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ABSTRACT:Moringa oleifera is cultivated all over the world as it is commonly used as nutritional and medicinal plant. This study was carried out to determine the effect of various locations in Ejigbo and Egbedore Local Government Areas, (LGA) in Osun State and Surulere LGA in Oyo State on the nutritional compositions of Moringa oleifera leaves. Fresh leaves of Moringa oleifera were harvested from moringa trees growing at sixteen different locations in Ejigbo and Egbedore LGAs. The analysis of the study was then based on four principal locations namely Ara tagged S1, Igbon tagged S2, Ejigbo tagged S3 and Oko tagged S4. The leaves were oven dried and their proximate contents were determined using standard analytical techniques. Ash, moisture, crude fat, crude fibre, carbohydrate and protein contents were determined according to conventional method. The results of proximate analysis revealed significant difference between different locations and the ash, moisture, crude fat, crude fibre, carbohydrate contents but there was no significance recorded for crude protein at different locations Moreover, the highest level of crude fat (11.83%); crude fibre (12.42%); ash content (12.4%) and carbohydrate (49.9%) were recorded in Ara. The significant negative and positive associations recorded between the nutritional components and different locations revealed the extents of the influence of soil characteristics on the moringa leaves at these locations. Therefore, soil factors should be considered by farmers in the planning the establishment of moringa plantation. © JASEM https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v21i2.14

Field studies were conducted at the teaching and research farm of the Osun State University Ejigbo Campus, Osun State, Nigeria, during the 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons to determine the agronomic performance of low N maize varieties under two nitrogen conditions (low and high). The aim of this experiment was to determine the response of low N maize to two levels of nitrogen fertilizer. Ten low N maize varieties were used in this study. Low and high-N conditions of the soil was induced by application of urea fertilizer at the rate of 30 and 90kg ha-1 of nitrogen .The experiments were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. High nitrogen application significantly improved maize vegetative growth, yield components and grain yield. The use of 90 kg ha-1 of N gave the highest maize plant height, and number of leaves per plant, as well as grain yields of 3.50 and 3.58 tha-1 was obtained with the application of 90 kg ha-1 of N in 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons, respectively. The result indicated that application rates of nitrogen (kg ha-1 of N) improved growth attributes of all the varieties with SINT MAR 20CA LARGA gave maximum grain yield that is not significantly different from 72PBPROLC 3 SYN.

Association among yield characters is a pre-requisite for rapid crop improvement. A study was conducted to determine the effect of seasons and stake on correlation and path effects of cucumber yield traits. The experiment comprised of 2 seasons (wet and dry), 2 practices (staked and unstaked), six cucumber varieties replicated three times in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Planting distance was 75×75 cm. Insect pests, weeds, and fungi were controlled as recommended. Data collected were subjected to correlation and path effect analysis. In the dry season, the two practices revealed highly significant genotypic correlation (P<0.05) between fruit yield and vine length (rg= 1.20 and 1.07) and phenotypic (rp=0.69 and 0.74). With days to flowering, fruit yield displayed highly significant genotypic (rg=-1.14 and -1.03) and phenotypic correlation (rg=-0.74 and -0.76). In the wet season, the two practices revealed highly significant positive genotypic (rg=0.95 and 0.84) and phenotypic correlation (rg=0.84 and 0.71) between fruit yield and fruit length. Path analysis showed that high yield was achieved in the dry season through the maximum effect of fruit girth 0.34 and 1.15 in the two practices and shorter days to flowering -0.39. In the wet season, maximum fruit yield was obtained through fruit length (5.86 and 0.28) in both practices, in addition to less fruit girth (-6.76) and short days to flowering (-0.67).  In selection for high yields, the characters; vine length; fruit girth, fruit length and days to flowering can be utilized.

The research investigated physical properties of baobab seeds to determine suitable equipment for the processing of its seeds. Pods of baobab used in the study were collected at a local farm in Ilorin, North Central Nigeria. Physical properties of the samples, such as moisture contents, mass, axial dimensions, shape indices, true and bulk densities, porosity, angle of repose and surface area were determined. The results showed that physical properties of baobab seeds were stable for moisture content, ranging between 12 to 18% dry mass (dm). The 100 seed mass (g) and geometric mean diameter increased from 0.60 g to 0.62 g and 10.12 to 10.27 mm respectively, in the moisture range of 12 to 18% dm. Other studied ranges of physical properties ranges included: average length (12.22 to 12.63 mm), width (10.10 to 10.28 mm), thickness (8.23 to 8.42 mm,), sphericity, (81.23 to 82.56 mm), surface area (319.42 to 332.53 mm2), 50 seed mass (0.60 and 0.62 g), and 1000 seed mass (12 and 12.4 g) within the moisture content range of 12 to 18% dm. The angle of repose of baobab seeds decreased with an increase in moisture content. The maximum value of 29.18o was obtained at 14% moisture content while a minimum value of 24.42o was obtained at 18% moisture. Moisture content had a significant effect on coefficient of friction of baobab seeds on glass, stainless steel, plywood and rubber. In the same moisture range (12-18%), the static coefficient of friction for baobab seeds ranged from 0-739 to 0-905 on stainless steel, 0-960 to 1-190 on galvanized steel, 0-812 to 1-055 on plywood and 0-496 to 0-950 on glass. The least coefficient of friction values were recorded on stainless steel and glass which implies that baobab seeds will move with lower resistance on these surfaces in post-harvest handling. On the other hand, the resistance will be higher on plywood and glass. The data obtained will serve as guide for agricultural and food engineers, food processors and technicians involved in design and construction of post-harvest equipment used for separating, cleaning, milling and other production processes, to which baobab seeds are subjected.