European Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences

Effect of Selected Chicken Manure-Charged Biochar on Growth of Ralstonia Solanacearum in Vitro

Ernestine Niyonsaba — 2025-05-08

A study was conducted in vitro to assess the antibacterial effect of specific chicken manure-charged biochar extracts against Ralstonia solanacearum at the microbiology laboratory of Egerton University. The study tested charged biochar extracts from various feed stocks: maize cobs (MC), maize straw (MS), rice husks (RH), bean wastes (BW), and eucalyptus branches (EU). The extracts consisted of plain biochar and charged biochar with poultry manure. The physico-chemical properties of biochar were assessed according to established standard procedures. The antibacterial efficacy of charged biochar extract was evaluated by mixing nutrient agar (NA) in petri dishes with 0.5 ml of the extracts prior to solidification, followed by the spread of 0.1 ml of bacterial suspension on each plate. Sterile distilled water served as a negative control, while copper oxychloride was utilized as a positive control. The plates were incubated at 28°C for 48 hours in growth chamber. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates. Charged biochar exhibited higher nitrogen content than that of plain, with bean waste charged biochar having the highest at 1.5% and plain eucalyptus biochar lowest at 0.4%. For available phosphorus, maize cob charged biochar exhibited the highest with 1846 mg/kg while the lowest was plain rice husk biochar at 671.5 mg/kg. Organic carbon at 74.2% for maize cob charged biochar was the highest and EUPB exhibited the lowest 23.5%. Porosity was high in plain biochar as compared to charged, while charged biochar exhibited higher density than plain with the lowest 0.6 for MCPB and highest 1.0 for rice husk plain biochar. The antibacterial assay indicated that all biochar extracts significantly suppressed the growth of R. solanacearum compared to the negative control. Charged eucalyptus biochar reduced pathogen growth by 100% which was the highest inhibition while plain maize straw was lowest at 1.19%. These results proved that charging biochar, especially that derived from bean wastes and eucalyptus, with chicken manure not only increases the nutrient content but as well enhances its potential of controlling bacterial wilt.

Properties of Wine Pomace Flours from Koshu and Cabernet Sauvign on Grapes Grown in Japan

Shuji Shiozaki — 2025-05-16

Wine pomace is a solid byproduct of winemaking and is often destined for waste. Wine pomace can be an upcycle resource because it contains compounds with properties functional for human health. Characteristics of pomace from Japanese Koshu grapes (for white wine) and macerated Cabernet Sauvignon red grapes were compared by evaluating the levels of various phenols, antioxidant activity, inhibitory effects on angiotensin-converting enzyme, heat tolerance, and resistanceto in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. In addition, the stability of pomace resveratrol in cookies stored for a year was investigated. Cabernet Sauvignon pomace was superior in the levels of total polyphenols, resveratrol, and proanthocyanidins compared with Koshu pomace. There was no significant difference in γ-aminobutyric acid levels between Koshu and Cabernet Sauvignon pomace extracts. Antioxidant activity and the inhibitory effect on angiotensin-converting enzyme were higher in Cabernet Sauvignon pomace extracts than in Koshu extracts. Heating reduced the levels of components, but the total polyphenols content of Koshu pomace was the least affected by heating. Correspondingly, there was no decrease in the antioxidant activity of Koshu pomace extract after heating. In vitro small intestine digestion decreased the levels of total polyphenols and proanthocyanidins, but not resveratrol levels. Resveratrol levels in cookies containing pomace flour and stored dry at ambient temperature were stable for at least a year. Overall, Cabernet Sauvignon pomace would be more useful as an upcycled resource based on the levels of useful ingredients, in comparison with Koshu pomace.

The Future of Northern Canadian Land Use in the Age of Climate Change

Esmaeil Kouhgardi — 2025-03-27

Climate change and land use alterations are interdependent and change in one causes a change in the other. Climate change is projected to expand agricultural lands especially at higher latitudes like northern regions of Canada. However, the spatiotemporal extent of this land use change is not clear and will be affected by multiple factors. This research provides a descriptive modelling and analysis of climate change-driven agricultural expansions (CCDAEs) in northern Canada. We discuss the consequences of CCDAE progress in Canada’s North in terms of climate change-driven soil loss, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and associated environmental impacts. Results revealed that just over 135 million hectares of northern Canada’s lands could change to agricultural lands through different CCDAE scenarios in four timeframes between 2025–2100. The scenarios were categorized to address Indigenous sovereignty on their treaty lands and sustainability of peatlands and mountain areas along with the most likely CCDAE patterns. The CCDAE is projected to cause 29− 18⁵ × 10³megaton (MT) soil loss, and 1.7− 8.6 × 10⁵MT carbon dioxide equivalent GHG emissions in minimal/maximal situations. This huge CCDAEs in Canada’s north will have considerable footprints on the environment, local communities, climate change mitigation plans, global food security, and local/national economic opportunities. Data and analyses can be used by provincial/territorial governments, policymakers, and environmental planners for future land use changes planning and infrastructure and rural development.

Analysis of Factors Affecting the Production and Net Income of Peanut Farmes (Arachis Hipogeae L) in the Swamp Land of Amuntai Tengah District, Hulu Sungai Utara Regency

Fahnida Ratna Maulidya — 2025-05-09

Peanut farming is a promising agricultural business to develop because it can provide significant profits for farmers. Although the production costs are relatively high, it still yields business profits. Hulu Sungai Utara Regency is one of the regencies that cultivate peanuts, with one of the subdistricts having potential for peanut cultivation development, namely Amuntai Tengah Subdistrict. However, although peanut cultivation is considered promising, the production costs for peanuts are quite high, thus requiring significant capital. This study aims to analyze the factors influencing peanut production and the income farmers receive in one planting season. The primary data used was obtained through direct interviews with respondents. A sample of 50 farmers was taken from 83 active farmers who cultivate peanuts and are members of farmer groups registered in Simluhtan. The data analysis used to determine the effect of production factors on peanut production is the Cobb Douglas Function. Furthermore, the farmers’ income can be analyzed using a profit approach by calculating costs and revenue. The results of the study show that based on the F test, the F hit value (21.963) and F tabel value (2.40) show that the probability value is 0.000 < 0.05 (α = 5%), meaning that the hypothesis H0 is rejected and H1 is accepted. This indicates that land area (X₁), seed quantity (X₂), fertilizer quantity (X₃), pesticide quantity (X₄), and labor quantity (X₅) jointly have a significant effect on peanut production (Y). Meanwhile, based on the t-test results, the production factors of land area, seeds, and fertilizer individually have a significant effect on peanut production (Y), whereas pesticide quantity (X₄) and labor quantity (X₅) do not significantly affect peanut production (Y). Furthermore, the average income of peanut farmers in Amuntai Tengah Subdistrict is IDR 40,110,300 per farm or IDR 35,621,936 per hectare in one planting season. The average net income of peanut farmers is IDR 22,268,977 per farm or IDR 19,777,085 per hectare in one planting season.

Variation in Carcass Characteristics and Meat Quality among Ugandan Indigenous and Crossbred Cattle

Kanifa Kamatara — 2025-04-14

The limited production of tender beef in Uganda is due to reliance on indigenous cattle raised under extensive systems. Crossbreeding with exotic breeds has created diverse genotypes whose beef quality potential is largely unassessed. This study evaluated the carcass and meat quality attributes of five genotypes slaughtered in Uganda: Ankole (A), Boran (B), Ankole × Friesian (A × F), Ankole × Boran (A × B), and a composite breed (Cross of A × B × Bonsmara). Seventy-five steers (9–13 months old) were raised on pasture for 120 days. Postmortem temperature and pH were monitored, and the m. longissimus thoracis muscle samples were analyzed for collagen, myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI), Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), and sensory attributes. A × B and B steers showed heat shortening and higher pH24 and T24 values than other genotypes. Ankole steers had lower carcass grades but longer hind limbs, while Co and B steers exhibited wider hind limbs and higher blockiness indices. Marbling was highest in Co steers and lowest in A steers. A × B and B steers had lower muscle percentage but higher fat cover. Their beef showed greater thawing and cooking losses, higher MFI and WBSF values, and received lower sensory ratings. Postmortem ageing improved tenderness across all genotypes. Adopting ageing practices could enhance Uganda’s ability to deliver consistently tender beef to consumers. These findings demonstrate that postmortem ageing significantly improves tenderness across all genotypes, and adopting this practice could help deliver consistently tender beef to consumers.