AGRICULTURE AND BIOLOGY JOURNAL OF NORTH AMERICA The influence of two pre and post-planting fungicides on the growth and fruiting of MD2 pineapple (Ananas comosus .L. (Merr)

ABSTRACT The effects of two fungicides (Contizeb and Suncozeb) applied at both pre and post planting stages, against heart and root rot, were investigated on MD2 pineapple. Contizeb recovered more suckers than either the control (untreated suckers) or the Suncozeb-treated suckers. It significantly (contizeb) produced more fruits than the control. However the Suncozeb solution yielded the heaviest, lengthiest and the widest fruits amongst the three treatments. It could thus be more useful to apply the Contizeb in the early stages of the suckers and follow it up with the Suncozeb

Nematode populations as influenced by Leucaena leucocephala and Flemingia congesta in an alley cropping system

study to determine the effect of Flemingia congesta and Leucaena leucocephala hedgerows, as sources of mulch, on the population of nematode species in an alley cropping system was conducted at the Crops Research Institute, Kumasi, Ghana from May 1991 to February 1994. Treatments comprised Leucaena leucocephala and Flemingia congesta hedgerows and a control (no hedgerows), arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Soil samples were taken from both hedgerow and control plots and assessed for nematodes periodically. Plant parasitic nematodes isolated were Meloidogyne spp., Pratylenchus spp., Paratylenchus spp., Helicotylenchus spp., and Rotylenchus spp. Three years after planting of hedgerows, significantly (

Determinants of farmers’ access to fertilizer under fertilizer task force distribution system in Kogi State, Nigeria

This study investigated the determinants of farmers' access to fertilizer under Fertilizer Task Force Distribution System in Kogi State, Nigeria. A multi-stage random technique was used to select 160 farmers for the study. Probit model analysis on the factors that influence farmers' access to fertilizer showed that age of the farmers, farm size (negative), distance to procurement centers, and social participation (positive) significantly influenced the probability of farmers' access to fertilizer. Effective strategies of task force in the procurement and distribution of fertilizer perceived by the respondents among others are: distribution of fertilizer through local government agricultural offices, subsidy at source including transportation subsidy to delivery points, and promotion of subsidies for the poor farmers, development of private agro-dealers network. It is envisaged that these factors could serve as a guide to policy-makers regarding procurement and distribution of fertilizer to enhance farmers' access and crop productivity in Nigeria