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Fruit Characteristics (pod length, number of pod per bunch, pulp and seed weight, pulp weight and pod breadth), Seed Characteristics (number of seed per bunch, expected seed number per pod and seed weight per bunch), and Qualitative Characteristics of seeds (seed colour, shape, size and texture) of Parkia biglobosa (Jacq) G. Don population were investigated in this study. Twenty six (26) P. biglobosa population were sampled at the permanent site of the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, in May 2010 and fruits were collected from these populations for study. Pulp and seeds were removed manually from the dry brown indehiscent pods by using hand to break the pods along their sutures and de-pulping was done by manual washing with hands in water. There were significant differences (at P=0.05) among the fruit and seed characteristics of 26 populations of P. biglobosa investigated. Five (5) plants showed high pod number per bunch with 20 pods and above while long pod lengths were observed in seventeen (17) plants. Two (2) plants have narrow pointed tip pods (apex) and four (4) plants with broad pod breadth. One (1) plant has its apex size similar to its base (1.53cm). Seventeen (17) plants were observed to have more than 100seeds per bunch while, only one plant was noticed to exhibit wrinkled seed coat, the fifteen (15) plants had flat oval seeds. Two (2) plants had pure black seed coat and twenty four (24) had brownish seed coat colours. Larger percent of the plants have medium seed size, five (5) plants have small seed size and others are of big size.

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Fabaceae is a plant family rich in protein which may either be consumed along with other food items directly or used as supplements in livestock feed. Seeds of Afzelia africana (sm) as well as pods of Prosopis africana (Guill. & Perr.) were collected from the main campus of the University of Ilorin and analyzed for their proximate and phytochemical compositions. The proximate analysis carried out on the roasted A. africana gave a Protein content of 20.78%, Fat value of 4.69%, Ash content of 3.62%, fibre content of 8.25%, Moisture content of 8.72%, Carbohydrate content of 53.94% while the unroasted A. africana gave a Protein content of 19.68%, Fat value of 6.09%, Ash content value of 2.26%, Fibre content of 8.79%, Moisture content of 10.65% and Carbohydrate content of 52.53%. P. africana pod had a protein content of 7.62%, Fat value of 6.86%, Ash content of 3.9%, Fibre content of 3.28%, Moisture content of 5.62% and carbohydrate 72.72%. The phytochemical analysis of A. africana seeds and P. africana pods revealed the presence of Alkaloids, Tannins, Saponins, Cardiac glycoside, Flavonoids terpenoids and phenols. These two plants are rich in both nutritional and phytochemicals which are of benefits to both humans and livestock.

This field experiment was carried out to evaluate the weed species distribution in the experimental plots of an intercrop of juvenile oil palm trees (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) with maize (Zea mays Linn.), okra (Abelmoschus esculentus Moench) and pepper (Capsicum annuum var. abbreviatum). This was carried out during the cropping season between July and October 2012. The crops were intercropped with the juvenile oil palm trees of about 3-years-old. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized block design with five (5) replicates. The treatments comprised of intercropping distances of 1 m, 2 m and 3 m each for the three (3) crops (maize, okra and pepper) and a plot for each of the three (3) arable crops without oil palm trees as control. Weed species distribution was carried out in each of the plots to determine the Simpson’s Diversity Index (D), Simpson’s Index of Diversity (1-D) and Simpson’s Reciprocal Index (1/D). Weed species’ frequency, density, relative density, relative frequency, importance value, abundance, dominance and relative dominance were also computed from data collected at 3WAP and 6WAP. The results showed that the control plot has the highest weed species distribution at 3WAP having the lowest Simpson’s Diversity Index (D) of 0.0930. Okra plot has the least weed species distribution with the highest Simpson’s Diversity Index (D) of 0.2726. At 6WAP, the pepper plot has the highest weed species distribution having the lowest Simpson’s Diversity Index (D) of 0.1741. Control plot has the least weed species distribution with highest Simpson’s Diversity Index (D) of 0.2831.