ABSTRACT

Field trials were conducted during the 2006, 2007 and 2008 rainy seasons at the Institute for Agricultural Research Samaru, in the Northern guinea savanna zone of Nigeria to evaluate the effects of weed control and cow dung manure treatments on growth of Quality Protein Maize. The trial consisted of factorial combinations of eight weed control treatments which include application of (Atrazine + Acetochlor + Terbuthylazine at a ratio of 1:1:1, Atrazine + Metolachlor at a ratio of 1:2 each at 3.0 and 4.0kg a.i/ha, Atrazine at 4.0 and 5.0kg a.i/ha, Hoe weeding at 3 and 6 weeks after sowing and a weedy check) with four cow dung manure levels at (0, 4, 8 and 12t/ha and a recommended NPK mineral fertilizer check at the rate of 120kg N, 26kg P and 50kg K/ha). The treatments were laid out in a split plot design with three replicates. In the mean data, application of Atrazine + Metolachlor at 4.0kg a.i/ha and the two hoe weedings produced significantly (P < 0.05) higher and similar values for total dry matter and crop growth rate, whereas Atrazine + Metolachlor at 4.0kg a.i/ha only produced significantly (P<0.05) the higher values for leaf area index and harvest index. Application of Atrazine + Acetochlor + Terbuthylazine at 4.0kg a.i/ha had statistically (P<0.05) the higher lodging count. The highest Relative growth rate was by Atrazine + Metolachlor at 3.0kg a.i/ha (P<0.05). The weedy check consistently produced the least values for all parameters. Application of cow dung manure at 12t/ha and the NPK mineral fertilizer check produced significantly the highest values for all parameters (P<0.05) while 0 fertilizer control had the least. Based on the result of this study it can be deduced that the application of Atrazine + Metolachlor at 4.0 kg a.i/ha and cow dung manure at 12t/ha increased growth of Quality Protein Maize.

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Genetic divergence of baobab (Adansonia digitata) in the North East and West of Nigeria was investigated. The seeds collected from 36 populations of Adansonia digitata were thoroughly washed from the pulp, dried and sown in polyethylene pots and arranged in completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications in the nursery of Savanna Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, (FRIN), Zaria Station. The leaves of the seedlings were assessed at 16 weeks after sowing (WAS) for nutritional traits such as carbohydrate, crude protein, fat, moisture content, fiber and ash. Highly significant differences were observed in all the traits assessed showing that high variability exists among the populations. Mean separation and comparisons were also consistent with the observed variability in all the traits of the genotypes in the 36 populations. Mahalanobis D² statistic and wards minimum variance grouped the 36 populations into four clusters: I (25), II (3), III (7) and IV (1). Clusters IV and I had the highest inter-clusters value and intra-cluster distance. Clusters II and I had the least values of D 2 and D 2 of the inter cluster and intra cluster distance. Furthermore, cluster I had the highest population (25) and cluster IV was observed to be an isolated cluster with only one population and 0 intra-cluster values. Crosses can be made among the genetically divergent populations of baobab to develop genotypes for higher nutritional quality in the leaves as well as withstand both biotic and abiotic stress arising from the environment.

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ABSTRACT. All the parameters measured significantly and positively related to each other when the two years data were combined.

The study was conducted in the dry season of 2014/2015 at two locations: the experimental Farms of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University Samaru, Zaria and Kadawa Kano, located in the Northern Guinea and Sudan Savanna Ecological Zones of Nigeria, to assess the effects of weed management methods and intra row spacing on performance of cowpea. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replications. Treatments were five weed control methods involving the use of Pendimethalin at 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 kg a.i. ha -1 , two hoe weeding at 3 and 6 weeks after sowing (WAS) and a weedy check and four intra row spacing (20, 25, 30 and 35 cm). The herbicide treatments were assigned to the main plots while intra row spacings were assigned to the subplots. Results indicated that weed coverage score, weed density and weed dry weight were significantly decreased by the weed control methods compared to weedy check treatments. The application of Pendimethalin at the rate of 2.0 kg a.i ha -1 and two hoe weeding at 3 and 6 WAS resulted to significantly higher values for plant height, canopy spread and crop growth rate. Yield parameters including number pods per plant, seed weight and grain yield were also significantly increased in the herbicide treated plots and two hoe weeding compared to weedy check. In conclusion, the results obtained from this study indicated that two hoe weeding at 3 and 6 WAS and 20 cm intra row spacing effectively controlled weeds and produced the highest grain yield (kg ha -1 ) in Samaru, Zaria and Kadawa, Kano.

ABSTRACT). The treatments consisted of six levels of weed control (S-metolachlor + atrazine at 1.98 and 2.64 kg a.i/ha, butachlor at 1.5 and 2.5 kg a.i/ha, hoe weeding at 3 and 6 weeks after sowing (WAS) and a weedy check), three levels of poultry manure (0, 4 and 8 t/ha) and two planting pattern (single and double row per ridge). The treatments were laid out in spit-plot design replicated three times. Weed control and poultry manure were assigned to the main plots, while planting pattern was assigned in the sub-plots. Results from the study showed that application of S-metolachlor + atrazine at 2.64 kg a.i/ha, butachlor at 2.5 kg a.i/ha and hoe weeding at 3 and 6 WAS produced taller maize plants, increase in relative growth rate and higher grain yield. However, application of poultry manure at 8t/ha gave the tallest maize plants, increase in relative growth rate and higher total grain yield, while double planting pattern (double row per ridge) suppressed weed population and ensured better crop performance and higher grain yield compared to the single planting pattern (single row per ridge).