INFLUENCE OF BRADYRHIZOBIUM AND TWO GLOMUS SPECIES ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF SOYBEAN

A screenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of Bradyrhizobium japonicum on the response of soybean to inoculation with two species of mycorrhiza (Glomus mosseae and Glomus deserticola). The study was carried out in a screenhouse with soybean as test crop. The two species of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) were inoculated to the potted soil with or without B. japonicum. Single super phosphate (SSP) and zero amendment served as conventional and absolute control respectively. The experimental design was randomized complete block with 4 replicates. AMF/Bradyrhizobium interaction increased mycorrhizal fungi root colonization significantly (p = 0.05) by at least 35.9% at early growth stage (3 weeks after planting (WAP)) and 59.5% at later growth stage (9 WAP). G mosseae/Bradyrhizobium interaction significantly increased N and P uptakes by 68.9 and 80.0%, respectively, as well as plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, canopy spread and leaf area between 2 and 5 WAP. Soybean biomass increased significantly due to interaction of G mosseae and Bradyrhizobium by 42.2-53.4% between 3 and 9 WAP and nodule weight increased by 61.9-93.3% between 6 and 9 WAP. Grain yield per plant was similar in all AMF treatments and SSP but less in sole Bradyrhizobium inoculation by 37.5% and in control by 33.3%. AMF/Bradyrhizobium interactions produced higher N by up to 81% in the residual soil and the P content was similar to SSP but higher than in control by up to 32.3%. Interaction of G mosseae and Bradyrhizobium increased spores of mycorrhizal fungi in the soil by 41% at 3 WAP and 74.7% at 9 WAP. It was concluded that although Bradyrhizobium had a positive and synergistic influence on the activities of the two species of mycorrhizal fungi inoculated on soybean, the influence was, however, more pronounced on G mosseae than G deserticola

IMPROVEMENT OF TOMATO SEED LONGEVITY USING SOME DRY SEED PRE-STORAGE TREATMENTS

Pre-storage treatment to retard seed deterioration could either involve application of synthetic chemicals or plant/organic products. This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of some organic dry seed treatments and inorganic chemical treatments on the viability of stored seeds of four tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) varieties. The study was a factorial experiment fixed in completely randomized design. It comprised of four tomato varieties (Roma, UC-82, 2-lobes and 3-lobes) and five dry seed treatment materials (neem leaves, scent leaves, red chili, bleaching and Apron plus powders) in three replicates. Seeds stored without any treatment were used as the control. The tomato seeds were stored for 240 days under ambient condition (average temperature 30ºC and 75% relative humidity). Half-life of the stored seeds ranged from 286 to 2105 days. Generally, organic treatment doubled the longevity when compared to the control treatment. Performance of seed treatments depended on tomato seed variety. Use of neem leaf and scent leaf powders had greater potentials to replace the commercial inorganic seed treatment materials for tomato seed preservation under the same environmental conditions.   &nbsp

GROWTH AND YIELD OF OKRA VARIETIES AS AFFECTED BY RATES OF ORGANO-BASED FOLIAR FERTILIZERS IN RAINFOREST AND RAINFOREST/SAVANNA TRANSITION AGRO-ECOLOGY OF NIGERIA

A field experiments were conducted at the Directorate of University Farms, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and National Horticulture Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan between May and August 2015 to assess the effect of different f organo-based fertilizer (fertilizer applied on the leaves) and their rate on growth and yield of two Okra Varieties: LD88 (Late Maturity), and NHAe–47 (Early Maturity). The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design and replicated three times. The experiment was a 2 × 2 × 5 factorial combinations laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design in a split-split-plot arrangement, with three replicates at both locations. Factors were okra varieties (LD88 and NHAe–47), the fertilizer types (D.I grow green ® and D.I grow red®) and four rate of foliar applications (0, 300, 600 and 900 ml/ha) while NPK 15:15:15 served as check were applied at 4,6, and 8 Weeks After Sowing (WAS). Agronomic data were obtained from growth and yield variables. Results showed that varieties had significant (P≤ 0.05) effect on growth and yield variables. Variety of LD88 had higher plant height and more leaves than NHAe-47 at both locations. Foliar fertilizer had significant (P≤ 0.05) effect on growth and yield variables. The D.I Grow Green® produced significantly numbers of leaves (11, 9). Application rate of 300 ml/ha and 600 ml/ha D.I.Grow Green® gave a better performance. The LD88 variety produced significantly (P< 0.05) longer pod length (4.68 cm), fresh fruit weight (4.84 t/ha) and dry fruit weight (0.31 t/ha) than NHAe-47. Application rate of 600 mls/ha D.I.Grow Red® produced significantly fresh fruit weight (5.79 t/ha) compared to control (1.32 t/ha). In conclusion, okra variety LD88 had superior growth and yield performance. Application of D.I.Grow Red® at the rate of 300 ml/ha  at Funaab and 600ml/ha at Nihort enhance fruit yield performance on okra. Therefore, 300ml/ha and 600ml/ha could be recommended to farmers in Rainforest/Savanna transition (Abeokuta) and Rainforest agro-ecology (Ibadan), respectively   , , ,

Weed Control Efficacy and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) Colonization of Upland Rice Varieties as Affected by Population Densities

Field  experiments were  conducted in 2011 and 2012 at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (Latitude 7 20`N and Longitude 3 23`E) in the Forest/ Savanna Transition Agro- ecological zone of South Western Nigeria  to determine the weed control efficacy and AM colonization  of upland rice varieties   at different population densities. The experiment was a 3x3 factorial arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated three times. The three plant population used included 333, 333; 250, 000 and 166, 666 plants per hectare obtained by planting at 20cm x 15cm, 20cm x 20cm and 20cm x 30 cm respectively, while the three rice varieties used were ITA 150, NERICA 2 and OFADA. The results obtained from the study showed that plant population at 333, 333 plants per hectare significantly (p < 0.05) reduced weed population, number of tillers per hill and yield of rice varieties. Moreover, the local rice variety, OFADA was observed to be significantly (p < 0.05) taller than the other varieties, reduced weed biomass and consequently gave better yield advantage over the other tested varieties (ITA 150 and NERICA 2).   Panicle length and days to 50% flowering were significantly (p<0.05) longer in OFADA and NERICA 2.  Planting density did not affect AM root colonization but significant differences were observed among the rice varieties with respect to spore abundance. Keywords: rice, arbuscular mycorrhizal, plant population, varietie

Some aspects of the Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of two Savanna tree Species: Prosopis africana and Dialium guineense

Studies were made on some aspects of the seed germination and seedling growth of two multipurpose trees. These include the effect of pre-sowing treatments, seed sizes and gibberellic acid on the germination of seeds and seedling growth. The tree species include Prosopis africana (Guill. & Perr.) Taub. and Dialium guineense (Wild). Two seed sizes designated small- size (Ss) and Big-size (Bs) were identified in the seed. The effect of gibberellic acid (GA3) had a greater significance effect (P < 0.05) on seed germination of both D. guineense and P. africana seeds. The big size seeds had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on the seed germination when compared to the small size seeds. The hydration/dehydration, pre-sowing treatments on the seeds did not have any significant effects on germination

ROOT RESPONSE OF SOME SELECTED RICE VARIETIES TO SOIL MOISTURE STRESS AT DIFFERENT PHENOLOGICAL STAGES

Physiological adjustment in plant root system is a determinant for survival and crop productivity in situation of moisture stress. A screen house experiment was conducted to access response of rice roots to moisture stress. Thirteen  varieties of rice comprising six NERICAs, WAB 56-104, CG 14, ART26-3-1-B, AC 103549, MOROBEREKAN, ART19-25-1-B and a local check (OFADA) were subjected to twenty-day moisture stress once at  each phenological stage. Results indicated that root growth generally showed preference over shoot growth. Moisture stress did not affect root volume (RV), deep root numbers (DRN), root dry weight (RDW) and root depth (RD) of all the rice varieties at reproductive stage. CG14 however recorded 67.6% increase in RD at this stage while NERICA 3, CG14 and OFADA recorded an increase in root depth: shoot length. At vegetative and grain filling stages, RV, DRN, RDW, RD, and RMC were significantly (p&lt; 0.05) increased by moisture stress in most rice varieties. NERICA2, NERICA7, ART26-3-1-B, MOROBEREKAN and WAB56-104 however recorded 54%, 76.5%, 72.7%, 57.1%, and 56.3% significant reduction in DRN respectively at vegetative stage. Correlation analysis showed that plant height, leaf area, and number of tillers depend highly on, RD, RV, RDW and deep root weight. Therefore, attention should be focused on these parameters in selection for moisture stress tolerance in rice

PHYSIOLOGICAL AND YIELD RESPONSE OF SOME UPLAND RICE VARIETIES TO RE-WATERING AFTER IMPOSED SOIL MOISTURE STRESS

A pot experiment was conducted in the Screen house of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, October, 2011 (late dry season) to study drought recovery ability of 13 upland rice varieties exposed to soil moisture stress (20 days) at three growth stages (vegetative, reproductive and grain filling stage). The experiment was in completely randomized design, with three replicates. Under moisture stress significantly higher growth recovery, more erect canopy and flatter leaf surface were obtained in all the rice varieties at vegetative growth stage than other growth stages with increasing duration of re-watering. Under stress condition NERICA 4 maintained a significantly higher leaf area (27.50 cm2 and 40.18 cm2), plant height (53.45 cm and 67.62 cm) and number of tillers (1.67 and 1.67), but with a depressed number of leaf, slanted leaf posture and curved leaf especially during the later stage of its growth (Reproductive and grain filling stage respectively). It could be concluded that NERICA 4 had higher recovery ability than other rice varieties in drought prone upland ecology

Effects of Molasses and Storage Period on the Chemical, Microbial and Fermentation Characteristics of Guinea Grass - Cassava Leaves Silage

The study was conducted to determine the effects of molasses and storage periods on the chemical composition, microbial and fermentation characteristics of silage produced from guinea grass and cassava leaves mixture. Guinea grass was harvested at 2 months regrowth from an established pasture and cassava tops collected immediately after root harvest consisting of only the tops with the green stem and its leaf canopy. The forages were wilted and thoroughly mixed in the ratio of 70:30 (guinea grass: cassava leaves); mixed with molasses at the rate of 0, 2, 4 and 6 % and ensiled for 30 and 60 days respectively for fermentation. The DM, CP, NDF, HCN and tannin contents of the ensiled guinea grass and cassava leaves significantly reduced as the level of molasses addition and storage period increased. The acetic acid fermentation was high in the 0, 2, 4 and 6% molasses addition with values ranging from 40.2 to 42.4 g/kg DM while the lactic acid content was only 18.4 to 30.3 g/kg DM at the 0% molasses addition. However, lactic acid fermentation increased significantly as both the storage periods and molasses addition increased from 0 to 60 days. The highest bacterial count (8.4 log cfu/g) was recorded at the 0% molasses addition and this significantly reduced as molasses addition increased from 0 to 6% and as the ensiling periods elongate from 0 to 60 days. However, a sharp decline in fungi count was observed with increase in the percentage of molasses added. The bacteria isolated from the silage were Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp., Enterobacter spp., Proteus spp., Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus buchneri. It is concluded that ensiling mixture of guinea grass and cassava leaves with molasses increased lactic acid and suppressed the production of acetic and butyric acids with drastic reduction in microbial load.Keywords: Guinea grass, cassava, storage period, molasses, fermentation, chemical compositio