No abstract

Poor method of weed control and indiscriminate use of herbicides led to low yields, economic returns, and increasing environmental pollution in the southern Guinea savanna of Nigeria. These prompted the conduct of field trials in the 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons to determine the effects of seed bed configuration and weed control treatments on the agronomic and economic performance of maize. The treatments consisted of flat and ridge seed beds and six weed control treatments. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with split plot arrangement and replicated thrice. Results showed that seed bed configuration had significant (p ≤ 0.05) effect on weed density, but not on maize grain yield. All the weed control treatments significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced weed infestation and increased maize grain yields compared to the weedy check. Furthermore, Primextra at 1.5 kg active ingredient per hectare (kg a.i. ha−1) + One supplementary hoe weeding (SHW) at 6 weeks after sowing (WAS), Primextra + Paraforce at 1.5 + 0.7 kg a.i. ha−1, and Primextra + Guard force at 1.5 + 0.03 kg a.i. ha−1 applied on flat seed beds and two hoe weeding at 3 and 6 WAS + ridge produced higher yields, profit, and economic returns. Therefore, the above reduced herbicide rates applied on flat seed beds are recommended to farmers as alternatives to two hoe weeding at 3 and 6 WAS for profitable production of maize.

A survey was conducted in Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State in 2012 by administering structured questionnaire to 30 farmers each from 5 villages in the Local Government. The aim was to determine the quality of extension service in Moro Local Government Area with a view to improving it. Results show that most of the farmers (28.2%) are in the age group of 21 to 30 years. A greater percentage of the farmers (53.3%) are subsistence farmers cultivating between 1 to 2 hectares (ha) of land. Although, extension services were provided long time ago (71.1%), mainly by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and needs assessment were not conducted first before transferring innovations (63.9%), the quality of extension service was good (51.2%) and has resulted in improved skills (89.3%) and productivity of the farmers. However, it was recommended that there is need to further improve extension service in the Local Government to ensure the achievement of the desired objectives.

A survey was conducted in the Kwara State of Nigeria to study the integrated weed management (IWM) practices by farmers. This was in view of the poor weed management practices adopted by farmers, which is a major factor responsible for low yields of many arable crops in Kwara State. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 480 respondents, and a structured interview schedule was used to elicit information from them. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Factor analysis was also carried out to examine the perception of farmers’ benefits of IWM. Results showed that the majority of farmers (29.4%) were youths, married (89.1%), and involved in medium-scale farming (47.2%). Furthermore, 50.8% of the farmers had primary or secondary education. Although farmers use different weed control methods, more than half of them (54.7%) use herbicides. Most farmers (92.6%) are engaged in the use of IWM, However, 73.5% of them use a combination of herbicides and hoe weeding. Although not properly practiced, farmers perceived IWM as having socio-environmental (29.229%) and techno-efficacious (23.495%) benefits over either hoe weeding or herbicides used alone. The findings suggest a need to train farmers on all aspects of IWM to achieve self-sufficiency in food production in Kwara State.

The need to determine the minimum application rates of commonly used herbicides in Malete and the Guinea savanna of Nigeria for effective weed control and higher grain yield of maize, triggered this study. Therefore, field trials were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of Kwara State University, Malete, to determine the weed control method that will be more effective in controlling weeds and give higher grain yield and cash returns in the production of maize. The experiment consisted of 9 treatments viz: primextra (metolachlor plus atrazine) + 2,4-D at 1.5 + 1.5 kg active ingredient (a.i.).ha−1, primextra + 2,4-D at 2.0 + 2.0 kg a.i. ha−1, primextra + 2,4-D at 2.5 + 2.5 kg ha−1, primextra + nicosulfuron at 1.5 + 0.03 kg a.i. ha−1, primextra + nicosulfuron at 2.0 + 0.05 kg a.i. ha−1, primextra + niconsulfuron at 2.5 + 0.07 kg a.i. ha−1, primextra at 1.5 kg a.i. ha−1 + one Supplementary Hoe Weeding (SHW) at 6 Weeks After Sowing (WAS), two hand weeding at 3 and 6 Weeks After Sowing (WAS) and a weedy check. These treatments were laid out in randomised complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) package, after which means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Results showed that treatment combinations of primextra + one SHW at 6 WAS, two hoe weeding at 3 and 6 WAS, primextra + 2,4-D at 2.0 + 2.0 kg a.i. ha−1 and primextra + nicosulfuron at 2.0+0.05 kg a.i. ha−1 gave effective weed control, higher grain yield and cash returns. Therefore, primextra at 1.5 kg a.i. ha−1 + one SHW at 6 WAS, primextra +2,4-D at 2.0 + 2.0 kg a.i. ha−1 and primextra + nicosulfuron at 2.0 + 0.05 kg a.i. ha−1 are recommended to farmers as alternative to two hoe weeding at 3 and 6 WAS.