Search

Increasing areas of agricultural land in high rainfall areas of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where crop production used to be reliable, are affected by soil acidity. This review focuses on the extent, causes and effect of soil acidity on soil properties and crop yield and its management from the context of SSA. Studies showed that the detrimental effects of soil acidity can be mitigated through liming, integrated acid soil management and the use of acid-tolerant germplasms. Application of lime resulted in yield increments of 34–252% in wheat, barley and tef, 29–53% in faba bean and soybean, and 42–332% in potato in Ethiopia, 111–182% in maize in Kenya, and 45–103% in Mucuna in Nigeria under moderate to severe acid soil conditions. This was accompanied by a corresponding increase in soil pH up to 1.9 units and a decrease in exchangeable acidity and aluminum up to 2.1 cmol kg−1. Use of acid-tolerant crop varieties such as maize expressing superior tolerance to Al toxicity resulted in a yield increase of 51% under low soil pH in Cameroon and Kenya. Overall, soil acidity covering ∼35% of SSA should be reclaimed with lime and integrated acid soil management interventions, which could significantly increase crop yield and enhance the resilience of the tropical agroecosystems.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused due to the degeneration of dopamine-releasing neurons. Mucuna pruriens (MP) and Sesame oil (SO) are well-known for their neuroprotect...

While farmers have used glyphosate to control the growth of weeds such as Cynodon dactylon (cynodon) in sugarcane fields for many years, its use has problems which include poor persistence in the s...

The use of coagulation technique in the treatment of different kinds of wastewaters has been employed using various coagulants. In this study, the focus is on the efficiency of coagulation process ...

The aim of this experiment was to test on-farm growing after composting the mixture of following legume plants Crotalaria juncea, Cajanus cajan, Mucuna aterrima with the grass Sorghum bicolor. The ...

New farming technologies such as improved fallow of herbaceous legumes have been developed over the last 20 years as alternatives to traditional yam cropping systems in areas where shifting cultivation is no more possible. One aim of this research was to analyze actual adoption by smallholders of such a technology and influencing factors in the Southern Guinea Savannah in Benin (West Africa). On the other hand, a second objective was to measure agronomic and economic performances of the innovative yam-based cropping systems in comparison with the usual ones under producers’ natural and socioeconomic circumstances in order to discuss the technology potential for large scale adoption. Smallholders with limited land access now develop as usual cropping systems a one-year fallow of Andropogonon gayanus–yam rotation or a maize–yam rotation. Innovative sedentary yam-based systems consist of an Aeschynomene histrix intercropped with maize–yam rotation or a Mucuna pruriens intercropped with maize–yam rotation. Factors potentially affecting adoption were included in a polynomial logit model. Agronomic and economic performances were assessed by the multiple regression and net present value of the 4-years double rotation. Ranking matrix was used to highlight constraints that may impede adoption. Benefits, lessons, and challenges are discussed in this article.

Yam tuber dry rot caused by Scutellonema bradys results in the reduction of tuber quality. Studies were conducted on the effect of intercropping cover crops with yams on nematode damage to tubers. Eleven cover crops were intercropped with yams in pot screen house and field experiments. Plants were inoculated with S. bradys in water suspension in pots and by incorporating infected yam peels into soil around plant roots in field experiments with un-inoculated plants serving as control. The experiments were factorial with six replications per treatment in pot and four in field experiments. In pot experiments, populations of S. bradys recovered from tubers and nematode damage were lower in yam tubers intercropped with Tagetes erecta, Aeschynomene histrix, Stylosanthes guianensis, Mucuna pruriens and Pueraria phaseoloides compared to where no cover crops were intercropped with yams. Conversely, S. bradys populations from pots with Crotalaria ochroleuca, Crotalaria juncea, Centrosema pubescens, Cajanus ...

Mucuna pruriens Linn. (Fabaceae) is a tropical legume, traditionally used for controlling blood pressure. Inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is one of the successful strategies for controlling hypertension.The present study evaluated the ACE inhibition potential of the standardized extract of M. pruriens seeds.Standardization of the extract and its fractions were carried out by RP-HPLC method [methanol and 1% v/v acetic acid in water (5:95 v/v)] using levodopa as a marker. The ACE inhibition activity of the extract and fractions was evaluated at different concentrations (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 µg/mL) using the HPLC-DAD and the UV spectrophotometric method. The liberation of hippuric acid (HA) from hippuryl-L-histidyl-L-leucine (HHL) was estimated in the spectrophotometric method and RP-HPLC assay at 228 nm.Methanol extract and aqueous fraction showed a maximum activity with IC50 values of 38.44 ± 0.90 and 57.07 ± 2.90 µg/mL (RP-HPLC), and 52.68 ± 2.02 and 67.65 ± 2.40 µg/mL (spectrophotometry), respectively.The study revealed that the aqueous extract contains the highest amount of levodopa. Eventually the methanol extract showed highest ACE inhibition activity except levodopa alone. It was further observed that the inhibition was altered with respect to the change in the content of levodopa in the extract. Thus, it can be assumed that levodopa may be responsible for the ACE inhibition activity of M. pruriens seeds.It can be concluded that M. pruriens seed is a potential ACE inhibitor can be explored further as an effective antihypertensive agent.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the antiproliferative action of isolated M1 (6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid) from Mucuna pruriens seeds using human hepatic carcinoma cell line (Huh-7 cells). Initially, docking studies was performed to find out the binding affinities of M1 to caspase-3 and 8 enzymes. Later, cytotoxic action of M1 was measured by cell growth inhibition (MTT), followed by caspase-3 and 8 enzymes assay colorimetrically. Our results collectively suggested that M1 had strong binding affinity to caspase-8 in molecular modelling. M1 possessed antiproliferative activity on Huh-7 cells (EC50 = 13.97 μM) and also inhibited the action of caspase-8 enzyme, signified process of apoptosis. M1 was active against Huh-7 cells that may be useful for future hepatic cancer treatment.

Cover crops are important components of copping systems due to their beneficial effects on soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate influence of phosphorus (P) fertilization on nutrient-use efficiency of 14 tropical cover crops. The P levels tested were 0 (low), 100 (medium), and 200 (high) mg kg−1 of soil. The cover crops tested were Crotalaria breviflora, Crotalaria breviflora, Crotalaria spectabilis Roth, Crotalaria ochroleuca G. Don, Crotalaria juncea L., Crotalaria mucronata, Calapogonium mucunoides, Pueraria phaseoloides Roxb., Pueraria phaseoloides Roxb., Cajanus cajan L. Millspaugh, Dolichos lablab L., Mucuna deeringiana (Bort) Merr., Mucuna cinereum L., and Canavalia ensiformis L. DC. Agronomic efficiency (shoot dry weight per unit P applied), physiological efficiency (shoot dry weight per unit of nutrient uptake), and apparent recovery efficiency (nutrient uptake in the shoot per unit nutrient applied) were significantly varied among c...

In tropical regions, use of cover crops in crop production is an important strategy in maintaining sustainability of cropping systems. Phosphorus (P) deficiency in tropical soils is one of the most yield-limiting factors for successful production of cover crops. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate influence of P on growth and nutrient uptake in 14 tropical cover crops. The soil used in the experiment was an Oxisol, and P levels used were low (0 mg P kg−1), medium (100 mg P kg−1) and high (200 mg P kg−1). There was a significant influence of P and cover crop treatments on plant growth parameters. Phosphorus X cover crops interaction for shoot dry weight, root dry weight and root length was significant, indicating different responses of cover crops to variable P levels. Based on shoot dry weight efficiency index (SDEI), legume species were classified into efficient, moderately efficient or inefficient groups. Overall, white jack bean, gray mucuna bean, mucuna bean ana and black mucuna bean wer...

Heavy metal pollution in soils and the high costs of remediation necessitate the evaluation of cheaper alternatives. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cu sorption characteristics of three soils and their influence on the comparative effectiveness of EDTA and legume intercrop on the remediative abilities of maize, mucuna, okra, and kenaf. The sorption studies were done using standard procedures. The EDTA-assisted phytoextraction (6 mmol kg−1) and the cowpea intercrop trials were conducted in triplicate. The metal-spiked soils were planted with maize, kenaf, and mucuna in the EDTA trial and maize, kenaf, and okra were planted in the cowpea intercrop experiment. Cadmium was prefentially sorbed in acid and alkaline soils and Cu in slightly acid soil. Cadmium uptake was significantly lower (P kena...

A comparative study on the production of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) was carried out in cell cultures of two Mucuna species by elicitor treatment and precursor feeding. The influence of elicitors and the precursor molecule on L-DOPA production, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and tyrosinase activities was also studied. Callus cultures were initiated in Mucuna pruriens L. and Mucuna prurita H. on MS medium supplemented with BAP and IAA at different concentrations. Suspension cultures were established in MS liquid medium supplemented with BAP, IAA, the elicitors methyl jasmonate, chitin and pectin or the precursor L-tyrosine at different concentrations for L-DOPA production. Compared to the controls, several-fold increases in L-DOPA concentration were observed in elicitor-treated and precursor-fed suspension cultures of both plant species. L-DOPA concentrations were comparatively higher in precursor-fed cultures than those receiving elicitor treatments. A parallel increase in tyrosinase and PPO levels was also observed. Loss of cell viability was observed at high concentrations of elicitor-treated cultures, whereas L-tyrosine did not cause any cell death. Compared to elicitor treatments, precursor feeding resulted in higher concentrations of L-DOPA production and tyrosinase activity. The efficacy of L-DOPA production was found to be higher for suspension cultures of M. pruriens compared to M. prurita in all treatments.

Traditional yam cropping systems are based on shifting cultivation and slash and burn which lead to deforestation and soil degradation. The objective of this study was to determine the productivity of cropping sequences with herbaceous legumes and their effects on the profitability of subsequent yam. We compared smallholders' traditional cropping sequences (one-year fallow of Andropogonon gayanus, maize) with those using herbaceous legumes (maize-Aeschynomene histrix, maize-Mucuna pruriens var utilis) during 2002–2005. Highest dry mater, nutrients recycled, and net nitrogen contribution were found with Mucuna preceding yam (P < 0.001). Highest net revenue and return on investment were achieved in yam-based with legumes.

Cover crops, usually grown under conservation agriculture, may offer numerous benefits depending on the farming system. In this study the authors investigated residue decomposition, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) release from mucuna (Mucuna pruriens) and sunhemp (Crotalaria juncea) as well as their uptake by maize in a farming system common in smallholder farms in South Africa. This was done through litterbag, laboratory incubation, and field studies. Sunhemp stems had 65% dry weight remaining after 132 days while just over 10% of mucuna and sunhemp leaves remained. There was no mineral contribution to maize growth by cover crops. However, in incubation studies, mucuna mineralized 60 mg N kg−1 and 3.2 mg P kg−1 and sunhemp mineralized 45 mg N kg−1 and 3.5 mg P kg−1. This suggested that weeds and/or leaching may have impacted negatively to nutrient flow from decaying cover crops species to maize during the long winter fallow period.

Genetic characterization of 35 Mucuna accessions belonging to five species was carried out using morphometric and random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) approaches. Forty-four out of the 50 primers screened for RAPD analysis generated 412 highly reproducible polymorphic bands. A dendrogram based on unweighted pair group method with arithmetic average (UPGMA) clustering algorithm grouped 33 out of 35 accessions into three distinct clusters mainly based on taxonomic affiliations. Genetic similarity coefficients calculated from RAPD data ranged from 0.146 to 0.970, with the highest value of 0.970 between IC392241 and IC385926 and the lowest value of 0.146 between accessions 500108KA and 500104KL. The cophenetic correlation coefficient (r) was 0.98, indicative of a very good fit between the data matrix and the resulting cluster analysis. The principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) clustering pattern corresponded well with the dendrogram. The results of molecular analysis agree by and large with ...

The productivity of the Vertisols of the Accra plains is low, in spite of its high potential fertility. This could be attributed to physical constraints and low organic matter content. A study was conducted at the Agricultural Research Centre, Kpong, to assess the suitability of Mucuna pruriens, Mimosa invisa and Stylosanthes guianensis, in short fallows, for improving the fertility, physical properties, moisture conservation and weed control in the case of these soils. Mucuna had the highest biomass of 5.3tha−1, as opposed to 4.1tha−1 under natural fallow. The mucuna and stylosanthes biomass had comparatively higher total N values (240.75 and 203.51kgha−1, respectively) than mimosa and natural fallow (152.46 and 162.74kgha−1, respectively). Soil organic carbon, one year after the incorporation of cover crops, was found to be relatively higher under the cover crops (mucuna, stylosanthes and mimosa) than it was under natural fallow. Bulk densities were thus lower under the cover crops than they were under ...

Field experiments were conducted between 2003 and 2006 to study the effect of fallow species and fallow duration on biomass production, soil nutrient contents, weed control and yam production in Umudike, South Eastern Nigeria. The experiment was laid out as a split plot in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with three replications. The main plot treatments were duration of fallow (1 and 2 years) and the sub plot treatments were eight legume cover crops (Aeschynomene histrix, Centrosema brasilianum, Centrosema pascuorum, Chamacrista rotundifolia, Mucuna georgia, Mucuna ghana, Pueraria phaseoloides and Stylosanthes guanensis) in comparison with natural fallow and natural fallow plus inorganic fertilizer (NPK Mg 12:12:17:2) at 400 kg ha−1. The yam variety used was Dioscorea rotundata (cv. Nwopoko). Biomass production was significantly higher in Stylosanthes guanensis than in the other cover crop species except Aeschynomene histrix at 6 and 12 months after planting (MAP). Stylosanthes guanens...

Little research attention has been given to growing summer cover crops as part of conservation agriculture systems. Three cover crops (sorghum [Sorghum bicolor], mucuna [Mucuna pruriens] and sunhemp [Crotalaria juncea]) were relay-intercropped into maize [Zea mays] 42 days after planting maize. Biomass yields, N uptake and maize yield were measured. In sole cropping, sorghum had the highest dry weight (11 t ha−1) followed by sunhemp (7.2 t ha−1) and mucuna (6.1 t ha−1). However, cover crop biomass yields dropped significantly (85% for sorghum, 70% for sunhemp and mucuna) when relay-intercropped into maize. Nitrogen uptake followed a similar pattern with mucuna having the highest N-uptake of 70 kg N ha−1 in relay-intercropping as compared to the > 250 kg N ha−1 in the sole cropping system. Maize biomass and grain yields were not affected by relay-intercropping cover crops. The low cover crop biomass yields in relay-intercropping may not be viable for sustainable conservation agriculture.

Velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) is an efficient cover forage that controls weeds, pathogens and nematodes, and the non-protein amino acid L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) is its main allelochemical. The effects of 3 g L(−1) of an aqueous extract of velvet bean seeds, along with 0.5 mM L-DOPA for comparison, were evaluated in roots, stems and leaves of soybean (Glycine max). The activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) were determined, along with the lignin content and its monomeric composition. The results revealed similar effects caused by L-DOPA and the aqueous extract. Both treatments reduced PAL and CAD activities, lignin, and lignin monomer contents in roots; PAL and CAD activities in stems, and CAD activity in leaves. These findings provide further evidence that the effects of velvet bean cover forage on root lignification were due to the L-DOPA, its major allelochemical.

Upland agriculture in Indonesia mainly relies on Ultisols and Oxisols, which have serious problems resulting from severe erosion and low organic‐matter content. The objectives of the study were (i) to assess the effect of long‐term rehabilitation techniques on soil organic carbon (SOC) and maize yields of a desurfaced Ultisol and (ii) to assess the effect of short‐term rehabilitation techniques on desurfaced Oxisol properties and soybean yields. A 7‐year field experiment was conducted on artificially desurfaced Ultisol grown with maize (Zea mays L.). The results showed that rehabilitation techniques using cattle manure, rice straw mulch or Mucuna sp. mulch were successful in restoring SOC content of degraded Ultisol to its initial natural state. All sources of organic‐matter rehabilitations significantly increased maize yields on an Ultisol. Rehabilitations of degraded Oxisol under glasshouse conditions using phosphorus (P) fertilizer, organic matter, basic slag, and lime could increase cation exchange ca...

Two new isoflavone glycosides, mucodianins E (1) and F (2), have been isolated from the vine stems of Mucuna birdwoodiana Tutch. Their structures have been established as retusin 7-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 --6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) and 8-O-methylretusin 7-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 --6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2) by means of spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods.

Clarias gariepinus was tested over 70 days to determine their growth, nutrient and economic performance. The 25% fishmeal component of the control diet was replaced with 5–15% raw or processed mucuna seed meal and the fish were fed twice daily at 5% of their average body weight per day. The diet containing 5% raw mucuna seed meal resulted in the best specific growth rate (2.42% d–1), feed conversion ratio (2.05) and protein efficiency ratio (1.34), as well as the highest net profit of US$0.065 per fish and the best benefit-cost ratio of 1.32. The diet containing 15% processed seed meal produced the worst results. The processing of mucuna seed resulted in improved crude protein and ether extract and a 20% reduction in crude fibre. Keywords: Clarias gariepinus; feed utilisation; plant protein; production costAfrican Journal of Aquatic Science 2009, 34(2): 131–135

The long‐term (8‐year) effects of summer (Mucuna spp.) and winter cover crops (Avena strigosa + Vicia sativa and Lolium multiflorum + Vicia sativa) in maize‐based cropping systems on the total, particulate, and mineral‐associated soil carbon (C) stocks in the 0‐ to 0.2‐m layer of a no‐till South Brazilian Acrisol (87 g kg−1 clay) were evaluated. Annual C sequestration rates and the carbon management index (CMI) were calculated taking a fallow/maize (F/M) system as reference. A greater average C sequestration rate (0.68 Mg ha−1 yr−1) and greater C lability (particulate C/mineral‐associated C) were observed in the soil under the Mucuna system, and this was related to the higher biomass input in comparison to the winter cover crop systems. These cropping system effects on amount and lability of soil C were summarized through the CMI. The results highlight the potential of C retention in soils under warm and humid subtropical climate through the adoption of high C input summer cover crops in no‐till productio...

Tomato cultivation is severely affected by bacterial wilt disease caused by the soilborne pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum (previously known as Pseudomonas solanacearum Smith). Effects of rotation of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) with other crops on soil populations of R. solanacearum and on bacterial wilt disease incidence of tomato were evaluated in the field. Monocropped Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), Mucuna puriens L., Crotalaria juncea L., and intercrops of Cassava/Crotalaria, Cassava/Mucuna, and a natural grass mix (control) were rotated with the tomato cvs. Mira, Ronita, Roma VFN, and Ibadan Local. Monocropped Mucuna significantly reduced soil population of R. solanacearum by the end of the rotation period, whereas the natural grass rotation had the highest population of the pathogen. Other crops with the exception of monocropped cassava also reduced the pathogen soil population. The incidence of wilt was delayed in cvs. Mira, Roma VFN, and Ronita compared to ‘Ibadan Local’, but all we...

Smallholder farmers in Trans-Nzoia District, Kenya, observed poor productivity of intercropped beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) where residues of the soil-improving legume Lciblab purpureus L. had been incorporated prior to maize (Zea mays L.) and bean planting. On-farm research involving 18 replicated trials was undertaken to evaluate if lablab residues affected bean yield and the severity of farmers' pre-existing soilborne bean pest problems. The study compared incorporated lablab residues with four other maize fertilization strategies, diammonium phosphate (DAP), a DAP and farmyard manure (FYM) mixture, incorporated Mucuna pruriens L. residues, and a no-input check. In addition to yield, the abundance of root-feeding chafer grubs (Schizonycha spp.) and the mortality rates of a root rot-susceptible versus a root rot-tolerant bean variety were assessed. Beans in the lablab and mucuna residue treatments performed as poorly as in the no- input control, possibly because of legume residue-induced nutri...

The effect of processing methods (autoclaving, cooking, roasting, and germination) on the nutritional characteristics of seeds of Mucuna urens are evaluated. Results indicate that processing methods significantly (p < 0.05) affect the crude protein content of Mucuna beans. Thermal processing results in low levels of methionine, cystine, lysine, and antinutritional factors (HCN, oxalate, phytate, and tannins), but increases the levels of copper and zinc. Proximate compositions differ significantly (p < 0.05) among processing treatments. The benefits of the processing methods in terms of the food value, and/or properties, of the horse-eye bean are discussed.

gThe use of leguminous plants in the agricultural systems of the humid tropics is an alternative means for providing N to soils considered unfertile and marginal. The objective of this study was to assess the biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in the symbiosis Rhizobia-herbaceous legumes (Mucuna deeringiana, Canavalia ensiformis, Vigna umbellata, Cajanus cajan, Dolichos lablab, Arachis pintoi and Crotala-riajuncea) grown in acid soil amended with P fertilizer by the 15N-isoto-pic dilution technique (“A”-value) using maize, Brachiaria spp. and no nodulating common bean as reference crops. Results indicate a positive effect of P-fertilizer on parameters associated with BNF and biomass accumulation. The legumes Cajanus cajan and Canavalia ensiformis showed good performance in terms of dry weight of nodules (C. cajan = 758 and C ensiformis = 500 mg nodules plant−1 with 49 and 56 nodules plant−1, respectively) at flowering stage, and BNF (C. cajan = 170 and C ensiformis = 366 kg N ha−1 cycle−1) when 8...

Maize was relay cropped with the cover crops Mucuna pruriens or Pueraria phaseoloides for between one and seven consecutive years in three sites: Ngoungoumou, located in an area of low land use intensity (LUI), about 100 km away from the next major market, and at Evendissi and Andok, in a medium LUI area, 15 to 20 km away from the next major market. Maize performance was compared with that in a natural fallow system, with fallow biomass burned versus retained as mulch in both fallow types. Fallow type had no effect on maize density. After biomass burning higher maize densities were attained at the low LUI site. Maize cob production was affected neither by fallow type nor by biomass management. Across seven years of cropping, marketable cob production in the low LUI site was 38.5% higher in mucuna fallow than in natural fallow (p ⁢ 0.06). Differences at p ⁢ 0.05 were found in one out of seven years. In the medium LUI sites, mucuna and pueraria fallow increased marketable cob production by 70–132% ...

On 18 farmer-managed fields in the Forest-Savannah Transitional zone of Ghana, the response of unfertilized maize was investigated as influenced by either a previous short season natural fallow or Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC var. utilis (Wright) Burck. Comparative vector diagnosis of three weeks old seedlings revealed that N was limiting maize growth. The previous Mucuna fallow was at least partly able to compensate N while there was a dilution of all the other macronutrients due to an increased uptake in the Mucuna system. Maize yields were on average 51% higher after Mucuna fallow with 2850 kg ha−1 compared with 1880 kg ha−1 after natural fallow, but the variability between farmers' fields was high. Adaptability analysis revealed that the slash-and-mulch leguminous fallow system was most effective at locations of high productivity while the yield difference to the slash-and-burn natural fallow system was small in farming environments with low productivity. It was concluded that M. pruriens var. uti...

In order to understand how soil microbial biomass was influenced by incorporated residues of summer cover crops and by water regimes, soil microbial biomass carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) were investigated in tomato field plots in which three leguminous and a non-leguminous cover crop had been grown and incorporated into the soil. The cover crops were sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L., cv ‘Tropic Sun’), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp, cv ‘Iron clay’), velvetbean (Mucuna deeringiana (Bort) Merr.), and sorghum sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor × S. bicolor var. sudanense (Piper) Stapf) vs. a fallow (bare soil). The tomato crop was irrigated at four different rates, i.e., irrigation initiated only when the water tension had reached −5, −10, −20, or −30 kPa, respectively. The results showed that sorghum sudangrass, cowpea, sunn hemp, and velvetbean increased microbial biomass C by 68.9%, 89.8%, 116.8%, and 137.7%, and microbial N by 58.3%, 100.0%, 297.3%, and 261.3%, respectively. A legume cover crop, cowpea...

Weeding requires a major proportion of labour in farming of smallholders in Africa. Any technology that can effectively reduce the weeding requirement increases the productivity of the household. Studies were conducted on farmers' fields in the Sunyani District (2°8' to 2°31′W latitude, 7°7' to 7°36' N longitude), located in the Forest-Savannah Transitional Zone of Ghana in 1999 and 2000 to assess the impact of two different slash-and-mulch Mucuna fallow systems on weed dry matter (DM), weed density and frequency in succeeding maize compared with the prevailing slash-and-burn natural fallow system. Late maturing Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC var. utilis (Wright) Burck reduced weed DM by 58% in 1999 and 68% in 2000. The system with the local early maturing Mucuna variety did not reduce weed DM significantly. On the whole, 58 weed species from 27 families were identified. The most dominant species were Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King & Robinson, Centrosema pubescens Benth., Euphorbia heterophylla Linn...

A field experiment was conducted during the 2002 and 2003 cropping at Badeggi lowland to determine the effect of pre-rice planting of cowpea, mucuna, and cassava on the yield of rice crop. Cowpea and mucuna produced a mean biomass of 1.27 and 2.15 t/ha, respectively. The mean grain yield of cowpea was 825.5 kg/ha, while cassava yielded 4.0 t/ha. In the first year of the experiment, pre-rice legumes and N-fertilizer significantly affected grain yield and panicle/m2. The highest grain yield was obtained when rice was grown after cowpea with application of 30 kg/ha to rice. In the second year, only the plant height was significantly affected by pre-rice cropping and N-fertilizer application. However, rice yield obtained after cropping of cassava with N-application of 90 kg/ha to rice was higher than the yield obtained on rice grown after legumes. Economic analysis showed a positive economic benefit across the different rice production systems, although the marginal rates of return were higher when r...

This study was conducted on a sloping field at the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, Okinawa Subtropical Station, Ishigaki Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, to evaluate the effects of zero tillage farming combined with mucuna fallow as a cover crop on soil erosion and water dynamics. Two fallow systems (natural and mucuna) in combination with two soil tillage treatments (zero tillage and conventional tillage) were imposed on three sloping fields (2.0°, 3.5° and 5.0°). A sorghum crop (Sorghum bicolor (L) moench) was planted after the soil tillage treatment. Soil loss for zero tillage farming combined with mucuna fallow was equivalent to only 3% of that for the conventional tillage farming with natural fallow. Runoff water was also reduced by between 74% and 77% when compared with the conventional tillage system with natural fallow. These results indicate that zero tillage with mucuna fallow is a very effective measure for the control of soil erosion and water runoff. ...

Declining soil fertility and limited quantity and quality of livestock feeds are major constraints to agricultural production in northwestern Kenya. Legumes used as green manures may aid in overcoming soil nutrient depletion and lack of fodder. Relay-cropped mucuna (Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. var. Utilis (Wright) Bruck) and lablab (Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet cv. Rongai) were evaluated as alternatives to dry season, natural fallow for sustaining soil productivity in a maize (Zea mays L.)-common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) intercrop on farmers' fields in northwestern Kenya. Four treatments were the factorial combinations of the two legumes and two levels of legume defoliation (none, or herbage above 10 cm removed prior to incorporation of remainder). Three controls were cattle manure (5 Mg ha−1), inorganic N (30 kg ha−1), and natural fallow. Undefoliated mucuna (UD-M) yielded more biomass (2.3 Mg ha−1, mean of two seasons) than undefoliated lab-lab (UD-L; 0.8 Mg ha−1) under the relay intercrop, con...

Velvet beans (Mucuna spp.) represent a group of legumes that was widely grown in the U.S. in the 1800's and early 1900's before being replaced by soybeans. However today, in developing countries, the velvet bean plant is increasingly used as a cover crop because it has many valuable characteristics, such as resistance to insects, weeds and drought that make it economically useful to subsistence farmers. The velvet bean plant is also prolific in seed production, and velvet bean seeds (VB) or Mucuna are sometimes eaten both by humans and other non-ruminant, monogastric animals such as chickens and pigs. Mucuna beans contain moderate amounts of protein (20–25%) and smaller amounts of fat (3–5%). Non-structural carbohydrates make up approximately half of Mucuna while the neutral detergent fibre content is about 10%. Minerals and vitamins in VB can contribute significantly to the needs of poultry as is typical of many legumes. The various species of Mucuna have amino acid profiles similar to other legumes, such as soybeans, that are commonly used as protein-supplying feedstuffs. However, VB contain a variety of anti-nutritional/toxic factors that are harmful to monogastric animals. These include: antitrypsin factors; tannins; cyanide; anticoagulants; analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory factors; L-dopa and others. Research to date has studied the physiological effects of VB on poultry growth, blood chemistry and organ anatomy. Attempts have been made to process the beans and remove the toxic factors by heating, waterextraction or other methods but with limited success. To use such a potentially valuable feed ingredient in poultry nutrition, the challenge for the nutritionist is to find ways to diminish the harmful effects of the chemicals in Mucuna by processing or treating the beans to remove or render harmless the toxic chemicals. This review will summarize the history of these efforts.

Field trials were designed to investigate the effect of direct nitrate fertilisation and mucuna fallow on maize yield and borer attacks in the humid forest zone of Cameroon. A traditional maizecassava- groundnut system (farmers’ practice) was compared with a maize-cassava + 120 Kg N ha-1, a rotation system in which maize-cassava followed a mucuna fallow as well as with a maize monocrop grown after mucuna fallow and with a maize monocrop grown with 120 Kg N ha-1. Average egg batch densities of Busseola fusca (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) were lower by 35–55% in inter- than monocrops but the effect of nitrogen on B. fusca oviposition was not different from that of mucuna fallow. Highest larval infestations were found in sole maize with nitrogen and sole maize after mucuna. Yield losses were 4–10 times higher in the farmers’ practice compared to maize-cassava after mucuna and maizecassava with nitrogen. Mixed cropping systems including farmers’ practice yielded higher total gross and net benefits compare...

Locally available non-traditional green manure plants could potentially contribute to reversing the trend of declining soil fertility and raise maize yield in small-scale farms. In this study, Tithonia diversifolia was tested as a low cost green manure in Malawi. In a greenhouse incubation experiment, changes in soil nitrate (NO(3-), ammonium (NH4 +) and extractable phosphorus (Mehlich-3 P) were compared between treatments of T. diversifolia, Crotolaria juncea (sunhemp), Tephrosia vogelii, Mucuna utilis (velvet beans) and maize stover that were applied to the soil at an equivalent rate of 3 Mg dry matter ha−1. This was followed by a field study where three rates of T. diversifolia dry matter (1.5, 3.0, 4.5 Mg ha−1) were applied with or without triple superphosphate (TSP) supplement to maize grown at three locations in central and northern Malawi. The changes in laboratory incubated soil N03- and NH4 + levels were similar (P 0.05) among T. diversifolia, Tephrosia and Mucuna while the change in soil treated...

A good cover crop should have a vigorous early development and a high potential for nutrient uptake that can be made available to the next crop. In tropical areas with relatively dry winters drought tolerance is also very important. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the early development and nutrition of six species used as cover crops as affected by sub‐superficial compaction of the soil. The plants (oats, pigeon pea, pearl millet, black mucuna, grain sorghum, and blue lupin) were grown in pots filled with soil subjected to different subsurface compaction levels (bulk densities of 1.12, 1.16, and 1.60 mg m−3) for 39 days. The pots had an internal diameter of 10 cm and were 33.5 cm deep. Grasses were more sensitive to soil compaction than leguminous plants during the initial development. Irrespective of compaction rates, pearl millet and grain sorghum were more efficient in recycling nutrients. These two species proved to be more appropriate as cover crops in tropical regions with dry winte...

Imperata cylindrica (L.) Rauesch. is one of the most common and difficult weeds to control in many crops grown in West Africa. Studies were conducted from 1997 to 1999 in the forest/savannah transition zone to identify growth characteristics that enhance the competitive ability of Mucuna accessions against I. cylindrica. Significant interactions between accession and year were found for all growth characteristics and I. cylindrica dry matter (DM). Seedling density, leaf area index (LAI), percentage ground cover, and DM of Mucuna differed with accession and year (p < 0.05). Accession and year (p < 0.05) also affected I. cylindrica DM. After 3 years, reduction in the DM of I. cylindrica ranged from 58 to 89%, relative to the amount present at the beginning of the study. All growth characteristics of Mucuna were negatively correlated with I. cylindrica DM (r = −0.63 to −0.86, p < 0.05), with LAI being the most important. M. cochinchinensis, M. jaspeada, and M. Veracruz (mottled and white seeded) red...

Seven samples of seeds from the genera Mucuna and Stizolobium (Leguminosae) were collected throughout southern China. HPLC analysis revealed l-dopa concentrations ranging from 3.9 to 6.2%. The seeds of the most commercially available species, S. pruriens var. utilis, collected biweekly during the fruit period, were also assayed using the same method, and their l-dopa concentrations were found to vary between 4.2 to 10.6%. Other nitrogenous compounds, which are significant in chemotaxonomy between the two plant types or have potential influence on analysis of l-dopa in the seeds were identified as stizolamine 3,4-dihydro-5-hydroxymethyl-4-methyl-3-oxopyrazinyl-guanidine), l-3-carboxy-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, and its derivatives.

Speargrass, Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeuschel, is a serious weed, threatening crop productivity in smallholder farms in West Africa. Since the use of more effective practices such as deep tillage and chemical control is beyond the means of resource-poor farmers who carry out most agricultural activities in this region, low-input alternative technology needs to be developed. Field studies were conducted during the 1993/1994 and 1995/1996 growing seasons to investigate the influence of three velvetbean accessions and two levels of fertilizer on the control of speargrass during the year of cover crop planting and one year later. The velvetbean accessions in 1993 were: Mucuna cochinchinensis and M. pruriens var. utilis. In 1995, M. pruriens var. IRZ was included in the study. M. cochinchinensis in 1993 and M. pruriens var. IRZ in 1995 had the highest ground cover rating early in the growing seasons whereas M. pruriens var. utilis had the lowest ground cover rating in both years. Inorganic fertilizer at30 kg ...

The use of Mucuna pruriens as source of N for the succeeding poor N-fixing soyabean genotypes was tested during the 1991/92 rainy season at the IDR site. Field studies revealed that M. pruriens produced 31 nodules plant−1 with a nodule mass of 306 mg plant−1 and a crop N yield of 340 kg ha−1. This high nodulation was attributed to a wide range of indigenous rhizobia identified as strains of Bradyrhizobia isolated from nodules of Stylosanthes gracilis (two isolates G7, G71), Crotalaria juncea (two isolates C4, C41), M. pruriens (two isolates II, 13), Mimosa pudica (three isolates W3, W31, W32) and Phaseolus vulgaris (one isolate H51), which formed nodules with dark red interiors on M. pruriens as revealed by the plant-infection test. The antibiotic resistance profile differed among the various isolates, and among isolates of the same plant of origin. Consequently, the use of Mucuna as green manure for the succeeding soyabean crops is quantified as a fertilizer-N equivalent of as much as 95 and 80 ...

Field experiments were conducted to compare plant residue decomposition and nitrogen (N) dynamics in an alley cropping system (AC) and an annual legume‐based cropping system (NA) in the Piedmont region of Georgia, USA. The hedgerows of the alley cropping system consisted of Albizia julibrissin (albizia) established in January 1990. Hedges were four meters apart with a spacing within rows of one‐half meter. A rotation beginning with Mucuna deeringiana (velvet bean) followed by a winter annual crop of Trifolium incarnatum L. (crimson clover), a summer crop of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (grain sorghum) and a winter crop of Triticum aestivum L. (wheat) was established in the alley cropping system and a control annual cropping system. All crops were grown using no‐tillage systems. Plant residue decomposition and N dynamics were measured using litterbag technologies on crimson clover, albizia, and grain sorghum. Soil and plant total N, decay rate constants (k) for dry matter, soil potentially minerali...

A longterm experiment was conducted on Alfisols at Ibadan, Nigeria, to assess agricultural productivity and sustainability of different farming systems. The experiment, conducted for a 10 year period from 1979 to 1988, was implemented in two phases. The effects of methods of land clearing on crop growth-yield were evaluated during Phase I from 1979 to 1982. Effects of different farming systems on agronomic productivity were evaluated in Phase II from 1983 to 1988. Six land clearing-cum-tillage treatments evaluated in Phase I were: (i) manual clearing with no-till, (ii) manual clearing with plow-till, (iii) shearblade clearing with no-till, (iv) treepusher/rootrake clearing with no-till, (v) treepusher/rootrake clearing with plow-till, and (vi) traditional farming. Similarly, six farming systems evaluated in Phase II were: (i) alley cropping with Leucaena leucocephala, (ii) Mucuna fallowing on severely degraded soils (iii) Mucuna fallowing on moderately degraded soil, (iv) ley farming on severely degraded ...

Pine cone extract is known to induce differentiation of human mononuclear cells into dendritic cells (DCs) and also to induce apoptosis in human cancer cells. In the present study, we screened edible plants that contain components with biological activities similar to or more potent than those of pine cone extract. We found that Mucuna (Mucuna pruviens var. utilis) contains a DC differentiation/maturation-inducing activity and a component that induces apoptosis in human cancer cell lines. Mucuna extract specifically stimulated differentiation of BM cells to immature DCs. Marked production of IL-6 was observed by sequential treatment with at least 10 μg/mL of Mucuna extract followed by LPS. The sequential treatment with Mucuna extract followed by LPS produced a much higher ratio of IL-12 to IL-6 and a lower ratio of TNF-α to IL-6 than that obtained by sequential treatment with a medicinal mushroom Phellinus linteus extract and then LPS. The DC differentiation/maturation activity and the component inducing apoptosis in cancer cells were separable by column chromatography.