Journal of Agricultural Science and Environment

RATE AND FREQUENCY OF POULTRY MANURE ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF FLUTED PUMPKIN (Telfairia occidentalis HOOK. F.)

O. H. AKINTOYE — 2024-03-26

Cultivation of Fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook. F.) is predominantly done by smallholder
farmers but scarcity and high cost of inorganic fertilizers have limited its usage and shifted to viable
alternatives. Field experiments were carried out in the Crop Research Farm, Federal University of
Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria from November 2018 to August 2019 and from August
2019 to August 2020 cropping seasons to determine the effects of poultry manure (PM) rate and frequency
of application on agronomic performance of fresh shoot, pod and seed yields of Telfairia occidentalis.
There were three rates: 5, 10 and 15 t. ha-1 of PM and a control (no application) as main plot
and four frequency of PM application: once, twice, three times and at every harvest plot laid out in split
-plot arrangement and fitted into a Randomized Complete Block Design, replicated three times. Results
showed that in 2018, PM at 15 t. ha-1 increased fresh shoot weight at 6 to 14 weeks after sowing
(WAS) relative to 5 t.ha-1 and 10 t.ha-1 PM rate. In 2018, pod weight/plant was increased with 15 t.ha-1
PM application and increased with frequency of PM application at every harvest while the seed weight/
plant was increased at 15 t.ha-1 PM application and at every harvest. In 2019, pod yield and seed
weight increased at 15 t.ha-1 PM application while pod yield was increased with no PM application;
seed weight/plant increased with PM application three times. In 2019, interaction of PM at 5 t.ha-1 applied
three times significantly increased fresh shoot weight by 85.4 % at 14 WAP relative to 15 t.ha-1
PM applied once. Interaction of PM at 10 and 15 t.ha-1 applied three times and at every harvest, respectively
gave similar results on cumulative fresh shoot weight while the plants from control plots
produced significantly lower fresh shoot weight in 2018. There were no significant differences observed
in weight of pod and seed weight/plant with PM rate, frequency and interaction in 2018 and
2019 croppings. Application rate of 10 t.ha-1 PM applied three times enhanced cumulative fresh shoot
yield and therefore suggested for fluted pumpkin growers.

FERMENTED DESERT LOCUST (Schistocerca gregaria) BY-PRODUCT MEAL AS A DIETARY PROTEIN SOURCE IN THE DIETS OF OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS FINGERLINGS (Linnaeus, 1758)

A. O. AKINDE — 2024-03-26

The potentials of Fermented Desert Locust By-product (FDLBP) as a substitute for fishmeal in Oreochromis niloticus diet was evaluated in a 90 day feeding experiment. Four iso-nitrogenous (35.62%)
and iso-caloric (16.72 kJ/g) diets were formulated, in which FDLBP was added to supplement fishmeal
at three inclusion levels (15, 30 and 45%). Bacillus sustilus was used for the fermentation of the DLBP.
Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of 10 fish (8.23±0.24 g) twice daily at 3% body weight per day.
An intra-peritoneal challenge with Pseudomonas aeruginosa was carried out on the fish. Proximate
composition, chitin content and amino acid profiles of the meals were analyzed. Growth performance
in terms of Mean weight gain (MWG), Feed conversion ratio (FCR), Specific growth rate (SGR) and
feed utilization were calculated weekly. Blood samples were collected from each group for haematological and blood chemistry analyses. Data obtained were analysed using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The SGR (1.10±0.09-1.44±0.14 %) and FCR (1.60±0.10-2.22±0.18) were significantly (p<0.05) different among treatments in the group of fish fed control diet (diet 1) relative to others.
Fish fed FDLBP 45% (diet 4) had the least overall growth performance. Packed cell volume (24.2±
3.27-34.8±5.36 %), haemoglobin concentration (5.4±0.85-7.9±1.14 g/dl), red blood cells (1.86±0.24-
2.80±0.41) and white blood cell (10.74±1.05-11.52±2.09 ×1012/L) were significantly (p<0.05) different
among the groups. There were no significant difference (p>0.05) in the total protein (3.58±0.11-
4.42±1.41 g/dl) albumin (2.17±0.15-2.68±0.54 g/dl) and globulin (0.90±0.14-1.84±0.61 g/dl) levels in
the blood. This study concluded that FDLBP could be included in the diets of O. niloticus up to 45%
without negatively impacting on the fish growth and health status.

INTERCHARACTER RELATIONSHIPS AND TRAIT PROFILES IN PVA MAIZE (Zea mays L.)

R. O. OLAYIWOLA — 2024-03-26

Understanding the intercharacter relationships between grain yield and related traits is crucial in developing selection index for yield improvement of crops. Forty-five PVA maize genotypes were evaluated
in Nigeria to examine interrelationships among agronomic characters of PVA maize genotypes and
identify trait(s) that significantly contribute to grain yield. The field experiment was laid out in a randomized incomplete block design (RIBD) replicated three times. Observations were made on grain yield
and other agronomic traits. There was significant (p ≤0.05, 0.01) genotypic effect for most of the
measured traits. Grain yield was significantly correlated with plant height, ear height, husk cover, plant
aspect and ear aspect. However, these characters were correlated inter se. Ear aspect highly influenced associations with grain yield and should therefore be weighted accordingly in the selection index. The Genotype × yield-trait (GYT) biplot identified genotypes LY1409-61, A1804-15, and LY1913-
23 as having superior trait profiles and could be useful in future breeding strategies.

COMBINING ABILITY AND GENE ACTION FOR GRAIN YIELD AND RELATED TRAITS IN SOYBEAN (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) GENOTYPES*

O. O. SOBOWALE — 2024-03-26

The importance of soybean grain for human food, animal feed, protein, oil and industry is hindered in
Nigeria by the absence of high-yielding improved varieties, emphasizing the need for enhanced variety
to optimize yields. Ten hybrid soybean genotypes obtained from partial diallel crossing and their putative parents were evaluated on the field using randomized complete block design in three replications
at the Research Farm of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. High General Combining Ability
was observed in TGx1987-62F for number of grains per pod, number of pods per plant and number of
grains per plant. High GCA was also observed in TGx1989-19F for pod length, pod width, number of
pods per plant and grain yield per plant. The most promising crosses that revealed high and positive
Specific Combining Ability effect for grain yield were TGx1835-10E × TGx1987-62F, TGx1835-10E ×
TGx1988-5F and TGx1988-5F × TGx1989-19F. Narrow-sense heritability (HN) estimate was high for
pod width, number of pods per plant and 100-grain weight. These traits could therefore, respond to
selection. Genotypes such as TGx1989-19F and TGx1987-62F with high GCA and involved in crosses
with high SCA for grain yield and yield-related characters could be considered for yield improvement in
soybean.

EFFECTS OF INTERCROPPING AND FERTILIZER APPLICATION ON WEED SUPPRESSION AND YIELD OF OKRA IN THE RAINFOREST AGRO-ECOLOGY OF NIGERIA

A. I. MAKINDE — 2024-03-28

Maximizing crop production using crop intensification and enhancement of crop competitive ability
against weed is inevitable because of the reduction in available agricultural land. Field trials were conducted in 2019 and 2020 at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training stations, Ibadan and
Ikenne, Nigeria to examine the effects of fertilizer application and cropping system on weed suppression and yield of okra. The experiment was a split-plot arrangement in a Randomized Complete Block
design, replicated three times. Main plots were fertilizer type (control; NPK(20:10:10); organic(cassava
peel compost); 50% organic + 50% NPK), with sub plots of cropping systems (sole Jatropha; sole
okra; Jatropha/okra intercrop). Weed and yield parameters of okra were assessed. With Jatropha
canopy formation, weed percentage ground cover, weed count/m2 and weed dry weight (WDW) were
significantly (P≤0.05) reduced both as sole jatropha and in intercrop, relative to sole okra. Weed
smothering efficiency, (WSE) increased from 6.92-10.68 % in 2019 in sole and intercropped jatropha
to 28.38-32.08 % in 2020 with increased Jatropha canopy. Relative to sole okra, ground weed coverage was reduced by 22 %, weed count by 19 % and WDW by 29 % under intercrop. Weed count/m2
in fertilized plots reduced to 13-17/m2 but increased to 18- 19/m2 in the control plot . WDW from fertilized plots were significantly lower (20-24 g) than from unfertilized plants (25-31 g). Significant increase in soil N, organic C and available P in jatropha-based cropping system than sole okra was also
recorded in both locations, although residual Ca, Mg, K and Na, exchangeable acidity and ECEC had
similar concentrations in the soil across all cropping systems. Land equivalent ratio (LER) was 1.87 in
2019 and 2.11 in 2020, showing that land utilization efficiency for Jatropha-Okra intercropping was
more advantageous than sole cropping. The use of intercropping (Jatropha+Okra, 1:4) is therefore
recommended for okra farmers in this region for better weed suppression and enhanced land utilizatio

COFFEE AND COCOA PRODUCTION IN AFRICA: A TREND ANALYSIS

Q. A. OGUNWOLU — 2023-12-28

The Sub-Saharan region of Africa is very dominant in the production of economic beverage crop such as cocoa, coffee, tea, which are largely grown for export. This study was carried out to evaluate theproductivity of coffee and cocoa in Africa. Trend analysis was carried out to assess the performance of cocoa and coffee production in the continent for a period of forty five years (1976-2020). The study observed that coffee production in Africa did not improve significantly during the period. The highest coffee production in the continent was between 1991 and 2000 with an average of 1254127 tonnes, while the lowest production was observed between 2011 and 2020, with an average of 1138444 tonnes. This relatively stable but low figures was attributed tolow coffee yield across the continent. However, aggregate cocoa production in Africa has been on the rise throughout the period under study. Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana were the only two cocoa producing countries with sustained increase in production over the years. The observed rising cocoa production in the continent was adduced to increase in cultivation areas, new cocoa cultivars development and increasing grower prices. Despite the rise in cocoa production in the continent, farmers are still faced with the issue of low cocoa yield. The study recommends the need to prioritize new high yielding coffee and cocoa varieties in the respective producing nations.

GUIDE TO AUTHORS

E. A. MAKINDE — 2024-03-28

An abstract in English should include key words, arranged alphabetically using only the first letter of the key words. Abstracts should be limited to < 200 words, and should contain salient features of the study, briefly indicating method of study, results, and the main conclusion. Single solid lines should separate the by – line material from the Abstract, and the Abstract from the main text. A short running title should be included. Six (6) keywords should be typed in.