Evaluation of Growth Performances of Some Locally Farmed Maize (Zea mays L.) in Cross River State, Nigeria under Different Concentrations of Silicon.

OBJECTIVE: Growth performances of four maize varieties (91 SUWANI, TZL COMP 4, DT STR Y SYN 2 and IWO SYN C2) were investigated at four levels of silicon concentration (0, 2500, 5000 and 7500 mg, with 0 mg as control). METHODOLOGY: Viable seeds were planted in polythene bags (64 bags) containing soil in a randomized complete block design (a 4×4 factorial experiment) with four replications. Plant height, stem girth, leaf area and leaf number were evaluated at 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks after planting. RESULTS: There was significant difference (p≤0.05) for all growth parameters and across varieties. Highest mean plant height (144.58 cm) and mean number of leaves (12.23) were recorded at 5000 mg silicon concentration in all varieties, while stem girth and stem biomass were highest in TZL COMP4 (3.42 cm, 38.44 dry weight g-1). CONCLUSION: Based on these results, 5000 mg silicon concentration is recommended as nutrient supplement to enhance maize production.

Estimation of genetic variability in locally grown pulses (Cajans cajan (L.) Millsp and Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp): a panacea for sourcing superior genotypes.

The negligence of breeders and farmers to explore and exploit landraces of pulses is worrisome and urgent measures needed to be set in motion to forestall major future crisis, taking into cognizance the high adaptability and nutritive values accredited to them. This study focused on the estimation of genetic variability and heritability of desirable morphological characters in Fiofio (Cajans cajan) and Olaudi and Akidi (Vigna unguiculata) with the aim of conservation. Three landraces of pulses were sown using randomized complete block design. The field experiment was carried out at the University of Calabar Experimental Farm, University of Calabar, Calabar, during 2008-2010 growing season. Phenotypic and genotypic variances and coefficients of variation and genetic advance were estimated on yield and yield-related traits. The results showed that there were considerable variations among the pulses for the traits studied. The result revealed high genetic variability in the number of leaf per plant, leaf area, number of flowers per plant, number of pods per plant and number of seeds per plant. It also showed that genetic variability in pod length and 100-seed weight was low. Heritability estimates obtained in the result were very high though the magnitude of genetic variability in the yield and yield-related traits was not proportional to the heritability estimates. The traits studied also show high genetic advance. These explicitly showed that there are sufficient genetic variations to warrant conservation and improvement in these extinction-threatened pulses studied.