A field experiment was conducted at Sutiakhali, Mymensingh for crop production and chemical analysis was performed at Department of soil science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to see the combined effect of nutrient management on nutrient content and uptake of Transplant Aus rice (BRRI dhan48) during march to july 2015 following Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications. The treatments were T1: RD (N75 P12 K45 S9), T2: STB (N74 P11 K36 S7), T3: INM (N54 P5 K27 S5+ CD @ 5.0 t ha−1), T4: Farmer’s practice (N69 P30 K37), and T5: Control (no fertilizer). The NPKS content and uptake by BRRI dhan48 were also influenced significantly due to combined use of manure and fertilizers. The maximum N, P, K and S uptake by grain (35.55, 6.99, 15.20 and 3.38 kg/ha respectively) were obtained from the application of Integrated Nutrient Management. The minimum N, P, K and S uptake by grain (20.08, 3.64, 8.35 and 1.74 kg/ha respectively) were found from T5: Control. Similarly, The maximum N, P, K and S uptake by straw (3.38, 5.43, 99.25 and 7.37 kg/ha respectively) were found from T3: INM. The minimum N, P, K and S uptake by straw (1.74, 2.67, 49.70 and 3.87 kg/ha respectively) were obtained from T5 (Control). The performance of the treatment T3 was better than T1, T2, T4 and T5 in nutrient content and uptake of BRRI dhan48. Considering nutrient content and uptake, the application of chemical fertilizers in combination with manure based on INM could be recommended for BRRI dhan48 production in aus season.

Tef is the most important and wider adaptable cereal crop in Ethiopia. The most limiting tef productions are low yielding cultivars, biotic such as pest and diseases and abiotic such as drought, fertility depletion and inappropriate agronomic practice and difficulty nature of tef for mechanization. The objective of the study was to evaluate the adaptability of early maturing tef varieties. Tef varieties were evaluated for their earliness and adaptability at three locations and over two years. The trial included 8 varieties and one local check with the design of RCBD in three replications. The analysis of variance showed that there was significant difference (P<-0.001) between genotypes and locations for the days to heading, days to maturity, plant height, panicle length, grain yield and (P<-0.05) for biomass yield. However, it does not provide evidence for interaction between the varieties and locations on all traits except for days to maturity. Simada was early maturing and well performing, following Boset. Therefore, cultivation of both varieties enhances the production of tef in the study areas and similar agro-ecologies. Allocation of varieties to their niche might increase the productivity of tef. In general, evaluation tef varieties in the right place and development of target variety for earliness and yield performance increase production in the region as well as the nation. Further work needed breeding to develop drought tolerant and higher yielding.

This work is a study on the action of essential oils (EOs)of Pennyroyal Mentha pulegium against two larvaeL2 and L3 of Calliptamus barbarus (Orthoptera: Acrididae). The EOsare extracted by hydrodistillation protocol based on the use of a Clevenger. It should be noted that the yield of EOs obtained at the flowering stage (2.2%) is almost double that obtained at the foliage stage (1.2%).Gas Chromatography coupled to a mass spectrophometerGC-MS analysis revealed the presence of p-Menth-4 (8) -en-3-one, as the most frequently constituents of Mint, better known as Pulegone.
 We performed two ways of treatments: by contact and by alimentation (the duration of treatment is 3and 6 days respectively).
 By contact we have acquired a total mortality (100%) using the highest dose (48μl/ml) with a LD50 of 12.58 μl/ ml. In the opposite, by ingestion, the mortality rate obtained for the same dose was 80%while the LD50 was23.98 μl/ ml.
 Using the letal doses, the comparative effect of contact and ingestion between the essential oils show that the action by contact is stronger and faster to enter in the insect via the cuticulethan that byingestion. Finally authors concluded that the results were very satisfactory.

Water is essential to maximize crop yield and quality. This natural resource has assumed huge importance, especially in the warmest areas, where drought and environmental degradation has affected agricultural production. In order to identify drought tolerance of some groundnut genotypes and to investigate the relationships between seed yield, quality and drought tolerance indices a study was made using 10 promising genotypes. The experiment was carried out during 2014-2017 and sowed under randomized block design with four replicates. It included three factors: two levels of irrigation (a1 – non - irrigated and a2 - irrigated), two levels of fertilization (b1 – non-fertilized and b2 - 100 active Nitrogen/ha) and genotype (C1-C10). Seed yield depending on the influence of the factor, varied from 535.95 Kg/ha (non-irrigated) to 2020.95 Kg/ha (irrigated); from 1055.30 Kg/ha (non-fertilized) to 1501 Kg/ha (fertilized) and from 1111.30 Kg/ha to 1388 Kg/ha depending on genotype. Same influence factors for protein content varied from 25.65% (irrigated) to 28.61% (non-irrigated); from 26.33% (non-fertilized) to 27.93% (fertilized) and from 25.59% to 28.52% depending on genotype. Stress susceptibility index (SSI) varied from 0.964 to 1.040; Stress Tolerance Index (STI) from 0.138 to 0.435; Mean Productivity (MP) from 883.5 to 1616.0; Geometric Mean Productivity (GMP) from 750.3 to 1332.7; Tolerance index (TOL) from 933.0 to 1844.0; Harmonic Mean (HM) from 637.2 to 1099.0; Yield Index (YI) 0.777 to 1.308 and Yield Stability Index (YSI) from 0.236 to 0.309. High values of SSI, STI, YI, DI, RDI and SSPI indicate drought tolerance and those variants present high stability.

This paper modeled the determinants of quoted agro-based firm’s performance equation in Nigeria. Time series data employed in the analysis covered the period 2000-2012 and was obtained from Central bank of Nigeria. Data were analyzed using the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression technique. To ascertain for stationarity, Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) unit root test was conducted on the variables. Result revealed that while Energy consumption per capita (ENRt), Install Capacity Utilization Rate (ICUt),Total Commercial Bank credit to Small Scale Industries (TCBCt), exerted significant positive impact on agro-based performance, exchange rate ( EXRt) impacted negatively on agro-based performance. This underscores the need to pursue policies that would improve energy production in the country, ensure proper funding of the sector and stabilizes exchange rate as the way out.

The objective of this study was to evaluate insecticide toxicity on Bemisia tabaci, Tetranychus evansi, Orius insidiosus, Cycloneda sanguinea and Chauliognathus flavipes in tomato plants. The following toxicity treatments were applied: T1: control, T2: chlorpyrifos (Pitcher) 450 EC (1.25 L.ha-1), T3: chlorpyrifos 450 EC (Pitcher) (0.62 L.ha-1), T4: thiamethoxam 100 WG (1.00 L.ha-1), T5: thiamethoxam 250 WG (0.50 L.ha-1), T6: teflubenzuron 150 CS (0.025 L.ha-1) and T7: teflubenzuron 150 CS (0.0125 L.ha-1). For the sub-lethal effect, a tenth of the recommended concentration was used. The insecticide teflubenzuron was effective against whitefly nymphs, while chlorpyrifos and thiamethoxam were efficient against adult whiteflies. Insecticides at the dose and lower dose were not efficient to control the adults and nymphs of mite T. evansi. Teflubenzuron was selective at the two doses tested against C. sanguinea and C. flavipes, while thiamethoxam was selective (lower dose) against these two predators. Chlorpyrifos was selective against C. flavipes (lower dose). All insecticides were selective or moderately selective at 21 days after application. Insecticides were not efficient to control the adults and nymphs of T. evansi. The growth regulating insecticide teflubenzuron was effective against whitefly nymphs. Chlorpyrifos and thiamethoxam were efficient against adult whiteflies. In general, the insecticides neonicotinoid and pyrethroid were selective to three predatory species and had lower sublethal impact compared with the organophosphate.

The protective activities of alginic acid and fucoidan from oxidative stress (OS) were investigated under cellular system using LLC-PK1 renal epithelial cells that are widely used for study cellular OS. The cellular OS in LLC-PK1 cells was induced by the free radical generators. The treatment of pyrogallol, sodium nitroprusside or 3-morpholinosydnonimine led to the production of superoxide anion (O2-), nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite (ONOO-), respectively. The free radical generators decreased cell viability and elevated lipid peroxidation compared OSwith non-treated cells. However, the treatment of alginic acid and fucoidan attenuated OS significantly induced by NO, O2- and ONOO-, resulting in the significant increase of cell viability and inhibition of lipid peroxidation in concentration-dependent manner. In particular, fucoidan showed the stronger protective effect from oxidative stress than alginic acid. These results indicated that alginic acid and fucoidan played the protective role from NO-induced OS. The present study suggests the promising antioxidative agents of alginc acid and fucoidan with protective activity from free radical-induced OS.

Differences in fruit characteristics (soluble solids content, acidity and fruit weight) and growth properties of fruiting branches in both planted and top-grafted stock for ‘Shiranuhi’ mandarin [(C. unshiu x C. sinensis) x C. reticulate] trees were determined when fruit was harvested. It was found that fruiting branch length, leaves and soluble solids contents tended to be higher in the planted stock compared with the top-grafted trees. Fruit diameter, fruit weight, stem end protrusion, pulp weight and pulp thickness were larger in the planted than top-grafted stock. However, titratable acidity was higher in the top-grafted than in the planted stock. These results suggest that planted stock should be cultivated as part of crop management for improvement of fruit quality and plant growth in ‘Shiranuhi’ mandarin trees.

Since the productivity of soybean in Indonesia is still low, a new innovation is needed to improve it. The objectives of this study are to determine a pattern of the stomatal opening of soybean’s leaves which exposed by high-frequency sound waves with different duration time and age of soybean plants. This study was carried out at the Experimental Farm Agriculture Faculty and Biology Laboratory of Science Faculty of the Islamic University of Malang, East Java in April to August 2013.The first factor was duration time of the exposure which consist of three levels: 20 minutes (D1), 40 minutes (D2) and 60 minute (D3).The second factor was the age of the soybean which consist of three levels: 15 days after planting (dap) (A1), 25 dap (A2) and 35 dap (A3). The soybean plants were exposure by the 5000 hertz frequency. The variables measured consisted of stomatal opening width, plant height, leaf area, fresh weight of pods, fresh weight of seed, oven dry weight of beans and harvest index. Increase of the duration time of exposure of high frequency sound waves by 20 to 60 minutes, tends to decrease the width of stomatal opening. The treatment of duration of exposure by 40 minutes at the age of 15 dap had the highest soybean grain yield by 24.10 g.plant-1, equivalent to 3.93 ton.ha-1. The relationship between the widths of the stomatal opening with soybean production showed no significant correlation. The results of this study suggest that maintaining stomatal opening at optimum width through the manipulation of high-frequency sound waves will increase the yield of soybean plants.

Due to growing population and needs more food supply, increased productivity in agricultural production have been more considered and for this purpose, different strategies such as increasing acreage, yield per unit area, achieving superior cultivars, field operations management and the like have been suggested by the researchers. One of the ways (strategies) is that lower hitherto been considered, reduce postharvest losses, or harvest. Plant produces are living systems: due to doing postharvest biological processes that concluded to be ruined quickly. Harvesting and postharvest handling of crops, play a critical role in assuring their price and quality. Peach is perishable produce and after harvest a high percentage of it is useless immediately. Improvement of postharvest quality and efficiency in the marketing system necessitates improved harvesting methodologies, training of farmers, as well as the use of appropriate facilities and equipment for transportation, packaging and storage. So in this study for estimation the economic value peaches hidden harvest was used benefit-cost method. The required data were collected with through a questionnaire from 45 peach growers of east Golestan province. The results of this investigation disclosed that use of appropriate facilities and equipment for transportation, packaging, storage and increasing the awareness of farmers will be increased peach produce with reducing losses till 40 percent in the region. It is suggested measures such as precooling and cool keeping till the time of selling or processing, using refrigerated vehicles, equipping sales centers to refrigerators, proper packaging and maintenance of fruit at a temperature of 2 to 3 o C should be implemented.