FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE

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ABN 200: Introduction to agricultural biochemistry
(Center for External Studies, University of Ibadan, 2002) Babayemi, O. J.; Abu, O. A.; Sokunbi, O. A.
Abundance and distribution of Roan Antelope (Hippotragus equinus) in the Old Oyo National Park, Nigeria
(Nigeria Tropical Biology Association, 2013) Coker, O. M.; Adetoro, A. O.
Knowledge of population size and structure is essential for the development of effective management strategies for animal populations. The abundance and distribution of Roan Antelope (Hippotragus equinus) in Old Oyo National Park during the dry season (between December, 2008 and February, 2009) were investigated. Stratified sampling was used to assign nine transects each 3km long in four major vegetation communities within the Park. The communities were Riparian grassland, Mixed open savannah woodland, Dense wooded and Outcrop. The transects were traversed twice a week between December and February and estimates were based on direct ensuring techniques. The study estimated 88 Roan Antelopes for the Park and. though small, has a viable structure for expansion. Riparian grassland had the highest proportion (44.32%) of the species while, the Outcrop vegetation type had the lowest (6.82%). The population density was 0.035 km2 while the biomass was 9.196 kg km-2. Horizontal distribution of the animal within the Park showed that the Roan Antelopes can be found between 8019'27.8"Nto 8025'16.2"Nand3047'0.3"E to 3049'17.9"E. The vertical distribution revealed that they occur between Altitudes 2 74m and 307m above sea level. Strict adherence to the fire regime of the Park, provision of water holes to increase home range, periodic monitoring of the population of the animal, and intensified efforts to guard against poachers have been suggested for the effective management of this species in the Old Oyo National Park.
Acceptability of egg powder among nursing mothers in rural areas of Ijebu North local government area of Ogun State, Nigeria
(2018) Tijani, S. A.
Eggs are among the most nutritious foods, cheapest source of protein, vitamins and minerals. However, fresh egg is fragile and its quality deteriorates easily. Egg powder adds consistent performance to the list of attributes of the commodity hence the need to evaluate the acceptability of egg powder among nursing mothers as a source of protein. The study was carried out in rural areas of Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State. Random sampling technique was used to select 120 respondents across five maternity health centres. Interview schedule was used to collect data. Data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics at α0.05. Findings revealed that 62.5% of the respondents had low level of awareness about egg powder, more than half (55.8%) had unfavourable disposition towards egg powder, resulting in 60.0% of them having low acceptability for its use. Non-availability of egg powder (50.8%) and lack of information on egg powder (50.0%) were major constraints to egg powder consumption in the study area. Significant relationship existed between respondents’ income (χ2 = 0.184), level of education (χ2 = 0.233), awareness (r = 0.229), perception of egg powder (r = 0.246) and the level of acceptability of egg powder. There was a low level of egg powder acceptability in the study area. Hence, there is a need to create awareness on the nutritive value of egg powder in the study area.
Acceptability of processed tiger nut (cyperpus esculentus) milk by visitors in Agodi gardens of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
(2021-12) Apata, O. C.; Rabiu, Z. O.; Alab,i R. A.; Muh’d Bashir-Adeshina, S. B.
The acceptability of processed tiger nut (Cyperpus esculentus) milk by visitors to Agodi Gardens, Ibadan was assessed. Tiger nut was mechanically processed into milk, packaged in plastic sample bottles and presented to 70 selected visitors in the garden. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, multiple regression and Spearman correlation at a0.05. The results revealed that most respondents were female (54.3%), single (65.7%), and possessed tertiary education (86.6%). Majority (72.1%) were aware of tiger nut milk, out of which 55.7% have taken it before. The colour of the product was ranked highest (1.60±0.75). This was followed by the ranking of the packaging material (1.77±0.95) and taste (2.14±2.08). The least ranked characteristics were flavour (2.34±1.13) and aroma (2.36±0.95). The overall acceptability (1,86±0.80) of the product was high. Taste, flavour and aroma significantly (p<0.005) influenced overall acceptability. The taste, aroma and flavour of the beverage should be enhanced using fruits like Pineapple, Strawberry, Apple and Orange. Sweetener like Honey or Coconut milk can also be used to enhance the taste and flavour; in order to make it more appealing to the consumers.
Acceptability of selected indigenous snacks by tourists in tourist centres in South Western, Nigeria
(Home Economics Professional Association of Nigeria (HEPAN), 2018-03) Apata, O. C.; Abimbola, A. F.; Oyewole, M. F.
Indigenous snacks are powerful tool in promising great memories for tourists. Tourists hardly patronise them due to packaging. Attractive packaging could boost patronage of IS by tourists. Acceptability of indigenous snacks by tourists in Southwestern . Nigeria was conducted. The study was carried in southwestern states Nigeria, with peculiarity of selected IS. (Kokoro, Dodo Ikire, Akara Ogbomoso and Aadun) to the source of origin. Two tourists' centers frequently visited were purposively selected in each sampled state. Twenty tourists in each of the tourist centers were randomly selected given a sample size of 180 respondents. Tourists' age were 24.3±5.01 years. About half tourists were male (51.3%) and female (54.4%), had tertiary education (71.9%) and were single (51.3%) Most of the tourists (74.9%) earned less than?100,000.00±1,232.13per month. Majority (93.1%) of tourists had high knowledge of1$ and more than half (63.1%) had favourable attitudes to IS. Among tourists, Aadun had highest flavour (61.3%), taste (45.6%) and overall acceptability (68.8%>), while Akara Ogbomoso had the least flavour (41.3%), taste(22.5%>) and overall acceptability (49.4%). Tourists' attitude to IS was significantly higher in Oyo (107.18A9.0l), than Ogun (104.33±15.15), Osun (106.10±l5.20) and Ekiti (96.25±4.20). In order of magnitude of level of acceptability of IS, Ekiti (106.50±5.57) was highest compared to Osun (102.50±12.30), Oyo (92.85±15.67) and Ogun (85.80±l5.37). Age and educational level significantly influenced acceptability of IS by tourists, Knowledge (a = 0,184) attitude (a=0.06) and perception (a = -0.304) contributed significantly to acceptability of IS by tourists. Tourists’ acceptability level of repackaged indigenous snacks was high in Southwestern Nigeria. Determinants of tourists' acceptability of repackaged indigenous snacks were knowledge, attitude and perception.
Access to credit and value additions to some non-timber forest products in Egbeda Local Government Area, Nigeria
(2012) Azeez, I. O; Falade, K.O
The capacity to promote sustainable use of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) and facilitate increased financial benefits to local users as incentives for forest conservation is low due to neglect by governments particularly in Nigeria. Such capacity is however imperative to stemming rural poverty and can be enhanced by incorporating NTFP collection and commercialization research into forest management development programs. But sustainable production and conservation of forest products is influenced by a number of factors, largely socioeconomic and institutional in nature. Men and women also play different roles in the collection and utilization of NTFPs. This paper reports collection and sales of NTFPs against some socioeconomic background of identified collectors in Egbeda Local Government Area (LGA), Oyo state, Nigeria. Purposive simple random sampling was used to select respondents from the study population using the medium of the Egbeda Farmers Association of Nigeria (EFAN). Egbeda LGA has 10 cell groups of EFAN and twelve (12) farmers were selected from each of the cell group. A total of 120 sets of structured questionnaire were used to document demographic information, involvement in NTFPs business and access to credit facilities among respondents. Oral interview were also conducted to know if they engage in the NTFPs business as a primary occupation or secondary occupation, the type of NTFPs specialized in, their sources, number of gathering trips per week, and the amount made from the sales of the NTFPs. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. More than half (53.3%) of the respondents involved in the NTFPs business in the study area was of the male gender and 62.5% had secondary education. Majority of the respondent (88.2%) engaged in NTFPs gathering as a secondary occupation. Their access to credit facilities was low. The amount made from sales without credit facilities is reasonable. Inadequate funding, lack of credit facilities, inadequate information about how to market their products and its neglect by government were identified as a major constraints to sustainable collection and use of NTFPs. NTFPs would contribute more to livelihood in the study area, provided access to credit can be facilitated.
Access to production information among citrus farmers in Atisbo Local Government Area of Oyo State
(Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria, 2007) Eniola, P. O.; Fawole, O. P.
The study was conducted to determine the level of awareness, access and utilization of sixteen, Citrus production by citrus farmers in ATISBO Local Government Area of Oyo State. Structured interview schedule were administered on sixty citrus farmers who were purposively selected from six communities. Descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, percentage and rating were used to analyse the data. Ninety eight point three (98.3%) of the respondents were male and 85 percent (85%) were married. The main source of information was village extension agents and contact farmers as indicated by 46.7 percent and 41.7 percent of respondents. Sixty eight percent of the farmers experience low yield of citrus. Level of information awareness, access and utilization of citrus farm practices was low. That is 63.3, 58.86 and 50 percent of the respondents had low scores respectively. The extension agents have been encouraged to release to farmers necessary information that could lead to high citrus production in the area.
Acute toxicity of ethanol extracts of cocoa bean shell on sarotherodon galilaeus juveniles
(Medwell Journals, 2008) Olaifa, F. E.; Hamzat, R. A.; Oyetoyan, O. O
An acute toxicity test of ethanol extract of cocoa bean shell (CBS), a by-product of cocoa processing was conducted on 250 Sarotherodon gallilaeus juveniles for 96 h. There were 5 treatments and one control with each having 3 replicates. The treatments were prepared as 10,000, 7500, 4167, 2315, 1286 and 0 mg L-1 (control). The aim of the experiment was to study the toxic effects of Ethanol extract of CBS. While, the control experiment produced no mortalities and adverse histopathological responses, there were reactions to the presence of CBS extract in all the treatments which included restlessness and mortality. The lethal concentrations at which fifty percent of the test population died (LC 50) obtained using the logarithm method were 7943, 5012 and 6310 mg L-1 for replicates 1, 2 and 3, respectively while the probit method gave 5878, 4865, 6103 mg L-1 for replicates 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Histopathological examination of control fish showed no lesions on all tissues examined. However, marked changes were observed in the liver in form of degenerative hepatocytes, multifocal aggregation of haemosiderin laden macrophages; in the gills as shortening of gill filaments and in the brain as spongiosis of white cerebral matter of fish subjected to various concentrations of CBS extract. It was concluded that ethanol CBS extract possessed piscicidal properties on S. gallilaeus which could be useful in culling stunted and unwanted fish populations from ponds before stocking
Agricultural labour productivity growth and food insecurity transitions among maize farming households in rural Nigeria
(University of Belgrade Faculty of Agriculture, Serbia., 2022) Adepoju, A. O.; Obialo, C. A.
Agriculture in rural Nigeria is labour-intensive. Thus, the much-desired transition from food insecurity to food security by households requires growth in labour productivity. Labour productivity growth and its effect among other factors on food security transitions of maize farming households in rural Nigeria were assessed. Food insecurity indices were constructed using the second and third waves of data from the General Household Survey- Panel (2012 and 2015), and a probabilistic model was specified. The analytical tools used were descriptive statistics, Partial factor (labour) productivity, Foster- Greer-Thorbecke Model, Markov chain model, Tobit, and Multinomial Logit Regression Models. Labour productivity increased between the two periods although labour productivity growth was very low. Labour productivity growth negatively and significantly affected the transition into food security and being chronically food insecure. Thus, a boost for labour productivity growth should be targeted as a safety net, especially for the food insecure and households vulnerable to food insecurity.
Agricultural productivity under taungya and non-taungya land-use options: a case study of Vandeikya Local Government area, Benue State, Nigeria
(International Formulae Group, 2011) Adegeye, A. O.; Jimoh, S. O.; Agera, S. I.
Taungya farming is a special arrangement between the forestry department and farmers, which combines the production of both arable and forest tree crops simultaneously on a piece of land. The practice was adopted in Vandeikya Local Government area of Benue State Nigeria, in mid 1950s up to 2000. This study evaluated the method as an option for food and fiber production compared to the traditional farming and forest management practices. Using Stratified random sampling, two sets of questionnaire were used to appraise the productivity of some arable crops and forest regeneration under taungya and non-taungya cultural practices. The yields of arable crops were significantly higher under taungya farming that in non-taungya plots in the study area. There was however no significant difference in the total forest area regenerated under the two landuse systems. The apparent land hunger among farmers is a favourable factor for adoption of taungya as a land use option in the study area. There is need to adopt multi-species planting approach in future programmes. Also, the land tenure system which limits access to land by strangers needs to be reviewed and greaterawareness on the programme needs to be generated among the farmers and forestry staff alike.
Agro-Industrial by-products and farm wastes for poultry production in Nigeria: challenges and opportunities
(Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Univcrsity of Ibadan, 2011-06) Abu, O. A.; Iyayi, E. A.; Tewe, O. O.
The poultry industry in Nigeria requires up Io ninety per cent of the total commercially produced feeds in Nigeria. Conventionally, maize is the major source of energy in poultry feeds in Nigeria, while soybean, groundnut cake and fish meal are sources of protein. Poultry farmers often use alternative feed ingredients whenever the prices of the conventional feed ingredients increase beyond realization of profit. Agro-industrial by-products (AlBs) are mostly cereal and oil seed processing by-products but when poorly stored agro-industrial by-products often go mouldy necessitating the use of toxin binders. The substituability of cassava for maize is almost unity but for the additional processing effort that is required for cassava. Hatchety wastes (eggshell, culled eggs, poorly formed chicks) and slaughter houses (blood, bones, rumen scrapping, and feathers) are of animal origin potentially available for inclusion in feed. The use of animal by-products for componding feeds is however becoming less acceptable. Crop wastes that have potential for use in poultry feeding are cassava leaves and also leaves from other crops. The leaves can be good sources of leaf protein when harnessed. Exogenous enzymes results in cost reduction and improved animal performance. Whereas several of these by-products are available for inclusion in poultry feeds either as energy or protein alternatives, wide Variation in their nutritional compositions and lower quality compared to the conventional feedstuffs create a Situation of challenge in their use. Nevertheless, their potential can be harnessed by guided inclusion levels, further processing, supplementation with exogenous enzymes or a combination of all three factors. In conclusion, to complementing the use of alternatives feed ingredients, the poultry farmer should also be encouraged to increase the efficiency of production by considering proper manipulation of feed, application of appropriate housing System, the use of feed additives among others.
Agro-physiologic effects of compost and biochar produced at different temperatures on growth, photosynthetic pigment and micronutrients uptake of maize crop
(Academic Journals., 2016) Adejumo, S. A.; Owolabi, M. O.; Odesola, I. F.
The production and use of biochart and compost present many opportunities for soil improvement and agricultural productivity. However, the yield and performance of biochar depend on the feedstocks, pyrolysing temperatures and rate of application. Experiments were conducted to find out the effect of compost and biochar produced from two different feed stocks (Rice husk and Mexican sunflower) and pyrolysed at different temperatures (300, 350 and 400°C) on the growth, yield, nutrient uptake and chlorophyll contents of maize (Zea mays L.,). These were applied at three levels (5, 10 and 15 ton/ha) and the pots were laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four replicates. Data were collected on growth and yield attributes of maize, photosynthetic pigments and nutrient uptake by maize crop.The results showed that the feedstock pyrolyzed at temperature between 300 to 350°C and compost applied at higher rate between 10 to 15 ton/ha performed better. On the growth and yield parameters, compost and biochar at relatively low temperature and applied at 15 t/ha performed better than other treatments including control both at the main and residual experiments On the residual effect, the two types of biochar performed better than compost most especially sunflower biochar pyrolysed at 300 and 350°C and applied at 15 t/ha. The chlorophyll formation was enhanced more in maize treated with higher rates of biochar than lower rates. The result indicates that depending on feedstock, biochar and compost have potentials to serve as nutrient sources.
AGROFORESTRY PRACTICES AND THEIR POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOIL FERTILITY AND FOOD PRODUCTION IN KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA
(2011-10) AMONUM, JOSEPH IGBA
Unsustainable forest land use practices have resulted in land degradation in the northern part of Nigeria leading to low crop yield. Agroforestry is a viable option for reversing dwindling crop yields through proper soil management practices. There is notably no sufficient published information on the contributions of agroforestry to food production in Katsina State. The practices of agroforestry and its potential to slow down the pace of soil degradation and boost food production in Katsina State was therefore investigated. Multistage stratified sampling was used to select respondents for the study. Three Local Government Areas (LGAs) were randomly selected from each of the agro-ecological zones (Sahel, Sudan and Guinea) of Katsina State. Within each of the selected LGAs, one community was randomly selected and forty respondents were randomly sampled from each community. Using structured questionnaire, information was sought on the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of respondents, Agroforestry Practices (AP), attitude to AP, information sources on AP and AP perceived benefits. Chemical characteristics of soil samples from agroforestry and non-agroforestry plots of respondents in the three zones were also determined using standard methods. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square and ANOVA at p = 0.05. Most of the respondents (96.3%) were married, 82.5% were male and 50.0% were between 30 and 49 years of age. Their primary occupation was mostly farming (66.1%) while modal annual farm size was 1 – 2 hectares. Means of land acquisition was more by inheritance (50.8%) and 33.1% of the respondents made an annual income of between N30,000.00 – 40,000.00. The major farm enterprises were food crop production (74.1%), livestock (5.2%), tree crops (0.6%) and various combinations of these (19.0%). Multipurpose trees on farmland (79.2±11.1%), windbreaks (50.0±13.3%), woodlots (49.7±3.9%), improved fallow in shifting cultivation (32.2±26.3%) and home gardens (24.7±6.9%) were the common AP by the respondents. Benefits of AP to the respondents included preservation of the environment (98.5%), provision of fruits and leaves (98.3%), improvement of soil fertility (97.5%), erosion control (97.5%), improvement of farmers income (95.8%) and provision of fodder (92.7%). Also, 93.9% of the respondents reported increased yield of arable crops from a mixed tree and arable crop farm. Majority of the respondents (70.3%) identified scanty rainfall, land shortage and inadequate labour as problems while 12.8%, 4.7% and 4.4% respectively identified each of the problems as limiting AP. Although significant variation was observed in AP in the zones, sources of information significantly impacted adoption of AP in Sahel and Sudan but not in Guinea savanna zone. Significant variation was observed in soil pH, total nitrogen, Mg2+, K+ and Na+ between agro-forestry and non agro-forestry plots with soil nutrient and organic matter content skewing in favour of agroforestry plots. UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY iii Agroforestry practices enrich the soil with important nutrients and prevent soil erosion. The adoption of multipurpose trees on farmland in Katsina state will help in preventing environmental degradation, desertification and enhance food crop production. Keywords: Agroforestry practices, Agro-ecological zones, Farm enterprises, Soil degradation Word Count: 476
Agronomic performance and combining ability estimates of yellow maize inbred lines under adequate and deficit moisture conditions
(Springer, 2022) Amegbor, I. K.; Abe, A.; Adjebeng‑Danquah, J.; Adu, G. B.; Oteng‑Frimpong, R
Breeding for drought tolerance and increased grain yield is vital in mitigating the threat posed by recurrent drought stress on maize production, as well as tackling malnutrition with plant-based food products. The study was conducted to assess the combining ability of yellow maize lines and the performance of their single-cross hybrids under drought and rain-fed conditions. A total of 24 yellow maize inbred lines from CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute Maize Improvement Programme gene pool were selected and inter-mated using North Carolina II mating design to generate 96 single-cross hybrids. The 96 hybrids together with four advanced hybrids used as checks (a total of 100 hybrids) were evaluated under drought and rain-fed conditions for two years using a 10 × 10 lattice design with two replications. The hybrids differed significantly in their grain yield (GY) and agronomic performance under the growing conditions. In the present study, drought stress reduced GY by 50.3%. The general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) for GY and its related traits were significant. Even though additive and non-additive gene actions controlled the inheritance of the traits, additive gene action was found to be more important than non-additive genetic effects. Hybrids 27, 81 and 68 on the other hand 89, 18 and 26 were identified as the outstanding genotypes under drought and rain-fed conditions, respectively. These hybrids should be extensively evaluated under varied conditions and commercialized to enhance food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa.
Agronomic performance of tropical × tropical and tropical × temperate single-cross maize hybrids in Ibadan, Nigeria
(Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, 2018) Abe, A.
The productivity of tropical maize could be improved by the introgression of beneficial alleles from temperate germplasm. Ten tropical × temperate and two temperate × temperate single cross hybrids were developed and evaluated for their performance alongside four tropical × tropical hybrids. The tropical × temperate hybrids were developed by crossing the temperate inbred lines B73 and Mo17 as males to the tropical inbred lines 4001, 4008, 9613, 9432 and KU1409. The experimental design was randomized complete block with three replicates. Data were collected on seedling emergence, flowering traits, grain yield and yield components and subjected to analysis of variance. Significant genotypic differences were observed among the hybrids for all measured traits. The tropical × tropical crosses had significantly higher grain yield, ear width, kernel weight and kernel depth than the crosses involving the tropical × temperate inbred lines. However, the tropical × tropical hybrids had lower emergence percentage, but higher emergence index and emergence rate index than the tropical × temperate hybrids. Grain yield ranged from 3.38 (Mo17 × B73) to 6.02 t/ha (4001 × 4008) and was in the order temperate × temperate < tropical × temperate < tropical × tropical hybrids. On average, tropical × B73 hybrids had higher grain yields than tropical × Mo17 hybrids. Four of the tropical × temperate hybrids (4001 × B73, 4008 × B73, KU1409 × B73 and 9432 × Mo17) had grain yields equal to or above the overall average. These hybrids have considerable potential and could be exploited to improve and broaden the grain yield of tropical maize.
Airport-restaurant service quality in Lagos Nigeria: an application of servqual mode
(2023) Apata, O. C.; Olu-Adeyemi, D. O
Allelopathic effect of pentaclethra macrophylla benth. leaf extracts on germination and seedling growth of maize and okra
(2020) Ogbu, J.U.; Awodoyin, R.O.; Olubode, O.S.
Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth. is an indigenous leguminous tree of southern Nigeria's agroecosystems, whose seeds are used as spices; however, its allelopathy potential is not understood. Therefore, this study was aimed at investigating P. macrophylla allelopathic effects on germination and seedling growth of maize and okra. Materials and Methods: Allelopathic effects of Aqueous Leaf Extracts (ALE) of P. macrophylla at 0 (control), 10, 20, 40 and 80% concentrations on maize (n = 200) and okra (n = 200) seed germination and seedling growth were assessed in laboratory and screen house nursery. Total germination (%) for both crops was determined at one Week After Sowing (WAS); while Number of Leaves (NL), Plant Height(PH) (cm), Root Length (RL) (cm) and Dry Weight (DW) (g) were evaluated at 8 WAS. Experimental design used in the study was completely randomized design. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at a0.05. Results: Above 90.0% germination was recorded for maize in all the ALE concentrations, while for okra ALE-10 gave significantly highest germination (90.0±8.7%) and ALE-80 gave least (42.5±26.3%). Maize and okra seedlings given ALE-40 had highest NL, PH and DW;* while ALE-0 (control) had least values in PH and DW, respectively. Control had highest RL in both crops. The ALE-10 gave least RL in maize and ALE-20 gave least RL in okra. Conclusion: Pentaclethra macrophylla aqueous leaf extract at 10% enhanced germination, while 40% concentration encouraged dry matter accumulation and height in maize and okra seedlings.
Allelopathic effects of aqueous extracts of olax subscorpioidea oliv. on seed germination and growth of okra (abelmoschus esculentus (l.) moench) in Ibadan, Nigeria
(2022) Ayoola, D.O.; Olubode, O.S.
Allelochemicals are being explored as environmentally friendly options in weed management and crop yield improvement as opposed to use of synthetic pesticides which have serious environmental damages. Allelopathic effects of aqueous extracts of different parts of Olax subscorpioidea on Okra seed germination in Petri-dish bioassays and okra performance in pot experiment were conducted in the Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan using a complete randomized design (CRD) and with treatments replicated five times. Ten okra seeds in three replicates were treated in separate petri-dishes with 2 ml water extracts of stem, leaf, fruit, bark and root of Olax subscorpioidea, and 2 ml distilled water (control) in two trials. Pot trials was carried out using okra seedlings with treated with 100 ml extracts at seven days intervals. Data were collected on number of germinated seeds daily and lengths of five randomly selected plumules and radicles at 7 days after sowing (DAS). Number of leaves, plant height, root and shoot dry weight of seedlings were also measured using standard methods. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance. Statistically significant (P<0.05) means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. Leaf extract had the highest concentrations of phenolic, flavonoid and saponin compounds compared, while the stem extract had the least metabolite concentrations. Leaf extracts exerted highest inhibition on okra germination at 2 and 7 DAS in the first trial and at 7 DAS in the second trial compared to the bark, stem, root and fruit extracts of Olax subscorpioidea. The seedling growth and yield parameters in treatment extracts were better than control. In conclusion, Olax subscorpioidea has allelopathic potential with effects on germination and seedling growth of okra. It can be used as an alternative bioherbicide. Its production and agricultural potentials should be promoted.
Allelopathic potential of some biocontrol agents for the control of fungal rot of yellow yam (Dioscorea cayenensis Lam)
(2015) Dania, V. O; Fadina, O.O; Ayodele, M..; Kumar, P. L.
The adverse effects of synthetic pesticides on human health and natural ecosystem necessitate the need to explore natural mechanisms of disease control in plants. This study evaluated the allelopathic potential of five biocontrol agents: Trichoderma longibrachiatum, Trichoderma asperellum, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas fluorescens in the control of six fungal pathogens associated with tuber rot of Dioscorea cayenensis. Rotten tuber samples were randomly collected across three agro-ecological zones (AEZs): humid rainforest (HF), derived savanna (DS), and southern Guinea savanna (SGS) in Nigeria. Biocontrol agents were isolated from the yam rhizosphere using the serial dilution method; the agar paring method was used for the in vivo trials. The destruction sampling method was used to evaluate rot control by the antagonists in vivo. Aspergillus niger had the highest incidence of 64.71% across the HF, 52.08% across the DS, and 41.98% across the SGS. B. subtilis had the highest inhibitory zone of 16.7+0.05% when paired with A. niger, 15.4+ 0.01% with Lasiodiplodia theobromate, 14.0 + 0.33% with Penicillium oxalicum, 7.1 + 0.14% when paired with Rhizoctonia solani: 17.1 + 0.11% with Sclerotium rolfisii, and 10.3 + 0.94% with Fusarium oxysporum. All biocontrol agents significantly (P=0.05) reduced rot development of the test pathogens relative to the control in the in vivo experiment. The establishment of a distant zone of inhibition, especially by the bacterial antagonist attests to the fact that they produced allelochemical substances. Therefore, further research is recommended to evaluate the biochemical composition of these microbial metabolites, their level of toxicity, and fate in the environment
Ameliorative roles of compost on okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) exposed to drought stress at vegetative and reproductive growth stages
(Society of Land Measurements and Cadastre from Transylvania - SMTCT, 2020) Ezeh, O. S.; Adejumo, S. A.
Okra growth and yield are adversely affected by drought at different growth stages. This is aggravated by poor soil fertility. In this study, the roles of compost applied at 0, 5 and 10 t/ha on the tolerance and morphophysiological response of okra (NHAe 47-4) exposed to varying levels of water stress (25%, 50%, 75% and 100% field capacity, FC), at different growth stages (vegetative, reproductive and vegetative-reproductive stages) for ten days duration were assessed. Data were collected on okra growth and yield, leaf relative water content (LRWC), leaf photosynthetic pigments (LPG) and proline accumulation. Results showed that drought stress reduced LRWC, LPG, growth and yield of Okra. This reduction was more evident in okra plants exposed to severe stress for 10 days and at the reproductive stage. Soil amendment with compost however, had cushioning effect on drought stressed okra. Compared to control, it increased the LRWC, LPG, growth and yield of okra. The ameliorative roles of compost were however, dependent on stress intensity, compost dosage, okra growth stage and stress duration. Though, okra plants stressed at 25% FC were more affected by drought stress, but compared to the un-amended soil, those grown on amended soil were more tolerant. Higher compost rate was superior to lower rates. Whereas, higher proline accumulation was recorded in plant exposed to 25% field capacity without amendment, proline accumulation was reduced in the plants grown on compost amended soil and exposed to drought which was an indication of stress reduction. Generally, okra stressed at vegetative growth stage only was able to recover rapidly and had better yield compared to those stressed at reproductive growth stage. It is concluded that addition of compost to soil could reduce the drought stress effect on okra.