Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment | ISSN (Online Version): 2708-5694

Introducing Perilla Oilseed (Perilla frutescens L) Crop in Bangladesh: Evaluating the Best Sowing Time

2026-04-27T11:13:04+00:00

To introduce a new oilseed crop, identifying the optimal sowing time is crucial. In Bangladesh, the perilla oilseed crop has been introduced relatively recently. However, research on determining the optimal sowing time is lacking. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate the best sowing time of Perilla (Perilla frutescens L.) oilseed crop, with a view to introducing it as a commercial and profitable oilseed crop in Bangladesh. To evaluate sowing dates, 36 trial plots were set (Randomized Complete Block Design) in the Field Laboratory in Sher E Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka. Sowing date were evaluated against seed germination (%), germination time (days), plant height (cm), branches per plant, duration between transplanting to flowering (days), flowering to harvesting (days), single plant dry weight (g), racemes per plant, raceme size (cm), 1000- seed weight (g) and yield (g/plant). Based on the observed lifespan (70–80 days) and seed production potential (1–1.5 t/ha), this research found mid-July to mid-August as the favourable planting dates for cultivating perilla in Bangladesh. With the 70-80-day life cycle, perilla can be harvested before 15 November, facilitating the timely sowing of winter crops in the cropping sequence. Commercial cultivation of Perilla in the Kharif-2 season can contribute to the domestic edible oil supply. The findings of the research will add policy insights for the commercial cultivation of Perilla as a profitable oilseed crop in Bangladesh.

Growth and Physiological Response of Strawberry under Salt Stress: Role of Glycine Betaine and Seaweed Extract

2026-04-27T11:30:19+00:00

Strawberry is one of the most salt-sensitive horticultural economic crops. In our study, strawberry cv. Festival plants were subjected to salt stress (8 dS/m EC) to investigate the individual and combined effects of Glycine betaine (GB) (60 mM) and Seaweed extract (SWE) (8 ml/L) with different number of applications (one, two, three times) on growth, chlorophyll content, antioxidant activity, some fruit-quality parameters and yield. This research aims to alleviate salt stress-induced growth inhibition and to advance sustainable strategies for improving crop tolerance and yield under saline conditions. This experiment followed three replications and seven treatments in pots, including a control, individual GB/SWE applications, their combinations, and a salt stress level. The results indicated that GB and SWE treatments significantly improved growth characteristics, i.e. leaf area, root and vegetative growth, total yield, and fruit quality characters under salinity stress. Notably, the combined GB+SWE treatment outperformed individual applications, demonstrating 98% greater fruit weight per plant compared to salt-stressed plant and 80% over non-stressed plant, and a synergistic efficacy in restoring physiological functions by increasing antioxidant activity around 59% in the salt-stressed plant. This approach represents a highly effective strategy to mitigate salinity stress on strawberry cultivation, offering eco-friendly alternatives to maximize yield under salinity without needing freshwater-intensive practices, supporting water-scarce or saline-affected areas.

From Waste Diagnosis to Transition Design: A Multi-scale Framework for Organics-First Reform in Cusco, Peru

2026-04-27T12:29:05+00:00

Municipal solid waste systems cannot be judged by collection alone, because high service reach may coexist with weak downstream control and limited recovery. This study develops a multi-scale prioritization framework for organics-first reform in Cusco, Peru, under disposal constraint. The analysis integrates 2019–2024 official waste statistics, district and generator characterization records, tourism data, oversight documents, and field evidence from 2024 stakeholder meetings and interviews. Results show rising waste pressure, stable organics dominance, and a sharp downstream bottleneck. Total municipal solid waste increased by about 22% between 2019 and 2024, while organics remained about 58–60% of the waste stream. In 2023, 94.41% of waste still went to non-sanitary dumping, whereas composting and recovery together remained below 6%. District and generator evidence further shows that average-based planning masks operationally important differences in organics yield, recyclable quality, contamination risk, and service-design needs. The framework therefore prioritizes minimum disposal control first, organics capture at controllable nodes second, and differentiated scale-up with continuity, monitoring, and accountability third. The study contributes a practical bridge from waste diagnosis to transition design for disposal-constrained, organics-dominant cities.

Superficial muscles of black Bengal goat (Capra hircus): An especial emphasis on goat meat cut

2026-05-03T14:59:02+00:00

Goat meat has created new opportunities both in domestic and export markets in Bangladesh for value addition to the meat supply chain. Meat cuts of goats are often seen in the supermarkets in the different city corporation markets throughout the country. . This study aims to explore the superficial muscle anatomy of the Black Bengal goat (BBG) and propose a framework for anatomically informed ideal meat cuts using adult BBG (n=10). The goats were collected from nearby local market of Bangladesh agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh, and sacrificed (pentobarbital sodium @ 20 mg/kg body weight, i/m followed by bled to death giving incision on the right common carotid artery) then fixed using 10% formalin infusion. After careful removal of the skin, the anatomically classified body regions (head, neck, thorax, abdomen, forelimb, and hindlimb) were mapped according to the popular meat cuts available in supermarkets. The whole body was divided and categorized as nine meat cuts, namely neck (neck chops), shoulder (forequarter rack/chop), rib (rack, cutlets), loin (loin chop, tenderloin), leg (leg steak), hind-shank (shank, drumstick), flank, breast, and foreshank (shank, drumstick). The superficial and mostly contributing muscles to the specific cut were observed considering the origin, various parts, prominent characteristics, insertion, and gross appearance with their associated structure. Anatomical knowledge from this research will primarily help butchers to obtain optimum meat cuts, as well as anatomists, students of veterinary medicine, and related research personnel.

Comparative Bioremediation Efficiency of Selected Microalgae in Industrial Wastewater Treatment

2026-05-03T15:02:55+00:00

This study evaluated the bioremediation potential of four freshwater algae—Microcystis aeruginosa, Eudorina elegans, Chlorella vulgaris, and Oedogonium grande—grown in industrial effluents from rubber, paint, Coca-Cola, and Guinness industries. Effluent remediation was assessed over a four-week exposure period using electrical conductivity, phosphate concentration, and dissolved oxygen as performance indicators. Removal efficiencies (%) were calculated to quantify treatment effectiveness. All algae significantly reduced ionic and nutrient loads, with electrical conductivity reductions ranging from 46.7–72.0% and phosphate removal reaching 100% in Coca-Cola effluent. Conductivity reduction was most pronounced in rubber effluent, with Oedogonium grande (71.91%) and Microcystis aeruginosa (72%) showing superior ionic removal, while all algae performed poorly in high-salinity beverage effluents. Phosphate removal was substantial across effluents, reaching complete removal (100%) in Coca-Cola effluent by M. aeruginosa and Ch. vulgaris. Dissolved oxygen increased consistently across treatments. Results demonstrated strong effluent-specific responses. Chlorella vulgaris consistently exhibited the highest overall bioremediation efficiency across effluents, while Oedogonium grande performed optimally in nutrient-rich brewery wastewater. Two-way ANOVA revealed significant effects of algal species and effluent type on removal efficiencies, with post-hoc comparisons confirming species-specific responses. The findings highlight functional specialization among algal taxa, with filamentous forms excelling in low-ionic effluents and unicellular green algae performing best under nutrient-rich conditions. The findings demonstrate the strong potential of micro-algae for low-cost, sustainable treatment of industrial effluents and support their application in effluent-specific bioremediation strategies. The study confirms the feasibility of algae-based effluent polishing and supports the strategic selection of algal species based on effluent chemistry. These results provide a scientific basis for integrating algal bioremediation into sustainable industrial wastewater management.

Irrigation as a Climate Adaptation Strategy: Evidence from Rice Farmers in the Volta Region of Ghana

2026-05-03T15:06:36+00:00

In this era of climate change and variability, irrigation is essential for sustainable food production. This study examines the impact of irrigation use on rice production among 380 rice farmers in the Volta Region of Ghana. A multistage sampling procedure was employed, and data were analysed using multiple regression and an endogenous switching regression model to account for selection bias. The results show that irrigation use significantly and positively influences both rice yield and profitability. Other significant factors include farm size, access to credit, household size, membership in farmer-based organisations, agricultural extension services, and access to Climate Information Services (CIS). Irrigation increased yield by 0.85 units and profitability by 0.76 units. The models demonstrated good explanatory power, with R-squared values of 0.390 for yield and 0.521 for profitability. Greater yield variation was observed among irrigators than non-irrigators. The endogenous switching regression confirms the presence of selection bias and identifies irrigation cost and farmer-based organisation membership as key determinants of yields among non-irrigators, while household size and years of formal education drive yields among irrigators. The study concludes that improving access to irrigation and complementary services can significantly enhance rice production outcomes. It recommends increased investment in irrigation infrastructure, targeted credit schemes, strengthened farmer organisations, improved extension services, and enhanced access to climate information services to boost productivity, profitability, and resilience.

Fermenting soymilk with starter culture improves the physiochemical, proximate, and sensory properties of Nigerian soy curd (Beske)

2026-05-03T15:12:19+00:00

This study investigated the effect of fermentation of soymilk with starter-culture on the physicochemical, proximate and sensory properties of derived indigenous soy curd. The pH of starter fermented (FSM) and uninoculated (UFSM) soymilks respectively decreased at different rates from 6.56 to 5.57 and 6.07 after 8 hours of fermentation. The total titratable acidity of FSM sample is significantly higher (2.24 g/L) than that of UFSM (0.09 g/L). Greater proportions of carbohydrate (9.85%), protein (20.42%), fat (6.31%) and fiber (0.25%) were present in soy curd derived from starter culture fermented soymilk (FSC). The sensory evaluation panelists preferred FSC to soy curd derived from uninoculated soymilk (UFSC), with an overall acceptability score of 7.9. Specifically, the panelist preferred the appearance, flavor and texture of FSC. The fermentation of soymilk with starter culture improved proximate properties and acceptability of derived soy curd. The starter culture improved the physicochemical properties of the soymilk used to produce the soy curd. Therefore, the development and use of starter culture is required for the production of high-quality and safe soy curd.

Development of Herbal Fortified Millet Pasta

2026-05-03T15:18:27+00:00

The present research focused on formulating millet-based pasta enriched with medicinal herbs and comparing it with control pasta prepared from 100% whole wheat. The functional pasta was produced using a composite mix of 60% wheat flour, 40% malted finger millet, 10% soybean flour, and 20 ml of herbal extract comprising basil, spinach, black nightshade, mint, and coriander. Analysis of physicochemical and nutritional characteristics revealed that the fortified pasta contained higher levels of calcium, dietary fibre, total phenols, and antioxidant activity than the control sample. Additionally, the herbal pasta demonstrated improved cooking qualities, including weight gain and water absorption capacity. Sensory evaluation showed significant (p < 0.05) differences between the fortified and control pasta. Shelf-life assessment indicated that the herbal pasta remained stable for 45 days under ambient storage conditions. The findings highlight the potential of substituting refined wheat flour with malted finger millet and enhancing pasta with medicinal herbs to improve its functional and nutritional value. Key words: Millets, Pasta, Extruded products, Medicinal herbs.

Validation and Demonstration of Dimethoate 40% EC Insecticide for Management of White Mango Scale (Aulacaspis tubercularis) in Selected Districts of Central Ethiopia Region

2026-05-03T15:25:00+00:00

Mango is important food and cash crops in Ethiopia. However, the production and productivity of this crop is highly limited by high White Mango Scale (WMS) infestations. Controlling of WMS is very important to increase mango fruit yield. Therefore, the objective this study was to validate and demonstrate Dimethoate 40% EC for management of WMS. The study was carried out in Siltie zone (Sankura district) and Halaba zone (Wera district) during 2025 cropping season. Two treatments Dimethoate 40% EC and Control was used. Four farmers from each district were used. The data on mean Severity (%) and mean numbers of clusters white mango scale were taken three times monthly interval. The collected data were computed by using Microsoft excel 2010 and presented in tables. The higher severity (66.75% and 69.25%) and the lower (3.75% and 4.75%) were recorded from Wera and Sankura disticts, respectively. Dimethoate 40% EC is a highly effective systemic insecticide for managing white mango scale particularly when integrated with cultural practices like pruning. Therefore, applying it two times as foliar spray in monthly interval especially during peak infestation periods is very important.

An evaluation of nutrient recycling from livestock and poultry waste using struvite-enriched compost - A review

2026-05-03T15:27:58+00:00

The rapid expansion of livestock and poultry production has resulted in the generation of large quantities of organic waste, posing significant environmental challenges. Improper disposal leads to nutrient loss, eutrophication, greenhouse gas emissions, and public health concerns. Nutrient recovery from these wastes has emerged as a sustainable strategy within the framework of circular bioeconomy. Among various approaches, struvite (MgNH₄PO₄·6H₂O) precipitation integrated with composting has gained increasing attention due to its ability to recover nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) efficiently while improving compost quality. This review critically evaluates the mechanisms of struvite formation, integration with composting processes, agronomic benefits, environmental impacts, and economic feasibility. The findings suggest that struvite-enriched compost significantly reduces nutrient loss, enhances fertilizer efficiency, and offers a promising pathway for sustainable waste management. However, challenges related to cost, scalability, and process optimization remain. Future research should focus on field validation, life cycle assessment, and policy support to facilitate large-scale adoption.