Agriculture

Research Papers/Topics in Agriculture

Studies on Bacillus subtilis and Lactobacillus acidophilus, as potential probiotics, on the immune response and resistance of Tilapia nilotica (Oreochromis niloticus) to challenge infections

The probiotic activity of two bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Lactobacillus acidophilus) was evaluated by its effect on the immune response of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), beside its protective effect against challenge infections. Furthermore, their in-vitro inhibitory activity was evaluated. The in-vitro antimicrobial assay showed that Bacillus subtilis and Lactobacillus acidophilus inhibited the growth of A. hydrophila. The B. subtilis inhibited the development of P. fluorescen...

Effect of dietary supplementation of some immunostimulants on growth performance, profitability and disease resistance of Nile tilapia (O. niloticus) fries reared in hapa-in-pond system under

To evaluate the effect of some immunostimulants on growth performance parameters, survival rate and diseases resistance of Nile tilapia fry reared under different stocking densities, a total number of 2250 Oreochromis niloticus fries (0.3 ±0.05 g) were stocked at (2, 4, and 6 fry/m3) and provided with dietary supplementation of (Garlic 40 g/kg, purpurea extract 4 g/kg, Organic GreenTM 4 g/kg and Vet-YeastTM 4 g/kg of the diet) for a five-month period. The obtained results indicated that, sto...

Trials to improve the response of Orechromis niloticus to Aeromonas hydrophila vaccine using immunostimulants (garlic, Echinacea) and probiotics (Organic GreenTM and Vet-YeastTM)

This work aimed to investigate the role of some immunostimulants and probiotics in improving the response of overwintered tilapia to Aeromonas hydrophila vaccine. In this study, 15000 Nile tilapia fry (Orechromis niloticus) were collected and divided into five groups. Group 1 was the control, groups 2 to 5 were fed diet supplemented with garlic, Echinacea, Organic GreenTM and Vet-YeastTM respectively for 5 months. Vaccination with A. hydrophila bacteria was done by the end of the feeding e...

Detection of Tilapia Lake Virus in Egyptian fish farms experiencing high mortalities in 2015

Our aim was to detect potential pathogens in diseased tilapia that might account for the high summer mortalities observed in Egyptian fish farms. To this end, diseased fish were examined from eight farms in different areas of the Nile delta. Here, we report the detection of Aeromonas species and, for the first time, the presence of TiLV in Egyptian tilapia aquaculture.

Identification of Tilapia Lake Virus in Egypt in Nile tilapia affected by ‘summer mortality’ syndrome

Egyptian fish farms have faced unexplained mortality of tilapia during the summer months in recent years. Epidemiological surveys indicated that 37% of fish farmswere affected in 2015with an averagemortality rate of 9.2% and a potential economic impact of around US$ 100 million. Despite a number of researchers and organizations investigating potential causes results so far have been inconclusive. Meanwhile recent reports emerged of the presence of a new orthomyxovirus, Tilapia Lake Virus ...

Diurnal visitation of flowers of cowpea by insect pollinators with emphasis on the Western honeybee, Apis mellifera, in Bauchi, Nigeria

In order to study the diurnal visitation of flowers of cowpea by insect pollinators, the number of open flowers of cowpea and the kind and number of insects visiting the flowers were recorded for a period of 5 minutes and at intervals of 1 hour from sunrise to sunset in a quadrat of 1 m² placed randomly on a cowpea farm. Cowpea flowers were observed to open from 6:00 hour to 13:00 hour, daily. A total of 388 open flowers and 256 insect visitors were recorded during the 7-day period of the st...

Micronutrient Availability in Alternative Foods During Agricultural Catastrophes

Several catastrophes could block the sun, including asteroid/comet impact, super volcanic eruption, and nuclear war with the burning of cities (nuclear winter). Previous work has analyzed alternate food supplies (e.g., mushrooms growing on dead trees, bacteria growing on natural gas). This was shown to be technically capable of feeding everyone with macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and lipids) and minerals, although economics and politics remain uncertain. The present work analyzes vit...

Strengthening Farmer Adaptive Capacity through Farms of the Future Approach in Wester Kenya

hrough the farms of the future (FotF) approach, the CCAFS climate analogue tool can be used to connect farmers to their possible future climates through farmer-to-farmer learning exchanges. In East Africa, this has already been piloted in Lushoto, Tanzania (Nelson et al. 2012), and recently implemented in Nyando, Kenya. The Farms of the Future approach focusses on two main objectives: First, to build on farmer-to-farmer exchanges to analogue sites as a valuable option to improve adaptive cap...

Adoption and Dissemination Pathways for Climate-Smart Agriculture Technologies and Practices for Climate-Resilient Livelihoods in Lushoto, Northeast Tanzania

Smallholder farmers in East Africa need information and knowledge on appropriate climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices, technologies, and institutional innovations in order to effectively adapt to changing climatic conditions and cope with climate variability. This paper assesses farmer adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices and innovation after being exposed to Farms of the Future Approach (FotF). First; we explore and assess the various CSA technologies and practices; includin...

Influence of Composted Organic Waste and Urea Fertilization on Rice Yield, N-Use Efficiency and Soil Chemical Characteristics

Nutrient mining in rice-rice cropping system due to inadequate amount of chemical fertilizer applied is one of the reasons for low rice yield in Ghana. To address this challenge, a field trial was initiated to determine the best nutrient management option to improve yield of rice and soil fertility. The field experiment was conducted at the University of Ghana’s Soil and Irrigation Research Centre - Kpong during 2014 and 2015 cropping seasons to evaluate the influence of composted organ...

Effect of Irrigation Management Methods on Growth, Grain Yield and Water Productivity of Three Lowland Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Varieties

It has been predicted that Ghana will face water shortage by the year 2025 due to increased demand of water resources from all sectors of the economy. Rice production will be negatively affected since rice consumes the highest amount of water in the agricultural sector. To develop a strategy to reduce water use for rice production while maintaining or increasing rice yield, a pot experiment was carried out in the screen house at Soil and Irrigation Research Centre - Kpong during 2016 and ...

INCREASING RICE PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH INTEGRATED NITROGEN SOURCES UNDER THREE SOIL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ON A VERTISOL

Rice production in Ghana is relatively low partly due to poor nitrogen and soil management. To increase rice productivity in the country, a field experiment was carried out to assess the effect of nitrogen sources and soil management systems on grain yield, plant nitrogen uptake, nitrogen use efficiency, and chemical properties of the soil. The experiment was conducted at the Soil and Irrigation Research Centre, University of Ghana, Kpong during the 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons and laid...

Response of Onion (Allium cepa L.) to Bulb Size at Planting and NPK 15:15:15 Fertilizer Application Rate in the Guinea Savannah Agroecology of Ghana

Studies were conducted during the 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons at the research field of the University for Development Studies, Nyankpala in the Northern Region of Ghana to determine the effects of bulb size at planting and NPK 15:15:15 application rate on growth and yield of onion. The NPK 15:15:15 was applied at the rate of 0 (control), 80, 165 and 250 kg/ha. Three different bulb sizes: small (2.5-3.5 cm), medium (4.5-5.5 cm) and large (6.5-8.5 cm) were used. The treatment combinati...

Evaluation of Emergency Cash Transfer in Zambia

There are times when the government, non-governmental organisations and individuals have to quickly intervene and get emergency aid to people adversely affected by natural and man-made calamities. Zambia has disaster management and social protection plans and programmes to quickly address such events. However, they face administration and financial challenges that sometime overwhelm its constrained resources. Therefore, the support of cooperating partners in disaster management to the governm...


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