Evaluation of some Conventional methods for Estimating Available Phosphate in Muds at Mbiabet Rice Farm, Akwa Ibom State

A study was carried out in May 2008 using Seven Conventional methods for estimating available soil phosphorus from swamp mud, in acid sulphate soils of Mbiabet, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The Seven extractants were tested to determine which would be suitable for routine use in the water-logged soils. The extractans were Bray and Kurtz’s (0.03NNH4F in 0.025N Hcl), Morgan’s (10% NaOAC/3%HOAC), Sounder’s (0.1NNOOH), Olsens (0.5N NaHCO3 at pH 8.5). Treatment consisted of potassium dihydroxide added in the doses of 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300mg/kg, fitted into Latin square of 36 x 5m. Limestone (Ca CO3) was applied at the rate of 50 kg/ha to reduce the activity of aluminum. The results of the selective tests showed that the Oslen’s procedure gave the most reliable estimate of available P. Fractionation of the forms of inorganic phosphorus in the phosphate treated mud showed that the extracting solutions removed chiefly aluminium phosphate. In the absence of facilities for field, the relationship between crop response, concentration of soil phosphorus and available phosphorus as determined by Olsen’s procedure gave the most reliable estimate of available P. was estimated for polyethylene bag culture experiment with rice and maize. Response to additions (Rice and Maize) had available P 11 mg/kg with Oslen’s method

Effect of NPK fertilizer and interval management on the chemical properties of coastal plain sands of Akpabuyo, Nigeria

Investigation of the chemical properties of the coastal plain soils treated with NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer (NPK) at the rate of 0,60, 90 and 120kg ha-1) and observed at intervals of 3,6,9 and 12 months was carried out from March 2009 to 2010 at Akpabuyo, Cross River State, Nigeria. The experiment comprises of four fertilizer rates and four management intervals fitted into a Latin square design. The soils pH value increased consistently from 3 to 12months. Mean values of organic matter decreased with increase in profile depth from 2.12-1.34g kg-1). The distribution of N from the top soil down the profile increased consistently from 3 to 12 months. The mean value of N from the top soil was 0.82%. Exceeding 0.2%, the critical value and was more than the mean values obtained in the sub-surface soil. The mean value of P (33 mgkg-1)) during the 9 months interval was significantly (P<0.05) higher than all other samplingperiods. There was vertical and horizontal loading of P which lead to higher available P at the surface in soil depths of 0-15 and 15-30cm than 30-40cm and 40- 50cm. Levels of Ca increased slightly with sampling interval but decreased down the profile. The soils were also characterized as follows: strongly acid (pH 5.1 – 5.3), exchangeable Mg. (> 0.5cmol kg-1)), low contents of K and Na as well as high exchangeable Al. levels (> 4.0 cmol kg-1)) and cation exchange capacity (22 – 36 cmol kg-1)) The application of 90 kg/ha-1) NPK fertilizer during the 9 months interval gave highest values of N.P, Ca and Mg under the condition of the experiment, indicating that these elements will not be deficient in these soils. Equally, the CEC, organic matter and base saturation had their advantage in the 9 months interval where 90 kg'' was applied. This is cost effective and could be used to improve crop production in Akpabuyo, Nigeria.KEY WORD: Chemical Properties, NPK Fertilization, Management Intervals, Coastal Plain Sands

Phosphorus forms in soils of Oban Hills, Akamkpa, Cross River State, Nigeria

Oban Hills is located at Akamkpa in the Southern Senatorial District of Cross River, State, Nigeria. Phosphorus (P)-rich soil from the Hills is expected to have an effect on retention and distribution in the highly acidic soils surrounding the area inundated for several years. Phosphorus forms in the soils of the Hills varied with the year of deposition with the highest fraction being Ca-P. The low soil pH in the Oban Hills soils suggests that Ca-P may exist in a partially dissolved form and will be the primary source of P for vegetations around the area. The cation exchange capacity andpH of surface material from the Hills suggest a dominance of primary minerals. Based on the amount of P available it seems that the Hills soils play a role in the overall P availability to the surrounding vegetation. A significant (P<O.05) decrease in HCI soluble P with depth was observed in the OB2 soil site, where the greatest amount of HCI-soluble P was found in the 0-15cm soil depth. The bicarbonate P varied with sites (OBI, OB2 and 0B3), and depth, but the OB3 had the highest value.KEYWORDS: Phosphorus, Soils, Oban Hills, P-fixation, P-distributio

Seasonal variations in the growth duration of some rice varieties grown in Cross River State

Two experiments were carried out in 2008 and 2009, in four locations in Cross State, to determine seasonal variations in the commonly grown rice varieties. Their response to different photoperiod treatments were  investigated with rice plants in polyethylene bags subjected to varying lengths under artificial light. High photoperiod - sensitive varieties, showed significant difference in their maturation periods when planted at different times of the year. The longer growth duration occurred when plantings were made in January - February. The shortest growth duration occurred when plantings were made in the October - November period. In some of the photoperiod - sensitive varieties, there were big differences in the growth duration when planted in the same month, of different years. These varieties would be unsuitable for planting during the off season (August to September). The results are discussed in light of photoperiod sensitivity of some rice varieties planted at different times of the year.KEYWORDS: Seasonal variation, growth duration of rice

The effect of soil compaction and soil moisture regime on the growth and development of pineapple ( ananas comosus) in the basement complex soil of Cross river state, Nigeria

No Abstract.Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol. 5 (2) 2006: pp. 173-17

The effect of n-fertilizer application on the brinx, pol, fibre and purity of two pineapple cultivars (Ananas comosus)

No Abstract. Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol. 5(1) 2006: 57-5

Genomics-assisted breeding for drought tolerance in cowpea

Published online: 02 July 2019The importance of cowpea, Vigna unguiculata, in human and animal nutrition and sustainability of soil fertility are recognized globally especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where the crop is mainly produced in the Savanna and the Sahelian agro ecologies. However, cowpea productivity is adversely affected by both biotic (insect pests, diseases, parasitic weeds, nematodes) and abiotic (drought, heat, low soil fertility) constraints. Appreciable progress has been made in the improvement of cowpea for resistance to some biotic stresses particularly diseases such as bacterial blight, ashy stem blight, marcophomina, parasitic weeds like Striga and Alectra and some insects like aphid, leaf and flower thrips among others. There is need for intensifying research activities with focus on improving cowpea resistance to abiotic stresses. As a crop grown commonly in arid regions, cowpea is subjected to seedling stage, midseason and terminal droughts. In the recent past, the amount of rainfall, during the cropping season in the dry savannah regions of SSA, is getting less. Consequently the cropping season is getting shorter occasioned by late commencement or early cessation of the rain. Farmers in the cowpea producing areas of SSA generally have no access to irrigation hence their crops are grown under rain-fed conditions. With the impending higher frequency of drought in the dry savannah region due to climate change, efforts should be made in developing climate resilient cowpea varieties that farmers will grow. Efforts have been made in enhancing tolerance to drought in some improved cowpea varieties using conventional breeding but progress has been slow in this regard. Drought tolerance is a complex trait and many genes are involved in its inheritance. Pyramiding of these genes in improved varieties would therefore, be desirable. Such varieties with pyramided genes are likely to be stable in performance over the years and across several locations in the savannahs. Recent developments in molecular biology could play significant role in the development of such resilient varieties. In a number of crops, molecular markers associated with resistance loci have been identified and are being used in marker assisted breeding. Marker assisted backcrossing (MABC) is the choice when single traits that are simply inherited are to be moved to varieties with superior performance but lacking in the trait being transferred. Also, marker assisted recurrent selection (MARS) has shown promise in accumulating multiple genes in improved varieties of some crops. Some work has been initiated in cowpea on the use of MARS to pyramid resistance to Striga, yield and drought. Results obtained so far show the potential of this method in pyramiding desirable genes in cowpea. As more resources get committed to cowpea research a solid foundation would be established for the generation of molecular tools that should facilitate their routine application to the improvement of the crop