Open Access Published by De Gruyter Open Access

Volume 7 Issue 1

January 2022

Issue of Open Agriculture

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Contents
Journal Overview

Red chili is one of the important commodities with increasing demand. However, the quality, continuity of supply, and quantity have not been realized to meet domestic market demand. Increasing growth, yield, and quality can be pursued through superior varieties, and the effort to increase crop productivity is the application of various doses of potassium fertilizer. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of various varieties and doses of potassium fertilizer on the growth, yield, and quality of red chili. The split-plot experimental design consisting of two factors was also used. The first factor is the variety, as the main plot consisting of UNPAD CB2, Tanjung 2, and Lingga. The second factor was the dose of potassium fertilizer as sub-plots which consisted of four levels, namely 0, 100, 200, and 300 kg/ha KCl. The results showed an interaction between variety and dose of potassium fertilizer on plant height at 8 weeks after planting (WAP), stem diameter at 8 WAP, and leaf area index at 9 WAP. Meanwhile, UNPAD CB2 showed the best results for 6 WAP plant height, fruit weight per plant, number of fruits per plant, fruit length, dihydrocapsaicin, total capsaicinoid, and scoville heat unit. Potassium fertilizer doses of 200 and 300 kg/ha KCl showed high yields for stem diameters of 6 WAP.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a variety of challenges to Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, especially in the area of health protection, food security, and availability. Food security is a concept that encompasses the availability and accessibility of safe nutritious foods to everyone and is dependent on the maintenance of the food supply chain. The food security status of Nigeria, a developing country that previously was problematic, has been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic through several fronts including the disruption of the food supply chain, reduced agricultural output as a result of the global lockdown, and lack of access to agricultural facilities and products, such as fertilisers, manpower, and restrictive policies. These factors have generally resulted in food scarcity and price inflations, which increasingly threaten the political and economic stability of households within the country, leading to an insecure future for the people. This review examines how the food security status of households in Nigeria has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of the lockdown and changing business environment on farmers’ food production operations and marketing activities. It further evaluates the pandemics impacts on agro-industrial projects and governments’ efforts in making the agriculture sector more sustainable. Strategies to improve local food production, accessibility and availability, through interventions, including financial incentives/grants to farmers, the revival of moribund agricultural agencies, and encouraging local production and processing of foods are explored.

Short Communication

Open Access May 7, 2022

Response of cannabidiol hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) varieties grown in the southeastern United States to nitrogen fertilization

Idowu A. Atoloye, Ifeoluwa Adesina, Abolghasem Shahbazi, Arnab Bhowmik

Page range: 373-381

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Abstract

With the expanding hemp cannabidiol (CBD) industry in the United States, information on fertilizer recommendations for optimal production under field conditions is deficient in the literature. This study evaluates the effects of nitrogen (N) fertilization on bud biomass and CBD yield of two high-yielding CBD hemp varieties (Spectrum and Therapy) under field conditions. Four application rates of N fertilization (0, 56, 112, and 224 kg N ha −1 ) were supplied using 2 commercially available N fertilizers. Fresh bud biomass, dry bud biomass, and CBD yield (g plant −1 ) increased quadratically with N fertilization rates, with optimum rates between 140 and 190 kg N ha −1 . When pooled across varieties, the tissue N concentration was linearly related to the fresh bud biomass, dry bud biomass, and CBD yield. Our findings show that N fertilization can affect CBD yield under field conditions. The resulting effect of N fertilizer rates on these varieties could serve as a preliminary guide for CBD hemp production under field conditions, although results may differ with variety, location, or fertilizer type.

Special Issue on the International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research – Agrarian Sciences

Open Access October 3, 2022

Special issue on the International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research – Agrarian Sciences: Message from the editor

Raquel P. F. Guiné

Page range: 764-764

The 12 principles of green chemistry were stated to pursue good practices and techniques that minimize the use of hazardous substances in the production and application of chemicals. To minimize the risks and the pollution generated using chemicals, new methodologies must be developed that avoid the application of dangerous products or its amount. Considering the principle of pollution prevention, this work proposes the development and application of a different methodology for the quantification of humic substances (HS), applying a spectrophotometric methodology that reduces the quantity of hazardous reagents (sodium dichromate and sulfuric acid) and minimizes the waste production. To deeply acknowledge the method, a validation of the methodology was done to allow the evaluation of its effectiveness to report reliable results. It was done by the evaluation of the parameters often used for this purpose (analytical limits, precision, accuracy, selectivity, robustness, and method working range). The detection limit attained was 0.03 g glucose/L and the quantification limit was 0.09 g glucose/L. The precision and accuracy were also evaluated using the repeatability limit and through performance testing, respectively, with a repeatability limit of 0.045 g/L and a Z -score less than 2. For selectivity and robustness, differences in variances were not significant, and the working range is well adjusted, with no differences regarding the precision of the lower and higher standard. The results obtained showed that the method under study, adapted to the green chemistry principles, can be applied to quantify HS in impure and complex samples.

Special Issue on the International Conference on Agribusiness and Rural Development – IConARD 2020

Open Access March 24, 2022

Behavioral response of breeder toward development program of Ongole crossbred cattle in Yogyakarta Special Region, Indonesia

Widodo, Diah Rina Kamardiani, Beti Nur Utami

Page range: 112-119

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Abstract

Ongole crossbred were endemic cattle in Java Island due to their good adaptation to the environment. The Government of Yogyakarta Special Region sought to develop cattle farms through an Ongole crossbred cattle development program in the Gunungkidul Regency to preserve this Ongole crossbred population. The study aimed to describe the behavior of breeders who participated in the Ongole crossbred cattle development programs on the post of this program. A sample of 40 small-breeder participants of this program was interviewed. The observed behaviors were all activities conducted by the breeders in carrying out the Ongole crossbred cattle farming. This study showed that breeders well implemented toward some core program, i.e., facilities management, cultivating forage, integrated animal service, and conserving productive female cows since program completion. However, due to limitations of capital ownership, the breeders were not well producing alternative fodder. Based on this result, the government was recommended to introduce a simple small farming capacity machine to small farmers to process the agricultural waste as animal feed.

To increase the competitiveness of chocolate and cocoa drink on the market, innovation of the products is substantially required. Incorporation of additional ingredients, i.e., ginger and cinnamon, as well giving information intervention on their health effect may increase the consumer acceptance as well as advance the consumer perception on the products. This study, therefore, aims to determine the effect of additional ingredient and intervention on health-related information on the hedonic level, emo-sensory response and collative perception of panelists on milk chocolate and cocoa drinks, which were enriched with additional ingredients, i.e., ginger, cinnamon and stabilizers. This study used descriptive quantitative method in which the data were obtained from 40 panelists. Correspondence analysis was used to see the emo-sensory profile and panelist perceptions that were emerged from each sample. The results show that the addition of spices to chocolate and cocoa drinks resulted in a statistically significant decrease in the hedonic level. However, the use of stabilizer significantly improved the hedonic level of cocoa drink. The hedonic responses, emotions and collative perceptions of the panelists were influenced by the product information, particularly on the products with the addition of spices.

About this journal

Scope

Veterinary Medicine
Agro-ecology
Soil science
Plant science
Horticulture
Forestry, Wood technology
Animal science
Entomology
Aquaculture
Hydrology, Irrigation
Food science
Nutrition
Agricultural economics
Bio-based economy
Agricultural engineering
Landscape management
Postharvest technology
Climate-based agriculture
Amelioration
Tropical agriculture
Microbiology
Agroforestry
Sustainable development
Biomass, Biofuel
Agronomy
Agricultural Extension Education
Rural development
Agricultural information and communication
Capacity Building
Mycology

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