DEPARTMENT OF CROP SCIENCE

This study investigated the germination potential of 21 different seed types stored under hermetic room temperature conditions at the University of Benin, Nigeria for 3 years. Germination trials revealed that only one seed type, snake tomato (Trichosanthes cucumerina), exhibited successful germination at 83.3%.

The study seeks to examine the multi-locational trail of fifteen genotype of
shrunken-2 super sweet maize in benin city. The experiment was conducted at experimental farm with the premises of university of benin teaching hospital. Benin city, nigeria fifteen super sweet corn (maize) genetype “UISSH 1, UISSH 2, UISSH 3. UISSH4, UISSH 5, UISSH 6, UISSH 7, UISSH 8, UISSH 9, UISSH 10, UISSH 11, UISSH 12, UISSH 13, UISSH 14 and UISSH 15 varieties were evaluated in this experiment. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three
replications. The data collected was analyzed using Genstat version 12.
Characters measured included Seedling emergence all 11 days, days to 50%
tasseling, day to 50% silking, days to 50% pollen shedding. Ear height, plant
height, number of, days to maturity, Number of cob, cob weight, husk cover, ear
aspect and fresh ear yield. The effects of genotype (G) were found to be highly
significant (p<0:01) days to 50% tasseling, days to 50% pollen shedding, Ear
geight. The result of experiments showed that there was significant difference
due to genotype effect in plant height, days to 50% tasselilng, days to 50% pollen
shedding, ear height, plant height and days to maturity. Genotype also affects
days to Cob number, cob weight and fresh ear yield. The genotypes, UISSH3
was identified as one of the most promising for production Benin city although
this variety can be improved for early emergence and better

Dialium guineense fruit is an important tropical fruit which faces substantial post-harvest losses and food safety concerns due to microbial contamination. This study investigated microorganisms associated with the shell, pulp and seed of D. guineense to determine infection rates, identify microbial species (fungal and bacterial) and assess their diversity. The research was conducted at the media preparation room of the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Three (3) fruit parts were studied: Shell, pulp and seed on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and Nutrient Agar (NA) laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with six (6) replications. It involved evaluating infection percentages, sub-culturing and identification based on cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics. Results showed a 100% infection rate across all fruit parts except one (1) replicate which had a 75% infection rate, indicating significant microbial pressure. A wide variety of fungal and bacterial species was observed, with specific microbial adaptations per fruit part. Pathogenic bacteria, including Shigella sp. and Bacillus cereus, were identified, posing potential health risks, alongside Aspergillus and Fusarium species. This study confirms the fruit's vulnerability to widespread microbial contamination. Findings underscore the critical necessity for improved safety measures against Aspergillus and Fusarium contamination, while identifying promising opportunities to utilize Saccharomyces sp. for industrial processing and seed extracts for natural preservation

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of watering regime and potting media on the growth of Amaranthus cruentus. The experiment was carried out at the Screenhouse of the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin. The treatments includes: Top soil, Top soil amended with Trichoderma, Topsoil
amended with Cow dung, Watering1 (daily watering), Watering2 (watering every two days), Watering3 (watering every three days) and Watering4 (watering every four days)were fitted in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) replicated three times. Data was analyzed using one way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results of this study showed significant difference (p < 0.05) on watering regime and potting media. The different watering regime did not positively affect the growth of Amaranthus cruentus as the growth parameters were similar across the different watering regimes. Untreated top soil
produced the highest mean values for all growth parameters measured and the lowest was observed with the top soil amended with Trichoderma. Further research is recommended to explore the specific mechanisms through which top soil enhances growth of Amaranthus cruentus

This study was conducted at the University of Benin, Faculty of Agriculture experimental farm, from October 2021 to Oct 2022, to determine the best propagation method and planting date for enhanced growth and yield components of onion (Allium cepa) in two seasons (dry and wet) in a rainforest zone of Nigeria. Onions were cultivated using sets and seeds on four planting dates in each season. The experiment was laid out in a factorial design, comprising 8 treatments for each season (P1D1, P1D2, P1D3, P1D4, P2D1, P2D2, P2D3, P2D4) in three replications, where P represents propagation methods (P1: set and P2: seed), and D planting dates for Dry (D1: Oct 10th, D2: Oct 24th, D3: Nov 7th and D4: Nov 21st) and Wet (D1: Mar 6th, D2: Mar 20th, D3: April 3rd and D4: April 17th) season.
Data on growth and yield parameters, including plant height (cm), number of leaves per plant, stem diameter (cm), bulb length (cm), bulb diameter (cm), number of bulbs per stand, bulb weight per plot (g/m2), and yield (t ha-1), were collected and subjected to statistical analysis. Results showed significant effects of propagation method, planting date, and season on most parameters measured.
During vegetative growth, seasonal effects influenced the number of leaves, which was higher in the wet season (16.47) than in the dry season (11.78), while plant height and stem diameter showed no significant differences. Set propagation yielded significantly over seed propagation higher plant height (49.14 cm), number of leaves (29.98) both on planting date April 17 and stem diameter (1.88 cm) on planting date Nov 21. For yield components, dry season cultivation produced significantly higher bulb diameter (9.35 cm), bulb weight per plot (976 g/m²), and yield (9.76 t ha⁻¹) compared to the wet season. However, bulb length and the number of bulbs per stand were not significantly affected by season.

Monodora myristica is a perennial, edible plant used in West Africa and other parts of the world for its medicinal and culinary value. There is paucity of data on the nutritional contents of M. myristica seeds in the four regions of Nigeria where the seeds are easily available. This study was undertaken to determine the mineral contents of M. myristica (African nutmeg) seeds from Abuja, Awka, Benin City and Ondo Towns. Seeds of M. myristica used were deshelled, oven-dried and ground into fine powder. The powdered sample was subjected to mineral analysis using atomic absorption spectrometry. The mineral analysis showed that there were highly significant differences in the mineral contents of African nutmeg samples sourced from the various locations in calcium, chromium, potassium and zinc. But the iron, magnesium, manganese, and sodium contents were not significantly different from one location to the other. The results showed that the Monodora myristica seeds are rich in minerals and that the content levels vary in some minerals as a result of the location. This may be as a result of the different soil types and the nutritive state of the soil
where the plants were grown. It should also be noted that no particular location exhibited better mineral element composition across all the minerals studied. More mineral elements both beneficial and harmful should be studied in African nutmeg from more locations

Uncontrolled weed reduce crop productivity by interfering with crop growth and yield. The reduction of weed growth by crop interference is a viable alternative to reduce the reliance on herbicide use in weed management. One of the strategies to reduce weed infestation is to grow crops as intercrops. A field trial was conducted during the rainy seasons of 2018 and 2019 at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City (06 0 20’ 50’ N, 5 0 37’ 23 “E; 78 m asl) to assess weed suppression in maize-groundnut intercropping systems. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated three times. The experiment consisted of six treatments (weed-free intercrop, weed-free sole maize, weed-free sole groundnut, weedy intercrop, weedy sole maize and weedy sole groundnut. The attributes measured for weed were weed density per m2
, weed dry weight per m2 , weed smothering efficiency, and for the crops were days to flowering, plant height, ear and pod maturity, cob and pod yields, seed weight, yield and land equivalent ratio. Results showed that weed-free intercrop suppressed weeds relative to weed-free sole maize cropping system. Maize and groundnut plants grew taller in a weed-free cropping system(175cm and 61.5 cm). Number of cobs, 1000-seed weight and grain yield (maize), and pods and100-seed weight (groundnut), were higher in weed-free intercrop or sole cropping systems. This implies that weeds are major constraints limiting maize and groundnut production in Rain forest environment. For weed suppression, the weed density of broadleaves, narrow ROW leaves and their total (561.4 cm, 246.8 cm and 808.2 cm) were all higher in weed-free cropping systems. However, the dry weight of broadleaves, narrowleaves and their total (78.6cm, 250 cm, and 329.2 cm) were higher in weedy cropping systems. Weed smothering efficiencies for broadleaves, narrowleaves, and their total (72.9 % 626%and 68.0 %) were higher in the weed-free intercrop. Broadleaves were better controlled in both weed-free and weedy intercrops. Land equivalent ratios were generally above one, showing that it was more advantageous growing maize and groundnut together instead of the respective sole crops. Therefore, it may be recommended that farmers in the Rainforest agro-ecology should intercrop groundnut with maize and regularly control weeds

This experiment was carried out at the Screen house of the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria to evaluate the effect ofpotting mixtures, sowing depth and watering regime on dry matter production of soursopseedlings. This experiment involved three potting media, Top soil(TS) + poultrymanure(PM) 1:1 (3kg +3kg), top soil (TS) + poultry Manure (PM) 1:2 (2kg +4kg), andtopsoil (TS) + poultry manure (PM) 2:1 (4kg + 2kg), three sowing depths (2, 4 and 6cm), andthree watering regimes (one every day, once in three days and once in five days) laidout in a 3×3×3 factorial arrangements fitted into complete randomized design (CRD) andreplicated three times. At 12 and 14 weeks after sowing (WAS), data were collectedonroot length, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, dry weight, root : shoot ratio andcropgrowth rate. Result showed that dry matter variables had significant (p

A screen house potted experience was conducted in the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City in June to August, 2023 to evaluate the effects of different level of spent engine oil (SEO) contamination remediated with spent mushroom substrate (SMS) on the growth and herbage yield of Amaranth (Amaranth hybridus). The experiment involved three spent engine oil contamination levels (0, 5 and 10% v/w per 10kg soil) and four spent mushroom substrate application rates (0, 200, 400 and 600 per 10kg soil) laid in a 3 x 4 factorial arrangement fitted into a completely randomized design (CRD) and replicated three times. Data were collected on plant height, stem girth, number of leaves, leaf area and herbage yield. The results of soil analysis before cropping with Amaranth showed that SEO had no effect on particle size of the soil. Organic C, H+ and Al3+ in the contaminated soils were higher compared to the control. There was decreased in concentrations of available P, total N, exchangeable cations as the SEO contamination level increased. Plant height, stem girth, number of leaves, leaf area and herbage yield of Amaranth plants grown in the contaminated soils were adversely affected as they were significant (P<0.05) reduced in comparison to their performance in unpolluted soils. Application of SMS enhanced growth and herbage yield of Amaranth. Application of SMS remediated the harmful effect of SEO on the plant as it enhanced the growth of the plant. However, higher rate of SMS application reduced growth and 10 herbage yield of Amaranth in comparison to the lower rate. Application of 200g of SMS per 10kg soil produced plants with the highest height (89.2cm), thickest stem(3.42cm), highest number of leaves (28.6cm), largest leaf area (2803cm²) and herbageyield (59.91tha-¹). A combination of unpolluted soil treated with 200g and 400g ofSMS produced the highest herbage yield with 72.9 and 75.1g, respectively. SMS at200g is thereby suggested for Amaranth growers

The experiment was conducted at the Crop Science Research Farm in the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City. Seeds were obtained locally from Ekosodin, Benin City, Nigeria. Poultry manure was obtained from University of Benin Farm project, while NPK fertilizer was procured from Ring road market. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replications consisting of propagation planting methods D (propagation by seed), T(propagated by seedling) and four fertilizer treatment F1 (control), F2 (400kg/NPK) ,F3 (poultry dropping 20 t/ha), F4 (poultry manure 10 t/ha and 200 kg/ha).Data on vegetative characteristics (plant height ,leaf length, stem diameter and leaf area) and reproductive characters (nut yield, herbage yield and number of nut) were taken. From the result of the experiment it was observed that plant height
(98.35) and the leaf area (68.81) were significantly increased with direct sowing compared with the transplant, similarly plants that receive fertilizer were superior in plant and leaf area the control. However the effect of propagation methods and fertilizer application was not significant on the herbage and nut yield of Tiger nut. Therefore farmers in this locality can produce tiger nut using the direct sowing method with little to no fertilizer application.