Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences

Growth And Yield Of Tomato As Influenced By Water Stress At Different Phenological Stages

Ogidan Omotosho A — 2024-06-06

The study investigates the effect of water stress at different phenological stages on tomato growth and yield. Tomato is a vital vegetable crop in Nigeria, and water scarcity poses challenges to its productivity. The study was carried out in a screen house, water was applied daily with 100% potential evapotranspiration rate except during the ten days water stress applied at every phenological stage. The parameters assessed include number of leaves, plant height (cm), stem diameter (mm), and root and shoot dry weights (g), in addition, the water use efficiency. The results were subjected to Analysis of Variance and the means were compared using Least Significant Difference at 5% level of significance. The results show that there was no significant difference (p≥0.05) in the water use efficiency of the tomato plants subjected to water stress at the phenological stages. Notably, the study highlights that the vegetative stage is particularly sensitive to water stress, leading to reduced shoot dry weight and compromised overall biomass. Similarly, water stress during the flowering stage diminishes root dry weight. However, the fruiting stage exhibits relatively better yields under water stress than other stages. The findings emphasize the importance of effective irrigation management, particularly during the vegetative phase, to promote optimal plant development. Moreover, the research underscores the significance of providing adequate water during reproductive phases to enhance fruit production and overall plant performance.

Characterization Of Soils Derived From Sandstone In Effraya - Etung Local Government Area Of Cross River State, Nigeria

Ene Aki — 2024-03-14

Pedological characterization of soils derived from sandstone in Effraya - Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria was studied with the view to suggesting appropriate management strategies. Three representative profile pits were dug in the summit, middle slope and valley bottom positions and the location of each profile was recorded with the aid of German Etrax 2000 GPS meter. The profile pits were described according to Soil Survey Staff. The soils were well drained in the summit and middle slope to poorly drained at the valley bottom and the soil color varied from very dark grayish brown to dark brown and also from yellowish brown to dark yellowish brown within the different horizons. Mean values of 65%, 23% and 12% were obtained in the surface soils for sand, silt and clay respectively while the textural class ranged from loamy sand to sandy loam in the surface and predominantly sandy clay loam in the subsurface soils. Bulk density and particle density had mean values of 1.2g/cm3 and 2.45g/cm3 with total porosity mean value of 48.5% for surface soils respectively. The strongly acidic soils were low in total nitrogen, organic carbon, available phosphorus, and exchangeable bases. CEC in the soils was moderately high with low ECEC while base saturation was below 50%. These results show that the soils are low in fertility and thus will require management practices such as liming, mulching, return of crop residues, and also planting of acid tolerant crops may be recommended for improved crop production.

Fertility Evaluation Of Soils After Ten Years Of Intensive Rural Vegetable Production In Nsukka, Southeastern Nigeria

Okpara Promise Ogechi — 2024-07-06

A medium-term assessment of soil fertility of continuously cultivated fields for vegetable production is an important factor for long-term soil sustainability. This study investigates the potentials and limitations of ten-year nutrient management on the fertility of soils under semi-commercial cultivation of four different vegetables [fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), red, and green pepper (Capsicum annuum)] in Nsukka, Southeastern Nigeria. Topsoil samples (0-30 cm) were collected in triplicate from the different vegetable fields and characterized. The results showed that the soils were sandy loam, loamy sand and sandy clay loam (SCL) with similar bulk density, total porosity and saturated hydraulic conductivity. However, the soils under red and green peppers had the lowest percentage of the 0.50-1.00 mm water-stable aggregate (WSA), but the highest percentage of aggregate stability (AS) than the other soils. The soils differed significantly in pH, organic matter (OM), available phosphorus (Av.P), exchangeable magnesium (Mg²⁺), sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺), hydrogen (H⁺) and effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC). The moderately acid pH soils under red pepper and tomato cultivation had the highest values for OM, Na⁺, K⁺ and H⁺, as well as ECEC, while the slightly acid pH soil under fluted pumpkin cultivation had the highest Mg²⁺ content. The soils had low N but high Av.P reserves, indicating low P use efficiency. While the favourable pH, organic matter, and Av.P represent the potential of the soils for vegetable cultivation, N and K are the main potentially limiting nutrients in the studied soils. Overall, the soils under red pepper and tomato cultivation had a better fertility status due to their SCL texture and the application of organic and inorganic fertilizers, which contributed to better soil structure and greater nutrient retention compared to the soils under fluted pumpkin and green pepper.

Post-Harvest Activities And Marketing Of Cassava In Obudu Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria

David Adie Alawa — 2024-07-06

The performance of post-harvest activities on agricultural produce by farmers could reduce their forceful disposal of produce to consumers at cheap prices at the farm gate level as a result of absence of organized markets for the sale of agricultural produce at the moment. This study determined the relationship between post-harvest activities and marketing of cassava in Obudu local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria. In specific terms, the study determined the socioeconomic characteristics of respondents and relationship between transportation, processing, storage and marketing of cassava in the study area. Four research questions were answered and the correlational research design was used. The sample size for the study was126 comprising 112 registered cassava farmers and 14 processors. Quantitative and qualitative approaches were used to collect the data. A 25-item structured questionnaire was used in collecting the quantitative data, while focused group discussions (FGD) was used for generating qualitative data. Face validity of the instrument was done by three experts and Cronbach Alpha reliability index of 0.76 was obtained. Data collected was analyzed using percentages to answer research question one and Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis to answer research questions 2-4. The study found out that a moderate relationship exists between transportation, processing and marketing of cassava while a weak relationship existed between storage and marketing of cassava. It was concluded that a positive relationship exists between post-harvest activities and marketing of agricultural produce and recommended among others things thathe extension outreach programme of the Ministry of Agriculture should encouraged farmers and other stakeholders in the agricultural production value chain to adopt appropriate post-harvest activities in the handling of agricultural produce generally and cassava in particular

Aggregate Stability And The Influence Of Sodium Chloride On Dispersion Of Sandy Clay Loam Soils In Southeastern Nigeria

Chinyere Blessing Okebalama — 2024-07-06

Soil dispersion is an important process that should be considered in irrigation and ferti-irrigation of agricultural soils. Triplicate topsoil samples from five different locations in southeastern Nigeria were characterized and examined for aggregate stability and clay dispersion potential by leaching with different NaCl concentrations. The results showed that the soils were mainly sandy clay loam (SCL), slightly acid to neutral pH and low in soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen, and exchangeable cations. The soils had lower proportions of > 1.00 mm water-stable aggregates (WSA) compared to the higher proportions of < 1.00 mm WSA. Percent aggregate stability (AS) of the soils averaged 36.25 % and was significantly positively correlated with SOC (r = 0.55*) and Na⁺ content (r = 0.58*). Furthermore, Na⁺ correlated positively with the 1.00-2.00 mm WSA (r = 0.67*), but negatively with the < 0.25 mm WSA fraction (r = -0.68**), while the opposite was true for the correlation of clay and these WSA fractions (r = -0.57*; 0.60*, respectively), indicating the minor role of clay in aggregate formation. The soils were less dispersible in water than in NaCl solutions, resulting in a higher clay content, which increased with increasing NaCl concentration. However, the clay dispersion ratio of the soils was moderately low and showed a decreasing trend with increasing NaCl concentration, and indicating the NaCl dispersion potential at the lowest 25 S m^-1. Thus, the clay dispersion potential of Na⁺ at ≤ 50 S m^-1relates to the reduced stability of < 0.25 mm microaggregates, while the clay flocculation potential of Na⁺at ≥ 75 S m^-1 accounts for the 1.00-2.00 mm macro aggregation and aggregate stability of the soils. Therefore, the structural stability of SCL soils in the humid tropics depends on SOC and Na⁺ content, including the dispersive and flocculative influence of Na⁺ on clay minerals.

Influence Of Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme On Rice Production In Northern Agricultural Zone, Cross River State, Nigeria

David Adie Alawa — 2024-07-06

The study determined the influence of capacity utilization and poverty alleviation initiatives of Achor Borrowers’ Sheme on rice production in Northern Agricultural Zone, Cross River State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study sought to determine the influence of capacity utilization and poverty alleviation initiatives of Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme on rice production in the study area. Two null hypotheses were tested at .05 level of significance. Ex-post Facto research design was adopted for the study with a population of 3574 registered rice farmers and 30 RIFAN Coordinators in Northern Agricultural Zone, Cross River State with a sample of 381 respondents involved in the study. Capacity Utilization Initiative of Anchor Borrowers Scheme on Rice Production Questionnaire (CUIABSRPQ) was used for data collection and was face validated by three experts. The reliability of the instrument was determined using Cronbach Alpha method and a coefficient of .87 was obtained. Data collected was analyzed using means to answer the research questions and independent t-test statistic to test the null hypotheses. The results revealed that respondents agreed that the Anchor Borrowers Scheme influenced has influence their capacity utilization and poverty alleviation initiatives on rice production. Findings from the test of hypotheses revealed a no significant difference in the mean ratings of respondents on the influence of capacity utilization and poverty alleviation initiatives of Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme on rice production in the study area (t=1.58; p-value 0.42) and (t=.84 p-value 0.40) respectively. It was concluded that Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme builds capacity and poverty initiatives

of farmers and influence their rice production abilities. It was recommended that federal Governments extend the Anchor Borrower’s scheme to other invaluable crops such as maize and cocoa, groundnut among others because of the economic benefits accruable from the scheme to farmers

Assessment Of Soil Quality For Sustainable Land Management Using Machine Learning And Digital Soil Mapping Techniques In Obudu Cattle Ranch, Nigeria

Afu S M — 2024-07-06

Soil quality assessment is essential to know variation in nutrient concentrations within landscape for sustainable soil management. This study assessed soil quality in Obudu cattle ranch using machine learning and digital techniques. A total of 60 composite soil samples (0–30 cm depth) were collected at intervals of 200–500 m and selected soil physicochemical properties were determined. Digital elevation model (DEM) and Sentinel-2 satellite imageries were obtained, processed and applied for modelling. Soil quality was measured using total dataset (TDS) and minimum dataset (MDS). Linear (L) and non-linear (NL) scoring functions were applied, yielding four indices, MDS_L, MDS_NL, TDS_L and TDS_NL. Sixteen soil quality indicators (SQI) were used as TDS and were further screened for MDS using principal component analysis (PCA). Multiple linear regression was used to predict soil quality index in unsampled locations. The result showed that the soils were sandy loam, loam and sandy clay loam in texture. pH ranged from strongly acidic to slightly acidic. Soil organic carbon, CEC and base saturation were high while available P, exchangeable cations, exchangeable acidity as well as ECEC were low. The mean estimated soil quality for MDS_L, MDS_NL, TDS_L and TDS_NL were 0.415, 0.51, 0.42, and 0.49 respectively. MDS_NL model was the best model in predicting soil quality index in the area. All the models showed almost similar spatial distribution, with a high soil quality region mostly found in the southwestern part while low soil quality areas were located mostly in the central part and northwestern part of Obudu Mountain Resort. The soil quality prediction class showed moderate class (class III) to be the dominant class covering greater part of the area with MDS_NL model. The predictive maps derived from this study should serve as a guide in the establishment of regionalized soil nutrient management programmes.

Cooperative Membership By Rural Women Farmers In Cross River State, Nigeria

Ettah O I — 2024-07-06

The study examined cooperative membership by rural women farmers and agricultural production in Cross River State, Nigeria with the following specific objectives: analyze the socio-economic characteristics of rural women in the area, describe the determinants of participation by rural women farmers in cooperative societies in the area and describe the factors affecting rural women farmers participation in cooperative societies in the area. A multistage sampling procedure was used in the selection of 180 respondents. Descriptive statistics and Logistic regression were employed to analyze the data of the study. Result of analysis showed that forty percent (40%) of the respondents aware of the existence of such society and literacy level (24.4%) respectively as major determinants of level of participation in cooperative society. Others like societal norm, farm business activities, membership formalities also determined participation in cooperative societies by rural women farmers in the area. Furthermore, result of the Logistic regression indicated that household size (1.5643), education (2.1777), access to cooperative society (1.5643), income of rural women farmers (1.4161) and business size (1.5460) where all positively signed and significant at different levels of significance. Eighty six percent of the variation in level of participation in cooperative society was explained by the explanatory variables in the model.Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations were made: extension services by government should be encouraged, rural women farmers should be accorded more education and training to create awareness for participation in cooperative societies, government should intervene in some obnoxious societal norms limiting rural women farmers socialization.

Utilization of solar heat in the control of cowpea bruchid callosobruchus maculatus f. (coleoptera: bruchidae) in freshly infested cowpea vigna unguiculata walp

E M Waziri — 2024-11-19

Cowpea bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus Motschulsky is a very serious primary pest of stored cowpea grains with 30-100% loss potential. This study is therefore aimed at evaluating the efficiency of solar heat in the management of this pest. The experiment was carried out from May to June, 2024 in the laboratory of the Department of Crop Protection, Modibbo Adama University, Yola laid in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and means separated using Least significant difference LSD at (a = 0.05). Results of the biochemical constituents after the experiment showed significantly higher levels of dry matter and nitrogen free extract, low levels of ash and lipid, appreciable level of crude protein and fibre. Though, before the experiment the trend follows the same pattern. The effects of the sun, affected all the development stages of C. maculatus and the adult stage, where mortality rate decreases as the exposure period to the solar heat increases during the assessment period. The control (unexposed) had the highest number of mortality of C. maculatus, from larva stage to pupa. Highest number of eggs laid was observed in the control treatment was 52, while the exposed treatment had 26.0, 18.0 and 17.67 at 1, 2, and 3 hours, respectively. Cowpea grain damage and grain weight loss also follows same trend, where it decreases as the exposure period increases, while the control had the highest. This finding also indicated increase in germination with increase in exposure periods of 8.0, 8.67 and 9.67 at 1, 2, and 3 hours of exposure, while the control had the lowest germination rate of 2.33 seeds. This study therefore evaluated the effects of solar heat and its promising potentials in the control of C. maculatus in stored cowpea that can be incorporated into an integrated pest management strategy.

Bee Farming As A Panacea For Poverty Alleviation In Obalinku Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria

K O Itam — 2024-11-19

The lack of sufficient income or resources to meet individuals, families, and communities’ basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities is largely attributed to their poverty status. This study set out to analyze bee farming as a poverty alleviation measure in Obalinku, Cross River State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling method was used in selecting the respondents, who were comprise of crop farmers, crop and livestock farmers, and crop, livestock and bee farmers. Data were collected through the use of structured questionnaire and were analyzed using both descriptive statistics involving percentage and mean, gross margin and inferential statistics (Foster, Greer and Thorbecke and Logistic regression). The results revealed that the mean age of the respondents was 41years. Most of the respondents were married with an average number of 5 persons per household, with moderate income level but well educated and had spent an average of 21 years in farming. The gross margin analysis shows that bee farming was profitable as average annual income of the respondents was ₦143,000.00 generated from 1 beehive, with a profit margin of ₦73,550.00 and ROI of 0.7. The result further revealed that the poverty incidence (0.61) and severity (0.399) were higher for crop farmers. The major causes of poverty were type of enterprise, educational level and household size. One of the major constraints identified in the study area is access to credit. The study recommends that government should enhance accessibility to credit and improve rural infrastructure to encourage educated households to remain in farming.

Persistence And Repellency Potentials Of Balanites Aegyptiaca And Azadirachta Indica Seed Oils Against Tropical Warehouse Moth (Ephestia Cautella Walker) In Stored Maize

Shehu A — 2024-11-19

A study was conducted to assess the persistence and repellency potentials of seed oils of desert date (Balanites aegyptiaca) and neem (Azadirachta indica) against the tropical warehouse moth (Ephestia cautella walker), Dichlorvos (DDVP) was used as a positive control. Different concentrations of neem and desert date oils (10, 15, 20, and 25 ml/l) and DDVP (10 ml/l) were used to treat 100 g of maize grains, while repellency of the insect to the oils on treated filter paper was also assessed at the same dose rates, arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and means were separated using the New Duncan Multiple Range Test (NDMRT) at 0.05 %. Results showed that Dichlorvos, desert date and neem seed oils caused 100 % mortality, and repellency of 33.33, 86.67 and 66.67 %, respectively after 72 hours. The oils remain effective for 12 weeks with percent mean damage (80.71 % and 92.36 %) and weight loss (29.76 % and 59.79 %) when treated with a high dose (25ml/l) and longer duration of 12 weeks, respectively while, the control has 81.18 and 34.36 % of grain damage and weight loss, respectively. The positive control (DDVP) has 63.89 % and 21.49 % of grain damage and weight loss. It is, therefore, concluded that desert date and neem seed oils significantly caused E. cautella mortality. proven that desert date and neem seed oils provide good protection to maize grains and could be considered as a substitute to Dichlorvos.