<p>Cassava was grown in sole cropping and intercropping with groundnut to determine the performance of associated crops and weed control at three different groundnut populations in southern Guinea ecology of Nigeria. The experiment consisted of three planting arrangements: 1 row of cassava:3 rows of groundnut, 1 row of cassava:2 rows of groundnut, and 1 row of cassava:1 row of groundnut, sole groundnut at the three planting populations and sole cassava. The groundnut treatments suppressed weeds considerably when compared to sole cassava. This resulted from the vegetative production of groundnut which increased up to 8 weeks after planting (WAP) in 2001 and 12 WAP in 2002. More vegetative growth in 2002 led to lower groundnut yield. Intercropping significantly (p < 0.05) reduced leaf area of cassava, groundnut and cassava yields. Cassava/groundnut system reduced cassava yields by 26 to 74% in 2001 and by 15 to 19% in 2002. The LER values were greater than 1.0 but cassava intercropped with groundnut population of 40,000 plants/ha has a value of 1.89, which was highest. This offers a good weed control as well as the best crop yield advantage. Therefore, groundnut population of 40,000 plants/ha was most ideal population for cassava/groundnut intercrop.</p>
Speargrass posed a major constraint to crop producion in some agroecologies in Nigeria. Hence, the study was conducted to investigate the influence of seasons, rainfall and temperature patterns on speargrass components growth with the view to improve its management. This study was conducted between 2014 and 2016 at Eruwa (7˚32’0˚N, 3˚ 25’0 ˚E, 187m altitude) in Derived savanna (DS) and Kishi (08˚.98’N, 003˚.94’E; 364m altitude) in the southern Guinea savanna (SGS)–northern fringe agroecologies of Nigeria. Twelve months of the year starting from July were randomly assigned to plots in an abandoned speargrass infested farmland, replicated three times and arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design. Monthly temperature, rainfall and speargrass samples (shoot and rhizome) were measured. Results showed that rainfall amount varied across the months in both locations. The highest rainfall was recorded in September (264.20 mm) and hottest month was May, 2016 (28.5oC) in Derived savanna between 2014 and 2016 (Table 1). Kishi had 186 mm rainfall in the wettest months and the hottest months had 28.0 oC within the specified period of the study (Table 2). Total speargrass total dry weight (STDW) increased with rise in rainfall in both locations. Meanwhile, there were variations in the components (Shoot and rhizome) weight. However, there was decline in speargrass dry matter during the dry months (January to April) in the locations. This might have reflected the effects of moisture deficit. Notwisthanding, Rhizome:shoot varied at both locations. Derived savanna (Eruwa) had rhizome:shoot >1.00 in five months throughout the study (5/24), while southern Guinea savanna (Kishi) had rhizome:shoot >1.00 in eleven months (11/24). Speargrass control might be more challenging especially in SGS than DS in the months with higher Rhizome:shoot ratio > 1.00. Derived savanna had more months (19/24 months) with lower rhizome:shoot ratio (< 1.00) than SGS (13/24 months). This might have resulted from more rainy months and better distribution of rainfall in Derived savanna for speargrass shoot growth and the resultant decrease in rhizome:shoot (< 1.00). This is a clue for better translocation of herbicides for season-long speargrass control.
Weed spectrum in Kenaf fields revealed the heterogeneous flora richness of agro-ecologies and potential weed challenges. A study was conducted in the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Obafemi Awolowo University Ibadan and other substations (Ilora, Ikenne and Kishi). The effects of varied kenaf planting dates, genotypes and locations on weed dynamics and potential weed problem was investigated. Five Kenaf genotypes (Cuba 108, Ifeken DI 400, Ifeken 100, Ifeken 400 and Tianung 2) were planted. It was a 3 x 4 x 5 factorial experiment arranged in Randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Forty five (45) weed species were identified across seventeen (17) plant families. Weed morphology comprised of broad-leaf weeds (71.11%), grass weeds (17.78%), sedge (6.67%) and spiderwort (4.44%). Abundance of broad-leaf weeds (71.11%) mostly annual, reflected regular weed control from frequent cropping patterns and agro-ecological variations. Panicum maximum, Ageratum conyzoides, Tridax procumbens, Mitracarpus villosus, Spigelia anthelmia L. and Mimosa pudica were present in the locations. Commelina erecta, C. bengalensis, Cyperus rotundus, Cyperus esculentus and Maricus alternifolius, though scanty, they were difficult-to-control weeds. Summary of weed flora richness showed that Ibadan and Ilora had thirty one (31) weed each. This represented 68.89% of the recorded weed flora composition (45) in all locations. Kishi and Ikenne had ≤ 50% of the overall weed composition recorded. This might be due to cultural practices, weed dominance and agro-ecological variance. High percentage of broad-leaf weeds (≥60%) at all locations, might resulted to keen Kenaf-weed competition due to similarity in morphology and narrows weed control option. Cultural practices, high weed fecundity, short weed life cycle (mostly annual weeds), and wide dispersal corridor in the locations maybe implicated. Weed density and weed dry weight were similar across genotypes in all locations. Ibadan had the highest weed density with the lowest weed dry weight. Ilora and Kishi had comparable weed density. Notwithstanding, highest weed dry weight was recorded in Kishi, while the lowest was recorded in Ilora. This might be due to planting dates, weed types and differences in agro-ecologies.
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