Effect of Soil Amendments on Leaf Pigmentation and N2 Status in Cassava ( Manihot esculenta Crantz) grown in Crude Oil Contaminated Soil

Growth studies on TMS 30572, NR8082 and Local cassava cultivars grown on previously crude oil polluted soil were conducted to assess effects of oil palm bunch ash (OPBA), dried poultry manure (DPM) on Leaf pigmentation and N2 status of test crops. In addition, physical and chemical properties of soils were determined. The pH was raised from 5.62\ub11.50 in control soil to values that ranged between 6.97\ub11.23 to 9.24\ub11.89 in soil treated with organic amendment. The result of organic amendment ensures reduction of C: N ratio from 50:1 in control to critical threshold that ranged between 8:1 \u2013 10:1 for improved decomposition and soil quality. SPAD measurement revealed no significance (P 64 0.05) in readings for both treatments and control experiments. However, the interactive effect of both cassava variety and type of amendments were significant. Cultivar TMS 30572 was found to be brought to high productivity under treatment with combined OPBA + DPM and recorded highest chlorophyll content per unit area of leaf surface with Chl. a/Chl.b ratio of 2.13 and thicker leaf blade. While Leaf chlorophyll is directly associated with the efficiency and capacity of the photosynthetic apparatus and hence chlorophyll content in this study was found to be directly related to good health status of the test crops. Results revealed that quality of crude oil contaminated soil was greatly enhanced by organic amendment

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

Drivers of diversification and pluriactivity among smallholder farmers—evidence from Nigeria

Diversification and pluriactivity have become a norm among farm business owners (FBOs) due to persistent low farm income. This study applies the resource-based theory to examine drivers of diversification and livelihood income-oriented towards a sustainable livelihood. Our framework develops hypotheses about the impact of internal and external resources on livelihood choices at the household level. We use a survey of 480 rural Nigerian farmers (agripreneurs), applying a Multivariate Tobit to test our framework. We find that education plays the most significant role in all types of employment options. The more FBOs are educated, the more the likelihood that they will choose non-farm or wage employment. This study revealed that while the agriculture sector’s share of rural employment is declining, non-farm is on the increase. More so, there is a decline in farming among the young generation, marital status bias and gender influence in resource allocation. The socioeconomic (income and food security) and socio-cultural (employment and rural-urban migration) implications of rural sustainability linked to UN Development Goals have been highlighted and analysed in this article

Evaluation of Different Tillage Practices for Monocultural Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) Production in Ibadan, South Western Nigeria

A two-season (rainy and dry) study was conducted in 1993 at the Teaching and Research Farm, University of Ibadan, Nigeria to assess the most productive tillage practice for monocultural cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) production. Completely randomised block design with four replications was used and tillage treatments were : No till-Slash and Burn (NSB), No till-Herbicide applied (NH), Conventional-ploughed and harrowed (CT), and Minimum-ploughed only (MT). Results revealed that tillage practices had no significant effect on percentage emergence, leaf and branch number in both seasons. In the first season, plant height was significantly (P <0.05) influenced by tillage treatments at 2 and 4 weeks after sowing (WAS) with NH showing superiority over the other treatments. In the second season, plant height was significantly (P <0.05) higher in NSB and MT treatments at 6 and 8 WAS, respectively. Pod and grain yield (t ha-1) were not affected by tillage treatments in the first season but in the second season, NSB (1.84 t ha-1) and MT (1.53 t ha-1) showed significant superiority over other treatments. The highest cost of production was observed under NSB while CT produced the highest economie returns. Some soil properties were also influenced with NSB treatment having a higher soil bulk density at sowing and 6 WAS than the other treatments, while NH recorded a higher soil moisture content at 6 WAS than the other treatments. The study also suggests that with optimum precipitation, CT appears a better land preparation option for cowpea production

STABILIZATION OF YIELD PARAMETERS AND SOME NUTRIENT COMPONENTS IN COCOYAM CULTIVARS WITH TIME IN UYO, SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA

A study was conducted during 1996 and 1997 cropping seasons to determine the influence of harvesting time on the yield, protein and ash components of four cocoyam cultivars. A randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement was used. The time of harvesting (12,24,and 36 weeks after planting-WAP) constituted the main-treatments while the cultivars (NCY 001,NCY 002, NCY 004 and NCY 005) were the sub-treatments. Results showed that harvesting at 24 WAP resulted in 45-70% and 16-71% more shoots and leaves per stand, respectively than harvesting either at 12 or 36 WAP. Cultivar NCY 004 produced 16-53% more number of shoots per stand than other cultivars. The percent protein content in the leaves, cormels and corms was highest at 12 WAP whereas ash content increased with delayed harvesting. Cormel and corm yields obtained at 24 WAP was not significantly different from that obtained at 36 WAP, when bulking is supposed to be at optimum. Among the Xanthosoma and Colocasia cultivars, NCY 001 and NCY 004 produced the best corm and cormel yields, respectively and are therefore recommended for planting in this agro-ecology. Key Words: Cocoyam cultivars, harvesting time, yield, protein, ash. Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol.2(2) 2003: 74-7

Growth and yield performances of some upland rice(Oryza sativa L) cultivars as influenced by varied rates of PNK(15:15:15) fertilizer on an ultisol

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