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

Mulching Techniques for Enhanced Yield in Non-Saline Coastal Bangladesh

2026-02-08T11:18:55+00:00

Agricultural water resources have been constrained over the years due to climate change. Mulching significantly lessens water stress in agriculture, making it an effective water-conservation method in Bangladesh's coastal region. This study examines suitable cropping patterns for the non-saline south-central coast of Bangladesh, aiming to enhance agricultural productivity and resource efficiency in the region. The experiment was conducted in a farmer’s field in Patuakhali district from May 2019 to May 2020. The experiment evaluated the performance of five cropping patterns (Mungbean- Fallow-Transplanted Aman rice, Cowpea- Aus rice-Transplanted Aman rice, Mungbean-Aus rice-Transplanted Aman rice, Maize- Aus rice-Transplanted Aman rice, Sunflower-Aus rice-Transplanted Aman rice) with mulching and no mulching treatment. The experiment was designed using a split-plot with 3 replications. Mulching treatment crop yields were higher compared to the no-mulching treatment, primarily due to higher soil moisture. Moreover, among all the dry-season crops, the highest seed yield was obtained from maize (8.54 t/ha). Overall, this study found that Aus rice-T. Aman rice-Sunflower with mulching was the most profitable cropping pattern. Mulching treatment was found to be more beneficial for higher yields and a better benefit-cost ratio (BCR) across all crops. The BCR for this cropping pattern under mulching was 1.77, with a rice equivalent yield (REY) of 21.08. The findings of this study may help policymakers formulate policies to enhance cropping intensity in Bangladesh's coastal areas.

Farmers’ Income and Adoption Determinants of Organic Bean Farming: Evidence from Narsingdi District, Bangladesh

2026-02-08T12:54:46+00:00

The growing demand for organic vegetables in Bangladesh underscores the need to evaluate the profitability of organic versus inorganic country bean production. This study applied an endogenous treatment effect model to compare the income of organic and inorganic bean growers. Research was conducted in Monohardi Upazila of Narsingdi district, a prominent vegetable-producing region, using data collected through interviews with 100 organic and 100 inorganic farmers. Findings reveal that organic bean growers had an average age of 43.94 years and 25.38 years of farming experience, while inorganic growers averaged 44.06 years of age and 27.43 years of experience. Inorganic farmers reported more frequent contact with extension workers (65 contacts annually) compared to organic farmers (60 contacts). Conversely, organizational participation was markedly higher among organic growers (98%) than inorganic growers (56%). The endogenous treatment effect model showed that conventional farming methods generated a 22.9% higher gross margin compared to organic methods. Gross margin was significantly influenced by household size and organizational participation. Moreover, bean yield, farmers’ age, farming experience, and organizational involvement emerged as critical factors shaping the decision to adopt organic or inorganic production practices. Overall, the study highlights that while conventional methods currently offer higher profitability, organizational participation and socio-economic characteristics strongly influence farmers’ production choices. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and extension services aiming to balance profitability with sustainability in Bangladesh’s vegetable sector.

Bioaccumulated polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) levels in three aquatic fauna specimens obtained from a continually perturbed fresh water mangrove swamp location in Southern Nigeria

2026-02-08T13:01:05+00:00

This study evaluated the presence of 15 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) congeners in three aquatic faunal organisms; mudskipper (Periopthalmus barbarous), crab (Sesarma alberti) and periwinkle (Tympanotonus fuscatus) obtained from different sampling points in the Falcorp mangrove swamp located in Delta State, Nigeria. Gas chromatography was used in the determination of PCB concentrations in the faunal specimens. The resulting PCB data obtained were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests. The PCB 2,2',3,3',4,5',6,6'-Octachlorobiphenyl was not detected in any sample while the observed maximal values were: mudskipper - 2,2',3,3',4,4',6-Heptachlorobiphenyl (0.1794mg/kg); crab - 2,3,3',4,4',5',6- Heptachlorobiphenyl and 2,2',3,3',4,4',6 -Heptachlorobiphenyl (0.1107mg/kg); and 4,4'-Dichlorobiphenyl (0.0402mg/kg). The detection of bioaccumulated PCBs in the respective aquatic fauna has raised important inquires pertaining to likely long-term negative effects of PCB contamination on ecosystem health as well as public health safety as these aquatic faunae are commonly consumed among residents living within the vicinity of the swamp. Results of this research has also highlighted an urgent need for continuous environmental monitoring by public and concerned stakeholders as well as an increased stringent regulatory oversight of the release of persistent pollutants such as PCBs into different environmental matrices particularly mangrove wetlands.

Two alternatives to the current utilization of open municipal waste dumpsites by Edo State Waste Management Board (EMWB) in the management of solid waste streams in Benin city, Southern Nigeria

2026-02-08T13:06:26+00:00

Municipal solid wastes evacuated from all private and commercial premises within Benin city are assembled at either of four (4) functional open dump sites located at several locations within the city and two (2) of these dump sites are being operated by the Edo State Waste Management Board (EMWB). Only Government accredited waste managers are allowed to utilize the open dumpsites. Human scavengers abound within the premises of these dumpsites and personnel at the respective dump sites periodically with the aid of a mechanical tipper moves and accumulate the wastes prior to open incineration. Aside from the negative impacts of these open dumpsites on the aesthetics of the affected environment, it is a crude and archaic process of wastes disposal which in the long run is unsustainable. A sanitary landfill has been described as a carefully engineered system designed to manage the effects of waste disposal on anthropogenic health, safety, and the environment. Biogas production using anaerobic digestion (AD) or bio-methanation is an environmentally friendly process that utilize increased quantities of organic waste components from agricultural, industrial and municipal waste sources as well as floral residues. Utilization of functional land fill sites and bio-gasification of solid waste streams are not novel phenomena and as such, the Edo State Government could adopt and utilize these options as viable alternatives to the currently utilized crude practice of disposal of municipal wastes in an open dump site.

Innovative Sun-Activated Vitamin D and UV-B Enhancement in Mushrooms for Smart Food Fortification and Functional Nutrition

2026-02-08T13:17:27+00:00

This study evaluated a sustainable biofortification approach to enhance vitamin D2 content in edible mushrooms and to translate this enhancement into acceptable functional food products. Fresh and dried mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) were exposed to controlled natural sunlight at different times of day and to calibrated UV-B irradiation to optimize the photoconversion of ergosterol to vitamin D2. Environmental parameters, including UV-B intensity, temperature, and humidity, were monitored to identify optimal exposure conditions. Both sunlight and UV-B treatments significantly increased vitamin D2 levels compared with dark-dried controls (0.4 μg/g). Maximum enrichment was achieved under midday sunlight (up to 6.0 μg/g in fresh slices and 9.0 μg/g in ground dried samples) and following 45 min of UV-B exposure (up to 12.0 μg/g in ground samples), highlighting the importance of UV dose, exposure duration, and surface area. Excessive exposure led to reduced vitamin D2 levels, indicating photodegradation beyond an optimal threshold. Protein content remained unchanged across treatments (~25.5–26.2%), confirming preservation of nutritional quality. The vitamin D–enriched mushroom powder was incorporated into instant noodle seasoning at different inclusion levels and evaluated using a 9-point hedonic sensory scale. All formulations exceeded the acceptance threshold (≥7), with high scores for taste, overall acceptability, and versatility, and a preference for higher inclusion levels. Overall, the findings demonstrate that optimized sunlight and UV-B exposure can produce nutritionally stable, vitamin D-rich mushroom powders with excellent consumer acceptability, supporting their potential as a scalable, plant-based strategy to address dietary vitamin D insufficiency.

Perfume Design Map: A Scientific Framework for Creating Accords Formulation from Fragrance Families

2026-02-08T13:23:23+00:00

This research focused on developing a scientific perfume design map by systematically combining different fragrance families to generate structured accords. The experiments involved selecting representatives from four main aromatic family‟s floral, fruity, citrus, and spicy (with woody as a complementary option) and mixing them in graded proportions represented by drops on blotting papers. Through this systematic approach, approximately 1187 possible accords were created, including 150 accords from mixing two families, 500 accords from three families, and 625 accords from four families, with a small number of duplicates identified and excluded. Additional experiments demonstrated the special role of oud as a dominant “mold” rather than a decorative element, producing 60 unique oud-based accords. The study also established three key construction rules for perfumes: proportion gradation to avoid clashes, maintaining a dominant identity (mold vs. decoration), and ensuring balance for attractiveness. The most important result was the creation of a quantitative and reproducible framework for perfume formulation, showing that from just a few raw materials, hundreds of harmonious and diverse perfumes can be designed efficiently using this systematic mapping method. This study proves that perfume creation can move from chance and tradition to a reproducible scientific process, enabling the design of thousands of innovative fragrances from just a few raw materials.