Homestead Area Research Articles

Agro-Biodiversity Management: Using Indigenous Knowledge to Cope with Climate Change in the Middle-Hills of Nepal

A survey was conducted to explore people’s indigenous knowledge in assessing the management and farming tactics of agro-biodiversity as adaptation strategies to climate change impacts on farms in the Pokhare Khola watershed in the Middle-Hills of Nepal. People observed the effects of decreasing rainfall, prolonged air temperature with intensity, short and warm winter with insufficient post-monsoon rainfall, and seasonal changes in rainfall patterns. Indigenous management techniques involved the modification of cropping pattern and season, introduction of new farming strategy (over 95 % farmers), approaching irrigation, and managing water from spring, wells, and carrying water from long distant area. The interchanged pattern (paddy–vegetables–paddy) from previous pattern and new introduced pattern (paddy–vegetables–fallow) were documented as popular in leveled terraced fields (khet). During survey in 2010, maize–vegetables pattern has become adapted instead of maize–millet pattern in around the homestead areas (bari). People perceived that short winter with insufficient rain declined wheat (Triticum aestivum) and changed annual rainfall pattern and water shortage lowered the millet (Elusine coracana) production. The use of improved varieties of plants, goat keeping, and planting fodder trees on bari were also perceived as coping strategy.

First Report of a Novel Potyvirus from Florida Causing Chlorotic Mottling in Squash (Cucurbita pepo).

During the 2010 to 2011 growing seasons, nine cucurbit leaf samples including cantaloupe, cucumber, pumpkin, squash, and watermelon, showing mosaic and mottling, were collected from fields in the Homestead and Tampa areas in Florida (1). Eight of the nine samples were positive by dot-immunobinding assay (DIBA) and reverse transcription (RT)-PCR for either Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV), Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV-W), or mixed infection of both viruses. One squash sample from the Homestead area showing unique symptoms including chlorotic spots, yellowing, mottling, vein clearing, and mild mosaic was negative by RT-PCR against PRSV-W, Squash vein yellowing virus (SqVYV), WMV, and Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV).The presence of virus-like particles (VLP) from symptomatic squash leaves (1) was prepared as described previously (2). Typical potyvirus-like particles ~700 nm long and 12 to 14 nm wide were observed by electron microscope from VLP preparations. Analysis of VLP on SDS-PAGE demonstrated a slightly larger coat protein (CP) (37 kDa compared with PRSV-W [35 kDa]). Sap from symptomatic squash leaf samples or VLP was mechanically inoculated to 10 squash seedlings at cotyledon stage using 0.1 M K2HPO4 buffer. Chlorotic spots were observed on the first true leaf 7 days post inoculation. However, symptoms became more severe by 2 to 3 weeks post inoculation and systemically infected leaves showed chlorosis and mottling similar to the original symptoms when tissues were collected from the field. Mock-inoculated control squash seedlings did not produce any symptoms. Symptomatic leaves from mechanically infected squash plants were used for VLP preparations and virus particles and size of the CP on SDS-PAGE was observed as before. Total RNA was extracted from VLP (2) and tested by RT-PCR using universal Potyviridae primers (forward primer 5'-CACGGATCCCGGG (T)17AGC and reverse primer 5'-GGBAAYAAYAGYGGDCARCC (3) to amplify a fragment from the 3' end of the genome (including part of NIb gene, whole CP). A band of 1.2 kb was observed when the PCR product was analyzed on 1% agarose gel. PCR product was purified using QIAquick PCR Purification Kit (QIAGEN, USA), cloned (pGEM-T Easy Vector, Promega, USA), and sequenced in both directions. Consensus sequence was obtained from at least five clones and submitted to GenBank (KC522968). A BLASTn comparing the sequence from the squash potyvirus to others in GenBank found the highest similarity was 72.0% at nucleotide level and 64.8% at amino acid level with PRSV-W (JN831646), and less than 70% nucleotide similarity with WMV (NC_006262) and SqVYV (NC_010521). Based on the particle morphology, CP size on SDS-PAGE, nucleotide identity with other cucurbit potyviruses, and unique symptoms, it is concluded that this could be a new potyvirus. The threshold for classifying distinct species in Potyviridae is less than 76% identity at nucleotide level for either CP gene or the whole genome (4). This virus has been tentatively named as Squash chlorosis mottling virus (SqCMV). Florida is one of the leading states in acreage and production of cucurbits in the United States. The emergence of this new virus could be a potential future threat to cucurbits production.

Economics of Homestead Forestry and Their Management Activities at Fatickchari Upazila of Chittagong District, Bangladesh

An exploratory study was carried out to identify the homestead tree resources, their utilization pattern, economic return of major fruit and timber tree species, their management activities for sustainable production as well as constraints of homestead plantation in Fatickchari upazila of Chittagong district, Bangladesh over the period of six months by using multistage random sampling design of 96 households categorized into marginal (>0.02-0.08 ha), small (0.08-0.14 ha), medium (>0.14-0.20 ha) and large (>0.20 ha) based on homestead areas. Sample households were selected randomly taking three from each category in each ward. Total number of tree species was increased with the increase in homestead areas. In case of socio-economic aspects of the respondents, it was found that tree variety (%) has a gradual increasing trend with increase of education level. However, relative tree density (%) was found to have increasing trend with education up to higher secondary level and after that there was a slight decreasing trend. People involve in agriculture have got higher tree density (31%) compared to other occupations such as; service (28%), business (24%) and daily labour (17%). The investment analysis revealed that longer time investment on fruit and timber tree species is profitable. Lack of technical knowledge of growing trees, unavailability of space and good quality seed/seedlings were the major constraints of homestead forestry production. This study may be useful baseline information to forest policy makers in Bangladesh.

The dynamics of shifting cultivation captured in an extended Constraint Cellular Automata land use model

The Constraint Cellular Automata (CCA) land use model has found many applications in research and planning practices. A CCA model (the RUHUNUPURA model) was set up for the Ruhunupura area of Sri Lanka using the METRONAMICA® software. Preliminary model simulations revealed that the model is not capable of capturing the proper dynamics of the ‘chena’ land use class, which is a particular practice of shifting cultivation. Essentially, the ‘short memory’ of the model can neither account for the gradual decrease in soil fertility after an area of forest has been cleared for cultivation, nor can it capture the process of regen eration once the plot is fallowed. Chena is a common land use class (15% of the model area in 2001) and by its nature highly dynamic. Therefore, we extended the CCA model with a component that modifies land suitability as a function of the time since the last land use transition. The RUHUNUPURA model was set up with eleven land use classes out of which seven are dynamic (chena, build-up area, homestead, forest, paddy, other crops, and shrub and other uncultivated area), and four are static (inland fresh water, brackish water, un-modelled land, and sea) over the simulation period. In this model, the transition potential of a cell from one state to another is determined by five factors; neighbourhood interaction, zoning, accessibility, suitability and age, the latter being the newly introduced component. The direct effect of age is set to apply only for the land use classes chena and shrub and other uncultivated area. On one hand ‘age’ acts to linearly decrease the potential of chena lands to remain chena over time and keeps the effect constant once a chena is 6 years old. On the other hand ‘age’ linearly increases the potential of shrub and other uncultivated areas to change into chena over time, and becomes constant when the shrub and other uncultivated area reaches 5 years. The extended RUHUNUPURA model was calibrated for the period 1985 to 2001 and the results were assessed in terms of location-to-location overlap as well as structural similarity at multiple scales. These results give confidence in the representation of land use dynamics for all the main land use classes (shrub and other uncultivated area, homesteads, chena, forest, and paddy) except for the class other crops. The class build-up area, which is expected to become more important in future developments, did not expand much over the calibration period and therefore remains untested. A scenario was formulated to examine the model’s ability to capture chena dynamics, and transformed in to a model simulation from 2001 to 2030. The simulation results show that the model adapts to produce shortening fallow periods and long cultivation periods of chena, as a result of increasing pressure on land. We conclude that the model extension is crucial for a model area which includes shifting cultivation. The extension affects not only the land use class chena, but through spatio-temporal interactions that are already present in the original CCA model the whole land use system is better represented. Category/Keywords: Natural Resource Management / Land use model, Cellular Automata, Shifting cultivation, Sri Lanka .

Branch Dieback of Syzygium paniculatum (Eugenia)

Eugenia’s popularity stems from its dense, attractive foliage, the ease with which the canopy can be sculpted, and its relatively carefree management. But shortly after Hurricane Wilma in November 2005, a serious dieback disease began to affect nursery production of eugenia in the Homestead area. Since then, the disease has become prevalent, affecting local nurseries throughout South Florida. Learn more about this disease and its management in this 4-page fact sheet written by A. J. Palmateer and T. L. B. Tarnowski and published by the UF Department of Plant Pathology, July 2011. PP283/PP283: Branch Dieback of Syzygium paniculatum (Eugenia) (ufl.edu)

Management and economic value of Schumannianthus dichotoma in rural homesteads in the Sylhet region of Bangladesh

Schumannianthus dichotoma (Murta) is widely grown in wetland areas of Bangladesh, providing the raw material for prayer and bed mats and also minimizing flood risk and soil erosion. The study was carried out in two villages in Gowainghat Thana (subdistrict) in Sylhet district, to determine techniques for traditional management of Murta plantations and its role in the household economy. On average, about 13% of the total homestead area is used for Murta plantations. Propagation was from rhizomes and branch cuttings, and little intensive management was required. Harvesting was usually done annually, from mid-September to the end of March. Three-quarters of respondents were directly involved in Murta-based cottage enterprises, providing an average annual income of US$216: 43% of total income. Net average profit per man-day from selling articles varies from US$0.23 to 0.73. Middlemen make significant profits, due to lack of marketing knowledge and available market information and marketing facilities of the villagers. The cultivation and processing of Murta has great potential for the rural economy of such areas.

Household attributes promote diversity of tree holdings in rural areas, South Africa

Trees within the homestead area provide many functions to rural households. However, within the semi-arid regions of southern Africa, there has been only limited examination of the correlates between the socio-economic attributes of rural households and the density, species richness and types of trees they keep. This paper reports on a multivariate analysis of household attributes in relation to homestead tree holdings from six rural villages in South Africa. In terms of density of trees per household, gender of the household head was the only significant correlate, with female-headed households having significantly fewer trees than their male-headed counterparts. This was especially so for the density of indigenous trees. With respect to species richness, a number of interrelated correlates were identified through Principle Components Analysis, the most prominent ones being relative wealth, village location, homestead size and gender. Most species were common between both male- and female-headed households, although there were differences between them for six of the species held by at least five percent of households. However, the differences were not related to species uses or income generation potential. These results indicate that support programmes should be conscious of the differential needs and responses of households according to their different characteristics and circumstances.

Effect of different landuse on population and activities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Jhum cultivation areas of North East India

Population of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in soil in terms of spore was assessed for two land use patterns, a 5-year fallow (5YrF) of shifting cultivation and a homestead (HTD) area of Karbi-Anglong District, Assam. The infective AMF propagules were also determined by Most Probable Number (MPN) pot culture technique growing Maize and compared with a Natural Forest (NF) of about 250 years old. Spore number was lowest in HTD soil with three species of Glomus, 5YrF soil found to contain 6 species belonging to the genera Acaulospora, Gigaspora and Glomus and the NF soil contained 4 species of genera Glomus and Gigaspora. Infective AMF propagules as found in the pot experiment were lowest at HTD site soil, whereas the same were highest in NF soil. Significantly higher shoot biomass was observed at 10-4 dilution of AMF inoculum collected from all the sites. Reduction in root length colonization in Maize was observed at higher dilutions in the pot with inoculum from HTD site.

Economics of the plant species used in homestead agroforestry on an off-shore Sandwip Island of Chittagong District, Bangladesh

This study was performed in five villages of Sandwip Upazila, Chittagong district with a view to identify the tree resources, utilization pattern and economic return of major fruit and timber tree species. Information collected from a total of 60 households ranging from marginal, small, medium and large categories. Number of plant species increased with the increase of homestead area. A total of 33 plant species were recorded from the homegarden, of which 19 were fruit and 14 were timber tree species. Considerable number of vegetables was also planted under the shade of the homestead trees. The investment analysis showed that average benefit-cost ratios were greater than one, net present values were positive and internal rate of returns were more than 10%. Long term investment on horticulture and timber tree species is highly profitable if species like Artocarpus heterophyllus, Cocos nucifera, Tectona grandis and Swietenia macrophylla are planted.

OKRA IN-ROW SPACING ALTERS PLANT GROWTH AND YIELD IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is grown as a direct-seeded cash crop at high plant populations (>87,000 plants/acre) on calcareous soils in Homestead, south Florida. A study was established in a commercial field in May 2005 to evaluate if high populations translated to higher yields. Seedlings were thinned to within-row spacings of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 inches in rows set 3 ft apart (87120, 43560, 29040, 21780, and 17420 plants/acre). Harvest data was collected from 29 July to 30 Sept. 2005 (26 harvests) from 10 ft of the center row within plots 15 ft long and 3 rows wide. Decreasing plant density resulted in decreasing plant height early in the season and increasing height late in the season. Density affected stem caliper with a clear trend of decreasing density and increasing caliper. Early, mid-, and total yields by weight (boxes/acre) were not affected by density, but plants at the lowest density produced 55% more late yield than plants at the highest density. Plants at the lowest density produced 30% fewer early pods and 31% more late pods than plants at the highest density. Decreasing plant density resulted in increasing average pod weight for early, late, and total harvests by as much as 14% to 18%. With inexpensive open pollinated cultivars such as `Clemson Spineless 80', there seems little economic incentive to reduce plant populations below what is commonly used in the Homestead area. Growers should not be alarmed, however, if plant stands are reduced to some extent after seeding.

Profile and Use of Multi-Species Tree Crops in the Homesteads of Gazipur District, Central Bangladesh

ABSTRACT Agroforestry combines agriculture and forestry technologies to create more integrated, diverse, productive, profitable, healthy and sustainable land-use systems. This study was conducted in Gazipur district (former greater Dhaka district) of Bangladesh and focused on the species composition of homegardens, species richness, species density, relative prevalence, species diversity index, purpose of growing trees and number of trees in homestead. The study covered 90 households from three upazillas (administrative entities, subdistricts), 30 from each upazilla. Farm categories were sampled with reference to landless, marginal, small, medium and large size. The information was collected by using a structured questionnaire, formal and informal interviews and field observations. Some information was also gathered by group discussion with the farmers. The information was analyzed by using descriptive statistics and mathematical analysis. The average size of the homestead in the study area was 0.083 ha which increased with the increase of farm size. The homestead area occupied by trees and shrubs in landless and marginal farm categories were smaller than that in the larger farm category. A total of 43 plant species (28 were horticultural plants and 15 were timber and fuelwood plants) were identified and recorded from the 90 households surveyed. Among the horticultural plants, the most prevalent species was jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus, relative prevalence, RP = 26.3), followed by mango (Mangifera indica, RP = 22.5), mahagoni (Swietenia mahagoni, RP = 10.3), coconut (Cocos nucifera, RP = 9.9), teak (Tectona grandis, RP = 9.7), guava (Psidium guajava, RP = 8.2) and litchi (Litchi chenensis, RP = 5.7), while lowprev-alence species were minjiri (Cassia siamea, RP = 0.03), gora neem (Melia azadirach, RP = 0.18), tamarind (Tamarindus indica, RP = 0.19) and shimul (Bombox ceiba, RP = 0.21). Among the different farm categories, the highest number/type of species (17) regardless of forest or horticultural species was found in the large farm category whereas the lowest number/type of species (7) was found in the landless farm category. The number of trees per 100 m2 homesteads decreased gradually from landless farms (3.5 trees/100 m2) to large farms (1.85 trees/100 m2). Least number of trees was found in the group of above 25 years of age. However, the larger farm categories had more old trees (> 25 years) than the smaller farm categories. Most of the farmers prefer fruit trees over fuel/timber species and species diversity was higher for fruit trees (7.3) than for timber trees (4.8). Jackfruit was identified as an important cash generating crop in the study area. In the future, the homegarden will be a viable alternative to mono-cropped field agriculture. It also is a highly valuable source of genetic diversity.

DIOLCUS VARIEGATUS (HETEROPTERA: PENTATOMOIDEA: SCUTELLERIDAE), A CARIBBEAN SPECIES ESTABLISHED IN SOUTH FLORIDA

Abstract Diolcus variegatus (Herrich-Schaeffer), a species previously know from the Greater Antilles, was recently discovered in the Homestead area of South Florida. It is abundant and apparently well established on Malvastrum corchorifolium (Desc.) Britt. ex Small. (Malvaceae). This is the first Florida and United States record for this species. Diolcus variegatus is described and figured and a key to Scutelleridae occurring in Florida is provided to facilitate recognition of this species in Florida.

Women in Small-Scale Aquaculture in North-West Bangladesh

Fish culture in small ponds, ditches, or rice-field plots has become important to a large number of poor farmers in north-west Bangladesh. In a situation of decreased fish supply from natural resources due to degradation and/or over-exploitation, small-scale aquaculture has been identified as the best alternative to ensure fish supply for household consumption and income generation. However, the involvement of women in this activity is very limited. Social and cultural constraints cause less mobility of women with less involvement in outside income-earning activities. Women are largely involved in unpaid housework and crop production and livestock rearing within their homestead areas. This study shows that there is a great potential for integration of crop-livestock-fish in smallscale aquaculture production with active involvement of women.

Pesticides in canals of South Florida.

Atrazine, ametryn, bromacil, simazine and norflurazon were the most frequently detected pesticides in surface water samples and DDE, DDD and ametryn were the most frequently detected pesticides in sediment samples collected over the period November 1991 to June 1995 in a monitoring network that includes 27 stations in south Florida canals. The 744 pesticide detections during this time period represent about 2% of the total number of analytical determinations. Many of the most frequently detected compounds were used in large amounts in the monitoring area based on pesticide usage estimates included in this study. Spatial trends in pesticide detections followed use patterns. The maximum atrazine detections occurred in winter to late spring and were associated with usage on turfgrass and agricultural products. Endosulfan residues above the Florida water quality criterion were occasionally observed in surface water in the Homestead area and most of the exceedences occurred in confined waters. Methods with lower MDLs have recently been developed and should increase the number of detections in future sampling. Pesticides which bind strongly to soil, pesticides that are highly persistent and those used in large amounts were some of the more frequently found pesticides in sediments.

Crop Nutrient Survey Results for Five Vegetable Crops in Dade County, Florida

A baseline survey was conducted to determine grower fertilizer management practices for five vegetable crops: beans, malanga, potatoes, sweet corn, and squash. This was done in conjunction with a 3-year replicated fertility trial with four vegetable crops (1993–94 through 1995–96) in the Homestead area. Questions included: fertilizer rates and timing, source(s) of fertilizer recommendations, soil and tissue testing, irrigation, changes in practices, summer cover crops, rock plowing, spacing, and type of fertilizer used. Survey results will be presented.

Analysis of Caribbean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) Trapping Data, Dade County, Florida, 1987-1991

Records of Caribbean fruit flies, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), captured in McPhail traps were analyzed from 48 trapping locations in Dade County (Port of Miami and Homestead) from 1987-1991. Greatest numbers were trapped over all locations in May, June, and July 1987 and 1989-1991, and in November 1988. Thirteen species of Caribbean fruit fly host trees were represented among the 48 trap locations. Numbers of flies trapped weekly in all traps or just those in conspecific host trees were not linearly correlated with weekly mean temperatures or weekly precipitation. Weekly trap catches were not correlated among conspecific host tree sites or between the Port of Miami and Homestead areas.

The Mango in Florida

Abstract South Florida is the repository of the largest diversity of mango germplasm in the Western Hemisphere and perhaps in the entire world. Hundreds of East Indian, Indochinese and tropical American accessions and their offspring have hybridized here to give entirely new forms which would have been thought impossible to attain in their areas of origin. Cultivars with such desirable commercial attributes as disease resistance, attractive fruit color, flesh firmness, and extended shelf life have been developed. The biennial and unreliable bearing behavior of the Old World mangos has been largely solved in the new cultivars. Indeed, annual mango yields can reach averages of 30 metric tons per hectare in the best orchards of the Homestead area. How has all this come about? What are the circumstances, institutions, and men responsible for this unique achievement?

The natural occurrence of Venezuelan equine encephalitis in the United States.

Naturally acquired Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) has not been previously recognized in the United States, although VEE virus has been repeatedly isolated in Everglades National Park. In September, 1968, severe headache and feverishness suddenly developed in a 53-year-old woman living in Homestead, Florida. On admission the temperature was 105°F. Cerebrospinal-fluid findings indicated an aseptic-meningitis pattern. Electroencephalography showed diffuse disorganization. Hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) and complement-fixation antibodies to VEE virus rose in titer, but antibodies to other arboviruses or picornaviruses did not. A survey of 353 residents of the Homestead area revealed five to have VEE HI antibodies of 1:20 or higher and neutralizing antibodies of 2.0 logs or higher; one person had had recent illness. Since the Florida strain of VEE appears to be capable of causing disease in man, the occurrence of antibodies in persons living close to an urban area may have serious epidemiologic implications.

Food and Economic Security through Homestead Vegetable Production by Women in Flood Affected “<i>Char</i>” Land

The study was conducted in several “Chars” (Char Kachadia, Char Gangaproshad, Char Alokdia and Char Tishondi) in Shibalaya Upazilla under Manikganj District to: investigate the livelihood situation and socio-demographic characteristics of the Char women, identify the current crop production practices adopted by them and to highlight the most likely months for food insecurity along with main problems regarding homestead vegetable production by the respondents. A total of 150 respondents were selected using simple random sampling technique. The study was conducted during August 2009 to February, 2010. It was revealed that most of the respondents were middle aged, had medium to big families, were mostly illiterate to having primary education. They had an average homestead vegetable farm of 6.71 decimals. It was found from the study that most of the respondents spent 3.20 hours/day for cultivating vegetables in their homestead areas. Different types of vegetables were being grown by the respondents including spinach, bitter gourd, cowpea, pumpkin, okra, water spinach, pointed gourd in the summer season and red amaranth, brinjal, tomato, bean, radish, pepper in the winter season. All these vegetables provided food security as well as economic security to the respondents who pointed out that March and September were the most food insecure months. The findings also indicated that the respondents faced several problems like lack of capital, lack of irrigation water during dry season and lack of good quality seeds. Keywords: Food and economic security; homestead; vegetable production; char land DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/agric.v9i1-2.9478 The Agriculturists 2011; 9(1&2): 44-53