DEPARTMENT OF CROP SCIENCE

This study was conducted to assess the tolerance of maize genotypes from northwest, Nigeria in order to screen for the genotypes that could withstand waterlogging stress. The experiment was carried out in a screen house of the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Nigeria. There were 6 genotypes from (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto) states tested for waterlogging stress at 4 weeks after planting. There were three replications
The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD). Data were collected from 2 weeks after planting till 10 weeks. Key parameters measured included plant height, left length, leaf breath, number of leaves, chlorotic leaves and number of dead leaves. At the end of the experiment, few replications of Sokoto accession survived the
waterlogging stress but due to the high temperature of the screen at the time, the replications could not set seed. Overall, this study provided valuable insights into maize responses to waterlogging stress, which would aid breeding programme where genotypes that can be used for developing resilient maize varieties with improved tolerance to
waterlogging were identified.

The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of sowing depth and soaking on the growth of castor oil plant (Ricinus communis L.). The experiment was conducted between 10th of March to 17th of may, 2022 at the Department of Crop Science’s Experimental Farm Screen House, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City. The Treatments involved three potting media (Top soil + Poultry manure 1:1, TS +PM2:1, TS + PM 1:2), three sowing depths (2,4,6 cm) and three soaking time (0, 12 and24 hr)laid out in a 3 x 3 x 3 factorial arrangement fitted into complete randomized design (CRD) with three replications. The data were collected on plant height, stem girth,numbers of leaves and total area of leaves. Results obtained showed that the physical and chemical properties of the potting media varies. From the results obtained, the depth of sowing, soaking time and media used all had effect on the plant growth parameters as plant highest was recorded at (2.37cm) when TS + PM 2:1 was used with a soaking timeof 12 hours and a sowing depth of 2cm

An explorative study on the effectiveness of incorporating spent mushroom substrate (SMS) admixed with topsoil on the growth and herbage yield of Amaranth was conducted at the screen house of the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Nigeria. The study involved five application rates (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 g) of SMS per 3 kg topsoil laid out in a completely randomized design and replicated three times. Data were collected on the physical and chemical properties of topsoil admixed with SMS. Data were also collected on growth parameters (plant height, stem girth, leaf area, and number of leaves), and dry herbage yield. Results indicated substantial improvements in soil fertility with SMS incorporation. Treatments with SMS demonstrated taller plants, thicker stems, higher number of leaves, increased leaf area, and higher herbage yields compared to the control (topsoil only). Herbage yield was highest with SMS applied at 150 g (11.1 tha -1) but at par with other SMS treated media except topsoil only media. Based on these findings, topsoil treated with SMS at 50 g is thereby suggested for urban Amaranth growers.

The experiment was conducted between December 2023 and April 2024 at the Department of Crop Science Screen House, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Ugbowo Campus, Benin City to evaluate the effect of sowing depth and potting media on the growth of ginger. The trial involved three potting mixtures of topsoil (TS) and poultry manure (PM). TS+PM 1:1, TS+PM 1:2 and TS+PM 2:1 and three sowing depths (2, 4 and 6 cm) laid out in a 3×3 factorial arrangement fitted into a completely randomized design (CRD), with three replications. Data were collected on plant height, stem girth and number of leaves with data taken at 10 and 12 weeks after planting (WAP). The results showed significant variations among growth parameters. TS+ PM 1:2 medium produced plants with highest height (52.0cm), thickest stem (29.14) and highest number of leaves (10.39). Sowing depth had no significant effect on growth of ginger. Based on this study, TS+ PM 1:2 and sowing depth at 2cm are thereby suggested for raising ginger.

The experiment was conducted between August to December, 2024 in the screenhouse of the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin to evaluate the effect of top soil and potting media on the dry matter production and the yield of tiger nut. The trial five mediums (Top Soil (TS), Cow Dung (CD), TS + CD 1:1, TS + CD 2:1, and TS + CD 1:2) were laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD). Data were collected on shoot dry weight, root dry weight, matter dry weight, leave of index, number of nuts, nut weight and yield at 10 and 12 weeks after planting. Dry matter properties like
nut dry weight (0.56 g), root dry weight (0.22 g), total dry weight (1.23 g), and harvest index (0.51 g) were highest in TS + CD 1:1, while TS performed poorly. Also, TS + CD 1:1 produced most number of nuts per plant (3.33), highest nut weight (1.29 g), and nut
yield (0.86 t/ha), while TS + CD 2:1 performed poorly for yield components. Total dry weight was significantly correlated with stem girth, number of leaves, nut dry weight, nut yield, and shoot dry weight. Therefore, TS + CD 1:1 is recommended for production of tiger nut based on dry matter production and nut yield components.

This study was carried out to determine the effect of fertilizer application and staking
methods on the growth and yield of Cucumber ( Cucumis sativus). The experiment
was conducted during the 2024 dry cropping season at the Teaching and Research
Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin city. The experiment
was laid out as a randomized complete block design in three replicates consisting of
four rates of fertilizer application (0kg/ha, 400kg/ha NPK, 20t/ha PM, 200kg/ha
NPK+10t/ha PM) and three levels of staking (no staking, single staking and trellis).
The parameters measured were vine length, number of leaves, number of tendrils,
stem diameter, leaf area, days to 50% flowering, number of flowers, number of fruits,
fruit weight per plot and yield(t/ha). The results obtained showed that the effect of
fertilizer application using poultry manure influenced the vine length and the number
of leaves positively at the vegetative stage, but fruit yield was not insignificant,
However best yields were obtained with the combination of poultry manure and NPK
15:15:15. The result of this experiment suggests that cucumber farmers use the
combination of poultry manure and NPK with or without staking for a better
performance of cucumber crop.