Effects of akidi (Vigna unguiculata sub spp. Sesquipedalis) planting density on growth, yields and land use efficiency of akidi/cassava intercrop

Field experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, College of Education, Afaha Nsit, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria to determine the effects of akidi (vegetable cowpea) planting density on growth, yields and productivity of akidi /cassava intercropping system in 2008 and 2009 planting seasons. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replicates. Treatments were seven akidi populations of 20,000, 30,000, 40,000, 50,000, 60,000, 70,000 plants/ha and a sole cassava. Akidi was also planted sole and in intercropped with cassava. Results indicated that the average plant height of 180.66 and 180.74 cm obtained from the akidi plots at 60,000 and 70,000 plants/ha was significantly (P<0.05) higher than the average of 170.12cm obtained from sole cassava. Similar trend was also observed in cassava leaf area index. A significantly (P<0.05) lowest number of pods/plant (7.37) was obtained from the intercropped plots of akidi (70,000 plants/ha). Dry seed yield of 313.00 kg/ha obtained from the sole plots of akidi (60,000 plants/ha) was significantly higher than 284.97 kg/ha obtained from intercropping akidi at the same planting density. Akidi plots at 60,000 and 70,000 plants/ha produced significantly higher cassava tuberous root yields than the yields obtained from sole cassava and from the plots of other akidi densities in the intercrop. Although akidi at 70,000 plants/ha produced the highest cassava tuberous root yield advantage by 30.1 % over sole cassava; the highest land equivalent ratio (2.34) was however obtained from akidi plots at 60,000 plants/ha. From this study, it appears that integration of optimum akidi density (60,000 plants/ha) in cassava intercrop can enhance cassava growth, tuberous root yield and increased land use efficiency. Keywords: Akidi, Cassava, Intercrop, planting density, yields, land use efficiency

Climate Change and Coping Strategies among Peasant Farmers in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

The study investigated peasant farmer’s adaptation strategies to climate change in Akwa Ibom State. A multi-stage random sampling was used to select 120 respondents for the study. Interview schedule was used to collect data from the 120 farmers randomly selected. The study revealed that 40% of the respondents were within the age range of 31 to 40 years. Thirty seven percent (37%) of the respondents had formal education while 47% of the respondents had I to 3 persons in their respective households. Years of experience in farming of most respondents were between 1 and 10 years. The result further revealed that about 79% of the respondents had 0.6 – 1.0 hectare of form while 68% of the respondents had contact with extension agents/officers once a month. The result showed that all the explanatory variables included in the model were significant determinants of adaptation measures to climatic condition. It was therefore recommended that the state government should encourage increased frequency of extension contact to significantly increased farmers’ awareness to changing climatic conditions as well as adaptation strategies

Climate change and coping strategies among peasant farmers in Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria

The study investigated peasant farmer’s adaptation strategies to climate change in Akwa Ibom State. A multi-stage random sampling was used to select 120 respondents for the study. Interview schedule was used to collect data from the 120 farmers randomly selected. The study revealed that 40% of the respondents were within the age range of 31 to 40 years. Thirty seven percent (37%) of the respondents had formal education while 47% of the respondents had I to 3 persons in their respective households. Years of experience in farming of most respondents were between 1 and 10 years. The result further revealed that about 79% of the respondents had 0.6 – 1.0 hectare of form while 68% of the respondents had contact with extension agents/officers once a month. The result showed that all the explanatory variables included in the model were significant determinants of adaptation measures to climatic condition. It was therefore recommended that the state government should encourage increased frequency of extension contact to significantly increased farmers’ awareness to changing climatic conditions as well as adaptation strategies. Keywords: Climate Change, Adaptation Strategy, Akwa Ibom State

Improving Crude Oil Contaminated Soil with Organic Amendments: Effect of Oil Palm Bunch Ash and Dried Poultry Litters on Soil Properties and Cassava Growth and Yields

In this study, onsite field experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of amending a crude oil polluted soil with oil palm fruit bunch ash (OPFBA), dried poultry litters (DPL), soil bacterial, physico-chemical properties, as well as the growth and tuber yield of cassava (Manihot esculenta CRANTZ) grown on the amended soils using standard techniques. Results of autotrophic bacteria counts revealed that nitrogen fixing bacteria (NFB) populations in soils treated with OPBA+DPL combined, OPBA and DPL singly, recorded high bioloads in the magnitude of 105 , 103 , 105 CFU/g of soil respectively, whereas the group mean population was lower in the control soil (103 CFU/g). Similar trends were observed for SRB, PSB, and THB. Results of aggregate growth showed that while the mean plant heights and number of nodes increased, stem girth and leaf area were observed to decrease in 2017 when compared with those of 2016. Apart from number of tubers and weights that showed increase under all amendment treatments, tuber girth and length decreased under DPL amendments in 2017. The average findings of several chemical and physical characteristics of crude oil polluted soil after amendments and subsequent cultivation demonstrated that the addition of DPL and OPBA fructifies the soil by increasing reduced or lost qualities. When the amendments were used, the concentrations of organic carbon, accessible phosphorus, Ca, Mg, Na, and K were greatly enhanced, while the Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) content was significantly reduced. In this study, the application of combination DPL + OPBA yields the greatest results in terms of ameliorating the impacts of crude oil in cultivable soils, as it increases fertility parameters for better cassava production in Niger Delta soils. The technology has been shown to be cost effective, efficient, and environmentally friendly, as well as capable of resolving waste management issues

Yield, Yield Components and Economic Returns of Upland Rice as Influenced by Population Densities and Cultivars in Uyo, Nigeria

Background: One reason for the low yield of rice in Nigeria is the use of inappropriate plant density. It has been found that as seeding rate increased; panicles m2 significantly increased suggesting that adjustments in plant densities could enhance upland rice yield which constitutes 32% of the Nigerian rice growing area. Therefore, this study was undertaken to assess the yield, yield components and economic returns of upland rice as influenced by population densities and cultivars in Uyo, Nigeria Study Design: A 6 5 factorial experiments laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications were conducted in 2009 and 2010 at the University of Uyo Teaching and Research Farm, Use Offot, Uyo, Nigeria. Methodology: Treatment combinations were six population densities: 1,600,000 plants ha1 (i.e. 25 cm 10 cm spacing 4 plants), 1,066,666 plants ha1 (i.e. 25 cm 15 cm spacing 4 plants), 800,000 plants ha1 (i.e. 25 cm 20 cm spacing 4 plants), 640,000 plants ha1 (i.e. 25 cm 25 cm spacing 4 plants), 533,333 plants ha1 (i.e.25 cm 30 cm spacing 4 plants) and 2,054,435 plants ha1 (i.e. 25 cm drilling) and five upland rice cultivars: FARO 43, FARO 46, FARO5

Adoption of climate smart agricultural practices by rice farmers in Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria

The rise in population amidst climate change has exerted undue pressure on food production and security. Rice production has also been adversely affected by rising temperature and varying rainfall resulting in reduced productivity. In order to cope with the negative impact of climate change events on rice production, farmers need strengthen and improve their adaptive capacity. Therefore, a study was conducted to empirically estimate the factors affecting the adoption of Climate Smart Agricultural (CSA) practices in rice production. Multistage sampling procedure was employed to select the representative rice farmers for the study. With the aid of oral interview and questionnaires, information were elicited from 90 farmers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools and univariate probit model. Results revealed that majority (62.5 percent) of rice farmers were women, 75 percent were married, 67.5 percent were within economically active age and 85 percent had post primary education. Findings further showed that education level of farmers, family size, farm income and access to information on climate change were positively and directly related to rice farmers willingness to adopt climate smart agricultural practices at 1 percent and 5 percent levels of significance respectively. Result also showed that about 55.85 percent of rice farmers in the study location received information on climate change from village meetings, friends, relatives and other farmers. Agricultural policies that aimed at increasing incomes of rice farmers and creating awareness on climate change will be rational decision

Fertility status and management implications of wetland soils for sustainable crop production in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Fertility status of soils of three wetland types in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, was investigated. The wetland types are Inland Valley (IV), Flood Plain (FP) and Mangrove (MG). The soils have silt-clay ratios above 0.15 and 0.25 indicating that they are of young parent materials with low degree of weathering and possible weatherable minerals for plant nutrition. The pH of the soils was near neutral ([6.4) when wet but extremely acid ([3.5) when dried indicating that the soils are potential acid sulphate soils. Organic matter content was high with mean values of 12.59, 6.03 and 3.20% for IV, FP and MG soils, respectively. Total N (nitrogen) was low except in IV soils where the value was above the 0.30% critical level. The C:N ratios were narrow with mean of 20.90, 12.17 and 12.12 for IV, FP and MG soils, respectively. The contents of basic cations [Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Potasium (K) and Sodium (Na)] were low while acidic cations [Aluminium (Al) and Hydrogen (H)] were high. The Ca:Mg ratios were below the optimum range of 3:1 to 4:1 required for most crops. The Mg:K ratios were above 1.2, below which yields of crops like corn and soybean may be reduced. Effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) was below the 20 cmol/kg. Percent base saturation was low (\38) indicating that the soils are potentially less fertile. Exchangeable Al and percent Al saturation were high, above 60% in IV and FP soils. Electrical conductivity was above the critical value of 2 dsm–1 while exchangeable sodium percentage was less than 15. Available Phosphorus (P) and low,\10 ppm and free Fe2O3/clay ratios were \0.15. Positive correlation existed between silt and ECEC, implying that silt contributed to nutrient status of the soils. Generally, fertility status of the soil is low and would require maintenance of adequate organic matter, application of lime and organic and inorganic fertilizers, drainage and irrigation if the land is to be used for intensive/sustainable crop production

Effects of Tillage Practices on Growth and Yield of Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and some Soil Properties in Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria

Maintenance of soil fertility status and optimum crop yield has been a great task in Nigeria. Against this background, studies were conducted in 1994 and 1995 growing seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm, University of Ibadan, Nigeria to evaluate the productivity of cassava and soil properties and dynamics under some tillage practices. Randomized block design with four replications was used and the tillage treatments were Heaping [HP], No-Till + Herbicide [NTH], Ridging [RG] and No-Till-Slash and Burn [NSB]. Results revealed that tillage practices had no significant effect on sprouting percentage in 1994 but in 1995, HP treatment was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than others. Tillage had no marked effect on cassava height in both years while number of leaves only differed significantly (P < 0.05) 8 months after planting with HP treatment being higher than others. Stem girth showed no marked differences among treatments in both years. Similarly, in both years, cassava fresh root yield and yield components were not significantly affected by tillage practices. NSB showed significantly higher soil bulk density at planting in both years than other treatments. Generally, soil chemical properties were not markedly affected by the tillage practices. The highest cost of production was observed under NSB while RG produced the highest returns. The study suggests that successful growing of cassava under reduced tillage practices is practicable in an Alfisol in this agro-ecological zone

Nutrient Potentials of Some Indigenous Multi-Purpose Tree Species in Soil Fertility Management of Agroforestry Farms in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Nutrient potentials of leaf litters of three commonly cultivated multipurpose trees - Dacryodes edulis (G. Don, H. J. Lam)., Chrysophyllum albidum,(G. Don) and Irvingia gabonensis (O’ Rorke) Baill were investigated in Akwa Ibom State. The leaf litters were composted in open soil pits covered with netting materials in the Forestry Department Experimental Farm. The experimental design was the completely randomised design in three replicates. The litters were allowed to decompose and cure by aerobic process for a period of 9 months. The cured manure were analysed for soil nutrients using Association of Official Analytical Chemist (AOAC) methods. The results revealed that I. gabonensis had the highest macro and micro nutrients yield totalling N(19.90mg/kg), P(2450mg/kg), K(2696.25mg/kg), Ca(1744.3mg/kg), Mg(993.13mg/kg), and Zn(94.38mg/kg), Mn (80.50mg/kg), Cu (7.0mg/kg), B(0.25mg/kg) and Fe(1400mg/kg). It was closely followed by C. albidum with total N(14.10g/kg), P(2387.5mg/kg), K(3985.0mg/kg), Ca(1908.13mg/kg), Mg(1105.23mg/kg), Zn(92.75mg/kg), Mn(21.0mg/kg), Cu(56.38mg/kg) B(0.75mg/kg), and Fe (1320mg/kg) and lastly, D. edulis yielded a total N(19.3g/kg), P(1550mg/kg), K(4222.5mg/kg), Ca(1929.3mg/kg), Mg(1270mg/kg), Zn(74.50mg/kg), Mn(69.13mg/kg), Cu(16.38mg/kg), B(0.50mg/kg), and Fe(1133.10mg/kg). In all, I. gabonensis yielded the highest significant (P= 0.05) macro and micro nutrients to the soil, the highest organic carbon, but the least moisture content. This was followed by D. edulis which yielded a significant organic carbon with C. albidum yielding the least significant (P= 0.05) nutrients to the soil. It is concluded that these multi-purpose trees have great potentials for adding substantial amount of nutrients to the soil for planting in agroforestry farms and thus sustains crop production in the state