The high premium placed on the organically produced cocoa in the international market coupled with its health and environmental benefits necessitated recent focus on research into the use of agricultural wastes as source of nutrients in cocoa (T. cacao) production. The study was carried out at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan (Lat. 7˚25'N Long. 3˚25'E), Southwestern, Nigeria during the 2010/2011 seedling production season to compare the effects of NPK (20:10:10) fertilizer, Cocoa Pod Husk and Oil Palm Bunch Ash (CPHA and OPA) on the seedling growth and dry matter yield of cocoa (T. cacao). Equivalent amount of different rates of two nutrients sources CPHA and OPA were applied one month after planting at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 t/ha respectively, recommended rate of 10 kg•N of the conventional NPK (20:10:10). Fertilizer was used as reference fertilizer. Results indicated that all the fertilizer materials positively and significantly (p > 0.05) increased the growth parameters considered. The influence of the ash materials irrespective of sources on the nutrient uptake, dry matter yield of cocoa seedlings and shoot to root ratio were either higher than or had a comparable results with the reference fertilizer (NPK 20:10:10). CPHA and OPA applied at a rate of 4 t/ha significantly (p > 0.05) increased the plant height and root length of cocoa seedlings respectively relative to control and inorganic fertilizer
A nursery experiment was carried out in Akure (rain forest zone), south-western Nigeria to study relative effect(s) of some organic wastes as fertilizers on growth performance, soil and leaf chemical composition of cocoa seedlings (Theobroma cacao L.) in the nursery. The experiment comprised of five treatments: Cowpea Pod Husk (CPH) (2.5 t/ha), cocoa pod husk ash (CPHA) (2.5 t/ha), kola pod husk (KPH) (2.5 t/ha), NPK15-15-15 (2.5 t/ha) and control (no fertilizer application). Each treatment was applied to 2.5 kg of soil filled polythene bags containing cocoa seedlings. The experiment was arranged in completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. The organic wastes increased significantly (P>0.05) the plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, number of leaves, fresh root and shoot weights and dry root and shoot weights of cocoa seedlings. The treatments also increased significantly (P>0.05) soil and leaf N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, soil pH and organic matter (OM) content relative to the control. Kola pod husk (KPH) was the most effective in improving cocoa growth, leaf and soil chemical composition.
Aims: To assess the field establishment of two tea cultivars under Cocoa Pod Husk (CPH) and Poultry Manure (PM). Study Design: Randomized complete block design arranged in Split-plots (cultivars as main plots and organic amendments as sub-plots) with four replications. Place and Duration of Study: Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria stations in Ibadan and Owena, Southwest Nigeria between May 2016 and November 2017 (Rainy and dry seasons of 2016; Rainy season of 2017). Methodology: Milled CPH and cured PM were applied each at the rates of 150 and 300 kg Nha-1 to established C143 and C318 tea cultivars on the field; unfertilized tea cultivars served as control. Data on number of leaves, number of branches, leaf area, plant height and stem diameter were collected on monthly basis; while dry matter was assessed at 15 months after transplanting. The data were analyzed with ANOVA and correlation at α.05. Results: The C143 performed better than C318 and 150 kg Nha-1 of CPH and PM enhanced the vegetative growth and dry matter of tea better than 300 kg Nha-1 in Ibadan and Owena. Cultivar 143 was significantly (P=0.05) better than cultivar 318 in number of leaves, number of branches and stem diameter in Ibadan; and in number of leaves and leaf area in Owena. CPH at 150 kg Nha-1 increased number of leaves, number of branches, leaf area, plant height and total dry matter by 135.11, 88.19, 346.12, 65.33 and 428.11% at Ibadan; and by 349.09, 245.41, 376.89, 80.89 and 231.49% at Owena, compared to control. On the interaction, tea cultivar 143 that received 150 kg Nha-1 CPH produced significantly (P=0.05) higher number of leaves, leaf area and total dry matter at Ibadan and Owena. Leaf area was positively correlated with number of leaves (r=0.87) in Ibadan and stem diameter (r=0.80) in Owena. Conclusion: CPH at 150 kg Nha-1 enhanced the growth and dry matter content of C143 tea established on the field in Ibadan and Owena, and is therefore recommended for tea cultivation in Southwest of Nigeria.
Tea beverage is reputed worldwide for its numerous medicinal and nutritional benefits. Hot and humid climate is a major abiotic constraint to the cultivation of tea in Southwest Nigeria. Planting tea with shade trees has been used to ameliorate the adverse effects of hot climate on tea. A field experiment was carried out in Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria stations in Ibadan and Owena, Southwest Nigeria to evaluate the growth and seedling establishment of tea plant under plantain shade. Two tea cultivars (C143 and C318) were planted on the field under three shade regimes (two plantain planting densities [1111 plantain ha-1 and 2222 plantain ha-1] and control [zero shade]). The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design arranged in Split-plots with four replications. Data on Number of Leaves (NL), Number of Branches (NB), Leaf Area (LA), Plant Height (PH), Stem Diameter (SD) and Survival Count (SC) were collected and analysed with ANOVA and descriptive statistics at α0.05. The results showed that cultivar 143 was significantly better than cultivar 318 in NL, NB, LA, SD and SC in Ibadan and Owena. In Ibadan, plantain density of 2222 increased NL, NB, PH, SD and LA by 24%, 58%, 69%, 89% and 180%, respectively in comparison with 1111 plantain ha-1, and by 198%, 228%, 320%, 240% and 2364%, respectively compared to zero shade. In Owena, 2222 plantain ha-1 increased NL, NB, PH, SD and LA by 17%, 7%, 27%, 8% and 55%, respectively in comparison with 1111 plantain ha-1, and by 94%, 60%, 64%, 18% and 106%, respectively compared to zero shade. Highest tea seedling SC of 79.43% and 78.69% in Ibadan and Owena, respectively was caused by 2222 plantain ha-1. In Ibadan, highest NL (20.06), NB (5.81) and SD (0.53) were recorded in C143 under 1111 plantain ha-1; while in Owena, highest NL (82.81), NB (16.56), SD (0.96) and LA (6295.84) were enhanced in C143 under 2222 plantain ha-1. In conclusion, growing tea cultivar 143 under 1111 plantain/ha and 2222 plantain/ha shade densities enhanced its growth and seedling establishment in Ibadan and Owena.
Weed incidence and biomass in tree crop plantations are mainly influenced by environmental, farm management practices and cropping systems. Manipulation of intercropping systems to improve weed management in coffee intercropped with oil palm requires a better understanding of spatial and temporal dynamics of weeds. To evaluate the effect of weed incidence and biomass in coffee intercropped with oil palm in avenue and hollow square arrangement, a study was carried out in Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) in two locations. The locations are Idi-Ayunre (7˚25'N, 3˚24'E) (an alfisol) and Uhonmora (6˚5'N, 5˚50'E) (ultisol) in rainforest and derived savannah parts of Nigeria respectively. The experiment had three treatments comprising coffee sole (control), coffee with oil palm (Hollow square) arrangement and coffee with oil palm (Avenue) planting. Coffee was planted 3.0 m apart while oil palm was planted 9 m apart. Equal size of land area was used for coffee in each treatment. The experimental design was Randomized Complete Block (RCBD) with three replicates. Data on vegetative growth of coffee, weed incidence and biomass were taken at three-monthly intervals. The result showed that coffee/oil palm (Hollow Square) had the least weed incidence and biomass closely followed by coffee/oil palm (Avenue) planting. The control had the highest weed biomass which was significantly different from Hollow square and Avenue planting at P ≤ 0.05. The morphological parameters on coffee followed the same pattern but Hollow square arrangement was significantly higher than Avenue and control at P ≤ 0.05.
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