Agricultural Sciences Research Articles

The Impact of Innovative Research Methods for Enhancing Agricultural Plants for Sustainable Development in The Future

In the pursuit of sustainable agricultural practices, the role of innovative research methods in enhancing agricultural plants is paramount. This abstract delineates the profound impact of such methodologies on sustainable development in the foreseeable future. Cutting-edge techniques such as genomic sequencing, molecular markers, and genome editing technologies revolutionize plant breeding by identifying and manipulating genes responsible for desirable traits, including disease resistance and drought tolerance. Omics technologies, encompassing transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, provide comprehensive insights into gene expression patterns and metabolic pathways, thereby facilitating targeted breeding strategies aimed at enhancing plant resilience and productivity. High-throughput phenotyping platforms enable rapid and accurate characterization of plant traits, empowering breeders to select superior varieties with enhanced performance under diverse environmental conditions. Concurrently, bioinformatics tools and data analytics play a pivotal role in deciphering complex genomic datasets, aiding in the identification of key genes and regulatory networks governing important agronomic traits. Biotechnology and synthetic biology approaches offer novel avenues for genetic manipulation, allowing for the design and engineering of plants with optimized traits, such as improved nutritional content and stress tolerance. Additionally, the integration of climate modeling with systems biology provides valuable insights into the interaction between genotype and environment, facilitating the development of climate-resilient crop varieties tailored to specific agroecosystems. Through the synergistic application of these innovative research methods, agricultural scientists and breeders can accelerate the pace of crop improvement while simultaneously promoting sustainability by fostering resilience, resource efficiency, and environmental stewardship. This transformative paradigm in agricultural research promises to address the complex challenges of food security, climate change, and environmental degradation, thereby laying the foundation for a more sustainable and resilient agricultural future.

Production Performance, Income and Employment Generation through Broiler Business: Revelations in Morena District of Madhya Pradesh

Background: In most developing countries poultry farming is owned by small business owners, farmers and their families. The broiler industry has fewer climate restrictions and more adaptability and in this sector entrepreneurial activities are still unexplored in India. The purpose of this study was to look into the production performance, income and employment generation of broiler production in Morena district of M.P. Methods: The broiler farms of the Morena district were identified with the help of Veterinary department personnel, commercial hatchery persons and poultry feed manufacturers and a list of 50 farms, was prepared. The list was arranged in the ascending order of the number of birds kept on a farm. From this list, 30 such farms were selected that were continuously in production for at least one year and where proper records were maintained. The list was divided into three categories based upon the number of birds viz. small farm group (below 1999 birds), medium farm group (2000 to 4999 birds) and large farm group (5000 and above birds). 5 farms were selected randomly from each farm category. Information was gathered by visiting selected chicken farms and interviewing the owners using a prepared questionnaire. The research study was conducted under the Department of A.H. and Dairying, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj (U.P.). The data were collected for the duration 2019-20. Results: The present study documented the mean feed conversion ratio, mean Livability percent, mean weight and age at marketing of broilers as 1.83, 95.82 percent, 2.38 kg and 43.8 days respectively for sample as a whole. The average total cost per bird was Rs 161.35. The gross return and net return per bird is found as Rs 185.27 and Rs 23.92 respectively. The benefit-cost ratio is worked out to be 1.15 for the sample as a whole. Rs 6.84 is spent on labour per bird in one production cycle of 56 days. Thus Rs 65664 per farm is spent on employment of labour in 56 days. On the basis of 8 hours working, 3.43 persons have been employed per farm. The statistical analysis using ANOVA found that there is a significant relationship between income and farm size, BCR and farm size.

Using Analogies to Dispel Misconceptions about Chemical Equilibrium among Students Studying Agricultural Science

This study examined how analogies influence third-year senior high school students' views of dynamic chemical equilibrium. Six participants willingly shared their understanding of the concepts of chemical equilibrium through semi-structured questionnaires distributed before and after a teaching session. The example aimed to show students how their misconceptions about chemical equilibrium correlate with other logical scenarios. The study's findings demonstrated that a student's capacity to comprehend and relate the analogous events to the target concepts being taught and their ability to handle the computations required by the analogy are crucial factors in determining whether they would succeed. Teachers must help students connect the analogy and the primary concepts to include them in their lesson plans. Teachers should also help students with the calculations needed for the simulation by providing guidance and support. This will help students comprehend and apply the ideas of chemical equilibrium in real-world situations.

Response of Green Gram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] to Different Weed Management Practices

Background: Green gram is an important pulse crop known for its nutritive values as a rich source of protein and high culinary application in Indian dietary system. However, like any other crop, it faces the challenge of weed competition, which can significantly reduce its yield and quality. The objective of this study was to determine the best suitable weed management practices for green gram. Methods: Field experiment was conducted during summer season of 2021 at School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus. There were seven weed management treatments and one treatment kept as control. All treatments were replicated thrice. Result: Hand weeding at 20 and 40DAS showed greater weed control and recorded higher values in growth and yield and showed at par values with other weed management practices pre-emergence application of pendimethalin fb hand weeding at 20 DAS, Pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg ha-1 (PE) fb Rice straw mulching @ 5 t ha-1, Imazethapyr @ 0.5 kg ha-1 (PoE) at 15 DAS fb Quizalofop p-ethyl @ 0.15 kg ha-1 (PoE) at 30 DAS and Pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg ha-1 (PE) fb Quizalofop p-ethyl @ 0.15 kg ha-1 (PoE) at 30 DAS. However, the use of only rice straw could not perform better. This indicates the advantages of integration of weed management practices. With hand weeding a laborious task concerning in large field condition, other integration of weed management will serve a viable option for profitable weed management in green gram.

Python farming as a flexible and efficient form of agricultural food security

Diminishing natural resources and increasing climatic volatility are impacting agri-food systems, prompting the need for sustainable and resilient alternatives. Python farming is well established in Asia but has received little attention from mainstream agricultural scientists. We measured growth rates in two species of large pythons (Malayopython reticulatus and Python bivittatus) in farms in Thailand and Vietnam and conducted feeding experiments to examine production efficiencies. Pythons grew rapidly over a 12-month period, and females grew faster than males. Food intake and growth rates early in life were strong predictors of total lifetime growth, with daily mass increments ranging from 0.24 to 19.7 g/day for M. reticulatus and 0.24 to 42.6 g/day for P. bivittatus, depending on food intake. Pythons that fasted for up to 4.2 months lost an average of 0.004% of their body mass per day, and resumed rapid growth as soon as feeding recommenced. Mean food conversion rate for dressed carcasses was 4.1%, with useable products (dressed carcass, skin, fat, gall bladder) comprising 82% of the mass of live animals. In terms of food and protein conversion ratios, pythons outperform all mainstream agricultural species studied to date. The ability of fasting pythons to regulate metabolic processes and maintain body condition enhances food security in volatile environments, suggesting that python farming may offer a flexible and efficient response to global food insecurity.

Genetic variability and association study of SSR markers for yield and powdery mildew disease in pea (Pisum sativum)

Makhyatmubi, one of the most popular local varieties of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) in Manipur has morpho- physiological bottlenecks such as tall nature and high susceptibility to fungus Erysiphe pisi causing powdery mildew disease. Therefore, an experiment was conducted during winter (rabi) seasons of 2018–19 and 2020–21 at College of Post-Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences (Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur), Umiam, Meghalaya to generate genetic variability by hybridization of Makhyatmubi with Prakash variety which is a well-known powdery mildew resistant variety in India and possesses several contrasting characters. Fruitful heterosis was estimated with highest record in number of pods per plant (114.75%) and seed yield per plant (108.04%). These two characters also showed high PCV, GCV, heritability and GAM. Number of pods per plant (0.95) was found to have highest positive significant correlation with seed yield per plant. MP-5 and MP-119 recorded superior performance in several characters under study. For the association study of simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers, easily scorable polymorphic markers were selected for surveying association with the traits. Results revealed that SSR marker AA122 may be associated with seed yield and number of pods per plant while marker AA136 with number of seeds per pod. A5 marker was found to be associated with the powdery mildew disease. Hence, it can be employed for marker assisted selection (MAS) to identify and select pea genotypes exhibit resistance to powdery mildew disease.

Seed storage allergens tackled via next-generation research assistant

The expanding consumption of plant proteins in the diet to overcome the environmental issues associated with animal proteins is increasing the incidence of food-induced allergic reactions. One of the 21st-century research drivers in agriculture sciences is the development and validation of concrete approaches for modulating the expression of allergenic proteins in crops before harvesting. The increasing incidence of plant food allergies is primarily induced by seed storage proteins that clinicians are experiencing recently because of the more predominant use of plant-derived proteins in the food industry. Increased availability of high-throughput technologies has generated an ever-growing number of omics data, allowing us to have better structural knowledge of SSPs and molecular properties that can inform the allergenicity assessment. The recent systems for targeted genome engineering, without double-strand DNA breaks, allow the introduction of precise modifications directly into commercial plant species. Artificial intelligence is significantly transforming scientific research across every stage, assisting scientists, processing large-scale data, making predictions, automating tasks. During this epochal change, marked by the encounter between artificial intelligence and synthetic biology, a next-generation research assistant (NGA) is coming alive. Here, we propose a new conceptual vision to facilitate and speed up the editing of cross-reactivity sites to obtain hypoallergenic cultivars and avoid pleiotropic effects. Finally, we discuss the potential applications of this new way to conceive the research. NGA may be undoubtedly capable of managing the evolution of SPP allergies through the prediction of novel epitopes, as well as the prediction of immunological response mechanisms.

Impact of terminal heat stress on performance of Nepalese wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes 

Heat stress has been a major abiotic stress that has been a key factor for poor production and the productivity of wheat. To understand the impact of heat stress and to evaluate the performance and stability of elite wheat genotypes under irrigated and heat stress environment, a field experiment was conducted under Alpha lattice design at the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Bhairahawa, Rupandehi, Nepal from 2019-2023 comprising 20 elite wheat genotypes collected from Nepal Agriculture Research Council. The combined analysis of variance showed, heat stress had the significant impact on all the traits evaluated with a 29% yield reduction under heat stress condition as compared to irrigated. NL 1368 (21.5%) and NL 1386 (41.4%) had the least and highest yield reduction under heat stress environment as compared to irrigated. BL 4919 was the highest yielding wheat genotype under both irrigated (4287.9 kg/ha) and heat stress environment (2905.4 kg/ha). WWW model revealed, NL 1387 was the most stable wheat genotypes while BL 4919 and NL 1350 were the most adaptable genotypes under irrigated and heat stress environment. Hence, these selected adaptive and stable genotypes should be promoted in the wheat improvement program as a parent material for heat stress breeding.

ADVANCES IN BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR CELLULAR AND TISSUE REGENERATION: CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES IN HUMAN DISEASE TREATMENT

Biotechnology constitutes a realm of inquiry that extends its benefits across diverse domains of knowledge, ranging from agricultural sciences to clinical applications. This field leverages technology to address challenges frequently entailing living organisms. Of current significance is the endeavor to elucidate the process of animal regeneration, particularly within the human species, given its burgeoning potential as an ally in the treatment and cure of various maladies. Recognizing the societal importance of this subject, the present article seeks to expound upon contemporary biotechnological advancements facilitating the exploration of cellular and tissue regeneration for the treatment of human diseases. To this end, a comprehensive review of articles delineating the current landscape was conducted, involving a comparative analysis of regenerative activity across species, with a specific focus on humans. Evidentially, the use of biomaterials in tissue regeneration assumes paramount importance, albeit not without the formidable challenge posed by the inflammatory process. Stem cells, conversely, present themselves as promising entities in the realm of regeneration. However, their interaction within the host organism necessitates further scrutiny to attain a more nuanced understanding. Despite strides made in the field of regenerative medicine, the lack of comprehensive comprehension regarding the properties of biomaterials and their responses within the human body constrains their clinical applicability. Nevertheless, an auspicious future is envisioned, marked by advancements in biomaterials and a heightened understanding of interactions within the human body, thereby fostering the development of more efficacious treatments for a myriad of diseases.

Trends in Soil Science over the Past Three Decades (1992–2022) Based on the Scientometric Analysis of 39 Soil Science Journals

As one of the basic disciplines of agricultural, natural resource, and environmental science, soil science has played a critical role in global food security and socio-economic and ecological sustainability. The number of soil science journals and publications has increased remarkably with the development of soil science. However, there is a lack of systematic and comprehensive studies on the developmental trends of soil science based on journals and publications. In this study, 39 journals included under the soil science category in the 2022 Journal Citation Reports, and 112,911 publications in these journals from 1992 to 2022 were subjected to scientometric/bibliometric analysis to determine trends in publication, journal metrics, co-authorship, and research topics, in addition to general journal information. The results show that soil science ushered in a renaissance period with the number of publications, citations, impact factors, and CiteScore demonstrating an increasing trend. America and the Chinese Academy of Sciences had the most publications and citations. The most productive author published more than 400 articles. Soil science research focused mostly on its fundamental impact on the ecological environment based on the strongest citation bursts analysis of keywords. The analysis indicated that open access has increased in popularity. Current soil science journals still face a few common challenges, including an urgent need for a fairer evaluation mechanism on journal quality compared to the traditional use of single metrics as well as equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in the whole editorial process. Artificial intelligence may bring new tools and more changes to the development of soil science. This study will help soil science researchers to better understand the development status and future trends of soil science. It will also guide authors in journal selection.

Revealing the Inheritance of Qualitative Traits and Identification of Transgressive Segregants for Productivity Traits in Early Segregating Generation of Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merril]

The breeding effort was carried out to elucidate information on the inheritance of qualitative traits and identification of transgressive segregants for productivity traits in two crosses viz., DSb 23 x MACS 1575 (Cross 1) and DSb 23 x MACS 1460 (Cross 2) in soybean during Kharif 2020 at Botany Garden, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. The observations were recorded on nine traits viz., days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, pods per plant, 100 seed weight, seed yield per plant, hilum colour, leaf shape and flower colour. Test for goodness of fit revealed that the traits viz., flower colour and leaf shape are controlled by a single dominant gene (3:1) and hilum colour was controlled by two genes with complementary gene action (9:7). In general, the percent of transgressive segregants obtained for yield-related traits was in a range of 7-17%. The high frequency of favorable segregants was identified for pods per plant (15.33%), 100 seed weight (13.87%) and days to maturity (16.42%) in cross 1, and high frequency of favorable segregants in cross 2 were observed for days to 50% flowering (8.95%), plant height (13.75%) and seed yield per plant (14.17%).  These segregants can be further utilized in the breeding programme to develop high-yielding varieties and morphological traits can be used as markers in molecular breeding.

Supplementation of lactobacillus-fermented rapeseed meal in broiler diet reduces Campylobacter jejuni cecal colonization and limits the l-tryptophan and l-histidine biosynthesis pathways.

Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni), a widely distributed global foodborne pathogen, primarily linked with contaminated chicken meat, poses a significant health risk. Reducing the abundance of this pathogen in poultry meat is challenging but essential. This study assessed the impact of Lactobacillus-fermented rapeseed meal (LFRM) on broilers exposed to C. jejuni-contaminated litter, evaluating growth performance, Campylobacter levels, and metagenomic profile. By day 35, the litter contamination successfully colonized broilers with Campylobacter spp., particularly C. jejuni. In the grower phase, LFRM improved (P < 0.05) body weight and daily weight gain, resulting in a 9.2% better feed conversion ratio during the pre-challenge period (the period before artificial infection; days 13-20). The LFRM also reduced the C. jejuni concentration in the ceca (P < 0.05), without altering alpha and beta diversity. However, metagenomic data analysis revealed LFRM targeted a reduction in the abundance of C. jejuni biosynthetic pathways of l-tryptophan and l-histidine and gene families associated with transcription and virulence factors while also possibly leading to selected stress-induced resistance mechanisms. The study demonstrated that LFRM inclusion improved growth and decreased cecal Campylobacter spp. concentration and the relative abundance of pivotal C. jejuni genes. Performance benefits likely resulted from LFRM metabolites. At the molecular level, LFRM may have reduced C. jejuni colonization, likely by decreasing the abundance of energy transduction and l-histidine and l-tryptophan biosynthesis genes otherwise required for bacterial survival and increased virulence. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Economic Transformations in British Colonial Punjab and the Feudal Identity of District Jhang

Jhang a historic city of Punjab is situated at the junction of two rivers Jehlum and Chenab. Its fertile lands have always been a big source of prosperity. During British rule, colonial authorities in Punjab made many reforms in this region. They not only reformed the agriculture sector but also improved infrastructure. Construction of a road network, railway line, postal and telegraph system as well as supply of electricity had positive impacts on the social and economic life of Jhang. Although all these developments were made for colonial interests ultimately these benefitted the peoples of Jhang. Among British reforms, the most important were agricultural reforms. These reforms had a deep impact on the future and socio-economic and political setup of Jhang. After agricultural reforms and establishing canal colonies, Jhang was neglected in terms of establishing agro-based and other industrial units and new agricultural research and science and technology institutions. As a result, the Jhang was denied the chances for advancement and growth that could have driven and propelled it to become a more prosperous and progressed region. Here the question arises of whether the actual purpose of agricultural reforms in district Jhang was only to create certain classes to protect colonial interests and reward them for their loyalties? Did the British Colonial agrarian reforms lay the foundation for the Feudal system in Jhang? 

Impact of Shade Nets on Tomato Output and Quality in Temperate Region of Kashmir Valley

A field trial was conducted at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir, Shalimar Campus during 2020-21 to ascertain the impact of shade nets on tomato output and quality inside the protected structure. During the study, it was found that no significant difference was observed in average monthly temperature and relative humidity inside polyhouse with shade net and without shade net. Significant difference was recorded in yield and the light intensity. Highest average plant yield of (15.5 kg/plant) was found in polyhouse in which the plants were covered with shade net and lowest yield was observed (13 kg/plant) where plants were not covered with shade net inside the polyhouse during afternoon day time. It was also found that the tomatoes that were grown in shade nets showed good colour development and a glossy appearance as compared to plants grown under protected structures without shade net. No significant difference was observed in quality attributes viz. TSS, acidity and ascorbic acid by shade net. However, the higher TSS (7.1 oBrix), Acidity (0.77%) and Ascorbic acid (45.86 mg/100gm) was recorded in polyhouse without shade net as compared to polyhouse with shade net (6.7, 0.51 and 38.52) respectively. Thus, use of shade net brought improvement in yield and no significant improvement was observed in quality of tomato grown in temperate region of Kashmir valley. Also, the shade net application during winter duration of 2021-22 during evening/night hours led to increase in the temperature inside polyhouse.

Growth and Yield Attributes of Garlic as Influenced by Application of Organic Manure, Synthetic Fertilizers and Liquid Manure in Bundelkhand Region of India

A field experiment was conducted during 2022-23 at the Rajola Farm of the faculty of Agricultural Science, Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya Chitrakoot, Satna (M.P.)  to study the Effect of Organic, Inorganic and Liquid Manure Sources of Nutrient on Growth Attributes and Yield Attributes of Garlic (Allium sativum L.). The experiment was laid out in Randomized complete Block Design (RCBD) with twelve treatments comprising different source of organic, Inorganic and Liquid manure which were replicated thrice.  Among the different manures, application T12 50% FYM + 50% Vermicompost produced highest plant height (90 DAT) (59.15 cm) with comparatively good number of leaves plant-1 (20.33), average length of leaf (40.75 cm), neck thickness of bulb (9.88 mm), polar diameter (5.64 mm), equatorial diameter (5.78 mm), average weight of bulb (30.63 g), number of cloves bulb-1 (38.66), clove length (29.52 mm) and average weight of cloves (0.98 g). Maximum total yield of bulbs (131.15 q ha-1) was observed when T12 50% FYM + 50% Vermicompost Whereas, the minimum Growth Attributes and Yield Attributes of Garlic were recorded with T1 Control (Farmers Practices). The results showed that application of T12 50% FYM + 50% Vermicompost, proved to be a promising practice for yield enhancement of garlic in the Bundelkhand Region.

Survey on the Compliance of the Assumptions of Variance Analysis of Experimental Designs in Undergraduate Theses of Peruvian Universities

The main objective of the research was to verify compliance with the assumptions of the analysis of variance, using some experimental design, in undergraduate theses from Peruvian universities. For this purpose, 200 undergraduate theses from professional degrees in Agricultural Sciences from 13 Peruvian universities were chosen at random. A descriptive textual analysis was carried out with the sentiment analysis classification algorithm and the text mining technique was used to discover patterns and trends. The result showed that, in almost all of the theses, the verification of the two most important assumptions of the analysis of variance, normality and homogeneity of variances, were not taken into consideration. Ignoring the importance of assumptions and the significance they have on the validity of research results, forces us to pay attention to the way in which the statistical methodology of experimental designs is being carried out in undergraduate theses.&#x0D;  &#x0D; Received: 20 December 2023 / Accepted: 26 February 2024 / Published: 5 March 2024

Current Applied Science and Technology Annual Report 2023

 Current Applied Science and Technology journal published 90 articles in Vol. 23 Nos. 1-6. Figure 1 show details of comparison of submission, acceptance rate (%) and rejection rate (%) during 2020-2023. It can be seen that the rejection rate is increased due to an increase of manuscripts submitted. The acceptance rate and the rejection rate do not include “in process” and withdrawn manuscripts. A decline after pre-screening and after review are counted as the rejection rate. The top ten countries of authors submitting manuscripts to be published in the journal in 2023 are shown in Figure 2. The top three countries are Thailand, India and Indonesia. Figure 3 shows numbers of published articles from KMITL, other organizations in Thailand and overseas. For KMITL, School of Science published the most numbers (29 articles), followed by School of Agricultural Technology (8 articles) and College of Materials Innovation and Technology (7 articles). For other organizations in Thailand (except KMITL), King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi published the most (12 articles), followed by Mahasarakham University (11 articles) and Silpakorn University (9 articles). When the average duration process for publication during 2021-2023, as shown in Figure 4, are compared, it is found that the process time in 2023 is shorter than in 2022. For citation, Category and CiteScore rank in Scopus are presented in Table 1. For CiteScore rank in the year 2023, there are three subcategories in Q3, i.e. Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous), Agronomy and Crop Science and Environmental Engineering.                                    

Assessment of Genetic Variability and Character Associations in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Yield Related Traits

Aims: To investigate yield and yield related characteristics for variability and association studies in fifty-two powdery mildew differentials of sunflower.&#x0D; Study Design:  Augmented block design.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: Main agricultural Research station, University of Agricultural Science, Raichur, Karnataka between November 2022 and February 2023.&#x0D; Methodology: Study included 52 powdery mildew differentials of sunflower studied factors such as genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance in characters such as head diameter, seed filling percent, test weight, number of seeds per head, volume weight, oil content and seed yield. Correlation and path analysis was also done.&#x0D; Results: Findings revealed significant differences among the traits, especially in seed yield per plant, head diameter, seed filling percent, test weight, and number of seeds per head which conclude that there is variability present in the studied character and there is scope for crop improvement. Correlation coefficients showed positive connections between seed yield per plant and traits like head diameter, test weight, seed filling percentage, and number of seeds per head. However, volume weight had a negative correlation. Path coefficient analysis helped us understand the direct and indirect impacts of these traits on seed yield per plant. Head diameter, seed filling percentage, test weight, and number of seeds per head had positive direct effects on seed yield per plant. In contrast, volume weight had a negative direct effect.&#x0D; Conclusion: The study contributes to the understanding of the genetic architecture of sunflower traits related to yield and provides a foundation for developing targeted breeding strategies. These insights can guide sunflower breeding programs in selecting traits for improved yield.

Students’ Attitude towards Agricultural Science in the Hinterland Regions of Guyana

This research investigates the attitudes of students towards Agricultural Science in the Hinterland Regions of Guyana, aiming to grasp their perspectives and aid educators in crafting dynamic lessons to instill a positive perception of the subject. It serves as a valuable resource for policymakers and curriculum developers, shedding light on the subject's importance and effective engagement strategies. Additionally, it delves into the correlation between gender and students' viewpoints on learning Agricultural Science.&#x0D; Utilizing a questionnaire, data was gathered from 100 students and subjected to thorough analysis employing descriptive and inferential statistics to address multiple research inquiries. While the results did not reveal a significant relationship between gender and students' attitudes, variations in mean scores across gender groups were observed.&#x0D; The implications of this study underscore the necessity of dispelling misconceptions surrounding Agricultural Science and integrating hands-on activities to bolster student involvement. Furthermore, the findings offer insights for creating incentives like scholarships and informing the Ministry of Agriculture's needs assessment report. Collaborative endeavors among educators and stakeholders are essential for enriching the caliber and allure of Agricultural Science education, ultimately nurturing a proficient and well-informed workforce within the agricultural sector.

Evaluation of pre-plant incorporated manure and phosphorus fertilizers on alfalfa yield, nutritive value, and residual soil characteristics

Managing adequate levels of plant available P in soil is an important management practice for boosting alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) yields and nutritive value. Although several ways of supplementing P at various stages of plant growth are in practice, pre-plant application of P through various organic and inorganic nutrient sources are largely under-investigated. Therefore, a three-year study was conducted at the New Mexico State University Rex. E. Kirksey Agricultural Science Center, Tucumcari, NM USA, to investigate the impact of manure (pre-plant applied @ 22.5 Mg ha−1vs. no manure) and inorganic P sources (00-46-00 or 11-52-00) applied to soil either in one-time bulk (336 kg P2O5 ha−1 preplant incorporated) or split applications (112 kg P2O5 ha−1 preplant incorporated with an additional 112 kg P2O5 ha−1 surface-applied annually) on the yield and nutritive value of alfalfa and residual soil characteristics. Results demonstrated that pre-plant manure application had statistically no advantage in improving the alfalfa forage yield compared to control (p > 0.05), although there was strong evidence of a consistent yield increase trend in all manure treatments. Forage nutritive value parameters such as ADF (Acid Detergent Fiber), NDF (Neutral Detergent Fiber), K, and Zn were significantly improved by manure supplementation. Manure application improved most soil quality parameters, especially the soil Nitrate-N, Olsen P, K, S, and Zn contents. Inorganic P fertilizer type or application strategy had no significant impact on alfalfa yield and nutritive value and soil characteristics. Most interactions (both two-way and three-way) among the tested treatments had no significant impact on the study parameters.