Effect of potting media and watering frequencies on the growth of pepper fruit (Dennetia tripetala) seedlings

A nursery trial was conducted in the screen house of the Teaching and Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria in 2011 to investigate the effect of different potting media and watering frequencies on the growth of Dennetia tripetala seedlings. Threedifferent growing media: Rice husks (Rh), pig dung (Pd) and cocoa husk (Ch) were used as sources of growth. They were combined in a 1:1 ratio to make seven media combinations with four watering frequencies at once daily (D1), twice daily (D2), once every other day (D3) and twice everyother day (D4). The trial was laid out in a 7 x 4 factorial design fitted into a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. Data were collected on plant height, leaf number, and canopy diameter, stem girth, dry weight of root and shoot. Results obtained revealed that potting medium with sole pig dung significantly produced the best seedling attributes in terms of plant height (11.46cm), stem girth (1.01cm), canopy diameter (9.58cm) while, leaf number (11.16), dry weight of shoots (0.51g) and roots (0.19g) were best with sole rice husk and rice husk plus pig dung (1:1) respectively. Watering twice every other day had a significant (p<0.05) influence on plant height, canopy diameter, stem girth and root dry matter. There were significant interaction effects between sole pig dung and watering once, twice daily and twice every other. However, in order to save labour, money and time spent in watering, watering twice every other day plus pig dung sole may be adequate for raising D. tripelata seedlings.Keywords: Dennetia tripelata, potting media, watering frequency, seedling growt

The Effect of Rubber Effluent on some Chemical Properties of Soil and Early Growth of Maize (Zea Mays L)

A preliminary pot trial was conducted in a greenhouse to determine the effects of rubber effluent on some soil chemical properties as well as early growth and nutrient uptake by maize plant. The levels of rubber effluent used were 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 ml per 2 kg soil. The trial was arranged in a completely randomized design and replicated three times. Results showed that the soil pH, organic carbon, N, P, K, Mg, Ca Na, ECEC, Fe, Mn and Zn were significantly higher (P<0.05) in rubber effluent treated soils than the control, while the control was significantly higher in exchangeable acidity. Except Zn, the N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Na, Fe, Mn content and their uptake by the plant were significantly higher (P<0.05) in rubber effluent treated plant than the control. The plant height, leaf area and number of leaves were also significantly higher in effluent treated plants than the control. The N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Na content and their uptake and the growth parameters however declined at 200 ml treatment while in Fe, Mn and Zn content and their uptake, there was no definite pattern of increase with increasing effluent levels. Conclusively, rubber effluent contained vital plant nutrients which may be favorable to soil fertility improvement and maize growth at the application rates.Keywords: Rubber effluent, maize, nutrient uptake, soil, greenhous

Growth of maize (Zea mays L.) and changes in some chemical properties of an ultisol amended with brewery effluent

A greenhouse studies was conducted at the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria to evaluate the effect of brewery effluent on some soil chemical properties and growth of maize. The experiment, which was organised in a completely randomised design, had three replications with 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% effluent concentration in a 2 kg soil. Results showed that organic carbon, N, P, Na, and Mg concentration in the soil were reduced while K, Ca, C/N ratio, soil pH were increased. There were no changes observed in the soil textural class. The growth of maize plant as well as chlorophyll content was enhanced with brewery effluent treatments when compared with the control

Influence by artificial defoliation and NPK fertilizer application on growth and yield of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L) Moench)

A field trial to determine the effect of artificial defoliation and NPK fertilizer application on growth and yield of okra was conducted in 2010 and 2011 at the Teaching and Research Farms of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. Okra “Uselu Local” was sourced locally and subjected to four rates of NPK fertilizer (0, 200 (30 kg N, 13 kg P and 30 kg K ha-1); 400 (60 kg N, 26 kg P, 50 kg K ha-1), and 600 (90 kg N, 60 kg P, 90 kg K ha-1) kg ha-1) at different percentages (0, 25 and 50 %) of defoliation respectively at four and six weeks after sowing. The experiment was laid out as a randomized complete block design arranged in a split-split plot and replicated three times. Each replication was allocated 12 treatments with NPK fertilizer application as the main plot, defoliation (sub-plot) and time of defoliation (sub- sub plot). Data were collected on parameters such as days to 50 % flowering, plant height at which fresh pods were harvested, plant height at which dry pods were harvested, number of pods per stand, average pod weight, pod weight per stand, pod yield per hectare, pod diameter, number of dry pod per stand, number of seeds per pod and stand. Obtained data were analyzed using analysis of variance procedure for split – split plot design and means were compared using LSD at 5 % level of significance. Results obtained indicated that defoliation considerably affected plant height and days to 50 % flowering. The reduction in growth due to defoliation was observed to be significant at four weeks after sowing of okra. NPK fertilizer application significantly reduced the deleterious effects of defoliation with regards to plant heights, days to 50 % flowering and yield of okra. The NPK fertilizer application promoted vegetative growth to cushion the adverse effects of defoliation. The interaction between NPK fertilizer application and defoliation was only significant on number of seeds per pod. There were significant interactive effects between NPK fertilizer and time of defoliation on plant heights and number of seeds per pod. Increasing in NPK fertilizer application above 200 kg (30 kg N, 13 kg P and 30 kg K ha-1) NPK fertilizer ha-1 could be profitable and to bring about a considerable increase in the growth and yield of okra.Keywords: Defoliation, NPK fertilizer, okra, yiel

Effect of Palm Oil Mill Effluent and NPK 15:15:15 Fertilizer on the Growth and Yield of Soya Bean

A field study was carried out in the rainforest ecological zone of Nigeria to determine the effect of palm oil mill effluent and NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer on the growth and yield of soyabean genotype (Glycine max L). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates in six treatments viz; 0, 100, 200 and 300 kg/ha NPK and 5 and 10 t/ha of POME. The parameters evaluated were plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, leaf area, number of pods, weight of pods, number of branches, weight of grains, grain yield in Kg/ha and shelling percentage. The Results showed that soyabean responded to POME at 5 and 10t/ha while NPK fertilization at 200kg/ha resulted in significant increase in grain yield from 1416 to 3213.33kg/ha in one instance. Further more, inorganic fertilizer application resulted in higher vegetatative growth than POME.Keywords: fertilizer, soyabean, NPK, inorganic, vegetative growth

Effects of Spent Engine Oil Polluted Soil and Organic Amendment on Soil Chemical Properties, Micro-Flora on Growth and Herbage of Telfairia Occidentalis (hook f).

A trial was conducted at the Screen House of the Department of Crop Science, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria to evaluate the efficacy of using organic fertilizer as bioremediant for spent engine oil polluted soils. Three concentrations of spent engine oil (0, 5 and 10 % w/w, spent engine oil in soil) and three application rates of organic fertilize (0, 5 and 10 t ha-1) were utilized in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement and laid out as a completely randomized design with three replication. Soil pH, available P and exchangeable cations were significantly reduced by spent engine oil except organic C compared to control. Heavy metals (Va and Pb) concentration increased with increasing concentration of spent engine oil. Amendment of spent engine oil polluted soil with organic fertilizer significantly remediated the degraded soil and decreases the heavy metal concentration. In addition, 10 t ha-1 organic fertilizer showed superiority over 5tha-1 organic fertilizer in amending spent engine oil degraded soil for pH, total N, available P, exchangeable Ca2+ and reduced heavy metal concentration. Soil pollution adversely affected number of leaves, dry vine weight, dry leaf weight and herbage yield. Growth and herbage yield were much higher in organic fertilizer amended spent engine oil polluted soil. the highest herbage yield (9.23 t ha-1) was obtained from unpolluted soil treated with 10 t ha-1 organic fertilizer which was statistically comparable with soil polluted with 5 % spent engine oil and amended with 10 t ha-1 organic fertilizer (7.10 t ha-1). Soils polluted with 5 % spent engine oil had higher bacteria population compared to control, while organic fertilizer had depressing effect on soil without spent oil pollution. However, unpolluted soiltreated with 10 t ha-1 organic fertilizer had the fungi (0.77 x 106cfu g-1) population which was statistically compared to 5 t ha-1 organically treated soil without spent engine oil pollution (0.76 x 106cfu g-1). Soil polluted with spent engine oil has been bioremediated with organic fertilizer and hence put into productive use.Keyword: Growth, herbage yield, micro-flora, organic fertilizer, spent engine oil, Telfairia occidentalis

The Effects of Rubber Effluent on Some Chemical Properties of Soil and Early Growth of Maize (Zea Mays L.)

A preliminary pot trial was conducted in a greenhouse to determine the effects of rubber effluent on some soil chemical properties as well as growth and nutrient uptake by maize plant. The levels of rubber effluent used were 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 ml per 2 kg soil. The trial was organized in a completely randomized design and replicated three times. Result showed that the soil pH, organic carbon, N, P, K, Mg, Ca Na, ECEC, Fe, Mn and Zn were significantly higher (p<0.05) in rubber effluent treated soils than the control, while the control was significantly higher in exchangeable acidity. Zn, the N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Na, Fe, Mn content and their uptake by the plant were significantly higher (p<0.05) in rubber effluent treated plant than the control. The plant height, leaf area and number of leaves were also significantly higher in effluent treated plants than the control. The N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Na content and their uptake and the growth parameters however declined at 200 ml treatment, while in Fe, Mn and Zn content and their uptake there was no definite pattern of increase with increasing effluent levels.  Keywords: Rubber effluent, maize, nutrient uptake, soil, greenhous