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Aim This study investigated the effects of combined organic poultry manure (PM) and inorganic foliar fertilizer (FF) on growth and yield of okra (Abelmuschus esculenthus L. Moench). Materials and methods Field trials were carried out at Shao and Teaching and Research Farm of Kwara State University, Malete, respectively, in 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons. The treatment consisted of PM at 10.0 t/ha, combinations of FF with 10.0, 7.5, 5.0, or 2.5 t/ha, FF alone and control without fertilizer arranged in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Results Combinations of PM and FF influenced the growth and fruit yield of okra. PM at 10.0 t/ha plus FF produced the highest plant height of 48.40 and 58.50 cm in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Also, highest number of fruits per plant and fruit yield was obtained at the same treatment over the two years. The control, without fertilizer, showed significantly longer days to flower compared with other treatments in the two years. Conclusion The highest yield obtained at PM 10.0 t/ ha ?FF was not significantly different from PM 7.5 t/ ha ?FF. Hence, poultry manure applied at 7.5 t/ha ?FF is therefore recommended.

This was also similar to the combined application of pm at 2.5t ha-1 mixed with NPK 30 kgN ha-1 and foliar fertilizer. The results of the study indicated that combined application of pm, NPK and ff enhanced the growth and yield of maize. This integrated application will be a good soil management practice for tropical soils. Combination of pm at 2.5 t ha-1 with NPK 30 kgN ha-1 and foliar fertilizer (boost xtra) is therefore recommended for early maturing maize production in the study area.

Aim: To study the effects of population density on the growth and yield of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) intercropped with cowpea (Vigna unquiculata L. Walp). Materials and Methods: A field trial was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of kwara State University, Malete (08° 42 ᶦᶦ 48.5N and 004° 26 17.9ᶦᶦ E) in the southern Guinea savannah agro-ecological zone of Nigeria in 2014 cropping season. The treatments consisted of full population of sesame intercropped with 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% full population of cowpea. Sole sesame and cowpea were also included as control. Cowpea populations were introduced into sesame at two weeks after planting. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Efficiency of intercropping was evaluated using land equivalent ratio (LER) and percentage yield difference indices (PYD). Results: Intercropping significantly influenced growth and yield of cowpea, meanwhile, growth and yield of sesame were not affected by intercropping. The highest height of cowpea, 22.30 cm, was recorded when full populations of both crops were mixed. Combinations of full population of both crops produced lowest number of branches (1.03) and pods (1.87) per plants in cowpea and also recorded highest LER (1.30) and PYD (31%). Sole cowpea significantly out-yielded other treatment combinations in the intercrop.

Combining organic and inorganic fertilizer has been proved to be an effective and sustainable soil management strategy for increased crop yield and safe environment. Field experiments were conducted in two locations in Nigeria namely Malete and Shao during 2018 and 2019 seasons. This was to find out the efficacy of organic and inorganic fertilizer (including prilled and granular urea) and their various combinations on grain yield and agronomic characteristics of maize. The use of full dose of P and K + 75% N through Granular Urea + 25 % N through farmyard manure improved most of the soil chemical properties with high economic returns. It was concluded from the experiment that a combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers is an environmentally friendly practice and could lead to high yields and improve farmers’ income and their livelihoods.