A field study was carried out in Uyo, Southeastern Nigeria in 2011 and 2012 to compare the potential of using pumpkin intercrop as a means of cost effective weed management in water yam (Dioscorea alata) farm. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design. The treatments were included no weeding, weeded (3x), chemical weeding (Raft 500) + supplemented hoe weeding at 12 weeks after planting (WAP), Dynamic population densities of 10,000, 20,000, 30,000 and 40,000 supplemented with one hoe weeding at 4 WAP. The result of the study showed that weeded 3x treatment performed better in all the growth and yield parameters assessed but not significantly (P<0.05) above the growth and yield values obtained from 30,000 population density of pumpkin. The weeded (3x) resulted to tuber yield of 22.81 and 20.75 t.ha-1 in 2011 and 2012 respectively, while, the 30,000 pumpkin population density had tuber yield of 19.81 and 19.35 t.ha-1 in 2011 and 2012 respectively. The least tuber yields 3.22 and 2.18 t.ha-1 was obtained from no weeding treatment. The weeded (3x) treatment had 9-86 and 8-90 percentage tuber yield above other treatments but 13 and 8% over 30,000 pumpkin population density alone. The study suggests that pumpkin intercrop at 30,000 stands per hectare could effectively reduce weed interference in water yam farm.

Field experiment was conducted at National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) Uyo-Out station in 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons. The aim  was  to evaluate the yields of seven maize varieties in humid rainforest of Uyo, Southeastern Nigeria in view of recommending high yield varieties. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design, replicated three times. The treatments were seven maize varieties viz- : Uwep (local). FARZ 32, Oba super 2, Oba 98 and suwan-I-SR, Quality protein maize (QPM) and extra-early. Growth and yield data were subjected to analysis of variance. Significant mean were compared using least significant difference at p<0.05. The result showed significant difference(p<0.05) plant height. FAR 32 was the tallest at 9WAP (159.37 and 163.33 cm in 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons, respectively) The shortest variety, 121.12 and 122.61 cm, respectively at 9WAP was recorded in QPM. The weight of grains varied significantly different. FARZ 32 had the heaviest 100 grain weight, 42.60 g and 41.30 g in 2015 and 2016, respectively. The least weight of 100 seeds 31.09 g and 32.99 g, respectively was recorded from Extra Early maize. Comparing the maize grain yield, the result indicated significant difference (p<0.05) in both cropping seasons. FARZ 32 had the highest grain yield, 4.37 and 4.30 tonnes per hectare in 2015 and 2016 in both cropping seasons. Oba super 2 had 4.30 and 4.20 tonnes per hectare in 2015 and 2016. The local cultivar Uweb had 2.49 and 2.59 tonnes per hectare grain yield in both years. The least grain yield, 2.32 and 2.45 tonnes per hectare, respectively was from Extra early maize. Oba, Farz -32, Oba super 2 and Oba 98 were recommended to farmers in the study area.

ABSTRACT Nitrogen (N) is a major lacking nutrient element for the growth and yield of cereal crops Calabar, it is necessary to determine the response different sources and rates of N  in four varieties of upland  rice. Treatments comprised factorial combinations of the four rice varieties (NERICA 1, NERICA 2, FARO 45, FARO 48), three straight inorganic N sources (urea, Calcium ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate) and four levels of N (0, 30, 60, 90 kg N ha-1) laid in randomized complete block design. The N was split applied twice; one-third at the beginning of tillering and the remainder at panicle initiation. The results showed that the source of fertilizer N did not affect significantly the growth and yield of the rice crop (p=0.05). Considering that soils in Calabar are acid sands it will not be advisable to consistently apply such acidifying fertilizers as ammonium sulphate or urea except with soil liming which will undoubtedly increase the cost of production and probably make it unprofitable to cultivate rice in the area. The fertilized crop grew taller and produced more biomass compared with the control. It also produced significantly more tillers hill-1, panicles m-2, grains panicle-1, weight of 1,000 grains and grain yield. However, whereas NERICA 1, NERICA 2 and FARO 45 were more responsive to lower N levels, the grain yield of FARO 48 was significantly higher when the crop received 90 kg N ha-1 compared with other varieties, probably because of its longer growth duration in the field.  The responsiveness of these varieties to low N application was the result of their higher grain yield resulting from enhanced N use efficiency. Genotypes that were most responsive to low N input levels were early maturing with high N-use efficiencies. On the basis of grain yield, it is recommended that for  high yield in the humid region of Cross River State, N should be applied at the rate of  60 kg ha-1 for early-  and 90 kg ha-1 or above for the medium-maturing upland rice varieties. Keywords: Rice, Varieties, Growth and Yield

during the 2019 cropping season to investigate the effect of sawdust mixed with eucalyptus biochar on nematodes associated with beniseed as well as their impact on yield. A total of nine treatments combinations were evaluated using a 3 x 3 factorial experiment laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in three replications. The treatments combinations consisted of single applications of sawdust and eucalyptus biochar, and mixed formulations of sawdust + eucalyptus biochar applied in powder forms at the rates of 0 t/ ha, 2.5 t/ha and 5 t/ha. Nematode and yield data were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and means were separated using Duncan's New Multiple Range Test (DNMRT) at 5% level of probability. Results showed that use of 2.5 t/ha and 5 t/ha of sawdust mixed with eucalyptus biochar reduced the population of plant-parasitic nematodes by 21.6%, and 37.8%, respectively. Although yields obtained from plots treated with the two rates of mixed formulation were 0.51 t/ha and 0.49 t/ha, the observed difference was not statistically significant but was higher than yields obtained when either eucalyptus biochar or sawdust was applied singly. The study showed evidence of nematode population control and yield improvement when mixed formulations of sawdust-eucalyptus biochar was applied at 2.5 and 5.0 t/ha and hence recommended for inclusion in the integrated pest management program for beniseed production in Makurdi.