17 research outputs found
Weed Flora and Nutritional Composition of Cowpea Grains as Influenced by Some Pre Emergence Herbicides Application in Nigeria
Field experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo. State, Nigeria to the evaluate influence of some pre emergence herbicides application on weed flora and nutritional composition of cowpea grains. The treatments consisted of no weeding (control), Coda goldÒ at 1.65 kg a.i./ha, Galex at 3.0 kg a.i./ha, Pendilin at 2.0 kg a.i./ha, One hoe weeding at 3 weeks after planting (WAP) and Two hoe weeding at 3 & 7WAP laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replicates. The result showed that there were changes in weed flora composition of broadleaved weeds and grasses except sedges before and after experiment. For instance, approximately 52.38% of the weeds were broadleaved species and 28.57% were grasses before planting while about 38.1% of the weeds were broadleaved species and 42.86 % grasses after harvest. Before planting, annual weed species were 28.57% and perennial 71.43% while after harvest, annual weed species were 47.62% and perennial 52.39%. The result further showed that plot treated with herbicides had a slight increase in nutritional composition of cowpea grains when compared to hoe weeding and no weeding. Since, the herbicides used in the study altered weed flora composition of cowpea plant without having any adverse effect on the nutritional composition of the grains, they are recommendable to farmers for boosting cowpea production in Nigeria. Keywords: cowpea grains, nutritional composition, pre emergence herbicides, weed flora, DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/9-2-0
Effects of neem seed cake and NPK fertilizer on the growth and yield of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)
Soils of the southern Guinea
savannah zone of Nigeria are low in organic
matter content, inherently infertile due to
intensive weathering and leaching caused by
high temperature and rainfall. A field
experiment was conducted at the Teaching
and Research Farm of the University of
Ilorin, during the 2013 and 2014 cropping
seasons, to determine the effect of neem
seed cake and NPK fertilizer on the
performance of sesame crop (Ex Sudan cv).
Treatments consisted of three levels of NPK
fertilizer 20:10:10, applied at 0, 100 and
200 kg ha-1 and neem seed cake (NSC),
applied at 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 t ha-1. The
experiment was laid out in a 3 x 5 factorial
arrangement replicated thrice. Data were
collected on soil parameters (some physical
and chemical properties), plant growth
parameters (plant height, number of leaves
and leaf area) and yield components
(number of capsules per plant, weight of
seeds per plant and weight of seeds per
hectare). The result of the study indicated
that using the highest level of application of
NPK fertilizer, neem seed cake and their
combinations significantly (p<0.05)
increased the growth of sesame plants, in the
2 years of study. However, the 100 kg ha-1 of
NPK and 3 tha-1 and their combinations
gave the highest yield and yield components
of sesame during the period of study. The
result of the study revealed that using high
levels of NPK, neem seed cake and their
combinations favoured vegetative growth at
the expense of seed formation. Farmers are
therefore encouraged to use organic and
inorganic fertilizer moderately to prevent
excessive vegetative growth of sesame
Performance of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) as influenced by 2,4 – dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and NPK fertilizer
The Guinea savannah zone
of Nigeria is beset by increasing
population and infrastructural development,
thereby putting pressure on
available land with rapidly declining
fertility due to low organic matter content,
soil erosion, high temperature and seasonal
bush burning. Sesame is cultivated in
this zone and the yield has remained very
low, compared to yield in other parts of
the world. This could be attributed to poor
nutrient status and poor cultural practices
used by peasant farmers. A field experiment
was conducted at the Teaching and
Research Farm, University of Ilorin,
Nigeria, in a southern Guinea savannah
zone in 2015 and repeated in 2016 cropping
season to determine the effects of
2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), a
plant growth regulator and NPK fertilizer
on the growth and yield of sesame. The
experiment was laid out as a factorial
arrangement, fitted into a randomized
complete block design replicated thrice.
The factors imposed were 2,4-D (0, 5 and
10 ppm ha-1) and NPK 15:15:15 (0, 100,
200 and 300 kg ha-1). Data were collected
on vegetative traits (plant height, number
of leaves, leaf area) and yield components
(number of capsules per plant; yield per
plant and per hectare). The data were
subjected to analysis of variance
(ANOVA) using the Genstat statistical
package 17th edition and significant means
were separated by using the least
significant difference at 5% level of
probability. The result revealed that using
plant growth regulator and NPK fertilizer
had significant effects (p<0.05) on plant
height (151 cm) and yield per hectare
(530 kg/ha). The qualitative and quantitative
analysis of the seeds further
reaffirmed the presence of bioactive
compounds, such as saponins, tannins,
flavonoids and phenolic compounds,
which are important health promoting
food in the seeds
Consequências da remoção do limbo foliar em diferentes estádios reprodutivos da cultura do milho em duas épocas de semeadura
Root rot fungi succession during cassava (Manihot esculenta. Crantz) tuberous development in different ecological zones of Nigeria
Root rot fungi succession during cassava tuberous root development was
investigated in Ibadan (Derived savanna), Sabongidda-Ora and Onne (Humid
forests) of Nigeria. Two improved cassava varieties (TMS 30572 and TMS 4
(2) 1425) and one local (TME-1) were planted in a randomized complete
block design with 3 replications. Isolation of associated fungi was done from
tuberous and fibrous root samples collected at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after
planting (MAP). Six species (Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum,
Botryodiplodia theobromae, Trichoderma harzianum, Rhizopus stolonifer,
Aspergillus niger) and one unknown fungus were isolated frequently from
growing roots. A clear relationship was demonstrated between growth stage,
location, fungal succession and root rot incidence/severity. During the two
planting seasons of this study and also throughout all locations, fibrous roots
generally supported more diversity and higher frequencies of fungal
growth than the tuberous roots. Fusarium oxysporum was usually an early to
mid stage colonizer of root tissue while B. theobromae was a late
colonizer. Botryodiplodia theobromae and F. solani were normally absent or
rare during dry season periods at 6 MAP but re-emerged when rainy season
resumed at 9 MAP till 12 MAP. Fusarium oxysporum dominated during the
dry season period at 6 MAP. In the trial, local TME-1 genotype was the most
colonized while improved TMS 4(2)1425 genotype was least colonized. In
Ibadan and Sabongidda-Ora during the first planting season, F. solani was the
most prevalent colonizer while B. theobromae was the most prevalent in
Onne