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Research Article
Calibration and Evaluation of CERES-Maize and CROPGRO-Dry Bean Crop Simulation Models of the DSSAT in the Great Rift Valley Region of Ethiopia
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 4, August 2024
Pages:
149-156
Received:
23 May 2024
Accepted:
24 June 2024
Published:
15 July 2024
Abstract: Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most principal cereal crops ranking first in production in Ethiopia, predominantly produced and consumed directly by the smallholder farmers in the Great Rift Valley (GRV) of Ethiopia. Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is also the most important legume crops as the source of protein and export commodity in the GRV. However, the average maize and common bean yields in Ethiopia are still low due to abiotic, biotic and socioeconomic constraints. In this regard, Crop simulation models (CSMs) are used in predicting growth and yield of crops and associated yield gaps under various management options and changing climatic parameters that are profitable with minimal unwanted impacts on the environment. Before using the CSMs, it is necessary to specify model parameters and understand the uncertainties associated with simulating variables that are needed for decision-making. Therefore, the research objective of this study was to calibrate and evaluate the performance of the CERES-Maize and CROPGRO-Dry bean CSMs of the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) in the GRV of Ethiopia. The generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation (GLUE) method was used to estimate the genetic parameters of the CSM-CERES-Maize and CROPGRO-Dry bean models. Root mean squared error (RMSE) and Index of agreement (I) were used to evaluate the performance of the models. The DSSAT model reasonably reproduced observations for days to anthesis, days to physiological maturity, and grain yields, with values for the index of agreement of 0.97, 0.88 and 0.61 for CERES-Maize and 0.84, 0.75 and 0.51 for CROPGRO-Dry bean. Similarly, root mean square errors were moderate for days to anthesis (1.2 and 1.2 days), maturity (4.1 and 1.6 days), and yield (0.8 and 1.1 t/ha) for CERES-Maize and CROPGRO-Dry bean, respectively. The model has been successfully calibrated and evaluated for maize and common bean crop varieties and can now it can be taken for further applications in evaluating various crop and soil management options including climate smart agriculture technologies and climate change impact studies.
Abstract: Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most principal cereal crops ranking first in production in Ethiopia, predominantly produced and consumed directly by the smallholder farmers in the Great Rift Valley (GRV) of Ethiopia. Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is also the most important legume crops as the source of protein and export commodity in the GRV. ...
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Research Article
Evaluation of Irish Potato Genotypes (Solanum tuberosum L.) Against Diseases for Adaptability in Sierra Leone
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 4, August 2024
Pages:
157-164
Received:
3 May 2024
Accepted:
6 June 2024
Published:
29 July 2024
Abstract: Irish Potato is an emerging crop of high economic value in Sierra Leone. Cultivation of the crop is limited, and farmers are faced with numerous problems in the production of the crop. This research was done to identify diseases resistant adaptable sweet potato genotypes under Sierra Leone condition. Six Irish potato genotypes collected from the Futa Jalon highlands in Guinea were evaluated in Kabala and Njala during 2013 and 2014 cropping season. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data was collected on agronomic parameters as wells as pest and disease. Data was analyzed using analysis of variance. Mean comparison was done using least significant difference (LSD) at 5% probability. Findings revealed that Kabala exhibited higher field establishment rates compared to Moyamba, with Spunta, Arnova, Nicola, and Mandola displaying significantly higher establishment percentages. Similarly, Spunta consistently exhibited the largest leaf area, vine length and highest plant vigor scores across locations. While all genotypes were susceptible to Potato Virus Disease (PVD), bacterial blight, and late blight, Spunta displayed the highest resistance to these diseases. Variations in tuber number and weight per plant were observed, with Spunta (4.4 and 3.6 t/ha) and Mandola (3.5 t/ha) showing the highest yields at both locations respectively. Notably, Spunta consistently outperformed other genotypes in terms of yield across both locations. These findings underscore the importance of genotype selection tailored to local conditions and the need for disease management strategies to enhance potato production and food security in Sierra Leone. Further research focusing on breeding programs targeting disease resistance and yield optimization is warranted to address the productivity challenges faced by Irish potato cultivation in Sierra Leone.
Abstract: Irish Potato is an emerging crop of high economic value in Sierra Leone. Cultivation of the crop is limited, and farmers are faced with numerous problems in the production of the crop. This research was done to identify diseases resistant adaptable sweet potato genotypes under Sierra Leone condition. Six Irish potato genotypes collected from the Fu...
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Research Article
Climate Change Adaptation Information Usability Among Maize Farmers in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria
Kayode Arimi*
,
Olubunmi Christiana Adebayo
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 4, August 2024
Pages:
165-175
Received:
3 July 2024
Accepted:
22 July 2024
Published:
27 August 2024
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijaas.20241004.13
Downloads:
Views:
Abstract: The availability of climate change information has not always led to more successful adaptation; even when climate change adaptation information is available, there are still obstacles to its efficient use. Furthermore, the tactics required to communicate climate information to end-users for successful adaptation have received less attention. This study focuses on utilization of available climate change adaptation information among maize farmers in the study area. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 203 respondents for data collection. The data were collected using a questionnaire and analysed through the use of the standard statistical package for social sciences. The communication strategies used include inter-personal, audio, visual and social media. The results revealed that the strategies used in communicating climate change adaptation information to maize farmers in the study area yielded great influence in terms of benefits to the farmers such as the increase in income, prevention of yield loss, reduced soil degradation, maintaining good human health status, and improved weed management. The information that is popularly utilised is mixed cropping (61.6%), water management (58.1%), and early warning (58.1%). A significant relationship existed between communication channels (r=0.8, p<.05) and respondents’ climate change adaptation information utilization. Poor understanding of the message and lack of funds to put the information into practice hinders some respondents from utilising adaptation information. Hence, extension agents need to locate these category farmers and link them with service providers that could provide incentives or credit facilities for sustainable utilisation of available information to combat climate change.
Abstract: The availability of climate change information has not always led to more successful adaptation; even when climate change adaptation information is available, there are still obstacles to its efficient use. Furthermore, the tactics required to communicate climate information to end-users for successful adaptation have received less attention. This ...
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Research Article
Effects of Foliar Application of Plant Growth Regulators on germination Enzyme Activities in the Wild Barely (Hordeum spontanium)
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 4, August 2024
Pages:
176-183
Received:
27 February 2024
Accepted:
15 August 2024
Published:
30 August 2024
Abstract: Wild barley, from the Gramineae family, due to primary dormancy, is one of the most important weed in wheat. We hypothesized that foliar application of plant growth regulators (PGRs) affects breaking dormancy in wild barley via germination enzyme activities and seed germination immediately on the mother plant to reduce soil seed bank. To measure the activity of enzymes alpha-amylase, protease, and invertase, two experiments were conducted based on a completely randomized design with 3 replications at the University of Kurdistan farm and Laboratory in 2016 and 2017. In the first experiment the highest and lowest alpha-amylase activity was obtained in gibberellin treatment at a concentration of 100 mgL-1 and control treatment on hull seed, respectively. The activity of protease enzyme in applied treatments had a similar trend as 100 mgL-1 of gibberellin treatment. The highest and the lowest protease activities were 12.62 and 3.82 Ug-1 related to gibberellin treatment at a concentration of 100 mgL-1 and control treatment, respectively. The second experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of time of PGRs foliar application on the parent plant on the activity of enzymes. Gibberellin 100 mg-1, salicylic acid 0.5, and 1 mM treatment on the mother plant produced the highest alpha-amylase, invertase, and protease activities when used after 50 days after pollination, there was no uniform trend in enzymes activity. In general, gibberellin treatment at a concentration of 100 mgL-1 50 days after pollination produced the highest activities of germination enzyme activities.
Abstract: Wild barley, from the Gramineae family, due to primary dormancy, is one of the most important weed in wheat. We hypothesized that foliar application of plant growth regulators (PGRs) affects breaking dormancy in wild barley via germination enzyme activities and seed germination immediately on the mother plant to reduce soil seed bank. To measure th...
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