Good Agronomic Practices Research Articles

English

Bioinoculants are widely used in Brazil, based on efficient and low-cost. This study aimed to evaluate the agronomic efficiency of co-inoculation with Bradyrhizobium species and Azospirillum brasilense in soybean seeds. Field trials were established in four regions of Brazil using a randomized block design  with 8 treatments and 4 replications as follows: T1 - Control, T2 - 200 kg ha-1 N, T3 - Bradyrhizobium spp. – peat; T4 - Bradyrhizobium spp. - liquid, T5 – A. brasilense, T6 - Standard co-inoculation Bradyrhizobium spp. + A. brasilense, T7 - Co-inoculation ratios: 1:1 Bradyrhizobium ssp. GRAP NOD L®  + A. brasilense GRAP NOD AL®, T8 - Co-inoculation ratios: 1:1.5 Bradyrhizobium ssp. GRAP NOD L® + A. brasilense GRAP NOD AL®. The study results demonstrated the influence of co-inoculation 1:1.5, providing increments in shoots and root dry mass, nodules number and dry mass, pods number per plant, and yield when compared with the control and conventional N fertilization. The co-inoculation in the ratios 1:1 and 1:1.5, positively influenced the soybean development. These results confirmed that potential of the co-inoculation in incrementing soybean yield, which justify the recommendation of these treatments to reduce mineral N fertilization, improving good agronomic practices. Key words: Rhizobia, Glycine max, BNF, PGPB, inoculation, plant nutrition, crop yield, plant-bacteria symbiosis, nitrogen fertilizer.

Yield potentials of improved rice varieties for increased lowland rice production within the mankran watershed in Ghana

ABSTRACT Rice production in Ghana is limited by low varietal choices, which puts farmers at a disadvantage in meeting the market demand for consumers. The objectives of this study were to (i) assess the yield potentials of improved rice varieties developed by the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), and (ii) to allow farmers to select improved varieties of their choice based on growth and yield, as observed in the field, in order to ensure a high adoption rate, increase productivity and food security. Two seasons (i.e. 2020 major and 2020–2021 minor) field experiments were conducted at two lowland within the Mankran watershed in the Ashanti region of Ghana. The experiment comprised thirteen (13) improved varieties and two local checks and was conducted using recommended good agronomic practices. The key findings of the study showed that growth and yield parameters vary significantly between varieties across locations. The biplot analysis showed that varieties FARO 66, SAHEL 317, and Amankwatia are the best in the major season while WITA 9, GT 11, ARS-957-BGJ-171-15-D-B, NERICA L36, and AGRA were the best in the minor season at both locations. Farmers’ preference for the varieties was based not only on growth and yield but on resistance to lodging, pests, and diseases. In conclusion, the best performing varieties have demonstrated yield potential which is about 92% higher than the yield of the local checks and can be recommended for adoption by farmers. Future breeding programs on these varieties should include the most preferred attributes by farmers in this study.

Community Shade Tree Leaves: Beneficial Uses for Agriculture

Every autumn an abundance of leaves from various species of shade trees [e.g., oak (Quercus sp.), maple (Acer sp.)] are collected from urban landscapes. In 1988, shade tree leaves were banned from landfills and combustion facilities in New Jersey because it was an unsustainable practice. Composting and mulching leaves and using them as a resource was proposed. The purpose of this review is to summarize studies of mulching and amending soils with shade tree leaves and their potential to benefit agricultural production. Research sponsored by New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station on soils and crops found that land application of shade tree leaves was beneficial for building soil organic matter content, protecting against erosion, and controlling weeds when used as a mulch. In general, crop yields and quality were improved with leaf mulch. Collected shade tree leaves on average have a relatively high carbon-to-nitrogen (N) ratio and the potential to cause a temporary deficiency of soil N availability. However, with good agronomic practices and well-timed N fertilization, crops perform well after shade tree leaves have been applied without increasing the recommended N fertilizer application rate.

Restoring management practices in Tuscan organic vineyards and impact on soil mesostigmatid mites

Soil fauna actively contributes to drive crucial processes of energy and nutrient cycling in agricultural systems, to influence the quality of crops and pest incidence. Soil tillage can be absolutely considered as one of the most influential agricultural manipulations of soil structure and has a profound influence on soil biology and its provision of ecosystem services. Understanding the effects of different tillage intensities is of interest not only to the scientific community but also to farmers, practitioners, policymakers, and agricultural consultants. As the long-term evidence in degraded vineyard soils, EU and FAO highly recommend inter-row practices basing on sustainable managements and good agronomic practices (GAPs) to re-install soil functionality. In this study, we aimed at evaluating effects of different GAP practices that can improve soil recovering on some soil quality indicators, with emphasis to edaphic mesostigmatid mites.

Economics of good agronomic practices adoption by rice farmers in value chain development programme, Anambra State, Nigeria

The study was on the economics of good agronomic practices adopted by rice farmers in the value chain development programme, Anambra State, Nigeria. The specific objectives focused primarily on the extent of good agronomic practice (GAP) adoption, cost and returns from GAP rice production, resource use efficiency and challenges of GAP adoption in the study area. Data were collected through a well-structured questionnaire from a cross-section of 337 (representing 91% of the approved sample size) rice farmers randomly selected by multi-stage sampling procedures. A combination of analytical techniques was used to operationalize the models. The study established that farmers did not adopt any technology disseminated at a pre-planting stage of rice farming, but adopted timely planting, bund making for water management and weed and/ or pest control in the planting stage of the technologies, while winnowing and proper storage of paddy had been successfully adopted at the post-planting stage. Evidently, about 50% of the technologies disseminated in the study area are under trial or consideration stage. From the profitability analysis, the study revealed a 59% return on investment for every 1 USD invested. However, the project implementers need to reduce the cost of fertilizer and labour, these could be achieved through increasing beneficiaries’ budget on fertilizer by 12.4% and over 100% for labour through mechanization to justify the estimation of resource allocation efficiency which reported inefficiency for all the plating inputs. The study equally identified some factors militating against the adoption of GAP which were rotated into four components named institutional, socioeconomic, and economic and management factors. These four factors: institutional (24.5%), socioeconomic (10.9%), economic (10.5%) and management (9.5%) accounted for 55.4% of the challenges to GAP adoption. The study, therefore, concludes that GAP has not been fully adopted by farmers, this is because one-time use of technology does not guarantee its adoption. However, efforts should be prioritized by the appropriate authorities to tackle the identified challenges since the gain in rice production is worthwhile. Key words: rice farmers, adoption, good agronomic practice, value chain development

Modest Ag-Extension and Access to Seeds of Aromatic Rice Can Boost Returns of Smallholder Farmers in Uganda, A Case Study

Limited farmer access to quality seeds of improved varieties and knowledge gaps in good agronomic practices are the major factors limiting rice productivity among smallholder farmers in Uganda. Promoting high yielding aromatic rice varieties alongside good agronomic practices can unlock commercial opportunities for smallholder farmers in rice cultivation, given that 80% of rice consumers in Uganda prefer aromatic rice, which is in short supply. This case study highlights a project’s achievements to accelerate the adoption of improved aromatic rice varieties among smallholder farmers in Uganda. This project supported a few selected farmers with the seed of a new aromatic rice variety, NARORICE-1, and equipped them with agronomic skills to raise their yields from an average of 3.1 to 4.1 t/ha. Line transplanting was identified as a crucial technology to increase rice yields among smallholders. Costly and inaccessible crop-enhancing inputs such as seeds and fertilizers, and an unfair distribution of irrigation water were the two main obstacles farmers face in rice production. Farmers valued NARORICE-1 for its aroma, high yield, and early maturity. The project’s training of a community seed producer improved farmers’ access to NARORICE-1 seeds, increasing its adoption by 20% in two years. NARORICE-1 is much more in demand than any other variety and attracts a better price, making it an ideal innovation for increasing productivity and farmer’s incomes. An effective seed system and continuous farmer training are vital for accelerating impact.

Towards sustainability: Threat of water quality degradation and eutrophication in Usangu agro-ecosystem Tanzania

The agrochemicals and nutrient losses from farming areas such as paddy farming significantly dictate quality and eutrophication of the freshwater resource. However, how farming and land use pattern affect water qualities and eutrophication remain poorly understood in most African agro-ecosystems. The present study characterized how paddy farming influences water qualities and eutrophication in 10 irrigation schemes in Usangu agro-ecosystem (UA). About 42 water samples were sampled from intakes, channels, paddy fields, and drainages and analyzed for EC, Cl, P, NH4-N, NO3-N, TN, Zn, Cu, Ca, and Mg. We observed water pH ranging from 4.89 to 6.76, which was generally below the acceptable range (6.5–8.4) for irrigation water. NH4-N concentration was in a range of 10.6–70.0 mg/L, NO3-N (8.4–33.9 mg/L), and TN (19.1–21,104 mg/L). NH4-N increased along sampling transect (sampling points) from intakes (5.7–29.1 mg/L), channels (19–20 mg/L), fields (12.9–35.8 mg/L), and outflow (10.6–70.0 mg/L), the same trend were found for NO3-N and TN. The TP determined in water samples were in the range of 0.01 to 1.65 mg/L; where some sites had P > 0.1 mg/L exceeding the allowable P concentration in freshwater resource, thus indicating P enrichment and eutrophication status. The P concentration was observed to increase from intake through paddy fields to drainages, where high P was determined in drainages (0.02–1.65 mg/L) and fields (0.0–0.54 mg/L) compared to channels (0.01–0.13 mg/L) and intakes (0.01–0.04 mg/L). Furthermore, we determined appreciable amount of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) such as Cu, Pb, Cd and Cr in studied water samples. The high N, P, and PTEs in drainages indicate enrichment from agricultural fields leading to water quality degradation and contaminations (eutrophication). The study demonstrates that water quality in UA is degrading potentially due to paddy rice farming and other associated activities in the landscape. Thus, the current study recommends starting initiatives to monitor irrigation water quality in UA for better crop productivity, and improved quality of drainage re-entering downstream through the introduction of mandatory riparian buffer, revising irrigation practices, to include good agronomic practices (GAP) to ensure water quality and sustainability.

Prospects of raising baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) to fruiting in two years

Baobab is a very important plant with several uses, serving as a food security crop with the potential to increase the incomes of farmers. However, the plant is undomesticated. The objective of this study was to domesticate the plant to promote its cultivation and utilization. Seeds were treated with sulphuric acid to induce early germination. Germinated seedlings were grafted with matured scions with signs of previous fruiting. Twenty-two of the seedlings were transplanted at eight months of seed treatment on a field at the Ho Technical University campus. Due to destruction by bushfire and stray animals, only four seedlings survived. Twenty months after transplanting, anthesis was observed in one of the surviving trees, and four and a half months later on a second one. A review of literature indicates that this is the earliest duration to anthesis ever reported for baobab. The early observation of anthesis suggests that with good agronomic practices such as supplementary irrigation, insect pest control, manuring and protection from stray animals, baobab could start fruiting within two years of planting. Achieving this will encourage farmers who may be put off by the long maturity period of the plant to go into baobab cultivation. This would help diversify agriculture in many African countries, increase income and food security and contribute towards the attainment of the sustainable development goals of the United Nations.

Assessment of leaf photosynthetic performances and bioaccumulation of trace metals by lettuce leaves and strawberry fruits amended with sewage sludge: Which possible re-use in agriculture?

Sewage sludge (SS) is the by-product of wastewater treatment. SS can be used to improve soil fertility thanks to its nitrogen and phosphorus contents. However, crop plants grown on SS amended soils could represent a risk for human health due to the possible high content of trace metals provided by SS. Thus, the present work aimed to investigate the possible effects of SS amendment (used at 10 and 20% of the weight of soil) on the leaf photosynthesis of two different pot-grown crop species: Lactuca sativa as a leafy vegetable and Fragaria x ananassa as a fruit species. Moreover, an assessment of the potential trace metal bioaccumulation in lettuce leaves and strawberry fruits was also performed. The results showed that SS amendments increased Pn and gs values in leaves of both species thanks to the nutrients provided by SS supplementation, also resulting in a higher leaf biomass of lettuce SS-plants compared to relative controls. SS added at 10% to lettuce plants turned out to be the best compromise between plant growth and sensitivity to trace metals contained in SS. Lettuce leaves accumulated higher amount of Cu, Zn and Hg, while strawberry fruits accumulated more Zn and Hg than relative controls. However, the reported values of trace metals were lower than the Reg. CE 1881/2006 and FAO/WHO threshold values, except for the Cu content in lettuce leaves treated with SS-20%. The results highlighted that for lettuce and strawberry plants, SS amendment could be a good agronomic practice to increase plant growth and productivity in potted plants.

Distribution of Micronutrients in Selected Pedons of Sugarcane Growing Vertisols in Northern Karnataka State of India

Micronutrients deficiency is a major limiting factor for increasing yield and productivity of major crops in India. Recent findings of multiple micronutrients interactions have evidenced the indispensable role played by micronutrients in plant nutrition. Though they are needed in smaller quantities, however, their availability in the Right amount, at the Right time, and for the Right crop has been a major limiting factor for improving the productivity and yield of Sugarcane in northern Karnataka state of India. This study was conducted to assess the level of Boron (B), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn) and Zinc (Zn) deficiencies in Sugarcane growing Vertisols of six micro-watersheds in northern Karnataka. The six selected micro-watersheds were intensively traversed and six representative pedons of standard dimensions were dug and horizon-wise soil samples collected and analyzed for various micronutrients using standard analytical procedures. Based on the optimum critical levels of micronutrients, B, Fe and Zn were deficient, ranging from 0.15 - 0.64, 1.23 - 5.92 and 0.11 - 0.64 mg⋅kg−1 respectively while Cu and Mn were in excess, ranging from 1.54 - 7.62 and 1.22 - 7.03 mg⋅kg−1 respectively. The distribution of B, Fe and Zn were inversely proportional to soil depth whereas that of Cu and Mn were irregular, which is an indication of the influence of pedoturbation in these soils. With the current rate of agricultural intensification, unbalanced fertilizer application, depletion of nutrients and no replenishment by smallholders, the results reveal that the current deficiency levels may increase further if appropriate and timely actions are not taken. We therefore recommend the use of site-specific nutrient management, balanced fertilizer application and good agronomic practices. These can enhance nutrient use efficiency in the study area.

Cotton Crop Yield Prediction using Data Mining Technique

Cotton is a very important crop, as India leads it in terms of production in the world; and also that a vast number of manpower is engaged in farming as well as post-harvest processing and management of different derivatives of it. Weather is crucial for the productivity of the crop. The challenges of climate change; availability of limited land and water for farming; lake of knowledge for good cultivation practices and judicious use of agricultural inputs with farmers are critical hindrances for improving productivity. This requires thorough research on land preparation and use, how to improve fertility of soil, good agronomic practices in lieu of variable climatic conditions, etc. All the talukas of the three districts of North Gujarat where cotton is cultivated have been selected purposively for this study. The effect of soil type, soil pH, soil organic carbon, phosphorous, potassium, precipitation and temperature were selected as independent factors. The yield of cotton crop has positive correlation with the selected parameters. The data sets were applied for analytical process to WEKA. The difference between average of predicted and actual yields of all talukas for high rainfall year 2013 was only 1.55 per cent. The difference between actual and predicted yield for the low temperature year (2015) in different talukas of all talukas was only 0.44 per cent.

Narrowing maize yield gaps in the rainfed plateau region of Odisha

Abstract Maize is the primary staple crop cultivated during the monsoon season in eastern India. However, yield gaps are large because of multiple factors, including low adoption rates of good agronomic management practices. This study aimed to narrow the maize yield gap using diverse agronomic and varietal interventions through field experiments over 2 years (2013–2014) in the rainfed plateau region of Odisha. As a result, maize yield increased by 0.9, 0.74, and 0.17 Mg ha−1 under optimum plant population, fertilizer management, and herbicide-based weed management, respectively, over farmers’ current practices (Check). Moreover, when all three interventions were combined (‘best’ management practice), grain yields increased by 1.7 Mg ha−1 in conservation tillage and 2.2 Mg ha−1 in conventional tillage. We also observed that the combination of long-duration hybrids and best management practices (BMPs) increased grain yield by 4.0 Mg ha−1 and profitability by $888 ha−1 over farmers’ current practices. In addition, Nutrient Expert decision support tool-based fertilizer management along with BMPs increased grain yield by 1.7 Mg ha−1 and profitability by $314 ha−1 over farmers’ fertilizer practices (Check). These results suggest that the combination of maize hybrids and BMPs can improve the productivity and profitability of rainfed maize in the plateau region of Odisha. However, these entry points for intensification need to be placed in the context of varying investment requirements, input and output market conditions, and matched with farmer preferences and risk.

Growth and Yield of Tomato in Response to Application of Different Organic Manures on an Alfisol in Mokwa Southern Guinea Savannah, Niger State, Nigeria

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of different organic manure sources to access the growth and yield of tomato in Mokwa Southern guinea savannah ecological zone of Nigeria. The study was carried out in Teaching and Research Farm of Niger State College of Agriculture in 2019 cropping season. Mokwa lies on Longitude 9.23940 N and latitude 5.31030E. The soil samples were collected and analyzed for physical and chemical properties. The treatment consisted of 20t/ha of each of kitchen waste, poultry droppings, cow dung and a control. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The result of this study revealed that some plant nutrient such as N and P are very low and hence they can be supplemented by some organic manure such as poultry droppings. The optimum yield can be obtained in Mokwa and other agro-ecological zone, if 20t/ha-1 of poultry droppings was applied to 1 hectare of land, the optimum yield can be obtained under good agronomic practices.

Participation in “Planting for Food and Jobs” Programme and Commercialization among Maize Farm Households in Savelugu Municipality, Ghana

Ghana’s “Planting for Food and Job” programme aims to improve farmers’ access to farm inputs. The idea is that through improved access to quality seed varieties, fertilisers and good agronomic practices, output would increase leading to an increased market surplus. This study sought to investigate whether engagement in ‘Planting for Food and Job’ (PFJ ) programme influences farm households’ maize commercialization level in Savelugu Municipality, in the Northern Region of Ghana. To correct for selectivity bias, unobserved endogeneity and avoid the problems associated with weak instrumentation, the conditional mixed process (CMP) method was used. The results revealed that participation in the PFJ programme and maize yield positively influenced maize commercialization. However, commercialisation was negatively influenced by gender of the farm household's head, household size and membership of community based organisations (CBOs). Participation in the PFJ programme itself was enhanced by education, marital status, increased farm size, farm ownership, membership of farmer-based organization (FBOs) and non-farm engagement. Government and all relevant stakeholders should step up efforts at promoting the PFJ programme and maize commercialisation through access to formal education, farmland and other productivity enhancing inputs and services.

Effects of insecticides and cultivars on panicle-feeding insect pest infestations and grain yield of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) in northern Ghana

BackgroundPanicle-feeding insects are a challenge in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) cultivation but most farmers do not protect the crop. Here, the effects of pest management in different sorghum cultivars on grain yields and the financial returns after protecting the crop from panicle-feeding insects was studied.ResultsThere were significant insecticide treatments × cultivars/genotypes interaction effects for Stenodiplosis sorghicola, Clavigralla tomentosicollis, Nezara viridula, Dysdercus fasciantus and Riptortus dentipes. Generally, pest infestations were higher in the untreated control compared to K-Optimal- or NSO-treated sorghum. Infestations were also higher in compact-headed cultivars (Dorado and Kapaala) compared to those with open heads (CSSOR 08-V01 and CSSOR 10-V07). Damage was approximately 1.7-fold higher in the untreated controls than in NSO or K-Optimal. Grain yields were about 14% higher in NSO or K-Optimal treated sorghum than in controls. Gross margins were between 16- and 35-fold higher in protected sorghum compared to the untreated ones.ConclusionThese findings suggest that an effective integrated pest management strategy for sorghum farmers must comprise cultivars that do not have compact heads, and the use of about two sprays of NSO or a synthetic pyrethroid when high numbers of panicle-feeding insects are observed during the growing season. Judicious use of insecticides and the “right” cultivar will improve the profitability of sorghum farmers with gross marginal returns that are at least 15-fold higher than that obtained by farmers who adopt only good agronomic practices without insecticide sprays.

The Role of Staking and Pruning Methods on Yield and Profitability of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Production in the Guinea Savanna Zone of Ghana

Tomato is one of the most widely consumed and produced vegetables in Ghana. The low yield of tomatoes in Ghana has resulted in huge importation of the produce from neighboring countries. Good agronomic practices are among the key strategies involved in increasing the yield of horticultural produce. This study seeks to evaluate the response of staking and pruning on tomato fruit yield, quality, and cost of production. To achieve this, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of staking and pruning methods on fruit yield and profitability of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) produced in the northern region of Ghana. Treatments were applied in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments were no pruning + no staking (control), single pole staking (SPS), wire trellis (WT), one-stem pruning (1SP), one-stem pruning + single pole staking (1SP + SPS), one-stem pruning + wire trellis (1SP + WT), two-stem pruning (2SP), two-stem pruning + single pole staking (2SP + SPS), and two-stem pruning + wire trellis (2SP + WT). Results showed that 2SP + WT increased fruit diameter, fruit length, and marketable fruit weight by 52%, 32%, and 69%, respectively, compared to the control. The maximum number and weight of marketable fruits obtained from 2SP + WT increased total fruit yield by 76% compared to the control. In all, the performance of the treatments in terms of yield was in the following order: 2SP + WT > 1SP + WT > SPS > WT > 2SP + SPS > 1SP > 2SP > control. Though 2SP + WT increased production cost by 42%, it greatly increased yield by 69% which resulted in 83% net profit compared to the control. Thus, 2SP + WT could be tested on-farm for possible adoption to increase tomato yield, quality, and profit.

COVID-19 Effects and Resilience of Vegetable Farmers in North-Western Nigeria

The COVID-19 pandemic has particularly affected the supply of perishable foods such as vegetables, which could adversely affect food and nutrition security. Here, we study the mechanisms by which COVID-19 has affected vegetable production and the coping strategies adopted by smallholder farmers. We use cross-sectional data collected through individual interviews on a random sample of 521 vegetable producers in north-western Nigeria. The perceptions of respondents, measured on a 5-point Likert scale (from 1—not affected, to 5—severely affected), shows that COVID-19 had an average effect of 3.07 (±1.23) on vegetable production. Farmers also reported challenges in accessing farm inputs and storing or selling fresh vegetable produced. In response, farmers reduced market-oriented vegetable production, produced more vegetables for own consumption, added value through own home processing and storage, explored new markets, and accepted lower farmgate selling prices. A multivariate probit regression shows that socio-economic factors such as age, household size, marital status, challenges in accessing inputs, and perceptions of the effects of COVID-19 influenced farmers’ decisions to adopt particular coping strategies. To sustain vegetable supplies, policy makers should consider investing more in market-oriented strategies such as vegetable processing and storage, which individual farmers may not be able to afford due to high costs, lack of information and required knowledge on good agronomic practices, postharvest handling, storage and market. Public extension services can contribute to help farmers to adapt better.

Increasing cassava root yield on farmers' fields in Nigeria through appropriate weed management

Weed competition is the major biological stress affecting cassava production in smallholder farms in West and Central Africa, where yields are low compared with those in Asia and Latin America. Options for improved weed management are crucial in increasing productivity. Selected pre- and post-emergence herbicides, integrated with appropriate tillage and plant spacing, were tested in 96 sites in four locations in Nigeria, 24 in 2016 and 72 in 2017. Trials were split plots with six pre-emergence herbicides and no post-emergence treatment as main plots. Subplot treatments were four post-emergence herbicides, weeding with a motorized rotary weeder, short- and long-handled hoes, and no post-emergence weed control, i.e., regardless of pre-emergence treatments. Indaziflam-based treatments, irrespective of post-emergence treatment, and flumioxazin + pyroxasulfone applied pre-emergence followed by one weeding with a long-handled hoe provided >80% control of major broadleaf and grass weeds. Compared with herbicide use, farmer control practices (53%) were not efficient in controlling weeds. The highest root yield was produced where (1) s-metolachlor was combined with atrazine, and one weeding with a long-handled hoe or clethodim with lactofen, and (2) indaziflam + isoxaflutole was combined with glyphosate. An increase in root yield from 3.41 to 14.2 t ha-1 and from 3.0 to 11.99 t ha-1 was obtained where herbicides were used compared with farmers’ practice and manual hoe weeding. Our results showed that integrating good agronomic practices with safe and effective use of appropriate herbicides can result in root yield >20 t ha−1. i.e., twice the national average root yield of 8–12 t ha−1, with >50% net profit. The use of appropriate herbicides can reduce the amount of manual labor required and improve livelihoods, specifically for women and children. Smallholder cassava farmers would require continuous training on the safe use and handling of herbicides to improve efficiency and prevent adverse effects on humans and the environment.

Micro-nutrients in East African lowlands: Are they needed to intensify rice production?

• NPK fertilisation increased yield under irrigated conditions than in the rainfed. • NPK + secondary and micro-nutrients enhanced yield in the fluvisols not plintosols. • Secondary and micro-nutrients were effective only when NPK were applied. • Soil applied secondary and micro-nutrients with NPK was more effective than foliar. Rice is a staple food and cash crop for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa; however, yields are very low, with indications that both macro and micro-nutrients may limit rice productivity in East Africa next to the need for good agronomic practices. Diagnostic on-farm experiments were conducted in Uganda and Tanzania between 2015 and 2017 to assess the contribution of macro, secondary and micro-nutrients on lowland rice yield and identify options by which smallholder farmers can increase productivity. All treatments included good agronomic practices combined with: zero fertilisation as a control, NPK fertilisation with and without secondary and micro-nutrients (B, Mn, Zn, Cu, Mg, S), and/or treatments where B, Mn and Zn were omitted one at a time from the NPK + secondary and micro-nutrient treatment. NPK fertilisation significantly (p < 0.05) increased grain yield under irrigated condition by ca. 32 and 29 % during 2015 and 2016, and 24 and 100 % during 2016 and 2017 in Tanzania and Uganda, respectively; however, inconsistent effects were observed under rainfed condition. Observed higher yields corresponded mainly to higher panicle number with an additive effect of grains per panicle indicating major effects were at earlier growth stages supporting higher sink size development. Adding secondary and micro-nutrients to NPK enhanced yield significantly (p < 0.05) under irrigated condition in Tanzania 2015 and 2016 by 7 and 11 %, respectively, while varying results were obtained under rainfed condition. In Uganda, no significant (p> 0.22) effects of secondary and micro-nutrients were observed in both years and growing conditions. This study indicates that the first step to improving lowland rice productivity is proper water management, under otherwise also good crop management in terms of timely transplanting and weeding, and further yield gains can be realised with NPK fertilisation. Secondary and micro-nutrients were effective only when NPK were applied and on the fluvisols of Tanzania, and were not co-limiting yield on the plintosols of Uganda.

Current Status and Future Perspective on Enzyme Involving in Biocontrol of Plant Pathogen

To sustain the quality and abundance of fruit, feed and fiber provided by farmers all over the world, plant diseases must be regulated. Plant diseases may be prevented, mitigated, or regulated using a variety of methods. Growers also rely on chemical fertilizers and pesticides for good agronomic and horticultural practices. Such agricultural inputs have taken a vital part in spectacular increases in crop yield and quality over the last 100 years. Microbial enzymes function as biocatalysts for key biochemical reactions and also assist microbes reproduce in a particular niche. The ability of rhizosphere microorganism to increase the growth of plant and control phytopathogens has long been known. Rhizosphere microbes may aid plants in several ways in their fight against phytopathogens. Of all recognized biocontrol pathways, the excretion of lytic enzymes is known as an important way to prevent phytopathogens from living in the region of the rhizosphere. Rhizosphere microorganism produces chitinases, cellulases, proteases, and glucanases in reaction to phytopathogen assault. For assessing antagonist-pathogen interactions, ecological characteristics of antagonists in the rhizosphere, and optimizing the effectiveness of bacterial, fungal, and viral biocontrol agents, new molecular approaches have become available. Given the experience of fungicides in near future, biological management would be another method to control diseases of plant. Since agro-ecosystem is a flexible and functioning structure that involves many variables that affect disease and production of crop, other IPM methods to control diseases of crop are also important in different surrounding conditions. As result, to successfully minimize disease production and crop yield loss in various crop systems, other IPM management mechanisms other than biological control should be considered and implemented.