Effect of Fertilizer Application and Interplanted Cassava on Growth and Yield of Plantain in Oil Palm Based System

Due to the slow growth and long gestation period of oil palm farmers are often faced with challenges of weed control before oil palm canopy closure hence the need to introduce plantain as component crop with the oil palm. A two years trial was conducted in in Ovia North East LGA, Edo State, Nigeria (Latitude 6.636oN, 6.909oN and Longitude 6.182oE, 6.364oE) to evaluate the effect of NPKMg fertilizer and interplanted cassava on growth and yield of plantain in oil palm based system. The treatment consisted of NPKMg fertilizer as the main block treatment (with and without NPKMg fertilizer) and crop combinations [oil palm/plantain (OPP) and oil palm/plantain/cassava (OPPC)] as sub block treatments. The treatments were laid out in split block arrangement in RCBD replicated thrice. Data were collected on plantain plant height, number of leaves/pseudostem, leaf area index, number of suckers/pseudostem, number of days to 50% flowering of main psuedostem and first ratoon plants, number of days to first appearance of peeper sucker from main pseudostem, number of leaves at flowering from main pseudostem and first ratoon plants, finger weight (kg/bunch), finger circumference/finger (cm), finger length/finger (cm), number of fingers/bunch, biomass weight (t/ha), number of bunches/ha and bunch yield (t/ha). NPKMg fertilizer significantly increased (p<0.05) the growth and number of sucker produced. Plantain planted in OPP combination had taller plant and more number of suckers (first ratoon plant and second ratoon plant, respectively) relative to those in OPPC combination while plantain planted in OPPC combination lead to delayed appearance of peeper suckers, delayed fruiting of plantain and resulted to 18, 15.8, 1.6, 6, 8.3 and 12 % increase (p<0.05) in plantain bunch weight, finger weight, finger circumference, finger length, number of fingers and biomass weight, respectively relative to those in oil palm/plantain (OPP) combination.

REGULATION OF WEEDS AS A FACTOR AFFECTING THE PROFITABILITY OF NARROW-LEAFED LUPINE PRODUCTION

The purpose of the article is to determine the economic effectiveness of herbicidal treatments used in the cultivation of narrow-leafed lupine in the aspect of the profitability of its production. The domestic production of leguminous plants in only 30% covers the need for protein needed for the production of feed. In this way, Poland is conditioned on the import of soybean meal, which has a negative impact on its food security. Narrow-leaved Lupine is one of the basic species of legumes which are grown in Poland. Nevertheless, relatively few farmers decide to grow it due to low profitability, which is primarily related to the lack of optimal methods of weed control. The research was carried out on the basis of a field experiment in a randomized block arrangement. On the basis of the results obtained, the direct surplus resulting from the use of individual herbicides was determined, which was positive for all combinations. A negative, strong correlation between the number and fresh weight of weeds and the obtained yield was also found. In addition, a model was created to determine the level of yield depending on the condition and degree of weed infestation.

Performance of Crops Grown in Succession to Soybeans Treated with Different Residual Herbicides

ABSTRACT: Herbicides with residual effect applied in soybeans may affect the productivity of late harvest crops grown in succession. Thus, the objective of this research was to evaluate the agronomic performance of adzuki bean crops, crambe, millet and palisade grass pasture grown in succession to soybean crop treated with residual herbicides, as well as assess the contribution in weed management. Four trials were conducted in field conditions at the soybean crop in the harvest and then succeeded by adzuki bean crops, crambe, millet and palisade grass as late harvest. An experimental design was adopted in a randomized block arrangement with four replications and nine treatments represented by the application of residual herbicides: imazethapyr (1.0 and 1.5 L ha-1), chlorimuron (60 and 90 g ha-1), fomesafen (1.0 and 1.5 L ha-1) and chloransulan methyl (74.6 and 71.4 g ha-1) and without herbicide control, kept in manual weeding. The herbicides were efficient in weed control in soybeans, not affecting crop yield. However, there was no residual activity of herbicides contribution in reducing infestation in the late harvest crops. The herbicides did not promote phytotoxicity to crops of crambe, beans, millet and palisadegrass pasture when they were compared with the other treatments. The beans treated with methyl chloransulan, regardless of dose, showed a higher yield. The absence of phytotoxicity to crops can be associated with rainfall incident on soybens which contributed to the dissipation of herbicides.

Comportamiento agronomico y nutricional de genotipos de Brachiaria spp. manejados con fertilizacion nitrogenada solos y asociados con Pueraria phaseoloides en condiciones de la altillanura colombiana

The Colombian Altillanura is a microregion that typifies a extensive cattle production system which requires the use of adapted grasses responding to nitrogen fertilization to improve yield and nutritional quality grassland to intensify livestock production systems. The study was conducted at the headquarters Taluma CORPOICA, located at 04 ° 34'25 "west and 71 ° 20'10" north in the town of Puerto López - Meta, under conditions of climate and soil of the Colombian Altillanura. The objective of this study was to determine the agronomic and nutritional behavior of genotypes of Brachiaria brizantha CIAT 16315, 16467, 26990, 26124, 6387 and Mulato II, handled single nitrogen fertilization and associated with the legume Pueraria phaseoloides. Design of randomized complete block arrangement in divided stripes, where the plot corresponded to the forage grass strip and the level of nitrogen fertilization was used (N46, N92, and N46 + P. phaseoloides). Accessions with greater biomass production (p<0.001) were B. brizantha CIAT 16315 (2040 kgDM.ha-1), B. brizantha CIAT 6387 (2033 kgDM.ha-1) and B. brizantha CIAT 16467 (1864 kgDM. ha-1). Treatment grasses + N92 values had significantly (p<0.001) higher in CP (9.55%) and degradability of forage (65.7%) and lower dry matter content (37.05 %%), NDF (61.97%) and FDA (30.55%) compared with the response of grasses fertilized with 46 kgN.ha-1 and grasses associated with kudzu and fertilized with 46 kgN.ha-1. For higher CP content (p <0.001), materials B. brizantha CIAT 16315 (8.34%) and CIAT 26124 (8.06%) which did not differ significantly with grazing Mulato II (8.18%). The results demonstrated the importance of nitrogen fertilization on the production and nutritional quality pastures B. brizantha.

FWTPET Investigation on SA213 Tube to SA387 Tube Plate

In this research work, an experimental investigation of Friction Welding of Tube to Tube Plate with External Tool (FWTPET) has been carried out using backing block arrangement with interference fit. The Materials have been used in this research of SA213 tube and SA387 tube plate. The results of the experimental investigation revealed that by employing backing block, FWTPET is capable of producing defect free welds. The Welding sample has been conducted several characteristics such as Compression test, radiographic test and Microscopic Test. Further Taguchi L9 orthogonal array was utilized to find the most significant control factors which will yield better joint strength. Besides, the contribution of each process parameter has been determined using statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA). The Input and Output values are 1320 rpm Speed, 0 mm projection, 0.1 mm Depth of cut and 3086.90 MPa optimal joint strength respectively.