Diyala Agricultural Sciences Journal

he thermal treatment of honey is used to prevent honey crystallization which is one of the main problems that face beekeepers. In this study three samples of honey were heated at 40, 60, 80 and 100 °C, as a function of time in hours (h). Heating the samples at 40 °C did not show any significant effect on hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) production or diastase enzyme activity up to 95 hours. Heating to higher temperatures 60, 80 and 100 °C resulted in a regular increase in HMF content and drop-off in diastase activity as a function of time. The HMF content reached 40 mg/kg after 80, 12.5 and 6 hours. For the three samples at 60, 80 and 100 °C respectively. Conversely, diastase enzyme activity reached close to 8 IU after 96, 12.5 and 5 hours. For the following temperatures 60, 80 and 100 °C respectively. The results showed that heating temperatures up to 40 °C is safe for long-term storage, while heating at 60 °C could be used but for a shorter treatment time. Results showed that the must temperature does not exceed 60 °C for 5 hours or 80 °C for one hour to preserve the honey's quality. The reaction rate constants and activation energy Ea of HMF formation in three samples were found 83.07, 91.79 and 89.57 kJ.mol-1 respectively. Therefore, honey can be preserved in this way, while at the same time the HMF remains below the permissible values, and the enzymatic activity remains at its highest level.

The study was carried out to analyze the competitiveness and comparative advantage of rice production in Katsina state. A total of 196 farmers were sampled using a multi-stage sampling technique. Both primary and secondary data were utilized in the study. The primary data was collected using a structured questionnaire by trained enumerators, while the secondary data on international market prices were collected from various government and non-governmental agencies. Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM), Profit share analysis and farm budgeting techniques were used for data analysis. The result of the financial profitability analysis revealed that a typical rice farmer earned an average revenue and profit of ₦663,799.25/ha and ₦322,356/ha, respectively. The result of the Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) indicator (Domestic Resource Cost) showed that the farmers had a comparative advantage in rice production by having a ratio of less than one (0.46). Similarly, the percentage of the Unit Cost Domestic index (UCD) and Unit Cost Export index (UCX) for the farmers were less than 0.51 and 0.57, respectively, showing that the farmers were competitive in domestic and international markets. The Effective Protection Coefficient (EPC) ratio of greater than one showed that the farmers were positively affected by the government's agricultural policies. It was recommended that the current combined trade policies in the rice sector should be sustained to strengthen the comparative advantage and increase the competitiveness of the local rice.

The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of Fe Nano fertilizer and Rhizobium inoculation on nodulation, nitrogen fixation, and the plant growth of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). The soil samples were collected from the fields that were previously planted with chickpea. The study included testing the interaction influence of five levels of Nano Fe and three soil inoculation treatments using three replicates. The results indicated that Nano Fe application and soil inoculation rhizobium had a significant effect on plant growth number of seeds per plant and the seed protein content of chickpea. The plant height is greatly increased in the sterilizing process. The shoot height and root lengths of seedlings both increased significantly. The rhizobium bacteria have a positive impact on plant proteins and significantly increase the amount of protein in the plant. In conclusion, the results provided compelling evidence that the presence of Fe Nano fertilizer in nodules enhances nodulation and nitrogen fixation, improving the symbiotic performance between Rhizobium (chickpea) and the common bean plant.

The study analyzed farmers' level of adoption and perception of phosphorus based fertilizers for cowpea production in Katsina state, Nigeria. A total of 153 cowpea farmers were sampled using a multi-stage sampling technique. Primary data was utilized in the study. The data was collected using a structured questionnaire by trained enumerators. Descriptive statistics, Kendalls’ coefficient of concordance and acceptability index were employed for data analysis. The results showed that the mean age for cowpea farmers was 41 years. Distribution of the respondents by gender reveals that 85.6% were males and the remaining 14.4% were females. The result of farmers’ perception of phosphorus-based fertilizer used shows a moderate agreement of 0.30 which indicates different perceptions among respondents. The study further revealed that the acceptability index of 6.54% was very alarming because cowpea farmers committed a small portion of their farmland toward adopting the technology. The level of knowledge of the cowpea farmers on phosphorus based fertilizers was very low, leading to a very low level of acceptance of phosphorus fertilizers in the study area. It was recommended that be made available and affordable to the cowpea farmers as this will increase the rate of technology adoption in the study area.

An experiment was done to determine the allelopathic effects of Juglans nigra L. and Nerium oleander on the germination and radicle length of Milk thistle (Silybum marianum). The experiment was designed according to a completely randomized design (CRD). In this experiment, leaf-, hull-, and root extracts in two concentrations control, 5 and 10g L-1 was utilized. The experiment was conducted in a growth chamber with a temperature of 15 C0. After storing the seeds for 14 days, many characteristics were examined, including radicle length cm and germination rate percent. Concentrations of walnut and oleander extract had a substantial impact on every parameter under investigation. The results showed that the (T1) control treatment had the greatest germination and radicle length which were 70% and 20.08, respectively, compared with other treatments. A 10g L-1 extract concentration was used to measure the minimum values for two of the aforementioned parameters. It was found that (Juglans nigra L.) and Nerium oleander %10 extracts inhibit the growth of Silybum marianum and can be utilized to manage it in the field. However, more studies are needed to confirm the results.

In view of the effective variation of the extension methods, in addition to what constitutes the usage of the agricultural extension system for the multiple and various extension methods as an essential duty of his job. Through this use, the agricultural extension can win the farmers' confidence and change them. and since agricultural extension directs its message to many farmers who are different in their social and economic characteristics, ages, habits, and experiences, therefore, it is required that agricultural extension use many extension methods in order to be able to face these differences between the target farmers, and the benefit of diversity in the use of extension methods is to ensure access to each individual and influence it. This is what the current study tries to shed light on in order to achieve the needs of academic knowledge and enrich scientific research in the field of agricultural extension on the one hand and to benefit those responsible for extension work on the other hand, used under the prevailing local conditions and the most effective ones, so that they can be used as a guide when introducing the ideas and recommendations used to the farmers’ audience in a way that guarantees obtaining the highest possible response, in addition to knowing the obstacles to using the extension methods, and the ways to solve these obstacles.

This research was carried out to assess the extension workers’ nutrition education competency level and training needs in Katsina state, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to sample 90 extension workers from the three agricultural zones in the state. Seven categories of 49 specific nutrition education competency items were adapted for the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the sampled respondents. The mean competency rating for each competency item was computed using SPSS and Microsoft Excel. A Mean scale to interpret the computed mean values. While mean weight discrepancy score was used to determine the areas of training needed by the extension workers. The findings showed that 85.6% of the respondents were males with a mean age of 44 years. It also revealed that the extension workers had a high level of literacy and vast years of working experience of 20-25 years. In terms of their nutrition education competency level, the findings showed that 71.42% of the extension workers have an average competency level on basic nutrition knowledge, nutritional needs of different household members, Hygiene and sanitation, Post-harvest handling and food safety, as well as on Gender and nutrition. However, the extension workers were found to have a low competency level in planning and resource allocation for household food security which also featured to be the prioritized area of training needed by the extension workers. It was finally recommended that nutrition education should be integrated into the extension worker's professional training in the study area.

Colostrum gives the newborn calf maternal antibodies that help it fight disease. A calf that does not receive colostrum has a higher risk of illness until it develops antibodies of its own at around 6 weeks of age. This study aims to evaluate the immunity background of Karadi calves, measuring physiological responses to different qualities of colostrum and testing Karadi calves for survival in the herd. Twelve females local Karadi calves (0-day olds) were divided into two treatments with two levels for each. Using low and high colostrum quality before 6 hours and after 6 hours from parturition. Regarding calf body weight, withers height, immunoglobulin G concentration, and dry matter intake, there is no significant difference between low- and high-quality colostrum feed. However, our results show that calf body weight, withers height, and respiration rate were higher (P < 0.01) when colostrum was fed six hours after birth compared to those fed six hours after birth. However, there is no significant difference in the rectal temperature of the calf fed before six hours and six hours after birth. Results show that the total white blood cells, lymphocyte, neutrophil, eosinophil, and basophil numbers were unaffected by treatment, time and the interaction between treatment and time. Monocyte numbers have a tendency toward significant by treatment. Total plasma protein was not affected by treatment and time, but it tends significant treatment over time.

Soil compaction has been recognized as a severe problem in mechanized agriculture and influences soil properties and processes. A study evaluated the effect of different energy levels on selected properties of Alfisols treated with different sources of organic amendments. The treatments consisted of soils with compost (10 pots), cow dung (10 pots), and control. These were laid out in a completely randomized design and replicated two times. All pots (soil ± amendment) were saturated and allowed to drain freely for 24 hours and 48 hours, respectively, and compacted to 0, 75, 150, 225, and 300 Joules of energy. Bulk density (BD), penetration resistance (PR), saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), particle size distribution (PSD), gravimetric moisture content (GMC), and moisture retention (MR) was determined from treated plots. Results obtained indicated that the soil is sandy. BD and PR were highest in control, with mean values of 1.803 g cm-3 and 1.762 kg F cm-2, respectively. Treatment with compost improved the BD and PR with lower mean values of 1.320 g cm-3 and 1.283 kg F cm-2 respectively, compared to cow dung and untreated control. With increasing energy inputs, there was a highly significant difference amongst the studied soil properties at all the energies at p<0.0001. Minimum tillage is recommended to reduce the stress caused by heavy energy inputs on these soil properties. The organic matter will directly contribute to plant nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and micronutrients.

The study analyzed the perceived effects of climate variability on the rice farmers in Niger State, Nigeria. Two stage sampling procedure was used in the selection of 248 rice farmers. The data was collected with the use of a questionnaire. The findings revealed that rice farmers in the Niger State were mostly male 75.4% and their average age was 39.5 years. About 98% of the rice farmers had moderate usage levels of climate adaption strategies. The most severe perceived effect of climate variability was instability of planting calendar (M.S=2.78). The highest ranked constraint limiting the usage of climate adaptation strategies was financial constraints (M.S=3.72). This study thus recommended the provision of accurate and prompt information on weather forecasts and also there should be provision of financial incentives to the farmers.

The gills of fishes are considered the permanent habitat for Dactylogyrids spp., common monogenean ectoparasites. This study aims to investigate the impact of monthly aquatic ecological dynamics on the diversity of Dactylogyrus. Moreover, the prevalence and species richness were correlated as well. A total of 140 fishes, representing 12 species from the family Cyprinidae (9) and Leucisidae (3), were collected from the Lesser Zab River, located in the northeast of Altuon-Kopri town, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. The study was conducted from August 2022 to July 2023. The collected fishes included: Acanthobrama marmid (37), Alburnus sellal (9), Capoeta (C.) damascina (7), C. umbla (3), Carasobarbus luteus (10), Carassus (C.) auratus (13), C. carassus (3), Chondrostoma regium (18), Cyprinion macrostomum (5), Cyprinus carpio (26), Luciobarbus xanthopterus (4) and Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi (5). They were inspected weekly for diversity variation and richness of Dactylogyridis with different aquatic parameters such as pH, temperature, total dissolved salts (TDS) and electrical conductivity (EC). The collected data revealed the presence of various Dactylogyridis species with different prevalence and species richness. Monthly variations revealed that the highest species richness occurs lowermost the lowermost occurred in March 2023, and the lowest was observed in September 2022. According to aquatic parameters, only water temperature shows a significant negative correlation according to the species richness (p<0.05). In contrast, the other parameters show no significant correlation in accordance to the different months, monthly aquatic mean levels of pH, TDS and EC were not correlated with species richness and prevalence of Dactylogyridis spp.

A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of leveling and tillage equipment on the soil bulk density and the growth and production of maize. Three landscaping types of equipment, namely laser, pelvic, and grader equipment, and three tillage equipment, namely moldboard plow, chisel plow, and no-till farming system. Soil bulk density, practical productivity, plant height, weight of 100 seeds, number of seeds per ear, and the yield of maize were measured. The results can be summarized as follows: The interaction between the pelvic leveling equipment and the no-till farming system was superior in obtaining the lowest soil bulk density, while the interaction between the laser leveling equipment and chisel plow was superior in obtaining the highest plant height, the highest weight of 100 seeds stood 36.70 g, the highest number Seeds per ear stood 371.30 seeds per ear and the highest yield of the plant stood 6.36 tons ha-1 compared to the other interventions.