The study examines the seasonal reproductive performance of sheep reared under oil palm plantation and the subsequent survival of lambs up to weaning age. On-station studies were carried out from 2007 to 2010 at CSIR-Oil Palm Research Institute, Kusi (001.45 W, 0600 N and 150 m above sea level). The average total rainfall is about 1600 mm/annum with average daily maximum temperature of 32±2°C. Sheep productivity (% lambing, litter size per ewe, survival rate, monthly birth and death rates) were the variables measured. An annual average of 58 ewes and 4 lambs were used. Results show that while lambing rate was 98%, lamb survival was 63.84%. This implies that almost two-fifth of yearly reproduction was lost to mortality with significantly large number of lambs dying in August. Though there was high percentage of lambing, this was offset by high mortality of lambs.
In an attempt to increase yield of maize in oil palm-maize intercropping system, farmers resort to indiscriminate cutting of fronds of palms leading to low yield of oil palm. This study evaluated the impact of different N fertilizer levels on maize varieties in oil palm-maize intercropping system. The economics of nitrogen application was also studied. The treatments were: T1-Sole oil palm, T2-Oil palm+‘Omankwa’, T3-Oil palm+‘Abelehi’ and T4-Oil palm+ ‘Obatanpa’. The crop associations were superimposed with nitrogen fertilizer levels as sub-treatments at N0- N0:P0:K0, N1-N60:P60:K60, and N2-N120:P60:K60 per ha. The experiment was a split plot design with 4 replications. There was no significant difference (p< 0.05) between maize varieties across seasons for both maize yield and aboveground biomass though ‘Omankwa’ was promising across seasons and more responsive to nitrogen application. Across the three maize varieties, N60P60K60 was significantly higher (p<0.05) by 40% and 17% for maize yield and aboveground biomass respectively as compared to N0:P0:K0. The study recommends N60P60P60 fertilizer level and further states that to improve fertilizer adoption, government should subsidize fertilizer cost for farmers to purchase. The outcome of cost benefit analysis revealed that return per cash invested favored cropping system with N60:P60:K60 and season with less water stress.
The aim of the study was to find out the economic suitability of using phosphate rock under matured oil palm in the semi-deciduous forest zone in Ghana. The study was conducted between 2002 and 2007 at the Oil Palm Research Institute at Kusi, Ghana. The oil palm trees selected were 8 year old tenera (DXP ex OPRI). Each plot measured 17.6 m×17.6 m. There were four treatments, consisting of: 1). TSP-control: 222 kg of AS+222 kg of TSP+296 kg of MOP/ha/yr-OPRI fertilizer recommendation; 2). PR1-PR 715 kg+222 kg of AS+296 kg of MOP/ha-Yr 1. PR 358 kg+222 kg of AS+296 kg of MOP/ha-Yr 2. PR358 kg+222 kg of AS+296 kg of MOP/ha-Yr 3; 3). PR2-PR 1428 kg+222 kg of AS+296 kg of MOP/ha applied once in every 5 years; 4). PR3-PR 142.85 kg/ha+222 kg AS/ha+296 kg of MOP/ha applied twice in every 5 years. The cost-benefit analysis was carried out by comparing production cost and revenue for triple super phosphate and phosphate rock regimes. The cost benefit ratio in a declining order were: 3.4, 3.1, 2.9 and 2.4 for PR3, PR2, PR1 and TSP, respectively. The study has clearly shown that, economically it is sound to use PR under matured oil palm.
This study was conducted to evaluate the growth performance and leaf mineral composition of oil palm seedlings as influenced by the application of sheep manure. Partially decomposed farmyard manure from sheep was mixed with soil and filled into polybags (28 cm x 35 cm lay flat) in proportions as treatments: (25% soil: 75% FYM); (50% soil: 50% FYM); (75% soil: 25% FYM); and (100% soil + NPK 15:15:15) as control. The treatments were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four (4) replications. Assessment was made for morphological growth (plant height, leaf number, and butt circumference), physiological growth (crown and root biomass) and leaf nutrients status analysed for N, P, K, Ca and Mg. There was no significant (p ≤ 0.05) difference observed in growth parameters. It was however observed that treatments with a higher amount of manure (25% soil: 75% FYM) showed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher biomass production than the control. The leaf nutrients analysis for N, P, K, Ca and Mg indicated lower concentration than their respective optimum levels. This study revealed that oil palm seedlings can grow well on soil amended with farmyard manure from sheep and that higher percentage of 25% soil: 75% FYM seem more promising. The FYM application will help boost the vegetative growth of oil palm seedling thus reducing inorganic fertilizer application in the nursery.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.