Iris Publishers Agriculture Soil Science

Influence of Agricultural Lime in Alleviating Acidity Level of Various Acid Soils Authored by Dipendra Chaudhari Influence of agricultural lime in acidity level, macro-nutrients (P&K) mineralization and plant growth in various acid soils were investigated inside glass house in French bean (Phaseolus vulgare). The experiment underwent from 24th July to 8th October 2017. Liming of five different acid soils (Pine Forest Soil, Black Soil, Red Soil, Swampy Soil and Cultivated Soil) were done as per the doses recommended by SMP buffer method. Plant height was measured, and the soil was sampled to 15 to 25cm depth, initially and then at interval of 15 days till 75th day of treatment application. The experiment was carried under Completely Randomized design (CRD). Data of soil parameters (soil pH, P & K availability) and plant parameter (plant height) at different times were critically analyzed for significance test at 5% level of significance. Desirable pH range for crop cultivation ...

Yam-Based Cropping Systems Performances with Herbaceous Legumes and Chemical Fertilizers Authored by Raphiou Maliki In West Africa, the traditional yam-based cropping systems (shifting cultivation and slash-and-burn) contribute to the deforestation, land degradation and low soil productivity. With the aim of designing more sustainable yam cropping systems, the agronomic research organization in Benin implemented alternative systems including herbaceous legumes (Aeschynomene histrix and Mucuna pruriens var utilis) and chemical fertilizers.This study examines the effect of rotations with herbaceous legumes and chemical fertilizers on yam yields and soils, to see how consistent they are for the different farmers within a site, and different sites. A perennial experiment was implemented for 4 years, with 2-year rotations, smallholder farmers’ traditional rotations maize-yam or 1-year Andropogonon gayanus (natural fallow)–yam, with rotations intercropped Aeschynomene histrix with maize-yam...

The Cause of Increased Effectiveness of Water-In-Oil Emulsion Over Water Application of Trichoderma Ovalisporum on Theobroma Cacao Authored by Ronald T Collins Experiments in Costa Rica showed thatTrichoderma Ovalisporum applied in a water-in-oil (corn oil) emulsion gave significantly better control of frosty pod rot disease on cacao (Theobroma cacao) pods when compared to water applications. Experiments were conducted in Ecuador in 2011 and 2012, to determine whether the effectiveness of the T. ovalisporum was supported by the applied spray characteristics (Volume Median Diameter, number of droplets per cm2, droplet volume per cm2, area coverage per cm2, Relative Span Factor and estimated spores per cm2) as opposed to the creation of an environment conducive to spore germination and colonization of the cacao pod. The relative span factor and number of deposits were not different between the two formulations. The Volume Medium Diameter, droplet volume, Droplet volume and area coverage...

Infiltration and Swelling Under Capillary Flow Authored by Robert R Wells Most experimentation into the physical responses of swelling systems, under the influence of an increase or decrease in moisture content, has been confined to saturated clays and/or infiltration vertically downward under ponded conditions. The flux of water, vertically downward or upward, has similar mathematical formulations. The direction of flow primarily affects the boundary and initial conditions statement and the consideration of gravity components on the system. The experiments performed by Smiles [1-3] were for infiltration into a saturated swelling system (1973, 1974) or drainage of a saturated swelling system (1968). Smiles chose, as an initial condition, a saturated initial condition because the use of a saturated condition results in a simplification of the mathematics without affecting the physical phenomenon. Smiles’ experiments began by permitting air-dry clay to saturate with distilled water by c...

Environmental Impact Assessment and Source Identification of Total Suspended Particulate Matter and Some Elements Emitted from a Workplaces in Jordan Authored by Omar Ali Al Khashman The objective of the present study was to assess the extent and severity of atmospheric particulate concentrations and metal concentration in dust, street dust and soil in the Aqaba Industrial Estate (AIE). Samples of dust, street dust and soil were analyzed for their contents of atmospheric particulate matter and elements (Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Mn and Cr) after digestion with nitric acid. This study shows that analyzed major sources and magnitude of elements pollution. The mean concentrations of the elements were as follows: CFe > CPb > CZn > CCr > CMn > CCu and CCd where C stands for concentration. Zn, Cd and Pb were in high levels in the area close to the workplace, while the chromium level was low. This study indicates that all of the elements are concentrated on the surface soil, and dec...

Yam-Based Cropping Systems Performances with Chemical Fertilizers Authored by Raphiou Maliki Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is a tuber crop widely cultivated in the humid and sub-humid lowland regions of West Africa and the Caribbean. More than 90% of the worldwide production (40 million metric tons of fresh tubers year-1) is produced in West Africa [1].   Yam cultivation in West Africa is now confronted with the scarcity of fertile soil available for clearing [2]. In Benin nowadays, farmers hardly have the possibility to rely on long duration fallow and yam is being cultivated in 1 or 2-year herbaceous fallow–yam or maize-yam rotation systems with manual incorporation of residue into the soil.   The decline in yam yields under continuous cultivation has led to the largely accepted conclusion that yam requires a high level of natural soil fertility (organic matter and nutrient) (O’Sulllivan and Ernest, 2008). Since the demand for yam keeps increasing due to the continued population gro...

A Prevalence Study of Ectoparasites on The Long- Eared Hedgehog (Hemiechinus Auritus) in Sohag Governorate, Egypt Authored by Abd El Aleem SS Desoky Hedgehogs are small, nocturnal and spiny-coated mammals which are found in synanthropic environments and they are kept as pets by some people [1,2]. As hedgehogs feed on insects, worms, centipedes, snails, mice, frogs, lizards and snakes, they are considered as useful animals for natural ecosystems and are in the protected species list [1]. They are ideal hosts for ecto and endoparasites, because they have active foraging behavior and do not groom themselves [3]. On the other hand, these animals can serve as reservoir for some zoonotic pathogens. Hedgehogs acquire some pathogens through tick or flea bites and are involved in the endemic cycle of these pathogens. Keeping in mind that Hedgehogs are known as potential host for some variants of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, tick–born encephalitis virus (TBEV), Rickettsia felis, Eucoleus aerophil...