International Journal of Agronomy

To prevent reliance on a single finite source of the medium in raising tobacco nurseries, there arose a need to evaluate alternative media based on materials already available on farms. An experiment was set to evaluate the effects of different soilless growing media on the growth and biomass of flue-cured leaf tobacco seedlings. The design used was a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments were 100% pine bark (control), 50% cattle manure + 50% sand, 100% coal rubble, 100% compost manure, 50% pine bark + 50% sand, 100% cattle manure, 75% coal rubble + 25% sand, 75% cattle manure + 25% sand, 50% compost manure + 50% sand, and 75% compost manure + 25% sand. The results showed that increased seed emergence and survival percent were observed in the following media; 50% pine bark + 50% sand, 75% coal rubble + 25% sand, 75% compost manure + 25% sand, 100% coal rubble, 100% compost manure, and 50% compost manure + 50% sand, these treatments were not statistically different from 100% pine bark (control). The stem length and diameter of tobacco seedlings were superior in the medium with 100% compost manure when compared to all other treatments including pine bark. Increased transplantable percent of tobacco seedlings were in 50% pine bark + 50% sand and 100% compost manure, significantly higher than 100% pine bark (control). Most treatments that used cattle manure had significantly lower seed emergence percent, survival percentage, and transplantable percent of tobacco seedlings. Therefore, tobacco growers are recommended to use the growing medium with compost manure and should avoid using cattle manure when raising tobacco seedlings in seed beds.

Salvinia sp. is an alternative aquatic plant that is abundant in the swamplands and can be used for bioremediation of water contaminated with metals. The objectives of the experiment were (1) to evaluate the adaptation of Salvinia sp. to the iron (Fe) concentration in nutrient solution and tidal swampland soil growing medium and (2) to obtain Fe-adaptive Salvinia sp. as indicated by having rapid growth and high biomass. The experiment has been carried out in Cikabayan greenhouse IPB University, Bogor. Salvinia sp. was evaluated in a 4-liter plastic container with Hoagland nutrient solution that was supplemented with Fe based on the experimental treatments. The 10 accessions of Salvinia sp. were selected and evaluated using a pot filled with soil from tidal swampland. The results showed that increasing Fe concentration from 7 to 14 ppm in solution inhibited the growth, reduced the fresh weight, and delayed the doubling time of Salvinia sp. The selection of Salvinia sp. on 7 ppm Fe obtained 4 Salvinia sp. accessions with high biomass weights and fast doubling time, namely S. Kambat, Murung Karamat, Gambut, and Muning Tengah. Among the 4 accessions, the best two were S. Kambat and Murung Karamat with a fast doubling time of about 7.9 days and were adaptive in the tidal swampland.

Clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.), a member of the Lamiaceae family of aromatic plants, is used as a flavoring in the food, fragrance, and cosmetic industries. Egypt’s food and pharmaceutical industries require more natural resources, thus new crops have been introduced to meet the demand. In addition, various environmental conditions, such as water stress, influence aromatic plant growth and essential oil output. The microorganisms included in biofertilizers that have enzymes that solubilize minerals include plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs). Therefore, a field experiment was carried out to test how irrigation management, i.e., 100% of reference evapotranspiration (ETo) (full irrigation) or 50% ETo (water stress), can affect herbal yield, essential oil, and physiological aspects of clary sage, as well as how to improve clary sage plants utilizing biofertilizer in the field in Egypt’s Mediterranean climate zone. The main processes through which PGPRs aid clary sage plants in coping with water stress include increased macro and micronutrient concentrations (P, N, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, B, Mn, Cu, and Fe), dehydrogenase activity, essential oil, and physiological and growth traits of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), chlorophyll content (SPAD-value), plant’s health (normalized difference vegetation index, NDVI), shoot dry weight, and leaf area in clary plants. Application of different PGPRs reduced canopy temperature (CT), thus improving clary sage plants either under 100% ETo or 50% ETo. Consequently, the usage of PGPRs is appropriate for alleviating environmental stresses experienced by clary sage plants and has potential use in maintaining productivity in water stress and may thus be regarded as an important component of sustainable agricultural practices.

Weed infestation is considered as one of the major biotic stresses of dryland crop production. Weed species occurrence, abundance, and densities differ due to spatial soil fertility variability, and management practices by farmers. Weed surveys are therefore vital for tracking such changes and in turn developing appropriate weed management strategies for farmers. A weed survey was carried out in Wedza, eastern Zimbabwe to assess farmer knowledge and perceptions of major weeds in maize fields across catena landscape positions. A multistage sampling procedure was used, involving random sampling of six villages within a 20 km radius, divided according to the catena position and economic status of the farmer. Two hundred and forty-nine (249) households were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The data were coded and processed using the CSPro software package, and then analysed using the SPSS program. Factors that predicted the spatial distribution of weeds were determined using a binary logistic model. From the survey, 52.8% and 42.3% of farms are on the upper catena and lower catena, respectively, and only 4.8% are on the middle catena. Thirty-one weed species belonging to 15 families were listed by respondents and identified by enumerators in the study area and were categorised into three main groups (broadleaf, grasses, and sedges). Acanthospermum hispidum and Striga asiatica were considered as problem weeds in maize fields on the upper and lower catena, respectively. Xanthium strumarium was perceived as a new invasive weed in low-lying arable fields. The binary logistic model predicted farm location on the landscape and fertiliser use as the main factors affecting weed types, distribution, and abundance. Moreover, farms on lower catena had more Striga infestations compared to upper catena. The results suggested an integrated weed management approach to control A. hispidum, Striga species, and the invasive fast-spreading X. strumarium in the area.

The critical stage for any breeder is the selection of crossing parents to drive improved inbred for subsequent breeding cycles. In our study, we estimate breeding parameters such as mid-parent value (MPV), variances among and within crosses, the heritability of relevant traits and their correlations, the usefulness of crosses, and regression of cross means on MPV. 900 F4:5 Recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from 30 crosses were tested together with their parental lines in a modified split-plot p-rep design at two locations. The analysis revealed significant genetic variation among parents, crosses, and RIL for almost all traits. Heritability for parents ranged from 49.50% (malt extract) to 93.60% (plant height) and heritability for crosses ranged from 29.52% (grain protein concentration) to 87.0% (days to maturity), whereas heritability for RIL was the lowest with 27.40% for beta-glucan and the highest to 73.60% for thousand kernel weight, respectively. Significant () genotypic correlations with high impact for practical breeding were found between malting traits. Accordingly, the genotypic correlation ranged from −0.73 to 0.78 whereas the phenotypic correlation ranged from −0.60 to 0.65, respectively. Significant () regression of cross-mean on MPV where R² ranges from 0.27 to 0.70 and is higher than 0.5 for most of the traits demonstrates that cross means can accurately be predicted from MPV and selection among crosses at an early stage is highly effective. Based on the usefulness criterion, 16 superior crosses were identified compared to the planet as the actual leading malt variety. Starting from a simple additive genetic model with random mating, we discuss deviations from the initial model and their impact on the actual estimates implying how to design a state-of-the-art cereal breeding program.

Whiteflies are one of the most devastating horticultural pests attacking tomatoes. Although there are several control methods for the control of whitefly pests, the integrated application of entomopathogenic fungi (IPM) with chemical and botanical insecticides has proven more effective than individual control agents. This study was carried out to evaluate individual and combined treatments of entomopathogens B. bassiana, M. anisopliae, B. thuringiensis, Hunter 40 EC, and neem oil for the control of whitefly species on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) under greenhouse and field condition. The greenhouse study showed that the different treatments resulted in a 58.48 to 100% reduction of nymphs and a 52.06 to 100% reduction of adults on both Galilea and Melkashola tomato varieties under greenhouse conditions. The combined treatments of AAUMB-29 + Neem oil displayed a higher yield (423.3 g fruits/plant) on the Gelilea tomato variety, and AAUDM-43 + Hunter 40 EC displayed a yield of (376.66 g/plant) on the Melkashola tomato variety. Under field conditions, the application of AAUMB-29 + Hunter 40 EC + Neem oil significantly decreased the whitefly population by 91.93% () after 10 days of the fourth spray. The result of fruit yield of tomato was significantly higher in all treatments (31.17 t to 70.42 t·ha⁻¹) compared to untreated control (25.83 t·ha⁻¹). Among the treatments, AAUMB-29 + Hunter 40 EC + Neem oil gave the highest fruit yield of 70.42 t·ha⁻¹ followed by AAUMB-29 + Hunter 40 EC (64.50 t·ha⁻¹) on the Galilea tomato variety under field conditions. The combined treatment of AAUMB-29 + Hunter 40 EC + Neem oil was the most effective with lower whitefly infestation, higher marketable yields, and less percentage of yield losses. Further investigations are required to determine the optimization and practicability of this integrated application of treatments for the control of both sucking and chewing insect pests under field conditions.