Volume 46 (2013): Issue 2 (June 2013)

The global eradication of rinderpest in 2010 ranked as the second in history after the eradication of smallpox in humans in 1980. Rinderpest (in recent history included also among biological weapons of mass destruction) recurred throughout history causing hundreds of millions of animal deaths. It was recorded in 114 countries of all continents. After the World War II it was still reported from 66 countries in Africa and Asia. After all necessary knowledge about rinderpest virus and its circulation became available, along with excellent vaccine as well as enough experience with anti-rinderpest measures, the global eradication programme was launched in 1986 after a long preparatory period. It was composed of three new regional projects including all national anti-rinderpest programmes. The main method consisted in active search, isolation and stamping out of all outbreaks combined with mass prophylactic vaccinations and followed by years-long risk-based surveillance. The transfer of research results into practical reality required an extraordinary complex of a highly demanding system of managerial measures. It included analyses of rinderpest occurrence, identification of objectives/ deadlines and control methods, planning, ensuring necessary manpower, material and funds, organizing and implementation of coordinating programmes etc. This complex was represented by a managerial pyramid structure of inter-connected components having the basis at rinderpest affected localities and countries and its top at the Animal Health Service, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as executive agency responsible for technical assistance and global leadership/coordination.

Two field studies were conducted to investigate growth and yield responses of NERICA rice cultivars to organic fertiliser sources, at the Teaching and Research Farm of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) between May 31 and September 30 of 2009 and OgbeEruku Village (OEV), Owode - Egba, Ogun State, Nigeria between July 7 and November 30 also in 2009. FUNAAB is a transition between rainforest and a derived savanna whereas OEV is in a rainforest zone. The experiment was a 10 × 3 × 2 factorial in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated three times. The treatments were three rice varieties (NERICA 1, NERICA 2, and Ofada) and three application rates of different manure types (poultry manure at 0 t/ha^-1, 10 t/ha^-1 and 20 t/ha^-1; cow dung at 0 t/ha^-1, 7 t/ha^-1 and 14 t/ha^-1; swine manure at 0 t/ha^-1, 3.5 t/ha^-1 and 7 t/ha^-1). These levels are equivalent to 0 kg N/ha^-1, 45 kg N/ha^-1, and 90 kg N/ha^-1. The results indicated significant (P < 0.05) varietal variability on dry matter accumulation at maturity in the order NERICA 1 > Ofada > NERICA 3. Inorganic fertiliser source at recommended rate recorded significantly (P < 0.05) higher effect on all growth parameters compared to organic sources. Growth characters were significantly higher at FUNAAB than OEV, conversely grain yield was significantly higher at OEV, where NERICA 1 at higher application rates of poultry and swine manure recorded grain yield comparative to inorganic fertiliser at recommended rate.

Treculia africana is an economically important but often neglected tropical fruit tree native to many tropical countries. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the seedling emergence and seedling quality of Treculia africana seeds as influenced by storage duration and propagation media. Storage duration influenced percentage seedling emergence and seedling growth. Generally, no germination was recorded in the seeds stored beyond two weeks, irrespective of the propagation media used. There was a highly significant (P < 0.01) storage duration × propagation media interaction on all parameters measured. The highest germination percentage (87.5%) was recorded by freshly collected seeds sown in both medium sand and fine sand. A consistently higher plant height, number of leaves and leaf area was recorded in fresh seeds sown in medium sand. The effect of media was not significant. The study suggests that seed storage had a deleterious effect on the germination of the species, thus implying that storing the seeds of T. africana beyond two weeks could impede viability and recommends that T. africana seeds should be sown immediately the fruits are harvested preferably in medium sand.

Crops growing in salt-affected soils may suffer from physiological drought stress, ion toxicity, and mineral deficiency which then lead to reduced growth and productivity. Eight rapeseed genotypes were evaluated at control and two salinity levels of irrigation, i.e. ECe=0 dS m^-1 (control), 6 and 12 dS m^-1. A factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with 4 replications was considered for evaluation of 24 treatments. Significant mean square of the salinity levels and genotypes were exhibited for 1000-seed weight, pod length, seed yield, Mg, K and Cl, indicating significant differences of genotypes for the traits at three salinity levels. Pods per plant and Mg had lowest variations among the genotypes at the high salinity levels. Hyola401, LRT1 and KRN1 with seed yield of 3.09, 2.78 and 2.30 g/plot, respectively were considered as salt tolerant genotypes. Stress (12dsm^-1 ) to control ratio (S/C) which is indicating of salinity tolerance was high for seed yield of DSM12 and Hyola401.Significant positive correlation of seed yield with K and Cl, indicated that these shoot ions can be considered as good indicators for seed yield improving at saline environment.

The aim of this study has been to demonstrate the way of determination of drainage discharge by the method of De Zeeuw-Hellinga in the transient drainage flow conditions. For comparison and verification of numerical experiment of calculation of drainage discharge by equation of De Zeeuw-Hellinga with measured daily values of drainage discharge was selected subsurface pipe drainage system in experimental drained area, placed in the local city park next to the Mseno Dam, in the city of Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic. The results showed a good conformity between calculations and measured data, the differences between De Zeeuw-Hellinga’s approximations and measured daily values of drainage discharge fluctuated from 0.6 (mm.day^-1) to zero, and confirmed that the De Zeeuw-Hellinga’s formula is a suitable tool for approximation of the drainage discharge in the transient flow conditions. It was confirmed again that De Zeeuw-Hellinga theory is also applicable for the shallow subsurface pipe drainage system.

This article deals with the environmental development of the post-socialist countries of Central Asia, Mongolia, and Afghanistan. We aimed at such targets and indicators used in the seventh Millennium Development Goal that have been documented with consistent and comparable data from the United Nations, namely carbon dioxide emissions and energy use and improved water sources and facilities. The countries of interest cannot be considered as significant global CO₂ emitters, however, the steady tendency towards industrialization and urbanization can be seen in the data. The data on proportion of the population using improved drinking water sources and sanitation facilities are optimistic even on a global scale. However, the regional specifics of Central Asia discover further significant dimensions of the water problem, especially water pollution.