Soil carbon (C) contents and dynamics are important in the maintenance of health soils. Organic amendments (e.g. crop residue and organic manure) are known as materials to increase soil C. The degradation of organic amendments and physical disturbance of soils, performed by the fauna, can alter soil microbial community, and thus influence rates of the C cycles. However, little is known about the interaction between different soil biological communities (i.e. soil fauna and microbes) regarding soil ...

The present study characterizes Bemisia tabaci and Bemisia afer from cassava in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Mitochondrial COI sequencing revealed the occurrence of six cassava B. tabaci mitotypes, which were designated into four haplogroups (SSA-ECA, SSA-CA, SSA2, and SSA-ESA) using KASP SNP genotyping. SSA-ECA (72%) was the most prevalent and occurred in the northern part of the surveyed area, in the Ituri and Nord/Sud-Kivu provinces, whilst SSA-CA (21%) was present in the ...

Watermelon is increasingly produced and consumed in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, limited information exists regarding the nematode fauna associated with the crop. Therefore, the overall aim of this study was to determine the nematode assemblages associated with watermelon, to investigate the reproduction potential of populations of the predominant plant-parasitic nematodes identified and to assess the host status of commercially available cultivars in south-west Nigeria to the ...

Bananas (Musa spp.) are one of the most important crops in the global food crop industry, the second most important fruit crop and an important staple crop around the world. Due to the increased trend in global population, a raise in the intensity in crop productivity is needed. The use of plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPM) could be an alternative to improve the stress-tolerance and productivity of crops, thus, reducing the amount of chemical pesticides and fertilizers needed. Trichoderma ...

This paper examines the effect of COVID-19 related cases and lockdown measures on the issues related to Small and Medium Scale Enterprise in Nigeria. Using an electronic data collection approach, this study analyzes the data using the linear probability model to estimate the effect of the pandemic on the entrepreneurs and model the factors influencing coping strategies using a multivariate probit model. We found that majority of the entrepreneurs have been affected (both severely and slightly) by ...

CONTEXT Given the significance of climate change impacts on farming communities, large investments are made by research and development actors, including farmers themselves, to adapt agricultural systems. A data-driven approach is required to guide these investments and maximize their impact. In the African Great Lakes Region (GLR), root, tuber and banana (RT&B) crops are a vital component of smallholder farming systems, but little is known about strategies to mitigate climate change impacts on ...

This perspective paper complements the Special Issue, by taking the five Challenges and Recommendations to One CGIAR as a starting point, and grounds those recommendations in the 15 years of AR4D practice of the Consortium for Improving Agriculture-based Livelihoods in Central Africa (CIALCA). CIALCA is a longstanding consortium of CGIAR centres and regional and national research and development partners that aims to accelerate the impact of agricultural research for sustainable development and ...

There is a growing need for spatially continuous and quantitative soil information for improved farmers yields and environmental management. This study was aimed at mapping the spatial variability of soil properties with focus on delineating soil nutrient management zones (MZs) in a maize-based cropping system. Farmers’ fertilizer application rates were monitored in relation to the yield obtained. The study was conducted in Ikara, Soba, Doguwa, Bunkure, Faskari, Kankara, Malumfashi, Bakori, Kafur, ...