Assessment of growth and yield of some high-and low-cyanide cassava genotypes in acid ultisols of south eastern Nigeria

Thirty-eight high and low cyanide cassava genotypes were evaluated for growth and yield. The experiment was fitted in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) in growth and yield parameters, indicating strong genetic variations among the genotypes. Significant (P ≤ 0.05) highest average storage root weight of 1.5 and 1.8 kg were obtained from TMS 94/0035 (high cyanide cassava genotype) and TMS 98/0505 (low cyanide cassava genotype), respectively. Correlation analyses indicated significant (P ≤ 0.05) and positive associations between number of storage roots per plant, average storage root weight and root yield in the two types of cassava genotypes tested, indicating that the parameters are good indices that can be improved upon during breeding and selection to enhance root yield. Four high cyanide cassava genotypes (TMS 99/2123, TMS 96/1642, TMS 98/0068 and TMS 94/3200﴿ were outstanding in fresh root yield performance. To improve fresh root yield in cassava, the inter-relationships among the various agronomic character of the cassava genotypes demands appropriate attention. The study gives more information on the improvement of fresh storage root yield of cassava.Keywords: High cyanide cassava genotypes, low cyanide cassava genotypes, correlations, growth, yieldAfrican Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 13(5), pp. 651-656, 29 January, 201

Effect of Soil Nursery Mixtures on the Growth of Pepper Seedlings in Owerri, South Eastern Nigeria

This study was undertaken to determine the best nursery medium for raising seedlings of pepper in a tropical rainforest location of Owerri, south eastern Nigeria. The experiment was carried out in the teaching and research farm of the department of Agricultural Science, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri. The design used was completely randomized design (CRD) with five replications. A total of six different soil mixtures (treatment) were used in the study. Treatments comprised soil nursery mixtures in the ratio of 0:3:3, 1:2:3, 1:3:2, 2:3:1, 3:2:1 and 2:1:1 for poultry manure: top soil: river sand. Data was collected on percentage seedling emergence, plant height, leaf area per plant, dry matter weight per plant at 42DAP.Analysis of variance test was conducted on all data collected. Significant treatment means were separated by means of F-LSD. Results showed that treatment 3:2:1 significantly (p-0.05) produced highest values in all the parameters studied and is therefore recommended for raising pepper in this tropical rain forest location of Owerri, south eastern Nigeria