Research Article
Yield Loss Quantification Due to Stalk-Eyed Fly (Diopsidae) Infestations on Rice Crops (Oryza Sativa) in Fogera Plain
Geteneh Mitku
Middle East Research Journal of Agriculture and Food Science; 179-185.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36348/merjafs.2024.v04i05.003
Stalk-Eyed Flies (Diopsidae) pose a significant threat to rice crops (Oryza sativa), causing yield loss and affecting crop development. This study aims to quantify yield loss due to Stalk-Eyed Fly infestations and identify susceptible growth stages of rice crops to this insect. Field experiments were conducted to assess the yield loss of rice due to stalk eyed fly at Fogera, in 2021 and 2022. With the treatments Both Thiamethoxam seed treatment and Chlorpyrifos systemic foliar insecticide were applied to combat the infestation, with untreated varieties serving as controls. And the pot experiment was conducted to assess susceptibility of rice growth stage to the stalk eye fly artistically analyses, were employed to evaluate treatment impacts. With the treatments of different crop stages, Seedling Stage, Tillering Stage, Stem Elongation Stage, Panicle Initiation Stage, Booting, Heading, Flowering. The effect of rice growth stage on stalk eyed fly infestation showed that there is statistically significant difference among the different growth stage, tillering stage appears to be the most susceptible to Stalk-Eyed Fly infestations in terms of the impact on tiller growth in rice crops. During this stage, the mean percentage change of tillers is the highest at 59.3%, indicating a substantial impact of infestations on tiller growth. This suggests that rice crops are particularly vulnerable to stalked fly infestations during the tillering stage, highlighting the importance of effective pest management strategies during this critical growth phase to mitigate potential yield losses. In the field experiment, significant variations in yield loss were observed across treatments. The presence of dead hearts, indicative of infestation, varied notably between treated and untreated rice. Rice varieties incorporating pesticide applications demonstrated lower dead heart percentages, suggesting there is rice yield loss if the stalk-eyed fly is not controlled. Notably, treatments influenced grain yield, with insect protection measures resulting in higher yields and lower yield loss compared to controls. In conclusion, stalk-eyed fly infestation impacts rice crop productivity, particularly during vulnerable growth stages. Pesticide applications show promise in reducing infestation severity and mitigating yield loss. We recommend implementing targeted treatment strategies, focusing on susceptible growth stages, to effectively manage infestations and optimize rice crop yields.
Review Article
Agricultural Policies and Strategies in Ethiopia: A Review on Transformation Towards an Improved Agricultural Extension
Sura Degefu, Gemechu Beri
Middle East Research Journal of Agriculture and Food Science; 186-192.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36348/merjafs.2024.v04i05.004
In Ethiopia, economic development policy has historically been dominated by subsistence agriculture, leading to unrealized agricultural potential characterized by low productivity and a focus on subsistence farming practices. This would necessitate giving agricultural policies top priority and launching an improved initiative to speed up the transition from traditional farming. To this end, this review was to summarize the strengths and drawbacks of Ethiopia's agricultural policies and strategies, as well as make recommendations for improved interventions and the potential for scaling them up. This may be very helpful in directing policymakers to introduce the valuable interventions and handle related issues. Since 1991, the government of Ethiopia has implemented various agricultural policies in order to boost agricultural productivity and production, which in turn reduces poverty and food insecurity. However, the results have been found to be unsatisfactory. This is mainly due to the poor performance of the agricultural extension system in terms of its coverage and quality of implementation. Thus, the review argues, addressing such challenges and commercializing the sector could lead Ethiopia to further exploit its agricultural potential. In this regard, the recently implemented cluster farming is the right way to overcome these problems and support subsistence farming by increasing smallholder farmers bargaining power, increasing the faster diffusion of research recommendations and extension packages, knowledge transfer, and market linkage. Therefore, the review recommends that policymakers and development organizations should consider cluster farming as a main farming strategy to increase smallholder farmer’s productivity and support initiatives to attain the intended goals.
Research Article
Effects of Silicon on Development and Controlling of Powdery Scab in Irish Potato (Solanum tuberosum)
James Matando, Elizabeth Ngadze, Shumirayi Muhera, Samuel Kodani
Middle East Research Journal of Agriculture and Food Science; 193-201.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36348/merjafs.2024.v04i05.005
Effects of different silicon levels on plant height, stem diameter, disease incidence and severity and its activity on polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase enzymes on powdery scab caused by Spongospora subterranean on Irish potatoes (BP1) was assessed. This was a greenhouse study at the University of Zimbabwe Crop Science department. A mixture of 50% sterilised vermiculite and 50% sterilised sand was used as growing media. 0, 250, 500 and 750ppm silicon concentrations were used. Irrigation water, other fertilizers and insecticides applied were made uniform across all treatments. Variations among treatments were monitored from three weeks after planting then on weekly basis for the coming eighty weeks. Silicon concentrations showed significance difference (p<0.001) on plant height and stem diameter of Irish potatoes. It proved to play a significant role in the growth of the potato plants. Silicon levels showed no significant difference on powdery scab incidence with all plants getting diseased. Silicon reduced the infestation severity at high concentrations. It also increased the activity of polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase enzymes in potatoes at different response rates. Results from the study indicates great potential of silicon based fertilizers in controlling powdery scab as well as growth rate of Irish potatoes.
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