Nile Journal for Agricultural Sciences

Performance Evaluation of Tractor Mounted Inter Row Weeder Provided with Three Different Types of Weeding Tools on Okra Production

2025-04-13T12:06:23+00:00

Weeding is an important practice to be carried out during the initial stages of crop growth especially for controlling the weeds competing with the crop, stirring the soil for aerating the crop root zones and for burying the weeds into the soil. Efficient weeding aids and equipment for weed control seems highly necessary to minimize the time consumption, labor requirement and cost. The objective of the study was to evaluate a tractor operated inter-row weeder with three different types of blades for weeding in okra cultivation and compared to manual weeding method. The weeder is suitable for crops having considerable row spacing up to 80 cm, the width of the weeder is adjustable according to the crop row spacing. The modified weeder was evaluated at different test fields for okra plant and can be used in any vegetables plant with a maximum height of about 35cm. A randomized complete block design with three replications was used. Plot size was 4 m × 120 m. Results showed that there was highly significant difference (p=0.05) of weeding efficiency, grain yield and field efficiency. The weeding efficiency for V-shape lade1 was 93.7%, field efficiency was 83%, plant damage was 0.83 % and a yield of 365.7 kg/ha. Curved blade recorded 83.5 % weeding efficiency, 74 % field efficiency, 2.1% plant damage and a yield of 253.7kg/ha. The shank blade has a weeding efficiency of 59.2 %, field efficiency of 72 % and plant damage of 32 % and a yield of 127.2/ha. The manual weeding has a weeding efficiency of 99.9%, field efficiency of 35 % and damage factor of zero percent and a yield of 526.2kg/ha. These studies concluded and suggest that weed control on okra production could be best carried out by mechanical weeding method with V-shape blade and curve blade. For future study further research is needed to develop curve shaped blade with different design patterns and apply with different crops for better field efficiency and lower cost.

The Effect of Light Intensity and Watering Interval on Growth and Development of Three Legume Tree Species Seedlings

2025-04-13T12:06:28+00:00

The cultivation of tree seedlings in a controlled nursery environment is essential for successful aforestation in the semi-desert region of Sudan. Light intensity and water availability are the key factor for the growth and development processes of legume tree seedlings. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of light intensity and watering interval on the growth and development of three nitrogen fixing tree seedlings (Sesbania formosa, Leuceana leucocephala and Sesbania sesban). The experiment was carried out at the nursery of Hudieba Research Station, northern Sudan in April 2020. The treatments tested were arranged in a Split-Plot design with three replicates. The studied factors were light intensity (50%, and 100%) and watering interval (3, 6 and 9 days). The measurements were taken after three months successively and different growth parameters were evaluated. Seedlings survival percentage for the three tree species in 50% light intensity under the different watering intervals ranging between (90-100%), Leucaena seedlings exhibit sensitivity to 100% light intensity during germination and growth. The results showed significant interaction effects of the two factors on stem length and nodules, root and shoot dry weight, of the three tree species. The results proved that the best combination of these factors that resulted in the recommended plant able seedling size was; 50% light intensity, watering every 3 days for L. leucocephala; 100% light intensity, watering every 3 days for S. formosa and S. sesban.

Effect of Different Rates of NPK Fertilizer on Growth and Hardening of Banana Plantlets

2025-04-13T12:06:32+00:00

The experiment was carried out to improve the quality of banana cv. Grand Nain plantlets produced by tissue culture in greenhouse during January to April of 2022 and 2023. Five doses of NPK (20:20:20) viz: 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 g/plant were applied. The treatments were replicated 3 times in randomized complete design (RCD) and each plot encompassed 4 plants. The results showed that the different rates of NPK affected growth parameters, roots length and number of roots per plant of banana plantlets. The highest values of plant height, plant girth, number of leaves per plant, roots length, root girth and number of roots per plant were obtained with 6 g/plant compared to control for the two seasons. Using of NPK fertilizer at rate of 6 g/plant was the most stable and economically feasible treatment.

Effect of Seed Storage Period and Seed bed Covering Methods on Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) Germination under River Nile State Conditions

2025-04-13T12:06:34+00:00

The study was carried out at Hudeiba Research Station (HRS), River Nile state, Sudan during the period July – December of 2023. to evaluate jackfruit seed germination as affected by post extraction storage period and the best seed bed covering for proper seed germination. Best germination and growth results obtained from the shorter seed storage period without or with mango leave covering.

Effects of Urea Fertilizers and Chicken Manure on Growth and Yield of Carrot (Dacaus carota L)

2025-04-13T12:06:36+00:00

This study was carried out at Dongola Research Station farm during winter season of 2015 / 16 and 2016/17 to evaluate the effect of chicken manure rate and urea fertilizer on growth and yield of carrot. treatments consisted of 12 levels of urea and chicken manure each alone or in combinations and untreated control. Results showed that all fertilization treatment effect on growth parameter (leaves number and leaves length) although positive was only statistically significant in season 2016/17. The combination of chicken manure and urea affected positively vegetative growth and root yield.

Use and Evaluation of Commercial Starch and Gum Arabic Blends as Low-cost Gelling Materials for Tissue Culture Banana Propagation

2025-04-13T12:06:38+00:00

The study was conducted to assess the efficiency of blend of different quantities of commercial starch and Gum Arabic as media solidifying material and banana plantlets healthy growth as a substitute for high cost conventional gelling materials (agar, agarose and gelrite). Nine blends of these materials from them other using some conventional agar were tested. Result indicated that adding 20-40 grams of commercial starch with 0-5 grams of Gum Arabic to one liter of prepared medium component resulted in sufficient gelling results, with reasonable pH and satisfactory explant growth.