A.U. Osaigbovo

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

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.