Thai Journal of Agricultural Science

High-quality-cassava peel meal: Impact on growth performance, blood characteristics, and economic indices of grower pigs

T.K. Ojediran — 2024-06-25

Background and Objective: Cassava peel, a byproduct of cassava tuber processing, is considered a waste. Processing using multi-level techniques enhances shelf-life and quality as a feed resource. The study examined the effects of high-quality-cassava peel meal (HQCPM) on growth, blood characteristics, and economic indices of growing pigs.
Methodology: Landrace-Large White crossbred male growing pigs (n = 30, X̅ = 23.85 ± 0.25 kg) were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments, with six pigs in each group and each pig being a replicate. The control diet (1) had maize as the major calorie source, while it was replaced with HQCPM at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% for diets 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively, within seven weeks of the feeding trial.
Main Results: The drying methods caused variations in the proximate composition, metabolizable energy, and hydrogen cyanide. The growth response showed that significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed in total weight gain, average daily weight gain, total feed intake, and average daily feed intake, with those fed diet 3 having the highest value of 33.50 ± 1.80, 0.68 ± 0.04, 107.92 ± 9.21, and 2.21 ± 0.35 kg respectively. The HQCPM diets had no negative consequences on the blood parameters, as most values were within the acceptable range for growing pigs. Linear decrease (P < 0.05) existed in the feed cost per kg (₦86.68 ± 3.32 to ₦64.64 ± 2.43) and feed cost per kg weight gain (₦309.59 ± 13.85 to ₦217.65 ± 19.36) while an increased (P < 0.05) profit (₦424.63 ± 12.22 to ₦530.22 ± 101.13) and economy efficiency of gain (137.29 ± 5.71 to 246.85 ± 65.59) was recorded from diets 1 to 5, respectively ($1 = ₦360).
Conclusions: HQCPM can substitute maize in growing pigs‘ diets up to 100% without any insalubrious consequences for the pigs, as it favors reduced feed costs and increased economic returns.

Economics of rice production/processing (RP/P) enterprises in Ibaji, Kogi Eastern Senatorial district, Nigeria

Y.E. Ajibade — 2024-06-25

Background and Objective: There has been a steady increase in rice consumption among different categories of people in Nigeria. The closure of Nigeria’s borders against rice importation has further strengthened home-based production, processing, and consumption. The study focused on rice production/processing (RP/P) in Ibaji, Kogi Eastern Senatorial district, Nigeria. The study described the socioeconomic characteristics and activities of respondents, estimated their costs and returns, determined the effects of some selected variables on rice selling prices, and identified problems encountered in
the enterprise.
Methodology: A multi-stage sampling technique was used to elicit primary data from 120 respondents with the aid of a well-structured questionnaire coupled with personal interviews. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis, and multiple regression analysis.
Main Results: The results showed that most respondents were female (75.00%), with a mean age of 36 years. Additionally, most were married (81.67%), with a mean household size of six members. Land clearing, planting, weeding, pesticide application, and fertilizer application activities were major planting activities, while major processing activities were parboiling, dehulling, winnowing, cleaning, and packaging. Furthermore, the results showed that respondents earned an average revenue of $323.5 per annum on rice production/processing. They incurred a total cost of $162.6 per annum on rice production/processing with an average gross profit of $166.8 per annum. Also, the study showed that transportation cost (0.53; P < 0.01), distance to market (0.55; P < 0.05), quality of produced/processed paddy rice (-1.41; P < 0.01), and processing cost (0.07; P < 0.01) with R-square value of 0.513 had significant effects on selling price of rice respectively. Moreover, inadequate credit facilities, shortage of processing facilities, high cost of processing, inadequate transportation infrastructure, and high cost of transportation were the problems faced by the respondents (ranging from 65.8–100%).
Conclusions: The enterprise was dominated by productive married women with profitable returns. Therefore, the generation of adequate capital is imperative for business expansion and the purchase of adequate processing, storage, and transport facilities.

Variability, correlations, and path co-efficient analysis in snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumirana L.) inbreds

B. Ahmed — 2024-06-25

Background and Objective: The present study was undertaken to determine the genetic variation, the correlation coefficient, the interrelationship between the different characters, and the direct and indirect contribution of these characters to the yield of snake gourd inbreds.
Methodology: Fifteen snake gourd inbreds were evaluated to measure the genetic variability, heritability, and path coefficient analysis for association among the characters and their contribution to yield.
Main Results: A significant variation was observed for all the characters among the inbreds. High genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) along with high phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was found for the characters like fruit length (103.80% and 104.42%), individual fruit weight (31.27% and 33.47%), and yield per plant (25.11% and 33.81%). Whereas high heritability, coupled with the high genetic advance in percent means, was observed for fruit length (98.82% and 73.41%), individual fruit weight (87.30% and 60.19%), and number of fruits per plant (86.56% and 47.79%) which indicates that these characters are controlled by additive gene effect with minimum environment effect. Hence, direct selection can be the way out for further improvement of snake gourd inbreds. The highest positive direct effects were recorded for individual fruit weight (0.69), number of fruits per plant (0.31), and harvest duration (0.62). Correlation studies revealed that fruit yield had a significant positive correlation with individual fruit weight, number of fruits per plant, and harvest duration.
Conclusions: So, the direct selection of high-yielding inbreds of snake gourd should emphasize the individual fruit weight and number of fruits per plant.

Evaluation of maize F1 hybrids’ tolerance to low soil nitrogen using various selection indices

O.S. Aboderin — 2024-06-25

Background and Objective: Traditional breeding methods often prioritize yield-centric indices for assessing genotypic stress tolerance, overlooking the nuanced contributions of other traits. This study introduced the Selection Index based on Trait Points (SIP), a comprehensive approach incorporating all measured traits under stressed and optimum conditions. The study aimed to identify low-nitrogen (N) tolerant maize hybrids and evaluate SIP’s efficacy in stress tolerance assessment.
Methodology: A total of 237 maize hybrids resulting from line × tester crosses and three hybrid checks were evaluated under low- and optimum-N conditions in Zaria, Nigeria, during the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons. The trial employed a 15 × 16 alpha lattice design with two replications. Thirteen selection indices were used to assess various aspects of hybrid performance, including yield potential, yield stability, and low-N tolerance level.
Main Results: Genotypic and environmental factors significantly influenced grain yield and other traits under both N conditions. Top yielders in low-N were SMLW-74 × SAM50M (5,742 kg/ha) and SMLW-146 × IITA1878 (5,129 kg/ha). In optimum-N, hybrid SMLW-147 × IITA1878 recorded the highest yield (8,155 kg/ha), demonstrating a 28.7% yield advantage over the best check. Tolerance Index, SIP, and Mean Productivity exhibited significant (P < 0.01) strong positive correlations with grain yield under optimum-N conditions. At the same time, most selection indices displayed positive correlations with grain yield under low-N conditions. Hybrids SMLW-146 × IITA1878, SMLW-147 × SAM50M, and SMLW-74 × SAM50M showed promising performance across multiple screening indices, indicating their potential tolerance to low soil-N.
Conclusion: SIP proves to be both representative and discriminating, making it the ideal selection index for selecting maize hybrids with consistent and superior yield performance under contrasting environments. Hybrids SMLW-147 × SAM50M and SMLW-146 × IITA1878 are recommended for further evaluation in multi-locational and on-farm trials for potential commercialization in Nigeria.

Effects of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) applied with gibberellic acid (GA3) in response to different durations of drought and flooding

D.M. Cacal — 2024-06-25

Background and Objective: Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) is a major industrial crop used in cigars and cigarettes. Drought and flooding can significantly impact its growth. Gibberellic acid (GA3) explored its potential to enhance the resilience. Therefore, this study investigates the effects of GA3 on tobacco growth under varying drought and flooding conditions.
Methodology: The study utilized 6 × 2 factorials in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Factor A included stress duration treatments: control (Con), drought for three days (D), prolonged drought for five days (PD), flood for three days (F), prolonged flood for five days (PF), flood followed by prolonged drought (F + PD), and prolonged flood followed by prolonged drought (PF + PD). Factor B involved gibberellic acid 3 (GA3) application, with B1 representing GA3 application (WG) and B2 without GA3 (WOG). Data was analyzed with two-way ANOVA. Treatment means differences assessed via Tukey’s HSD test.
Main Results: Gibberellic acid 3 (WG) significantly influenced (P < 0.05) plant height (PH), number of leaves (NL), leaf length (LL), root length (RL), and biomass yield (BY), averaging 35.71 ± 2.34 cm, 5.00 ± 0.53, 31.14 ± 1.87 cm, 25.14 ± 1.42 cm, and 195.43 ± 7.65 g, respectively. Con + WG notably had significantly higher PH (63.00 ± 3.12 cm), NL (7.00 ± 0.53), LL (50.00 ± 2.34 cm), RL (36 ± 1.87 cm), and BY (255.65 ± 9.72 g). Different durations of drought and flooding stress conditions high significantly impaired tobacco growth, resulting in decreased PH from 60.00 ± 17.07 to 17.50 ± 7.79 cm and LL from 43.00 ± 8.60 to 17.50 ± 0.71 cm.
Conclusions: GA3 application enhances tobacco growth, boosting plant height, leaf count, length, and biomass yield, counteracting water stress’s adverse effects. Water stress diminishes tobacco metrics like plant height, leaf area, and fresh weight.