scholarly journals Growth and Yield Performance of Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata (L.) Walp) as influenced by Row-Spacing and Period of Weed interference in South-West Nigeria

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Adigun ◽  
A. O. Osipitan ◽  
Segun Toyosi Lagoke ◽  
Raphael Olusegun Adeyemi ◽  
Stephen Olaoluwa Afolami

Weed problem appears to be the most deleterious factor causing between 25 and 60% reduction in potential yield of cowpea. Field trials were therefore conducted to study the effect of inter-row spacing and period of weed interference on growth and yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (07° 15'; 03° 25' E) in South Western Nigeria during the early and late wet seasons of 2009. The experiment consisted of eight main plots of weed interference which included initial weed removal for 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks after sowing (WAS) and subsequently weed –infested until harvest as well as initial weed infestation for corresponding periods and thereafter kept weed free until harvest. There were also sub-plot treatments of three inter-row spacing of 60, 75, and 90 cm. All treatments in different combinations were laid out in a split-plot design with three replications. In both trials, the use of inter-row spacing of 60 cm resulted in significant reduction in weed growth as evident in lower weed dry matter production and subsequent higher cowpea pod and grain yields than those of 75 and 90 cm inter-row spacing. Initial weed infestation of up to 3 WAS did not have any adverse effect on crop growth and cowpea grain yields provided the weeds were subsequently removed. On the other hand, cowpea grain yield loss was not significantly averted by keeping the crop weed free for only 3 WAS without subsequent weed removal. In this study, initial weed-infestation for 6 WAS and beyond significantly depressed various crop growth parameter and cowpea grain yield compared with the crop kept weed free throughout its life cycle. In order to obtain optimum yields similar to that of the weed free cowpea field, it was required to keep the crop weed free for 6 WAS and beyond. However, frequent weeding beyond 9 weeks after sowing did not improve cowpea yield significantly and as a matter of fact it may even result in reduction of cowpea grain yield due to mechanical damage of hoe weeding. The practical implication of this finding is that early weeding starting from 3 WAS is very crucial for cowpea production while the critical period of weed removal for optimum yield in cowpea is between 3 and 9 WAS in the forest-savannah transitional zone of south Western Nigeria.

Author(s):  
Ahmad Raza ◽  
Muhammad Nawaz ◽  
Muhammad U. Chattha ◽  
Imran Khan ◽  
Muhammad B. Chattha ◽  
...  

Weeds are major threat to global wheat production and cause serious threat to food security. Likewise, water scarcity is also a major threat to food production and its intensity is continuously soaring up across the globe. Organic mulches have potential to reduce weeds growth and conserve the soil moisture thus ensures the better crop growth and yield. Therefore, present study was conducted to compare the performance of different organic mulches in improving wheat growth and productivity. The study was comprised of different organic mulches; M1= No mulch (control) M2= maize straw mulch, M3= wheat straw mulch, M4= sorghum straw mulch and M5= rice straw mulch and three nitrogen levels N1 = 90 kg, N2 = 120 kg and N3= 150 kg/ha. The results indicated that both organic mulches and N rates had significant impact on growth, and yield traits. The maximum leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), productive tillers (307 m-2), grains/spike (46.22), 1000 grain weight (42.33 g) biological yield (13.76 t/ha) and grain yield 4.75 t/ha was obtained with sorghum straw mulch and minimum productive tillers (255.33 m-2), grains/spike (36.22), biological yield (11.46 t/ha) and grain yield (3.59 t/ha) was recorded in no mulch (control). Among nitrogen levels maximum productive tillers (290.6 m-2), grains/spike (42.80), 1000 grain weight (40.65 g), biological yield (13.44 t/ha) and grain yield (4.32 t/ha) was obtained with 150 kg/ha N and minimum productive tillers (274 m-2), grains/spike (38.13), 1000 grain weight (36.94 g) biological yield (11.98 t/ha) and grain yield (3.90 t/ha) was obtained with 90 N kg/ha. Thus, farmers can use sorghum straw mulch and N (150 kg ha-1) to improve the wheat productivity. However, farmers must be educated by government institute and adoptive research farms in order to understand and adaption of this approach.


1990 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 449 ◽  
Author(s):  
GK McDonald

The growth and yield of two lines of uniculm barley, WID-103 and WID-105, were compared over a range of sowing rates (50-400 kg/ha) with the commercial varieties Galleon and Schooner. The experiments were conducted at Strathalbyn, S.A., in 1986, 1987 and 1988 and at the Waite Agricultural Research Institute in 1987. A third tillered variety, Clipper, was included in the comparison in 1988. Over the three years plant populations measured early in the season ranged from 39/m2 to 709/m2, and grain yields from 97 to 41 1 g/m2. Dry matter production at ear emergence increased with greater plant density, and both the tillered varieties and the uniculm lines showed similar responses to higher sowing rates. At maturity, dry matter production of the tillered barleys was greater than or equal to that of the uniculms and the harvest indices (HIs) of the two types were similar. Consequently, grain yields of the tillered types were greater than or equal to the yields of the uniculms. Over the four experiments the tillered varieties had a 6% higher yield. The number of ears/m2 was the yield component most affected by plant density in both the tillered and uniculm barleys. The uniculm lines had more spikelets/ear, but tended to set fewer grains/spikelet and produce smaller kernels. The experiments failed to demonstrate any advantage of the uniculm habit to the grain yield of barley. These results differ from previous experiments that showed that a uniculm line, WID-101, had a higher yield than the tillered variety Clipper. It is suggested that the uniculm habit per se was not the cause of this higher yield, but its higher HI resulted in it outyielding Clipper. Current varieties, however, have HIs similar to the uniculm lines and yield equally to or more than the uniculm barleys examined. To further improve the grain yield of uniculm barley, greater dry matter production is necessary as the HIs of these lines are already high.


1993 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. H. Teich ◽  
T. Welacky ◽  
A. Hamill ◽  
A. Smid

This study was carried out to determine if winter wheat in southwestern Ontario should be grown in rows narrower than the conventional 18 cm and if the current recommended seed rate of 3.2 million seeds ha−1 (msh) is adequate. We compared the effect of 10- and 20-cm row spacings and 1.6, 3.2, and 6.4 msh seed rates on grain yield, weed growth and yield of underseeded clover. Row spacing at a constant seed rate did not affect yield. With increasing seed rate there was an increase in yield, mainly through more heads per unit area, which more than compensated for a decrease in seeds per head. Narrow rows reduced the number of lamb’s-quarters and the overall weed count. The optimum seed rate for grain yield was 6.4 msh for ratios of seed cost:crop value less than 1.34. Key words: Narrow rows, weeds, yield, economic optimum


1994 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 977 ◽  
Author(s):  
HG Beecher ◽  
JA Thompson ◽  
PE Bacon ◽  
DP Heenan

The effect of 7 different crop and pasture sequences and cereal stubble management on soil nitrogen (N) levels and growth and grain yield of 2 subsequent rice crops was studied over 6 years (1986-92) on a Birganbigil clay loam soil at Yanco Agricultural Institute. After harvest of an initial rice crop in 1987, the following crop sequences were imposed: continuous annual rice cropping; 2 triticale crops, 2 seasons of pasture; pasture for 4 seasons; a second rice crop, 3 seasons of pasture; a second and third rice crop, 2 seasons of pasture; winter cereals; double cropped (winter-summer) on raised beds. The growth and productivity of 2 subsequent rice crops (1990-91, 1991-92) was then evaluated. Stubble retention rather than burning was practiced on half of each plot. Half of each pasture plot was sown to annual pasture (Trifolium subterraneum), while the other half was sown to perennial pasture (Trifolium repens). All plots returned to rice in 1990-91 and N rates up to 400 kg N/ka were applied. No fertiliser was applied to the 1991-92 crop. Anaerobic incubation ammonium content of soil, sampled before sowing of the 1990-91 rice crop, ranged from 28 to 85 pg/g oven-dried soil. The 1990-91 rice crop reduced soil ammonium by 30 y g/g in all sequences except continuous annual rice cropping. These differences in soil ammonium content were significantly correlated with rice growth and yield. Dry matter at panicle initiation and at physiological maturity and grain yield all increased significantly with N fertiliser application for all crop sequences. This indicates the benefit of N fertiliser, even after a 4-year pasture phase. Modelled grain yield from the unfertilised 2-year subterranean clover pasture (10.4 t/ha) was equal to that from the continuous rice sequence receiving 212 kg N/ha. Applying 320 kg N/ha to continuous rice plots produced yields similar to that of the 2-year subterranean clover pasture sequence, which received 98 kg N/ha. This indicates that the major effect on grain yield of different crop sequences could be alleviated through high N applications. Stubble management had little effect on rice growth or grain yield. Sequences with pasture phases of 2, 3, and 4 years produced similar rice grain yields. Pasture phases still had a positive effect, compared with continuous ricegrowing, on the second rice crop; however, crop growth and grain yield were about half that obtained from the unfertilised plots of the first rice crop. We conclude that continuous, high-yielding, annual ricegrowing can be maintained provided the N supply is adequate, that highly productive legume-dominant pasture phases of 2, 3, or 4 years contribute eqivalent amounts of N to succeeding rice crops, and that stubble management technique or pasture type has little effect on grain yield.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. HUSSAIN ◽  
A. KHALIQ ◽  
A.A. BAJWA ◽  
A. MATLOOB ◽  
A. AREEB ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT: Understanding the weed interference with different sowing times of crop is inevitable for forecasting yield losses by weed infestation and designing sustainable weed management systems. A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of sowing dates (20th November, 10th December) and various little seed canary grass (LCG) infestation levels (10, 20, 30 and 40 plant m-2) on growth and yield of wheat under semiarid conditions. Plots with two natural infestations of weeds including LCG (Unweeded control; UWC) and excluding LCG (UWC-LCG) were maintained for comparing its interference in pure stands with designated densities. A season-long weed-free (WFC) treatment was also run. All the weeds/LCG infestation levels starting from 10 LCG plants m-2 considerably reduced the wheat growth (leaf area index, crop growth rate, total dry matter accumulation) and hampered the yield contributing factors in both sowing dates. Presence of LCG was more detrimental for growth of late-sown wheat (10th Dec), therefore, 40 LCG plants m-2 recorded more reductions in growth indices of wheat even than UWC. In late sown wheat crop, the grain yield losses by 40 LCG plants m-2 and UWC were comparable, however, these losses were much greater than UWC LCG. In crux, delay in sowing of wheat not only reduced the crop growth and yield but also enhanced the LCG/weed interference. Furthermore, greater competitive ability of LCG particularly for late-sown wheat suggests that it should be controlled in order to provide healthy environment for crop plants.


Author(s):  
M. M. Tyoakoso ◽  
M. D. Toungos ◽  
M. Babayola

Field experiments was conducted during the 2015 rainy season at Teaching and Research Farm of Department of Crop Science, Taraba State College of Agriculture Jalingo, to investigate the effect of Nitrogen rates on the growth and yield of Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean (L.) Verdc) in Jalingo. The experiments was laid out in split-plot design with three replications and three nitrogen rates, 20kgNha-1, 25kgNha-1 and 30kgNha-1 as main plot treatment while four intra-row spacing, 20cm, 25cm, 30cm and 35cm as the sub plot treatment. The sub plot size was 3m x 2m (6m2). The nitrogen rate doses were applied a week after emergence of the seedlings. Data collected were, percentage seedlings emergence, number of leaves per plant, number of branches per plant, plant height, number of nodules per plant, number of effective nodules per plant, number of non-effective nodules per plant, days to 50% flowering, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, 100 seeds weight, grain yield per plot and grain yield per ha-1. Data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), means were separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD). The results showed that nitrogen rate applied had no significant influence on growth and yield characters. However, significant influence was recorded of intra-row spacing on number of leaves per plant and number of branches per plant at 6WAS with a mean value of 48.24 and 16.80 respectively. Intra-row spacing, 25cm gave the highest mean number (3.14) of non-effective nodules per plant at 30 DAS while 25cm gave the highest number of days to 50% flowering. The result of the interaction revealed that there were significant interaction between Nitrogen rates and intra-row spacing on the number of leaves at 3 WAS and 6WAS. It is recommended that nitrogen rate of 20kgNha-1 and intra-row spacing of 35cm be adopted for Bambara groundnut in Jalingo.


2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Takim

Field studies were conducted in 2010 and 2011 at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Ilorin, Nigeria (9°29′ N, 4°35′ E) to evaluate the effect of early weed competition on the growth and yield of maize. The experiment was designed as a randomized complete block (RCBD) with a split-plot arrangement and three replications. The main plots consisted of three weed control treatments included weedy (no herbicide), grass weeds (pre-emergence atrazine) and broadleaf weeds (pre-emergence metolachlor), while the sub-plots consisted of six durations of weed infestation (3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 weeks after emergence). The pre-emergence herbicides had a greater effect on weed density and weed dry weight. Weed seedling emergence and weed dry weight increased significantly with an increase in the duration of weed interference. The grasses and broadleaf weeds had a similar influence on the growth and grain yield of maize. Three to five weeks of weed interference gave similar grain yields, which were significantly higher than those obtained in plots that had 6-8 weeks of weed interference. These results suggest that the maize crop must be kept free of weeds for 6-8 weeks after the application of pre-emergence herbicide to minimize weed-crop competition and harvest a good grain yield.


2016 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 578-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
ROBERT M. BODDEY ◽  
MATHIAS FOSU ◽  
WILLIAMS K. ATAKORA ◽  
CESAR H. B. MIRANDA ◽  
LUCIA H. BODDEY ◽  
...  

SUMMARYCowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is the most important food grain legume in Africa. Cowpea is nodulated by rhizobium bacteria in almost all soils of the tropics, but studies performed in the 1970s and 1980s in Nigeria suggested only modest responses of grain yield in the field to inoculation of selected rhizobium strains. More recently, experiments performed in Brazil have shown that cowpea responded to inoculation of rhizobium selected locally and grain yields increased by up to 30%. We tested some of the Brazilian strains on cowpea at a site in northern Mozambique and at several sites in Northern Ghana. At all sites phosphorus fertilizer (26 kg P ha−1) was added to all plots. At the site in Mozambique despite considerable damage to the crop by the parasitic yellow witchweed (Alectra vogelii), grain yields were more than doubled by inoculation of one of the Brazilian strains and reached 1.4 Mg ha−1. In on-station experiments conducted in 2012 in June and August in northern Ghana using the local cowpea variety Padi-Tuya as the test crop, nodule weight at 35 days after planting (dap) tripled with rhizobium strain BR 3299 (530 mg plant−1) in August with the other inoculants (BR 3267 and a mixture of BR 3267 and BR 3299) also increased nodule weight to over 300 mg plant−1. In the first on-station experiment, grain yields were doubled by the inoculation of any of the three rhizobium strains, and in the second experiment, significant increases in grain yield ranged from 39% to 57% and reached over 2.0 Mg ha−1. Similar increases in nodulation and grain yield due to inoculation were observed in 22 on-farm trials. Nitrogen fertilizer application promoted vegetative growth but did not increase grain yield and nodulation. Inoculating cowpea with highly effective rhizobium strains can therefore enhance grain yield of smallholder farmers in Africa.


1980 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. DESCHENES ◽  
C. A. ST-PIERRE

On a St-André sandy loam and on a Kamouraska clay, the effect of soil temperature on oats (Avena sativa L.) was measured in the greenhouse using a system described by Deschênes et al. in 1974 and in the field, using two dates of seeding. The effect of weeds was measured by using un weeded and hand-weeded treatments. In the greenhouse, cool soil temperatures have delayed maturity and decreased straw and grain yields as well as total phytomass of oats on the two soil types. The dry weight of weeds in un weeded pots increased slightly. The effect of hand-weeding on oats was especially noticeable on the St-André sandy loam where three times as many weeds were observed. The straw yield and the total phytomass of oats were higher in the field experiment following an early seeding of oats on both soil types. On the other hand, grain yield was lower on plots seeded early and located on St-André sandy loam while the opposite was true on Kamouraska clay. The dry weight of weeds was lower on unweeded plots seeded early. The weeds reduced straw and grain yields on the St-André sandy loam but had no effect on Kamouraska clay because of the low weed infestation on the latter. The greenhouse and field experiments suggest that soil temperature is not the main factor in explaining the increase in grain yield observed with early-seeded cereals.


2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 186-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly A. Nelson

Field research was conducted in 2002 and 2003 to determine the effect of twin- and single-row spacing and POST glyphosate application timing on light interception, weed control, and grain yield of glyphosate-resistant corn and soybean. Row spacing did not affect light interception measured 10 to 11 wk after planting. Corn grain yield in 2002 was 1.0 Mg/ha higher in single rows compared with twin rows when averaged over glyphosate timing, but was unaffected by row spacing in 2003. Soybean grain yield was similar in 19- and 38-cm single rows, and single-row grain yield was 0.2 to 0.4 Mg/ha higher than the twin-row spacing. Corn grain yields were similar to the weed-free control when glyphosate was applied to weeds 10 to 15 cm tall in 2002 and 10 cm tall in 2003. Soybean yield was maximized by application of glyphosate to weeds 15 to 30 cm tall in 2002 and 60 cm tall in 2003.


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