Effects of planting dates on the growth and grain yield of two indigenous varieties of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) in a forest-savanna transition zone of Edo State, Nigeria
Effects of planting dates on the growth and grain yield of two indigenous varieties of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) in a forest-savanna transition zone of Edo State, NigeriaAbstract: Effects of planting dates on the growth and grain yield of two indigenous varieties of pearl millet was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.
A field study was carried out during the 2016 cropping season to determine the effect of planting density on the growth and yield performance of two varieties of millet at Ekpoma. Gero badeggi and Gero bida varieties were sown at three densities (111,111, 222,222 and 333,333 plants ha-1). The experiment was a 2 x 3 factorial scheme laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. The result shows that planting density had no significant effect on the growth parameters measured. However, Gero badeggi planted at 111,111 plants ha-1had the tallest plants, highest number of leaves/plant and stem girth while Gero bida planted at 333,333 plants ha-1 gave the shortest plants, least number of leaves/plant and stem girth, respectively. There was no significant difference in flowering trait amongst densities, but the varieties differed markedly in days to 50% flowering. Increasing planting density significantly (P<0.05) increased the forage yield. However, crops sown at higher densities had higher forage yield than the low density. The differences in observed between varieties were significant in some of the studied characters and thus millet sown at 111,111 and 333,333 plants/ha is recommended for millet production in the area.Keywords: Millet, planting density, growth and forage yield.
Studies were conducted to investigate the effect of continuous cropping and NPK fertilizer on the growth and yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) grown on soils from different management systems. The investigations were carried out in two parts. The first dealt with the effect of continuous cropping while the other focused on the effect of NPK fertilizer on cowpea. Representative soil samples were obtained at 0-15 cm depth from land which had been continuously cropped, under forest tree fallow, and secondary bush fallow. These were bulked, processed, and analyzed. Six (6) kg of each type of soil were weighed into 25 x 22 cm polybag of 500 gauge. The continuous cropping experiment involved three cropping cycles of 35days each of cowpea on the same soils from 3 cropping systems. In the second experiment, a 2 x 3 factorial involving 2 levels of fertilizers (0, 40 kg NPK/ha) and 3 sources of soil were carried out to test their effects on cowpea. The growth parameters measured were plant height, number of leaves/plant and number of branches/plant. Number of nodules/plant, number of pods/plant, dry matter and grain yield were also estimated. Successive cropping of soils significantly reduced cowpea growth. Cowpea plants grown on soils from continuously cropped land had the least growth performance. Number of nodules/plant increased with successive cropping. Higher dry matter yield was obtained from the continuously cropped land. A significant (r = +0.55) positive correlation was found between soil P and dry matter yield of cowpea. NPK fertilization had only significant effect on plant height at 10 WAP but not on other growth parameters measured. The highest grain yield was obtained from unfertilized secondary bush fallow soil. Sources of soil (soil management system) had significant effect on some of the agronomic characters of cowpea.
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