Global Journal of Agricultural and Allied Sciences

Socio-Demographic Factors Influencing Heirs’ Property Education Participation, Experience, and Estate Planning Behavior in Maryland

2026-06-24T13:16:16+00:00

Heirs’ property, land, or a structure inherited without a will or clear legal title, poses significant challenges to land security, access to agricultural programs, and the preservation of intergenerational wealth. Educational outreach programs aim to reduce these risks by improving awareness and estate planning behavior, yet limited empirical evidence exists on how socio-demographic factors influence participation and related outcomes. This study hypothesized that socio-demographic characteristics significantly affect participation in heirs’ property education, experiences with heirs’ property issues, reported land loss, and willingness to create a will. The objective is to examine the influence of age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, and occupation on these outcomes among participants in Heirs’ Property Education (HPE) programs conducted by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Extension. Post-event survey data from 69 participants were analyzed using descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression models. Results indicated that gender was a significant predictor of heirs’ property experience, with women more likely than men to report such situations. Age, education, and gender significantly influenced willingness to have a will, with younger respondents, women, and those with graduate or professional degrees less likely to express willingness. No socio-demographic variables significantly predicted program participation or reported land loss. These findings suggest that heirs’ property vulnerability and estate-planning behavior vary across demographic groups, highlighting the need for targeted, inclusive educational strategies to strengthen land retention and legal preparedness.

Comparative evaluation of stress and hematological parameters of meat goats grazing southern-pine silvopasture and open-pasture during summer

2026-06-24T12:33:02+00:00

Milder climatic conditions in silvopasture may impact the health of grazing animals differently than open pasture. However, little is known about the potential differences in stress and other health indicators among grazing animals due to the pasture system. We hypothesized that meat goats grazing in silvopasture would be less stressed and exhibit better hematological parameters than those grazing in open pasture during summer. The objective of the study was to evaluate stress and hematological parameters of Kiko does raised in silvopasture and open pasture. Twenty Kiko does (age: 2-5 years, weight: 45.9 ± SE 1.31 kg) were split into silvopasture and open pasture groups and rotationally stocked in each system from June to September 2025 for 70 days. Hair samples were collected on the first day, every four weeks, and on the last day of the study, and analyzed for cortisol to determine animal stress. Blood samples were collected on the first day, every two weeks, and on the last day of the study and analyzed for 15 hematological parameters. The silvopasture group had a 21.21% lower cortisol level (p < 0.05) than the same parameters of the open-pasture group on Day 70 of the study, despite similar results in prior observations. Does reared in silvopasture had lower neutrophil (15.94%, p < 0.01), monocyte (20%, p < 0.05), and eosinophil (31.25%, p < 0.001) vs. the open-pasture group. Results suggest that meat goats grazing in silvopasture during summer can be less stressed than in open pasture.

Revealing Underreported Food Quality and Safety Malpractices among Black Pepper Farmers in Sri Lanka

2026-06-24T13:28:34+00:00

Food quality and safety malpractices pose significant risks to consumers. Spices are among the most susceptible food commodities to adulteration and fraud globally, with black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) being particularly vulnerable due to its high value. It also faces a safety threat from contamination by mold, which can produce harmful mycotoxins, and practices of washing mold-contaminated pepper to enhance appearance can increase the food safety risks. Although advanced detection methods exist, they remain costly and inaccessible in many developing countries, leading to underreporting of such practices. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and extent of underreporting of food quality and safety malpractices among black pepper farmers in the Matale District of Sri Lanka. Data were collected from 810 farmers using structured questionnaires administered in person during August–September 2024.The study employed a List Experiment that included both direct and indirect questioning to reduce response bias. Direct questioning revealed that 17.4% of farmers engaged in pinhead mixing and 10.5% washed mold-contaminated pepper. In contrast, indirect questioning estimated prevalence rates of 45.5% for pinhead mixing (28.1 percentage points higher, p < 0.01) and 34.9% for washing mold-contaminated pepper (24.4 percentage points higher, p < 0.05), indicating substantial underreporting of these malpractices. These findings underscore the value of indirect questioning methods in uncovering hidden food quality and safety malpractices within agricultural value chains, particularly in the black pepper sector, and provide critical evidence to support the development of effective food quality and safety policies.

Effects of Azotobacter as a Source of Nitrogen on Wheat Yield and Grain Protein

2026-06-24T13:33:29+00:00

Nitrogen (N) is a key nutrient that governs wheat productivity and grain quality; however, excessive reliance on synthetic N fertilizers poses economic and environmental challenges. Consequently, nitrogen-fixing biofertilizers such as Azotobacter have gained attention as environmentally friendly alternatives to urea. The research hypothesis was that Azotobacter inoculation could substitute a portion of chemical N fertilizer without reducing wheat yield and quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of Azotobacter in substituting nitrogenous fertilizers for improving wheat yield and grain protein content. A field experiment was conducted from November 2024 to April 2025. The treatments included an untreated control, Azotobacter only; Azotobacter + farmyard manure (FYM); FYM + 100% recommended N; Azotobacter + FYM + 25% N; 50% and 75% N supplied via urea. Phosphorus and potassium were applied uniformly in all treatments. Results showed differences (p ≤ 0.05) among the treatments for most yield and yield-contributing parameters, except harvest index and sterility. The treatment Azotobacter + FYM + 75% N recorded the highest number of effective tillers (301 m^-2), thousand-grain weight (50.3 g), grain yield (4393 kg ha^-1), straw yield (5048 kg ha^-1), and grain protein content (12.7%). Although this treatment produced 13.7% higher yield than FYM + 100% N, the yields were comparable, indicating that Azotobacter application can effectively replace up to 25% of chemical N fertilizer. Thus, the combined use of Azotobacter, FYM, and 75% N can be recommended for sustainable wheat production in the mid-hills of Nepal.