A field experiment was conducted in the forest-savanna transition zone of Nigeria from May to July 2014 and September to November 2015 to determine the impacts of poultry manure (PM) and NPK fertilizer on soil physical properties, and growth and yield of carrot (Daucus carota L.). The five treatments included no manure or fertilizer (control); 10, 20, and 30 megagrams (Mg)·ha -1 of PM; and 300 kg·ha -1 of 15 N-15 P-15 K fertilizer. All levels of PM reduced soil bulk density and temperature, and improved total porosity and moisture content compared to the NPK fertilizer and the control. Plant height, number of leaves, root diameter, root length, and fresh root yield in the PM and NPK fertilizer treatments were improved compared to the control. Growth and yield parameters of carrot plants treated with 20 and 30 Mg·ha -1 PM were higher than the other treatments. The 10 Mg·ha -1 PM and NPK fertilizer treatments produced similar growth and yield responses. There was an interaction for year (Y) × fertilizer (F) on plant height, number of leaves, and fresh root yield. Relative to the control 10, 20, or 30 Mg·ha -1 PM and NPK fertilizer increased fresh root yield of carrot by 39.9%, 62.0%, 64.9%, and 37.3%, respectively. The 20 Mg·ha -1 PM treatment best improved soil properties and carrot productivity as indicated by the benefit-to-cost ratio.

This research was carried out to determine the best phosphorus fertilizer for improvement of sweet potato phosphorus uptake, growth and yield. The phosphorus fertilizer sources used were organic (Pacesetter), single super phosphate and crystallizer while the sweet potato variety used was Shaba. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Sweet potato plants from plots treated with crystallizer fertilizer at the rate of 500kg/ha had the highest phosphorus uptake and vegetative growth while control plots produced plants with highest tuberous yield. It is, therefore, recommended that crystallizer applied at the rate of 500kg/ha be used for significant phosphorous uptake which equally leads to better quality sweet potato tuber and appreciable vegetative growth. It is also recommended that the soil phosphorus be maintained at low level around 6.80mg/kg for achievement of high tuberous yield in sweet potato.

SUMMARYGreen manures (GM) as an alternative to inorganic fertilizer offer considerable potential as a source of plant nutrients and organic matter (OM). Hence, field experiments were carried out during 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons to compare impacts of GM and NPK (15:15:15) fertilizer on soil properties, growth, fruit yield, mineral, lycopene and vitamin C contents of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill). GMs were composed by green tender stems and leaves of pawpaw (Carica papaya L.), neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.), moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) or gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp.) and applied at 5 Mg ha−1, whereas NPK was applied at 300 kg ha−1 and there was a no fertilizer plot (control). Application of GMs reduced soil bulk density and increased soil OM, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, growth, number of fruits and fruit yield of tomato compared with the control. NPK fertilizer had no effect on soil bulk density and soil OM, but it increased soil fertility and tomato yield as compared with the control. When comparing treatments, the highest tomato yield and best cost:benefit ratio were obtained with gliricidia as GM. The GMs and NPK fertilizer increased mineral, lycopene and vitamin C contents in tomato fruits and the highest K, Ca, Fe, Zn, Cu, lycopene and vitamin C contents in tomato fruits were found with moringa as GM. Our results revealed that GM has potential to improve soil properties, tomato yield and quality, being an alternative for cropping management.

SUMMARYSesame is best cultivated towards the end of the wet season in the southern guinea savannah zone of Nigeria because when planted early in the season, high moisture regime will predispose the crop to increased vegetative growth at the expense of seed formation, discoloured grains and create an unfavourable environment for harvesting, drying and processing of the seeds. However, growing sesame towards the end of the rainy season may subject it to moisture stress especially with the uncertainty introduced by climate change. This therefore necessitated an investigation into the potentials of incorporating mulch practice to conserve moisture and fertilizer nutrients in sesame production. A field study was conducted in the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Ilorin, Ilorin-Nigeria during the 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons to evaluate the effects of mulching and NPK fertilizer on the performance of sesame (ExSudan variety). Treatments consisted of three mulch types (no mulch (NM), grass mulch (GM) and wood shavings (WS) mulch applied at the rate of 0.5 t ha -1 ) and five levels of NPK fertilizer 20:10:10. 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 number of branches) and yield parameters (number of capsules per plant, weight of seeds per plant and weight of seeds per hectare). The result of the study indicated that using mulch alone increased the water holding capacity and the organic matter content of the soil. However, using the grass mulch and fertilizer at the rate of 300 kgha -1 resulted in an increase in the growth and yield parameters which were significantly different (P<0.05) from the other treatments in both years. The average yield of the two years of study

Effects of neem (Azadirachta indicaL INTRODUCTIONOkra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) which belongs to the Malvaceae family is the fourth most popular vegetable specie in Ghana after tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. In Sudan, the crop is the fourth most important vegetable and in Cameroun, the second most important vegetable in the market after tomatoes (Schippers, 2000). The crop is also important in India, and in Nigeria alone, it occupies 1.5 million hectares (IFA, 1992). The immature fruits which contains minerals, vitamins and high mucilage content are used for thickening soups and stews (Udo and Akpan, 2002). Young shoots and flowers are also used as food (Ndaeyo et al., 2005). Young immature fruits are an important vegetable consumed cooked or fried (Grubben and Denton, 2004).Mucilage is used medicinally as plasma replacement or blood volume expander (Grubben and Denton, 2004). The crop has a yield potential of 30 -40t/ha if growth factors are used (IFA, 1992), but there is a wide gap between this potential yield and realized yield. There is a need to minimize the difference between this potential and obtained yield. The obstacle towards the realization of this set objective is inadequate soil nutrients.Farmers in the tropics have adopted the use of inorganic fertilizers but intensive use of this over time have been reported to constitute a setback to soil (Isherwood, 2000) since it pollutes the underground water resources (Uma Singh and Pokhriyal, 1997) and increases soil acidity. However, vegetables cultivated by using organic manures are getting more important because of less chemical residues, better taste as well as their effect on soil health and environment (Sunanda Rani and Mallareddy, 2007 EFFECTS OF NEEM (Azadirachta indica L.) SEED CAKE ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)Eifediyi, E.K.(1), Mohammed, K.O.(1), Remison, S.U.Original scientific paper Izvorni znanstveni članak SUMMARY 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 ca...

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<p> </p><p><strong>Background</strong>: The quality of fibre in kenaf is variety and soil fertility dependent. <strong>Objective:</strong> The study was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria, during the 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons to determine the effects of poultry manure and NPK fertilizer on soil properties and fibre quality of four varieties of kenaf <em>(Hibiscus cannabinus</em> L.). <strong>Methodology</strong>: The experiment was laid out as a split-split plot design and replicated four times. The main plot was the years, and the subplots were the four varieties of kenaf (Cuba-108, Ifeken-100, Ifeken-400, and Tainuug 2), and the sub-sub plot was the four rates of poultry manure (0, 5, 10, 15 t/ha) and NPK fertilizer (300 kg/ha). Data were collected on plant height, the number of leaves, stalk girth, stalk weight per net plot and per hectare, fibre weight per hectare and fibre quality (ultimate strength, fibre elongation, and fibre strain). Data were analyzed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) Genstat software package, and significant means were separated using the New Duncan Multiple Range test at a 5% probability level. <strong>Result</strong>: The 2018 sowing showed no superior growth, yield and fibre attributes compared to the 2019 sowing. Cuba-108 had the best growth, fibre yield, and quality with poultry manure at 15t/ha compared to NPK fertilizer at 300kg/ha. <strong>Implications</strong>: The variability in climatic elements during the study period was of no concern compared to soil factors which was the primary determinant of fibre quality irrespective of variety. <strong>Conclusion</strong>: The use of Cuba-108 cultivar and poultry manure at the rate of 15t/ha improved the growth and fibre quality of kenaf in this locality, thus saving foreign exchange, which could have been used in the importation of fibre.</p>

Abstract. The soil of North-Central Nigeria is home to many plant products that are used as industrial raw materials, and after processing their waste are often left in drainage channels, which ultimately find their way into rivers and streams where they pollute these water bodies, and sometimes some of these materials are burnt, which further aggravates global warming. In addition, the soil of the region is characterized by low organic matter content because of annual bush burnings, which reduce the low humus content of soils. Watermelon requires a fertile soil, which is high in organic matter content, while infertile soils yield an increased production of male flowers at the expense of female flowers, which results in low fruit set. Therefore, a study was carried out at the University of Ilorin Teaching and Research Farm, Ilorin, North-Central Nigeria, during the rainy seasons of 2013 and 2014 to assess the effect of different organic materials on the growth and yield of watermelon. The factors imposed were a control, NPK fertilizer and five organic materials (neem seed cake (NSC), jatropha seed cake (JSC), poultry manure (PM), compost manure (CM), and cow dung (CD)). The experiment was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated thrice. Data collected on soil physico-chemical properties were: organic matter content, soil pH, organic carbon, total N, P, K, Ca, and Mg, bulk density (BD), micro porosity (MIP), macro porosity (MAP), and saturated hydraulic conductivity (KS). Plant parameters evaluated include growth (vine length and number of leaves) and yield (number of fruits per plant, fruit weight per plant, and yield ha -1 ). Results indicated that the organic matter content increased after the first year's cropping and declined at the end of the study. The amended plots showed significantly higher values (P < 0.05) with respect to most soil physical properties (MIP), (MAP), and (KS), except the BD, where the values were lower. The bulk density particularly deteriorated on soils that were not organically amended. In addition, the soil chemical properties examined increased following the first year's cropping, and thereafter declined at the end of the second-year cropping season. The response of watermelon showed that the two years' yield data ranged between 334 and 402 t/ha, 306 and 390 t/ha, and 38.25 and 59.20 t/ha for NPK, poultry manure, and control treatments respectively. From the results, it was observed that the organic amendments were environmentally more friendly compared to the inorganic amendment (NPK fertilizer) in terms of positive effects on soil structural properties.