Comparison of Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality Performance of Tomatoes Varieties under Controlled Environment Condition of the Southern Guinea Savannah

Controlled agriculture environment is one of the modern techniques, which has the potential to meet the challenges faced by tomato producers in the country during the off-season. This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of five different varieties of tomatoes under controlled environment (screen house). The results revealed that the Nemoneta variety, performed better compared to other varieties in terms of plant height (8.3cm) and also have the highest shelf life of 14 days followed by Delicious with 7 days, while the number of fruits per plant was height in Small Cherry with an average of 8.733/plant, but Delicious variety gave the highest values in terms of marketable fruit weight (9.33kg) and highest pH values (4.07). In terms of fruit quality, Large Cherry variety contains the highest values for lycopene (1467.30mg/100g), vitamin A & B (56.7mg/100g & 0.62 mg/100g, respectively) and potassium (0.62%)

Evaluation of the Effect of Plantain Peel and Tithonia Leaves as Nutrient Sources on the Performance and Mineral Accumulation of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

Field experiments were conducted in 2019 and 2020 cropping seasons at the Teaching and Research Farms of Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria to determine the potentials of the application of different rates of plantain peel and Tithomia diversifolia (sole and combined) as organic amendments in comparison with the application of inorganic fertilizer. Treatments consist of two types of organic materials: - plantain peel (0, 10 and 20 t ha-1), and T. diversifolia (0, 10, and 20 t ha-1). In-organic fertilizer (NPK 20:10:10) was also applied for comparison. The treatments were arranged in a Randomised Complete Block Design. Parameters assessed were vegetative, yield and heavy metal composition of tomato fruits. Data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using SAS Computer Package version 9.0 statistical software. Study revealed that, the combined application of plantain peel and T. diversifolia increased vegetative parameters which were comparable with the application of inorganic fertilizer. There was no significant difference between the yield responses of tomato to the application of NPK fertilizer and combined application of plantain peel and T. diversifolia. Higher rates of plantain peel and T. diversifolia leaves P20T20(T7) resulted in a significant drop in the vegetative parameters, but increased yield parameters which was statistically similar to the application of P10T10(T6). Application of NPK resulted in a significant reduction in the values for heavy metals. Accumulation of the heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn) in tomato fruits was lower than the recommended maximum tolerable levels as proposed by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. Application of P10T10(T6) is therefore recommended for the growth and yield of tomato in the agro-ecological zone without adversely increasing the heavy metal composition of the fruit

Variations in the performance, fruit shelf life, and mineral compositions of two varieties of pepper (Capsicum chinense) grown under different soil amendments and seasons

Purpose: A study was carried out during the 2021 dry season and 2022 rainy season to evaluate the differences in the performance, fruit longevity, mineral, and vitamin C compositions of two varieties of pepper (Capsicum chinense) cultivated using different organic amendments and inorganic fertilizer as a check. Poultry manure (PM), Tithonia diversifolia (TD), cattle manure (CM), inorganic fertilizer (NPK 15:15:15), and the control (CTRL) were used as treatments. Method: Organic amendments were applied at a rate of 20 t ha-1, while NPK was applied at a rate of 180 kg ha-1. The experiment was a 2 x 2 x 5 factorial with three replications laid out in a Randomised Complete Block Design. Vegetative, yield, and quality parameters were collected. Results: Results show that Caribbean red produced higher values for vegetative parameters, yield, and longer shelf life in season 1. In a similar vein, mineral compositions (Cu, Ca, and Mg) of the Caribbean red variety were found to be higher than that of the Efia variety. Results also indicated that the use of poultry manure was found to improve the vegetative parameters, increased the number of days to fruit shrinkage, and increased the Ca, Cu, Mg, and vitamin C content. Conclusion: This study, therefore, concludes that the use of the Caribbean red variety cultivated during the dry season (season 1) under the application of poultry manure will give the best vegetative performance, longer shelf life, and improved fruit minerals and vitamin C contents

Selecting Yield and Nutritional Traits in Sphenostylis stenocarpa Landraces for Food Improvement

Background: Sphenostylis stenocarpa is an underexploited African indigenous food crop that is enriched in nutritional quality. Objective: Exploring the robust genetic base of this landrace can help to maximize the benefit of the agricultural sector on the economy through production that is enhanced by packaging and patent, this as well will increase the quality of food production and promote African campaign on food sustainability. Method: Upon this, this research made use of multiple statistics to identify S. stenocarpa yield and nutritional trait relatedness that supported selection for maximum yield and nutritional trait output. Yield and related traits including protein and oil contents of twenty-three Sphenostylis stenocarpa landraces were studied under a four year planting seasons in Teaching and Research farm of Landmark University, Nigeria. Results: Trait variances from Landrace × Year (L × Y) interaction, Principal Component and Cluster analyses were evaluated and the variation patterns were identified. Some vegetative (maturity phase, height and branching) and yield traits (Pod traits, seed yield and oil content) correlated significantly (P < 0.05) in the L × Y interactions. This suggests the usefulness of these traits in improving S. Stenocarpa grain and oil quality yield. Tuber and nodule yield including protein content did not differ significantly in the variance table. Conclusion: The result indicates that one location trial is insufficient to determine such trait performance. The first four PCs that accounted for 51 per cent of the total variations were traceable to branching, maturity date, pod numbers, seed and oil content as main contributors to yiel

Effects of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilizer on Agro-Morphological Traits and Yield Performance of Gum Bush (Thevetia peruviana J.) in Southern Guinea Savanna Zone of Nigeria

Growth and yield parameters of Thevetia peruviana J. were evaluated under varying rates of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers at the Research Farm of the Bio-fuel and Alternate Renewable Energy Ltd., Kwara State in the southern guinea savanna zone of Nigeria. Three levels of phosphorus (0, 30 and 60 kg P2O5 ha-1) and three levels of nitrogen (0, 30 and 60 kg N ha-1) were tested. The experimental design was a factorial in Randomized Complete Block replicated three times. Nitrogen fertilizer rate of 60 kg N ha-1 significantly produced higher values for plant height, number of primary branches, number of days to fruit maturity and dry weight of 10 seeds than the control which was statistically similar with fertilizer application of 30 kg N ha-1. Number of days to first flower appearance and number of harvested seeds were also found to increase significantly with application of 60 kg N ha-1. The effect of application of 0 kg P2O5 ha-1 was not significant on any of the tested parameters but the application of 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 increased plant height and number of primary branches which was not significant with other phosphorus rates. It was also observed from the study that application of 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 reduced the number of days to first flower appearance, number of days to 50% flower appearance, increased seed length, seed diameter, dry weight of 10 seeds and number of harvested seeds. However, all these parameters were statistically similar when 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 was applied. Application of 60 kg N ha-1 and 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 is therefore recommended for enhanced growth and seed yield

Assessment of Nutrient Uptake on the Performance and Yield of Extra-Early Maize (Zea mays L.) Under two water Regimes in the Sudan Savannah of Nigeria

Two separate field trials were conducted during the 2005 rainy season and 2006 dry season at the Research Farm of the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Kadawa in the Sudan Savannah of Nigeria to assess the nutrient uptake on the performance and yield of extra-early maize (Zea mays L.) under two water regimes. The treatments consisted of four NPK rates (0:0:0, 60:30:30, 120:60:60, and 180:90:90 Kg ha-1) and one plant population (53,000 plants ha-1). In 2005, the experiment was rain- fed while in 2006 during the dry season the experiment was irrigated. Under the two water regimes, the experiments were factorially combined and laid out in Randomised Complete Block Design with four replicates. The results showed that application of 60:30:30kgNPKha-1 was generally optimum for 100-grain weight and grain yield (1, 429.40 and 2, 929.60 kg ha-1 for rain-fed and irrigated plants respectively). When the grain yields were regressed against fertilizer rates, the response was quadratic and positively significant for the grain yields under the two water regimes. The regression analysis revealed that under rain-fed, grain yield was optimum (1,700 kg ha-1) when 900 kg NPK ha-1 was applied while under irrigation, grain yield was optimum (3, 500 kg ha-1) when 750 kg NPK ha-1 was applied. The result also showed that nutrient up-take in irrigated plants is higher than in plants under rain-fed and this translate to higher yield at all rates of NPK fertilizer

EFFECT OF INORGANIC FERTILIZER APPLICATION ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF THEVETIA PERUVIANA (PERS) SCHUM. (YELLOW OLEANDER) IN THE SOUTHERN GUINEA SAVANNAH OF NIGERIA

Growth and yield parameters of Thevetia peruviana (Pers) Schum. were evaluated under in-organic fertilizer in 2009, 2010 and 2011 rainy seasons at the Research farms of the Biofuel and Alternate Renewable Energy Ltd, Edidi, Kwara State in the southern Guinea savannah of Nigeria. The objective of the study was to determine the influence of different rates of N and P fertilizers on the vegetative growth and yield of T. peruviana. The experiment was laid out in a RCBD in a factorial arrangement with three replications. The factors includes: 3 levels of N (0, 30 and 60 kg ha-1) and 3 levels of P (0, 30 and 60kg ha-1) which were combined factorially. The results indicated that application of 0 kg N ha-1 and 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 resulted in increased plant height, number of primary branches, stem girth, number and weight of harvested seeds. It was also observed that application of 60 N kg ha-1 and 0 kg P2O5 kg ha-1 delayed number of days to both first and 50% flowering. Based on the result of this study it is recommended to apply only 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 because the native nitrogen in the soil was enough for both the growth and yield performance of T. peruviana in the study area

Comparative evaluation of weed control methods on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) production in the savanna Agro-ecological zone of Nigeria

Weed competition has the capability of lowering the quality of vegetative growth as well as the quality and seed yield. A study was conducted during the 2014 and 2015 cropping seasons at the Research farm of the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization, Ilorin, to compare some weed control methods in cowpea production in the savanna agro-ecological zone of Nigeria. Five weed control methods, Rotary cultivator at 3WAP + Hand weeding at 6 WAP, Hand weeding at 3 and 6 WAP, Pre-emergence herbicide + Hand weeding at 6 WAP, Post-emergence herbicide at 3 WAP + Hand Weeding at 6 WAP and no weeding Control were evaluated. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications.The results were subjected to analysis of variance and treatment means were separated using the Least Significant Difference method. The results of this study revealed that, the effect of different weed control methods employed significantly affected the performance of cowpea. The presence of weeds in the no weeding control significantly reduced both the plant height, number of branches crop vigour, total plant biomass and grain yield. Results also show that, pre- emergence + hoe weeding at 6 WAP significantly reduced weed cover score, increased plant height and number of branches which culminated into increased number of pods per and grain yield. Hence pre- emergence herbicide + hoe weeding at 6 WAP was more effective in controlling weeds in cowpea production in the study area and can therefore be recommended to cowpea farmers in the Savanna Agro-Ecological zone of Nigeria