Study of land suitability for rubber and cashew in the derived savanna zone of Edo State, Nigeria

This study attempted to assess the soil suitability in the derived savanna zone of Edo State, Nigeria for the cultivation of some tree crops. The research specifically aimed to evaluate soil suitability for cashew and rubber supported by suitability maps for both crops. In terms of land suitability evaluation, mapping units 1 and 2, with an area coverage of 27.4 ha of the entire research area (100 ha) were found to be marginally suitable (S3) for rubber cultivation but moderately suitable (S2) for cashew. Mapping unit 3, with area coverage of 38 ha was found to be currently not suitable (N1) for rubber but marginally suitable (S3) for cashew cultivation. Mapping unit 4 representing area coverage of 34.7 ha was found to be permanently not suitable (N2) for rubber cultivation but marginally suitable (S3) for cashew. Thus, technically, rubber can only be cultivated in that land at marginal level with an expected productivity of 27.4 ha (27.4 %). Cashew can be cultivated at moderate and marginal levels with an expected yield of 27.4 ha (27.4 %) and 72.6 ha (72.6 %), respectively, of the total land area. Thus, the preferred crop for the studied is cashew. It is recommended that for any significant investment in cultivation of this crop, the priority is the moderate levels with an expected productivity of 27.4 ha or 27.4 % of total land area.

Effects of cropping system and varieties on the rice growth and yield in acid sulphate soils of tidal swampland

Swampland plays a critical function in agriculture, specifically in growing rice production. The study aimed to determine the effects of cropping systems and varieties on the rice growth and yield in acid sulfate soil of tidal swampland. The experiment was conducted in a potential acid sulphate soils in Kapuas Regency, Central Kalimantan Province. The experiment was arranged in a split plot design with three replications. The main plot consisted of three HYV’s of rice, namely Inpara 8, Inpari 32, and Margasari. The subplot consisted of five cropping systems, namely, Jarwo 2:1A, Jarwo 2:1B, Jarwo 2:1C, Hazton, and Tegel. The plot size was 4 m x 5 m. The variables observed included initial soil properties, plant growth, and yield components. The jajar legowo cropping system in this study was not able to increase rice yields in acid sulphate soil. There was an interaction effect of cropping systems and varieties on the plant height and number of tillers at vegetative phase. At generative and pre-harvest phases, there was significant single effect of variety and cropping system in the planting height and number of tillers, respectively. Both cropping system and variety significantly affected the number of panicles per hill, while panicle length, grain per panicle and grain yield were only affected by variety. There was no significant effect of both factors on the number of filled grains per panicle. Inpara 8 variety achieved the highest grain yield, which was 6.78 ton.ha-1 or equivalent to 4.34 ton.ha-1 of 14 % water content.

Transformation of Zinnia elegans Jacq. as an ornamental potted plant by daminozide application

Zinnia elegans Jacq. is one of the ornamental plants potential to be used as a potted ornamental plants. The problem to be resolved is the size of the plant can reach 1 m, so it is necessary to modify the plant height into 20 cm to 25 cm using retardant (plant growth regulator), called daminozide. The purpose of this study was to determine the best concentration and soaking time using daminozide to inhibit the growth of zinnia. The research was conducted at Mangkuyudan 57, Yogyakarta. This research was arranged in a factorial design with 3 blocks as replication. Different concentrations of daminozide were used as first factor with three levels (1 g.L-1, 2 g.L-1, and 3 g.L-1) and soaking times were used as the second factor (12 h, 24 h, and 36 h). The data were analyzed using analysis of variance and continued with HSD-Tukey at the α = 5 %. The results showed that there were an interaction between daminozide concentration and soaking time in the height of Z. elegans. There were also positive correlation between plant height, number of flower, and flowering period. The best combination of daminozide concentration and soaking times were 2 g.L-1 and 12 h. This treatment gave the best height that fit to the criteria of a potted plant which was 20.08 cm. However, it reduced flower’s diameter, number of flowers, and canopy’s size.

Suitability assessment for oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) and coconut (Cocus nucifera) cultivation in coastal plain sands of South Southern Nigeria

Some soils of coastal plain sands in South Southern Nigeria were assessed for oil palm and coconut cultivation. This research was carried out to evaluate the soils of the study area using rigid grid soil survey methodology at detailed scale. The study area (128.11 ha) was delineated into four soil mapping units based on soil type. A pedon was sunk in each mapping unit and described according to FAO. Three soil orders, including Entisols (Ahiara), Inceptisols (Kulfo) and Ultisols (Orlu), were identified. Parametric and limitation methods of land suitability evaluation were used. Major limitations to assessment were climate (mean annual temperatures) and soil physical properties (texture/structure). Aggregate suitability rating (both actual and potential) showed that Ultisols (pedons 3 and 4, covering 56.73 ha) was moderately suitable (S2) for coconut and marginally suitable (S3) for oil palm, Inceptisols (pedon 2, covering 54.25 ha) was marginally suitable (S3) for coconut but not suitable (NS) for oil palm, and Entisols (Pedon 1covering 17.13 ha) was not suitable (NS) for any of the crops. Thus, area with Entisols should not be used for cultivation of any of the crops due to major limitation in texture. Moreover, both assessment approaches captured the major limitations. Therefore, the use of any of the approaches employed in this study and for these crops becomes a matter of choice as both of them showed no major differences in the application of their procedures.

Land suitability assessment of soils for rubber and cashew cultivation in the Coastal Area of Bodo City, Rivers State, Southern Nigeria

The research was carried out in Bodo city in Gokana Local Government of Rivers State, Southern Nigeria to evaluate the land suitability for rubber and cashew cultivation using the relevant land suitability guidelines for the cultivation of the two cash crops of interest. Mapping of the 100 ha of land in Bodo city was done using the rigid grid method of soil survey. The three mapping units (summit, middle slope and valley bottom) were identified and delineated. Three representative soil pedons of 2 m x 2 m x 2 m were dug and described by horizon from top to bottom (0 cm to 200 cm). Soil samples were collected from identifiable horizons and processed for laboratory analysis using standard routine laboratory methods most appropriate. The results showed that pedons 1 and 3 covering 86,000 ha of the entire study area were found to be moderately suitable for rubber cultivation with limitation in soil physical characteristics (texture) and fertility (low base saturation < 50 %). Pedon 2 covering 14,000 ha of the total land of the study area was marginally suitable due to limitation in soil fertility (low base saturation < 80 %). Pedon 1, 2, and 3 were also moderately suitable for cashew cultivation in the study area with limitation in soil physical characteristics (texture) and fertility (low organic carbon), while limitation in wetness (poor drainage) was peculiar to pedon 3 only. Thus, soils in the study area were moderately suitable for both rubber and cashew cultivation in the area.

Expression of Phytase gene in transgenic maize with seed-specific promoter 27-kDa γ Zein and constitutive promoter CaMV 35S

Phytase enzymes are applied to animal feed to help animals absorb more nutrients. The use of feed raw materials containing phytase enzymes is expected to reduce the cost of animal feed production. Efforts to increase the phytase content in maize were carried out by improving genetics, in the way of assembling transgenic plants containing high phytase content. The 27-kDa γ Zein promoter is a specific promoter that expresses genes in caryopsis, and promoter CaMV 35S is a constitutive promoter that controls gene expression in all tissues and generally does not depend on the growth phase. Transgenic maize was transformed using Agrobacterium tumefacien infection method on maize B104. The reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) approach was used to examine the expression of phytase genes in leaves, roots, and caryopsis was done 10, 20, and 30 days after pollination (DAP). The phytase enzyme activity test was also carried out by using the colorimetric phosphomolybdate analysis method to see the phytase enzyme activity in unit µg-1. The results showed that the phytase gene in transgenic plants with the 27-kDa γ Zein promoter was highly expressed in maize caryopsis, but in line Z6.10 was also expressed in leaves, while in the CaMV 35S promoter the phytase gene was only expressed on the leaves. Phytase enzyme activity showed that transgenic maize was higher than non-transgenic maize.

Effects of drip irrigation system with variation of water source and volume in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Water plays the important roles for plants. Besides maintaining the cell turgidity, it also functions as a nutrients solvent for photosythesis process, which affects plant growth. This study aimed to determine the effects of the source and volume of irrigation water with drip irrigation system on the growth of pepper plants in polybags. This research was conducted at the green house of Polbangtan Manokwari, Anday, West Papua from June to October 2020. This research was arranged in a factorial Completely Randomized Design consisting of two treatment factors, namely irrigation water source (PDAM water and ground water) and volume (150 mL per plant, 200 mL per plant, and 250 mL per plant). The results showed that PDAM water showed a better effect than groundwater, while the volume of irrigation water applied to pepper plants had no significant effect on plant height, number of leaves, and stem diameter. This situation is thought to be due to genetic factors from the pepper cultivars grown. PDAM water has a better effect because of its high pH and higher content of Nitrite as N content. Also, it has lower temperature, lower TDS, and lower iron contents. Meanwhile, irrigation water volume of 250 mL per plant per day has a minimal risk of plant drought compared to other treatments.