Seed borne pathogens are microorganisms that can prevent seed germination and cause serious threats to seedling development in the field. The research was conducted on the effects of damping off fungus on seed germination of Amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus) collected from some Agricultural farmland in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, North central Nigeria. The isolation of fungal species from Amaranthus hybridus seeds of the infected plants having symptoms of damping off disease using agar plate method and was identified using the morphological characteristics features from mycological atlas. Isolation from the infected seeds revealed that Rhizoctonia solani were associated with the plants. Seed weight (mg) and seed germination (%) were determined using the international rules for seed testing and the physiological seed quality indices were determined; these are germination index (GI), germination rate index (GRI) and seedling vigor index were arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) all in triplicates. The result indicated that seeds from uninfected plants recorded seed weight (8.97mg) as compared with the infected seeds (5.21mg), there was significantly higher germination (98.67%) observed in uninfected seeds compared with seeds of Amaranthus plants that were infected (32.13%) with damping off fungus. Germination index was observed to be higher in seeds of uninfected plants (9.34) and lower in seeds of infected plants (4.34). The significant effects observed of the fungus on both seed and seedlings are highly virulence on the infected plants. The research revealed that a very good association between Rhizoctonia solani causing damping off disease and seed germination failure of Amaranthus hybridus plants. In the cultivation of Amaranthus hybridus, seed weight, and physiological seed quality attributes should be considered for an effective damping off disease suppression.

Effects of plants extract powders is the application of these extracts is to improved and increase the germination, emergence of the seedlings. Efficacy of Gmelina arborea bark and Azadirachta indica leaf powders on the germination and seedling vigour of Corchorus olitorius (jute mallow) was evaluated. Top loam soil was collected from Agriculture Research farmland of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai, Niger State, Nigeria and sterilized at 50 C for an hour. Gmelina arborea bark and Azadirachta indica leaf were obtained from Gmelina arborea and Azadirachta indica leaves were also collected from the farmland and pulverized into powder form. Two kilograms (2 kg) of sterile soil samples in twenty one (21) polythene bags were amended with Gmelina arborea bark powder and Azadirachta indica leaf powders at different concentrations (100 g, 150 g, and 200 g) each in triplicates. Soil samples contained in three of the polyethylene bags were left un-amended to serve as control. Corchorus olitorius seeds was procured from the harvested farmland and were planted and raised in each polythene bag for a period of twelve (12) weeks. Azadirachta indica leaf powder had a significant impact on the growth of Corchorus olitorius (shoot length = 26.52 cm; root collar diameter = 0.33 cm, number of leaves = 21) at p < 0.05 compared to the control group (20.60 cm, 0.24 cm and 16 respectively) and its effects improved with increase in concentration. Gmelina arborea bark powder also had a less significant impact on the plant growth parameters (6.45 cm, 0.14 cm and 9 respectively) compared to the control. Its effect decreased with increase in concentration. Azadirachta indica leaf powder is a much better and more effective organic amendment than Gmelina arborea bark powder and could be employed by Corchorus olitorius farmers to improve soil fertility and crop yield.

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Organic composts are derived from plant and animal wastes as substrates in the control of blight disease of vegetable crops; tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) plants were evaluated. Cow dung, sawdust, rice husk, poultry droppings and goat dung were collected from the agricultural research farm Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida university Lapai, Niger State, Nigeria. The organic matter were allowed to decompose watered daily for twenty four days to foster the microbial activities of the composts. Three kilogram (3 kg) of sterilized topsoil was bulked with the compost at 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 g and allowed to decomposed for the period of 10 days respectively. At 200 g and 250 g the suppression was significantly different (P≤ 0.05) than other lower quantities. Goat dung gave the highest suppression of 88.2% followed by rice husk (85.0%). At 250 g it was 99.0%, 93.7%, 93.7%, 84.0%, and 94.7% with poultry droppings, rice husk, cow dung, saw dust and goat dung respectively. Goat dung amended soil gave the best blight disease suppression (88.2%) in okra and poultry droppings gave the best in tomato (99.0%). A good combination of compost consisting of goat dung and poultry droppings is recommended for the suppression of blight disease in tomato and okra plants.

Organic composts are derived from plant and animal wastes as substrates in the control of blight disease of vegetable crops; tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) plants were evaluated. Cow dung, sawdust, rice husk, poultry droppings and goat dung were collected from the agricultural research farm Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida university Lapai, Niger State, Nigeria. The organic matter were allowed to decompose watered daily for twenty four days to foster the microbial activities of the composts. Three kilogram (3 kg) of sterilized topsoil was bulked with the compost at 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 g and allowed to decomposed for the period of 10 days respectively. At 200 g and 250 g the suppression was significantly different (P= 0.05) than other lower quantities. Goat dung gave the highest suppression of 88.2% followed by rice husk (85.0%). At 250 g it was 99.0%, 93.7%, 93.7%, 84.0%, and 94.7% with poultry droppings, rice husk, cow dung, saw dust and goat dung respectively. Goat dung amended soil gave the best blight disease suppression (88.2%) in okra and poultry droppings gave the best in tomato (99.0%). A good combination of compost consisting of goat dung and poultry droppings is recommended for the suppression of blight disease in tomato and okra plants.