Browsing by Author "Lawal, O.O."

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    Influence of Tillage Systems on Diversity and Abundance of Insect and Nematode Pests of Maize in Malete, Kwara State, Nigeria
    (Asian Journal of Advances in Agricultural Research, 2018-10-31) Aderolu1, I.A.; Lawal, O.O.; Wahab, A.A.; Alabi, K.O.; Osunlola, O.S.; Giwa, M.M.
    Pests are major biotic factors causing up to 45% yield reduction in maize production. There is limited information on pests affecting maize in Malete, Kwara State, Nigeria. The types of insects and nematodes associated with ten quality protein maize varieties (QPMVs) were evaluated for pests’ occurrence, abundance and diversity on ‘plough only plots (POP)’ and ‘plough and harrow plots (PAHP)’ as primary and secondary tillage, respectively. The experiment was carried out using QPMVs at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Kwara State University, Malete and arranged in a randomised complete block design with 11 treatments replicated 3 times, including local check “pambo”. Data were collected on insect and nematode populations and yield parameters and analysed using ANOVA with descriptive statistics and standard diversity indices at P≤0.05. A total of 833.1±4.0 and 799.3±3.4 arthropod individuals from POP and PAHP tillage practices, respectively comprising 8 orders and 18 families. Ootheca mutabilis was the most abundant species, with 5.47% (POP) and 5.68% (PAHP) and the least was Rhopalosiphum maidis 1.82% (POP) and 1.80% (PAHP). As indicated by Shannon-Wiener (3.46±0.023) and Simpson indices (0.97±0.0008), there was even distribution in the tillage practices. Three genera of plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) namely: Meloidogyne spp. [(POP (78.33±19.65), PAHP (1.33±0.33)], Pratylenchus spp. [(POP (41.67±9.26), PAHP (5.00±2.31)], and Helicotylenchus spp. [(POP (58.33±38.35), PAHP (23.33±14.50)] were identified. The yield parameters and a number of the whole plant infested were significantly higher in the PAHP than the POP. The use of secondary tillage practice is effective in reducing insects and nematodes associated with ten quality protein maize varieties and, therefore, recommended for the management of these pests in maize production.
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    Suitability Evaluation of a Typic Plinthustalf in Southern Guinea Savanna Zone of Nigeria, for the production of Quality Protein Maize (Zea mays L.)
    (Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria., 2020) Alabi, K. O.; Wahab, A. A.; Lawal, O.O.; Uthman A. C. O.; Afe A.I.; Omodele T.
    The need to optimize and produce maize of quality protein content in a Typic plinthustalfs calls for potential suitability evaluation. Hence, three mapping units were established along the toposequence and three profile pits were dug at each per mapping unit. The pits were described and sampled following FAO guidelines. Soil samples were taken from the pedogenic horizons for morphological, physical and chemical data analyses. Linear parametric and square root models were used for assessing the suitability of the soils for maize production. Land qualities considered in the study were climate, topography, wetness, soil fertility and soil physical properties. Except for the fertility status of the land, other qualities were not a constraint to the production of maize at the study site. All the pedons were classified as currently not suitable by both linear and square root models with index of current productivity (IPc) ranging between 1.08 and 2.05. Potentially, using the linear model, the index of potential productivity (IPp) ranged between 63 and 90 thus rated pedon 1 and 2 as highly suitable and pedon 3 as moderately suitable while the square root model indicated all pedons as highly suitable, for both local and quality protein maize production. The limiting factors were mainly low levels of available macro-nutrients (N, P, K, Mg), low organic carbon (0.82 %), and low cation exchange capacity (< 16 cmol/Kg) in all three pedons studied. In conclusion, all the pedons were classified as Typic plinthustalfs were currently not suitable (N1) for Maize Production both by the linear and square root models. Hence, it is therefore recommended that good soil management practices such as integrated soil fertilizer application, effective tillage practices and cover cropping should be adopted to ensure sustainable land use for maize production at the studied site.