Integrated Nutrient Management Improves the Growth and Yield of Rice and Greengram in a Rice—Greengram Cropping System under the Coastal Plain Agro-Climatic Condition

Continuous mono-cropping of rice has resulted in decline or stagnation of yield output due to the occurrence of multiple nutrient deficiencies and worsening of soil physicochemical properties accompanying increased pressure of insect pests and diseases. The basic concept of integrated nutrient management (INM) is maintenance or adjustment of soil fertility and supply of plant nutrients to an optimum level for sustaining the desired crop productivity through optimisation of benefits from all possible sources of plant nutrients in an integrated way. Augmenting a rice-based cropping system with pulses is a prevalent and indigenous cropping system under rainfed conditions. Considering the above facts, experiments were conducted to evaluate the impacts of integrated nutrient management on productivity of aromatic rice–greengram cropping system and nutrient balance of the post-harvest soil for agricultural sustainability under rainfed conditions in two consecutive years (2017–2018 and 2018–2019) with six main plots and three subplots. The experimental findings revealed that the treatment comprised of 50% recommended dose of fertiliser (RDF) through chemicals + 50% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through farmyard manure (FYM) increased the plant height, tillers, dry matter accumulation, leaf area and leaf area duration, and yield parameters in short grain aromatic rice. Similarly, preceding application of 50% RDF + 50% RDN through FYM to rice and further application 75% RDF + Rhizobium+ phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) to greengram increased the growth characteristics and yield parameters—such as pods/plant, seeds/pod, grain yield, stover yield, and harvest index—in greengram. It was concluded that the treatment consisting of 50% RDF (chemical fertiliser) + 50% RDN (FYM) to rice and 75% RDF + Rhizobium + PSB to greengram increased the productivity of the rice–greengram cropping system. Furthermore, the adoption of INM has positively impacted post-harvest soil nutrient balance.

Performance of New Muchamiel Tomato Lines with Virus Resistance Genes Grafted onto Two Commercial Rootstocks

Tomato landraces are regaining interest in Spain because their great fruit quality and value in popular gastronomy. Muchamiel is a traditional tomato variety grown in SE Spain that has been recently improved by the CIAGRO-UMH Tomato Breeding Group, resulting in several lines and hybrids with genetic resistances to virus and most of the original Muchamiel genome. In the current study, two hybrids and one pure line from CIAGRO-UMH and a commercial Muchamiel were grown under conventional conditions to evaluate three different grafting treatments: non-grafting and grafting onto the commercial Beaufort and Maxifort rootstocks. The yield parameters and fruit quality were assessed, and a sensory analysis was performed to evaluate the behavior of every scion/rootstock combination. Overall, significantly worse yield and fruit number in Maxifort-grafted plants were reported; as well as a slight reductions in SSC, fructose, and sucrose; and significant effects on few sensory traits. Instead, Beaufort-grafted plants showed no reduced yield, whereas no differences were reported between grafting treatments in fruit weight, TA, and acid profile, as well as in most of flavor and texture sensory parameters. These results suggest that Muchamiel/Beaufort combination could be suitable under unfavorable conditions, while Maxifort do not seem to provide agronomic nor quality benefits.

Effect of cassava-legume intercropping systems on productivity and cassava insect pests population dynamics across three major agro-climatic zones of Sierra Leone

Field trials were conducted in 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 cropping seasons in three agro-climatic zones of the country to evaluate the productivity and insect pests population dynamics of cassava as a response to spatial arrangement, plant architecture and cropping systems. The treatments consisted of seven cropping associations, two cassava architectures and two spatial arrangements. The study reveals that yield parameters of cassava were higher in cassava-soybean system at all locations. The number of marketable roots and forage yield were on average higher when the erect cassava variety was intercropped with the legumes using the 1 m x 1m spatial arrangement. On the other hand, root yield and canopy width were higher when the 2 m x 0.5 m spatial arrangement and the branched cassava architecture was used respectively. In general, yield parameters were higher at Segbwema expect for forage yield that was higher at Makeni. With respect to cassava insect pests, higher percentage incidences and severity scores were recorded on sole cassava and when the branched cassava variety was intercropped with legumes using the 2 m x 0.5 m spatial arrangement of cassava. In addition, cassava insect pests incidences were only observed at 6 MAP and 9MAP and were higher in Segbwema compared to the other locations. Thus, in order to improve productivity of cassava with low insect pest infestation, the erect cassava variety should be intercropped with soybean at a spatial arrangement of 1 m x 1 m.

Influence of Different Seed Rates on the Growth and Yield Characteristics of Wheat Crop (Triticum aestivum L.): Case Study of Takhar Province, Afghanistan

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of seed rate on the growth and yield attributes of the wheat crop (Triticum aestivum L.) variety Mazar-99 under the agro-climatic conditions of Takhar province, Afghanistan. The experiment was implemented at the research farm of Agriculture Faculty of Takhar University in winter seasons of 2018-2019 with the specific objective of finding out the effect of five seeding rates as the treatment on growth and yield parameters of Mazar-99 variety of wheat. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was selected as an experiment design with 4 replications and 5 seeding rates viz. 80, 100, 120, 140 and 160 kg/ha made up treatments. Data on growth and yield parameters were collected and analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The result obtained from the current study reveal that all growth and yield characters were remarkably affected by seeding rate and seed rate of 100 kg per hectare of wheat variety Mazar-99 performed better with respect to different growth and yield parameters such as spike length, number of tillers, number of spike at each plant, leaf area, a total of spikelets per spike and stem girth, grain number/spike, the weight of spike, the weight of grain per spike, grain crop yield, straw crop weight, 1000-grain weight, and biological yield. Whereas 80 and 120 kg/ha were the second-best seeding rates after the 100 kg/ha. However, 160 kg/ha seed rate showed only superiority in plant height, but 140 kg/ha did not show any special superiority in any growth and yield characteristic evaluated in Takhar agro-climatic condition. Thus, a seeding rate of 100 kg per hectare could be recommended to the farmers for better wheat production in Takhar agro-climatic situation in North-Eastern Afghanistan.

ESTIMATION OF SHEA TREES (Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. GAERTN.) FRUIT PRODUCTION BY ASSESSING THE CORRELATION BETWEEN YIELD PARAMETERS AND DENDROMETRIC FEATURES IN NORTHERN OF CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Vitellaria paradoxa, commonly known as the shea tree, is a tree of the family Sapotaceae and represents a traditional African food plant. It has been claimed to have the potential to improve nutrition, boost food supply, foster rural development, and support sustainable land care. Despite its multiple potentials, statistical data relating to its production are non-existent and/or unexploited in several African communities. To contrast this tendency, the present study aims to assess the intra-seasonal variation in fruit production of a sample of 115 shea trees and then to establish a correlation between yield parameters and several dendrometric features. Dendrometric (i.e. tree height, trunk girth, and crown basal area) and pomological (i.e. fruit and nut length and width) parameters, as well as yield parameters by monitoring daily fallen fruit from each sampled shea tree, carried out for five years consecutively, were considered for this study. The results showed inter-year fluctuation of shea fruit/nut number and shea fruit/nut weight. In addition, the results showed a significant increase in the annual average of shea fruit/nut yield per tree and as well per girth and/or crown basal area interval class, randomly generated by Sturge and Yule's formula. Interestingly, potentially high producing trees emerged within each considered interval class. Then, observed intraclass variation between trees determining shea yield can be exploited in selecting elite shea trees.

Performance of Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan) Varieties under Different Soil Amendments in Ndokwa, Delta State, Nigeria

Background: Pigeon pea is an important legume worldwide that is not cultivated by the farmers in Ndokwa, Delta State. Hence, the study looked at the possibility of evaluating the potential of pigeon pea in Ogume, a community in Ndokwa. Methods: Top soils were collected from a fallowed land mixed thoroughly and filled into 4 kg bags and were divided into 3. The 1st was amended with poultry manure, 2nd was NPK 15:15:15 amended and 3rd was without amendment, tested with two varieties of Cajanus cajan. The experiment was a 2 by 3 factorial, in a completely randomized design with 3 replicates. Residual effects of the amendments were evaluated in 2020. Soil samples were taken to establish the fertility status before amendment and at harvest. Data were taken on the agronomic and yield parameters and were analyzed using ANOVA while means were separated using LSD at P≤0.05. Result: Result obtained showed that the tallest plants (9.83±0.51) were observed in the poultry manure in 2019 while the fallowed plots had the tallest plants (11.17±0.49) in 2020, while in both years, the number of pods and dry pod weight was insignificant among the treatments and varieties. This shows that farmers do not need to spend much finance in amending the soil for pigeon pea cultivation in Ndokwa community, Delta State.

Influence of compost and irrigation systems on the growth indices and yield of onion (Allium cepa L.)

Field trial was conducted during the 2017 dry season from March to June at Bayero University, Kano and Birji village both in Sudan savannah to determine the effect of compost rates and irrigation intervals on the growth and yield of onion (Allium cepa L.) The treatments were conducted in five rates of compost (0 t ha-1, 5 t ha-1, 10 t ha-1,15 t ha -1 and 20 t ha-1) and three irrigation intervals (5, 10 and 15 days). The treatments were laid out in a split plot design and replicated three times. Irrigation intervals were assigned to the main plot while compost rates were assigned to the sub plot. The gross plot size was 1.5 m x 2.0 m (3.0 m2) consisting of 10 rows of 2 m length. Data on growth and yield parameters were collected, weighed and subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Treatment means were separated using Student-Newman-Keuls Test. The result ssize was 1.5 m x 2.0 m (3.0 m2) consisting of 10 rows of 2 m length. Data on growth and yield parameters were collected, weighed and subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Treatment means were separated using Student-Newman-Keuls Test. The result showed that compost rates and irrigation intervals had significant effect on cropgrowth rate, relative growth rate, net assimilation rate and cured bulb yield. Application of 10 t ha-1 of compost had the heaviest cured bulb yield. Interactions between compost rates and irrigation intervals were significant on all the measured parameters as well as the cured bulb yield of onion at both locations. The optimum rate of compost was 15 t ha1 at both locations, while that of irrigation intervals were 10 and 5 days for BUK and Birji village, respectively. Therefore, these levels were recommended to be used by farmers of the study areas.