Effect of potting media and watering frequencies on the growth of pepper fruit (Dennetia tripetala) seedlings

A nursery trial was conducted in the screen house of the Teaching and Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria in 2011 to investigate the effect of different potting media and watering frequencies on the growth of Dennetia tripetala seedlings. Threedifferent growing media: Rice husks (Rh), pig dung (Pd) and cocoa husk (Ch) were used as sources of growth. They were combined in a 1:1 ratio to make seven media combinations with four watering frequencies at once daily (D1), twice daily (D2), once every other day (D3) and twice everyother day (D4). The trial was laid out in a 7 x 4 factorial design fitted into a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. Data were collected on plant height, leaf number, and canopy diameter, stem girth, dry weight of root and shoot. Results obtained revealed that potting medium with sole pig dung significantly produced the best seedling attributes in terms of plant height (11.46cm), stem girth (1.01cm), canopy diameter (9.58cm) while, leaf number (11.16), dry weight of shoots (0.51g) and roots (0.19g) were best with sole rice husk and rice husk plus pig dung (1:1) respectively. Watering twice every other day had a significant (p<0.05) influence on plant height, canopy diameter, stem girth and root dry matter. There were significant interaction effects between sole pig dung and watering once, twice daily and twice every other. However, in order to save labour, money and time spent in watering, watering twice every other day plus pig dung sole may be adequate for raising D. tripelata seedlings.Keywords: Dennetia tripelata, potting media, watering frequency, seedling growt

The Effect of Rubber Effluent on some Chemical Properties of Soil and Early Growth of Maize (Zea Mays L)

A preliminary pot trial was conducted in a greenhouse to determine the effects of rubber effluent on some soil chemical properties as well as early growth and nutrient uptake by maize plant. The levels of rubber effluent used were 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 ml per 2 kg soil. The trial was arranged in a completely randomized design and replicated three times. Results showed that the soil pH, organic carbon, N, P, K, Mg, Ca Na, ECEC, Fe, Mn and Zn were significantly higher (P<0.05) in rubber effluent treated soils than the control, while the control was significantly higher in exchangeable acidity. Except Zn, the N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Na, Fe, Mn content and their uptake by the plant were significantly higher (P<0.05) in rubber effluent treated plant than the control. The plant height, leaf area and number of leaves were also significantly higher in effluent treated plants than the control. The N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Na content and their uptake and the growth parameters however declined at 200 ml treatment while in Fe, Mn and Zn content and their uptake, there was no definite pattern of increase with increasing effluent levels. Conclusively, rubber effluent contained vital plant nutrients which may be favorable to soil fertility improvement and maize growth at the application rates.Keywords: Rubber effluent, maize, nutrient uptake, soil, greenhous

Influence of pharmaceutical effluent on some soil chemical properties and early growth of maize (Zea mays L)

A greenhouse experiment was conducted at the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria to determine the effect of pharmaceutical effluent on some soil chemical properties and early growth rate of maize (Zea mays L) in an experiment laid out in a completely randomized design with three replicates. Five rates of the effluent- 0, 25,000, 50,000, 75,000 and 100,000 l/ha were used. Results of the effluent analysis revealed that it is rich in some plant nutrients and the effluent also had effect on some soil chemical properties as well as the growth of maize. The organic carbon, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na and ECEC were raised whereas the exchangeable acidity and C/N ratio decreased. There were no drastic changes in the soil texture class. Also the nutrient uptake by the maize plant, the collar girth, leaf area were enhanced while the plant height as well as the number of leaves were depressed compared to control. The chlorophyll content of the maize plant however, was enhanced at low effluent concentration

Growth of maize (Zea mays L.) and changes in some chemical properties of an ultisol amended with brewery effluent

A greenhouse studies was conducted at the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria to evaluate the effect of brewery effluent on some soil chemical properties and growth of maize. The experiment, which was organised in a completely randomised design, had three replications with 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% effluent concentration in a 2 kg soil. Results showed that organic carbon, N, P, Na, and Mg concentration in the soil were reduced while K, Ca, C/N ratio, soil pH were increased. There were no changes observed in the soil textural class. The growth of maize plant as well as chlorophyll content was enhanced with brewery effluent treatments when compared with the control

The Effects of Rubber Effluent on Some Chemical Properties of Soil and Early Growth of Maize (Zea Mays L.)

A preliminary pot trial was conducted in a greenhouse to determine the effects of rubber effluent on some soil chemical properties as well as growth and nutrient uptake by maize plant. The levels of rubber effluent used were 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 ml per 2 kg soil. The trial was organized in a completely randomized design and replicated three times. Result showed that the soil pH, organic carbon, N, P, K, Mg, Ca Na, ECEC, Fe, Mn and Zn were significantly higher (p<0.05) in rubber effluent treated soils than the control, while the control was significantly higher in exchangeable acidity. Zn, the N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Na, Fe, Mn content and their uptake by the plant were significantly higher (p<0.05) in rubber effluent treated plant than the control. The plant height, leaf area and number of leaves were also significantly higher in effluent treated plants than the control. The N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Na content and their uptake and the growth parameters however declined at 200 ml treatment, while in Fe, Mn and Zn content and their uptake there was no definite pattern of increase with increasing effluent levels.  Keywords: Rubber effluent, maize, nutrient uptake, soil, greenhous

The effect of manganese on early growth of fluted pumpkin (telfairia occidentalis hook f) in an ultisol

The trials were conducted at the experimental site of University of Benin Teaching and Research Farm to determine the influence of Mn on early growth, nutrient content and uptake by Telfairia occidentalis using six levels of Mn treatment. The greenhouse treatment levels were 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 mgMn per 5 kg soil while in the field trial, 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 kgMnha-1 levels were used. In the greenhouse, completely randomized design (CRD) was used while randomized complete blockdesign (RCBD) was used in the field trial. Results indicated that there were no pronounced variations in the soil chemical components after the trial except for the Mn component the of soil which however increased with increasing levels of Mn treatment. The N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Na, Zn, Cucontents of the plant increased with increasing levels of Mn treatments in both trials. The N content of the plant in the field trial was however, not consistent with increasing levels of Mn treatment. The Fe content of the plant consistently declined in both trials with increasing levels of Mn application indicating antagonistic influence of Mn on Fe uptake. The Mn content and uptake by the plant in the trials increased consistently with increasing levels of Mn treatment. The Mn content and uptakeby the plant in the control treatment was however low. Synergistic influence of Mn on Cu and Zn uptake by the plant was recorded while the Mn had no effect on the uptake of N, P, K, Ca and Na. The Mn treatments significantly increased the growth parameters and shoot dry matter yield up to 50mgMn per 5 kg soil and 20 kgMnha-1 and declined at various Mn treatment levels indicating the levels of accommodation of Mn by the plant. Correlation coefficient (r) between soil pH, organicmatter, available P, Fe and Mn uptake by the plant indicated non-significant negative correlation (P> 0.05)

Skim latex serum as an alternative nutrition for microbial growth

Malaysia is one of the biggest producers of natural rubber. The fresh latex, tapped from the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), known as field latex, is a cloudy white and viscous liquid containing rubber fraction and non-rubber components. As a basic raw material in rubber processing, fresh field latex undergoes a series of procedures during its conversion to either dry rubber, or high concentrated latex. To prepare high concentrated latex, ammonia is usually added to the field latex upon reaching the factories to prevent coagulation. Ammoniated latex will then undergo centrifugation which yield high concentrated latex and a by-product named ‘skim latex’. Skim latex is considered as low value by-product and usually discarded as waste effluent. However, it must be first treated in the oxidation treatment pond, before the clearer water can be released into the main waterways. In Malaysia, the discharged water must meet the strict requirements of MS ISO/IEC 17025:2005. Eventually, the rubber manufacturers have to spend a lot of money for waste management and effluent treatment of skim latex. Therefore, utilization of this wasteful skim latex is one of the economic saving measures and may minimize the environmental problems. This chapter aims at delibrating the use of the serum of skim latex as an alternative nutrition for culturing microorganism. As a model microorganism, this study has selected to use Bacillus lichenformis (ATCC 12759). Skim latex serum was used as the basal media, supplemented by some selected medium composition (lactose, galactose, casein, KH2PO4, MgSO4 and LB broth) for the production of extracellular protease. At the end of the study, it was demonstrated that skim latex serum is able to fulfill a criteria as an efficient culture media due to its abundance, low cost, stable in quality and having a stimulatory effect on bacterial growth. Therefore, valorization of this wasteful skim latex into protease enzyme is hoped to be an introduction for further inventions relating to processes suitable for microbial culturing