Water Use Efficiency of Selected Cowpea Cultivars (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) Grown on Residual Soil Moisture in Northeast Nigeria

A field experiment was carried out in the Fadama of Jere bowl to assess the water extraction and water use efficiency of two improved (IT 86D-719 and IT88D-867-11) and one local (Borno Brown ) cowpea cultivars grown on residual soil moisture. The three cowpea cultivars and a control were laid out in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. The result showed that yield and growth parameters were significantly (P< 0.05) different amongst the three cowpea cultivars. The improved cultivars gave significantly (P< 0.05) higher seed yields than the local cultivar. Cultivar IT 86D-719 had the highest seed yield of 893.0 kg ha-1 while the cultivar Borno Brown had the lowest seed yield of 675.3 kg ha-1. On the other hand the cultivar Borno Brown had the highest 100 seed weight compared to the improved cultivars. The result also showed that water extraction in all the cultivars increased with depth, with maximum extraction occurring at the depth of 80-100 cm, suggesting that the lower soil layers were more effective in supplying water as the hydraulic conductivities of surface layers decreased. The water use efficiency of the two improved varieties of IT86D-719 (63.56 kg/m3) and IT88D-867-11(70.06 kg/m3), were higher compared to the local variety (45.69 kg/m3). Borno brown and IT 88D-867-11 are good water extractors at field capacity but low extractors at moisture stress. IT 88D-867-11 displayed sign of higher extraction rate than IT 86D-719 at field capacity, but IT86D-719 displayed a higher extraction capacity at moisture stress (20WAS)

Influence of Sources and Rates of Manure on Yield and Nutrient Uptake of Maize (Zea mays L.) in Maiduguri, Nigeria

Lack of proper knowledge on the type and exact quantity of manure required by crops are among the major constraints to maize production in Maiduguri. Thus a pot experiment was carried out in the screen house of University of Maiduguri to assess the effects of sources and rates of manure suitable for optimum maize production in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. The experiment was established as completely randomized design (CRD) with 4 manure treatments, 3 rates plus 3 controls (no manure), replicated 3 times. The results showed that, yield and nutrient uptake of maize was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) influenced by treatments at 21 and 42 days after planting (DAP). Cow manure treatment on average, produced the best of growth, yield and nutrient uptake (N,P, and K uptake) of maize compared to other treatments. Also, on average, values of most parameters in the 10 and 20 t/ha rates were statistically similar or higher than those of 30 t/h/ha. However, 10t/ha rate is considered more appropriate as it produces same effects as those of 20t/ha rates. From the results, it can be concluded that application of 10t/ha cow manure is adequate for optimum maize production in Maiduguri, North-Eastern Nigeria.Keywords: Manure sources, Rates, Growth, Yield, Nutrient Uptake, Maiz