Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
Alvin Smucker
Michigan State University, USA
Keynote: A transforming soil water retention technology that eradicates drought and increases crop resilience to changing climates
Time : 09:30 - 10:00
Biography:
Alvin J M Smucker is working as a Professor of Soil Biophysics at Michigan State University. He received the 2005 Distinguished Faculty, is a fellow in five national and international scientific societies, a double recipient of the Alexandar von Humboldt research award in Germany, a visiting Professor at the Scottish Agricultural College, visiting Research Scientist at the Argonne National Laboratories, Chicago and the Distinguished MacMaster Research Fellow, CSIRO, Australia. His water conservation research received the 2015 MSU Innovator award. He has over 326 publications on plant water use efficiency, root dynamics and rhizosphere ecology. He is the recipient of many patents for agriculture.
Abstract:
Increasing demands for producing sustainable food and cellulosic fiber supplies on small and large farms has become the grand challenge for the 21st Century. Soil water deficits rank among the highest stress limitations to plant production. Although supplemental irrigation, increasing fertilization and manure applications to highly permeable soils may increase seed and biomass production, during the short term, these management practices are simply not sustainable due to elevated leaching losses including nutrients, pesticides, pathogens and animal endocrine and human causmetic disrupting compounds to groundwater supplies. New plant biotechnologies combined with water conservation and prescription nutrient technology provide long-term sustainable crop productivity while improving soil quality. Doubling the water and nutrient holding capacities in plant root zones sustain high productivity of nutritious food crops and biomass on marginal sandy and Oxisolic soils. Installation of subsurface water retention technology (SWRT) membranes in the upper 50 to 75 cm of sandy soils increase both above ground biomass and food production by 40% to 400% with substantial reductions of irrigation water. Today’s new manually and mechanically installed SWRT membranes convert sandy soils into sustainable plant production regions that transform lives and communities. This presentation summarizes how these amazing SWRT membranes increase soil water and nutrient contents in plant root zones and require less irrigation water to double and triple maize, cotton and horitcultural crops in Iraq, Iran, China and the USA. This new SWRT Solutions approach is patented and prepared to save water while gardening or farming to feed everyone in rural and urban locations.
Keynote Forum
Upendra M Sainju
USDA-ARS, Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory, USA
Keynote: Can novel management practice improves soil and environmental quality and sustains crop yield simultaneously?
Time : 10:00- 10:30
Biography:
Upendra M Sainju is a research Agronomist, USDA, ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory. He is currently working on the effects of tillage, crop rotation, crop diversity, cropping intensity, and cultural practices on soil aggregation, organic matter concentration, microbial activities, nitrogen mineralization, and carbon and nitrogen sequestration in dryland areas. He is also engaged in studying the effects of irrigation management, nitrogen fertilization rates, and cultural practices in nitrate-nitrogen movement in soil that affects water quality, soil organic matter level, and nitrogen mineralization in irrigated land.
Abstract:
Little is known about management practices that can simultaneously improve soil and environmental quality and sustain crop yields. The effect of combination of tillage, crop rotation, and N fertilization on soil C and N, global warming potential (GWP), greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI), and malt barley yield and quality were examined, from 2005 to 2011 in eastern Montana and western North Dakota. In both places, no-till barley-pea with N fertilization (NTB-P/N) increased soil organic C (SOC) and total N (STN) by 5-14%, but reduced residual soil NO3-N, GWP, and GHGI by 24-79% compared with the traditional practices (conventional till continuous barley or barley-fallow with N fertilization). Barley yield and quality were similar between the two practices. Novel management practices, such as NTB-P/N, can simultaneously enhance soil and environmental quality and sustain crop yield compared with traditional practices in the northern Great Plains.
Keynote Forum
Modise DM
UNISA, South Africa
Keynote: Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture: Should we be worried?
Time : 10:45- 11:15
Biography:
David M Modise holds a BSc Horticulture from the University of Bath (UK), MSc Horticulture from West Virginia University (USA) and PhD Biological Sciences from the University of Nottingham (UK). He was previously a Director, School of Agriculture and Life Sciences and is currently the Deputy Executive Dean at the College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences at UNISA. He has vast university teaching and management experience. His major research interest is in the physiology of food crops with special emphasis on water/drought stress. He has published research articles and book chapters and has supervised postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
Abstract:
Climate Change, a term often used interchangeably with Global Warming, is associated with change in climatic conditions mostly due to human activities, over a prolonged period of time. Human activities such as burning of fossil fuels to produce energy, deforestation, and in fact some agricultural practices, are deemed to invariably increase the concentration of atmospheric gases particularly CO2, methane, nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), thus increasing the average world temperature. The increase in average world temperature can very catastrophic, in that this may cause melting or thawing of snow in artic countries thus resulting in floods and warming of the oceans, sea level can rise and corals get damaged, higher temperatures can result in more heat waves or can result in both EL NINO and LANINA effects. These may in turn have both desirable and undesirable consequences to the agriculture industry. This keynote address will evaluate the world and South African policies and practices that are linked to climate change with the view of determining whether we are addressing climate change issues adequately with regards to agricultural production and subsequently food security.
- Track 1: Global Warming & Agriculture
Track 2: Agricultural Biotechnology
Track 3: Engineering Inputs in Agriculture
Track 4: Soil Sciences
Track 5: Agronomy
Track 6: Horticulture
Track 7: Agriculture & Forestry- Utilization & Potential Applications
Track 8: Crop Sciences
Location: Central 1
Chair
Alvin Smucker
Michigan State University, USA
Co-Chair
Upendra Sainju
USDA, USA
Session Introduction
Mahendra P Srivastava
CCS Haryana Agricultural University, India
Title: Food security through plant health management
Time : 11:15 - 11:35
Biography:
M P Srivastava is former Director Planning & Head Plant Pathology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, he has been honored with “IPS Recognition Award 2014†in recognition of his contribution to the growth of Indian Phytopathological Society (IPS), and more importantly services rendered towards society in mitigating crop losses due to plant pests. He is a distinguished plant pathologist with 50 years of experience, recognized nationally and internationally for his contributions on post-harvest diseases, multiple resistance in rice, and on technology/knowledge transfer, plant health clinic and fungicides. He is credited with is popularization of Plant Clinic and application of plant pathology knowledge in towards sustainable agriculture
Abstract:
Food security precisely means availability of food to everyone in all times to come. Food Security can be defined as “when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active healthy life (FAO, 2003). Climatic changes, ever-rising population leading to land crunch, and pests, and diseases pose serious threat to food security. Plant diseases are the biggest threat to food security. Several diseases in the past such as late blight of potato in 1845 in Ireland, coffee rust in Sri Lanka in 1876, Brown leaf spot of rice in 1942 in India caused untold miseries, and changed the history of mankind. Worldwide, pests cause 40% reduction in yield. Monetarily India loses INR 1, 40,000 crores annually due to pest and diseases. To ensure sustained productivity from limited land, it is imperative to employ innovative technology for food production commensurate to meet the food requirement of ever-growing population, and modern know-how on plant health from plant health clinic, which plays a vital role in mitigating losses, assuring food security by providing timely diagnosis and rendering necessary prescription. However, PHC has yet to gain public attention since their existence is insignificant as compared to human clinics. Innovative technology for higher yield such as host resistance, biotechnology, organic farming amongst others, may be adopted but, plants definitely need protection from onslaught of pests, which warrants creation and promotion of well-organized, plant clinic modeled on human clinic, which may provide timely diagnostic and advisory support against diverse ailments free of cost. It is in this backdrop, walk-in-clinics were launched under Global Plant Clinic program (now Plant wise initiative since 2010) in many Afro-Asian and Latin-American countries, which operate in public/market places and offer on the spot solution, but no one knows about the next clinic until announced. On the other hand in USA, Canada and India they are operating at fixed location, mostly as a unit of Plant Pathology Department. In India too plant clinics exist in most of the agricultural universities in India, yet they have to be more organized like clinics for humans. National Horticulture Mission (NHM) in India has come up in a big way towards creation of 128 plant clinics in public and private sector. Let other countries follow suit. A well-organized clinic with required infra-structure, world-class diagnostic lab, and trained and experienced pathologist, entomologist, agronomist, sitting under one roof may provide right diagnosis and remedial measures and farmers need not move from pillar to post. The practitioner, however, must have insight to the so called ‘Materia Medica’ of plant diseases/pests and good knowledge of pesticides and integrated pest management. The clinics encourage integrated pest management and discourage overdependence on pesticides to save biodiversity. However, under severe outbreak pesticides may be employed for providing respite. Clinics monitor pest scenario, issue pest alerts, maintain liaison with satellite channels, keep a watch over alien and destructive pests; produce plant doctors, organize plant health camp to solve prevailing problems. Clinics train, educate and empower farmers with latest know-how on field diagnosis and management of pests and pesticide resistance. Farmers may be communicated through telephony, SMS, email and field visit in case of serious outbreak of plant pests. In such cases mobile clinic van is rushed to affected area. Plant Disease warning and Plant Pathology Courier released in Haryana Agricultural University decades ago by the author, need to be continued. By empowering farmers, losses can be mitigated, to strengthen productivity/food security. Information may also be provided online towards diagnosis and remedies on plant pests and knowledge to students/teachers & farmers through web portal as are provided through www.xsgrowth.com free of cost by Dr Srivastava. Plant health clinics not only provide diagnostic and advisory support but job opportunities too and plant doctors get same respect as physicians in the society. Impact of such clinic has been phenomenal in ushering productivity. Let us join the cause and provide healing touch to the growers by empowering them with knowledge to mitigate losses and boost food security. Establishment of plant clinics at sub-division level is likely to revolutionize plant healthcare, harnessing higher yield, and boosting food security
Metin Turan
Yeditepe University, Turkey
Title: Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria as alleviators for soil degradation
Time : 11:35 - 11:55
Biography:
Metin Turan has completed his PhD from Ataturk University Soil Science Department. He is currently working as full Professor at Yeditepe University Genetics and Bioengineering Department. He has published more than 100 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of repute.
Abstract:
The long-term development of global socio-economic systems requires the sustainable use of natural resources. The sustainable use of soil resources depends on 3 factors: soil characteristics, environmental conditions, and land use. These factors interact on systems-based principles, where the change in one factor causes alteration in the others. Land degradation can be considered in terms of the loss of actual or potential productivity or utility as a result of natural- or human-induced processes acting upon the land; it is the decline in land quality or reduction in its productivity. The latter comprises important concerns related to eutrophication of surface water, contamination of groundwater, and emissions of trace gases (CO2, CH4, N2O, and NOx) from terrestrial/aquatic ecosystems to the atmosphere. Soil structure is the important property that affects all three degradation processes. Around 3.5% of the two billion totals are estimated to have been degraded that the degradation is reversible only through costly engineering measures, if at all. Just over 10% has been moderately degraded, and this degradation is reversible only through major on-farm investments. Of the nearly 1.5 billion ha in cropland worldwide, about 38% is degraded to some degree. If this trend continues, 1.4–2.8% of total cropland, pasture, and forest land will lost by 2020. Declining yields (or increasing input requirements to maintain yields) could be expected over a much larger area. These data are, however, likely to overestimate the problem, as they do not account for the effects of land improvements, which also appear to be widespread.
Jagadeeshwara K
University of Agricultural Sciences, India
Title: Adaptation measures initiated due to climate change in southern India
Time : 11:55 - 12:15
Biography:
Jagadeeshwara K has completed his PhD from Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand, India. He is the Director of Extension, at University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore - a premier institution in the country. He is operating a prestigious project funded by Karnataka State Government on “Livelihood improvement of Scheduled Caste farm families through integrated farming system (IFS) approachâ€. He has published more than 30 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an Academic Council Member of reputed institutions.
Abstract:
Threats on agriculture and food security are the major causalities of climate change in India and there is a need to understand the effect of climate change on agricultural sector. Analysis of meteorological data shows that there was an upward trend in mean monthly temperature and downward trend in relative humidity and number of wet days. Strategic production management is to be adopted by farmers to mitigate the ill effects of climate change. The study was conducted by interviewing 120 farmers in southern India to understand perceptions of climate change and adaptation measures initiated by them using an Ex post facto design. The results of the study revealed that, 98% of farmers had high perception of changes in rainfall. Though the actual documentation of climatic data indicated there was increase in the rainfall, but farmers perceived that there was a decrease in the rainfall. This trend of perception may be due to increased area under water intensive crops and short period of rainy days. However, 99% of farmers were having high level of perception about changes in temperature. All the farmers perceived that there was decrease in yield, income, soil nutrients and increase in cost of cultivation, pests and diseases, weed infestation due to climate change. Finally the study concludes that, the farmers were initiating adaptation measures as recommended by the UAS, Bangalore, India. Much remains to be done to create awareness and knowledge about the ill-effects of climate change. Systematic development and integrated delivery of extension programs to mitigate ill effects of climate change is needed.
Shubhangi Salokhe
Symbiosis Institute of International Business, India
Title: Tissue Culture: A Boon for Agriculture
Time : 12:15 - 12:35
Biography:
Shubhangi Salokhe has completed her PhD from Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, India. She is a Professor in Agribusiness Department of Symbiosis Institute of International Business, Symbiosis International University. She is having 26 years of experience in research, teaching and consultancy. She has published more than 20 papers in reputed journals.
Abstract:
By 2050, the world’s population will reach 9.1 billion, 34 percent higher than today. Agricultural production must be sufficient to feed us at present and also in the future and with a rising population, growing more food at affordable prices becomes more important. Worldwide demand for food can be satisfied either by increasing the area under production or by improving productivity on existing farmland. It is important to adopt new technologies that ensure optimum results. Availability of disease and pest-free, true to type planting material is an important prerequisite for achieving the desired yield improvement. Biotechnology can provide appropriate new tools for use in solution of specific problems in sustainable agriculture. There is an impact of a new set of agricultural technologies emerging from the fields of biotechnology having potential to advance sustainable agriculture. Tissue culture is not only a popular mean of clonal propagation of many uniform plants but also the most viable and successful method for the production of pathogen free stock material. The technique of plant tissue culture may play a key role in the “Second Green Revolution’’ in which biotechnology and gene modification are being used to improve crop yield and quality.
Phokele Maponya
Agricultural Research Council, South Africa
Title: Climate change status in Mutale local municipality: A case study of smallholder farmers in Vhembe district, Limpopo province
Biography:
Phokele Maponya has completed his PhD from University of South Africa and Post doctoral Fellowship from University of Johannesburg. He has more than 12 years Teaching, Research and Project Management experience. He acted as a Reviewer for Development Southern Africa; International Journal on Bio deterioration & Biodegradation; Journal of Agricultural Biotechnology and Sustainable Development; African Journal of Agricultural Research; Herald Journal of Geography and Regional Planning; Journal of Agricultural Science, Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics and Sociology, South African Journal of Plant and Soil, Journal of Global Agriculture and Ecology and British Journal of Applied Science and Technology. He also serves as a Board Member of the Wudpecker Journal of Educational Research; Global Advance Journal of Arts and Humanities; International Journal of Advance Agricultural Research; World Journal of Agricultural Science; Journal of Agricultural Science; Peak Journal of Agricultural Research and Unique Journal of Agricultural Research. He has published globally in the field of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and published more than 20 articles in different international peer reviewed journals; 5 peer reviewed conference proceedings and published 7 book chapters. He is currently employed at Agricultural Research Council as Project Manager and Leader.
Abstract:
The Limpopo province is one of the poorest provinces in the country, characterized by high unemployment rate, poverty and lacks of access to a range of resources which results in the majority of the people not being able to secure their livelihoods. The primary aim of this paper was to highlight the status of climate change in the Vhembe district municipality. The following objectives were identified: To describe the status of climate change in the Vhembe district and to identify the determinants of climate change adaptation in the Vhembe district municipality. A representative sample of 150 farmers aged between 18 to 60+ years (46% males and 54% females) participated in the study. The study was conducted in the Vhembe district with special attention being played to the Mutale local municipality. The following two villages were visited: Folovodwe and Rambuda. The purposive sampling method used covered most of the productive farms in the two selected villages and also covered the uniform or homogeneous characteristics of farmers. The sample frame was designed to meet the objectives of the study and it had to adhere to the statistical specifications for accuracy and representativity. The questionnaire was administrated to farmers and included matters relating to climate variability and change. Data was coded, captured and analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive and regressions analyses were conducted. The results showed a positive association among the following variables: Age, female, decreased rainfall, level of education, farming fulltime, climate change information, source of climate information, perception on climate change and climate change adaptation and formal extension.
P K Chauke
University of Venda, South Africa
Title: An assessment of the on the on-the job level of satisfaction of extension offi cers in Limpopo province, South Africa – Ordinal regression approach
Time : 12:55 - 13:15
Biography:
PK Chauke is currently working in School of Agriculture, University of Venda, South Africa
Abstract:
The productivity and commitment of extension workers are factors that are largely influenced by their level of on-the-job-satisfaction. This study focuses on agricultural extension officers employed by the Provincial government in 3 districts of Limpopo Province in South Africa, i.e. Vhembe, Capricorn and Sekhukhune. Participants were randomly selected per district and subjected to a 4 Likert Scale-linked questionnaire that wanted to unearth the impact of achievement as an extension officer (very dissatisfied to very satisfied) on one’s satisfaction as an extension officer (very dissatisfied to very satisfied). Collected data were captured into the SPSS Version 22 and analysed through ordinal regression technique. The results of the study provided very informative outcomes that could be effectively used to enhance the work of extension officers in the province and beyond.
Vadlya T Tame
Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Nigeria
Title: The effects of harvesting methods of Shea fruit (Vitellaria paradoxa) on chemical and physical properties of Shea butter
Time : 14:15 - 14:35
Biography:
Tame V T has completed his PhD from Federal University of Technology, Yola Nigeria. He is the CEO of Agro Professional Care Foundation Yola. He has published 16 papers in reputed journals, 3 books, and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of Nigerian Journal of Tropical Agriculture.
Abstract:
The experiment was conducted in the laboratories of the Departments of Chemistry, Adamawa State University Mubi, Nigeria. The treatments for the experiment consisted of two harvesting methods (matured ripened fruits that fell under their own weight and as a result of feeding by birds to the ground and harvested and matured ripened fruit manually harvested from the tree) and it was replicated three times in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Data were collected on chemical properties of shea butter which include acid value, free fatty acid, iodine value, peroxide value, saponification value and unsaponifiable matter, while the physical properties include moisture content, yield, melting point, relative density, and refractive index. The data collected were analyzed statistically using Generalized Linear Model (GLM) procedure of Statistical Analysis System (SAS). The means that were significantly different were separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD). The results showed that there were highly significant differences (P≤0.01) among the harvesting methods. The matured ripened fruits that fell under their own weight and as a result of feeding by birds to the ground and harvested recorded the lowest acid value (2.79), free fatty acid (1.41), lowest iodine value (36.91) and Peroxide value (10.51). The lowest moisture content (0.96%) and highest yield (21.59%) was recorded by harvesting matured ripened fruits that fell under their own weight and as a result of feeding by birds to the ground. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that harvesting matured ripened fruits that fell under their own weight gave the best Shea butter quality.
Phokele Maponya
Agricultural Research Council , South Africa
Title: Factors enhancing market participation: A case of small holder farmers in Zululand district, KwaZulu Natal in South Africa
Time : 14:35 - 14:55
Biography:
Phokele Maponya has completed his PhD from University of South Africa and Post doctoral Fellowship from University of Johannesburg. He has more than 12 years Teaching, Research and Project Management experience. He acted as a Reviewer for Development Southern Africa; International Journal on Bio deterioration & Biodegradation; Journal of Agricultural Biotechnology and Sustainable Development; African Journal of Agricultural Research; Herald Journal of Geography and Regional Planning; Journal of Agricultural Science, Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics and Sociology, South African Journal of Plant and Soil, Journal of Global Agriculture and Ecology and British Journal of Applied Science and Technology. He also serves as a Board Member of the Wudpecker Journal of Educational Research; Global Advance Journal of Arts and Humanities; International Journal of Advance Agricultural Research; World Journal of Agricultural Science; Journal of Agricultural Science; Peak Journal of Agricultural Research and Unique Journal of Agricultural Research. He has published globally in the field of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and published more than 20 articles in different international peer reviewed journals; 5 peer reviewed conference proceedings and published 7 book chapters. He is currently employed at Agricultural Research Council as Project Manager and Leader.
Abstract:
This paper highlighted factors affecting agricultural market participation and the promotion of the establishment of vegetable markets, fruit markets and nurseries in the Zululand district, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. This entailed taking a representative sample consisting of 50 agricultural projects with 418 beneficiaries participating in the research. The following 5 local municipalities were visited: Mahlabathini, Nongoma, Pongola, Dumbe and Abaqulusi. Quantitative and qualitative design was used as a detailed questionnaire written in English with a focus group discussion, a stakeholder’s discussion and field observations as part of the data collection. A purposive sampling technique was used to select fifty (50) projects, in order to cover uniformity and homogenous characteristics such as infrastructure requirements, skills availability, production challenges, agricultural training needs, water source needs, educational level and others. Data was coded, captured and analyzed with a software package for social sciences (SPSS version 20). The following analysis was conducted: Descriptive and Univariate Regression. The results showed a significant association among the following variables: Age, educational level, farming experience, land acquisition, crops planted, water source, farming fulltime, land size, production inputs, agricultural training and market participation. It is recommended that fruit and vegetable markets be established as well as the creation of a complete, viable agro value chain that will expand community driven agricultural production and processing.
Hycenth Nahunnaro
Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Nigeria
Title: Evaluation of neem seed and ginger rhizome extracts in control of postharvest tuber rot fungi of Irish potato in Yola
Time : 14:55 - 15:15
Biography:
Hycenth Nahunnaro holds a Doctor of Pathology (Ph.D) Plant Pathology age of 47. He has been involved in teaching and research in College of Agriculture, Jalingo and Mubi between 1989 and 1992. He is currently senior Lecturer with Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola and Head of Crop Protection Department. He served twice as Departmental Postgraduate Coordinator in 2008-2011 and 2013 to date in addition to membership of several University of Committees. He is a member of Plant Protection Society of Nigeria (PPSN), Agricultural Society of Nigeria (ASN) and Entomological Society of Nigeria (ESN). He has attended several National Conferences and has published thirty four (34) Local and International papers
Abstract:
This Laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of two plant extracts (neem Azadirachta indica seeds and ginger-Zingiber officinale rhizomes) on postharvest tuber rot fungi of Irish potato in Yola, Adamawa State. Four fungal species associated with Irish potato tuber rot were isolated and identified in the study, namely; Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium oxysporum and Penicillium spp. On which three different concentrations of the plant extracts were used (20%, 30% and 40%). Based on frequency of occurrence, it was found that Aspergillus niger had the highest frequency, followed by Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium oxysporum, while Penicillium spp. Had the least occurrence. The results obtained revealed that growth inhibition of the rot causing organisms varied with extract type, extract concentrations and the fungal pathogen. At 20% concentration, neem extract proved more effective in inhibiting the growth of Aspergillus flavus (48%) and Fusarium oxysporum (32.3%), while the growth of Penicillium spp. Had 76.7% inhibition. At 40% concentration, the mycelia growth of Penicillium spp. Was inhibited (46.7), and the mycelia growth of both Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium oxysporum were 76% and 51.6% respectively. For Zingiber officinale extract, the mycelia growth of all the isolates were inhibited at the highest concentration (40%), Aspergillus flavus (40%), Fusarium oxysporum (11.1%) and Penicillium spp. (43.3). From these results, it is clear that neem seed extracts could serve as an alternative to the use of synthetic chemicals in controlling post-harvest tuber rot fungi of Irish potato.
Aliyu Baworu Mustapha
Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Nigeria
Title: Assessing the host range of Dodder (Cuscuta campestris Yunck) among crops in Adamawa State, Nigeria
Time : 15:15 - 15:35
Biography:
Mustapha A B has completed his PhD from Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria. He is the Departmental PG Coordinator of Crop Production & Horticulture, and also served as Departmental Exam Officer from 2001 to 2006, Departmental SIWES Coordinator from 2010- 2014. He is a member of Weed Science Society of Nigeria (WSSN), Horticultural Society of Nigeria (HORTSON), Agricultural Society of Nigeria (ASN) and Asian Weed Science Society (IWSS). He has published more than 15 papers in reputed journals and attended more than 13 national and international conferences.
Abstract:
Species of the parasitic plant genus Dodder (Cuscuta spp. Cuscutaceae) are distributed worldwide. They are able to attack many plant species, including crops that are important to the people of Adamawa state. The host range of this weed is not entirely known yet. Such understanding is particularly important with respect to valuable crops grown in this area. Dodder extracts all its nutrients and water requirements from the host plant and shades the crop with its dense stem mass, thereby reducing crop yields. An experiment was carried out to determine the host range of Cuscuta campestris among different food crops, and the levels of damage it causes on each host. A pot experiment was conducted in a screen house of the Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria. Nine different crops were used: cotton (Gossypium herbaceum. L), tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum L), pepper (Capsicum frutescens L), soybean (Glycine max L.), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp), groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench), maize (Zea mays L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.). The treatments consisted of infestation and parasite-free conditions and were arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications. Soybean, cowpea and groundnut had the highest Cuscuta campestris cover scores among the test crops, followed by tomato, pepper and cotton. Across all the infested crops biomass of infested plants was decreased compared with the control treatments with the exception of groundnut that recorded an increase. It can be concluded that soybean, cowpea, groundnut, tomato, pepper and cotton were susceptible to Cuscuta campestris. However, soybean, cowpea and tomato were more sensitive than groundnut, pepper and cotton. While, sorghum, maize and rice were are not sensitive to Cuscuta campestris.
Sandhimita Mondal
Techno India University, India
Title: Agrohomeopathy: New practice in Agriculture from seed germination to fi eld trial
Time : 15:35 - 15:55
Biography:
Sandhimita Mondal has completed her MSC in Microbiology from Calcutta University at 2008 and qualified CSIR-UGC NET in 2009. She has completed Ph. D at 2014 from Visva Bharati University (A central University), West Bengal. Now she is the Head, Department of Microbiology, Techno India University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. She has published more than 12 papers on the Microbiology, Agrohomeopathy in reputed Journal and reviewer of some peer reviewed journal. Now she is doing project work on Biofertilizer and use of potentized drugs in the field.
Abstract:
The extensive use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer in agriculture is causing environmental problem. In this situation it is desirable to find out suitable agents, which would increase plant growth without compromising with the quality of food and of soil. High level of salinity deteriorates seed germination, growth and yield of crops in cultivated lands. There is no effective remedy to mitigate this global problem. In homeopathy a substance, which produces morbid symptoms at high doses on healthy individuals, ameliorates the disease in a patient showing similar symptoms at ultra low doses. During the last seven years, we have observed that, certain plant growth retardants promote growth of crops at ultrahigh dilutions. Of the substances tested (2-chloroethyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride (CCC) proved most effective in increasing photosynthesis and plant growth. Following the principle of homeopathy, CCC 200CH was prepared by successive dilution followed by succession. The purpose of the present study is to see whether potentized Natrum mur could mitigate salt stress in germinating cowpea seeds and to see if plant growth inhibitors serve as growth promoters at their ultra low doses. Water-soaked seeds were kept over moist filter paper in covered petridishes which were divided into five groups: 1) unstressed and untreated control in sterile distilled water, 2) seeds pretreated with 90% ethanol, 3) seeds pretreated with Natrum mur 200CH and then kept in sterile distilled water, 4) in 100mM sodium chloride solution and 5) seeds pretreated with Natrum mur 200CH and then transferred to 100mM NaCl solution. Both Natrum mur 200 CH and its diluent medium 90% ethanol were diluted with distilled water 1:100 before use for treatment. No fertilizers and pesticides were applied in the plots under experiment. CCC 200CH was used in a field trial at the Rice Research Station, Government of West Bengal, Chinsurah, Hooghly, West Bengal during the wet season. CCC 200CH was diluted with water 1:100 and applied by foliar spray on rice plants 22 days after transplantation. A second treatment was given after 15days. At ultra high dilution the same drug produces the opposite effect promoting growth and yield of the plant tested. Potentized Natrum mur can be safely used with profit on plants grown on brackish soil. CCC 200CH significantly increased chlorophyll, protein and sugar in the leaves. It is concluded that CCC 200CH promoted growth and yield in rice varieties tested under natural field condition.
- Track 9: Crop Protection & Awareness
Track 10: Agriculture Law & Policy
Track 11: Organic Agriculture
Track 12: Agricultural Extension & Sustaining Practices
Track 13: Livestock Farming & Genetic Engineering
Location: Central 1
Chair
Byoung Ryong Jeong
Gyeongsang National University, South Korea
Co-Chair
Fhatuwani N Mudau
University of South Africa, South Africa
Session Introduction
Mahendra P Srivastava
CCS Haryana Agricultural University, India
Title: Pesticides in management of plant diseases: Public perception and ground realities
Time : 10:15 - 10:35
Biography:
M P Srivastava is former Director Planning & Head Plant Pathology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, he has been honored with “IPS Recognition Award 2014†in recognition of his contribution to the growth of Indian Phytopathological Society (IPS), and more importantly services rendered towards society in mitigating crop losses due to plant pests. He is a distinguished plant pathologist with 50 years of experience, recognized nationally and internationally for his contributions on post-harvest diseases, multiple resistance in rice, and on technology/knowledge transfer, plant health clinic and fungicides. He is credited with is popularization of Plant Clinic and application of plant pathology knowledge in towards sustainable agriculture.
Abstract:
Plant diseases are known since time immemorial. Outbreaks of several diseases have changed the history of mankind. India is losing annually $ 25.4 Billion [INR 1, 40,000 crores ; (Kumarasami, 2008] of which diseases account for INR 25,000 crores. Worldwide plant pests are responsible for about 40% losses in yield. Main challenge for agriculture is to increase productivity to sustain the need of ever-growing population. Throughout the world pesticides have been widely used to control diseases and pests (Pimental et al, 1997, Horne and Page, 2000) and in future too fungicides will play a crucial role in meeting this challenge. Though pesticides have been successfully used for plant protection and public health, yet a section of society see pesticides with blinkered vision on the pretext that pesticides are responsible for affecting ecosystem, environment and human health. In fact, most of the problem is due to users, who are using recklessly pesticides. In spite of outbursts against pesticides by Rachel Carson in 1962 the process of discovery continued and more effective and safer fungicides such as, SBIs, MBIs (tricyclazole, pyroquilon etc.), strobilurins etc. were developed. Today with the availability of relatively safer and effective fungicides of 4th generation including novel fungicides, most of the diseases can be effectively controlled and crop yields can be improved with least impact on biodiversity. While phenylamides and fosetyl-Al have revolutionized control of downy mildews and phytophthoras, SBIs have offered control of diverse group of fungi, MBIs to rice blast and strobilurins unusually wide array of crop diseases from all four classes of plant pathogens, namely the Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes, Deuteromycetes and Oomycetes. Since Silent Spring. another publication Silent Spring Revisited published by American Chemical Society in 1987 also appeared supportive of Silent Spring. However, if used judiciously, following the guidelines of Pesticide Action Network (PAN) and Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) such problems are not likely to occur and conversely improve crop yield. It is, however, unfortunate that many of us really lack insight to Materia Medica of plant diseases and most of the problems have occurred due to misuse and abuse of pesticides for which man is responsible and not the fungicides/pesticides (Srivastava, 2009). Surprisingly Europe is strongly discouraging use of chemicals but in one of publications, I cite â€abolishing fungicides in crop production in Germany would cause drastic decline in income, on average equally a monthly salary, but can be even more severe with specific faming system. Some people also think that prior application of pesticides could be more beneficial but it is not true. We need not be over dependent on pesticides but should not give-up pesticides under the influence of rather go for minimal use. The present paper critically analyses to present a balanced view with regard to their positive role in pest management and who is to be blamed responsible for associated hazards – man or pesticides and feasibility of shedding over-reliance on pesticides and mitigating associated hazards.
Upendra Sainju
USDA-ARS, Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory, USA
Title: Particulate and active soil nitrogen fractions in response to sheep grazing in dryland cropping systems
Time : 10:35 - 10:55
Biography:
Upendra M Sainju is a research Agronomist, USDA, ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory. He is currently working on the effects of tillage, crop rotation, crop diversity, cropping intensity, and cultural practices on soil aggregation, organic matter concentration, microbial activities, nitrogen mineralization, and carbon and nitrogen sequestration in dryland areas. He is also engaged in studying the effects of irrigation management, nitrogen fertilization rates, and cultural practices in nitrate-nitrogen movement in soil that affects water quality, soil organic matter level, and nitrogen mineralization in irrigated land.
Abstract:
Sheep (Ovis aries L.) grazing, a cost-effective method of weed control compared to herbicide application and tillage, may influence N cycling by consuming crop residue, weeds and returning N through feces and urine to the soil. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of sheep grazing compared to tillage and herbicide application for weed control on soil particulate organic N (PON), microbial biomass N (MBN), and potential N mineralization (PNM) at the 0-30 cm depth in a Blackmore silt loam under dryland cropping systems from 2009 to 2011 in southwestern Montana, USA. Treatments were 3 weed management practices (sheep grazing [grazing], herbicide application [chemical], and tillage [mechanical]) and 2 cropping sequences, continuous spring wheat CSW (Triticum aestivum L.), spring wheat-pea (Pisum sativum L.) or barley (Hordeum vulgaris L.) mixture and hay-fallow (W-P/B-F). The PON and MBN at 0-30 cm were 126 to 620 kg N ha-1 greater in the chemical and mechanical than the grazing treatment with CSW. The PNM at 15-30 cm was 7 to 13 kg N ha-1 greater in the chemical or mechanical than the grazing treatment in 2009 and 2011 and at 5-15 cm was 7 kg N ha-1 greater with W-P/B-F than CSW in 2010. From 2009 to 2011, PON at 0-30 cm reduced from 0.43 Mg N ha-1 yr-1 in the grazing treatment to 0.59 Mg N ha-1 yr-1 in the chemical treatment. Similarly, PNM at 15-30 cm reduced from 0.7 kg N ha-1 yr-1 in the mechanical treatment to 4.1 kg N ha-1 yr-1 in the chemical treatment and at 5-15 cm from 1.8 kg N ha-1 yr-1 with CSW to 5.1 kg N ha-1 yr-1 with W-P/B-F. Removal of crop residue during grazing but negligible N inputs through feces and urine probably reduced soil active and coarse organic matter N fractions with sheep grazing compared to herbicide application and tillage for weed control. Decline in the rate of change from 2009 to 2011 suggests that sheep grazing may stabilize N fractions in the long-term, especially in continuous cropping system.
Jagadeeshwara K
University of Agricultural Sciences, India
Title: Comparative analysis and Up-scaling of integrated farming systems among resource poor farmers in peninsular India
Time : 10:55 - 11:15
Biography:
Jagadeeshwara K has completed his PhD from Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand, India. He is the Director of Extension, at University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore - a premier institution in the country. He is operating a prestigious project funded by Karnataka State Governament on “Livelihood improvement of Scheduled Caste farm families through integrated farming system (IFS) approachâ€. He has published more than 30 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an Academic Council Member of reputed institutions.
Abstract:
Majority of resource poor farmers in India, generally practice subsistence farming though they require more production of food to get higher income and employment. Integrated Farming System (IFS) is the best option for them to overcome the problem of high degree of risk and uncertainty. This study was conducted to compare different types of integrated farming systems in peninsular India. Five major farming systems viz., Crop + Dairy, Crop + Sericulture + Dairy, Crop + Dairy + Sheep, Crop + Dairy + Sheep + Piggery and Crop + Dairy + Sheep + Sericulture, (C+D, C+S+D, C+D+SH, C+D+SH+PG, C+D+SH+S) were observed at the study area and selected for analyses. The data were collected from randomly selected 300 resource poor farmers through pretested interview schedule and analyzed by using Cobb-Douglas production function and interpreted. The study revealed that, the mean net income realized was highest in C+D+SH+P (1530$) compared to the net income realized from C+D (559$). However, farmers perusing C+D+SH+S farming systems were able to realize net annual income of 1254$. The study emphasises the need of promoting and supporting farmers to have more number of animal components along with crop cultivation so as to get higher income and employment throughout the year. Finally, the study identifyed the most accepted and profitable supplementary and complementary enterprises for resource poor farmers to get sustainable income throughout the year. The efforts and approaches employed for up- scaling integrated farming among resource poor farmers are discussed in the main paper.
Sunday Yiseyon Hosu
University of Fort Hare, South Africa
Title: Agricultural policies and food system transformation: has post-apartheid South Africa done better?
Time : 11:15 - 11:35
Biography:
Hosu Y S holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics and Farm Management from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria in 2004. He obtained Master’s degree from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, in 2007 and PhD in Agricultural/Environmental Economics from the University of Fort Hare in 2013. His PhD thesis is a holistic attempt to know the determinants of food system among the poor households in the semi-arid region; the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. He focused on modelling small farms’ optimal productivity under stressed environmental conditions, resource utilization and effective institutional services provision. His study made insight on the necessary conditions to boost smallholder productivity and food security among the small-holder farmers in the Eastern Cape Province. He has authored and co-authored manuscripts and proposal with others. He is the Lead Researcher and Consultant, Sunclare Consults Limited, a-one- stop research outfit for solutions to agriculture and agribusinesses issues based in Nigeria. He is currently a Research Fellow at Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, Eastern Cape.
Abstract:
South Africa is unlikely to catch attention when the nations with food emergency are mentioned due to its well-developed commercial farming. There is no lack of well-intended policies to improve agriculture and food security of its citizens. However, with Human Development index ranking of 118 among 135 countries and Human Poverty of 13.4% and ranking of 85 amidst all policies and strategies of improving the agriculture and food security issues, it defies logic that South Africa has made a lot of motion but not necessarily movement in the right direction. The article from this study is aimed at reviewing the performance of key indicators: per capita land utilization, production and consumption of selected staple foods that cover basic household wellbeing such as maize, dry beans, potato, vegetables, sugar, citrus and apple in the pre and post-apartheid periods of South Africa. We found that there is a declining trend in per capita land cultivation, per capita food production and mixed results of per capita consumption of some major staple foods. The study revealed that population growth in South Africa has not been harnessed and there is possibility of worsening food security in the country. We also found the per capital consumption of maize in South Africa is below 160 kg/person/year recommended by WHO/FAO while per capita consumption of potato and sugar are presently above required kg/person/year. We recommend per capita targeting policy strategies for the improvement of staple food production and dietary balancing to ensure sustainable food security.
Byoung Ryong Jeong
Gyeongsang National University, South Korea
Title: Physiological and proteomic analyses in graft junction reveal novel insight into mechanisms involved in adaptation to different day/night temperature regimes in two tomato cultivars
Time : 11:35 - 11:55
Biography:
Byoung Ryong Jeong has completed his PhD from Colorado State University, USA, and Post-doctoral studies from University of Missouri-Columbia, USA, and Chiba University, Japan. He is a Professor in Department of Horticulture and the Dean of College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Republic of Korea. He has published more than 250 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an Editor-in-Chief of Horticulture, Environment and Biotechnology, and President of the Korean Society for Floricultural Science
Abstract:
Grafting, an established practice of asexual propagation in many plants, is known to induce abiotic or biotic stress. Transfer of genetic materials during graft healing, from the root to the shoot and vice versa, is interest of investigation for signal transduction pathways at the graft junction using proteomic and microarray techniques. Physiological and proteomic responses were studied at the graft junction between the rootstock and the scion of two tomato genotypes exposed to a standard (23/23°C), normal (25/18°C), or high-low (30/15°C) day/night temperature regimes. Graft junctions had varied responses to different temperature regimes. A high-low, but not a standard or normal, temperature regime induced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the form of H2O2 and O2-1 at the graft junction. Many cell protection molecules, including antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and their immunoblots were also induced. Thus it seems that both the rootstock and the scion actively defended against stress by modifying their physiological and proteomic responses to establish a new cellular homeostasis at graft junctions. As a result, many proteins for cellular defense were regulated at the graft junction under different temperature regimes, in addition to the regulation of photosynthetic proteins, ion binding/transport proteins, and protein synthesis. Biomass, physical strength at the graft junction, and vascular transport activity were also affected by the temperature regime. Results provided novel and insightful physiological and proteomic evidences on the responses at the graft junctions of two tomato cultivars to different temperature regimes.
Sani Yusuf Ahmad
Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria
Title: Identifi cation and description of some common ornamental plant species at Ahmadu bello University Zaria, Nigeria
Time : 11:55 - 12:15
Biography:
Sani Y A is an Associate Professor in Agronomy with specialization in Horticultural Production. He obtained his BAgriculture, MSc and PhD degrees from the famous Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria in 1995, 2003 and 2010, respectively. He is a member of several professional bodies and has several publications in reputable national, international journals and numerous research/technical reports to his credit. He is currently a Lecturer/Researcher at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria where he is actively involved in teaching, training, research and extension services. He attended several international conferences and trainings across the globe.
Abstract:
A survey was conducted in the year 2014 at the premises of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria (11o11’ N, 07o 38’); located at an altitude of 686 m above sea level in the Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria with annual average rainfall of about 1060 mm. The area is characterized by distinct two seasons; the dry season, comprising of a cold dry period (harmattan) between November and December, and a hot dry period between April and June. The vital part of this work involved the collection, identification and description of some common ornamental plant species found within the premises of the Institute’s environment and was presented in the form of original coloured photographs, identifying its scientific names, family names, English names and their common names. These ornamental plant species were then classified based on their characteristics, mode of propagation and usage (indoor, outdoor, lawns, potted etc). During the survey, about 70 ornamental plant species comprising a total of 24 species of indoor plants, 18 of shading plants, 25 species of hedge plants and three species of lawns were identified, described and documented accordingly. It is hoped that this work would inspire floriculturist, botanist, gardeners, students and other researchers to contribute further into this interesting and attractive field of horticultural landscaping that is usually ignored or given less attention.
Fhatuwani N Mudau
University of South Africa, South Africa
Title: Influence of growth stage harvest on the quality of baby spinach during postharvest storage
Time : 12:15 - 12:35
Biography:
Mudau F N completed a B.Sc Agric (Crop Science) at the University of Venda in 1996. He then registered M.Sc. in Horticulture at the University of Stellenbosch where he conducted research on citrus nutrition. He completed a PhD (Horticultural Sciences) at the University of Pretoria and he has done extensive research in herbal medicine. He then joined the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) under Food and Beverages (Now Agro-Industries) Strategic Business Unit (SBU); HealthCare and Education (SBU) as a Specialist.. He has served as a Board member of South Horticultural Sciences Society, Rotondo Pty Ltd, Berekisanang a subsidiaries company under Industrial Development Corporation. He is a Board member of Crop Production Journal and a reviewer in local and International Journals. He is currently a Full Professor at the University of South Africa. Prof Mudau has a vast experience in project development and implementation in Agro Industries, Education and Healthcare sectors.
Abstract:
Baby spinach is normally harvested during a fairly early stage of the normal spinach, usually between 30 and 45 days after planting. Several studies have shown that concentration of nutrients in spinach may vary owing to a combination of factors. In addition, harvest date/stage after a specific planting date may also play a decisive role in the spinach content as well as postharvest shelf life. Thus, the aim of this work was to investigate the effect of growth harvest stage on the quality and postharvest storage of baby spinach. Seeds were sown on 3 different occasions, and in each set of occasion, the harvest was performed at 3 growth stages at 7 days intervals. The middle stage was corresponded with the period commonly used for baby spinach by commercial farmers. Throughout the study, when spinach leaves are harvested, they were exposed to 4°C, 10°C and 20°C for 12 days. The first stage, which refers to spinach leaves harvested after 28 days of planting have shown the highest level of antioxidant activity and flavonoid contents during harvest. Thus, the level of antioxidants during harvest was 0.65 mg.g-1 at 4°C, 10°C and 20°C and postharvest (0.43 mg.g-1, 0.35 mg.g-1 and 0.20 mg.g-1 at 4°C, 10°C and 20°C for 12 days, respectively). It was then followed by stage II with 0.29 mg.g-1, 0.23 mg.g-1, and 0.17 mg.g-1 at 4°C, 10°C and 20°C for 12 days, respectively. The least levels of antioxidant activity was observed in the stage III, where spinach leaves were stored at 10°C and 20°C with the value of 0.10 mg.g-1 and 0.02 mg.g-1, respectively. Flavonoids showed similar trend, since highest content of flavonoids was observed in stage I (12 mg.g-1) and II (9.30 mg.g-1) at 4°C for 12 days. Whereas, the lowest flavonoid contents were yielded in stage III, particularly in samples stored at 20°C with 3.56 mg.g-1 for 12 days. However, the level of antioxidants and flavonoids was well maintained at 4°C in all 3 treatments compared to 10°C and 20°C. The study findings suggest that harvesting baby spinach a few days earlier than the commercial timing of harvest may influence the most retain of antioxidant activity and flavonoid contents when stored at 4°C.
- Young Researchers Forum
Location: Central 1
Chair
Mahendra P Srivastava
CCS Haryana Agricultural University, India
Co-Chair
Patricia Vit
Universidad de Los Andes, Venezuela
Session Introduction
Ambani Richardo Mudau
University of South Africa, South Africa
Title: Does the modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) extend quality of baby spinach leaves on postharvest shelf life?
Time : 12:35 - 12:50
Biography:
Mudau A R is on the final phase of his Master’s degree at the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa. He has recently published a scientific paper with HortTechnology journal based on the findings he presented in the 4th International Conference on Agriculture and Horticulture held in Beijing, China.
Abstract:
Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) has increasingly deployed for its efficiency in retarding the respiration rate and maintaining the quality of fresh produce during postharvest storage. Improperly modified atmospheric environment may negatively impact the quality of produce during postharvest storage. Thus, the selection of suitable and appropriate packaging materials is critical in creating an ideal environment for prolonging the shelf life of fresh-cut vegetables. The influence of MAP on the quality of baby spinach during postharvest storage is assessed in this study. Parameters recorded are antioxidant activity and flavonoids. Grown baby spinach were harvested after 37 days of planting. Equally set of baby spinach leaves were stored under controlled atmosphere (5% O2; 15% CO2; balance N2) and control (78% N2; 21% O2), at 4°C, 10°C and 20°C for 12 days. The results of this study demonstrated that the total antioxidant activity in the baby spinach leaves stored under controlled atmosphere at 4°C after 3 and 12 days of storage period significantly yielded 6.39 mg.g-1 and 4.41 mg.g-1, respectively. Whereas, the lowest total antioxidant activity after 3 days (3.65 mg.g-1) and 12 days (2 mg.g-1) was observed at 20°C in baby spinach leaves stored in normal air atmosphere. Similar trend was evident on flavonoids, under controlled atmosphere at 4°C yielding 25.14 mg.g-1 and 9.15 mg.g-1 after 3 and 12 days, respectively. Samples from normal air showed least flavonoid contents when stored at 20°C yielded 5 mg.g-1 for 12 days. In conclusion, when considering all conditions under which this study was carried out, it is therefore, evident that baby spinach leaves should be stored under controlled atmosphere (5% O2; 15% CO2; balance N2) at 4°C for 9 days to maintain high level of antioxidant activity and flavonoids. Thus, leading to the best quality and also extend the shelf life of the product.
Nurgul Kitir
Yeditepe University, Turkey
Title: Bio Humic Application Effects on soil degredation
Time : 12:50 - 13:05
Biography:
Nurgul Kitir, has completed her master degree in Yeditepe University Genetics and Bioengineering Department and she is still a PhD student in this university and has given her qualifying exam. She has published many papers in several national and international journals
Abstract:
Nowadays, the developing countries determined some strategies that target to gain the maximum yield and economic products by using technology on agricultural product as follower of developed countries. The base of these strategies to increase the target productivity amount, the attendance of biodiversity and natural balance sustainability weren’t thought and unbounded chemical input uses have been caused a lot of short and long term environmental problems. It is not enough only to review soil productivity factors and strengthen the soil productivity factors with dense chemical input, to solve the problems that cause degradation of the analyzing and soil productivity limiting factors will compose the important steps. Depending on the dense applications, increasing input uses causes addiction to use increasing chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides to gain the same amount of yield. Also the intensive using of chemicals causes soil degradation. The existing part of the nature as water, air circulation, nutrient element cycle, disease and pathogens auto-control, ion change etc. cycles are effected in the soils that have lost their biodiversity and their lack cycles cause the soil productivity losses. Because of that reasons the supporting activities should be used to increase soil biodiversity. In addition to no till farming systems to use the organic based productions as an input provides the organic material and biodiversity increase in 2-3 years. The gained production will be economic and more production will be provided to the market. Humic acid and derivative organic inputs are provides positive effects on soil contents and problems as high pH, high lime and low organic matter etc. In Turkey there are five places for using leonardite sources as Bursa -Davutlar, Balıkesir-Balya, Adana-Tufanbeyli, Tekirdag-Saray and Konya-Beysehir. NaOH and KOH are used in chemical process to extraction of humic acid and its components but they can be used only in conventional farming and with this chemical process it is not possible to extract of organic acid, amino acid and hormone. Nowadays, organic input sources are very limited and this problem is valid in all areas.
Ransford Opoku Darko
Jiangsu University, China
Title: Irrigation water management and food security
Time : 13:05 - 13:20
Biography:
Darko Ransford Opoku is a PhD candidate from University of Cape Coast and doing his doctoral studies from Jiangsu University Research Centre of Fluid Machinery Engineering. He is a research fellow at the Department of Agric Engineering, University of Cape Coast. He has published more than 5 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as a reviewer of some renowned journals.
Abstract:
Crop production depends on the successful implementation of the agricultural and water management technologies. Water is the scarcest resource and the importance of the judicious use of water in agricultural sector for sustaining agricultural growth and the retardation of environmental degradation needs no further elaboration. Water scarcity in agriculture is becoming a major problem due to increasing demand from non-agricultural uses and intensive crop management on existing croplands to meet the needs of an expanding global population. Efficient use of the available irrigation water is therefore of important concern. Even though intensive research in the areas of crop physiology, irrigation engineering, agronomy, and agricultural economics has developed several ways to improve the efficiency of irrigation water, a multidisciplinary approach is often regarded as the best future path to achieve further enhancements in meeting the forthcoming challenge of producing more and safety foods. The study reports on irrigation, water management is an important tool in ensuring food security on the globe. It emphasizes on the future of irrigation technologies focusing on providing the leadership and capacity to capture, develop and promote new irrigation practices and management systems to optimize production.
Adugna A Woldesemayat
University of South Africa, South Africa
Title: De novo assembly and characterization of Monsonia burkeana leaf transcriptome
Time : 14:20- 14:35
Biography:
Adugna A Woldesemayat has completed his PhD in 2015 from the University of the the Western Cape (UWC), South Africa in Bioinformatics and is currently a Post-doctoral reserch fellow at the University of South Africa (UNISA), Science Campus, Florida, South Africa. He is currently In-charge of the next generation sequencing (NGS) data analysis and the suppervises postgradate students. He has published several papers in reputed journals
Abstract:
Monsonia (Monsonia burkeana Planch. ex Harv) is one of the most valuable tea and traditional medicinal plants used in Southern Africa. In spite of its wide usage by the local inhabitants, there is very little or no genomic and transcriptomic information regarding this plant in litrature. To provide understanding of the naturally occurring tea and drug specific products and the key pathways responsible for the biosynthesis of these molecules, we sequenced the leaf transcriptome using Illumina MiSeq platform. This generated 800 MB 300x300 paired-end 2,590,652 reads that were assembled de novo in to 46757 transcript sequences. Blast based annotation of the assembled transcripts revealed best hits for homology in other species covering more than 17,800 genes. Functional GO annotation and KEGG pathways showed the enzymes that were involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. A total of 93 KEGG pathways with 15 functional categories and associated genes encoded by more than 90% of the coding transcripts are responsible for the biosynthesis of primary and secondary metabolites. Caffeine metabolism, flavonoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and xenobiotics biodegradation, terpenoids and polyketides metabolism are named but few were identified in association with tea quality and therapeutic drugs. More than 80 different gene families such as cytochrome p450 and protein kinase were identified to potentially encode for enzymes related with the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in various pathways. This data gives insight into the M. burkeana leaf tissue in harboring tea and drug specific bioactive chemicals.
Manaka Makgato
Agricultural Research Council, South Africa
Title: Ethyl methyl sulfonate (EMS) induced herbicide resistance in in vitro derived rice (Oryza sativa L.) calli
Time : 14:35 - 14:50
Biography:
Makgato Manaka has completed his BSc. Agriculture (Soil Science), honours at the age of 25 years from the University of Limpopo. He is currently submitted his MSc. Agriculture Dissertation to the University (UNISA) and with two papers under review for publication in accredited journals. He is serving as a Student research trainee under the programme Professional Development Programme at the ARC VOP.
Abstract:
Increasing human population, decrease in resources and environmental degradation pose serious threat to natural processes such as critical microorganisms that are responsible for life on earth. Agriculture is challenged to develop strategies for sustainability that conserve non-renewable natural resources such as soil. Good agricultural produce and sustainability depend on the soil health maintenance. Soil health is the capacity of a soil to function as a vital living system, within ecosystem and land use boundaries in order to sustain plant productivity and promote plant health. In this study, we assessed soil microbial diversities of Sutherlandia frutescens soils which are responsible for availability Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Carbon (C). The experiment was conducted on the experimental site at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC VOPI) Roodeplaat, Pretoria, South Africa (25°59’S; 28°35’E). The experimental layout was a Latin square with four levels of inoculant per 100 seeds (T0=Control, T1=1gram Inoculant, T2=2grams inoculant and T4=4grams inoculant) replicated four times. Plants and soil samples were collected for analysis. Rhizosphere and Bulk soil samples were sent to ARC’s Plant Protection Research Institute (ARC PPRI) for Carbon Substrate Utilisation Profiles (CSUP), functional diversity and soil microbial enzymatic activity. The data obtained were subjected to non-parametric statistical analysis using STATISTICA 12 (StatSoft, Inc. ©) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and cluster analyses. There was significant statistical difference existed between the CSUP of soil microbial populations. It was clear that CSUP in T0 and T4 differ significantly from T2 but not from T1 and the bulk soil. Nutrients composition released over decomposition or the plant root exudates attract microbial populations that are specialized to utilize the specific compounds rapidly, thus contributing to the difference in CSUP of soil microbial populations. Soil microbial populations differed in sampled plots but not statistically significant in their ability to convert C. There was lowest ß glucosidase activity in T2 and Bulk soil; T2 and T4 had the lowest alkaline phosphatase activities whereas T0, T1 and T4 had the lowest acid phosphatase; and T0 and T4 had the lowest urease activities. Soil microbial diversity and activities did not differ significantly between the sampled treatments. The samples revealed that the overall lowest soil microbial diversity with the highest overall soil microbial activity in the Bulk soil, compared to the other treatments. Considering the results obtained, the soil samples do not represent the profile of healthy soils, which might make the soils prone to unhealthy plants or lower yields due to low microbial activity, and the occurrence of diseases due to the low microbial diversity.
Salmina N Mokgehle
Agricultural Research Council, South Africa
Title: Variation in antioxidant activity and soluble sugars of Wild ginger (Siphonochilus aethiopicus L.) in response to water and nitrogen levels
Time : 14:50 - 15:05
Biography:
Salmina N Mokgehle is a PhD candidate under the School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal working on Wild ginger (Zingiberaceae) species.
Abstract:
Wild ginger (Siphonochilus aethiopicus) is rhizomatous herb which belongs to the family Zingiberaceae. The plant is of great importance because the rhizomes and roots possess great medicinal benefits due to the presence of medicinally significant compound siphonochilone. It has been traditionally used for the treatment of coughs, colds, asthma, headaches, pain, inflammation and malaria. The leaves, rhizomes and roots of Wild ginger were screened for their total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant activity and concentration of soluble sugars in response to irrigation regimes and nitrogen application rates. Common methods of FRAP, Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric, aluminum chloride (AlCl3) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were employed to determine the antioxidant, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and soluble sugars respectively. The results showed that TPC for leaves varied from 13.92 mg/g GAE under severely stressed conditions with the application of 200N to 82.86 mg/g GAE with application of 100N. The leaves in general recorded much greater TPC content, followed by the roots and rhizomes. It was also found that the total flavonoids content of all plant parts had significant variation, ranging from a low 0.12 mg/g QE for rhizomes under severely stressed (70% ADL) with 0N application rate to 3.60 mg/g QE for leaves under moderately stressed treatments with 150N application amounts. Additionally the results clearly indicate that leaves had greater antioxidant activity than the rhizomes and roots. With soluble sugars however, the roots recorded increased sucrose content followed by fructose and glucose with rhizome and leaves showing the least. Taken together, potent TPC, TFC, antioxidant activity and soluble sugar concentration with the inclusion of cultivation practices could be used as knowledge for conservation purposes of the endangered medicinal species and applied to the industry as natural antioxidants.
Jacob Liberty
Federal University, Nigeria
Title: Development and performance testing of a passive vegetable dryer with movable heat storage system
Time : 15:05- 15:20
Biography:
Jacob Liberty, is a new PhD Student at McGill University, Canada, 29 years of age, had his masters degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Bachelors degree from the University of Maiduguri. His area of specialization is food processiong and storage engineering. He is presently a Lecturer at the Federal University Dutsinma. He has published more than 25 papers in reputed journals.
Abstract:
The present study designed and constructed a post-harvest passive solar tomato dryer of dimension 176 x 152 x 54cm for drying tomato. Quality of the dried crop was evaluated and compared with the fresh ones. The solar dryer consist of solar collector (air heater), 110 x 61 x 10 x 10cm, the drying chamber, 102 x54cm, removal heat storage unit, 40 x 35 x 13cm and drying trays, 43 x 42cm. The physicochemical properties of this crop were evaluated before and after drying. Physicochemical properties evaluated includes: moisture, protein, fat, fibre, ash, carbohydrate and vitamin C, contents. The fresh, open and solar dried samples were analysed for their proximate composition using the recommended method of AOAC. Also, statistical analysis of the data was conducted using analysis of variance (ANOVA) using completely Randomize Design (CRD) and means were separated by Duncan’s New Multiple Range test (DNMRT). Proximate analysis showed that solar dried tomato had significantly (P < 0.05) higher protein, fibre, ash, carbohydrate and vitamin C except for the fat content that was significantly (P < 0.05) higher for all the open sun dried samples than the solar dried and fresh product. The nutrient which is highly affected by sun drying is vitamin C. Result indicates that moisture loss in solar dried tomato was faster and lower than the open dried samples and as such makes the solar dried products of lesser tendency to mould and bacterial growth. Also, the open sun dried samples had to be carried into the sheltered place each time it rained. The solar dried produce is of high quality. Further processing of the dried crops will involve packaging for commercial purposes. This will also help in making these agricultural produce available in a relatively cheap prices in off season and also avert micronutrient deficiencies in diet especially among the low income groups in Nigeria.