Open AgriculturePub Date : 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1515/opag-2022-0261
Wieger Wamelink, Charlotte Pouwels
{"title":"Effect of struvite on the growth of green beans on Mars and Moon regolith simulants","authors":"Wieger Wamelink, Charlotte Pouwels","doi":"10.1515/opag-2022-0261","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2022-0261","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 When humans are going to live on the Moon or Mars, food production and reusing waste products as manure will be essential for their survival. This calls for a circular sustainable agricultural ecosystem for food production. Earlier experiments have shown that crop growth is possible on simulant regoliths though there are several challenges. One of them is the shortage of nitrate or ammonium in the regoliths. Moreover, phosphate is not easily available. This could be solved by the application of human feces as manure. The goal of this experiment was to test if human urine-based struvite (MgNH4PO4) could fertilize Mars and Moon regolith simulants and lead to a higher yield of green beans. Three “soils” were examined: Mars regolith simulant (MMS), Moon regolith simulant (JSC 1A), and Earth potting soil with and without struvite. Forty grams of struvite were added, besides 10% (volume) organic matter. The experiment was conducted in tenfold. Length of plants was recorded, and beans were harvested when ripe and at the end of the experiment, three and a half months after the start. The struvite treatment yielded a significantly higher bean harvest. Plants on potting soil and Moon soil simulant with struvite addition reached the same height and were higher than the control plants. The plants on Mars soil simulant were smaller but still taller than the control. It can be concluded that the addition of struvite had a significant positive effect on the production of green beans on potting soil and Mars and Moon soil simulant.","PeriodicalId":45740,"journal":{"name":"Open Agriculture","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140516562","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Open AgriculturePub Date : 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1515/opag-2022-0242
Abdul-Rauf Malimanga Alhassan
{"title":"Impact of mulching and planting time on spring-wheat (Triticum aestivum) growth: A combined field experiment and empirical modeling approach","authors":"Abdul-Rauf Malimanga Alhassan","doi":"10.1515/opag-2022-0242","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2022-0242","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 This study aimed to assess the effect of straw-mulching and sowing time on spring-wheat growth and also evaluate the suitability of nonlinear models (Logistic, Gompertz, Richards and Weibull models) in forecasting crop growth. The experiment followed a factorial design with two factors: three planting times (early, normal and late sowing times) at two different straw-mulching rates (3.75 t/ha straw [mulch] and 0 t/ha straw [no-mulch]). The following treatments were established from these factors: (1) early sowing without straw-mulch (ESW-T), (2) early sowing with straw-mulch (ESW-TS), (3) normal sowing without straw-mulch (NSW-T), (4) normal sowing with straw-mulch (NSW-TS), (5) late sowing without straw-mulch (LSW-T) and (6) late sowing with straw-mulch (LSW-TS). The results showed that, generally mulching improved soil water storage and enhanced biomass growth while early sowing combined with mulching (ESW-TS) gave the greatest results in terms of biomass growth. Furthermore, the logistic model was the most suitable for crop forecasting with a coefficient of determination (r\u0000 2) of 0.887 and a change in Akaike information criterion (∆AIC) of 0. The Gompertz model was next with r\u0000 2 = 0.884 and ∆AIC = 0.53, followed by the Weibull model (r\u0000 2 = 0.883, ∆AIC = 2.83). The Richards model showed the least performance (r\u0000 2 = 0.882, ∆AIC = 3.42). These results implied that the adoption of early sowing and straw-mulching could enhance soil water storage, improve wheat yields and improve climate resilience of agroecosystems on the Loess Plateau and similar dryland ecosystems. Furthermore, the logistic regression model can be a useful decision tool for testing the effectiveness of climate adaptation strategies.","PeriodicalId":45740,"journal":{"name":"Open Agriculture","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139634636","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Open AgriculturePub Date : 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1515/opag-2022-0248
N. Pongsilp, P. Nimnoi
{"title":"Effects of co-inoculation of indole-3-acetic acid- and ammonia-producing bacteria on plant growth and nutrition, soil elements, and the relationships of soil microbiomes with soil physicochemical parameters","authors":"N. Pongsilp, P. Nimnoi","doi":"10.1515/opag-2022-0248","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2022-0248","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract To cope with the problem of the reduction in agricultural productivity, the massive usage of chemical fertilizers for boosting agricultural productivity is popular across the world. In return, it thereby declines soil quality and biodiversity. We therefore determined the potential of co-inoculation of the indole-3-acetic-acid- and ammonia-producing bacteria, Pseudomonas sp. strain NK2/7 and Bacillus sp. strain NK1/19, immobilized in agar to promote mustard greens growth and investigated the effects of co-inoculation of both strains on plant and soil elements as well as soil bacterial community structure, in comparison with a chemical fertilizer and single-strain inoculations. The knowledge on the relationships of both species with plant and soil microbiota in field conditions is limited. The results show that the co-inoculation of both strains immobilized in agar increased plant dry weight up to 62.02% and plant elements, including N (38.46%), P (28.37%), K (203.16%), Ca (10.89%), Mg (25.8%), and Na (70.3%). The co-inoculation also conferred the highest organic matter (OM) (by 429.45%) and increased soil elements including Fe (92.74%), Mn (126.88%), Cu (12.05%), and Zn (107.46%). Illumina next-generation sequencing demonstrated that the establishment of both strains affected the soil bacterial community by reducing bacterial diversity and richness. Bacterial classes Bacteroidia, alpha-Proteobacteria, Vicinamibacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Verrucomicrobiae, Polyangia, Nitrososphaeria, and Blastocatellia were significantly decreased, whereas the amounts of gamma-Proteobacteria and Bacilli were significantly increased. Soil parameters, including pH, OM, total Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn, were the major factors influencing the soil bacterial community structure.","PeriodicalId":45740,"journal":{"name":"Open Agriculture","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139454088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Open AgriculturePub Date : 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1515/opag-2022-0247
L. Xuan, Nguyen Phuong Truc Huyen, Lê Thị Mỹ Thu, Vo Thi Bich Thuy, Le Minh Tuan, L. T. Quang, Nguyen Thi Xuan Dao, L. Thuc, N. Khuong
{"title":"Supplementation of P-solubilizing purple nonsulfur bacteria, Rhodopseudomonas palustris improved soil fertility, P nutrient, growth, and yield of Cucumis melo L.","authors":"L. Xuan, Nguyen Phuong Truc Huyen, Lê Thị Mỹ Thu, Vo Thi Bich Thuy, Le Minh Tuan, L. T. Quang, Nguyen Thi Xuan Dao, L. Thuc, N. Khuong","doi":"10.1515/opag-2022-0247","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2022-0247","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of supplying a mixture of four phosphorus (P)-solubilizing purple nonsulfur bacteria strains, Rhodopseudomonas palustris VNW64, VNS89, TLS06, and VNW02 (P-solubilizing purple nonsulfur bacteria (PS-PNSB)) on soil properties, P uptake, growth, and yield of canary melon (Cucumis melo L.). The experiment consisted of eight treatments, including 100% P (150 kg P2O5 ha−1) as recommended, 75% P, 50% P (75 kg P2O5 ha−1), and no fertilizers, and these treatments with adding PS-PNSB mixture. The results showed that supplying the PS-PNSB mixture had improved the soil pH and the available P content. Moreover, fertilizing 100% P with the mixture of the four PS-PNSB strains resulted in the greatest P uptake (7.88 kg P ha−1). However, interestingly, when supplying 75% P with the PS-PNSB mixture, the P uptake was 6.11 kg P ha−1 and was statistically equal to the 100% P treatment (5.87 kg P ha−1). This could be found in other parameters. Therefore, supplying the PS-PNSB mixture can be claimed to reduce 25% P, but still maintain plant height, fruit length, fruit perimeter, and yield of canary. In addition, supplying the PS-PNSB mixture contributed to a 5.26–9.42% increase in the canary melon yield among P fertilizer rates. Based on the aforementioned results, the PS-PNSB mixture in the current study should be further commercialized and transferred for farmers’ use to enhance the yield of canary melons and reduce the rate of chemical fertilizers for the ultimate goal of sustainable agriculture. Graphical abstract","PeriodicalId":45740,"journal":{"name":"Open Agriculture","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139454545","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Open AgriculturePub Date : 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1515/opag-2022-0241
Yiyi Sulaeman, Vivi Aryati, Agus Suprihatin, Putri Tria Santari, Yati Haryati, Susilawati Susilawati, Deddy Romulo Siagian, Vicca Karolinoerita, Hermawati Cahyaningrum, Joko Pramono, H. S. Wulanningtyas, Lilia Fauziah, Budi Raharjo, Syafruddin Syafruddin, Destika Cahyana, Waluyo Waluyo, Bambang Susanto, Resmayeti Purba, D. O. Dewi, Y. Yahumri, Miswarti Miswarti, A. Afrizon, J. Sondakh, Mirawanty Amin, O. Tandi, Eni Maftuáh, A. F. C. Irawati, Nurhayati Nurhayati, A. Suriadi, Tony Basuki, Muhamad Hidayanto, Tarbiyatul Munawwarah, Y. Fiana, B. A. Bakar, A. Azis, Muhammad Yasin
{"title":"Yield gap variation in rice cultivation in Indonesia","authors":"Yiyi Sulaeman, Vivi Aryati, Agus Suprihatin, Putri Tria Santari, Yati Haryati, Susilawati Susilawati, Deddy Romulo Siagian, Vicca Karolinoerita, Hermawati Cahyaningrum, Joko Pramono, H. S. Wulanningtyas, Lilia Fauziah, Budi Raharjo, Syafruddin Syafruddin, Destika Cahyana, Waluyo Waluyo, Bambang Susanto, Resmayeti Purba, D. O. Dewi, Y. Yahumri, Miswarti Miswarti, A. Afrizon, J. Sondakh, Mirawanty Amin, O. Tandi, Eni Maftuáh, A. F. C. Irawati, Nurhayati Nurhayati, A. Suriadi, Tony Basuki, Muhamad Hidayanto, Tarbiyatul Munawwarah, Y. Fiana, B. A. Bakar, A. Azis, Muhammad Yasin","doi":"10.1515/opag-2022-0241","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2022-0241","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The rice yield gap (YG) is a global concern, requiring more detailed studies spatially and temporally. As a staple food in Indonesia, rice was produced from 7.4 Mha paddy fields in 2019. Better insight into the YG helps assess measures to boost rice production. However, the information on YG variation among regions scale is limited. This study aimed to identify the rice YG based on 295 historical trial datasets from 23 provinces in Indonesia. We surveyed published trial results from 2012 to 2022 and analyzed YGs, expressed as the percentage of farmer yield (FY). The potential yield (PY) was estimated from field trial results using introduced rice cultivation technology package, whereas FY from results using existing farmer practices. Our study showed that the average YG was 62% in rainfed, 54% in tidal, and 32% in irrigated paddy fields. The YG was significantly high in the paddy fields of Kalimantan (74%) and Maluku-Papua (49%), while the lowest was in Sulawesi (27%) and Java (31%). The YG varied significantly with geo-regions, rice varieties, and cultivation technology packages. Closing the YG and ensuring sustainable rice production requires the implementation of sustainable intensification through applying site-specific technology packages, reallocation of agricultural interventions to a higher YG region, and rice variety improvement to increase PY.","PeriodicalId":45740,"journal":{"name":"Open Agriculture","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139457626","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Open AgriculturePub Date : 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1515/opag-2022-0266
M. Golian, I. Mezeyová, A. Andrejiová, A. Hegedȕsová, Samuel Adamec, J. Štefániková, Július Árvay
{"title":"Effects of selected biostimulants on qualitative and quantitative parameters of nine cultivars of the genus Capsicum spp.","authors":"M. Golian, I. Mezeyová, A. Andrejiová, A. Hegedȕsová, Samuel Adamec, J. Štefániková, Július Árvay","doi":"10.1515/opag-2022-0266","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2022-0266","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Despite the growing popularity of biostimulants among farmers, a major problem remains with their variable effects on individual species and varieties of cultivated crops. Therefore, it is important to know how to choose a suitable product for the given growing conditions while simultaneously considering species and varietal variability in crop cultivation. The goal of this study is to highlight different reactions of plants to the applied preparations within the monitored representatives of the Capsicum genus, with an emphasis on intervarietal variability. The experiments with two monitored and one control variants occurred during the growing seasons of 2020 and 2022 in Slovakia’s southwest region, characterized by a European continental climate with warm and dry summers. Seven varieties of Capsicum annuum and two varieties of Capsicum chinense were chosen based on actual growers’ preferences: “Žitava,” “Szegedi 80,” “Karkulka,” “Hodoníska sladká,” “Habanero Orange,” “Habanero Chocolate,” “Kristián,” “Damián” and “Kurtovska kápia.” In the present study, we observed the effects of selected commercial biostimulants – the combination of Energen Fulhum Plus and Energen Fruktus Plus in the first variant and the biostimulant Humix® Universal in the second variant – on bell pepper fruits. We evaluated three productivity parameters: fresh fruit weight per variety, weight of one fruit and number of bell pepper fruits per plant. From the qualitative parameters, we evaluated the content of ascorbic acid, capsaicin, carotenoids, and the American Spice Trade Association color value. The monitored biostimulants had variable effects in all pepper varieties, while some of them statistically significantly increased and others significantly decreased the monitored parameters. In conclusion, we state that the application of verified biostimulants did not have a uniform effect on the observed varieties of the Capsicum genus. Therefore, based on our results, we cannot generalize the effect of a specific biostimulant on a specific crop genus or species.","PeriodicalId":45740,"journal":{"name":"Open Agriculture","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140526874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Open AgriculturePub Date : 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1515/opag-2022-0249
E. Wardiana, E. Randriani, Dani, Nur Kholilatul Izzah, M. Ibrahim, Kurnia Dewi Sasmita, Saefudin, D. Pranowo, M. Herman, H. Supriadi, Asif Aunillah, Eko Heri Purwanto, Dewi Listyati
{"title":"Yield performance and stability analysis of three cultivars of Gayo Arabica coffee across six different environments","authors":"E. Wardiana, E. Randriani, Dani, Nur Kholilatul Izzah, M. Ibrahim, Kurnia Dewi Sasmita, Saefudin, D. Pranowo, M. Herman, H. Supriadi, Asif Aunillah, Eko Heri Purwanto, Dewi Listyati","doi":"10.1515/opag-2022-0249","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2022-0249","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The three cultivars of Gayo Arabica coffee (GAC) are distributed widely in the Gayo Highlands, Aceh Province, Indonesia, between 900 and 1,700 m above sea level (masl). The difference in altitude affects the yield and quality of coffee, and Arabica coffee has biennial bearing characteristics, so there are always annual yield fluctuations. This study aimed to determine the yield performance and stability level of the three GAC cultivars, Gayo 1, Gayo 2, and Gayo 3 (G3), across six different environments. The study used a randomized complete block design with three replications. The six environmental conditions are the combinations of two altitudes (900 and 1,500 masl) and 3 years of production (2019, 2020, and 2021). The estimation of coffee yields is based on the fruit value, which is calculated by the number of productive branches per tree, nodes per branch, berries per node, and the weight of a single cherry. An investigation of the genotype-by-environmental interaction using a combined analysis of variance and the yield performance and stability analysis performed using the Eberhart and Russell method, AMMI (additive main effects and multiplicative interaction) and GGE (genotype + genotype × environment) biplot analysis. Results showed that the yield performance of GAC was significantly affected by the interaction between genotype and environment. G3 was an ideal cultivar because it had high yield performance, was stable, and could adapt to broader environments in Gayo Highland. Therefore, G3 deserves high priority for Arabica coffee development in that region.","PeriodicalId":45740,"journal":{"name":"Open Agriculture","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140519806","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Open AgriculturePub Date : 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1515/opag-2022-0244
T. C. Kujoana, M. Mabelebele, N. Sebola
{"title":"Role of dietary fats in reproductive, health, and nutritional benefits in farm animals: A review","authors":"T. C. Kujoana, M. Mabelebele, N. Sebola","doi":"10.1515/opag-2022-0244","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2022-0244","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Dietary fats serve a multitude of purposes in both humans and animals. They are a component of membranes and support the regulation of cellular influx and egress. They aid in the production of hormones, milk, embryonic, and foetal development, movement, and storage of energy, as well as absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. The objective of this review is to describe how dietary fats contribute to improved livestock reproductive performance. Data for this review study were acquired from recently published works in different journals. Databases were accessed using electronic data sources such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Research Gate, Web of Science, and the Directory of Open Access Journals. It is believed that dietary fats added to animal diets enhance animal reproduction by boosting the quantity and size of ovarian follicles and concentration of hormone progesterone plasma, declining the production of prostaglandin metabolites and increasing the lifespan of corpus luteum, which is also crucial for semen maturation, motility, and acrosomal reactions in addition to reproductive hormones. Therefore, it is important to employ dietary fats effectively to boost livestock reproduction and maximise animal output, which will achieve the relevant Sustainable Development Goals and food security.","PeriodicalId":45740,"journal":{"name":"Open Agriculture","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140518411","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Open AgriculturePub Date : 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1515/opag-2022-0208
A. Aragaw, B. Biazin, F. Gurmu, Roland Anthony, M. Cherinet, Jan Low, Mikias Yeshitela, Asrat Girma, Temesgen Feyissa
{"title":"Participatory on-farm evaluation of new orange-fleshed sweetpotato varieties in Southern Ethiopia","authors":"A. Aragaw, B. Biazin, F. Gurmu, Roland Anthony, M. Cherinet, Jan Low, Mikias Yeshitela, Asrat Girma, Temesgen Feyissa","doi":"10.1515/opag-2022-0208","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2022-0208","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Sweetpotato is the second most important root crop in Ethiopia, making an important contribution to food security in the densely populated areas of southern Ethiopia. While the white-fleshed sweetpotato (WFSP) varieties have been widely grown, the recently bred pro-vitamin A orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) varieties are also gaining popularity nationwide. This study evaluated on-farm performances of five new OFSP varieties along with two previously released “check” varieties, one of which is a WFSP, across 13 locations in southern Ethiopia for 2 consecutive seasons (2017 and 2018) with the objective of selecting farmer preferred varieties. The experimental design used was randomized complete block design. Results revealed highly significant differences (p < 0.05) among the tested varieties for all parameters considered. Overall, the new varieties were superior to the check varieties for most of the parameters considered. Kulfo, the OFSP check and the only OFSP variety under production, was inferior in above-ground biomass yield, taste, vegetative, and physical root quality performance. There was a strong negative correlation between altitude and root yields, with the highest root yields being in areas 1,500–1,650 m above sea level. The new varieties were accepted by the farmers due to their better yields, adaptability to the local agro-ecological conditions, and high dry matter content. The results of this study implied that the conventional variety evaluations should be complemented by farmers' participatory processes to ensure the release of acceptable varieties targeting both food security and marketability.","PeriodicalId":45740,"journal":{"name":"Open Agriculture","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140520787","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Open AgriculturePub Date : 2024-01-01DOI: 10.1515/opag-2022-0256
Sylvia Kpabitey, A. Chitose, Motoi Kusadokoro
{"title":"Provision of loans and credit by cocoa buyers under non-price competition: Cocoa beans market in Ghana","authors":"Sylvia Kpabitey, A. Chitose, Motoi Kusadokoro","doi":"10.1515/opag-2022-0256","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2022-0256","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The introduction of partial liberalization into Ghana’s cocoa market in 1992/1993 encouraged competition among cocoa buyers. However, since the government determines prices of cocoa bean and thus prohibits price-based competition among Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs), LBCs rely on building relationships with cocoa farmers by providing incentives like credit and loans to cocoa farmers to encourage them to sell to them preferentially. These LBCs employ non-price strategies including the provision of loans and credit to cocoa farmers. This study analyzed the effects of non-price competition on loan and credit provision by cocoa LBCs. Descriptive analysis revealed that LBCs offer credit and loans to cocoa farmers, with 37.4 and 54.7% of cocoa farmers who received loan and credit respectively citing LBCs or purchasing clerks as their main source. Our regression analyses, however, did not fully support the standard intuition that competition promotes credit and loan provisions. This indicates the limited effectiveness of the use of credit and loan provisions as a non-price competition strategy among LBCs in Ghana’s cocoa market. Additional analyses offer valuable insights, suggesting that loans and credits may serve different functions when considered as means of competition for LBCs despite being essential forms of advanced payments.","PeriodicalId":45740,"journal":{"name":"Open Agriculture","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140518449","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}