Evaluation of organic materials for inhibition of nematode reproduction in soybean

Synthetic pesticides have been found to increase the yield of agricultural products over tenfold. However, the effects of pesticide misuse around the world include costly environmental pollution and disruption of the balance of nature in addition to their high cost and non-availability. Hence the need for search for alternative pesticide formulations to avert these undesirable effects. A study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Neem ( Azadirachta indica A. Juss) leaf powder and organic fertiliser for management of M. incognita in soybean ( Glycine max ) production. A screenhouse experiment was conducted to test the efficacy of neem leaf powder (NLP) and organic based fertiliser (OBF), alone and a combination of 50% each of the NLP and OBF against root galling and Meloidogyne incognita multiplication on soybean and their potency in grain yield improvement. The experiment was laid out in completely randomised design with three replications. Although all treatments were effective in reducing root galling and nematode reproduction, NLP applied alone gave the highest reduction (92.59 %) in gall formation and nematode multiplication (82.07 %), followed by NLP + OBF and then OBF alone. Increases in grain yield ranged from 103.08 to 108.46% in response to organic soil amendment. Integration of the two organic substances is a better and more promising strategy since it reduced the quantity of organic fertiliser that had to be transported to farmer's field by 50%.Il a été révélé que les pesticides synthétiques augmentent le rendement des produits agricoles au delà de dix fois ; malgré les effets de l'utilisation abusive de pesticides dans le monde entier, y compris la pollution environnementale et la perturbation de l'équilibre de la nature en plus de leur coût élevé et la non-disponibilité. D'où la nécessité de formulations pesticides de remplacement pour éviter ces effets indésirables. Une étude avait été menée afin d'évaluer l'efficacité de la poudre de feuilles de Neem ( Azadirachta indica A. Juss) et des engrais organiques dans la gestion de M. incognita dans la production de soja ( Glycine max ). Deux expérimentations en serre avaient été menées afin de tester l'efficacité de la poudre de feuille du neem (NLP) et de l'engrais à base organique (OBF), seul et en combinaison de 50 % pour chacun de NLP et OBF contre le galle racinaire et la multiplication de Meloidogyne incognita du soja ainsi que de leur efficacité dans l'amélioration du rendement en grain. L'expériementation avait été conduite dans un dispositif complétement aléatoire avec trois répétitions. Bien que tous les traitements étaient efficaces pour la réduction de la galle racinaire et la reproduction des nématodes, lorsque appliquée NLP seule, avait donné la réduction la plus forte baisse (92.59 %) dans la formation de galle et la multiplication des nématodes (82,07 %), suivie par NLP + OBF, et ensuite OBF seul. L'augmentation dans le rendement en grain varié de 103,08 à 108,46 % en réponse à l'amendement organique du sol. L'intégration de ces deux substances organiques est la meuilleure et la plus prometteuse stratégie car il réduit de 50 % la quantité d'engrais organiques qui doit être transportés au champ de l'agriculteur

Induced Resistance to Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum) in Tomato using Plant Growth Activator, Acibenzolar-S-methyl

Acibenzolar-s-methyl (ASM) is a plant systemic-acquired resistance (SAR) elicitor that belongs to the benzothiadiazole group and it induces SAR in tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicum L.) against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopercisi (FOL), the causative organism of vascular wilt of tomato. It is a good substitute to chemical fungicides which often resulted in environmental damage and increased pathogen resistance. Two tomato accessions FUNAABTO 0168 (Accession I) and FUNAABTO 0178 (Accession II) were used. This study assessed the resistance of two accessions of ASM-treated tomato to FOL, identified the most effective method of ASM application and examined the influence of applied ASM on yield indices of the accessions. Tomato plants not treated with ASM (Nn) had the highest disease severity at 5th to 8th week after transplanting with corresponding value of 1.33, 2.00, 2.17 and 3.33 in Accession I and 1.00, 1.33, 1.50 and 1.67 in II. Primed and sprayed (Ps) method was the most effective of ASM application with least severity (0.00) and also had the highest yield in Accession I (3.35 ton/ha) and II (4.14 ton/ha), while tomato plant untreated (Nn) had the least yield in Accession I (2.16 ton/ha) and II (1.23 ton/ha) respectively. It is recommended that tomato seeds be first primed in ASM followed by spraying of seedlings with ASM at transplant to significantly reduce incidence and severity of Fusarium wilt and increase yield of tomato fruits.Keywords: Acibenzolar-S-methyl, SAR, FUNAABTO, tomato, wil

Growth, yield and proximate content of two varieties of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in response to compost

A field experiment was conducted between August and November, 2013 at the Organic Agriculture Skills Demonstration Plot, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria to determine the growth and yield response of two cucumber (Cucumis sativus) varieties („Poinsett‟ and „Marketmore‟) to compost applied at 0, 5, 10 and 20 t/ha. The experiment was a factorial arrangement fitted into a Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using GENSTAT 12th edition (commercial version) and the separation of treatment means was done by the use of Least Significance Difference (LSD) at 5% level (Wahua, 1999). The parameters assessed were number of leaves, leaf area, number of flowers, fruit yield and proximate content. Both varieties did not differ significantly in vegetative growth and fruit yield. Nonetheless, Marketmore fruits had higher crude protein and calcium but lower vitamin C than those of „Pointset‟. Cucumber treated with compost rate at 10 or 20 t/ha produced more leaves and broader leaves than 0 and 5 t/ha. Cucumber that received compost at 10 t/ha produced highest number of flowers than other rates. There was no significant difference in the fruit yield of cucumber that received 5, 10 or 15 t/ha. However, application of compost at 5, 10 or 20 t/ha compost had higher fruit yield than control. Vitamin A content was highest in cucumber fruit treated with 20 t/ha of compost than other rates. Vitamin C content was higher in cucumber applied with 10 or 20 t/ha when compared with 0 or 5 t/ha compost. Vitamin C content was highest in „Marketmore‟ applied with 10 or 20 t/ha, and „Pointset‟ with 20 t/ha compost. Consequently, for cucumber fruit production, either variety could be used and 5 t/ha of compost is optimum. However, Marketmore‟ applied with 10 t/ha compost is optimum to enhance vitamin C content of cucumber

Growth and flowering response of balsam (Impatiens balsamina L.) to soil textural class

Soil quality have been a subject of great interest in floriculture. Sand, loam and clay are three main textural classes, different in nutrient and water holding capacities. Balsam (Impatiens Balsamina L.) is an annual bedding plant that produces varying beautiful flowers. Pot experiment was conducted concurrently at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria (Latitude 7°14′N and Longitude 3°26′ E) between April and August, 2017 to assess the growth and flowering response of hybrid Balsamina to soil textural classes. The experiment was a Completely Randomized Design with eight replicates. Treatments were, sandy clay (37.13 % clay, 9.42 % Silt and 53.45 % Sand), sandy loam 1 (17.2 % clay, 5.42 % Silt and 77.38 % Sand) and sandy loam 2 (19.13 % clay, 5.42 % Silt and 75.45 % Sand). Data collected on plant height, number of leaves, number of flowers, dry seed weight and plant biomass were subjected to analysis of variance using Genstat 12th edition (commercial version). Raising Balsam on sandy loam 1 and Sandy loam 2 significantly (p≤0.05) increased plant height (54.42 and 57.08 cm), number of leaves (58.50 and 61.17), cumulative number of flowers (32.02 and 33.07), dry seed weight (5.20 and 6.93 g/plant) and plant biomass (80.92 and 95.08 g/plant) than plants raised on sandy clay (46.08 cm/plant, 49.67/plant, 27.58/plant, 4.71 g/plant and 62.25 g/plant) respectively. Total Nitrogen (1.22 and 1.91 %), Magnesium (65.3 and 69.1 mg/kg) and average Phosphorous (993.8 and 1010.7 mg/kg) were higher in balsam grown on Sandy loam 1 and 2 respectively than Sandy clay. The study showed that soil textural class could influence growth and flowering of balsam. Sandy loam is adequate and recommended for the production of Balsam