Relative Planting Dates Effect on the Agronomic Performance of Maize (Zea Mays L.) and Groundnut (Arachis Hypogea L) in an Intercrop System

A Field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different planting dates on the yield and yield components of maize and groundnut in an intercropping system. The experiment was laid in a Randomized complete block design with four replications. The Experimental  treatments were: Sole maize; Sole groundnut; Maize, one row groundnut, 0 WAP maize; Maize, one row groundnut, 1 WAP maize;  and Maize, one row groundnut, 2 WAP maize. Data collected during the experiment  were: Plant height, growth rate, Chlorophyll content, leaf area index, Days to 50% tasseling (maize), Days to silking (maize), Days to 50% flowering (groundnut), Plant height, Pod number (groundnut), Maize grain yield, total Stover biomass yield, total haulm biomass yield  and  harvest Index.  Dry matter yield was significantly different (P<0.05) among treatments at all the stages of growth in both groundnut and maize. Grain yield showed significant differences (P<0.05) among all treatments except for the one row of groundnut intercropped two weeks after sowing maize and the sole maize. The study showed that where groundnut is considered the major crop then the one row of groundnut sown at the same time with the maize should be adopted. Also, were maize is the interest crop, then the one row of maize with two rows of groundnut at 2WAP maize would be ideal. Finally, where the farmer wants to maximize the use of the land for both crops equally, then the one row of groundnut intercropped at the same time with maize is the best system

Assessing the efficiency of Moringa oleifera leaf meal on the growth performance of broiler chicken

High cost of poultry feed and limited fishmeal are currently the major challenges in poultry production. To reduce cost while maximizing production, there is the need to use cheap but high nutritional feed sources like Moringa oleifera. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of Moringa oleifera on the growth performance of broiler chicken by measuring their live weight, rate of mortality, feed conversion ratio and benefit cost (b/c) ratio. Field experiment was carried out at the Animal Science Department farm, located in the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi-Ghana. A total of 30- day old chicks were raised for eight weeks under the required conditions, with all vaccines administered appropriately. The experiment was laid in a Complete Randomized Design with five treatments namely T1= 100% conventional feed only (as control), T2= 50% MoLM (Moringa oleifera Leaf Meal) + 50% conventional, T3= 75% MoLM + 25% conventional, T4= 25% MoLM + 75% conventional, T5= 80% MoLM and each treatment replicated six times. The result showed no significant differences between the various treatment for the feed conversion ratio and live weight at different growth periods. The benefit/cost ratio of T1 was more than one while the other treatments were less than one. T4 (25% MoLM) had a b/c ratio close to one. In conclusion, Moringa oleifera leaf meal at different levels can be used to supplement the fishmeal component in the poultry diet of broiler chicken to produce similar results as that of the conventional feed. The study recommends that farmers can adopt Moringa oleifera based poultry feed for their bird production when they cannot afford the conventional feed (fish meal-based feed) to cut down cost economically while increasing productivity

Atmospheric nitrogen fixation by gliricidia trees (Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp.) intercropped with cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.)

Aims The objective was to estimate the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen (Ndfa) by legume (Gliricidia sepium) trees for the benefit of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) trees in agroforestry systems. Methods Four sites where cocoa and gliricidia were intercropped and one site where gliricidia, cocoa, and orange trees were grown as separate stands were selected in Ghana. Ndfa in gliricidia and cocoa leaves (from all sites) and in shoot axes (in one site only) was assessed by the 15N natural abundance technique. Cocoa trees distant (> 10 m) from the closest gliricidia were used as reference plants. Results With few exceptions, leaves of gliricidia and cocoa trees growing in proximity had similar δ15N, whereas the foliar δ15N value of gliricidia was lower than that of distant cocoa trees. The Ndfa in gliricidia leaves ranged from 22 to 50% of total leaf N and was 48% in the shoot axis. Root nodules, found only after the wet season, always showed the inner red color indicating effective N2 fixation and the occurrence of Rhizobium tropici and Rhizobium etli. The annually produced shoots of gliricidia, theoretically suitable to become green manure after pruning, contained 31.4 to 38.0 kg N ha−1 derived from the atmosphere. Conclusions Gliricidia sepium trees are able to take advantage of the association with rhizobial symbionts to fulfill, at least in part, the N needs of their rapidly growing shoots. In mixed-stand agroforestry systems, with intercropped gliricidia and cocoa trees, the amount of N derived from the atmosphere that could enter the soil if the pruned shoots of gliricidia trees are used as green manure could diminish the need for N fertilizers for cocoa trees