Constraints to fertilizer use in Nigeria

Fertilizer consumption rates in Nigeria remains among the lowest in the world despite decades of aggressive subsidization. The extension service in Nigeria has a double-edged impact on fertilizer use in the country; not only can their activities increase farmers’ demand for fertilizer, but also the organizational framework of the service, Agricultural Development Programs, is the major source of fertilizer for farmers. To provide insights on the reasons for the low fertilizer use in Nigeria, this paper presents an analysis of the extension service as well as some perspectives of village extension agents. We find that the reach of the extension service is severely limited by low staff. The main technology transmitted is the use of improved seeds. Fertilizer technology is seldom transmitted and very rarely is irrigation taught. Furthermore, extension agents are found to have gaps in their knowledge of fertilizer technology. Extension agents routinely distribute agricultural inputs and many see their advisory role as secondary to this function. Extension agents identified the primary constraint to fertilizer use in Nigeria as the physical absence of the product at the time that it is needed, rather than lack of affordability or farmers’ lack of knowledge about the benefits or the use of fertilizer.Agricultural growth and technologies, Extension, Fertilizer, Subsidies,

Nematodes and Weeds Control Effects of Pueraria phaseoloides and Flemingia macrophylla Fallows on Establishment, Survival and Yield of Plantain

The yield of plantain (Musa spp., AAB Simmonds) declines sharply after 1–2 years of cropping in West and Central Africa, due mainly to weeds and nematodes. A trial was carried out from January 2002 to October 2005 under two land-use systems (LUS) comprising 4–5 year-old bush fallow, dominated by Chromolaena odorata (L.) R. M. King & H. Rob, and a 20 year-old secondary forest, in three villages in southern Cameroon, to assess the effectiveness of Pueraria phaseoloides and Flemingia macrophylla as planted fallows for weed suppression and reduction in nematode damage of the plantain root system, and determine the yield response of different plantain sucker types to the weed suppression and reduced nematode damage. In each LUS, the treatments were a factorial combination of three levels of fallow system and four levels of plantain sucker type arranged in a randomised complete block design. Total above-ground biomass production of P. phaseoloides was 7.45 Mg ha-1, 4.2 times higher than F. macrophylla (1.78 Mg ha-1; P Boiling water-treated “Essong” > Untreated “Essong”. P. phaseoloides produced significantly (P < 0.05) the highest plantain yield. There were no differences between the natural regrowth and F. macrophylla for all the plantain yield parameters. Sanitizing suckers (boiling and nursery-derived) increased actual yield and quantity of edible bunches by 35% and 26%, respectively, compared to the untreated. It was concluded that P. phaseoloides had the greatest positive effect on the growth and yield of plantain

Effect of Soil Amendment on the Functional and Pasting Properties of False Horn Plantain Flour

There is growing public perception that fruits from fertilized plantain plants have their organoleptic qualities reduced during food preparations. Such perception has the potential consequence of lowering production levels of the commodity in Ghana. To ascertain the veracity of this perception, a study was conducted between July 2012 and March 2015 to determine the effects of different rates of poultry manure, cocoa pod husk and NPK as soil amendments on nutritional composition, physical characteristics and functional properties of plantain pulp flour. The experimental design was a Randomized Complete Block with three replications. Flours from plantain with amended soils recorded moisture contents (8.41 % to 12.08%) which were within the acceptable levels for flours. The flour with the lowest moisture content was produced from plantain with CPH amendment (8.41%). The protein content of false horn plantain flour was however low (3.39 % to 5.27%).The plantain flour starch was not influenced by any of the soil amendments. On the other hand, flour produced from plantain with NPK+PM amendment had low bulk density and low water absorption capacity. Similarly, the false horn plantain flour had lower swelling power values compared to other flours.Flours from plantain with CPH amendment had lower oil absorption capacity. Flour from plantain with PM amendment was more likely to cook faster than the flour from the plantain with the other amendments. Flours from plantain with NPK+CPH amendment would form a more stable paste because of its lower breakdown value. In conclusion, the plantain flours were comparable to known food flours and therefore could be applicable as thickening agents and also find usefulness in fufu powder preparation and baking

Decomposition and nutrient release patterns of Pueraria phaseoloides, Flemingia macrophylla and Chromolaena odorata leaf residues in tropical land use systems

The study determined the decomposition and nutrient release patterns of Pueraria phaseoloides, Flemingia macrophylla and Chromolaena odorata leaf residues in young secondary forest and bush land use systems atMfou, southern Cameroon. Residue mass loss after incubating fresh leaves for 120 days was C. odorata > P. phaseoloides > F. macrophylla. Mean weekly loss rates were 4.5, 3.9 and 2.8 per cent for C. odorata, P.phaseoloides and F. macrophylla, respectively. Across residue types, leaf mass loss was greater in the young secondary forest than in the bush land use. Soil texture and soil chemical properties were not correlated to leafmass loss. Except for N, releases of P, K, Ca and Mg were of the order C. odorata ³ P. phaseoloides > F. macrophylla. Proportions of K released from the leaf residues were greater than those for the other nutrients.Half of the K was released within the first 7 weeks after incubation for C. odorata and P. phaseoloides. Among the land uses, release of K in the forest was 1.8 times faster than in the bush. The slowest releases, irrespective of type of leaf residue, were in Ca and Mg. The study concluded that among the planted fallows, Pueraria phaseoloides had the greatest rate of nutrient release. It could, therefore, ensure greater nutrient availability to associated crops. The leaves of C. odorata are rich in all nutrients; hence, short-season crops could benefit from this source of nutrients if the weed is well managed

Changes in soil properties and nematode population status under planted and natural fallows in land use systems of southern Cameroon

Published online: 13 April 2011Changes in soil properties and nematode population status under Flemingia macrophylla [(Willd.) Merrill], Pueraria phaseoloides (Roxb.) Benth, and natural bush fallows were assessed in three villages in southern Cameroon. In each village, experiments were set up in a 4–5 year-old bush fallow dominated by Chromolaena odorata (L.) R. M. King and H. Rob and a more than 20 year-old secondary forest. Total aboveground biomass production of P. phaseoloides was 7.45 Mg ha−1, 4.2 times higher than F. macrophylla (1.78 Mg ha−1; P < 0.05). In two years (24 MAP), the soil bulk density under P. phaseoloides, F.macrophylla and the natural regrowth in both bush and forest land use systems decreased (P < 0.05). Within the same period, there was a general improvement in aggregate stability. The particle size distribution changed over 3 years (36 MAP), such that at 0–10 cm depth, the percent sand content had reduced whiles the percent clay content had increased under all the fallow systems in both bush and forest land use systems (LUSs). Soil N also increased significantly (P < 0.05) after cropping under all the fallow systems in both LUS. In contrast, soil organic carbon decreased, but the extent was lower under P. phaseoloides and F. macrophylla compared to the natural regrowth. Soil P also decreased after cropping under all the fallow systems in both LUS whereas decrease in Mg was only observed under P. phaseoloides. F. macrophylla had Mg content after cropping similar to the initial in both LUS. Soil contents of K and Ca were not significantly different over time under all the fallow systems. Comparing the initial Helicotylenchus multicinctus population to that at 12 MAP, both P. phaseoloides and F. macrophylla reduced density of H. multicinctus (P < 0.05). However, when the initial population density was compared to that at 24 MAP only under P. phaseoloides was the reduction maintained. The study concluded that the general improvement in the soil physical properties, impacted positively on the N and organic carbon contents which were sustained to a larger extent under the planted fallows than the natural regrowth. Furthermore, P. phaseoloides could be used as one component for the biological control of Helicotylenchus multicinctus, a phytopathogenic nematode

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