EVALUATING INTRA-ROW SPACING TO OPTIMIZE STRIGA INFESTATION FOR RESISTANCE SCREENING IN SELECTED MAIZE GENOTYPES

Tue, 01 Jun 2004 00:00:00 GMT

EVALUATING INTRA-ROW SPACING TO OPTIMIZE STRIGA INFESTATION FOR RESISTANCE SCREENING IN SELECTED MAIZE GENOTYPES IBIKUNLE, OLUMIDE ANTHONY Striga hcrmonihica (Del.) Benth, is considered the greatest biological threat to maize production in sub-Saharan Africa. The success in breeding for resistance to Striga depends on a high and uniform field infestation with the parasite. One of the factors that can optimize infestation of maize plants with Striga is intra-row spacing. The objective of this study was, therefore, to assess the effects of different intra-row spacing of maize hills on Striga infestation. Five different maize genotypes were infested with 5000 germinable Striqa seeds in the field at intra-row spacings of 20 cm, 25 ern, 33 cm, and 50 ern. The experiment was conducted at Mokwa (901S'N lat., 5004E long., 457 m altitude and 1100 mm annual rainfall), for two seasons and at Abuja (9016'N 'lat., 7020'E long., 300 m altitude and 1500 mm annual rainfall), for one season in Nigeria. There was high significant (P< 0.001) location influence on Striga emergence, host plant damage scores, plant height, stalk lodging, ear height and grain yield. High significant differences (P< 0.00 1) were also exhibited among the genotypes for all these parameters. Differences in intra-row spacing significantly affected Striga emergence' count, host damage symptoms, stalk lodging, ear aspect and grain yield. Location x genotype interaction was highly significant (P< 0.001) for host plant damage scores, plant height (non-infested plots), ear aspect scores (infested plots) and grain yield (infested plots). There was a significant (P< 0.05) in fraction of location x spacing for stalk lodging in the infested plots. Mean square for genotype x spacmg interaction was not significant in each test environment, suggesting that the same intra-row spacmg may be used to effectively screen maize genotypes of different genetic backgrounds. On the average, the 20 em intra-row s pucmg had 100

EFFECT OF COW-DUNG MANURE AND N P K 15:15:15 FERTILIZER ON NUTRIENTS STATUS AND PERFORMANCE OF PEPPER ( Capsicum annuum L.)

Wed, 01 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

EFFECT OF COW-DUNG MANURE AND N P K 15:15:15 FERTILIZER ON NUTRIENTS STATUS AND PERFORMANCE OF PEPPER ( Capsicum annuum L.) HAZZAN, KIFULI OLADELE The study investigated the comoerative effect of cow-dung manure treatments and N P K fertilizer Oil soil nutrient content, growth, fruit yield and leaf nutrient contents of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). TWo trials were conducted at Ondo, in the rainforest zone of southwest Nigeria between the late season of 2003 and early season of 2004 on a slightly acidic soil, marginal in organic matter and low in available P. The six treatments involved were 0 (control) 2.5, 5,0, 7.5 and 10 t/ha cow-dung and N P K 15: 15: 15 fertilizer at 250 kg/ha. The treatments were replicated three times using a randomized complete block design. Relative to the control, cow-dung and N P K fertilizer treatments increased growth and yield parameters such as number of leaves, leaf area, plant height, girth, ru..nber and weight of fruits significantly (P>0.05), Growth and yield parameters increased with levels of cow dung up to 7.5 t/ha. The mean fruit weiqhts per plant recorded for 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 10 t/ha dung and N P K fertilizer were 283, 295, 338, 382, 368 and 378g respectively, and the values for number of fruits werr= 32, 36, 41, 66, 53, and 64g. Soil organic matter, N, P, K, Ca, Mg and pH increased with amount of dung. N P K fertilizer gave less value of soil P, and K compared with.l 7 5 rind 10.0 t/ha dung. The dung treatments increased leaf i\!, P, f<, Ca, and IvJg contents, and leaf N and P increased with level of dung up to 10.0 t/ha. The 10.0 t/ha dung increased leaf P, K, Ca and Mg compared with N P K fertilizer, and 7.5 and 10.0 t/ha dung gave higher leaf N compared with fertilizer. M.TECH.

COMPARATIVE EFFECT OF PIG MANURE AND NPK FERTILIZER ON SOIL FERTILITYAND PERFORMANCE OF TOMATO (Lycopersicum LYco~sicon Mill.)

Tue, 01 Jun 2004 00:00:00 GMT

COMPARATIVE EFFECT OF PIG MANURE AND NPK FERTILIZER ON SOIL FERTILITYAND PERFORMANCE OF TOMATO (Lycopersicum LYco~sicon Mill.) GIWA, DAVID DADA The effect of pig manure (5t1ha) and integrated application of pig manure and NPK (15-15-15) fertilizer (In growth and yield of tomato were studied at Abeokuta in the derived savanna zone of Southwest Nigeria. The sandy soil (ultisol) was marginal in organic matter and total N, low in available P a'nd exchangeable Mg and acidity. Six treatments applied to soil were the control (n~ manure/fertilizer), NPK fertilizer at (100kg/ha), Pig manure (5t1ha), 1.25t/ha pig manure + 75kg/ha NPK fertilizer, 2.5t/ha pig manure + 50kg/ha NPK fertilizer and 3.75t1ha pig manure + 25kg/ha NPK fertilizer. Growth and yield parameters of tomato were periodically evaluated and analysis of soil was done at the end of two trials conducted. Compared with the control, pig manure, NPK fertilizer and their combinations significantly increased plant height, number of leaves and branches, root growth and fruit yield respectively. The 2.5t/l1a pig manure + 50kg/ha NPK fertilizer gave highest fruit yield. Addition of NPK fertilizer to pig manure-increased fruit and dry matter yield and root length. Addition of pig manure to NPK fertilizer increased fruit yield, dry matter yield and root length. Application of pig manure only tended to increase soil organic matter and pH. Compared with control, application of pig manure or integrated application of pig manure or integrated application of pig manure and NPK fertilizer increased soil P, K and Mg. Compared with control, pig manure and NPK fertilizer increased fruit yield by 390 and 628% respectively. Compared with pig manure, NPK fertilizer, 1.25t/ha PM + 75kg/ha fertilizer, 2.5t1ha PM + 50kg/ha fertilizer and 3.75t/ha PM + 25kg/ha fertilizer increased fruit yield by 49, 66, 88 and 72% respectively. M.TECH.

EFFECTS OF WEED COMPETITION ON SOME SOIL FACTORS OF GROWTH AND MAIZE PERFORMANCE

Tue, 01 Jun 1999 00:00:00 GMT

EFFECTS OF WEED COMPETITION ON SOME SOIL FACTORS OF GROWTH AND MAIZE PERFORMANCE GBADAMOSI, ANIDU ADELAKUN Identical randomized-block experiments were carried out on the effects of weed competition on weed growth, the temperature, moisture and nutrient content of soil, and maize performance in 1997 and 1998. The treatments were a weedy check, weeding once at 3 weeks after sowing (WAS), weeding once at 7 WAS, weeding twice at 3 and 7 WAS, weeding thrice at 3, 7 and 10 WAS, and a post-emergence application of atrazine 480F at 3.0 kg a.i/ha. The weedy check and weeding once at 7 WAS treatments generally enhanced the growth of weeds which was least when either atrazine herbicide was applied or weeding occurred thrice at 3, 7, and lOW AS. Both the mean temperature and moisture of soil at 5cm depth during the course of the experiments were not affected by the various weed growths which arose from the treatments. The presence of weeds during maize cultivation as in the weedy check and weeding once at 7 WAS did not adversely affect soil nutrient content at maize harvest compared to the weed-free plots in both years. A relatively low nutrient content in the atrazine-treated soil in 1998 was attributed to a probable loss of organic matter through erosion of the exposed soil. Weeding thrice at 3, 7 and lOW AS enhanced the growth and yield of maize most followed by weeding twice at 3 and 7 WAS and atrazine application respectively. Maize performance was decreased most by the weedy check followed by the weeding once at 7 WAS and 3 WAS respectively. Weed removal generally enhanced the nutrient content of ear leaf at maize harvest compared to the weedy check. Leaf N was increased by up to 3.4 % in 1997 when weed competition was reduced with either weeding thrice at 3, 7 and 10 WAS or atrazine application. M.TECH.

Crop, Soil & Pest Management

EVALUATING INTRA-ROW SPACING TO OPTIMIZE STRIGA INFESTATION FOR RESISTANCE SCREENING IN SELECTED MAIZE GENOTYPES

EFFECT OF COW-DUNG MANURE AND N P K 15:15:15 FERTILIZER ON NUTRIENTS STATUS AND PERFORMANCE OF PEPPER ( Capsicum annuum L.)

COMPARATIVE EFFECT OF PIG MANURE AND NPK FERTILIZER ON SOIL FERTILITYAND PERFORMANCE OF TOMATO (Lycopersicum LYco~sicon Mill.)

EFFECTS OF WEED COMPETITION ON SOME SOIL FACTORS OF GROWTH AND MAIZE PERFORMANCE