Fungicidal control of groundnut leaf spot and rust in Nigeria

Four systemic fungicide formulations (tridemorph, tridemorph plus maneb, carbendazim and benomyl) and three non-systemic fungicides (captafol, mancozeb and copper oxychloride) were evaluated in field trials at two locations in Nigeria in 1981 and 1982 for control of early leaf spot (Mycosphaerella arachidis Deighton, stat: conid: Cercospora arachidicola Hori), late leaf spot (Mycosphaerella berkleyi W. A. Jenkins, stat: conid: Cercosporidium personatum (Berk. & Curt.) Deighton) and rust (Puccinia arachidis Speg.) of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Plots receiving mancozeb and tridemorph plus maneb showed best overall disease control and highest yields, followed by copper oxychloride. Benomyl and carbendazim controlled leaf spots predominantly while tridemorph controlled only rust. Captafol gave little overall disease control with yields only slightly better than untreated controls. Further tests are planned for tridemorph plus maneb and copper oxychloride using different concentrations and spray schedules.     

Residual tillage and bush-fallow effects on soil properties and maize intercropped with legumes on a tropical Alfisol

Abstract. After six years of bush‐fallow, residual effects on soil productivity of tillage practices prior to the fallow were investigated on an Alfisol in south western Nigeria. In 1996 fallow was followed by maize intercropped with cover crops of Pueraria phaseoloides, Mucuna pruriens or cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and no intercrop. Parameters measured included soil properties, ground cover, crop growth and yield, rainfall erosivity, runoff and soil loss. In spite of six‐years of bush‐fallow and establishment of cover crops, soil erosion was significantly greater on plots that had been conventionally cultivated previously using disc ploughs, harrows and mechanical rotovators (1.78 t ha^?1season^?1) compared to previously no‐till plots (1.34 t ha^?1season^?1). Crop growth and yields were least and soil loss greatest (2.83 t ha^?1season^?1) on the previous bare plot. Maize grain yield was highest using Pueraria phaseoloides as an intercrop (2.15 t ha^?1) followed by a cowpea intercrop (1.92 t ha^?1), maize without intercrop (1.87 t ha^?1) and Mucuna pruriens intercrop (1.71 t ha^?1). The maize grain yields reflected levels of competition from the cover crops. Cowpea–maize intercrop may be most suitable for farmers because maize yields were satisfactory and cowpea grain serves as additional subsistence. Cowpea yields were 390 kg ha^?1. Soil erosion was also moderate using cowpea as an intercrop (1.71 t ha^?1season^?1). However, Pueraria phaseoloides gave the best erosion control with a soil loss of 1.34 t ha^?1season^?1.     

Soil physical properties of selected soil series in relation to compaction and erosion on farmers’ fields at Abeokuta,southwestern Nigeria

This study evaluated physical properties of selected soil series and their implications on the soil compaction and erosion in Abeokuta, southwestern Nigeria. Daily rainfall data (1999–2007) were collected to estimate the rainfall erosivity. Seven soil series (Iwo, Iseyin, Ekiti, Jago, Okemesi, Apomu, and Egbeda) were sampled from 0–15, 15–30, and 30–50 cm depths for particle size distribution, organic carbon, pH, upper plastic limit, and compactibility (Proctor test). Microtopographical changes along and across toposequences of two farmers’ fields cleared mechanically and manually, respectively, were monitored using the erosion pin method. Mean annual erosivity (EI30) was high (7646 MJ mm ha^?1 hr^?1). Particle size, organic carbon, and pH were similar (p ≥ 0.05), while upper plastic moisture was ≤?2% among different soil series. Soil-moisture density curves indicated a maximum bulk density of 1.77–1.99 g cm^?3 for a moisture range of 7.6–14%; while the soils were prone to compaction at low moisture content. Microtopographic changes were found between –2 and 0 cm and –8 and –2 cm on mechanically and manually cleared farmland, respectively. Spatial dependence showed that the soil erosion could be predicted within 5–8 m distance. To avoid erosion and compaction, soil water content should be less than 7.6% before the introduction of mechanical tillage.     

Amelioration of a degraded Oxic Paleustalf by leguminous and natural fallows

Abstract. The restorative ability of herbaceous ( Psophocarpus palustris, Pueraria phaseoloides ) and woody ( Leucaena leucocephala, Senna siamea, Acacia leptocarpa, Acacia auriculiformis ) legume species and of natural regrowth was studied on an eroded and compacted Oxic Paleustalf in southwestern Nigeria. Compared to the control treatment that was continuously cropped for 15 years, four years of fallowing significantly improved test crop yields. However, fallowing with the above species did not substantially improve soil properties, particularly soil bulk density. A longer fallow period may be needed to amend soil physical conditions of this degraded Alfisol. Soil chemical properties were greatly improved following land clearing and plant biomass burning in 1993. However, the residual effect of burning on soil fertility was insignificant in the second cropping year. Among the fallow species, P. palustris and natural fallow showed the best residual effect on test crop performance. Despite the high biomass and nutrient yields of S. siamea and A. auriculiformis , test crop yields on these plots were low due to the border effects from the uncleared and fallowed subplots.     

Nutrient stability in mould-infested feed and mitigating effect of dietary supplemental vitamins in brown laying hens

Tropical Animal Health and Production - A 10-week study was conducted to assess the impact of mould infestation on nutrient stability of feed and the mitigating effect of supplemental tocopherol,...     

Use of dye industry effluent for irrigation in Amaranthus cruentus L. production: effect on growth,root morphology,heavy metal accumulation,and the safety concerns

This study characterized three local dye effluents from major tie and dye industries at Asero, Itoku, and Kemta in Ogun State, Nigeria, and evaluated their effect on growth and heavy metal accumulation in pot-grown amaranth. The effluents were diluted with water at 0%, 25%, 50%, and 100% and replicated three times. Physicochemical properties and heavy metal content of effluent dilutions were analyzed. Results indicated that irrespective of the source, effluents, and dilutions, effluent properties exceeded permissible limits by World Health Organization/Food and Agricultural Organization/Federal Environmental Protection Agency for irrigation. The SO₄^2?, PO₄^3?, NO₃^?, Fe, and Cr contents of effluent dilutions were higher than the maximum limits recommended. The order of toxicity of dye effluents was Asero > Itoku > Kemta. Effluent concentrations at 50% and 100% damaged amaranth root hairs, caused the death of some amaranth, significantly reduced number of leaves, height, fresh and dry root, and shoot weight, but increased stem girth and heavy metal accumulation in plant parts. Mg, Cu, and Zn were more concentrated in the shoots. Due to the high metal content, consumption of this vegetable poses a potential health risk. Strict law enforcement against the use of the effluent for irrigation should be made to prevent environmental hazard.     

Home gardens: an assessment of their biodiversity and potential contribution to conservation of threatened species and crop wild relatives in Benin

Despite growing literature supporting the importance of home gardens (HG) as biodiversity hotspots, knowledge of patterns of their contribution to conservation of threatened species and crop wild relatives (CWR) across climate and culture in Africa is still limited. This investigation was conducted across three climatic zones to assess the floristic diversity of home gardens and the extent to which they contribute to conservation of threatened species and CWR. Overall, 240 home gardens were sampled and their floristic diversity assessed. The ecological importance of recorded species was determined per climatic zone using the importance value index (IVI). A cluster analysis was performed to group the species according to their IVI-values and a principal component analysis helped to identify the most important species. 285 species were inventoried throughout the study area. Home garden species’ diversity globally declined from the drier to the wetter zone but was highest in the transition zone. The average number of species found per HG was 10.1 and varied weakly across zones (9.07, Guineo-Congolean zone; 10.77, Sudano-Guinean zone; and 10.53, Sudanian zone). The most important home gardens species in the Sudanian, the Sudano-Guinean and the Guineo-Congolean zones were respectively: Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench and Hibiscus asper Hook.f.; Solanum lycopersicum L. and Zea mays L.; Ipomoea aquatica Forssk. and Senna occidentalis (L.) Link. They were mainly vegetables and used as food and/or medicinal plant species. Twenty CWR and twelve threatened species were recorded and were also mainly used for food and medicinal purposes. Thorough research on socioeconomic factors supporting possession of HG and choice of managed species as well as indigenous management strategies of HG and dynamic of traditional knowledge related to HG may help to deeply assess home gardens’ effectiveness in biodiversity conservation.     

Improvement of the physical fertility of a degraded Alfisol with planted and natural fallows under humid tropical conditions

Abstract. Topsoil (0–15 cm) bulk density, aggregate stability, soil dispersibility, water retention and infiltration were measured between 1989 and 1996 on an Alfisol under rehabilitation in southwestern Nigeria. The planted leguminous species were Pueraria phaseoloides, Senna siamea, Leucaena leucocephala, Acacia leptocarpa and A. auriculiformis. Also, plots with natural fallow and maize/cassava intercropping were included. Level (minimum) and mound tillage with hoes was adopted for the cultivated areas under study after 4 and 6 year fallow periods. Under fallow, the soil bulk density decreased from1.56 to 1.11 t m73.The continuously cropped treatment (level tillage) had significantly higher bulk density than the fallowed subplots after 6 years. Mean soil penetrometer resistance ranged from 75 to 157 kPa for fallowed plots and from 192 to 295 kPa for the continuously cropped (level tillage) subplot. Surface soilwater contentswere similar for all the treatments during the soil strength measurements. Although soil aggregates were generally of low stability and not well formed, they were improved by fallowing.
Soil structural improvement by planted fallows was similar to that by natural fallow, but the trees were more promising for long-term fallow (>6 years) than the herbaceous P. phaseoloides. However, the improvement in soil structure after 4 or 6 year fallow could not be maintained in subsequent cropping. Furthermore, the significant improvement in soil bulk density caused by A. auriculiformis and natural fallow was more rapidly lost on the cultivated subplots compared with other fallow treatments. Thus, soil structure recovery under a fallow does not imply a sustained improvement when stress is applied to this soil. Post-fallow soil management options such as residue incorporation and tillage to ameliorate compaction or soil strength will be necessary to enhance the improvements by fallow species.     

Current knowledge and conservation perspectives of Boswellia dalzielii Hutch., an African frankincense tree

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Boswellia dalzielii Hutch. is a valuable West African native frankincense tree species. The stem bark has a high traditional medicinal value throughout its...