International Journal of Agronomy
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Acceptance rate12%
Submission to final decision182 days
Acceptance to publication12 days
CiteScore3.400
Journal Citation Indicator0.540
Impact Factor1.9

Application of a Surface Waveguide in Microwave Drying Units of the Agribusiness Industry

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International Journal of Agronomy publishes research focused on crop production and management, crop science and physiology, crop disease and protection, and agroclimatology and soil science.

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Chief Editor, Dr. Othmane Merah, is an Associate Professor at the University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, France.

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Research Article

Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Variety Evaluation for Disease Resistance, Yield, and Agronomic Traits in South Gondar, Ethiopia

A field study was conducted to evaluate faba bean varieties for yield and yield components and disease reactions in the Lay Gayint district during the 2020 and 2021 cropping seasons. Six faba bean varieties, including local, were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The crop and disease data were collected, and the disease severity was assessed five times in 7 and 10 days intervals using the disease rating scale for chocolate spot and faba bean gall disease, respectively. The combined analysis variance showed significant differences among faba bean varieties in agronomic traits, disease severity, and area under the disease progress curve. The variety Numan had a higher chocolate spot (46.52%) and faba bean gall (40.46%) disease severity. The area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) of the chocolate spot was higher on local (1292.85%-days). For faba bean gall, a higher AUDPC value (994.08%-days) was calculated from the Numan variety. The lowest severity of chocolate spot (27.37%) and faba bean gall (21.02%) was assessed from the variety Gora, and this variety also had the lowest chocolate spot AUDPC. The variety Gora and Ashebeka provided the highest grain yield (21988 kg·ha−1) and (20624 kg·ha−1), respectively. The results of the correlation analysis also indicated that the highest yield was associated with lower disease occurrence. In conclusion, varieties Gora and Ashebeka are found to be moderately resistant varieties to chocolate spot and faba bean gall disease than other varieties with higher yields, and these varieties are recommended for production in the study area and other similar ecologies.

Research Article

Evaluation of Preplant Seed Protectants for the Management of Root-Knot Nematode of Okra in Ghana

Root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) poses a significant threat to okra production, resulting in substantial yield losses. The objectives of this study were to assess the impact of biological seed protectants on the growth and establishment of okra plants and nematode population reduction in soil. Okra seeds were coated with 40% sesame oil, 50% neem oil, 100% citrus oil, velum at 3.8 ml/7l of water, and a control (sterilized distilled water) at different time intervals of 30 min, 60 min, 90 min, and 120 min to determine the germination percentages and vigor. The experimental setup was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD), with three replications, utilizing a Jacobson table for the germination test. The laboratory results demonstrated significant differences () in germination percentage and vigor index across the different time intervals. Neem oil, citrus oil, and velum exhibited higher germination percentages and vigor indices at all time intervals. Notably, 30-minute time interval proved to be efficient with 100% citrus oil producing 80.33% germination and 965 vigor index and 50% neem oil producing 75% germination and 994 vigor index. Field evaluations revealed citrus at 100% concentrations as seed coating (T5) and neem at 50% concentrations as seed coating (T3), with the highest nematode reductions (90.1% and 90.4%) and least reproductive factors (RFs) of 0.05 and 0.04, respectively, at the Atomic farms. The study has revealed that treating okra seeds with 100% citrus oil and 50% neem oil has the efficacy of reducing nematode reproduction in soil, while enhancing germination and seedling vigor, together with an improvement in growth and yield. Sesame oil has a negative influence on seed germination and vigor and is therefore not recommended as a preplant protectant.

Research Article

Understanding the Perception of Mango (Mangifera indica) Farmers on the Impact of Climate Change on Mango Farming in Nigeria

Climate change (CC) scenario is already acknowledged as one of those environmental challenges that threaten every facet of life including mango farming. This study was designed to investigate into mango farmers’ perception of the impacts of climate change (CC) on mango farming. A structured questionnaire was administered among 480 mango farmers across six of the states where mango farming is carried out in Nigeria. Both descriptive and inferential statistical methods were applied in the analysis of the data. From the 418 completed and returned questionnaires analysed, it was found that the male gender dominated the respondents in the survey with a proportion of 68% while 61% use pesticides to control pests and 35% own between 1 and 3 acres of mango farmland. The data were subjected to KMO and Bartlett’s tests, the results of which showed that the data are factorable with . Factor analysis (FA) extracted six (6) out of the fourteen (14) variables analysed which were significant to explain the perceptions of the farmers on the impact of CC on mango farming, namely: (i) change in the volume of mango production; (ii) effect of high temperature; (iii) prolonged dry season; (iv) rainfall pattern; (v) incidence of flooding; and (vi) poor performance of mango seedlings. Further analysis showed the prominence of issues relating to climate change. The implication of these results is that mango farming is also being threatened by CC. Hence, it calls for urgent mitigation actions to salvage this subsector. Farmers need to be adequately supported by stakeholders in their efforts to adapt to the ravaging effects of CC on mango farming through relevant policies and programmes. The work also recommended further investigation on the efficacy of the adaptive methods on mango yields.

Research Article

Agronomic and Economic Performance of Rain-Fed Maize (Zea mays L.) Production under Varying Sowing Dates and Multinutrient Fertilizer Levels in Shire Area, Northern Ethiopia

The present study was carried out to examine the combined effects of varying seed sowing and multinutrient fertilizer levels on maize yield in Shire area, Northern Ethiopia, in two consecutive cropping seasons (2018-2019). The experimental plots were designed in a split plot design with three replications. Sowing dates were determined based on the rainfall criteria of the AquaCrop model. Accordingly, the sowing date treatments were set as June 1, June 7, June 12, and June 16 for the 2018 cropping season, and the corresponding sowing dates for the 2019 cropping season were May 26, June 3, June 8, and June 12. The multinutrient fertilizer levels included 0, 100, 200, and 300 kg·ha−1. Agronomic related data were subjected to the analysis of variance, and partial budget analysis was applied for the economic performance evaluation. Maize yield was agronomically and economically influenced by sowing dates and multinutrient levels. Relative yield superiority that varies between 48.9 and 87.7% was found for each 100 kg·ha−1 multinutrient applied. On the other hand, with 4–6 days shifted towards earlier sowing resulted in an average yield increase by 4.9–66.9%. Application of 300 kg·ha−1 multinutrient for the early sown maize seems agronomically the superior treatment. However, from the economic analysis perspective, early maize sowing combined with the application of 200 kg·ha−1 multinutrient fertilizer was reported as the most profitable treatment. Late sowing of maize with the application of multinutrient fertilizer beyond 200 kg·ha−1 resulted in negative economic returns. The regression analysis results also indicated that maize grain yield tends to increase with the level of multinutrient fertilizer application ( = 0.841–0.864), whereas yield decreased with the delay in sowing dates ( = 0.927–0.995). Hence, this study concluded that the treatments with the best agronomic performance are not necessarily the best in terms of profitability.

Research Article

Pod Production Dynamics and Pod Size Distribution of Theobroma cacao L. Clone CCN 51 in Full Sunlight

Cacao fruit production dynamics vary from one location to another and are conditioned by the number of pods produced per tree. During cocoa pod development, the strength of the carbon sink varies depending on the demand exerted by the pods, which is proportional to the size. The relationship between cocoa pod production dynamics and size distribution is still poorly understood. Dissecting this relationship is an important step toward further improving cocoa crop management. In this study, the annual yield dynamics and quantity of cocoa pods produced by popular, highly productive, and widespread clone CCN 51 were investigated, based on six size classes observed during its fructification. Growth parameters were determined as weekly increments of pod length and diameter, whereas daily increments were estimated using the logistic Richards model. The fruiting cycle was characterized by the coexistence of fruits of various sizes where the number of pods belonging to each size class changes throughout the fruiting season. Fruit production varied following a seasonal pattern, reaching a maximum of 36 pods/tree, in trees cultivated in full sunlight, of which approximately 55% matured and were harvested. The peak carbon sink demand occurs when the tree pods have the highest numbers of pods. During this period, 65% of the pods had lengths between 5 and 15 cm, which corresponds to the period of the highest pod growth rate. The average length values of the harvested pods were generally below 23 cm and rarely exceeded 7 pods/tree. The Richard model proved to describe accurately the pod growth rates for CCN 51. This represents a promising tool to determine pod growth in other cultivars of relevance for the cocoa industry, which is essential to improve cocoa crop management.

Research Article

Determination of Mealybug Population Density for Transmission of Pineapple Mealybug Wilt Disease in Central Uganda

Pineapple mealybug wilt disease (PMWD) is a complex and most destructive viral disease constraining pineapple production world over. Pineapple mealybug wilt disease is transmitted by mealybugs (Dysmicoccus species). Currently, in Uganda, the population of Dysmicoccus brevipes that can transmit PMWD is not known. Yet, closing this knowledge gap would provide a better understanding of PMWD etiology and development of sound management strategies. Experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications in the screenhouse at the Faculty of Agriculture, Kyambogo University during the period 2017 and 2018. Pineapple variety Smooth Cayenne was inoculated with five levels of viruliferous mealybugs including one (1), five (5), ten (10), fifteen (15), and a control (uninoculated). Data collection commenced on symptoms appearance and continued on a 15-day interval for a period of two months. Data were collected on the incidence and severity of PMWD. All the data collected were analysed using Genstat computer programme. Results showed that the number of mealybugs significantly () affected the incidence and severity of PMWD during both trials. Although one viruliferous mealybug was able to transmit PMWD virus, the efficacy of transmission was recorded with the highest number of mealybugs per plant. It was, therefore, concluded that the higher the number of viruliferous mealybugs colonising a pineapple plant, the higher the incidence and severity of PMWD. The result of this study, therefore, adds to the pool of knowledge on the understanding the population density of mealybugs transmitting PMWD as well as provide insights to improvement of mealybug vector monitoring as a key component of integrated PMWD management.

International Journal of Agronomy
 Journal metrics
See full report
Acceptance rate12%
Submission to final decision182 days
Acceptance to publication12 days
CiteScore3.400
Journal Citation Indicator0.540
Impact Factor1.9
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