The influence of root rot incidence on cassava genotype on consumers’ acceptability of the gari produced from it

In Nigeria cassava root rot causes serious yield losses in cassava tuber production every year. However, the influence of root rot incidence on cassava genotype at harvest on consumers’ acceptability of the gari produced from it has not been studied. A sensory evaluation was conducted on gari processed from the tuberous root yield of rot susceptible TME-1 and improved TMS 30572, harvested at 12 months after planting at Sabongidda-Ora (humid forest eco-zone) of Nigeria during the2003 and 2004 cropping seasons. A 5-point hedonic scale ranging from like extremely, through neither like nor dislike, to dislike extremely was designed to measure the degree of liking for the gari processedfrom both genotypes. 28 panelists were asked to indicate their degree of preference for the colour, odour and taste of each gari sample by choosing the appropriate category in the hedonic scale. The results were compared with the tuberous root rot incidence and severity of genotypes in the field. All experiments were repeated and the data collected were statistically analysed using the general linear model statistical procedures with the SAS system for windows. Comparisons among treatment means was done with the least significant square, with the Duncan multiple range test (P = 0.05). Variety TME-1 with the highest root rot incidence and severity of 53 and 21% respectively was less preferred for gari colour, texture and odour compared to TMS 30572 which had 15 and 6% rot incidence and severityrespectively. In the second year trial where TME-1 still possessed the highest rot incidence and severity, panellists still showed more preference for the colour, taste and odour in TMS 30572 gari than TME-1 gari. All the differences observed and reported above between TMS 30572 and TME-1 were significantly different at probability 0.05%. The results of this experiment clearly show that high root rot incidence of a cassava genotype in the field can reduce consumer’s acceptability of the gari producedfrom it

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

Yield and Distribution/Uptake of Nutrients of Dioscorea rotundata Influenced by NPK Fertilizer Application

Two field trials were conducted in 2005 and 2006 at Evboneka to determine the optimum level of NPK requirement for yield and nutrient composition of D. rotundata for the forest ultisol location. Fresh tuber yield, dry matter accumulation, percentage of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) content of leaves and tubers at various stages and crude protein content of harvested tubers were evaluated under five levels (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 kilogramme per hectare (kg ha-1) of NPK fertilizer using randomized complete block design. NPK fertilizer application significantly increased all the tested parameters. The optimum level of NPK for successful production of white guinea yam was 300 (45 kg N + 20.37 kg P + 37.35 kg K) kg ha-1 in a forest ultisol that been under cultivation for at least two years

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

UTJECAJ SJEMENE POGAČE NIMA (Azadirachta indica L.) NA RAST I PRINOS BAMIJE (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)

Soils of the southern Guinea savannah are generally inherently infertile owing to low vegetation cover, soil erosion and low organic matter content due to constant bush fire. Consequently, farmers move close to streams and rivers in the dry season where okra is cultivated by irrigation. Field experiments were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Ilorin, Ilorin Nigeria during the 2012 and 2013 cropping seasons to evaluate the effects of neem seed cake on the performance of okra. The neem seed cake was incorporated into the soil one week before sowing of the okra seeds at the rate of 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 t/ha. The experiment was laid out as a randomized complete block design replicated thrice. Data were collected on growth parameters (plant height, number of leaves and number of branches) and yield parameters (fruit length and girth, number of fruits per plant, fruit weight per plant and fruit weight per hectare). The result indicated that applying neem seed cake significantly affected the growth and yield parameters that were evaluated. Applying neem seed cake, however gave the highest yield at 3t/ha. Percentage mean for the two years combined was 75.81% over the control.Tla savane južne Gvineje su općenito neplodna zbog niskog vegetacijskog pokrova, erozije tla i niskog sadržaja organske tvari, izazvanog stalnim požarom grmovitog raslinja. Stoga se u sušnom razdoblju poljoprivrednici sele u blizinu potoka i rijeka zbog navodnjavanja bamije. Terenski pokusi provedeni su na Nastavno-istraživačkoj farmi Sveučilišta u Ilorinu u Nigeriji tijekom sjetve u 2012. i 2013., da bi se procijenio utjecaj sjemene pogače nima na svojstva bamije. Sjemena pogača nima stavila se u zemlju tjedan dana prije sjetve bamijinog sjemena u omjeru 0, 1, 2, 3 i 4 t/ha. Pokus je postavljen prema slučajnom bloknom rasporedu u tri ponavljanja. Podaci su prikupljeni mjerenjem pokazatelja rasta (visina biljke, broj listova i broj grana) i prinosa (dužina ploda i opseg, broj plodova po biljci, težini ploda po biljci i hektaru). Rezultati su pokazali da je primjena sjemene pogače nima značajno utjecala na pokazatelje rasta i prinosa. Međutim, primjena sjemene pogače nima prema omjeru dala je najveći prinos. Prosječno relativno povećanje prinosa, dobiveno primjenom sjemene pogače nima, iznosilo je 75.81%

UTJECAJ RAZLIČITIH ORGANSKIH TVARI I NPK GNOJIVA NA PERFORMANCE KUKURUZA

The interest in organic materials as soil fertility restorer is increasing due to the high cost and unavailability at the right time of inorganic fertilizer and the problem associated with residue disposal by burning which can further aggravate global warming. The effects of different organic materials and NPK fertilizer on the performance of maize were examined in field experiments carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma in a forest savanna transition zone of Edo State, Nigeria. The investigations were carried out during the 2008 and 2009 cropping seasons and involved the use of organic materials (wood shavings, rice hulls, kola husks and their combinations) and NPK fertilizer. The layout of the experiment was a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The results indicated that most of the organic materials, especially kola husk and mixtures with kola husk and NPK increased yield and its components. The treatments significantly increased the concentrations of N, P, K and Na in ear leaves and grains.Interes za organskim tvarima koje poboljšavaju plodnost tla povećava se zbog visoke cijene i pravovremene nedostupnosti anorganskoga gnojiva, a taj je problem povezan sa zbrinjavanjem ostataka koji se spaljuju, što može dodatno pogoršati globalno zagrijavanje. Utjecaj raznih organskih tvari i NPK gnojiva na performanse kukuruza ispitan je u poljskim pokusima provedenim na farmi za istraživanje Sveučilišta Ambroze Alli, Ekpoma u području prelaska šume u savanu u državi Edo, Nigerija. Istraživanja su se provodila tijekom vegetacije 2008. i 2009. godine, a obuhvatila su uporabu organskih tvari (drvene strugotine, rižine i koline ljuskice, kao i njihove kombinacije) i NPK gnojiva. Pokus se provodio prema slučajnome potpunome blok rasporedu u tri ponavljanja. Rezultati su ukazali na to da su većina organskih tvari, naročito ljuskice kole i njihove mješavine, kao i NPK gnojivo, povećali prinos njegove komponente. Ti su postupci značajno povećali koncentracije N, P, K i Na u komušini i zrnu

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