http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/19220 2026-04-26T18:49:46Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/19776 Effect of social stratification on extension-farmer contact among poultry farmers in Delta state, Nigeria Ofuoku, Albert Ukaro This study was carried out in Delta State, Nigeria to determine the effect of social stratification on extension - farmer contact among poultry farmers. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 108 poultry farmers for the study. The data were collected with the use of questionnaire and structured interview schedule. Data collected were analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used to test the hypotheses. The result of the study showed that the variables of wealth, occupation, family ancestry, religion, level of education, gender and farm size were used to determine class structure. There were differences in frequency of contact between extension agents and farmers based on farm size and level of education. Hypothesis 1 (there is no significant difference in the frequency of extension-farmer contact between small, medium and large scale poultry farmers) showed significant difference in frequency of contact among group of poultry farmers (F=8.583). Hypothesis 2 (there is no significant difference in frequency of extension contact with poultry farmers based on farm size and level of education as class determinants) indicated that the level of education, farm size, marital status and income influence contact between farmers and extension agents. It was recommended that extension agents should endeavour to give equal treatment to every class of poultry farmers, more extension agents should be employed by Delta State Agricultural Development Programme (DTADP) and the DTADP should set up inspectorate/supervisory committee that will make sure that every class of farmers is adequately visited. 2015-05-06T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/19774 Allelopathic potential of plant residues of thirty Sri Lankan traditional rice (oryza sativa l.) varieties on barnyardgrass (echinochloa crusgalli) Wathugala, D.L.; Ranagalage, A.S. The use of rice (Oryza sativa L.) allelopathy for weed management could reduce the need for applying herbicides to the crop. In this study a pot experiment and a laboratory bioassay were conducted to assess the allelopathic potential of residues of 30 traditional rice varieties in Sri Lanka on seed germination and seedling growth of barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli). All seeds were collected from “Farmer Federation for Conservation of Traditional Seeds and Agri-Resources”. Rice residues were incorporated with silica sand (1% w/w) in small pots to prepare residue mixture and ground rice residues mixed with water (2.5g/100ml) were used to prepare residue extract for laboratory bioassay. Rice varieties exhibited marked differences in the inhibition of barnyardgrass growth and development. In the bioassay, residue extract of rice variety Herathbanda exhibited the greatest activity on the weed seedling growth, reducing dry weight by 30.7%, while Gonabaru residue extract exhibited the greatest inhibition on seed germination, reducing germination by 29.6%. In the pot experiment of residue mixture, Batapola el and Sula varieties showed the greatest inhibition percentage on germination (48.4%). However, Godaheenati showed the greatest inhibition % on plant height (27.4%) and dry weight (45.6%). These results sug gest that incorporation of rice residues of tested varieties has influence on controlling barnyardgrass seedling growth. 2015-02-05T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/19771 Effect of benzyl aminopurine and kinetin hormones on vegetative and reproductive growth of two Sri Lankan traditional rice varieties (oryza sativa l.); suwadal and kahata wee Dahanayake, N.; Inoka, K.P.I.; Dissanayaka, D.M.P. The study was carried out as a pot experiment in the green house condition to observe the effect of BAP and Kinetin on the growth and yield performances of Sri Lankan traditional Rice varieties (Oryza sativa L) Suwadal and Kahata wee. At the time of applying fertilizer applications to the plants, each pot was treated by 200 ml of BAP and Kinetin in different concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.8 mgL-1) separately. Each pot was treated by one hormone; BAP or Kinetin throughout the experiment was over. Plant height in vegetative stage, number of tillers plant-1, number of panicles plant-1, number of seeds panicle-1 and weight of thousand seeds were measured. The experiment was conducted in a Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with 3 replications. The best vegetative growth and yield performances were observed in 0.3 mgL-1 BAP and 0.8 mgL-1 Kinetin in traditional rice varieties Kahata wee and Suwadal. The effect of BAP and Kinetin for two rice varieties was simillar in plant growth and development. Number of tillers plant-1 and thousand grain weight significantly increased in both varieties with hormones BAP or Kinetin whereas number of tillers plant-1 increased by 10-17% compared to control. Therefore it is possible; BAP or Kinetin (cytokinin) extracting plants could be integrated into rice ecosystem for better productivity. 2014-01-26T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/19769 Empirical analysis of demand for apple and watermelon in Kwara State, Nigeria Babatunde, R.O.; Adenuga, A.H.; Oloyede, O.E.; Osasona, T.B. In spite of the health benefits of fruits, world statistics reflect under-consumption in many parts of the world, especially in developing countries. This study was therefore carried out to analyse the determinants of demand for apple and watermelon fruits in Ilorin metropolis, Kwara state, Nigeria. Using a well-structured questionnaire, a two-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 respondents for the study. The major analytical tools employed for the study were descriptive statistics and the Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) model. The result of the analysis showed that the price of apple and watermelon, level of education of the respondents, the total fruit expenditure and the price of other fruits were the major factors influencing the demand for both apple and watermelon fruits in the study area. The study therefore recommends that the government should provide an enabling environment to the producers and traders for increased production and marketing of fruits to allow for a possible reduction in prices of the fruits. 2014-12-09T00:00:00Z