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Crop yields of sorhgum and soybeans in an intercrop.
Elijah M. W. Akunda
International Council for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF)
P.O. Box 30677 Nairobi, Kenya.
Abstract
The yields of the three seasons of sorghum and soybeans are reported. In the first season, the sole crop yields of soybeans increased with increase in plant populations, contrary to the intercrops. Intercropping had significant influence of yields (p = 0.05). During this period, sorghum in sole stand increased with the increase in plant population. The increase was more pronounced in the case of sole stand of sorghum. Intercropping had a more significant effect on the yield of sorghum than density (p = 0.01). In the second cropping season, there was pronounced increase in yield with density in sole (p = 0.05). In the third cropping season, the yield of sorghum showed a generalised increase in yield with population increase in an intercrop. There was significant effect on intercropping on yields. Compared to soybean yield, there was no difference in the lower and normal density in the sole crop, however, for an intercrop the yield increased only at higher density. All these trends did not register any significant effect on yield.
Sensitivity of the improved Dutch tube diffusion test for detection of antimicrobial residues in Kenyan Milk.
Shitandi. A.
Dept. of Dairy & Food Science,
Egerton University Njoro, P.O. BOX 536, Njoro -Kenya
E: mail: [email protected]
Summary
The sensitivity of the improved two-tube test for detection of antimicrobial residues in Kenyan milk was investigated by comparison with the commercial Delvo test SP. Suspect positive milk samples (n =244) from five milk collection centers, were analyzed with the improved two-tube and the commercial Delvo SP test as per manufacturer, weekly over a ten-week period. The 't' test statistic was utilised based on the hypothesis: H0: Ud = 0 (U2 - U1 = Ud) and Ha: Ud > 0 (one-sided test) to analyse the results. The t calculated was compared to the tabulated t value at p = 0.05 for ten degrees of freedom. The results suggest that the improved two-tube test has some improved effect on the sensitivity for antimicrobials residues in comparison to the commercial Delvo test. Utilizing the improved two-tube test could lead to an improvement in sensitivity for antimicrobial residues.
Key words: milk, antimicrobial residues, Bacillus stearothermophilus var. calidolactis. Maximum residual limits (MRLs), Improved two-tube test.
Distribution of protein fraction in the milk of West African dwarf goat
*Belewu, M. A. and Adewusi, B. C
Biotechnology and diary science laboratory
Department of animal production
University of Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria
Abstract
Milks from lactating West African dwarf goat and white Fulani cow were analysed for total protein, casein, whey protein, non protein nitrogen, Globulin and albumin and proteose peptone contents. Milk samples were from healthy goats and cows (n=24) in mid-lactation. The data were grouped and analysed as treatment 1 (Goat milk) and treatment 2 (cow milk). The average casein nitrogen, globulin and albumin, non-protein in nitrogen, whey nitrogen and proteose peptone were o.4034, 0.0574, 0.0563, 0.0225 and 0.0225g/ 100ml for goat milk and 0.414, 0.0572, 0.030, 0.0212 and 0.0219 g/ 100ml for cow milk. In total nitrogen (g/100ml) goat milk ranked 0.56, 0.54 (cow milk). Goat milk also ranked higher in casein nitrogen, protein nitrogen and non-casein nitrogen. Milk differed also in the casein number with higher casein number reported for cow milk. This study revealed the protein fraction of West African dwarf goat milk with special attention on the whey nitrogen since milk supplied to the market in Nigeria is intended for fluid consumption due to little or no cheese industry.
Key words: Protein fraction, goat milk , cow milk.
Preliminary study of the utilisation of coconut in yoghurt production
Imele H*. and Atemnkeng A. **
Abstract
The possibility of using the coconut in yoghurt production was evaluated. Four types of yoghurt were made from the mixture of cow milk and coconut milk using the different percentage. The preliminary results show that the final product is delicious, has pleasant coconut flavour. The titratable acidity of yoghurt ranged from 75° T (type D) to 95° T (Type A). The consistency/viscosity of the product has gone up with increase of the percentage of coconut in the mixture. The coagulation time of yoghurt is about 5 hours. After the organoleptic appreciation, the preference was given to different types of yoghurt.
Genotypic variation of Kenyan tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) germplasm
S. G. Agong, Department of Horticulture, JKUAT, Kenya
S. Schittenhelm, Institute of Crop Science, Germany
W. Friedt, Institute of Crop Science, Germany
Summary
Systematic genotypic analysis of Kenyan tomato germplasm was carried out in order to delineate potential variability based on various morphological, agronomic and biochemical traits. Both landraces and market cultivars were examined with a view to facilitating tomato improvement. In an experiment conducted in 1993 in a glasshouse at the Federal Agriculture Research Centre (FAL), Germany, 26 tomato landraces and nine market cultivars were investigated using block design. Analysis of variance clearly illustrated a large variation for all the quantitative traits. Landraces on average produced more fruit per plant (90) but of a smaller size than the market cultivars (19). However, market cultivars had a superior average fresh fruit weight of 56.5g while the landraces registered on average 40.6 g. Multiple correlation analysis confirmed the superiority of landraces for trait of fruit quality and a strong negative association between fruit weight. Limited structure groupings were detected on the basis of a principal components analysis. Using this method, processing and fresh tomato cultivars within the germplasm could be clearly separated on the basis of fruit characters. Furthermore, this analysis distinguished a few landraces from the market cultivars, although closer phylogeny through introgression was highly suspected. Within the landraces, the yellow-cherry types were distinct from all the others, On the basis of this study, the use of more prolific landraces, in terms of number of fruit as well as actual fruit yield, would be desirable for intensive and continuous production of tomatoes.
Key Words: Genetic diversity, landraces, Lycopersicon esculentum, phylogenic relationaships, principal components analysis, Tomato
Economic evaluation of a locally fabricated extraction machine for a cottage cashew juice factory.
O. O. Oduwole, T. O. Akinwale and O. Olubamiwa,
Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN),
P. M. B. 5244, Ibadan
Abstract
The need for local utilisation of agricultural procedure cannot be over-emphasised. Agricultural commodities are shifting from exploitation in their primary to processed forms. Cashew apple, a product of the fruit of cashew tree and a by-product of cashew nut harvest, is presently under-utilised in Nigeria. There is so much wastage of this fresh apple on farms since a negligible portion is consumed by the harvesters. Work has been on for some time now at CRIN to harness this wastage into commercially viable human foods or food ingredients. Much progress has been made to-date on the production of juice from the apple. This study assesses the cottage utilisation of the apple using a locally fabricated extraction machine. The economic analysis of the investment indicated that it is highly profitable with a profitability of 66.19% and a net present value of N453, 283.21 over three years, even under a short cashew harvesting period of three months. From these results, it was recommended that cashew farmer groups and co-operatives should be supported through credit facilities under the small-scale enterprise scheme to adopt this technology.
Microbial load and Microflora of Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and effect of Cassava Juice on some food borne pathogens
Gulelat Desse (MSc.), Mulugeta Taye (MSc.), Debub University, Awassa College of Agriculture
Abstract
The microbial load of cassava tubers that were grown at Awassa, Ethiopia, was analysed. The total viable microbial count of fresh cassava, before cleaning, ranged from 8.7x104 to 2.1x109 c.f.u/g whereas, in thoroughly cleaned product it was reduced to 106 c.f.u/g (% C.V., 19.5).
Enterobacteriacae and spore former bacteria had mean counts of 104 and 103 c.f.u/g respectively. The dominant bacteria groups within the aerobic mesophillic flora were
Acinetobactor spp. (29.1%), Micrococcus spp. (17.4%) and Enterbacteriacae (16%). Bactrial spores, Pseudomonas, Moraxella and Aeromonas spp. Were detected in a small proportions. Fate of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Listeria monocytogenes in cassava juice was also evaluated. Except in B. cereus the growth of the bacterial strains was retarded only at higher concentrations.
Preliminary studies on the use of kolanuts (cola nitida) for
soft drink production
Jayeola, C. O.
Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria
The fresh nuts (seeds) of kola (Cola nitida) were used in the preparation of kola soft drink.
Proximate analysis of the nut was carried out to determine its moisture, ash, protein, carbohydrate, fat and caffeine contents. The pH, total solids, specific gravity, caffeine and sensory attributes of the developed kola soft drink were compared with some commercial popular types.
The results indicated that the fresh nut contained 8.90% protein, 0.92% fat, 2.40% Ash ad 1.50% caffeine. Also, the developed kola drink whose pH, specific gravity, total solids and caffeine were 5.40, 1.040, 10% and 0.01 respectively was acceptable to local tasters, making economic utilization of kolanut possible through the production of value-added products and increasing the income of both primary producers and industrial users of the nuts.
Current status of the controlled atmosphere storage in Nigeria
Samuel Durotade Agboola
Nigeria Stored Products Research Institute, PMB 1489, Ilorin, Nigeria
Abstract
Controlled atmosphere (CA) storage of food crops was introduced to Nigeria in 1978 in co-operative agreement between Snamprogetti/Assoreni of Italy and the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI). Collaborative research between Assoreni and NSPRI from 1979-1981, and by NSPRI from 1982 to date on experimental, pilot, and commercial scales has shown that this technology, using nitrogen (N2), gives excellent results in preserving quality of dry grains during long-term storage under Nigeria's ambient conditions. Special features observed included the considerable reduction in moisture condensation (that leads to large-scale losses when conventional metal silos are used for grain storage in the humid tropics where there are wide diurnal fluctuations in temperature), protection of operators from hazards of toxic chemicals, absence of residues in stored crops, control of insects, reduction of fungal loads, longer retention of seed viability than in normal ambient storage, longer retention of biochemical quality, and maintenance of organoleptic characteristics of the grains during storage. Yellow maize, sorghum, rice and cowpea retained their quality after storage over four years. The technology was also shown to be effective in preserving the quality of cocoa, an oilseed and the major cash crop in Nigeria. Its possible application for groundnuts has also been initiated. Controlled atmosphere technology has now been developed to a level where it can be used commercially for long-term grain storage in Nigeria.