Benefit Cost Analysis of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) Varieties under Varying Planting Density

An investigation was conducted at the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike and at the Research Farm of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Umuahia, Abia State (Nigeria), to determine the benefit cost analysis of orange fleshed sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) varieties under varying planting density (25,000; 33,333 and 50,000 plants/ha). The output of the production was computed by the use of benefit cost ratio (BCR) of the orange-fleshed sweet potato production. The benefit cost ratio analysis indicated that enterprise was successful and growing of the ‘Melinda’ variety at 50,000 plants/ha was a more profitable enterprise. The benefit cost-cost ratio of ‘Melinda’ variety at 50,000 plants/ha in 2015 and 2016 was 1.45 and 1.56 respectively while that of ‘Tio-joe’ at 50,000 plants/ha in both cropping seasons gave a benefit cost ratio of 1.14 and 1.42 respectively. The returns from selling of the vine cuttings brought about an incredible hike in the net return of the enterprise. ‘Melinda’ at 50,000 plants/ha is recommended to farmers as the most profitable venture in this experiment

Evaluation of Sixteen Cucumber (<i>Cucumis sativus</i> L.) Genotypes in Derived Savannah Environment Using Path Coefficient Analysis

Sixteen exotic and indigenous cucumber genotypes (Cucumis sativus L.) were evaluated under early and late seasons planting. This was to characterize the cucumber genotypes based on their performance in the derived savannah of Southeast Nigeria agro-ecological zone and estimate character association and contribution towards total fruit yield per hectare. The vegetative traits, such as vine length, number of branches, number of leaves and leaf area were measured at 8 weeks after planting. The phonological traits measured were: days to flower initiation and days to 50% flowering. The reproductive traits like number of staminate flowers per plant, number of pistillate flowers per plant, fruit length, fruit girth, fruit weight per plant, number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight and total fruit yield per hectare were also recorded. Obtained data was subjected to analysis of variance in randomized complete block design and path analysis. The results showed a highly significant difference (p<0.01) among the genotypes in all the traits studied in both seasons. ‘Beit Alpha’ genotype gave the highest fruit yield/ha in early season planting, while in the late season, the highest yield producer was ‘Ashely’. In both seasons, vine length, number of branches and leaves, leaf area, number of pistillate and staminate flowers/plant, number of fruit and fruit weight/plant showed positive and significant correlation with total fruit yield/ha. In both seasons, the highest positive direct effect on yield was recorded in fruit weight/plant. Significantly (p<0.05), the highest total fruit yield/ha was recorded in the early rainy season planting in this agro ecological zone. Based on high fruit yield, ‘Beit Alpha’ genotype for early season planting and ‘Ashley’ genotype for late season are recommended for cultivation in the Derived Savannah, Southeast Nigeria agro ecological zone

Analysis of Leaf Yield Components in Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook F.) Grown in Derived Savannah Agro-ecology

High yield has become one of the major objectives of breeders and growers over the recent decades. Eighteen accessions of Telfairia occidentalis were studied in a randomized complete block design experiment replicated three times to determine the relationship among selected traits and their contribution to leaf yield. The following yield traits were studied: length of the longest vine (LLV), number of leaves plant-1 (LP), number of leaves per 40 cm of vine length (LVL), number of vines (NOV), length of the central leaflet (LCL), width of the central leaflet (WCL), vine diameter (VD) and leaf yield by weight. The correlation coefficient was estimated and the values partitioned to show the direct and indirect effects to yield using path coefficient analysis. LP showed the highest positive and significant correlation (r=0.72**) with leaf yield. WCL and LP had the highest direct positive effects on leaf yield. The study revealed that increased number of wide leaves plant-1 with long and higher number of branches will increase the leaf yield of T. occidentalis