This study assessed the physicochemical parameters and heavy metal concentrations in the Balu River, an urban river that passes through Dhaka City. Water samples were collected from five sampling stations during the pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon seasons from October 2021 to September 2022. River water controlling parameters such as temperature, pH, EC, TDS, DO, BOD, NO₃⁻, NH4⁺, SO₄²⁻, PO₄³⁻, and heavy metals such as Pb, Cd, Cu, Mn, and Cr from the Balu River were monitored seasonally. The study showed seasonal variations in temperature (26.4 to 30.8°C), pH (7.12 to 7.63), EC (144.2 to 571.0 µS/cm), TDS (304.8 to 878.0 mg/L), DO (2.25 to 3.08 mg/L), and BOD (21.69 to 24.92 mg/L). The high BOD and low DO content indicated organic pollution, while elevated EC and TDS suggested significant inorganic contamination. The nutrient (NO₃⁻, NH₄⁺, SO₄²⁻, PO₄³⁻) levels also varied, with concentrations peaking in the post-monsoon season. Heavy metals Pb (0.010 to 0.063 ppm), Cd (0.0013 to 0.0091 ppm), Cu (0.021 to 0.071 ppm), Mn (0.032 to 0.108 ppm), and Cr (0.018 to 0.095 ppm) revealed that they were within the permissible limits set by the Environment Conservation Rules (ECR). However, metal concentrations were highest in the post-monsoon season. Despite being below critical pollution thresholds, the cumulative impact of pollutants and heavy metals compromised the river’s suitability for aquatic life, irrigation, and drinking. Industrial waste discharge was identified as the primary cause of degradation. The study highlights the need for stringent monitoring and mitigation efforts to protect the river’s ecosystem. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 15(2): 85-97, Dec 2025

The cost-benefit analysis performance of weaner and grower rabbits fed processed sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seed meal (SFSM) and diets treated with enzymes in the research area was assessed. Nine diets (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, and T9) were administered to 72 rabbits in a completely randomized manner employing a 3x3 factorial configuration. Treatments T1, T2, and T3 had 0% inclusion rate of SFS meal and 0, 150, and 250 ppm of the enzyme. These diets were designed to be isocaloric (2500 kcal/kg, ME) and isonitrogenous (15%). All management protocols were adhered to produce grower and weaner rabbits. During the weaner phase, there were significant differences (P<0.05) in the average daily intake of feed, protein, and energy between levels. In contrast to 77.48g, 1532g, and 255.18g in 0% SF and 78.76g, 15.45g, and 25.56g in 10% SFSM, the highest values were 80.36g, 10.46g, and 262.73g in 20% SFSM. The 250ppm (15.85g) enzyme had a significantly (P<0.05) higher protein intake than 0ppm (15.49g) and 15.54g, which were not statistically (P>0.05) different from each other. The sunflower seed meal (SFSM)-based diet enhanced with an enzyme affected rabbit production economics. Rabbits fed 20% sunflower seed meal showed much better weight growth, revenue, and net income than rabbits fed 0% and 10% sunflower seed meal. The feed conversion ratio, cost per kilogram of weight gain, and cost of production per kilogram of weight gain were significantly (P<0.05) lower in rabbits fed 20% compared to those fed other diets. The 10% and 20% sunflower seed meal treatments, respectively, had significantly higher total feed consumption than the control diet (P<0.05). Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 15(2): 147-153, Dec 2025

This study investigated the effect of supplementing cowpea flour with fonio millet flour on the functional, organoleptic, and nutritional properties of akara. Flour blends were analyzed for their pasting and functional properties, while the proximate composition, mineral content, and sensory qualities of the resulting akara were also evaluated. Pure cowpea flour (100%) served as the control and was substituted with fonio millet at varying ratios (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 50%, 85%, and 100%). Pasting characteristics such as peak viscosity, trough viscosity, breakdown, final viscosity, setback, peak time, and pasting temperature ranged from 181–1314 RVU, 161–1253 RVU, 8–20 RVU, 292–2905 RVU, 107–1652 RVU, 4.4–6.9 min, and 83.1–87.3°C, respectively. Functional properties, including bulk density, swelling capacity, foam stability, foam capacity, oil and water absorption capacities, and least gelation capacity, showed variation across blends. Substitution with fonio millet increased protein, fat, fiber, and mineral content, while moisture and ash contents remained relatively stable. Sensory analysis revealed high acceptability for akara, particularly from the 90:10 cowpea to fonio millet blend. The findings demonstrate the potential for producing nutritionally enhanced akara using cowpea-fonio blends, thereby promoting local crop utilization and dietary diversity. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 15(2): 19-24, Dec 2025

The market for sugar-reduced products is expanding rapidly due to increasing health awareness among consumers and advancements in sweetener technology. Consumers are actively seeking to reduce sugar intake, making sugar the primary ingredient targeted for reduction. Consequently, products labeled as "no added sugar," "sugar-free," or "low sugar" are gaining considerable popularity. Manufacturers are therefore developing innovative formulations to overcome challenges related to taste, texture, and consumer acceptability, ensuring the commercial viability of sugar-replaced gel puddings. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing refined sugar with natural sweeteners, dates, and honey, on carrot–coconut gel pudding. Seven formulations were prepared: a sugar-based control (S), honey-based samples (H1: 90g, H2: 80g, H3: 70g), and date-based samples (D1: 90g, D2: 80g, D3: 70g). Physicochemical properties, proximate composition, energy content, sensory attributes, and microbiological quality were analyzed. The results revealed that sample D1 (90g dates) exhibited the highest levels of crude fiber (12.88 ± 0.005%), vitamin A (30.85 ± 0.05 RAE/g), protein (4.12 ± 0.03%), fat (10.20 ± 0.00%), calcium (2.98 ± 0.02 mg/g), potassium (2.83 ± 0.02 mg/g), and sodium (68.90 ± 0.02 mg/g) among all formulations. In contrast, the sugar-based control demonstrated the highest energy value and overall sensory acceptability. No yeast or mold growth was detected in any sample during seven days of storage, while microbial load was comparatively higher in the control sample. Although sugar-based pudding exhibited higher energy content and acceptability, the date- and honey-based puddings-particularly the formulation containing 90g dates-offered significantly improved nutritional quality. These findings support the potential use of dates and honey as natural sweeteners for the development of healthier functional desserts. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 15(2): 30-38, Dec 2025

This experiment was conducted to study the possibility of using pig tripe for producing fresh pork sausages. Three types of sausages, each weighing 2 kg, were produced using pig tripe or without pig tripe. A consumer panel used a 9-point hedonic scale to assess the sensory characteristics of sausages. All the sensory characteristics evaluated showed no significant (p>0.05) differences across treatments. The contents of fat significantly reduced (p<0.05) when pig tripe was increased in formulating the sausages (T1=36.32%, T2=33.14% and T3=29.90%) and protein contents ranged from 27.55% (T1) to 22.90 (T3). Increasing levels of pig tripe resulted in the reduction of protein contents, but protein in T1 was not different from T2. The observed differences in ash and moisture composition of fried sausages were not significantly different. These findings suggest that pig tripe is a viable offal in the production of fresh pork sausage. It was concluded that 34% pig tripe could be used as an ingredient in producing fresh pork sausages without compromising sensory attributes and protein contents, but with reduced fat contents. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 15(2): 25-29, Dec 2025

This study aimed to isolate the Saccharomyces boulardii strain from Garcinia mangostana fruit from Kinshasa; to determine its thermoresistance; and finally, to determine its antagonistic effect towards Lactobacillus vaginalis and Staphylococcus aureus to determine its suitability for use as a probiotic. The results of this study show that Sacharomyces boulardii isolated from Garcinia mangostana fruit from Kinshasa is tolerant at 44°C and resistant only at 60 and 75°C. Sacharomyces boulardii isolated from Garcinia mangostana fruit in Kinshasa has no antagonistic effect on Lactobaccilus vaginalis and Staphylococcus aureus, so it lives in perfect synergy. Saccharomyces boulardii isolated from the fruit of Garcinia mangostana in Kinshasa could be a good candidate that may well contribute to the restoration of vaginal microbiota than other marketed strains. We therefore suggest that further studies on other probiotic selection criteria be carried out on the isolated strain, with a view to the scientific validation of our results. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 15(2): 165-170, Dec 2025

The current research was conducted to assess some key water quality parameters of Kaptai Lake (KL). To do this, water samples were collected from seventeen sites in the month of March, followed by laboratory assessment and multivariate analyses. The results revealed that pH, electrical conductivity (EC), temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), free carbon di-oxide (CO2), bi-carbonate (HCO3⁻), chloride (Cl⁻), and calcium (Ca2+) varied with the range of 6.58-7.84, 111-127 µS/cm, 25- 26 °C, 9.10-10.20 mg/L, 2.0-5.90 mg/L, 88-180 mg/L, 214-390 mg/L, 89-231 mg/L and 0.25- 0.54 mg/L with mean values of 7.50, 117 µS/cm, 25.36°C, 9.64 mg/L, 4.02 mg/L, 139.06 mg/L, 295.71 mg/L, 159.18 mg/L and 0.31 mg/L, respectively. Water quality parameters exhibited diverse distributions and variability: pH was negatively (-1.49) skewed and EC was positively (1.23) skewed, while temperature and DO were approximately normally distributed with skewness of -0.07 and -0.04, respectively. The BOD, free CO2, HCO3⁻, Cl⁻, and Ca2+ showed moderate to high variability with skewness of -0.32, -0.29, 0.57, 0.13 and 2.40, respectively. The inverse distance weighted (IDW) interpolation of each parameter showed almost uniformity across the sampling sites. The hierarchical clustering dendrogram and correlation matrix heatmap revealed distinct groupings among variables: EC was correlated strongly with ionic constituents (HCO3⁻, Cl⁻, Ca2⁺), while BOD, free CO2, and temperature were inversely correlated with DO and pH. Although most parameters meet the criteria for irrigation and fisheries, relatively high values ​​of BOD at certain locations indicate local anthropogenic impacts. These results emphasize water quality across KL and highlight the need for mitigation measures to ensure sustainable aquaculture and irrigation practices. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 15(2): 138-146, Dec 2025

This study examines how the socio-economic orientation of smallholder farmers influences their soil fertility management decisions. Smallholder farmers, numbering 100 from the Sekyere South District in the semi-deciduous forest and the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem (KEEA) District in the coastal savannah agroecological zones of Ghana, respectively, were involved in the study, which adopted the mixed-methods approach to assess their knowledge and awareness of the 4R Nutrient Stewardship (4RNS) and Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) strategies. A semi-structured survey instrument was used to explore how socio-economic factors such as level of education, age, land tenure, and access to technical and financial support influence the farmers’ soil fertility management decisions. The results revealed that 57.9% of farmers were aware of the ISFM, while 43.2% were aware of the 4RNS, indicating an information deficit. Nonetheless, about 77.6% of the farmers expressed the willingness to implement both soil fertility management approaches, contingent upon receiving sufficient technical training and financial assistance. The results confirmed that inadequate financial resources, limited access to technical expertise, educational attainment, and land tenure insecurity constrained, especially youthful and female farmers, from adopting recommended soil fertility management practices. Thus, farmers with higher levels of education were more likely to implement recommended soil fertility practices, while those without stable land tenure were less motivated to adopt the recommended soil fertility management strategies. The study demonstrated that the socio-economic orientation of smallholder farmers greatly influenced their adoption and investments in soil fertility management practices. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 15(2): 107-126, Dec 2025

The productivity and quality of cocoa, a key economic crop in Ghana, are increasingly threatened by erratic rainfall and climate variability. This study investigates how different irrigation frequencies affect cocoa bean quality across three major production regions in Ghana: Western, Central, and Eastern. The study adopts a field-based experimental design assessing three irrigation regimes: morning, evening, and every two days. Key quality parameters evaluated included bean count, moisture content, and purity levels. Standardized post-harvest processing and laboratory techniques were employed, and data were analysed using ANOVA with Tukey’s test for mean separation at p < 0.05. Results showed that irrigation frequency significantly influenced bean count and purity levels, with notable regional variations. In the Western Region, morning irrigation yielded the highest bean count (125.7) and purity (97.77%). Conversely, in the Central Region; evening irrigation produced the highest bean count (113), while in the Eastern Region; a two-day interval gave the highest count (122). Moisture content remained relatively stable (6.8–7.2%) across treatments and regions, indicating that post-harvest drying practices were effectively managed. However, purity decreased with increased irrigation frequency, highlighting a trade-off between yield and quality under intensive watering. These findings suggest that optimising irrigation schedules based on regional agro-climatic conditions can significantly improve cocoa yield without compromising quality. The study underscores the need for climate-adapted irrigation strategies and offers data-driven insights for resource allocation in Ghana’s cocoa sector. It also highlights the importance of integrating quality-focused irrigation management into broader climate resilience and sustainable cocoa production frameworks. This research provides a practical foundation for policymakers, cocoa extension officers, and farmers seeking to enhance cocoa quality and market competitiveness under water-scarce conditions. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 15(2): 98-106, Dec 2025

Dark green bulrush [Scirpus atrovirens (Willd.)] cultivation has become a potential driver of socioeconomic growth in Tala Upazila of Satkhira District, Bangladesh during October to December, 2024. This study explores the current cultivation practices adopted by local farmers. A total of 41 respondents were selected using snowball sampling, and a descriptive and diagnostic research design was followed to analyze the data. The majority utilize traditional methods suited to wetland ecosystems, with 65.9% of them relying on a combination of irrigation and natural rainfall . Most growers are marginal farmers operating on small landholdings, with an average investment of approximately BDT 50,000 per hectare. Despite limited resources, all surveyed farmers reported that cultivation of Dark green bulrush is profitable. On average, they obtain over 700 bundles per hectare, each fetching around BDT 150 in local markets. The study also reveals that a considerable number of cultivators have undergone training programs and possess substantial knowledge regarding crop management. Their primary motivation for cultivating this crop is income generation. The findings suggest a growing interest and positive outlook among farmers in this crop, driven by its economic benefits. Promoting Dark green bulrush cultivation under current practices is contributing meaningfully to the livelihood improvement of small-scale farmers in this coastal region. The study highlights its emerging role in strengthening rural income and supporting economic resilience. Continued encouragement of such initiatives may play an important role in promoting locally adapted and income-generating agricultural practices across the region. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 15(2): 39-56, Dec 2025