Field trials were conducted in savannah woodland (Njala) and rainforest (Serabu) agroclimatic regions of Sierra Leone during 2016 second cropping season to assess different preemergence herbicides techniques that is efficient, cost effective and environmentally safe in cowpea production. The experiment consisted of 20 treatments which included 2 cowpea genotypes (slipea 4 and slipea 5) and 10 different weed control techniques viz: butachlor 50% emulsifiable concentrate (EC), double force®, power force® applied as preemergence herbicides at 2, 4 and 6 L ha-1, respectively and weedy check. The treatments were laid out in a strip-plot design arranged in a factorial system with three replications. The results of this study revealed that the application of power force® at 6 L ha-1 recorded the highest phytotoxic effect, lowest weed dry weight, number of pods per plant and grain yield, highest total variable cost, lowest gross and net returns. Furthermore, butachlor 50% EC at 2 L ha-1 closely followed by double force® at 6 L ha-1 resulted in maximum grain yield, gross and net returns compared to the rest of the other weed control techniques. Thus, it is concluded that butachlor 50% EC at 2 L ha-1 was more economical, profitable and beneficial than other control treatments in the production of cowpea genotypes in the savannah woodland and rainforest agroclimatic regions of Sierra Leone. Conclusively, the relationship between phytotoxicity and grain yield indicates that the higher the grain yield the lower the phytotoxic effects of the chemicals.

A two-year (2017 and 2018) field trials was conducted in the School of Agriculture, Njala University, Sierra Leone, to evaluate weed management practices on weed dynamics and productivity of maize. The experimental trials were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatment combinations comprised of weedy check (Control), two hoe weeding at 4 and 8 weeks after planting (WAP), Double force ® at 4 L ha -1 plus one hoe weeding at 8 WAP, Gliricidia sepium leaves mulch at 40 kg m -2 plus one hoe weeding at 8 WAP, weed-free check and Atrazine 500 SC at 3 L ha -1 plus one hoe weeding at 8 WAP. The results showed that growth and yield physiognomies differ significantly (P<0.05) among weed control practices across both years. The weed-free check treatment recorded the highest growth and yield physiognomies with respect to reduced weed density and increased weed control efficiency followed by herbicidal treatments, while weedy check had the lowest growth and yield attributes across both years. Nonetheless weed-free check required lot of labour force which was not economical to the farmer's point of judgment. Thus, Double force ® at 4 L ha -1 plus one hoe weeding at 8 WAP proved to be better in controlling weeds, increasing crop yield and economical compared with other weed management practices. Hence Double force ® at 4 L ha -1 plus one hoe weeding at 8 WAP was recommended as a pre-emergence herbicide in maize production for effective and environmentally friendly weed control method.

A diagnostic survey was conducted in the rainy and dry seasons from 2014 to 2015 to determine the incidence and severity of major diseases of cassava in Sierra Leone. At least three chiefdoms and five villages per district were targeted. The survey was carried out in fourteen districts of the country with geo references using a GPS. On the spot assessment was conducted in all fields. Prevalence, severity and incidence were calculated. The most dominant diseases included the cassava mosaic disease and the cassava bacterial blight. The prevalence of cassava mosaic disease was high with 69.1% and 61.5% in the rainy season and dry season, respectively. The prevalence of cassava bacterial blight was 100% and 92% in the rainy season and dry season, respectively. Diseases of less importance included white spot and brown spot diseases as well as cassava anthracnose disease. The study provides bases for the deployment of improved varieties and provides information on the seasonal prevalence, incidence and severity of cassava diseases in Sierra Leone.

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