Asian Journal of Agricultural and Horticultural Research

This study aimed at assessing the magnitude and nature of genetic variation present in seventeen pro-vitamin A (PVA) maize varieties, investigate the extent of association among agronomic characters responsible for yield and its components in the maize varieties and evaluate the performance of the maize varieties. The field experiment was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Rivers State University, Nkpolu, Port Harcourt under rain fed conditions in May, 2018 and were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were collected on established plants per plot, days to 50% silking, days to 50% anthesis, anthesis-silking interval, plant height, ear height, final stand count, number of ears harvested, grain moisture content, field weight and grain yield. Results showed significant differences (P < 0.01) among varieties for all traits evaluated. PVASYN-13 had the highest grain yield per hectare among other varieties. High heritability estimates coupled with high genetic advance were observed in established plants per plot, anthesis-silking interval, final stand count, number of ears harvested, field weight and grain yield, an indication of the additive nature of their inheritance. Thus, the presence of variation could serve as basis for selection for yield improvement in maize.

Information on some agronomic practices are required for muskmelon production as there is no record of its production in Ado-Ekiti. A field study of 3 x 2 factorial experiment of sowing dates (January, May and September) and NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer application (0 and 333 kg ha^-1) was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design in three replicates at the Teaching and Research Farm of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. Data collected on the number of leaves and branches, leaf area, vine length, day to flowering, 50% flowering, number of fruit, fruit size and yield were subjected to analysis of variance and treatment means separated by Duncan's Multiple Range Test at 5% probability. Dates of sowing did not significantly influence growth but muskmelon planted in May gave a higher number of leaves plant^-1, leaf area and vine length. Fertilized plants produced better growth and earlier flowering than unfertilized plants. The number of fruits ha^-1, average fruit weight and fruit yield ha^-1 of 11606, 0.78 kg and 9.09 t ha^-1 respectively were produced by fertilized plants which were significantly higher than 10036.70, 0.28 kg and 2.44 t ha^-1 from unfertilized plants. Muskmelon planted in September produced a higher number of fruits and fruit yield of 12418 and 11.29 t ha^-1 while muskmelon planted in May produced higher fruit weight (0.94 kg) but these did not differ significantly from other sowing dates. Planting muskmelon under the rain-fed condition with adequate fertilizer application gave better performance and is thereby recommended for muskmelon production in Ado-Ekiti. 

An experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Research Farm, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh during November 2015 to March 2016 to find out the effects of potassium on the growth, yield and physico-chemical properties of three garden pea (Pisum sativum) varieties. The experiment comprise three Garden pea varieties viz. V₁ = IPSA Motorshuti-3, V₂ = Broad Bean Master Piece and V₃ = BARI Motorshuti-1 and four levels of potassium viz. K₀ (Control), K₁ (25 kg ha^-1), K₂ (50 kg ha^-1) and K₃ and (75 kg ha^-1), respectively. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results of the experiment reviled that K nutrition and genotypic variation significantly (p < 0.05) determined the yield of the garden pea. Different levels of potassium had significant influences on almost all the parameters studied these three varieties. Maximum plant height (166.67 cm), branches plant^-1 (7.00), pods plant^-1 (39.00), sugar content (15.40%) was obtained from V₁K₂ (IPSA Motorshuti-3 with 50 kg K₂O ha^-1) treatment. Whereas highest pod length (8.533 cm), pod breadth (9.47 mm), number of seeds pod^-1 (8.67),  green seed weight (305.00 g), Magnesium content, (0.29%) was obtained under the treatment V₂K₂ (Broad Bean Masterpiece with 50 kg K₂O  ha^-1). The maximum green pod yield (12.78 t ha^-1), calcium content (0. 20%), vitamin- A (1.03 mg/kg), was obtained from V₃K₂ (BARI Motorshuti -1 with 50 kg K₂O ha^-1).

Aims: Investigated the influence of organic manures (municipal solid waste compost [MSWC] and cow dung) and N-fertilizer on growth, yield and nutrient use efficiency of jute mallow (Corchorus olitorius L.) under two water regimes (rain-fed and irrigated).

Study Design: Randomized complete block.

Place and Duration of Study: Farm of Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Parakou, Northern Benin (latitude 09°20’16.8’’N and longitude 002°38’54’’ E, 353 m asl), during 2013 rainy (June to August) and dry seasons (October to December 2013).

Methodology: Ten treatments derived from a factorial combination of five levels of organic manures (control, MSWC at 10 t/ha, MSWC at 20 t/ha, cow dung at 10 t/ha and cow dung at 20 t/ha) and two levels of N-fertilizer (0 kg and 50 kg urea/ha), arranged in a randomized complete block with three replicates were considered.

Results: Results showed that water regime significantly (p<.001) affected growth and yield of jute mallow. In addition, the growth and yield parameters showed significant differences (p<.001) in relation to different rates of organic manures.  The integrated use of organic manure and urea increased plant height, number of leaves, stem diameter, number of branches, leaf growth parameters and leaf yield. The maximum amount of leaf yield (7554.88 kg/ha) was obtained with 20 tons/ha of MSWC and 50 kg urea/ha.

Conclusion: Fertilizer types also had highly significant effects on nutrient use efficiency. Application of these treatments could help to enhance yield and growth of the jute mallow.

A study was performed during 2016 from January to July for safe mango production by applying the minimum use of pesticides. The mango fruits were bagged at marble stage (45 days after fruit set) with various treatments viz: T₀: No bagging (control), T₁: Brown paper double-layered bag (BPB); T₂: White paper single-layered bag (WPB); T₃: Perforated polythene bag (PB) and T₄: White cloth bag (WCB). In physical parameters, brown and white paper bag recorded the maximum fruit weight (169.10 g and 147.6 g), fruit length (8.57 and 8.33 cm), fruit diameter (5.63 and 5.87 cm) and pulp weight (124.47 g and 105.60 g) respectively, while minimum result was found in the other treatments and control. Meanwhile, in bagging fruits, chemical parameters of total soluble solids, ascorbic acid, percent of citric acid, reducing sugars and β- carotene were increased over control. Brown paper bag changed fruit color. The sensory qualities in fruits of brown and white paper bags were improved over control. Fruit retention was significantly improved by pre-harvest fruit bagging with a brown paper bag (95.90%), white paper bag (95.50%), and control (90.00%) over polythene bag (80.00%). Fruits with brown paper bags showed shelf life up to 18 days with good physical quality and the lowest weight loss against 15 days of control fruits. The sensory attributes were better in fruits of brown, white paper and white cloth bags over control. Bagging at marble stage also reduced the occurrence of spongy tissue and the incidence of mealy bugs. These results indicate that fruit bagging can improve the quality and the shelf life of mango cv. Amrapali through the reduction of disease and insect-pest attack.