Preliminary study of the contribution of native legumes to the nitrogen economy of natural grasslands

The need to discover suitable native legumes of high nitrogen fixing ability was pinpointed. Potential native legumes growing in the wild in Nsukka, Nigeria were identified and the seeds were collected. Desmodium ramisissimon was found to be the common legume species in the University area and was used for germination and nodulation studies. D. ramisissimon showed good potentiality with regards to nodulation ability and was recommended for further investigation.Key words: Nodulation, germination, nitrogen fixation, Desmodium ramisissimon

Influence of cutting frequency and fertilizer-N application on tiller production and herbage yield distribution over time in a guinea grass (Panicum maximum) sown pasture

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of cutting frequency and nitrogen rates on guinea grass (Panicum maximum) tiller production and herbage yield distribution over time. Plants were grown in the Department of Crop Science Research and Teaching Farm, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. A 4 × 4 factorial experiment replicated three times was set in a randomized complete block design. Treatments comprised four levels of nitrogen fertilizer at 0, 150, 300 and 450 kg ha-1 and four harvesting frequencies of three-, six-, nine- and 12-weekly intervals. Tiller number per square meter of ground significantly (P < 0.05) decreased with increasing interval of cuts, but significantly (P < 0.05) increased with incremental application of fertilizer N in all the years. The three-weeks interval of cuts significantly produced the highest tiller number when combined with the highest N rate of 450 kg N ha-1 in 2003 compared with six- , nine- or 12-week intervals of cut. Grass tiller number significantly (P < 0.05) increased with frequent cutting of intervals earlier in the 2001 season (June to August) than later (September to November) when compared with the infrequent cutting intervals. In most periods of the years, dry matter yields of grass herbage and crop fractions were significantly increased with increase in interval between cuts and with incremental application of nitrogen. However, grass dry matter yields were significantly reduced with longer intervals, relative to the shorter intervals late in the 2001, 2002 and 2003 seasons.Key words: Nitrogen fertilizer, crop fractions, interval between cuts, seasons

Seasonal availability and physical and chemical characteristics of four major browse plants used for stall-feeding of livestock in Eastern Nigeria

Four major browse species were studied with respect to their time of availability throughout the year and some aspects of their physical and chemical characteristics. Elaeis guineensis and Ficus elasticoides were available at all times of the year for stock feeding. For the physical milling characteristics studied, the browse species compared well with those of the legume species included in the study or were intermediate between those of the legumes and grasses. The nutrient composition indicated that the browse species could be a good source of livestock feed, especially during the dry season when grass from the natural grassland is scarce.Key words: Nutrient composition, milling characteristics, livestock, browse species

Effects of spacing on the growth and yield of Okra (Abelmochus esculentus) L. Moench in Obubra, Cross River state

The effects of plant population on growth and yield of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) was investigated for two planting seasons (2008 and 2009) in the teaching and research farm, Department of Agronomy,Cross River University of Technology, Obubra . Treatments were five Okra plant populations : 111,111, 55,555,35,714, 27,77 and 23,810 Okra plants/ ha. High plant population significantly( P< 0.05) reduced number of leaf blades per plant, number of branches per plant and dry matter of plant fraction. The highest plant height of 1.01.3cm and leaf area index of 5.1 were obtained from plant population of 111, 111 plants/ha and this was significantly( P<0.05) higher than values obtained from others. The least plant population of 23,810 plant/ha produced more higher okra fresh pods and weight per pod and seeds per plant as compare with other higher plant population of 55, 555 and 35,714 Okra plants /ha. The highest Okra fresh pod yield of 7.36 and 7.43 tons/ha were obtained from plots treated with 111,111/ha during 2008 and 2009 planting seasons respectively ,The lowest yield values of 3.45 and 3’36 tons/ha were obtained from 23,810 okra plants/ha in the two planting seasons (2008 and2009)respectively

Effects of Rhizobuim leguminosarum inoculation on the growth and yield of Mucuna flagellipies

The effects of Rhizobium leguminosarum inoculation on the growth and yield of Mucuna flagellipies (Vogel ex Hook) was conducted for two years (2008 and 2009) in the Greenhouse, Department of Agronomy, Obubra, Cross River University of Technology, Cross River State. Treatments were three Rhizobium strains (CB188, CB756, IAC636 inoculants and no Rhizobium (control), inoculated on Mucuna flagellipies seedlings planted in the polyethelene bags (50x30cm) arranged in a Completely Randomized Design with eight replications. The results showed that all cases of inoculation with Rhizobium strains significantly (p<0.05) increased higher growth and yield compared with the noninoculated ones. Rhizobium inoculated plants produced more number of leaves per plant (28.4 and 29.3), branches (5.3 and 6.2), longest vine length(225.5 and 238.3cm) than the non inoculated at 50% flowering in 2008 and 2009 seasons respectively. The highest leaf area index value (4.03 and 4.06), biomass dry weight of plant fractions; nodule ( 0.78 and 0,79g), vine(11.32 and11.44g), root (6.51 and 6.51g),and leaf (14.5 and 15 2g) were  obtained in plants inoculated with IAC 636 Rhizobium strains. Inoculation also promoted earlier flowering ,pod formation in Mucuna flagellipies as compare with the non inoculated ones .Similarly, the same strain (IAC 636) gave the best seed yield of 120.0g and 126.1g per plant in 2008 and 2009 seasons, respectively. The findings suggested that inoculation of Mucuna flagellipies with Rhizobium is beneficial and produced high seed yield and could be use as biofertilizer an alternative to nitrogen fertilizer.KEY WORDS: Mucuna flagellipies, Rhizobium, Inoculation, Growth, and Yield

Biocontrol Potential of Forest Tree Endophytes

Peer reviewe

Effects of cassava genotype and vegetable cowpea populations on the component crop yields and system productivity in Cassava/vegetable cowpea intercropping systems

No Abstract.Nigeria Agricultural Journal Vol. 37 2006: pp. 74-8

Grain yield assessment of six pigeonpea genotypes in production systems and their ratoonability in a humid tropical agro-ecology of Nigeria

Five improved pigeonpea genotypes obtained from ICRISAT of short- and medium-duration and a Nsukka local long-duration genotype were assessed for their grain yield in mixtures with two maize genotypes (hybrid and open pollinated types) and as sole crops in 2006 at Nsukka, Nigeria. The 2006 pigeonpea plants were maintained as sole crops for ratoon crop assessment in 2007. The pigeonpea genotypes were combined with the two maize genotypes for mixture treatments and also maintained as sole crops in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) experiment with three replications. The results showed that maize intercropping significantly (P<0.05) depressed the number of primary branche, leaves and grain yield in pigeonpea in the main crop. Percentage ratoon plant survival was significantly (P<0.05) higher in pigeonpea plants that were intercropped with open pollinated maize compared to those intercropped with hybrid maize and those planted as sole crops. The percentage ratoon plant survival was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the long-duration pigeonpea genotype compared to those of the short- and medium-duration types which were statistically similar. The ICRISAT short- and medium-duration pigeonpea genotypes had significantly (P<0.05) higher grain yield compared to the long-duration genotype in the main crop and maintained a higher grain yield in the ratoon crops too, but without any statistical significance. Ratoon crop grain yield was on the average, 63.6% of the main crop. Grain yield performance in the pigeonpea genotypes was medium-duration genotypes>short-duration genotypes>long- duration in both the main and ratoon crops.Key words: Pigeonpea, genotypes, main crop, ratoon crop, grain yield.

Effect of cassava genotype and planting pattern of vegetable cowpea on growth, yield and productivity of cassava/vegetable cowpea intercropping system

No Abstract.Nigeria Agricultural Journal Vol. 36 2005: pp. 88-9

Effects of cutting frequency and fertilizer-N application on growth and production on guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq) sown pasture

A study was conducted to determine the effects of cutting frequency and fertilizer-N rates on growth and production of guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq). The experiment was conducted in Nsukka, Nigeria. Treatments comprised four levels of fertilizer N (0, 150, 300 and 450 kg N ha- 1) and four cutting intervals (3, 6, 9 and 12 weekly intervals). Plant height, tiller number and herbage dry matter yields were significantly increased by 6%, 44% and 53%, respectively, during the establishment year when fertilizer-N rate was increased from 0 to 450 kg N ha-1. The extent of weed cover was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced by 33% in 2000 when fertilizer-N rate was increased from 0 to 450 kg N ha-1. Increase in interval between cuts from 3 to 12 weeks significantly (P < 0.05) increased plant height in all the years. Plant height was increased (P < 0.05) by 28%, 34% and 28% in 2001, 2002 and 2004, respectively, when fertilizer N was increased from 0 to 450 kg ha-1. Application of N at 450 kg ha-1 produced similar plant heights in 2001 with the 300 kg N ha-1 but differed from the 150 kg N ha-1. Increase in nitrogen application progressively increased (P < 0.05) plant height in 2002 and 2004. Keywords: Cutting regime, nitrogen fertilizer, plant height, establishmen