Journal and Journal Articles: Recent submissions

Now showing items 581-600 of 5266

    • Fertilisers differentially affect facultative and obligate parasitic weeds of rice and only occasionally improve yields in infested fields 

      Tippe, D.E.; Bastiaans, L.; van Ast, A.; Dieng, I.; Cissoko, M.; Kayeke, J.; Makokha, D.W.; Rodenburg, J. (2020-09-01)
      Different fertilisers were field tested to investigate whether they (1) suppress the obligate parasitic weed Striga asiatica and the facultative parasitic weed Rhamphicarpa fistulosa, and (2) favour rainfed rice yields under parasitic weed infestation. Four years of experiments were conducted in southwest Tanzania, in a S. asiatica-infested rainfed upland and a R. fistulosa-infested rainfed lowland field. Treatments included sole mineral (NPK or Di-Ammonium Phosphate —DAP— plus urea), organic ...

    • Does use of atoxigenic biocontrol products to mitigate aflatoxin in maize increase fumonisin content in grains? 

      Ortega-Beltran, A.; Agbetiameh, D.; Atehnkeng, J.; Falade, T.D.; Bandyopadhyay, R. (2021-09-07)
      In the tropics and subtropics, maize and other crops are frequently contaminated with aflatoxins by Aspergillus flavus. Treatment of crops with atoxigenic isolates of A. flavus formulated into biocontrol products can significantly reduce aflatoxin contamination. Treated crops contain up to 100% less aflatoxins compared to untreated crops. However, there is the notion that protecting crops from aflatoxin contamination may result in increased accumulation of other toxins, particularly fumonisins ...

    • Quality attributes of fufu in south-east Nigeria: guide for cassava breeders 

      Chijioke, U.; Madu, T.; Okoye, B.; Ogunka, A.M.; Ejechi, M.; Ofoeze, M.; Ogbete, C.; Njoku, D.; Ewuziem, J.; Confidence, K.; Onyemauwa, N.; Ukeje, B.; Achonwa, O.; Forsythe, L.; Fliedel, G.; Egesi, C. (2021-03)
      Fufu is a popular traditional fermented wet paste food product from cassava. We examined consumer preferences and quality attributes of fufu in Abia and Imo States of South‐East Nigeria, with special attention to gender differences, for the purpose of providing guidance to breeders. Data were analysed by the use of descriptive and inferential statistics. Participants for the interview were randomly selected from a list of farmers in the study area. Individual (II) interviews were conducted among ...

    • Evaluation of some quality parameters of cassava starch and soy protein isolate matrices during deep fat frying in soybean oil 

      Omidiran, A.T.; Sobukola, O.P.; Sanni, S.A.; Sanni, L.O.; Adebowale, A.A.; Shajobi, A.O.; Kulakow, P. (2019-02)
      Snack industry is recently focused on the production of snacks with minimal oil content and enhanced quality attributes which prompted the need to study the changes in snack matrices produced from cassava starch processed from three varieties of cassava roots (TMS‐950289, TME‐419, and TMS‐30572) and soy protein isolate blends fried in soybean oil. Effect of frying temperature (170–180°C), frying time (2–4 min), soy protein isolate inclusion level (5%–15%) on proximate composition, color changes, ...

    • A comparative analysis of technical efficiency and profitability of agribusiness and non-agribusiness enterprises in eastern DRC 

      Nyamuhirwa, D.A.; Awotide, B.A.; Kusinza, D.B.; Bishikwabo, K.; Mignouna, J.; Bamba, Z.; Dontsop-Nguezet, P. (2022)
      The purpose of this study was to determine whether agribusiness could be competitive compared to non-agribusiness employment opportunities in terms of technical efficiency and profitability. We used data collected on all seven operating cassava community processing centers (CCPCs) and 150 comparable non-agribusiness enterprises in South Kivu province. A Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), as well as cost–benefit ratios and net monthly revenue, were used to examine technical efficiency and profitability. ...

    • Assessment of the nutritional composition, physical properties and sensory quality of composite bread baked with high-quality cassava flour from biofortified and white- fleshed cassava roots 

      Awoyale, W.; Abass, A.B.; Amaza, P.; Oluwasoga, O.; Nwaoliwe, G. (2019-06)
      With proper processing and utilization, biofortified cassava may contribute to the nutritional status of the consumers, thus, the need for this study. High-quality cassava flour from white- (TME 419) and biofortified (TMS 01/1368) cassava varieties were produced at a commercial processing factory, after which the flour is composite with wheat flour to produce bread. The nutritional composition, physical properties and sensory quality of the composite bread were analyzed using standard methods. ...

    • The cocoa yield gap in Ghana: a quantification and an analysis of factors that could narrow the gap 

      Asante, P.A.; Rahn, E.; Zuidema, P.A.; Rozendaal, D.M.A.; van der Baan, M.E.G.; Laderach, P.; Asare, R.; Cryer, N.; Anten, N.P.R. (2022-08)
      CONTEXT Global cocoa production is largely concentrated in West Africa where over 70% of cocoa is produced. Here, cocoa farming is largely a rain-fed, low-input system with low average yields, which are expected to decline with climate change. With increasing demand, there is a need to evaluate opportunities to increase production whilst avoiding deforestation and expansion to croplands. Thus, it is important to know how much additional cocoa can be produced on existing farmland, and what factors ...

    • White Guinea yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir.) landraces trait profiling and setting benchmark for breeding programs in the Republic of Benin 

      Loko, Y.; Gbemavo, C.; Agre, A.P.; Dassou, A.G.; Yelome, O.I.; Idossou, R.; Afoha, S.A.P.; Dadonougbo, E.; Fakorede, J.; Dansi, A. (2022)
      To meet the high demand for white Guinea yam, there is a need to develop and release improved varieties to farmers. Unfortunately, low rate of adoption of most of the improved yam varieties by both producers and consumers was observed. Information regarding agronomic characteristics and food qualities of popular white Guinea yam landraces with high market value are not available to establish minimum standards to be considered by breeding programs. To fill this gap, surveys using rural appraisal ...

    • Does agricultural cooperative membership impact technical efficiency of maize production in Nigeria: An analysis correcting for biases from observed and unobserved attributes 

      Olagunju, K.O.; Ogunniyi, A.I.; Oyetunde-Usman, Z.; Omotayo, A.O.; Awotide, B.A. (2021-01-22)
      The formation of agricultural cooperatives has been widely promoted as an agricultural development policy initiative to help smallholder farmers cope with multiple production and marketing challenges. Using a nationally representative survey dataset of smallholder maize producers from rural Nigeria, this study assesses the impact of agricultural cooperative membership on technical efficiency (TE). We based our estimation approach on the combination of a newly developed sample selection stochastic ...

    • Sustainable agricultural intensification and gender-biased land tenure systems: an exploration and conceptualization of interactions 

      Fischer, G.; Darkwah, A.; Kamoto, J.; Kampanje-Phiri, J.; Grabowski, P.; Djenontin, I. (2020)
      How does sustainable agricultural intensification’s (SAI) tenet of increased productivity on the same area of land relate to prevailing gender-biased land tenure systems? How can one conceptualize the interactions between intensified land use and control over land, labour, crops and benefits – and how can equitable outcomes be facilitated? These questions (which have not yet received sufficient attention in SAI research) are explored in this study using a qualitative methodology and a gender-tra ...

    • Atoxigenic-based technology for biocontrol of aflatoxin in maize and groundnuts for Tanzania 

      Mahuku, G.; Mauro, A.; Pallangyo, B.; Nsami, E.; Boni, S.; Koyano, E.; Mponda, O.; Ortega-Beltran, A.; Atehnkeng, J.; Aquiline, F.; Samuel, R.; Njela, J.; Cotty, P.; Bandyopadhyay, R. (2022)
      Application of biocontrol products containing atoxigenic isolates of Aspergillus flavus to reduce aflatoxin content in crops is an effective strategy for managing aflatoxin in several regions throughout the world. We report the development and validation of two aflatoxin biocontrol products, Aflasafe TZ01 and Aflasafe TZ02, for use in maize and groundnut in Tanzania, a country frequently affected by aflatoxin contamination. Each product contains four atoxigenic A. flavus genotypes native and widely ...

    • Assessment of heterotic patterns of tropical low-nitrogen–tolerant maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines using testcross performance, morphological traits and SNP markers 

      Ajala, S.O.; Olayiwola, M.O.; Job, A.O.; Olaniyan, A.B.; Gedil, M. (2020-12)
      Breeding efforts in West and Central Africa (WCA) have focused on the development of Low‐N‐tolerant (LNT) maize inbreds and their classification into heterotic groups. This study was conducted to classify LNT maize lines into heterotic groups using testcross performance, morphological and SNP markers and to compare the consistency of groupings by the three methods. Thirty‐six LNT inbreds were crossed to two contrasting inbred testers to generate 72 testcrosses that were evaluated under low‐N ...

    • The impact of demonstration plots on improved agricultural input purchase in Tanzania: implications for policy and practice 

      Sseguya, H.; Robinson, D.S.; Mwango, H.R.; Flock, J.A.; Manda, J.; Abed, R.; Mruma, S.O. (2021)
      In this paper, the authors use survey data from over 800 households to examine the impact of demonstration plots and associated activities (distribution of small packs of agricultural inputs) on smallholder farmers’ decisions to buy agricultural inputs in Tanzania. Using propensity score matching and inverse probability-weighted adjustment models, the authors estimated the effect of access to demonstration plots alone and demonstration plots combined with small packs of agricultural inputs on a ...

    • Misperceived quality: fertilizer in Tanzania 

      Michelson, H.; Fairbairn, A.; Ellison, B.; Maertens, A.; Manyong, V. (2021-01)
      Fertilizer use remains below recommended rates in most of Sub-Saharan Africa, contributing to low crop yields and poverty. We explore the role of fertilizer quality. We interviewed fertilizer sellers in an important agricultural region in Tanzania and sampled their fertilizer to establish that the nutrient content of fertilizers is good, meeting industry standards. However, we find farmers’ beliefs to be inconsistent with this reality. Beliefs about adulteration push down farmer willingness-to-pay ...

    • Assessing and understanding non-responsiveness of maize and soybean to fertilizer applications in African smallholder farms 

      Roobroeck, D.; Palm, C.A.; Nziguheba, G.; Weil, R.; Vanlauwe, B. (2021-01-01)
      Use of mineral fertilizers is essential to enhance crop productivity in smallholder farming systems of Sub-Saharan Africa, but various studies have reported ‘non-responsiveness’ where application of inorganic fertilizers does not lead to satisfactory yield gains. This phenomenon is not well defined nor are its extent and causes well understood. In order to close these knowledge gaps, we assessed the effects of commonly recommended nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and/or potassium (K) fertilizer inputs ...

    • State of ex situ conservation of landrace groups of 25 major crops 

      Ramirez-Villegas, J.; Khoury, C.K.; Achicanoy, H.A.; Diaz, M.V.; Mendez, A.C.; Sosa, C.C.; Kehel, Z.; Guarino, L.; Abberton, M.; Aunario, J.; Al Awar, B.; Alarcon, J.C.; Amri, A.; Anglin, N.L.; Azevedo, V.; Aziz, K.; Capilit, G.; Chavez, O.; Chebotarov, D.; Costich, D.; Debouck, D.G.; Ellis, D.; Falalou, H.; Fiu, A.; Ghanem, M.E.; Giovannini, P.; Goungoulou, A.J.; Gueye, B.; El Hobyb, A.I.; Jamnadass, R.; Jones, C.S.; Kpeki, B.; Lee, J.S.; McNally, K.; Muchugi, A.; Ndjiondjop, M.; Oyatomi, O.; Payne, T.; Ramachandran, S.; Rossel, G.; Roux, N.; Ruas, M.; Sansaloni, C.; Sardos, J.; Setiyono, T.D.; Tchamba, M.; Van den Houwe, I.; Velazquez, J.A.; Venuprasad, R.; Wenzl, P.; Yazbek, M.; Zavala, C. (2022)
      Crop landraces have unique local agroecological and societal functions and offer important genetic resources for plant breeding. Recognition of the value of landrace diversity and concern about its erosion on farms have led to sustained efforts to establish ex situ collections worldwide. The degree to which these efforts have succeeded in conserving landraces has not been comprehensively assessed. Here we modelled the potential distributions of eco-geographically distinguishable groups of landraces ...

    • Gender- and youth-sensitive data collection tools to support decision making for inclusive sustainable agricultural intensification 

      Grabowski, P.P.; Djenontin, I.; Zulu, L.; Kamoto, J.; Kampanje-Phiri, J.; Darkwah, A.; Egyir, I.; Fischer, G. (2021)
      To achieve equitable sustainable agricultural intensification (SAI), it is essential to understand differential access and control over agricultural resources by women and youth, and to assess how intensification interacts with gendered and age-dependent relationships. Existing packages for assessing women’s empowerment in agriculture tend to be large-scale surveys that do not provide timely results, nor are they easily integrated into a gender-transformative process. This paper applies concepts ...

    • Assessing effect of marker-based improvement of maize synthetics on agronomic performance, carotenoid content, combining ability and heterosis 

      Iseghohi, I.; Abe, A.; Meseka, S.; Mengesha, W.; Gedil, M.; Menkir, A. (2020)
      Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a serious problem in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and other parts of the world. Understanding the effect of marker-based improvement (MARS) of two maize synthetics (HGA and HGB) representing different heterotic groups on their agronomic performance, carotenoid content, and combining abilities could help identify suitable sources to develop divergent inbred lines for optimizing heterosis. This study involved three selection cycles each of the two synthetics and their nine ...

    • Optimum time for hand pollination in yam (Dioscorea spp.) 

      Mondo, J.; Agre, A.P.; Asiedu, R.; Akoroda, M.O.; Asfaw, A. (2022)
      Hand pollination success rate is low in yam (Dioscorea spp.), due partly to suboptimal weather conditions. Thus, determining the most suitable time for pollination could improve the pollination success in yam breeding programs. We performed continuous hand pollination within flowering windows of D. rotundata and D. alata for two consecutive years to determine the most appropriate month, week, and hours of the day allowing maximum pollination success. In D. alata crossing block, we observed significant ...

    • Germplasm acquisition and distribution by CGIAR genebanks 

      Halewood, M.; Jamora, N.; Noriega, I.L.; Anglin, N.L.; Wenzl, P.; Payne, T.; Ndjiondjop, M.N.; Guarino, L.; Kumar, P.L.; Yazbek, M.; Muchugi, A.; Azevedo, V.; Tchamba, M.; Jones, C.S.; Venuprasad, R.; Roux, N.; Rojas, E.; Lusty, C. (2020)
      The international collections of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) hosted by 11 CGIAR Centers are important components of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s global system of conservation and use of PGRFA. They also play an important supportive role in realizing Target 2.5 of the Sustainable Development Goals. This paper analyzes CGIAR genebanks’ trends in acquiring and distributing PGRFA over the last 35 years, with a particular focus on the last decade. ...