Journal of Agricultural Science, Issue: Vol.18, No.11

Evaluation of Herbicide Alternatives to Glyphosate for Weed Control in Fallow Fields

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 01:38:01 +0000

Efficient weed control in fallow fields prior to maize planting faces critical challenges due to herbicide resistance and the need to reduce reliance on glyphosate. This study evaluated non-selective and selective herbicide strategies in an on-farm strip-plot validation trial (6 ha) with nested subsampling (n = 6 quadrats per treatment plot). Nine treatments were evaluated, including synthetic herbicides (glyphosate, 2,4-D, paraquat, glufosinate-ammonium, and saflufenacil + clethodim) and commercial bioherbicide (BH02). Weed control efficacy was evaluated using the European Weed Research Society (EWRS) visual rating scale at 14 and 28 days after application (DAA). For perennial grasses (Sorghum halepense and Cynodon dactylon), glyphosate applied at higher rates (4 + 1 L ha^-1 of glyphosate + 2,4-D) achieved 91.0% and 48.3% sustained control at 28 DAA, respectively, whereas contact herbicides permitted severe vegetative regrowth (< 45% control). For annual grasses (Urochloa panicoides and Leptochloa panicea), glyphosate combinations and BH02 provided high control (> 88.8% at 28 DAA), while glufosinate-ammonium alone or with 2,4-D yielded 79.5-92.7% control. For Ipomoea cordatotriloba, glufosinate-ammonium alone (90.5%) and glufosinate + 2,4-D (87.5%) suppressed regrowth at 28 DAA. Product-only economic analysis (2024 commercial rates in MXN ha^-1) showed that BH02 ($3,525.00 ha^-1) was 2.8-fold more expensive than standard glufosinate-ammonium ($1,622.50 ha^-1) and 3.1-fold more expensive than standard glyphosate ($1,125.00 ha^-1), limiting its current commercial adoption. Overall, single postemergence applications do not fully eradicate perennial grasses, but glufosinate-ammonium mixtures represent technically effective alternatives for annual grass and I. cordatotriloba suppression during fallow periods.

Optimizing Plant and Soil Response to Drought Conditions via Biochar, Fertilizer, and Chitosan Amendments: A Taguchi-Based Study

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 01:44:09 +0000

Water availability can alter the effectiveness of soil amendments, yet responses to biochar, fertilizers, and biostimulants under water stress remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the effects of biochar, chitosan oligosaccharide (COS), and mineral fertilizer on substrate properties and kale growth under well-watered (WW) and water-stress (WS) conditions. A Taguchi L9 orthogonal array was implemented using sand as a simplified low-fertility substrate. Volumetric water content (VWC), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and shoot dry biomass were evaluated. Biochar was the dominant factor affecting water retention under both irrigation regimes. Increasing biochar levels raised VWC from approximately 13% to > 95% under WW conditions and from 20% to 74% under WS conditions. Biochar also increased substrate pH from approximately 6.5 to 7.4 under WW conditions and from 6.7 to > 10 under WS conditions, indicating pronounced alkalinization at the highest application level. Fertilizer exerted the strongest influence on biomass under WW conditions and produced the largest increases in EC, whereas its effect on biomass was not significant under WS conditions. COS had comparatively smaller effects on water retention and biomass but significantly influenced substrate pH. Taguchi signal-to-noise analysis revealed shifts in factor hierarchy, with fertilizer ranking highest for biomass under WW conditions and biochar ranking highest for biomass and VWC under WS conditions. Overall, greater biochar-mediated water retention did not translate into greater biomass, emphasizing the need to balance hydrological benefits against changes in substrate chemistry when developing amendment strategies for water-limited, coarse-textured systems.

Rural-Urban Differences in Household Food Demand in Bangladesh

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 01:46:39 +0000

This study examines whether rural and urban households in Bangladesh respond differently to changes in food budgets, prices, and demographic characteristics. Using Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2022 microdata from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, we aggregate food purchases into ten groups and estimate a censored Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System (QUAIDS) model in an analytical sample of 14,388 households. The estimates reveal a common pattern of expenditure-driven diversification but sharper spatial differences in price responses. Meat has the largest expenditure elasticity, at about 2 in both areas, while fruits and eggs & milk are also expenditure elastic. Rice, vegetables, and oil & fat are expenditure inelastic. Significant rural-urban differences in expenditure elasticities are concentrated in rice, wheat & bread, eggs & milk, oil & fat, and confectionery. All own-price elasticities are negative. Rural households are more price responsive for rice, meat, fish, eggs & milk, fruits, confectionery, and eating out, whereas urban households are more responsive for wheat & bread and oil & fat; responses for vegetables are almost identical. Compensated cross-price and Morishima elasticities further show that substitution pathways, particularly those involving eating out, vary by residence. Significant demographic-effect differences are also found for selected household characteristics. The findings indicate that food-policy analysis in Bangladesh should account for rural-urban differences in demand sensitivity and substitution rather than relying on a single national demand response.

Soil Physical Quality in Agricultural Production Systems in the Brazilian Midwest Cerrado

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 01:50:59 +0000

Soil physical quality plays a crucial role in sustaining agricultural productivity and environmental resilience, particularly in highly weathered tropical soils. This study evaluated the effects of different management systems on the physical quality of an Oxisol in the Brazilian Midwest Cerrado, including no-tillage (NT), crop-livestock integration (CL), and native vegetation as a reference. The systems differed in implementation time (4 and 11 years for NT; 5 and 10 years for CL) and forage species (Urochloa hybrid cv. Mavuno and Urochloa hybrid cv. Mulato). Soil physical attributes were assessed up to 0.60 m depth, including bulk density, porosity, penetration resistance, soil moisture, aggregate stability, and soil organic carbon. Results showed that soil physical quality varied according to both management system and time of adoption, with more pronounced effects in subsurface layers. Recently implemented systems generally exhibited lower penetration resistance compared to older systems, suggesting ongoing structural adjustment. Crop-livestock systems promoted higher soil moisture and improved pore functionality, although some conditions of increased bulk density were observed depending on forage species and management intensity. The system with 5 years of CL using Urochloa cv. Mulato showed the best overall soil physical quality, likely due to favorable root development and biomass input, enhancing aggregation and pore distribution.

Closing the Productivity Gap in Smallholder Chicken Enterprises in Eastern Kenya

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 01:53:03 +0000

Chicken production is an important source of nutrition and household income in Kenya. However, the high costs of inputs such as feeds and vaccines constrains smallholder farmers’ productivity. This study measured technical efficiency and technological gap ratio in smallholder chicken enterprises in Eastern Kenya. A total of 582 chicken farming households were selected from Machakos County using a multi-stage sampling technique. Stochastic metafrontier analysis was applied to evaluate and compare the technical efficiency of the chicken enterprises. The average technical efficiency score of 0.78 for the hybrid chicken enterprise and 0.48 for the indigenous chicken enterprise shows that hybrid chicken enterprise was more technically efficient and performed closer to the metafrontier then its counterpart. In addition, the TGR was 0.87 and 0.52 for hybrid and indigenous chicken enterprises, respectively. The inefficiency effect model results revealed that education (β = -0.073, p < 0.05 and β = -0.032, p < 0.05), extension contact (β = -0.049, p < 0.01 and β = -0.026, p < 0.05), and utilization of the agro-industrial by-products (β = -0.235, p < 0.05 and β = -0.118, p < 0.05) significantly reduced technical inefficiency in both hybrid and indigenous chicken enterprises, respectively. In addition, farming experience (β = 0.215, p < 0.05), use of commercial feeds (β = 0.114, p < 0.01), and use of BSF formulated feed (β = 0.256, p < 0.01) increased technical efficiency in hybrid chicken enterprise. However, distance to inputs market (β = -0.106, p < 0.05) increased technical inefficiency in hybrid chicken. This study recommends the County Government to target investments in research, extension services, and access to cost effective inputs for chicken farming, which are crucial for enhancing their productivity and efficiency.

Common Interest Groups as Institutional Spaces for Gendered Empowerment Within a Food System Innovation Platform: Evidence from Kenya

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 01:59:50 +0000

Community-based organizations are increasingly recognized as institutional mechanisms for inclusive and regenerative food-system transformation, yet evidence on their gendered empowerment outcomes within Food System Innovation Platforms (FSIPs) remains limited. This study examined CIG members’ perceptions of voice and agency, gender-responsive institutional practices, participation, and empowerment within the Nakuru Living Lab FSIP, Menengai Local Initiative, Kenya. A cross-sectional survey of 129 CIG members was conducted using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and gender-disaggregated Welch’s t-tests were applied, with empowerment interpreted using the Reach-Benefit-Empower-Transform (RBET) framework. Participation was high (M = 4.21), particularly in training, meetings, and activity implementation. Women perceived stronger anti-discrimination mechanisms than men (4.32 vs. 3.79; p = 0.007). RBET analysis showed significantly greater benefits among women (4.56 vs. 4.20; p < 0.001), including income opportunities and household well-being, while men reported greater confidence in influencing governance decisions (4.39 vs. 4.04; p = 0.004). Women also perceived stronger long-term structural change (4.54 vs. 4.32; p = 0.025). The findings reveal a participation-benefit-power paradox: CIGs are perceived as strengthening inclusion and women’s livelihood benefits, but gender gaps in governance influence persist. Gender-responsive FSIPs should therefore complement participation and livelihood support with stronger mechanisms for women’s leadership, decision-making authority, and institutional influence.