Aim: This study evaluates the effects of soil amendment with organic manure-OM and agricultural lime-AL on the growth and yield of Phaseolus vulgaris and Vigna aconitifolia grown on soils with 3 different pH (locations) in Southern Cross River State. Study Design: The study was laid in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at the Greenhouse, Department of Plant and Ecological Studies, University of Calabar for a period of 3 months. Methodology: The three locations were: Akamkpa with pH 4.0, Calabar Municipality with pH of 7.0 and Odukpani with pH of 9.0. The treatments were; control (0 g), OM1 (100 g organic manure), OM2 (200g organic manure), AL1 (100 g agricultural lime), AL2 (200 g agricultural lime), OM1 + AL1 (50 g organic manure + 50 g agricultural lime) and OM2 +AL2 (100 g organic manure and 100 g agricultural lime. Results: Results obtained from the physico-chemical properties of the soil before treatment application revealed low nutrients and minerals which increased after treatment application. Six weeks after planting, there were significant increase in plant height (p<0.05) of P. vulgaris and V. aconitifolia on soil from Akamkpa (169.66 cm) and Odukpani (146.63 cm) treated with OM2 + AL2 compared to 43.77 cm and 71.77 cm from control. Leaf area, petiole length, number of leaves were all significantly improved especially at 8 weeks after planting. Fresh weights of leaf, stem and root revealed higher yield (p<0.05) at the final harvest recorded as 8 weeks after planting than the amount at 4 weeks after planting. The results obtained from the pod number, pod weight and number of seed showed significant improvement after treatment application. Conclusion: The findings of this study strongly support the use of organic manure and agriculture lime as affordable and accessible sources of manure especially for our local farmers.

Background: Soil pH is one of the most important factors that contribute to crop growth and productivity. The present research was designed to assess the influence of soil amendment using organic manure and agricultural lime on the relative growth rate (RGR) and net assimilation rate (NAR) of Phaseolus vulgaris and Vigna aconitifolia grown on soils from different locations. Methodology: The three locations were: Akamkpa, Calabar Municipality and Odukpani. The pH for the three soil locations were 4.0, 7.0 and 9.0, respectively. The treatments were; control (0 g), OM1 (100 g organic manure), OM2 (200 g organic manure), AL1 (100 g agricultural lime), AL2 (200 g agricultural lime), OM1 + AL1 (50 g organic manure + 50 g agricultural lime) and OM2 +AL2 (100 g organic manure and 100 g agricultural lime). Results: Results obtained on the RGR of the leaf dry weight of P. vulgaris treated with OM2 was the highest (0.50 g/wk) followed by OM1 (0.41 g/wk). OM1 + AL1 had the highest RGR of the stem dry weight of P. vulgaris grown on soil from Calabar Municipality. In the RGR of the root dry weight, OM2 had the highest mean value in both plants grown on Akamkpa soil. Results obtained at 4 weeks after planting (WAP) revealed that there was significant (P<0.05) increase in NAR of plants grown on soil from Akamkpa. The highest NAR was obtained for V. aconitifolia treated with OM2 (0.0447 g/wk) followed by OM2 + AL2 (0.0057 g/wk) for both V. aconitifolia and P. vulgaris. P. vulgaris grown on Akamkpa and Odukpani soils treated with AL2 (0.0032 g/wk), OM1 + AL1 (0.0041 g/wk) and OM2+ AL2 (0.0062 g/wk) had the highest NAR at 8 WAP. Conclusion: The RGR and NAR of the two bean varieties were improved following treatments with organic manure and agricultural lime.

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Aims: To assess limitation on growth and yield of P. vulgaris due to Telfairia mosaic virus (TeMV). Study Design: The study was conducted in a randomized block design. Place and Duration: Department of Botany, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria between April and August, 2016. Methodology: Seeds of P. vulgaris were obtained, sorted, planted in polyethylene bags, and on germination, inoculated with TeMV, growth and yield limitation assessed at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 weeks after inoculation. Results: Results showed that the virus decreased growth of P. vulgaris resulting in yield loses. Growth parameters were severely limited by TeMV with percentage reduction in Leaf area, shoot height, number of primary shoot, petiole length and number of leaves produced of 44.5%, 52.8%, 44.0%, 44.9% and 51.45 respectively at 10 weeks after inoculation (WAI). Leaf fresh weight (38.4%) and dry weight (32.3%) were significantly (P=0.05) reduced. Relative growth rate, net assimilation rate and leaf area ratio were negatively impacted by the virus with reductions of 26.5%, 36.7% at 4 WAI and 33.5% at 12 WAI respectively. Limitation on yield due to TeMV was significant (P=0.05) with reduction in pod length of 36.9%, number of pods per plant of 36.5%, number of seeds per pod of 26.5%, number of seeds per plant of 53.3% and weight of 100 seeds of 18.5%. Limitation induced on fresh and dry weight of shoot and root, pod width, seed length and seed width was not significant. Conclusion: The study confirmed the threat of TeMV necessitating control of the virus on this important legume.

Aim: Amelioration effect of soil amendment on growth and yield of Vigna unguiculata L. grown in acidic and alkaline soils. Study Design: The study was conducted in a randomized complete block design with five replicates. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Botany, University of Calabar, Nigeria, between May and September, 2017. Methodology: Composite soils from two locations Akamkpa (pH 4.0) and Odukpani (pH 9.0) were collected, mixed thoroughly with organic manure (OM) and agricultural lime (AL) singly and in combination, allowed to stay three weeks for proper blending before V. unguiculata seeds were sown. On seedlings germination, amelioration effect of soil amendment on growth and yield of cowpea grown in acidic and alkaline soils was studied at different periods of growth. Results: Results revealed significant (P=0.05) increase in leaf area, plant height, number of leaves, leaf fresh and leaf dry weight, relative growth rate, net assimilation rate and leaf area ratio of V. unguiculata grown in acidic and alkaline soils treated with OM and AL. Pod length, number of pods plant-1, number of seeds pod-1, number of seeds plant-1, weight of 100 seeds increased significantly. Organic manure used singly and in combination was more effective in ameliorating soil pH effect than AL. Vigna unguiculata performed better in treated and untreated alkaline than in acidic soils. Least plant height for V. unguiculata grown in untreated alkaline soil at 12 weeks after sowing WAS was 60.22±0.16a cm and highest 119.63E2±.35g cm for plants grown in soil treated with AL1+OM1. Least number of seeds plant-1 for plants grown in untreated acidic soil at 12 WAS was 90.60±0.02a and the highest 139.18E2±0.02e for plants grown in soil treated with AL1+OM1. Conclusion: An improvement in growth and seed yield of V. unguiculata grown in acidic and alkaline soils is feasible through the use of organic manure and agricultural lime.