African Journal of Agronomy

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 7 (10), pp. 001-005, October, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The effects of different planting densities on seed yield and quantitative traits of rainfed chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties

Keyvan Shamsi*, Soheil Kobraee and Behrooz Rasekhi

Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah Branch, Iran.

Accepted 19 April, 2019

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate effect of planting density and variety on the grain yield and yield components of chickpea .The present research was conducted in the Agricultural Research Station, College of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah Branch, Iran .The factorial experiment was based on complete randomized block design with four replication. In this experiment; the variety in three levels (Jam; ILC-482 and 12-60-31) and the planting density in three level 19; 28 and 57 plant.m^-2) were considered. Grain yield; number of pod per plant; number of grain per plant; weight of 100 grain; plant height; distance between 1^st pod to soil were significantly affected by variety and density but number of branch per plant and biological yield were affected by density, and harvest index were affected by variety. Results showed that there was also a significant difference (p = 5%) in terms of the interaction of variety × planting density on the number of pod and grain per plant. The maximum photo growing degree day related to 12-60-31 variety and the maximum grain yield related to density of 28 Plant.m^-2

Key words: Planting density, chickpea, yield, yield components

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 7 (10), pp. 001-005, October, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Agronomic suitability of effective micro-organisms for tomato production

Lindani Ncube, Pearson Nyari S. Mnkeni* and Marc Olivier Brutsch

Department of Agronomy, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa.

Accepted 14 June, 2019

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the 2004-2005 summer season to evaluate the agronomic suitability of effective microorganism (EM) for improvement of crop productivity and quality through enhanced soil microbial activities and pest and disease suppression. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) was used as a test crop. Treatments included: control, effective microorganism, mineral fertilizer, effective microorganism + mineral fertilizer, compost, compost + effective microorganism, compost + mineral fertilizer and compost + mineral fertilizer + effective microorganism. Application of EM significantly increased the number of fruited tomato plants, seven weeks after transplanting. However, application of EM alone or in combination with other amendments had a depressive effect on tomato yield owing to an outbreak of early and late blights which affected the EM treatments first. Combined applications of EM with amendments improved plant N content and increased soil N content above initial levels. Compost application resulted in higher soil N and P concentrations than those of the control due to nutrients released during mineralization of the compost material.

Key words: Compost, effective microorganisms, mineral fertilizer, tomato, yield.

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 7 (9), pp. 001-004, September, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of selection techniques in genotype X environment interaction in cowpea Vigna unguiculata (L.) walp

Aremu, C. O.¹ and O. J. Ariyo² and Adewale, B. D.²

¹Department of Agronomy, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, Nigeria

²Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Technology, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

Accepted 11 April, 2019

Abstract

Ten genotypes of cowpea were grown in four environments comprising the early and late seasons of Ogbomoso and Abeokuta locations in 2005 and 2006. Joint linear regression analysis indicated the presence of Genotype x Environment interaction even though, a proportion was non-linear. The differences in the values of the regression coefficient and the correlation of grain yield revealed that the genotypes responded differently to the environments and that regression coefficient as a technique could not be used to identify genotype performance in specific locations. The use of Deviation mean square and Ecovalence mean square techniques produced similar results on the consistency of genotypes performance hence, Deviation mean square and Ecovalence mean square may not be simultaneously used. However, regression coefficient, Si³, Pi, and Modified rank sum techniques can be jointly used to select genotypes based on their yielding ability and response to environmental changes.

Key words: Genotype X environment interaction, selection techniques, cowpea, Vigna unguiculata.

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 7 (8), pp. 001-011, August, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of maize planting density on the performance of maize/soybean intercropping system in a guinea savannah agroecosystem

C.O. Muoneke^1*, M.A.O. Ogwuche¹ and B.A. Kalu²

¹Department of Agronomy, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.M.B. 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.

²Department of Crop Production, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.

Accepted 11 April, 2019

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted during the 2004 early and late seasons at the Agricultural Vocational Training Centre, Otobi, Otukpo in the southern guinea savanna agro-ecological zone of Nigeria to evaluate the effects of maize planting density (38,000; 44,440 and 53,330 plants/ha) in intercrop with soybean varieties (TGX 1448-2E and Samsoy-2) on the growth, yield and productivity of the maize/soybean intercropping system. The soybean varieties were maintained at the optimum planting density of 266,660/ha in both sole and intercrops while sole maize (TZR-EW) plots were at the recommended planting density of 53,330 plants/ha. Samsoy -2 soybean plants were taller at the various ages of growth, had more leaves and attained 50% flowering earlier, produced more and heavier nodules than TGX 1448-2E but TGX 1448-2E produced significantly (P < 0.01) more pods and higher seed yield in both seasons. Intercropping reduced the number of soybean pods per plant by 46% in the early season and seed yield by 42 and 46% in the early and late seasons, respectively. Increasing maize planting density reduced soybean seed yield by 21 and 23% at maize planting density of 44,440 and 53,330 plants/ha, respectively, compared with intercropping at 38,000 maize plants/ha. Maize plant height and leaf production were not influenced by intercropping nor by maize planting density but in the late season, maize grain yield was highest with 53,330 maize density/TGX 1448-2E but lowest with 38,000 maize density/Samsoy-2 cropping. The productivity of the intercropping system indicated yield advantage of 2-63% as depicted by the LER 0f 1.02-1.63 showing efficient utilization of land resource by growing the crops together and this increased with maize planting density. The total monetary return was higher for the intercrops than the sole crops with the values highest with 53,330 maize density/TGX 1448-2E in both early (N293,171.80) and late (283,069.70) seasons. The implication of this is that farmers in the study area would earn more income growing the crops together.

Key words: Maize planting density, soybean, intercropping, land equivalent ratio, monetary return.

African Journal of Agronomy ISSN 2375-1177 Vol. 7 (8), pp. 001-005, August, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Enhanced UV-B radiation alters basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) growth and stimulates the synthesis of volatile oils

Xianmin Chang¹*, Peter G. Alderson² and Charles J. Wright²

¹Agronomy Institute, Orkney College UHI, East Road, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1LX, UK.

²Division of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, School of Biosciences, The University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK.

Accepted 19 March, 2019

Abstract

Exposure of basil plants (Ocimum basilicum) in a controlled environmental room temperature to supplementary UV- B light for 3 h per day in the early morning over a period of two weeks resulted in shorter plants with higher dry matter, thicker leaves and more axillary shoots. Supplementary UV-B did not affect plant leaf area or number of leaf- pairs; however, specific leaf area was significantly increased due to increase in leaf thickness. Analysis of volatile oils by TD-GC/MS in fresh leaf samples harvested after one and two weeks of treatment showed that UV-B also stimulated the synthesis of the phenyl-propanoid, eugenol and the terpenoids 1, 8-cineole and linalool. There was no effect on volatile oil composition.

Key words: Ocimum basilicum, basil, growth, essential oil composition, 1, 8-cineole, linalool, eugenol, UV-B.