farmers in the E...