The Effects of Mother-Plant Irrigation Schedule on the Quality Of Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) Seed

A study was carried out to examine the quality of seeds of two tomato cultivars (‘Ibadan Local’ and ‘Ife 1’) produced under irrigation intervals of 2, 4, 6 and 8 days at the Federal University of Technology, Minna. Fruits were harvested when fully ripe and the seed/juice mixture (pulp) was removed immediately and left to ferment for four days after which the seeds were washed under running tap water and dried at room temperature. Seeds of the two cultivars were spread in open plastic Petri dishes and stored in a growth chamber at 30oC and about 70% relative humidity to accelerate ageing for 16 weeks. Seed samples were drawn and tested for germination, seedling emergence, seedling height and number of leaves per seedling, at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 weeks of storage. Results showed that seeds of “Ibadan Local” were significantly heavier than those of “Ife 1” but the trait was not significantly affected by irrigation interval. Seed viability declined as storage period increased irrespective of irrigation treatment in both cultivars. There was no consistent superiority of one irrigation interval over the other in respect of seed longevity over time. A general increase in seedling height and number of leaves per seedling was recorded as storage period progressed before a decline sets in at different ages. Generally, performance was best with seeds produced under 4 and 6 days irrigation intervals in both cultivars. Keywords: Mother-plant, irrigation schedule, seed quality, tomatoJ. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage. June, 2012, Vol. 16 (2) 185 - 18

The Effects of Mother-Plant Irrigation Schedule on the Quality Of Tomato (<i>Lycopersicum esculentum</i>) Seed

A study was carried out to examine the quality of seeds of two tomato cultivars (‘Ibadan Local’ and ‘Ife 1’) produced under irrigation intervals of 2, 4, 6 and 8 days at the Federal University of Technology, Minna. Fruits were harvested when fully ripe and the seed/juice mixture (pulp) was removed immediately and left to ferment for four days after which the seeds were washed under running tap water and dried at room temperature. Seeds of the two cultivars were spread in open plastic Petri dishes and stored in a growth chamber at 30oC and about 70% relative humidity to accelerate ageing for 16 weeks. Seed samples were drawn and tested for germination, seedling emergence, seedling height and number of leaves per seedling, at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 weeks of storage. Results showed that seeds of “Ibadan Local” were significantly heavier than those of “Ife 1” but the trait was not significantly affected by irrigation interval. Seed viability declined as storage period increased irrespective of irrigation treatment in both cultivars. There was no consistent superiority of one irrigation interval over the other in respect of seed longevity over time. A general increase in seedling height and number of leaves per seedling was recorded as storage period progressed before a decline sets in at different ages. Generally, performance was best with seeds produced under 4 and 6 days irrigation intervals in both cultivars. Keywords: Mother-plant, irrigation schedule, seed quality, tomato J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage. June, 2012, Vol. 16 (2) 185 - 18

Assessment of properties and agricultural potentials of some hydromorphic soils in Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria

Seasonal deposition of fluvial materials and high soil moisture makes floodplains a unique ecosystem for all season production. Soil properties of three hydromorphic sites, Gbakogi, Katcha and Kashe, along the banks of river Niger and its tributary, Gbako River, in Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State of Nigeria were assessed. In all sites, sand dominated the mineral fraction and its contents ranged from 578 - 658, 413 - 473 and 432 - 453 g kg-1 respectively for Gbakogi, Katcha and Kashe. In the same order, silt was 90 - 180, 173 - 353 and 133 - 173 g kg-1 and clay was 242 - 249, 334 - 354 and 294 - 414 g kg-1. Soil reaction for the surface soils was moderate to slightly acid (pH ≤ 6.4).Available phosphorus (P) was higher at the surface than subsurface horizons except in Kashe. The P values for surface horizons were 35, 26 and 12 mg kg-1 and were rated high in Gbakogi and Katcha and low in Kashe. Total nitrogen (N) was 0.07, 0.28 and 0.14 g kg-1 and was rated low in Gbakogi, high in Katcha and medium in Kashe. Organic carbon (C) was low irrespective of soil depth in all the sites and the values were ≤ 1.53 g kg-1. Exchangeable bases and effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) were rated high in all the soils. Percentage base saturation was rated medium to high. On the basis of soil attributes measured, all the sites have good potentials for sustainable arable agriculture.Keywords: floodplains; hydromorphic soils, arable agricultur

Distribution of Phosphorus along a Toposequence on an Alfisol in Minna, Niger State

The distribution of various forms of phosphorus was evaluated along a toposequence located in an Alfisol in Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Technology, Minna. The toposequence was delineated into different topographic units (Crest, Upper slope, Middle slope and Lower slope). Soil samples were collected from identified horizons in profile pits in each topographic unit. The soil samples were analyzed for organic, total, available and various active P forms. The results obtained showed that distribution of phosphorus varied widely with each topographic unit. Total P ranged from 102 ug g-1 at the lower shope to 422 ug g-1 at the upper shope, with a mean of 236.95μg g-1. Organic P also ranged from 21 - 132μg g-1 with a mean of 55.8μg g-1. Organic P was highest at the lower slope and lowest at the upper slope. Available P ranged from 0.4 – 5.54μg g-1 with a mean of 2.47μg g-1. The active P forms was in the order of Fe-P &gt; Al-P &gt; Ca-P, with Fe-P varying from 19 - 95μg g-1, Al – P ranged from 1.75 – 22μg g-1 and Ca – P ranged from 1.12- 4.3μg g-1. There was a positive correlation between organic P and clay (r = 0.56*) and between organic P and organic carbon (r = 0.52*). However, organic P correlated negatively with sand (r= -0.49*).Fe – P and Al – P correlated with magnesium (r = 0.51*) and sand (r = 0.45*) respectively. Available P also correlated positively with clay (r = 0.43*) and organic carbon (r = 0.52*).Keywords: Toposequence, Alfisol, Crest, Active P and Organic P

Properties, classification and agricultural potentials of the soils of lower Oshin river floodplains in Kwara State, Nigeria

A semi-detailed soil survey of the floodplains of lower Oshin River in Kwara State, Nigeria was carried out using rigid-grid survey method. Three soil units designated as OSH-1, OSH-2 and OSH-3 were identified on the basis of drainage, topography, soil texture and depth. The soil texture ranges from sandy clay loam in OSH-1 to sandy loam in OSH-2 and OSH-3 for the topsoil overlaying clay loam or sandy loam subsoil. The soil pH (H2O) was moderately to slightly acid with values ranged from 5.1-5.7 in OSH-1 and 5.9-6.9 in OSH-2 and OSH-3. The available P in all soil units decreased with soil depth and the values for the topsoil were 22, 40 and 10 mg kg-1 respectively for OSH-1, OSH-2 and OSH-3 and was rated high in OSH-1 and OSH-2, and medium in OSH-3. Also, organic C content for topsoil was 27.5, 35.5 and 28.0 g kg-1 for OSH-1, OSH-2 and OSH-3 and its distribution within the profiles was irregular except in OSH-1 where it decreased regularly with soil depth. The CEC value for the topsoil was between 19.14 and 21.99 cmol(+) kg-1 and all rated high. The soil units were classified as Typic Endoaquepts/ Fluvic Cambisols (Clayic), Aquic Ustifluvents/ Gleyic Fluvisols (Arenic) and Oxyaquic Ustifluvents/ Gleyic Fluvisols (Eutric) using USDA Soil Taxonomy and WRB systems respectively. With exception of drainage problems which can be overcome by provision of adequate drainage infrastructure, the soils of the lower River Oshin floodplain have great potential for rain-fed agriculture.Nigerian Journal of Technological Researc