Analysis of Student's Academic Achievement in Music of Visayas State University System

Parental factors impact students’ self-concept and academic performance during the pandemic. Thus, this study determined the students’ self-concept and academic performance and the parental factors related to it. The research design was descriptive-correlational, and 500 nonrandom college students in West Philippines participated in the study. Researcher-made instruments were used, which were subjected to reliability and validity evaluation. Data were collected online from June 2021 to July 2022 and were analyzed using descriptive (frequency counts and percentage) and inferential statistics (Spearman correlation). Results revealed a positive self-concept and satisfactory academic performance among the students. Besides, parental factors such as educational attainment and school/classroom involvement are significantly related to self-concept and academic performance. Further, self-concept is significantly associated with academic performance. This shows that some parental factors are vital in developing the student’s self-beliefs and supporting their studies and academic endeavors amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Future studies may consider more factors related to academic achievement and self-concept. Other researchers may find the mediation or moderation effect of self-concept between parental factors and students’ scholastic achievement. KEYWORDS: academic performance, COVID-19 pandemic, distance learning, higher education, parental factors, self-concept

Tuberization and Dry Matter Accumulation in Potato Solanum Tuberosum L.

The present research project was carried out at the Agricultural Research Institute, Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, which is situated at 31 o N and 71 o E with elevation of 174 m from sea level. Research trials were conducted on the effects of agro-climatic conditions of Dera Ismail Khan on potato bulking rate, weed control in potato using different strategies and performance of several varieties/clones in autumn season. Before going into field trials, a survey research was carried out from 50 vegetable growers in Dera Ismail Khan District to assess the knowledge of growers and to uncover the reasons of low or no potato production in the area. Age, education level, tenancy status, land holding and gender status of the sampled population were also assessed. Results revealed that only 8% possessed little knowledge of potato production. Major barriers in potato production appeared to be lack of scientific knowledge, weed and pest problems, nutritional management, un-availability of high yielding varieties, seed source and potato harvesting time. Almost 100% of the growers were unaware of the potato varieties, stage of harvest and pest control. Exact sowing time was not known to 92% of the sampled population. Knowledge of weed and nutritional management in potato crop was completely unknown to 98% respondents. First set of field trials was conducted to optimize the sowing date and crop growth period of potato during autumn 2003 and 2004. Total number of stems increased with the delay in planting in both years. Total numbers of tubers per unit area and percentage of large sized tubers (> 55 mm) were highest at earliest planting. Smaller tubers (< 35 mm) increased with delay in planting and small sized tubers were maximum at sowing date Oct. 24 in 2003 and at sowing date Oct. 15 in 2004. Total tuber yield was also higher at earlier planting (Oct. 03, 2003 and Sep. 24, 2004) as compared to planting at later dates. However, dry matter was higher at delayed planting. Plant dry bio-mass was higher by planting the potato earlier at Oct. 03, 2003 and Sep. 24, 2004. Harvesting potato at various intervals also significantly affected these parameters. Total number of tubers, percent larger and medium sized tubers, tuber yield and plant dry bio-mass increased with the delay in harvesting in both years. However dry matter in tuber was found higher at earlier harvestings. xAnother experiment was carried out to select the best weed control strategy for autumn grown potato. All the weed management plots produced significantly higher percentage of large tubers. While leaving the weeds throughout the season (Weedy- check) resulted in maximum percentage of small tubers; controlling the weed chemically or manually significantly improved the marketable yield as compared to weedy-check. Significantly lower population of weeds was recorded in weed- controlled plots at the end of growing season. At the end of growing season weeds found in weedy-check were; Anagallis arvensis (47.54% in year-1 and 39.56% in year-2), Cyperus rotundus (13.11% and 18.68%), Convolvulus arvensis (9.84% and 12.09%), Chenopodium album (6.56% and 6.59%), Rumex dentatus (3.28% and 4.40%), Cynodon dactylon (6.56% and 6.59%) and Meliotus indica (13.11% and 12.09%) in a two years study. In an other experiment 30 potato clones/varieties were evaluated during the first year of study. Out of thirty clones/varieties fifteen performed better in term of yield during the first year of study. These 15 clones/varieties along with another commercial cultivar ‘Cardinal’ were tested in 2 nd year. Great variations were observed among the 16 clones for tubers’ distribution in term of number and weight, total yield, marketable yield, plant height days to sprouting, percent plant survival, and stem plant -1 . Cardinal produced highest tuber yield closely followed by Desiree, Raja, Diamant, NARC-3, 9813, 9802 and 394021 with yield ranged from 13.66 to 19.21 t ha -1 .