Yam “Kponan” (Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata) is a popular staple food in Côte d’Ivoire. However, its rapid decay during conservation prevents regular supply of markets. The objective of this study was th...Yam “Kponan” (Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata) is a popular staple food in Côte d’Ivoire. However, its rapid decay during conservation prevents regular supply of markets. The objective of this study was therefore to assess the impact of field cultivation and conservation practices on some physical quality parameters of “Kponan”. To this end, “Kponan” yam from three production areas (Bondoukou, Bouna, Kouassi-Kouassikro) was cultivated in each area. At maturity, physical parameters of yams at harvest and after 3 months of storage in field were analyzed. The results showed that injury was the most significant deterioration in yam harvest. The rate of injured yams was highest for hoe-harvested in Kouassi-Kouassikro area (16.67% - 22.22%) regardless of the origin of the cuttings. The main damage observed after the 3 months of storage was rots (22.86% - 60.00%) and weight loss (8.57% - 42.86%). However, yams stored in pits in Bouna zone had less damage (40% - 48.87%) than those stored under straw huts in Bondoukou locality (100%) and at shade under a tree in Kouassi-Kouassikro area (100%). In conclusion, the physical quality of “Kponan” in field is most affected by abusive use of herbicides during weeding and clearing, hoe harvesting and storage in the shade under a tree.展开更多
Land degradation in the form of soil erosion presents a threat to food security and sustainability of agricultural production in Ethiopia.In response,governments and development agencies have invested substantial reso...Land degradation in the form of soil erosion presents a threat to food security and sustainability of agricultural production in Ethiopia.In response,governments and development agencies have invested substantial resources to conserve soil.However,the efforts put toward to conserve soil have failed to meet the anticipated objectives.Hence,the study was carried out to investigate the factors that are affecting the adoption of soil conservation measures in North Achefer District.The data were collected from 121 households by the use of household survey,focus group discussion,and key informant's interview.Descriptive,inferential,and binary logistic regression models were employed to analyze the factors determining adoption of soil conservation measures in the study area.The most important factors affecting the adoption of soil conservation were age,farmers'level of perception on soil erosion,family size and labor availability,livestock holding,farm size,farmers'contact with development agents,and farmers'access to training and credit services.For instance,the family size increases by one person,held other factors constant,the likely probability to adopt soil conservation measures increases by a factor of 2.04,livestock-holding increases adoption by a factor of 2.53,and so on.Therefore,in order to improve adoption of soil conservation measures by farmers'district officials,extension experts and development agents should give due attention to those significant variables that determine farmers'decision to adopt soil conservation measures.展开更多
文摘Yam “Kponan” (Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata) is a popular staple food in Côte d’Ivoire. However, its rapid decay during conservation prevents regular supply of markets. The objective of this study was therefore to assess the impact of field cultivation and conservation practices on some physical quality parameters of “Kponan”. To this end, “Kponan” yam from three production areas (Bondoukou, Bouna, Kouassi-Kouassikro) was cultivated in each area. At maturity, physical parameters of yams at harvest and after 3 months of storage in field were analyzed. The results showed that injury was the most significant deterioration in yam harvest. The rate of injured yams was highest for hoe-harvested in Kouassi-Kouassikro area (16.67% - 22.22%) regardless of the origin of the cuttings. The main damage observed after the 3 months of storage was rots (22.86% - 60.00%) and weight loss (8.57% - 42.86%). However, yams stored in pits in Bouna zone had less damage (40% - 48.87%) than those stored under straw huts in Bondoukou locality (100%) and at shade under a tree in Kouassi-Kouassikro area (100%). In conclusion, the physical quality of “Kponan” in field is most affected by abusive use of herbicides during weeding and clearing, hoe harvesting and storage in the shade under a tree.
文摘Land degradation in the form of soil erosion presents a threat to food security and sustainability of agricultural production in Ethiopia.In response,governments and development agencies have invested substantial resources to conserve soil.However,the efforts put toward to conserve soil have failed to meet the anticipated objectives.Hence,the study was carried out to investigate the factors that are affecting the adoption of soil conservation measures in North Achefer District.The data were collected from 121 households by the use of household survey,focus group discussion,and key informant's interview.Descriptive,inferential,and binary logistic regression models were employed to analyze the factors determining adoption of soil conservation measures in the study area.The most important factors affecting the adoption of soil conservation were age,farmers'level of perception on soil erosion,family size and labor availability,livestock holding,farm size,farmers'contact with development agents,and farmers'access to training and credit services.For instance,the family size increases by one person,held other factors constant,the likely probability to adopt soil conservation measures increases by a factor of 2.04,livestock-holding increases adoption by a factor of 2.53,and so on.Therefore,in order to improve adoption of soil conservation measures by farmers'district officials,extension experts and development agents should give due attention to those significant variables that determine farmers'decision to adopt soil conservation measures.
