Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International

Adaptability of Developing a New Sketch Paper Made of Rice Straws and Banana Trunk (Bani) Combination

2026-05-25T12:29:12+00:00

Background: Environmental concerns and the rising demand for paper have encouraged the use of agricultural wastes as sustainable alternatives to wood pulp. Rice straw and banana trunk fibres are abundant residues with suitable properties for pulp production.

Aims: To develop and assess the feasibility of using rice straw and banana trunk (bani) combination as a primary raw material for producing an eco-friendly alternative sketch paper for drafting and artistic applications.

Study Design: Experimental research design.

Place and Duration of Study: A highly-populated campus of a state-university, Cebu City, Philippines, Academic Year 2025-2026.

Methodology Fifty Respondents Participated: 25 drafting students (non-experts) and 25 drafting instructors (experts). Three treatment ratios were tested: T1 (50:50), T2 (60:40), and T3 (70:30 rice straw to banana trunk). The paper-making process involved cutting, boiling with baking soda, pulping, bleaching, blending, straining, mixing with adhesive, molding, and sun-drying. Data were collected using a validated 4-point Likert scale survey assessing feasibility, thickness, texture, and absorbency. Statistical analysis included mean, standard deviation, and independent samples t-test (α = 0.05).

Results: The 70:30 ratio (T3) was the optimal prototype, yielding 28-29 A4-sized sheets per kilogram with a 13-19 sheet successful drying rate. Non-experts rated all indicators across feasibility (mean: 3.44-3.80), thickness (3.32-3.92), texture (3.16-3.76), and absorbency (3.36-3.80) as "Strongly Agree." Experts rated feasibility (3.16-3.80) and absorbency (2.92-3.52) mostly as "Strongly Agree," while thickness (2.76-3.72) and texture (3.00-3.16) were predominantly "Agree." The independent t-test showed a statistically significant difference between groups (p < 0.05), with non-experts rating higher than experts. Both groups affirmed the product's functionality and acceptability.

Conclusion: The rice straw and banana trunk sketch paper demonstrates viable potential as a sustainable, cost-effective alternative to conventional wood-based sketch paper. While it meets general usability standards for educational and artistic purposes, further refinement in fiber processing and surface finishing is recommended to achieve professional-grade quality and enhance commercial viability.

Floristic Diversity and Composition of Urban Forest Trees in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria

2026-06-04T12:36:10+00:00

Urban forests play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance, enhancing environmental quality, and supporting biodiversity, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions. However, limited information on floristic diversity and species composition in cities like Kano Metropolis hinders effective urban forest management and biodiversity conservation planning. This study evaluates the species composition and diversity of urban trees in Kano Metropolis, Northern Nigeria, with emphasis on their ecological structure and distribution. A systematic vegetation survey was conducted across 15 representative urban sites using quadrats and transect sampling techniques. All trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥10 cm were identified to species level, and their abundance, frequency, and dominance were recorded. Diversity indices, including Shannon–Wiener, Simpson, and Evenness indices, were computed to evaluate floristic diversity, while species composition patterns were analyzed using importance value indices (IVI). A field inventory of all trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 10 cm was conducted across selected urban locations. Tree species were identified and measured, and diversity was assessed using Shannon–Wiener and Simpson indices. A total of 1,144 individual trees belonging to 15 families were recorded, comprising both native and exotic species. Shannon–Wiener diversity values ranged from 1.07–2.36, indicating moderate species diversity across sites, while species evenness was generally low, reflecting dominance by a few cultivated or exotic species. The results revealed variations in species abundance and distribution, with Azadirachta indica being the most dominant species, while Ficus platyphylla, Balanites aegyptiaca, and Acacia seyal were among the least represented. Diversity indices indicated moderate species diversity within the study area. The study highlights the heterogeneity of urban forest structure in Kano Metropolis and emphasizes the need for strategic planning and conservation of indigenous species to enhance urban biodiversity and resilience. Findings provide a baseline for urban forestry planning and management, contributing to sustainable urban green space development in rapidly expanding Nigerian cities.

Effect of Organic Manures and Biofertilizers on Vegetative Growth Characters of Lilium Growing under Different Cultivation Practices

2026-06-12T13:18:05+00:00

The increasing demand for sustainable floriculture production has emphasized the need for eco-friendly nutrient management practices that enhance plant growth while reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers. The present investigation was conducted during 2021–22 and 2022–23 at the Agri-tourism Centre, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana, to evaluate the effect of organic manures and biofertilizers on the vegetative growth of Asiatic Lilium under different cultivation environments. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) comprising nine nutrient management treatments and three growing conditions, viz., polyhouse, shade-net, and open field, with three replications. The treatments included farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost (VC), Azotobacter, phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB), and their various combinations. Significant variations were observed among growing environments and nutrient treatments for all vegetative growth parameters. Among the cultivation conditions, polyhouse-grown plants exhibited superior performance with respect to early bulb sprouting, plant height, number of leaves, leaf length, and leaf width compared with shade-net and open-field conditions. Among the nutrient management treatments, the combined application of FYM @ 5.0 t ha⁻¹ + vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha⁻¹ + Azotobacter + PSB (T9) proved most effective, recording minimum days to bulb sprouting (5.41 and 5.68 days) and maximum plant height (102.54 and 105.31 cm), number of leaves per plant (70.86 and 72.91), leaf length (9.25 and 9.70 cm), and leaf width (2.59 and 2.75 cm) during 2021–22 and 2022–23, respectively. The interaction between growing conditions and nutrient treatments was also found to be significant for most growth attributes, with T9 under polyhouse conditions producing the best results. The enhanced growth response may be attributed to the synergistic effects of organic manures and beneficial microorganisms, which improved nutrient availability, soil biological activity, root development, and overall plant vigor. The findings indicate that integrated application of FYM, vermicompost, Azotobacter, and PSB under protected cultivation offers an effective, environmentally sustainable, and economically viable strategy for improving vegetative growth and commercial production of Asiatic Lilium.

Trichoderma harzianum Reveals Significant Performance over Copper Sulphate by Visible Microbial Re-establishment in the Recovery of Phytophthora infestans-Infected Potato under Zero-tillage Paddy-straw Mulch in East Kolkata Wetland Area

2026-06-22T09:57:42+00:00

Zero-tillage paddy-straw-mulched potato farming is a low-input surface-planting method whose success depends on the biological condition of the tuber-straw-soil interface. In the sewage-treated paddy fields of the East Kolkata Wetland area, monsoon-driven auto-nutrient recharge makes beneficial microbial growth more important than fertiliser dependence. This study evaluated whether Trichoderma harzianum could support recovery of Phytophthora infestans-infected potato tubers under approximately 11 inches of paddy-straw mulch and whether visible Trichoderma-type growth on jute-bag sheet surfaces could indicate beneficial microbial re-establishment. Sixteen 75 sq ft beds were established with store-bought Kufri Jyoti tubers. Treatments compared clean and infected tubers, CuSO4-based surface sterilisation, T. harzianum-based biological sterilisation, four and six watering events, weed removal or grass-mat conditions, and foliar or surface application of the control agent. The infected-tuber + CuSO4 + grass-mat system produced a mean yield of 3,300.50 kg ha-1, whereas infected tubers treated with T. harzianum produced 14,637.00 kg ha-1. Under infected conditions, T. harzianum gave better recovery and yield than CuSO4 under both watering schedules. The best overall model was healthy tuber selection, field preparation through rice-potato practice or weed removal, surface sterilisation with T. harzianum and soil pretreatment with T. viride, producing 24,754.00 kg ha-1. One-way ANOVA confirmed a strong treatment-system effect on yield, F(5,10) = 75.25, p = 1.32 x 10^-7, and Kruskal-Wallis testing was also significant, H = 14.47, p = 0.013. Visible growth appeared earlier in biological treatments (40 days) than in CuSO4-treated beds (50-60 days), supporting its value as a practical indicator of microbial re-establishment.