Asian Journal of Agricultural and Horticultural Research

Actually modern fruit trees physiology is focused on the stimulation of plant cell development and fruit production using bioestimulant. This study evaluated the effect of bioestimulant ‘Engordone’ under two doses (0.5 and 1.0 L ha^-1) and two times (pea-size fruit and 28 days later) in olive tree cv Manzanilla under hot and arid environment of Mexico. The experiment was carried out during 2018 and 2019 at National Research Institute for Forestry, Agriculture and Livestock (INIFAP) in the Experimental Station Coast of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. The experiment was carried out on olive tree of eight years old, planted at distance of 10 x 5 m (200 trees ha^-1) and under drip irrigation system. The experiment was analyzed using a randomized complete block design and four replications. The variables evaluated were olive yield, classification by size and fruit characteristics (fruit weight and pulp-pit ratio). The results showed that bioestimulant application had little effect on olive yield which increased the yield by 14.1 and 6.5% in 2018 and 2019, respectively compared to untreated trees, but without statistical difference. Fruit characteristic were no affected by treatments. Only the percentage of non-marketable fruit was statistically (P<0.05) reduced in the first year. Finally, new biostimulants and times of application are necessary to carried out to improve the size of table olives.

Background: The American serpentine leafminer, L. trifolii (Burgess), is one of the most problematic insect pest species attacking large number of vegetable crops, weeds and, ornamentals.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate population abundance and host plant preference of L. trifolii on four winter host plants under Libyan conditions.

Methods: Four winter host plants were studied [broad bean (Veciafaba), pea (Pisum sativum), fenugreek (trigonella finum gradum) and snow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus)]. The experimental field was about 1600m² which divided to 12 equal plots (4 plots for each plant). Hundred leaflets infested with L. trifolii were taken from each host plant. Samples were kept in plastic bags and transferred to be examined in the laboratory. Number of living L. trifolii larvae were counted and recorded.

Results: Four winter host plants were targeted for this study [broad bean (Veciafaba), pea (Pisum sativum), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) and snow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus)] during the growing season 2018/2019 in Alejelat region. L trifolii showed low populations in December on all studied host plants. then, developed high populations in February and March then the population decreased till the end of the growing season.  L trifolii recorded four peaks of abundance on all host plants, except snow thistle (3 peaks) the highest peak recorded 488, 322, 152 and 187 individuals/ 100 infested leaflets on broad bean, pea, fenugreek and snow thistle respectively. L. trifolii showed its highest monthly average numbers in February on Broad bean, Pea and, Fenugreek recording (383.25 ± 81.05, 256.75 ± 55.18 and, 101.5 ± 37.36 individuals / 100 infested leaflets) respectively and, (153.27 ± 27.10 individuals / 100 infested leaflets) for Snow thistle in April. On the other hand, the lowest monthly average numbers occurred in April on the four studied host plants recording (240.71 ± 113.11, 176.48 ± 59.22, 71.28 ± 24.05 and, 106.28 ± 47.73 individuals / 100 infested leaflets).

The main objective of the research study was to compare a locally developed date palm pollination machine to manual pollination during two successive seasons. Two pressures were used to operate the machine. The parameters measured were, rate of work, pollen application rate, crop yield and cost of pollination. The results indicated that the field capacity (rate of work) of the pollination machine was 18 tree/hr, while for the manual pollination it was 5 tree/hr. The machine pollen application rate was 0.5-1 gm/tree as compared to manual pollination which consumed higher amount of pollen 8 gm/tree. There was no significant difference between the effect of using the three methods of pollination on physical and chemical characteristics of date fruits. There was significant effect of treatments on quantity of date yield in the two seasons for the three methods of pollination at 5% level of significance. The pollination machine at high pressure produced higher yield than other treatments which were 605 kg, 1206 kg for the two seasons respectively, while the lowest yield was recorded by manual pollination as 233 kg and 818 kg for the two seasons in sequence. The pollination cost of the machine was 9.1 SDG /tree which was less than the manual pollination that costs 60 SDG /tree. The manual pollination needed two labors to pollinate 200 trees per season, while mechanical pollinator needed one operator to pollinate 760 trees per year. The pollination machine reached up to 10 meters in height. In addition, considerable reduction of time requirements, and pollination cost were observed.

It was concluded that the pollination machine is highly reliable and efficient in control over pollen application rate, thus reducing pollen loss to minimum, saving cost and time and overcoming defects associated with manual pollination.

The purpose of this study was to survey the technologies used in cassava processing in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. Specifically, the study was proposed to determine the technologies used in harvesting, peeling, grinding, extracting water, sifting and frying crushed cassava tubers into Garri. A structured questionnaire titled “Survey of technologies used in cassava processing in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State (STUCP)”.was administered to one hundred-fifty farmers in ten villages in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Data was analyzed with the use of pictorial view of the technology used in cassava processing and Statistical package for social science was used in determining the frequency, percentage and mean. The findings revealed that more need to be done in terms of the technology used in harvesting, peeling, grinding, extracting water, sifting and frying crushed cassava tubers into Garri. One of the recommendations was that technology used in cassava processing should be improved in order to boost garri production in Rivers State.

Aims: This study aimed to know the knowledge level and perception of the farmers regarding the use and impact of agrochemical and to find out the correlation of knowledge level and pesticide use with their age, education, farm size, number of pesticide use.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the Chittagong District of Bangladesh in four different unions of Sitakunda Upazilla between May 2018 and June 2018.

Methodology: We surveyed 142 farmer households from nine villages of three unions, selected through multistage purposive random sampling. They were interviewed through a semi-structured questionnaire. A key informant survey was done by interviewing Upazila agriculture officers and agrochemical retailers.

Results:  No overuse of fertilizer and pesticide were found. Findings showed that 66.2% of farmers were medium knowledgeable, with 14.79% low and 19.01% high knowledgeable. Applications of obsolete pesticides were found to be used.  Farmers’ knowledge level is significantly correlated with the education level and the number of pesticide uses.

Conclusion: There was a gap between amounts of fertilizer applied than the recommended level except for gypsum. Most of them did not know the standard application rate of fertilizer and pesticide. Farmers’ knowledge level should be improved and the adoption of rational use of agrochemicals is needed through extension activity to get proper yield and to inform them of precautionary measures.