Savanna regions of Nigeria are deficient in nitrogen and phosphorus, which retard the growth and yield of crops. Therefore, a study was conducted in the wet season of 2006 at the Dry Land Teaching and Research Farm of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto to evaluate the effect of phosphorus on the growth and yield of two cowpea varieties sourced from Republic of Niger. Treatment consisted of four (4) rates of phosphorus (0, 20, 40, 60 kg.ha^–1) factorialy combined with (2) varieties of cowpea (kvx303096G and TN5-78) and laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated three (3) times. Results showed significant response to applied P on pods per plant, grain and stover yield and 100-seed weight with highest response to the application of 60 kg.P.ha^–1. From this study it can be concluded that KVX303096G and TN5-78 could both be sown under Sokoto condition to obtain reasonable yield of about 1 t.ha^–1 of grain and 1.6 t.ha^–1 of stover. Irrespective of the varieties, application of 60 kg P₂O₅ ha^–1 could be recommended for higher yield of cowpea (1.4 t.ha^–1) relative to 0 kg.P.ha^–1 that yielded 1.0 t.ha^–1

In order to determine the direct and indirect effects of yield and yield components of rice, a field experiment was conducted in each of the wet seasons of 2016 and 2017 at Irrigation Research Stations of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Bokolori, Talata Mafara, in the Sudan Savanna ecological zone of Nigeria (12° 34’ N; 06° 04’E). The treatment consisted of four (4) weed management practice (Oxadiazon at 1.0 kg a.i ha-1 [pre-emergence], Orizo-plus [proponil 360 g/l + 2,4-D 200 g/l] at 2.8 kg a.i ha-1[post emergence at 3 WAS], manual weeding [at 3 and 6 WAS] and weedy check [control]); three (3) each of seeding method (Drilling, Dibbling and Broadcast) and seed rate (40 kg ha-1; 70 kg ha-1; 100 kg ha-1). The experiment was laid in a split plot design replicated three times. Weed management practice was assigned to the main plots while the combination of seeding method and seed rate to the subplots. Data were collected on plant height, leaf area, crop dry matter, tillering ability, crop growth rate, harvest index (HI), panicle length, number of grains per panicle, 1000-grain weight and paddy yield. The result indicated that, the highest individual contribution of 25.04% to paddy yield was made by dry matter followed by 1000-grain weight (8.74%), tillering ability (8.46%), leaf area (3.13%), number of grains per panicle (1.03%) and the least was from panicle length (0.83%). The contribution of these growth and yield attributes to yield suggests that, priority be given to these traits when making selection for improvement.

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Two field experiments were conducted at the Research Farm of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State during the 2018 and 2019 rainy seasons to determine the effect of neem fertilizer rates and weed control methods on the growth and yields of soybeans. The experimental treatments were made up of four neem fertilizer rates (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha-1) and six weed control methods (pendimethalin at 1.5 kg a.i ha-1 followed by one hoe weeding, pendimethalin at 2.0 kg a.i. ha-1 followed by diuron at 1.5 kg a.i ha-1, weeding once at 3 WAS, weeding twice at 3 and 6 WAS, weed free and weedy check. The experiment was a 3 × 3 factorial experiment laid out in a Randomize complete block design replicated three times. TGX 1448 – 2E variety of soybean was used for the study. Result showed that weed control efficiency was better with the use of 150 kg ha-1 of neem fertilizer, while decrease in weed dry matter was obtained at 50 kg ha-1. Increase in number of leaves and leaf area were encouraged with 150 kg ha-1 of neem fertilizer. Weed free treatments recorded the highest grain yield and 100 seed weight of soybean. Pendimethalin at 1.5 or 2.0 kg a.i ha-1 supplemented with one hoe weeding or diuron at 1.5 kg a.i ha-1 respectively can be an alternative for better control of weeds to obtain greater yield of soybean in the study area.