Comparison of Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality Performance of Tomatoes Varieties under Controlled Environment Condition of the Southern Guinea Savannah

Controlled agriculture environment is one of the modern techniques, which has the potential to meet the challenges faced by tomato producers in the country during the off-season. This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of five different varieties of tomatoes under controlled environment (screen house). The results revealed that the Nemoneta variety, performed better compared to other varieties in terms of plant height (8.3cm) and also have the highest shelf life of 14 days followed by Delicious with 7 days, while the number of fruits per plant was height in Small Cherry with an average of 8.733/plant, but Delicious variety gave the highest values in terms of marketable fruit weight (9.33kg) and highest pH values (4.07). In terms of fruit quality, Large Cherry variety contains the highest values for lycopene (1467.30mg/100g), vitamin A & B (56.7mg/100g & 0.62 mg/100g, respectively) and potassium (0.62%)

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF VARIETIES OF COWPEA AND ITS EFFECT ON FERTILTY STATUS OF LATERITIC SOIL OF LANDMARK UNIVERSITY

Identification of cowpea varieties with superior grain yield and high soil fertility enhancing potential is crucial to increasing productivity of the crop among small-scale farmers in Omu-Aran, Kwara State. A field experiment was carried out during the 2014 growing season to evaluate two cowpea varieties for their grain yield and their effect on fertility status of Lateritic soils of Landmark University Teaching and Research Farm. The varieties evaluated were IAR 48 and IAR 2.5.6. Variety IAR 2.5.6 produced the highest grain yield compared to variety IAR 2.5.6. The study also revealed the potential of cowpea in improving the fertility status of Lateritic soils as there was significant difference observed in some of the chemical properties analyzed including available Phosphorus, Exchangeable Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium and Sodium

Distinct Metal Ion Requirements for the Phosphomonoesterase and Phosphodiesterase Activities of Calf Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase

The roles of Mg2+ and Zn2+ ions in promoting phosphoryl transfer catalysed by alkaline phosphatase are yet to be fully characterised. We investigated the divalent metal ion requirements for the monoesterase and diesterase activities of calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase. The synergistic effect of Mg2+ and Zn2+ in promoting the hydrolysis of para-nitrophenyl phosphate (monoesterase reaction) by alkaline phosphatase is not observed in the hydrolysis of the diesterase substrate, bis-para-nitrophenyl phosphate. Indeed, the diesterase reaction is inhibited by concentrations of Mg2+ that were optimal for the monoesterase reaction. This study reveals that the substrate specificities of alkaline phosphatases and related bimetalloenzymes are subject to regulation by changes in the nature and availability of cofactors, and the different cofactor requirements of the monoesterase and diesterase reactions of mammalian alkaline phosphatases could have significance for the biological functions of the enzymes

Performance, Some Nutrient Elements and Heavy Metals Accumulation in Tomato under Soil Applied Poultry Manure, NPK and ZnSO4 Fertilizers

Two field experiments were carried out in 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm of Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara state. The aim was to determine the effect of single and integrated application of poultry manure (PM), NPK and ZnSO4 fertilizers on the agronomic performance, yield, some nutrient elements and heavy metal content of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) in the derived savannah ecological zone of Nigeria. Treatments consisted of: 150 kg ha-1 NPK + 15 t ha-1 PM + 5 kgha-1 Zn (T1); 150 kg ha-1 NPK + 15 t ha-1 PM (T2); 15 t ha-1 PM ­­+ 5 kg ha-1 Zn (T3); 30 t ha-1 PM (T4); 150 kg ha-1 NPK +­­ 5 kg ha-1 Zn (T5); 10 kg ha-1 Zn (T6); 300 kg ha-1 NPK (T7) and control (T8). The contribution of integrated application of PM and NPK at lower rates on growth and yield of tomato was high while application of zinc at higher rate (10 kg ha-1) increased the availability of some nutrient elements and heavy metals of tomato fruits though not beyond the permissible limits as established by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) to ensure food safety of the consumers. It can therefore be concluded that application of 150 kg ha-1 NPK + 15 t ha-1 PM + 10 Kg ha-1 Zn is beneficial for tomato production in the study area without any threat to human health

Selecting Yield and Nutritional Traits in Sphenostylis stenocarpa Landraces for Food Improvement

Background: Sphenostylis stenocarpa is an underexploited African indigenous food crop that is enriched in nutritional quality. Objective: Exploring the robust genetic base of this landrace can help to maximize the benefit of the agricultural sector on the economy through production that is enhanced by packaging and patent, this as well will increase the quality of food production and promote African campaign on food sustainability. Method: Upon this, this research made use of multiple statistics to identify S. stenocarpa yield and nutritional trait relatedness that supported selection for maximum yield and nutritional trait output. Yield and related traits including protein and oil contents of twenty-three Sphenostylis stenocarpa landraces were studied under a four year planting seasons in Teaching and Research farm of Landmark University, Nigeria. Results: Trait variances from Landrace × Year (L × Y) interaction, Principal Component and Cluster analyses were evaluated and the variation patterns were identified. Some vegetative (maturity phase, height and branching) and yield traits (Pod traits, seed yield and oil content) correlated significantly (P < 0.05) in the L × Y interactions. This suggests the usefulness of these traits in improving S. Stenocarpa grain and oil quality yield. Tuber and nodule yield including protein content did not differ significantly in the variance table. Conclusion: The result indicates that one location trial is insufficient to determine such trait performance. The first four PCs that accounted for 51 per cent of the total variations were traceable to branching, maturity date, pod numbers, seed and oil content as main contributors to yiel

Poultry Manure Addition Affects Production, Plant Nutritional Status and Heavy Metals Accumulation in Green Amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus)

Poultry manure (PM) application may be critical as source of contaminants and may affect crop quality. Experiments were conducted in 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons to determine effects of PM on performance and quality of green amaranth including some minerals and heavy metals in soil and plant tissues. In both years, PM were applied at 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 t∙ha-1. Application of PM increased soil chemical properties, leaf mineral content, growth and marketable yield of green amaranth compared with the control. Soil pH, organic matter, N and P and leaf mineral N and P were increased up to 40 t ha-1 PM, but soil and leaf K, Ca, Mg, ash, protein, fiber contents were increased up to 20 t ha-1 PM. The lowest fat was observed at 20 t ha-1 PM. Dry matter declined as PM level increased. The PM influenced soil and leaf As, Cu and Zn, the abundance of heavy metals in soil and green amaranth leaf increased as level of PM increased. In soil and green amaranth leaves, levels of As, Cu and Zn as affected by PM did not exceed maximum permissible limits. The best green amaranth quality was obtained at 20 t ha-1 PM and may likely provides a good balance between yield and economic outlay. © 2019 Friends Science Publishers Keywords: Amaranthus hybridus; As; Cu; Leaf mineral content; Soil chemical properties; Z

RESPONSE OF SWEET BELL PEPPER TO MORINGA LEAF EXTRACT AND ORGANO-BIO DEGRADABLE FERTILIZER

An experiment was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of Landmark University OmuAran, Nigeria in the Savannah ecosystem of Nigeria from November to March for evaluating the response of sweet bell pepper to Moringa Leaf Extract (MLE) and Organo Bio Degradable fertilizer (OBD+). The treatments included four levels of Organo-Bio Degradable fertilizer (0g, 20g, 40g and 60g) Moringa Leaf Extract at ratio 1:32 (v/v) was sprayed directly at the plant at 1 and 2 weeks after transplanting respectively and replicated thrice in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD).The results showed that plant height, number of leaves, fruit weight and yield of sweet bell pepper were significantly (P≤0.05) influenced by the application of Moringa Leaf Extract and Organo-Bio Degradable fertilizer (OBD+

Effect of alternative hormones on the rootability of parkia biglobosa

The need to improve the knowledge of vegetative propagation and create a paradigm shift in the attention of farmers and researchers through the introduction of the use of alternative hormones which will help to bypass the juvenile stages of certain species for better field establishment and to improve reforestation of certain threatened or extinct species. This study was conducted to determine the best alternative hormone on the semihardwood stem cutting of Parkia biglobosa. The alternative hormones used were Pure Honey, Coconut Water, Moringa Leaf Extract and Control. Five (5) semi-hardwoods stem cuttings of Parkia biglobosa with three (3) replicates giving 60 experimental units and were place in a propagating chamber for rooting. Moringa Leaf Extract was significantly higher than other treatments in terms of total number of roots, total length of roots and length of longest root. Coconut water was significantly higher in terms of percentage of rooted cuttings and number of cuttings with callus due to the presence of auxins and cytokinins. However, there was no significant difference between Moringa leaf extract and coconut water treatment in number of rooted cuttings, formation of callus, rooting success