http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1810 Sat, 04 Apr 2026 08:40:13 GMT 2026-04-04T08:40:13Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1897 EVALUATION OF CASSAVA PEEL BASED COMPOSTS FOR BANANA (Musa cavendish cv. Williams) PRODUCTION IN IBADAN, NIGERIA IPADEOLA, Stephen Adesola Cassava peel (CP) is an organic waste of cassava processing that requires extra cost to manage but it can be composted as soil amendment in crop production. However, CP is limited in bioavailable potassium (K) and often requires fortification with other organic sources for optimum performance. Mexican sunflower (MS), Siam weed (SW) and Poultry manure (PM) can be used as fortifiers to improve the fertilizer use efficiency of CP, but there is a dearth of documentation about its use as fertilizer in banana production. Therefore, the nutrient release pattern of cassava peel-based compost (CPBC), and banana growth and yield responses to CPBC application were investigated in Ibadan, Nigeria. The CP fortified with MS, SW and PM were composted as CP (100%), CP+PM (70%+30%), CP+SW (70%+30%), CP+MS (70%+30%), CP+PM+SW+MS (70%+10%+10%+10%) and CP+SW+MS (70%+15%+15%). From each compost, 0.34 g was added to 50 g river sand weighed into75 ml incubation cup and were laid in a completely randomized design with four replications in the laboratory to study K (cmol/kg) release patterns for 10 weeks. Sand samples were collected from each incubation cup at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks for nutrient analyses using standard procedures. The best three composts CP+PM, CP+PM+SW+MS and CP+SW+MS were selected for field trials with control in a randomized complete block design replicated thrice. On the field, the selected CPBC were applied at banana recommended rate of 600 kg K/ha and studied for 18 months using banana as a test crop. Stem GirthSG (cm), Number of Sucker at Harvest-NSH, Plant Height-PH (cm), Number of Hands per BunchNHB and Bunch Weight at Harvest -BWH (kg) were determined using standard procedures. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA≤0.05. Nutrients released were significantly different among the composts in the weeks of incubation. The highest K determined by the composts were 1.91±0.34 (CP+PM+SW+MS) at 2, 1.46±0.41 (CP+SW) at 4, 1.38±0.64 (CP+MS) at 6, 1.18±0.21 (CP+SW+MS) at 8 and 1.09±0.42 (CP+PM) at 10 weeks after incubation (WAI). The highest total N and total P determined was at 2 and 8 WAI with 2.31±0.41 (CP+PM+SW+MS) and 118.75±0.41 (CP+PM+SW+MS) respectively. The CPBC treatments significantly improved the banana growth parameters with similar SG and NSH from CP+SW+MS (14.96±0.37) and from CP+PM+SW+MS (14.29±0.31) but significantly higher than CP+PM (13.00±0.28) and control (9.66±0.37); likewise compost of CP+PM+SW+MS gave tallest plants (175.49±0.27) followed by CP+SW+MS (159.61±0.44) which was similar to CP+PM (141.93±0.34) but significantly higher than control (112.62±0.31) at 12 months after planting. The NHB in CP+PM+SW+MS (12.10±0.04) and CP+SW+MS (11.97±0.04) were similar but significantly higher than CP+PM (10.93±0.04) and control (6.43±0.04). The BWH at 18 months from CP+PM+SW+MS (10.87±0.56) and CP+SW+MS (10.68±0.56) were similar but significantly higher than CP+PM (10.28±0.56) and control (8.96±0.56). Composted cassava peel, poultry manure, Siam weed and Mexican sunflower (70%+10%+10%+10%) and cassava peel, Siam weed and Mexican sunflower (70%+15%+15%) gave considerable amount of potassium determined and high yield in banana production, which could be recommended for use by farmers. Wed, 01 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1897 2023-03-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1895 AGRICULTURAL POTENTIALS OF SOILS DERIVED FROM SELECTED PARENT MATERIALS ON THE JOS PLATEAU, NIGERIA AKINWA, Andrew Olabanji The agricultural potentials of soils depend on their properties which are usually influenced by the Parent Materials (PMs). An understanding of the properties of soils from different PMs is required for effective management and utilisation. Despite the high agricultural prospects of the semi temperate climate of the Jos Plateau, limited information is available on the effects of the PMs on the agricultural potentials of the soils. This study was, therefore, conducted to characterise, classify and assess the agricultural potentials of soils resulting from three major PMs (Basalt, Granite and Unconsolidated deposits [UD]) on the Plateau. A reconnaissance survey of the Jos Plateau was conducted to identify soils from the three PMs. One profile pit each was sunk and described at the crest, upper slope, middle slope, lower slope and valley bottom positions on two toposequences of soils formed on each PM, using standard methods. Randomised complete block design was used with three PMs as treatments replicated twice. Parent materials and soil samples were collected, assessed for morphological characteristics and analysed for physical and chemical properties, following standard procedures. These properties were used to classify the soils using USDA and FAO/World Reference Base systems while their agricultural potentials were assessed using Land Capability (LC) and Fertility Capability (FC) evaluation systems. Land capability was rated classes I (soils with few limitations), II (some limitations), III (severe limitations), IV (very severe limitations), V (limitations other than erosion hazards), VI (extreme limitations), VII (use restricted to grazing) and VIII (unsuitable). Fertility Capability was rated on specific constraints to soil fertility; the less the constraints, the better the soil. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at 0.05. Basalt was fine grained, Granite and rock remnants of UD were coarse grained and their soils differed significantly in properties. Soils were red, strong brown and yellowish brown in colour on Basalt, Granite and UD PMs, respectively. The soils were well drained in the upper and middle slope positions and imperfectly or poorly drained in the lower slope and valley bottom positions. Total nitrogen was 1.32±0.75 g/kg, 1.47±0.82 g/kg and 1.08±0.62 g/kg for soils derived from Basalt, Granite and UD, respectively. Exchangeable potassium was significantly higher (0.63±0.38 cmol/kg) for the soils from Granite than those from Basalt (0.41±0.38 cmol/kg) and UD (0.37±0.34 cmol/kg). Effective cation exchange capacity was 10.78±6.2 cmol/kg, 15.24±3.6 cmol/kg and 15.48±2.88 cmol/kg for the soils from Basalt, Granite and UD, respectively. The soils from Basalt and Granite were classified as Inceptisols (Cambisols) and Alfisols (Lixisols); those from UD were Alfisols (Lixisols). In LC classification, class II land was 50%, 40% and 30% on Basalt, UD and Granite, respectively. Soils from UD had the least constraints to fertility (three), Basalt (four) and Granite (six), in FC classification. The soils of the Jos Plateau investigated were mainly Inceptisols (Cambisols) and Alfisols (Lixisols). Basalt and Unconsolidated deposits derived soils with minimal constraints had higher agricultural potentials than those from Granite and could support sustainable agricultural production with good management. Sat, 01 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1895 2023-07-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1812 RESPONSES OF WOROWO [Senecio biafrae (Oliv. & Hiern.) S. Moore] TO COMPOSTS ENRICHED WITH ORGANIC NITROGEN SOURCES ADEYEMI, FOLASADE OLUWAFISAYO Worowo (Senecio biafrae) is a semi-wild, indigenous and nutritious vegetable. Demand for worowo is increasing due to its nutritional values, thus necessitating its domestication for increased production. However, there is limited information on soil fertility requirements of worowo and the use of inorganic fertilisers for its production could be expensive and detrimental to environment. Composts are more environmentfriendly and effective in improving soil fertility but their use are constrained by low nitrogen contents, thereby necessitating enrichment with various nitrogen sources. Therefore, responses of worowo to organically nitrogen-enriched composts were investigated. Composts from Cattle Dung+Sawdust-CDS at 1:1 (w/w) and Poultry Droppings+Sawdust-PDS at 1:1 (w/w) were enriched to 15, 30, 45 and 60 g N/kg with meals from dried bone-BnM, blood-BM, hoof-HM, and horn-HnM, neem-Nm and Tithonia leaves-TM. Compost treatments obtained were: CDS and PDS (no enrichment added), CDSBnM, CDSBM, CDSHM, CDSHnM, CDSNM and CDSTM; PDSBnM, PDSBM, PDSHM, PDSHnM, PDSNM and PDSTM. Compost treatments (30 t/ha) in 2.0 kg soils and control (soil alone) were incubated for 16 weeks for nitrogen analysis. Worowo was raised in pots with CDS, PDS and 60 g N/kg enriched composts at 30 t/ha and control (soil alone), compared with 60 kg N/ha NPK 15-15-15 in a completely randomised design with three replicates. Edible Shoot Yield (ESY) of worowo (t/ha) was measured at 180 Days After Planting (DAP). On the field, effects of CDSNM (60 g N/kg) at 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 t/ha were compared with NPK 15-15-15 at 60 kg N/ha on the ESY of worowo at 180 DAP, using randomised complete block design with four replicates, in two raining seasons. Samples of worowo edible shoots at harvest at the two seasons were analysed for Crude Fibre-CF (%). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α0.05. Highest and least N (g N/kg) contents (9.2 and 0.4) from soils incubated with compost treatments were from CDSNM at 60 g N/kg (16 weeks) and control (8 weeks), respectively. In pots, ESY (t/ha) of 60 g N/kg CDSNM (54.93±1.91) was significantly higher than NPK (36.53±1.27) and others but similar to CDS (50.93±1.77) while pots treated with PDS were lowest (8.00±0.28). At first season on the field (180 DAP), CDSNM at 40 t/ha had the highest ESY (8.66±1.24) which significantly differed from other treatments except CDSNM at 30 (6.30±0.90) and 20 (5.53±0.79) t/ha while control gave lowest (3.00±0.43). The ESY (180 DAP) from CDSNM at 40 t/ha (10.55±1.95) was highest in the second season and differed significantly from other treatments but comparable to CDSNM at 30 t/ha (7.30±1.35). Lowest ESY (1.41±0.26) was from plots allotted to NPK. At first season, CF contents of 60 g N/kg CDSNM treatments, NPK 15-15-15 and control were in the order: 40 t/ha-12.00±0.59> NPK-11.20±0.59> 30 t/ha-11.00±0.59> 20 t/ha-10.62±0.59>Control- 10.50±0.59> 10 t/ha-10.45±0.59, which followed the same order at the second season. Cattle dung-sawdust compost enriched with neem to 60 g N/kg applied at 30 t/ha improved edible shoot yield and crude fibre of worowo, hence could be adopted for its production. Tue, 01 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1812 2022-03-01T00:00:00Z