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Growth and Yield Responses of Selected Open and Hybrid Maize Varieties to Plant Densities in the Rainforest- Savanna-Transition Agroecology of Nigeria

F.B. Anjorin — 2024-08-21

Sub-optimal plant density is a major factor limiting profitable maize (Zea mays. L) production in Nigeria. Over the years, the maize planting density recommendation has remained at 53,333 plants per hectare across maize genotypes and agroecologies of the country. However, increasing plant density has the potential to enhance maize resource utilisation and productivity. Two open-pollinated (DMRLSR-W & SUWAN-1) and two hybrids (OBASUPER-1 & OBASUPER-2) maize were grown on the field under two plant densities; 80,000 and 53,333 plants/ha arranged in split-plots using Randomised Complete Block Design and three replications at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Ibadan in 2017 and 2018 growing seasons. Data were collected on maize growth parameters, yield components and grain yield (GY) and subjected to Analysis of Variance at 95% level. Plant density (80,000) was significantly (P<0.05) higher in GY (3.29 t ha^-1 ) than in 53,333 plants / ha (2.83 t ha^-1 ). The two maize varieties showed no significant differences in grain yield at P<0.05. Maize varieties OBASUPER-1 (189.21 cm) and SUWAN-1 (191.85 cm) showed higher plant heights than OBASUPER-2 (175.04 cm) and DMRLSR-W (176.57 cm). Maize variety OBASUPER-1 (30.38 g) had higher 100-seed weight than OBASUPER-2 (27.58 g), DMRLSR-W (27.08 g) and SUWAN-1(27.42 g). Planting maize at an increased plant density of 80,000 plant stands ha-1 significantly enhanced the yield of maize compared to 53,333 plants ha-1 . This study therefore suggests further exploration of these varieties and others across high plant densities and agroecologies for optimal resource utilization and output benefits.

Welfare Assessment of Arable Crop Farmers in Ibarapa East Local Government Area Oyo State, Nigeria

T.O. Oyekale — 2024-08-21

Enhancement of rural households’ welfare is a concurrent policy objective in Nigeria. This study analyzed the determinants of welfare among arable crop farmers in the study area. The data for the study were collected from 120 randomly selected farming households and analyzed using descriptive statistics and censored Tobit regression model. Description of the welfare indicators revealed that the respondents were in the low to middle-income earning group. Most of the respondents used corrugated iron sheets, cement walls, and concrete floors. The respondents had little concern for the environment as evidenced by their poor waste disposal and drainage practices. Results from the regression analysis revealed that, of all the explanatory variables modeled to influence household expenditure per capita, farm size, household size, and years of schooling were the only significant predictors. Based on the outcome of this study, a key recommendation is that the government and other key stakeholders ought to emphasize the need for obtaining a high level of education since education impacted the farmers’ welfare. This will affect their capacity to adopt new technology and their perception of growing their household size to hire family labor given its significant impact on their expenditure level and, as a result, their general welfare.

Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in Lactating Cows Infected with Bovine Mastitis

O. Aromolaran — 2024-08-21

Milk quality and quantity is greatly affected by the high incidence of bacterial infection, bovine mastitis (BM) in lactating cows. Bacteria were isolated from mastitis infected cow. The efficacy of antibiotics against the bacteria isolates were determined by agar-well diffusion technique. Eight of the isolates were Gram-negative – Escherichia coli (2), Citrobacter freundii (3), Citrobacter diversus (1), Enterobacter aerogenes (1), Klebsiella pneumoniae (1), while ten were Gram-positive – Staphylococcus spp. (8), and Micrococcus spp. (2). Staphylococcus spp. (44.44%) had the highest percentage occurrence. Gentamicin (25±1.41 mm) and ofloxacin (27.5±0.71 mm) showed the highest zone of inhibition (ZI) against the Gram-positive isolates, but the organisms were 100% resistant to ceftazidime, cefuroxime, augmentin and cloxacillin. Ofloxacin (26.5±2.12 mm) and ciprofloxacin (30±0 mm) showed the highest ZI against the Gram-negative isolates and the organisms were 100% resistant to ceftazidime, cefuroxime, cefixime, and augmentin. Staphylococcus spp., C. freundii, E. coli and Micrococcus spp. were the predominant pathogens associated with BM in the study area. Ofloxacin is very effective against BM but all the organisms were resistant to ceftazidime, cefuroxime and augmentin. This study confirms that antibiotic resistant bacteria are present in BM infection and the antibiotics (ceftazidime, cefuroxime, cefixime, cloxacillin, and augmentin) are not effective therapies for treating BM. Therefore, indiscriminate use of these antibiotics should be discouraged in veterinary medicine.

Resource Use Efficiency and Returns to Scale in Maize Production in Ondo State, Nigeria

P.T. Owombo — 2024-08-21

One of the challenges facing smallholder farmers in Nigeria is the inefficiency of resource use. The study was therefore conducted to investigate resource use efficiency and return to scale in maize production in the study area. Data were collected from randomly selected 120 maize farmers using a self-designed structure questionnaire in the study area. Data were analysed with the aid of descriptive statistics and Cobb-Douglas production function. Findings showed resources in the area were inefficiently allocated. Seed, labour and fertilizer were under-utilized while farm size and pesticides were overutilized. The returns to scale analysis showed that maize farmers in the area were in irrational stage one of the production curve. The study concluded that maize farmers in the area can increase production by employing more of productive resources.

Proximate Composition and Consumer Acceptability of Powdered Fermented Locust Bean and Soybean Condiments

D.L. Alabi — 2024-08-21

Most rural households in Nigeria are more familiar with the use of the traditional locust bean condiment in meal preparation than that of the soybean. This study was carried out to improve the shelf life of the condiments, increase the consumption of soybean for enhanced nutrition among the resource poor rural households and determine consumers’ acceptability of the powdered locust bean and soybean condiments. Three samples were developed namely: powdered fermented locust bean, powdered fermented soybean and their composite (50:50 locust and soybean) condiments. Both the proximate composition and sensory assessment of the condiments were determined. The proximate attributes investigated include protein, carbohydrate, fibre, lipid, ash and moisture contents of the samples while the sensory evaluation parameters include condiments’ aroma, appearance, colour, taste and texture as well as the overall acceptability. Results showed that powdered fermented soybean condiment has the highest protein (51.63%), lipid (35.40%) and ash (11.64%) contents. The composite also has higher protein (51.19%) than locust bean (47. 25%). On the other hand, powdered locust bean condiment has the highest carbohydrate (4.44%) contents while the composite condiment has the highest fibre content (10.27%). No significant difference was observed in the overall acceptability of the three samples implying that they are equally acceptable among the consumers. It can be concluded that the production process of powdered soybean and the composite condiment should be taught to women in rural areas to enhance protein intake among the low-income rural households who may not be able to afford other expensive sources of protein.

Preliminary Investigation of Growth and Yield of Four Sesame Varieties (sesamum indicum) using Cured Poultry Manure in Owerri, Nigeria

O.M. Nnebue — 2024-08-21

To ascertain the response of Sesame to poultry manure (PM) in Owerri, rainforest agroecology of Nigeria, this research was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Nigeria between March and July 2020. Poultry manure at 0, 5, 10 and 15 tons/ha were applied on four (NCRIBen04E, NCRIBen05E, NCRIBenE8 and Yandev-55) varieties of sesame. The treatment combinations were replicated three times and laid out as a 4 x 4 factorial in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD. Growth and yield data were collected. It was generally observed that growth parameters were favoured by amendment with PM. Variety when considered singly indicate that NCRIBen04E gave seed yield of 580.1 kg/ha which is significantly higher than 252.6 kg/ha and 365.5 kg/ha recorded for NCRIBenE8 and NCRIBen05E. 10 tons/ha poultry manure had significantly highest seed yield of 740.3 kg/ha and this is higher when compared with 401.50 and 448.10 tons/ha recorded for 5 tons/ha and 15 ton/ha by 45.76% and 39.47% respectively. For the interaction, NCRIBen04E variety amended with 10 tons/ha PM gave highest seed yield of 855.0 kg/ha and is hereby recommended for further trials in Owerri agro-ecology.