GROWTH AND YIELD RESPONSES OF OPEN POLLINATED MAIZE (Zea mays) TO TYPES AND RATES OF ORGANIC FERTILISERS IN RAINFOREST TRANSITORY AGROECOLOGY OF NIGERIA

Sustainable maize (Zea mays) production in resource challenged regions of the world is achievable among others through optimal utilisation of organic fertilisers at varying rates. Field trials were conducted in Abeokuta (Latitude 7010' N and Longitude 3015' E) in the late cropping season of 2010 and 2011. Three commercially available organic fertilisers [(Gateway 1 (GF1), Gateway 2 (GF2) and Sunshine (SF)], at three rates (0, 10 and 20 t ha-1) and three replicates were used on improved open-pollinated maize variety (Swam 1 yellow). The experiment was laid out in a randomised completely blocked design. GF1 had significantly (P < 0.05) the highest effect on growth parameters (Plant height, stem girth, leaf area and leaf area Index), with SF the least. A significant depression was observed in most growth parameters at increasing application rates of organic fertiliser, a converse pattern was observed on 1000 grain weight (GW), harvest index and cob length. A significantly higher (P < 0.05) vegetative growth, cob weight and grain yield was observed in 2010 than 2011, while 2011 had longer cobs and more 1000 GW than 2010. GF1 was recommended in Rainforest transitory zone of Nigeria at higher application rates though mediated by environmental factors. Keywords: , , ,  &nbsp

RESPONSES OF UPLAND RICE TO TILLAGE, SEEDING METHOD AND SPACING IN THE INLAND VALLEY OF RAINFOREST/SAVANNA TRANSITORY

Two field trials were conducted at Abeokuta and Ibadan with the aim of investigating the performance of upland rice (NERICA® 2) in inland valley Rainforest / Savannah transitory zone of South West Nigeria as influenced by tillage practise, seeding method and spacing. The trials were arranged in split-split plot fitted to randomised completely blocked design, replicated thrice. The main plot was tillage (minimum tillage and conventional); sub-plot was seeding method (dry dibble and transplanting) andthe sub-sub plot was spacing (15 cm × 15 cm, 20 cm × 20 cm and 25 cm × 25 cm). Dry dibble had significantly more number of tillers, leaf area index and dry matter accumulation than transplanted rice at both locations. Most growth parameters, at both locations had a significant increase with increasingplant population density, except dry matter accumulation. At both locations, transplanted rice had a significant longer flowering and maturity duration than dibble method. In Abeokuta, conventional tillage had significantly longer panicle length than minimum tillage. Dry dibble method had significantly more number of panicle/m2 at Abeokuta, while significantly more number of grains/panicle was observed at Ibadan than transplanting. Increasing plant population density significantly depressed some yield components and yield at Ibadan

RESPONSES OF UPLAND RICE TO TILLAGE, SEEDING METHOD AND SPACING IN THE INLAND VALLEY OF RAINFOREST/SAVANNA TRANSITORY ZONE OF NIGERIA

Two field trials were conducted at Abeokuta and Ibadan with the aim of investigating the performance of upland rice (NERICAª¤¢î 2) in inland valley Rainforest / Savannah transitory zone of South West Nige-ria as influenced by tillage practise, seeding method and spacing. The trials were arranged in split-split plot fitted to randomised completely blocked design, replicated thrice. The main plot was tillage (minimum tillage and conventional); sub-plot was seeding method (dry dibble and transplanting) and the sub-sub plot was spacing (15 cm ªª? 15 cm, 20 cm ªª? 20 cm and 25 cm ªª? 25 cm). Dry dibble had significantly more number of tillers, leaf area index and dry matter accumulation than transplanted rice at both locations. Most growth parameters, at both locations had a significant increase with increasing plant population density, except dry matter accumulation. At both locations, transplanted rice had a significant longer flowering and maturity duration than dibble method. In Abeokuta, conventional tillage had significantly longer panicle length than minimum tillage. Dry dibble method had significantly more number of panicle/m2 at Abeokuta, while significantly more number of grains/panicle was observed at Ibadan than transplanting. Increasing plant population density significantly depressed some yield com-ponents and yield at Ibadan

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

Variations of renal vascular anatomy in a Nigerian population: A computerized tomography study

Background: A broad spectrum of renal vascular variations has been reported by anatomists and radiologists. The prevalence of these variations is extremely divergent in different populations. Therefore, radiologists and surgeons in different climes must be knowledgeable about the type and prevalence of the variants in their area of practice to avoid diagnostic pitfalls and for optimization of surgical techniques.Objective: The objective of this study is to describe the types and prevalence of renal vascular variations among patients undergoing contrast‑enhanced computerized tomography (CECT) of the abdomen in a Nigerian population, as well as provide a concise review of literature on the embryological basis and clinical significance of the identified variations.Materials and Methods: This study was a retrospective review of 200 CECT of the abdomen to identify variations of arterial (accessory, early branching, and precaval) and venous (multiple, retroaortic, and circumaortic) anatomy of the kidneys.Results: We studied 200 patients, 102 (51%) females and 98 (49%) males. Age range is 18–90 years (mean = 53.08 ± 17.01). Prevalence of any renal vascular variations was 50%, arterial variations were 37%, and venous variations were 13%. Variations were significantly more common in males, P = 0.000075. The most common arterial variant was the accessory renal artery (23%) seen in 10% (right) and 13.0% (left); early branching was seen in 4.0% (right) and 0.5% (left) as well as precaval right renal artery seen in 4.5%. Venous variants were late confluence 3.0% (right) and 2.5% (left); multiple veins was seen in 2.5% (right) and 2.5% (left) as well as retroaortic left renal vein seen in 2.0%. The inferior polar accessory artery was the most prevalent accessory artery. Early arterial bifurcation was significantly more common on the right (P = 0.016) while other vascular variants showed no statistically significant association with laterality.Conclusion: Variation of renal vascular anatomy is a frequent finding among Nigerians. Radiologists and surgeons must be aware of these variants for optimization of surgical techniques.Keywords: Computerized tomography, kidney, Nigeria, variation, vascular anatom