Moroccan Journal of Agricultural Sciences

Effect of different methods of pollination on fruiting and yield of wet season date palm fruits (Phoenix dactylifera L.) in Dutse, Jigawa State Nigeria

Mustapha SUNUSI, Muhammad Sani ISYAKU, Habu MUSA, Yusuf Muhmmad SANI — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 15:38:09 +0100

The study was carried out to determine the effect of pollination methods on fruiting and yield of wet season Date palm. The experiment was designed as complete randomized block design with three treatments each replicated four times. The three treatments are; T₁ (unpollinated), T₂(Pollination twice without protection) and T₃(Pollination twice with protection). Data were collected on fruit set percentage, fruit drop percentage, percentage of seedless fruits, fruit weight, pulp weight, seed weight, fruit size and bunch weight. The results indicated that pollination methods significantly affected fruit set percentage, fruit drop percentage, fruit weight, percentage of seedless fruits, seed weight, fruit size and bunch weight. Maximum fruit set was observed from pollination twice without protection (T₂). Bunch weight was also higher in pollination without protection (T₂₎ but it is not significantly different with T₃(pollination with protection). On the other hand, pollination with protection gives high quality fruits in terms of fruit weight, pulp weight, and less number of seedless fruits. The significant lowest yield per bunch was achieved by natural pollination. The results suggested that Pollination with protection of wet season inflorescences can substitute natural pollination thus improving the quality of the wet season fruit and also reduced the need for further fruit thinning.

Keywords: Date palm, Fruiting, Pollination strategies, Yield, Wet season

Ethnic knowledge in food, medicinal and economic value of Cochlospermum spp. root powder in Sudanian zone of Benin

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Cochlospermum spp. is a multipurpose species used widely in West Africa by local communities. The present study focused on ethnic knowledge in food, medicinal and economic value of Cochlospermum spp. root powder in Sudanian zone of Benin. From nine (9) ethnic groups, 86 key informants and 90 processors of Cochlospermum spp. root were interviewed in the study area using semi-structured questionnaires. Additionally, 36 focus group discussions were conducted each gathering 8-10 women of reproductive age selected on a voluntary basis. A generalized linear model (GLM) was used to investigate the effect of socio-demographic characteristics of the survey population on food and medicinal use value of Cochlospermum spp. root powder. Kruskal Wallis test was carried out to highlight differences between phytodistricts and ethnic groups with regards to the brut monthly income of processors. From all respondents in the study area, thirteen (13) food uses and fourteen (14) medicinal uses were identified for Cochlospermum spp. root powder. Ethnic differences are only observed for food uses. Respondents from Peulh and Waama ethnic groups have the highest food use value, which were on average 6.02 and 5.96 uses respectively, while respondents from Gourmantché ethnic group have the lowest food use value (1.01 uses). Monthly income generated while processing Cochlospermum spp. root was highest for Bariba (40,675 FCFA) and lowest for Boo (16,891 FCFA). Local people livelihoods can be improved if the species is better managed and valorized. Nevertheless, studies are needed to facilitate the domestication of the species.

Keywords: Use value, ethnic groups, health, food security, income-generating activity

First Assessment of Mormyridae diversity and abundance in the Niger River at Niamey, Niger

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0100

To analyse the assessment of Mormyridae diversity and abundance in the Niamey fisheries on the Niger River, a study was conducted from August to November 2022. Fish data were collected bimonthly from artisanal fishing landings using gillnets, sparrowhawk nets, baited traps, and baited longlines. A total of 1279 individuals from fifteen species across nine genera were inventoried. Numerically, Mormyrus rume dominated the fish assemblages, comprising 29.9% of the mormyrid sub-community, followed by Marcusenius cyprinoides (15.0%), Campylomormyrus tamandua (12.9%), Marcusenius senegalensis (0.08%), Petrocephalus bovei (0.08%), and Hippopotamyrus pictus (0.16%). The Shannon-Weaver index of species diversity was moderate, reaching H' = 2.96. Major threats to the growth and survival of Mormyrids in the Niger River included overexploitation and anthropogenic disturbances such as domestic uses (e.g., ditch cleaning, clothes washing, bathing), invasion of floating plants (Echhornia crassipes), sand dragging, human waste dumping, and the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in adjacent agriculture. The results of this study will contribute to the design of a holistic species management scheme that includes habitat protection, species conservation, and valorisation.

Keywords: River Niger, Diversity, Characterization, Niger, Mormyridae