Agronomy Research Papers/Topics

Use of time series normalized differencevegetation index (NDVI) to monitor fall armyworm(Spodoptera frugiperda) damage on maizeproduction systems in Africa

Abstract: Fall armyworm (FAW)Spodoptera frugiperda(J.E. Smith), damagewas monitored at a regional scale using time series data inWestern and Southern African countries. The study employed thenormalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) computed fromLandsat 8 imagery using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) usingimage composites for the years 2013 to 2020 for the study areas.The index was then reclassified based on the NDVI threshold val-ues into low, sparse, moderate, and dense classes. FAW prev...

Black Soldier Fly-Composted Organic Fertilizer Enhances Growth, Yield, and Nutrient Quality of Three Key Vegetable Crops in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract: Worldwide, French beans (Phaseolus vulgarisL.), tomato (Solanum lycopersicumL.), andkales (Brassica oleraceaL.var. acephala) are considered economically important foodcrops. There is a rapid decline in their yield due to severe soil degradation. Thus, highcommercial fertilizer inputs are crucial, though they remain expensive and inaccessibleto resource poor farmers. We investigated the comparative performance of compostedblack soldier fly frass fertilizer (BSFFF), conventionallycom...

Color calibration of proximal sensing RGB images of oilseed rape canopy via deep Learning combined with K-Means algorithm

Abstract: Plant color is a key feature for estimating parameters of the plant grown under different conditions using remote sensing images. In this case, the variation in plant color should be only due to the influence of the growing conditions and not due to external confounding factors like a light source. Hence, the impact of the light source in plant color should be alleviated using color calibration algorithms. This study aims to develop an efficient, robust, and cutting-edge approach f...

Evaluation of Various Mulberry Morus spp. (Moraceae) Cultivars for the Rearing of the Bivoltine Hybrid Race Shaanshi BV-333 of the silkworm Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae)

Abstract: The performance of the Bombyx mori Linnaeus bivoltine hybrid, Shaanshi BV-333, was evaluated on six mulberry cultivars of Morus spp. based on economic characters in rearing and mulberry leaf quality. The growth rate and morphological characteristics for all the cultivars were studied using several parameters. Specific characters such as disease resistance, survival percentage, cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight and single cocoon filament length were recorded during the rearing of s...

Integrated management of Striga hermonthica and cereal stemborers in finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.) through intercropping with Desmodium intortum

Abstract: We evaluated the potential role of greenleaf desmodium, Desmodium intortum (Mill.) Urb., in the combined management of Striga hermonthica and cereal stemborers in finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.) in western Kenya between 2007 and 2008. Treatments comprised finger millet planted either as monocrop stands or intercropped with D. intortum. S. hermonthica counts were significantly lower in the intercrop than in the monocrop plots. Similarly, multi-season analyses showed t...

Effects of Fermentation Periods and Drying Methods on Postharvest Quality of Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao) Beans in Ghana

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) contributes significantly to Ghana’s GDP and has made Ghana a recognized leader in the cocoa industry. However, there are myriad problems associated with Ghana’s cocoa bean quality. One such problems stems from farmers paying less attention to the required postharvest activities (fermentation and drying) which contributes significantly to bean quality losses. *is study investigated the effect of the duration of the traditional heap fermentation period and differ...

Impact of Production Inputs and Timing on Crackness of Rice in Northern Ghana

Under rain-fed conditions, perfumed rice production in Northern Ghana is associated with high paddy cracking during milling. In this study, 4 perfumed rice varieties, 6 staggered planting times, 6 staggered harvesting cycles, and staggered storage duration from harvest to six months of storage were used in a randomized complete block design to identify the best combination of factors that are associated with low cracking in rice production. )e experiment was laid out in a randomized comple...

Influence of Cowpea Lines As Green Manure on Growth and Yield of Carrots in Root-Knot Nematode Infested Soil

An experiment was conducted at the University of Education, Winneba, Mampong-Ashanti campus to determine the effect of some cowpea lines as green manure on the growth and yield of carrot in root-knot nematode infested soil. Randomized complete block design with five treatments and four replications was used. Thetreatments were cowpea lines IT97K-570-18; IT97K-566-18; and IT00K-1150 as green manure, N.P.K (15, 15,15) and control. The results showed negative correlation between root-knot nema...


16 - 23 Of 23 Results