International Journal of Sustainable Agricultural Research

The effect of different growing locations on the morphological characteristics and flavonoid content of clove plants (Syzygium aromaticum)

2025-10-26T03:52:07-05:00

This study investigated the effects of growing location factors on the morphological characteristics and secondary metabolite content (flavonoid) of clove. It was conducted in three locations, namely Nganjuk, Jombang, and Trenggalek, from November 2023 to February 2024. The study began with an agroclimatological analysis, including air temperature, air humidity, light intensity, and soil pH. Subsequently, the morphological characteristics of clove plants were analyzed, and clove leaf samples were collected at the three locations to test their flavonoid content. The flavonoid analysis was performed at the CNH Laboratory in Semarang, Central Java, using the UV-Vis Spectrophotometry method. The results indicated that differences in growing locations and environmental conditions affected the morphological characteristics of clove plants. The morphological traits that showed variation among the three locations included stem surface, stem color, leaf shape, leaf apex, leaf color, and leaf size. Additionally, the environmental differences influenced the flavonoid content in clove leaves, with the highest flavonoid content (0.049%) observed in leaves from Jombang. The practical implication of this study is that selecting cultivation sites for clove should consider agroclimatic conditions and soil type. The observed morphological differences among locations, despite being of the same variety, reinforce the understanding that plant adaptation to the environment results from interactions between genetic and environmental factors.

Exploring the determinants of crop-livestock diversification and its effect on farm income: Evidence from smallholder farmers in Homa Bay County, Kenya

2025-11-06T23:53:22-06:00

The integration of crops and livestock has been reported to have several benefits for farmers. It reduces farm risks, leading to increased output from crops and livestock. It also enhances household food production, resulting in improved household food security. Therefore, farmers are advised to incorporate as many crop types and livestock species as possible into their farms. However, the majority of farmers in Kenya tend to produce common crops such as maize and beans, alongside common livestock like cattle. This results in low crop-livestock diversification, which subjects many farmers to poor living standards. Consequently, it is imperative to assess the predictors and effects of crop-livestock diversification on farm income. This study evaluated the covariates influencing crop-livestock diversification and its effects on farm income in Homabay County, Kenya. Primary data were collected from 402 farmers using multistage sampling. The analysis employed propensity score matching and gross margin methods. The findings indicated that farm size, group membership, marital status, age, and gender significantly influence farmers’ crop-livestock diversification. The results also demonstrated that crop-livestock diversification increases farm income by KES 40,800 per acre (Nearest neighbor matching), KES 41,488 per acre (Kernel matching), and KES 36,132 per acre (Radius Matching). These findings underscore the importance of encouraging farmers to incorporate multiple crops and livestock into their farms through public sensitization. Extension agents should target young farmers and female-headed households when providing extension services. Finally, there is a need for public awareness campaigns among farmers regarding the benefits of crop-livestock diversification.

Adoption of water conservation technologies among smallholder farmers in Osun State, Nigeria

2025-12-01T23:35:56-06:00

Water scarcity and inefficient water management practices pose significant threats to agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods in Nigeria, particularly among smallholder farmers who rely heavily on rain-fed agriculture. Despite increasing awareness of water conservation technologies (WCTs) as viable strategies for sustainable agricultural water use, their adoption among farmers remains relatively low and uneven across regions, highlighting the need to understand factors influencing smallholder farmers’ adoption of water conservation technologies in Osun State, Nigeria. The study focused on identifying the WCTs embraced by farmers, understanding their motivations for adoption, and analyzing the factors influencing their adoption decisions. Data was collected via a pre-tested questionnaire administered to 120 smallholder farmers selected through a multistage sampling process. Descriptive statistics and a multivariate probit (MVP) model were employed for data analysis. Findings indicated that the majority (55.8%) of farmers were male, aged 41-50, with primary education (41.7%), and household and farm sizes averaging 6 persons and 4 hectares, respectively. The most adopted WCTs included irrigation/dam (68.3%), grass strips (62.5%), stone bund (50%), soil bund (41.7%), and contour ploughing (32.5%). Reasons for adoption ranged from yield increase to flood control and soil fertility improvement. The MVP model revealed several factors influencing adoption, including farmers' demographics, education, farming experience, land acquisition methods, and access to credit and extension services. The study suggests enhancing educational opportunities, credit access, farmer associations, and extension services as essential policy measures to foster technology adoption in the study area.

Fertilization, cover crop and harvest date: Their effects on soil physicochemical traits in an olive orchard in Southwestern Buenos Aires

2025-12-19T04:49:36-06:00

There is a scarcity of information on the effects of fertilization combined with cover crops on the soil physicochemical properties in olive orchards. We assess the effects of fertilization, cover crop, and harvest time on various soil characteristics in an olive (Olea europaea) orchard. Studies were conducted during the growing seasons of 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 in southwestern Buenos Aires, Argentina. The general experimental design in 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 was split plots. Fertilization treatments included an organic manure applied to the soil, inorganic fertilization applied to the soil or leaves of olive trees, and an unfertilized control. Additionally, a mixture of Vicia benghalensis with Avena sativa was either planted or not (control) as a cover crop. The study demonstrated that soil pH increased on average from mid-spring to mid-autumn during both studied growing periods. Soil organic matter, available phosphorus (P), and extractable potassium (K) were greater at 0-20 cm than at 20-40 cm soil depth. In 2022/2023, the percentage of soil organic matter appeared to be higher in areas with a cover crop than in those without, from early summer to early winter. Soil concentrations of ammonium, nitrate, P, and K were either similar or most often higher never lower in soils with organic and inorganic fertilizations compared to the inorganic foliar fertilization. These three types of fertilization showed greater nutrient concentrations than the unfertilized control. Finally, soil available P concentrations appeared to be higher in areas without vegetation cover than in those with a cover crop at 0-20 cm soil depth.

Agroforestry and soil carbon sequestration: Interlinkages with soil health and climate change mitigation

2025-12-19T20:48:24-06:00

Agroforestry is recognized as a multifunctional land use system that provides numerous benefits, including improved soil quality, enhanced agricultural productivity, and reduced climate change impacts. This article explores the mechanisms behind the underground storage of soil organic carbon (SOC) in agroforestry systems, emphasizing its link to soil health and climate resilience. Trees contribute to SOC through processes such as the addition of organic matter from falling leaves and dying roots, which enhances carbon storage and initiates essential soil functions like humification, mineral association, and aggregate formation that protect against microbial decay. The organic matter's quality, particularly its lignin and nitrogen content, influences decomposition rates, affecting nutrient cycling and long-term carbon stability. Research illustrates significant increases in SOC across various agroforestry practices involving crops, livestock, and trees, with tree systems demonstrating the most substantial daily carbon deposition and biological enrichment. A global synthesis indicates that even a modest increase in agroforestry (up to 30 percent) could sequester between 12 to 19 petagrams of carbon dioxide, notably in regions like South America, sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia, which exhibit high potential. Besides carbon sequestration, agroforestry positively influences soil structure, nutrient cycling, and microbial diversity, thereby promoting ecologically resilient and productive farming. However, outcomes vary by context, influenced by climate, soil properties, species diversity, and management practices. The article concludes that agroforestry is a scientifically valid natural climate solution and sustainable agriculture alternative, with its effectiveness hinging on intentional policy support and its inclusion in climate mitigation strategies.

Socio-economic determinants of the adoption of cashew grafted plants in Benin

2025-12-21T12:50:31-06:00

In Benin, cashew nuts represent a socio-economic and strategic interest for farmers and the government. Cashew grafted plants have been introduced to improve productive performance. Therefore, it is essential to better assess the current adoption level of cashew grafted plants and the drivers behind it, in order to stimulate their large-scale adoption in Benin. To achieve this objective, a stratified random sample was used to select a total of 395 cashew farmers across 23 municipalities in Benin. Based on the neoclassical theory of profit maximisation, the counterfactual Average Treatment Effect (ATE) estimation framework has been used to assess the adoption rate of cashew grafted plants as well as the drivers behind their knowledge and adoption. The findings revealed a very low adoption rate of cashew grafted plants among farmers. Farmers’ perception of cashew grafted plants, level of satisfaction with the characteristics of cashew grafted plants, extension contact, household income, and household assets were the main factors determining the adoption of cashew grafted plants in Benin. Adoption constraints due to hydraulic stresses, shocks from climatic disturbances, and technical production also limited the adoption of cashew grafted plants. The study further recommends policy measures to facilitate the accessibility and availability of cashew seedlings to increase adoption and production. The government should also subsidise cashew seedlings to encourage young farmers and women, and to avoid price volatility.

Exploring the potential of Ricinodendron heudelotii and anarcadium occidentale (Cashew nut) oil quality and purity from Ivory Coast

2025-12-31T04:13:45-06:00

This study aimed to characterize and compare oils extracted from the seeds of Ricinodendron heudelotii and Anacardium occidentale, two underexploited oilseed species from Côte d’Ivoire, to evaluate their potential for local valorization and sustainable use. Seeds were collected from different producing regions, and oil extraction was performed using the Soxhlet method. Lipid yield, oil quality parameters (free acidity, peroxide value, K232, K270), fatty acid composition, minor constituents (sterols, tocopherols), and physical properties (color, viscosity) were assessed. Results showed that the acidity index of both oils complied with Codex Alimentarius standards (≤ 4.0 mg KOH/g oil). Anacardium occidentale oil exhibited good oxidative stability, with peroxide values ranging from 1.2 to 8.8 meq O₂/kg, whereas Ricinodendron heudelotii oil showed higher values (38–64 meq O₂/kg), reflecting compositional differences. Fatty acid analysis revealed a predominance of oleic acid (65%) in A. occidentale oil, known for cardiovascular benefits, while R. heudelotii oil was rich in nervonic acid (49–54%), a fatty acid with functional applications. Both oils contained high β-sitosterol (>80%), and R. heudelotii oil exhibited notably high tocopherol content (480–1140 mg/kg). Overall, these findings highlight the complementary properties of the two oils. Their valorization could strengthen local oilseed value chains, reduce dependence on imported vegetable oils, and support sustainable development and nutritional security in Côte d’Ivoire. Vegetable oils; Oilseed seeds; Quality parameters; Fatty acid profile; Tocopherols; Sterols; Ricinodendron heudelotii; Anacardium occidentale; Côte d’Ivoire.