Management systems for sustainble productivity of plantain ratoon crops intercropping systems in the tropical ultisol of Imo State, Nigeria
Date
2021-07
Authors
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Publisher
Federal University of Technology, Owerri
Abstract
Two field experiments were conducted at Umuagwo, Imo State in 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons to investigate management systems for sustainable productivity of plantain ratoon crops intercropping systems in the tropical ultisol of Imo State, Nigeria. Experiment one was the evaluation of the effect of four organic manure sources on the growth and yield of plantain ratoon crops under different cassava densities and to evaluate weed suppressibility at varying population of plantain ratoon crops / cassava mixture. Experiment two was the evaluation of the residual effects of the organic manure sources and ash on the plantain ratoon/ cassava mixture. The organic manure sources were zero, poultry manure at 10 tons/ha, pig dung at 10 tons/ha and cow dung at 10 tons/ha. The ash was a blanket application each applied at 5 tons/ha as organic amendment. The cassava densities were 100.0 x 50.0 cm (20,000 plants/ha), 100 x 100.0 cm (10,0000 plants/ha) at 100.0 x 200.0 cm (5,000 plants/ha). Experiment one and two were all 3 x 4 factorial experiments arranged in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 12 treatments replicated three times. Plant height (cm), number of functional leaves, stem girth (cm), leaf area (cm2), days to 50 % flowering (months), number of hands/bunch, number of suckers/plant, bunch weight (tons/ha), cassava plant height (cm), number of branches, plant canopy cover(m2), stem yield (bundles/100 stems), weed dry weight (kg/ha), cassava tuber weight (tons/ha) were the evaluated parameters. The result from experiment one showed that organic manure sources had significant effect on the growth and yield of plantain ratoon crops /cassava mixture. Poultry manure at 10 tons/ha performed significantly better in both growth and yield parameters and suppressed weeds when compared with pig dung at 10 tons/ha and cow dung at 10 tons/ha. Experiment two showed that poultry manure at 10 tons/ha + ash at 5 tons/ha performed significantly better in both growth and yield parameters and when compared with pig dung at 10 tons/ha + ash at 5 tons/ha and cow dung at 10 tons/ha + ash at 5 tons/ha. Cassava densities produced significant (P>0.05) increase in both growth and yield parameters assessed in the order of 100.0 x 100.0 cm (10,000 plants/ha) > 100.0 x 50.0 cm (20,000 plants/ha) > 100.0 x 200.0 cm (5,000 plants/ha). Poultry manure at 10 tons/ha, + ash at 5 tons/ha + 100.0 x 100.0 cm (10,000 plants/ha) cassava densities were more associated with bunch weight and tuber weight of cassava with 9.47 tons/ha for plantain and 10.52 tons/ha and 18.92 tons/ha and 19.98 tons/ha for cassava root yield both in 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons and in other yield components and may serve as a yardstick for selection of organic manure source, ash and densities. The physical and chemical analysis of the soil in both cropping seasons had that the nutrients persisted in the soil indicating that poultry manure, ash with 10,000 plants/ha cassava density had the best result in 2014 cropping seasons. For maximum production of plantain ratoon crops / cassava mixture, poultry manure at10 tons/ha + ash at 5 tons/ha with cassava density 100.0 x 100.0 cm (10,000 plants/ha) should be adopted.
Description
This thesis is for the award of degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.) in Crop Science and Technology
Keywords
Organic manure sources, ash, plantain ratoon crops/cassava intercropping, sustainability, ultisol, Department of Crop Science and Technology
Citation
Iwuanyanwu, U. P. (2021). Management systems for sustainble productivity of plantain ratoon crops intercropping systems in the tropical ultisol of Imo State, Nigeria (Unpublished Doctoral Thesis). Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria