The Potential of Leaf Vegetables in Nigeria

Abstract

Although Nigeria has no organized system of horticulture comparable to that of the developed world, a range of vegetables are grown casually as backyard crops. Many of these are both palatable and of good nutritional value, and have considerable potential as a supplement to a diet consisting mainly of starchy carbohydrates. To realise this potential, however, improved cultivars are necessary, as well as better crop management and the introduction of methods of preserving wet-season surpluses for use in the dry months.

Vegetable Production in Traditional Farming Systems in Nigeria

“…The local cultivars grown by the peasant farmers have now been replaced by improved varieties such as 'NHAc3', 'NHAc12', 'NHAc13', 'NHA, 39' and several others released to the farmers by NIHORT (Lucas, 1988). Celosia argentea is mainly cultivated in the south-western lowland rainforest areas of the country.…”

“…In northern states, where mixed farming is widely practised, animal dung is used as a cheaper alternative to chemical fertilizers. Because FYM is easy to obtain on the farm, and since it sustains increased production of vegetables for a number of years, it is still being recommended for farmers in this country (Lucas, 1988).…”

“…This is in agreement with response patterns reported by other workers on various food crops in the country (Anon, 1965).Thisis no doubt due to the higher organic matter and total nitrogen contents in the forest soils and lower reserves of potassium and higher phosphorus sorption capacity or phosphorus fixation in the forest than in the savanna soils (Amon and Adetunji, 1970;Sobulo, 1973).The general fertilizer recommendation for most of the vegetables grown in the country is SO-I 00 kg N /ha, 20-60 kg P:O,/ha and 40-60 kg K:O/ha applied two weeks after planting. For FYM, 20-40 t/ha has been recommended as a basal dressing applied 2-3 weeks before planting (Lucas, 1988). Although increases in the yield and mineral composition of some local vegetables through the use of chemical fertilizers have been recorded, the prohibitive costs of the fertilizers and lack of technology are still the major factors that preclude their use in many parts of the country.…”

Investigation of the Anti-Pyretic Effect of the Aqueous and Ethanolic Leave Extracts of Gnetum Africanum on Brewers Yeast Induced Pyrexia on Wistar Rats

“…Gnetum Africanum plant commonly called 'Ukazi' by the Igbos of the south-eastern Nigeria and 'afang' by the Ibibios/Efiks in the south-south region of Nigeria and several other trade names in the differently countries where it is found [10] is a dioeciously wild liana which grows predominantly in humid forest zones in Nigeria, Cameroun, Central African republic and other subtropical Asia. Gnetum Africanum belongs to the family gnetacea and order of Gnetales [13] . Its leaves are used in the preparation of soups in the southern Part of Nigeria and several other countries where the plant is found [6] .…”

KINETICS OF HEAT/ENZYMIC DEGRADATION OF ASCORBIC ACID IN FLUTED PUMPKIN (Telfairia occidentalis) LEAVES

“…Fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) is among the most popular leafy vegetables eaten in Ni,geria (Lucas 1988). The concentration of ascorbic acid in the raw vegetable is in the range of 160-180mg/lOOg (Ifon and Bassir 1979).…”