Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is an important source of protein in Africa, but production is hindered by the parasitic plant Striga gesnerioides. Crop rotation with nonhost cultivars, selected to stimulate parasite seed germination, is being used successfully to control other Striga spp. and may have potential to control S. gesnerioides. Little information has been available on nonhosts of S. gesnerioides that are capable of stimulating germination of parasite seeds. A laboratory procedure was used to evaluate species and cultivars for their ability to stimulate S. gesnerioides seed germination. Genotypes of all Vigna spp. tested stimulated parasite seed germination. Some genotypes of the nonhost species Cajanus cajan, Lablab purpureus, stenocarpa, and Sorghum bicolor also stimulated parasite seed germination. One cultivar of Sorghum bicolor stimulated significantly more germination than any other cultivar or species. Control of S. gesnerioides through rotation with selected nonhost cultivars has potential if selection is done with the parasite isolate(s) from the locality of intended use. When seeds of single-plant isolates of S. gesnerioides were tested against roots of seedlings from Sorghum bicolor landraces and from a susceptible cowpea cultivar, only specific isolate and plant combinations resulted in parasite seed germination. These specific interactions have broader implications for parasite survival.
This study examined the effects of different levels of NPK fertilizer on the growth of Vitellaria paradoxa. Shoot height, collar diameter and leaf productions were assessed fortnightly up to the sixteenth week after transplanting. The results showed that there were no significant differences (P < 0.05) among the treatments in shoot height, collar diameter and leaf production. It was observed that shoot height of Vitellaria paradoxa exhibited close values ranging from 8.49 to 10.64 cm. The leaf production ranged from 6 to 10 at the end of sixteenth week of study. Different levels of NPK fertilizer applied did not have effect on collar diameter of seedlings of V. paradoxa during the period of study. The study has shown that application of NPK fertilizer did not have significant effects on the growth of seedlings of V. paradoxa. In conclusion, more effort should be employed in determining optimum quantity of mineral fertilizers required to promote the growth of V. paradoxa seedlings in the nurseries.
This paper investigated perception of Nigerian cocoa farmers on Hazardous Child Labour. More importantly, in accordance with International Labour Organisation Child Labour Convention. Accidents, exposure to chemicals, bacteria or viral infection, ergonomically inappropriate tools, child molestation, minimum age requirement, awkward posture, and poor academic performance were identified as farm hazards. Multistage sampling technique was used for the methodology, the selection of study areas, Ondo and Cross-River states was purposive and 240 respondents were randomly selected. Information were solicited by issuance of questionnaires and interview schedule. Data were analysed using percentage, mean, frequency counts, standard deviation, pie chart, bar chart and correlation analysis. The study revealed a mean age of 45.32±8 years and 66.67% of the farmers, who employed children between 5-17 years of which 80% of them were attending secondary schools as labourers. Cocoa farmers (63%) had one form of education which
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