Browsing by Author "S. Atanda"

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    Percentage Yield Difference, an Index for Evaluating Intercropping Efficiency
    (2014-11-06) A. I. Afe; S. Atanda
    Aim: To evaluate intercropping efficiency using percentage yield difference (PYD) and to compare the index with other indices. Study Design: The design was a 2 X 5 factorial in a randomized complete block design, and replicated three times. Location: The study was carried out at the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority, Ejiba (18°18°N, 5°39°E), Kogi State in the Southern Guinea Savannah Zone of Nigeria in 2008 and 2009 cropping seasons. Methodology: Erect and prostrate cowpeas and maize were mixed at five population ratios. The five population ratios were: 100%C: 75%M, 100%C:50%M, 100%C:25%M, 75%C:25%M and 50%C:50%M (were C and M represented Cowpea and Maize respectively). Sole crops of each crop at full population were included as control treatments. Land Equivalent Ratio (LER), Area Time Equivalent Ratio (ATER), Monetary Equivalent Ratio (MER) and Percentage Yield Difference (PYD) were estimated and compared. Results: Results of this study showed that LER, ATER, and PYD values were similar for the two cultivars in the two years. LER values ranges between 1.18 and 1.27 in 2008 and 1.12 and 1.30 in 2009. MER did not follow the same trend as LER and ATER. Lower values were obtained particularly in 2009. However, the highest MER 1.35 and 1.23 in 2008 and 2009 respectively were obtained in prostrate cowpea / maize mixture at population ratio of 100:50. The PYD advantage varies between 5-33% in the two years. Conclusion: The comparable values of PYD with other indices suggest that it can be used to evaluate/ intercropping efficiency in crop mixture.
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    Response of maize (Zea mays L.) to combined application of organic and inorganic (soil and foliar applied) fertilizers
    (2015) A. I. Afe; S. Atanda; M. O. Aduloju; S. K. Ogundare; A. A. Talabi
    A field trial was carried out in the 2013 cropping season at the Teaching and Research Farm of Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria (08° 42” 48.5N and 004° 26 17.9” E ) to assess the response of early maturing maize variety (TZEE-Y) when using organic poultry manure (pm) alone or in combination with inorganic (NPK) and foliar fertilizer (ff) (boost xtra). The treatments were: pm 5.0 t ha-1 + ff, pm 2.5 t ha-1 + NPK 30 kg N + ff, NPK 60 kg N + ff, pm 5.0 t ha-1 + NPK 60 kg N, pm 10.0 t ha-1 + 60 kg N, NPK 120 kg N/ha, pm 10.0 t ha-1 and control. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Applications of poultry manure at 10.0t ha-1 produced the highest plant height (119.57 cm2), leaf area (362.10 cm2) and cob length (17.47 cm2). However, significantly, was at par with integrated application of poultry manure at 2.5 t ha-1 mixed with NPK 30 kgN ha-1 and foliar fertilizers. As compared to other treatments, significantly shorter days (38) to 50% flowering was obtained where 2.5 t ha-1 poultry manure was combined with NPK 30 kgN/ha and foliar fertilizer. The highest grain yield (3.206 t ha-1) was obtained when pm was applied alone at 10.0 t ha-1. This was also similar to the combined application of pm at 2.5t ha-1 mixed with NPK 30 kgN ha-1 and foliar fertilizer. The results of the study indicated that combined application of pm, NPK and ff enhanced the growth and yield of maize. This integrated application will be a good soil management practice for tropical soils. Combination of pm at 2.5 t ha-1 with NPK 30 kgN ha-1 and foliar fertilizer (boost xtra) is therefore recommended for early maturing maize production in the study area