African Journal of Agronomy

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 8 (6), pp. 001-009, June, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Constraints to the delivery of clean seed yams in the lowland sub-humid tropics of Nigeria: The supply chain approach

Simon Ibana¹, Ben Odoemena²*, J. O. Akintola³, Damian Ihedioha⁴ and Okoli Paul⁵

¹Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Calabar, Nigeria.

²Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation: Projects Coordination Unit Enugu Regional Office, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Enugu, Nigeria.

³Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

⁴Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria.

⁵Anambra State University, Ihiala, Nigeria.

Accepted 18 February, 2020

Abstract

An investigation into the seed yam supply chain was carried out to identify the components of commercial seed yam supply systems, which affect the supply of clean seed yams by smallholder farmers in Nigeria. Up to 108 respondents were used to generate data for the analysis. Data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to capture the mean ratings across the supply chain, while the Z – statistic was used to test for factors that influence seed yam traders’ marketing strategies and extent of performance of marketing functions in the delivery of clean seed yams to farmers. The results of the analysis identified seed yam producers, collector agents (sometimes called yam traders or yam dealers), wholesalers and retailers as the main actors in seed yam supply within and outside the lowland belt of River Niger in Nigeria. The collector agents act as cartel and occupy a central position in the entire supply chain process. They act as intermediaries between farmers and wholesalers especially where farmer groups do not exist and provide a major distribution network or market linkage for the marketing of the seed yams. The study identified pests attack and disease infestation (24.0%), physical injury on the seed yams (65.1%), poor knowledge of seed multiplication techniques (39.4%) short shelf life of the tubers (33.2%), activities of cartels, deplorable road and poor proximity to market (45.5%) as the factors that affect consumer preference and efficient delivery network in the seed yam supply chain. The research also identified poor business practices including sharp practices, lack of trust and confidence amongst major actors (wholesalers and retailers), insufficient working capital (76.3%), amongst others as the factors militating against efficient seed yam supply chain.

Key words: Supply chain, seed yam dealers, small holder farmers, profitability, marketing strategies, marketing functions.

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 8 (6), pp. 001-011, June, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Spatial rooting patterns of gliricidia, pigeon pea and maize intercrops and effect on profile soil N and P distribution in southern Malawi

Wilkson Makumba¹*, Festus K. Akinnifesi² and Bert H. Janssen³

¹Department of Agricultural Research Services, Chitedze Agricultural Research Station, P. O. Box 158, Lilongwe, Malawi.

²World Agroforestry Centre, Chitedze Agricultural Research Station, P. O. Box 30798, Lilongwe. Malawi.

³Wageningen University and Research Centre, Department of Environmental Sciences, P. O. Box 8005, 6700 EC Wageningen, The Netherlands.

Accepted 07 March, 2020

Abstract 

The concept of competition or complementarity between tree and crop roots for below ground resources have been a major debate in simultaneous systems. Root studies were conducted in three cropping systems, namely: sole maize, pigeon pea/maize intercropping and Gliricidia sepium (Gliricidia)/maize intercropping, with the objective of understanding the potential for competition or otherwise. Pigeon pea and maize root development was monitored at 21, 42 and 63 days after planting (DAP) . Also soil mineral N and Olsen P were assessed along the soil profile up to 200 cm depth. Maize roots developed faster than those of pigeon pea during the first 42 days after planting and there was little overlapping of maize and pigeon pea roots. However, the roots of both pigeon pea and maize had its peaks at 63 DAP, suggesting potential competition during reproductive growth stage of maize. In Gliricidia/maize intercropping, maize had the highest root density averaging 1.02 cm cm^-3 in the top 0 -4 0 cm soil layer, whereas gliricidia had lower root length density (0.38 cm cm^-3) in the top 0 - 40 cm soil layer compared to 0.65 cm cm^-3 in the subsoil (40 - 100 cm) . In Gliricidia/maize intercropping, mineral N was increased by 34 - 44 kg ha^-1 in the 0 - 100 cm soil layer, whereas Olsen P decreased by 32 kg ha^-1 in the entire 0-200 cm soil profile compared to the sole maize plot. Pigeon pea may be the “loser” in an association that involved both maize and Gliricidia. Because maize had more roots growing within 0 - 40 cm soil layer than Gliricidia it is able to take advantage of the nutrients from the applied Gliricidia prunings in the ridges. The study confirmed root compatibility between Gliricidia and maize and nutrient pumping from deep soil layers.

Key words: Fertilizer trees, roots, nutrient distribution, Makoka.

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 8 (5), pp. 001-006, May, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effects of low input tillage and amaranth intercropping system on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays)

Awe, G. O.¹* and Abegunrin, T. P.²

¹Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Ado Ekiti, Nigeria.

²Agricultural Engineering Department, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Accepted 13 March, 2020

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted to find out the effects of tillage practices and intercropping on the growth and yield of maize at the teaching and research farm, university of Ado Ekiti, southwest Nigeria during the 2006 early and late growing seasons. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 3 replication with tillage practices (CT, MT, NT) assigned to main plots and cropping systems to subplots. At 8 WAP, the tallest plants of 134 cm were got with CT and sole cropping while the shortest plant, about 84 cm, was obtained from NT and intercropping. Application of CT and solecropping also had the widest leaf of 451cm ² per plant while a leaf about 231 cm ² was obtained from NT and intercropping. The same trend was obtained for the number of leaves per plant with CT and solecropping having the highest 11 leaves per plant. Land equivalent ratio was greater than unity in all treatments during both seasons. Aggressivity was negative for CT and MT and positive for NT while relative crowding coefficient was positive for all treatments. Maize grain yield was significantly highest, about 3 tonsha^-1, under CT and solecropping while the least yield, 2.12 tonsha^-1, was obtained from NT and intercropping. The results indicated that maize growth, intercropping efficiency and yield were well supported with CT.