Growth And Yield of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) Varities in Sokoto Sudan Savanna of Nigeria

Field trial was carried out during the 2019 rainy season (June to October) at the Dryland Teaching and Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto to determine the growth and yield of sorghum varieties in the study area. The treatments consisted of five (5) sorghum varieties (Samsorg 45, Samsorg 46, Janjari, Yartawa and Jardawa), the treatments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated three (3) times. Data were collected on the growth and yield of the crop. Janjari and Jardawa varieties were higher in plant height. Jardawa and Yartawa varieties were higher in number of leaves. Janjari and Yartawa varieties were higher in total dry weight. Janjari, Jardawa and Yartawa varieties were higher in harvest index. Yartawa variety was higher in leaf area, leaf area index and 1000-grain weight. Jardawa variety was higher in panicle length. Janjari variety was early in number of days to heading, flowering, and maturity and was higher in dry stalk weight. The grain yield (249 – 1506kg ha-1 ) was higher in Janjari and Yartawa varieties (1268 – 1506 kg ha-1). Based on the findings of this research, it could be concluded that Janjari and Yartawa varieties performed better than other varieties in the study area.

Path Coefficient Analysis of Growth and Yield Traits of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) at Bokolori, Talata Mafara, Sudan Savanna Ecological Zone, Nigeria

In order to determine the direct and indirect effects of yield and yield components of rice, a field experiment was conducted in each of the wet seasons of 2016 and 2017 at Irrigation Research Stations of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Bokolori, Talata Mafara, in the Sudan Savanna ecological zone of Nigeria (12° 34’ N; 06° 04’E). The treatment consisted of four (4) weed management practice (Oxadiazon at 1.0 kg a.i ha-1 [pre-emergence], Orizo-plus [proponil 360 g/l + 2,4-D 200 g/l] at 2.8 kg a.i ha-1[post emergence at 3 WAS], manual weeding [at 3 and 6 WAS] and weedy check [control]); three (3) each of seeding method (Drilling, Dibbling and Broadcast) and seed rate (40 kg ha-1; 70 kg ha-1; 100 kg ha-1). The experiment was laid in a split plot design replicated three times. Weed management practice was assigned to the main plots while the combination of seeding method and seed rate to the subplots. Data were collected on plant height, leaf area, crop dry matter, tillering ability, crop growth rate, harvest index (HI), panicle length, number of grains per panicle, 1000-grain weight and paddy yield. The result indicated that, the highest individual contribution of 25.04% to paddy yield was made by dry matter followed by 1000-grain weight (8.74%), tillering ability (8.46%), leaf area (3.13%), number of grains per panicle (1.03%) and the least was from panicle length (0.83%). The contribution of these growth and yield attributes to yield suggests that, priority be given to these traits when making selection for improvement.

Seasonal variation of some atmospheric parameters in fresh water swamp and Sudan Savanna areas of Nigeria

The year in year out variation in atmospheric parameters, solar radiation, and meteorological variables such as ambient temperature, relative humidity RH, wind speed etc, are posies that can be and are used to describe the atmospheric conditions. Ten years of data obtained from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) was analysed. Results showed that solar radiation rises from January to get to its peak in April which is maintained till August before it begins to fall again with the Sudan savanna area (Maiduguri) having a value of (15.70 MJm-2month-1) and freshwater swamp area (Ikeja) having the value of (10.16 MJm-2month-1). The extraterrestrial radiations calculated for the two stations are 333.53 (MJm-2month-1) and 195.53 (MJm-2month-1) respectively. However, the relative humidity of Ikeja (84.54%) is higher as compared to that of Maiduguri (42.23%). The minimum temperature ranges observed for the two stations varies from (22 - 24)0C and (12 - 26)°C, while the maximum temperature was as high as 33°C and 40°C obtained in April for Ikeja and Maiduguri, respectively. Similarly, the average wind speed is higher for Ikeja (4.97m/s) than for Maiduguri (4.62m/s). The result of the statistical correlation reveals that, in Maiduguri, solar radiation was found to have a significant negative relationship with relative humidity (r = -.256, p<0.01) and a significant positive relationship with minimum and maximum temperature (p<0.05). This means that minimum and maximum temperatures increase as solar radiation increases (p<0.05). Relative humidity decreases as solar radiation increases. In Ikeja, solar radiation was found to have a significant negative relationship with relative humidity (r =-.350, p<0.01) and wind speed (r = -146, p<0.05) and significant positive relationship with minimum temperature (r =.410, p<0.05) and maximum temperature (r =.575, p<0.01). In conclusion, the variables like relative humidity, minimum temperature and wind speed are higher in the freshwater swamp area of Nigeria as compared to the Sudan savanna area, while the solar radiation, extraterrestrial radiation and maximum temperature are generally higher in the Sudan savanna area of Nigeria.

Performance of Green Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Varieties in Response to Poultry Manure in Sudan Savanna of Nigeria

Nutrients are limiting factors in green bean cultivation in the Sudan Savanna agro-ecological zone of Nigeria. Thus, field trials were conducted in the 2018 rainy season at the Teaching and Research Farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano and Teaching and Demonstration Farm of Department of Agricultural Education, Federal College of Education, Katsina. To study the growth and yield performance of green bean varieties as affected by poultry manure. The treatments consisted of two green bean varieties (Bean Cora and Haricot Contender) and three different rates of chicken manure (0, 2.5 and 5 t ha-1 ). The experimental design employed was l Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. Data collected were analysed (ANOVA) using the Genstat statistical package. The results revealed that varieties differed significantly in most of the studied characters. Haricot Contender recorded significantly higher canopy height, number of leaves per plant, plant dry matter and leaf area per plant than Bean Cora. While, Bean Cora significantly produced more pods per plant, pod weight per plant and green pod yield than Haricot Contender. The results also indicated that 5 t ha-1 of poultry manure application significantly increased all the studied characters compared with 2.5 t ha-1 and control. Based on this Study, Bean Cora is a promising variety in these locations. Further research using poultry manure to ascertain the optimum rate for higher green bean production in the Sudan Savanna of Nigeria is required. Keywords: Green bean, Bean Cora, Haricot Contender, poultry manure, soil

A nationwide survey of the tabanid fauna of Cameroon

Background Tabanids are a neglected group of haematophagous dipterans despite containing 4434 species, regrouped in > 144 genera. They are mechanical vectors of important pathogens, including viruses, bacteria and protozoa of humans and domesticated and wild animals. As it is > 50 years since the publication of a preliminary nationwide record of the tabanids of Cameroon identified 84 species, updated information is needed. The aim of this study was to provide current data on the species composition, abundance and distribution of tabanids in the five main agro-ecological zones (AEZs) of Cameroon. Methods From 2015 to 2017, a systematic entomological study using Nzi, Vavoua, Biconical and Sevi traps (n = 106) was conducted in 604 trapping points over 11,448 trap-days in the five main AEZs of Cameroon. Results A total of 25,280 tabanids belonging to 25 species were collected, including eight species not previously documented in Cameroon, namely Tabanus latipes (1 female), Tabanus ricardae (1 female), Tabanus fasciatus (32 females and 6 males), Haematopota pluvialis (18 females), Haematopota decora (19 females and 3 males), Haematopota nigripennis (18 females), Chrysops distinctipennis (47 females and 5 males) and Ancala fasciata (34 females and 7 males). The distribution maps of the newly identified tabanids differed between AEZs, with most tabanids collected from the Guinean savanna. The highest apparent density of tabanids was recorded in the Sudan Savanna region, and the mean apparent densities of species with sites was statistically significantly different (Student t-test: 2.519, df = 24, P = 0.019). The highest species diversity was found in the rainforest. Conclusions This study increased the list of tabanids recorded in Cameroon from 84 species in the preliminary record to 92 species, with most of the newly identified species occurring in the Guinea Savanna AEZ. The high diversity and abundance of tabanids in the livestock/wildlife interface areas of the rain forests and Sudan Savanna AEZs, respectively, suggest risk of mechanical transmission of pathogens. Investigations of the microbiota of tabanids in the different AEZs to define their role as disease vectors are proposed. Graphical abstract

Response of onion (Allium cepa L.) to plant population and weed control methods in a chicken weed (Portulaca quadrifida L.) infested field In Sudan Savanna, Nigeria

Chicken weed is a significant weed in India and it occurs under onion cultivated field at Birnin Kebbi in the Sudan Savannah, Nigeria. On-farm experiment was conducted at Birnin Kebbi during the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 dry season to evaluate the effect of plant population and weed control methods on the management of chicken weed (Portulaca quadrifida) alongside other weeds in onion field. The experiment consisted of three plant populations (500,000, 333,333 and 250,000 plants per hectare) and twelve weed control methods (Pendimethalin at 1.0 kg a.i. ha-1, + 1Hw; pendimethalin at 1.5 kg a.i. ha-1 + fluazifop-p-butyl at 2.0 kg a.i. ha-1; pendimethalin at 2.0 kg a.i. ha-1; butachlor at 2.0 kg a.i. ha-1 + 1Hw; butachlor at 2.8 kg a.i. ha-1 + oxyfluorfen at 1.0 kg a.i. ha-1; butachlor at 3.6 kg a.i. ha-1; fluazifop-p-butyl at 2.0 kg a.i. ha-1; oxyfluorfen at 1.0 kg a.i. ha-1 + 1Hw; hoe weeding at 3 (WAT); hoe weeding at 3 and 6 WAT; weed free and weedy check). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete Block design replicated three times. Results showed that weed, growth and yield parameters were not significantly affected by plant population. Pendimethalin at 1.5 kg a.i. ha-1 + fluazifop-p-butyl at 2.0 kg a.i. ha-1 and weed free plots consistently recorded the lowest weed cover and highest weed control efficiency. Butachlor at 2.0 kg a.i. ha-1 + 1 Hw recorded the lowest crop injury score. Increase in plant height was observed when pendimethalin at 1.0 and 1.5 kg a.i. ha-1 + 1 Hw and fluazifop-p-butyl at 2.0 kg a.i. ha-1 respectively was applied, while application of pendimethalin at 2.0 kg a.i. ha-1 and butachlor at 2.0 kg a.i. ha-1 + 1 Hw recorded highest number of leaves and leaf area. Cured bulb and marketable bulb yield were greater with the use of pendimethalin and butachlor at 1.0 and 1.5 kg a.i. ha-1 + 1 Hw and the pooled data respectively. Application of pendimethalin and butachlor at the rate of 1.0 and 2.0 kg a.i. ha-1 followed by 1 Hw at 6 WAT respectively was therefore recommended for the control of chicken weed alongside other weed species in the ecology

Response of groundnut (Arachis hypogea) to rhizobia inoculation, mineral nitrogen and inoculation amendment at the two agro ecological zones of northern Nigerian savannah

Nitrogen is the most limiting major nutrient required by all living plants. Nitrogen fertilizer is costly and too much application of nitrogen causes detrimental effects to our ecosystem. Alternatively, the use of commercial microbial inoculants will be an alternative to chemical fertilizer for the small holder farmers in northern Nigeria. Groundnut (pea nut) was selected as a test crop for the inoculation. The experiment was conducted at Sudan savannah in Kano State and Guinea savannah in Bauchi state of Nigeria during the 2016 cropping season. The design of the experiment was RCBD with seven treatments and four replications in each site. Two rhizobia inoculants were tested on groundnut in two agroecological zones of northern Nigeria to monitor their performance and their ability to establish symbiotic and nodulate the crops. The treatments combinations were; histic, biofix, nitrogen, cattle manure, histic + cattle manure, biofix + cattle manure and control. In the groundnut field, Biofix produced higher nitrogen fixed than all treatments in the Sudan savanna, while in the Guinea savanna no significant differences (P = 0.67) were observed between the treatments and the control. However, inoculated plots had higher nitrogen fixation than the control.

EFFECT OF SEASON ON PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF THREE BREEDS OF CATTLE RAISED IN SUDAN SAVANNA ZONE

This study was conducted to test the effect of season and breed on thermoregulatory parameters of three Nigerian indigenous breeds of cattle raised in Sudan Savanna Zone. A total number of nine (9) cattle aged between 4-5 years were used for this study. Data were taken for sixteen weeks across two seasons; Cold and Hot Season from three indigenous breed of cattle. Rectal temperature was recorded using digital thermometer, pulse rate was determined using stethoscope and respiratory rate was determined by counting of the respiratory movements of flank area. Data of ambient temperature and relative humidity were recorded on daily basis and temperature humidity index was calculated. All data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance using SAS software. Seasons significantly (P < 0.05) affect all the thermoregulatory parameters of with hot seasons having the highest values. Breed influenced (p<0.05) all the parameters measured. Red Bororo had the highest rectal temperature, while Sokoto has the least rectal temperature. Higher respiratory rate was recorded in SokotoGudali. Respiratory Rate of White Fulani are statistically similar with both Red Bororo and SokotoGudali, but Respiratory Rate of Red Bororo cattle has significantly difference (P<0.05) with SokotoGudali breeds of cattle. Pulse rate differs significantly (P<0.05), SokotoGudali recorded the highest rate and the least rate was observed in White Fulani cattle. It was concluded that Season affect all the thermoregulatory parameters and all the tested parameters were higher during hot season and SokotoGudali react more to thermal stress than Red Bororo and White Fulani