Based on the role and function of green manure as soil amendments to improve and maintain the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil, this study was carried out to find out the effect of green manure (G. sepium and T. diversifolia leaves) on the growth performance of Parkia biglobosa. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design with four treatments replicated eight times. 5 kg of each treatment as well as a combination of both treatments were incorporated solely into the soil on a 2mx1m bed. After two months of decomposing the plant materials, 3 kg of the soil was filled into each polythene pot. Growth parameters were monitored for 16 weeks after planting. Result showed that G. sepium had the highest mean value for plant height at 48.24cm while the control recorded the lowest mean value for plant height at 41.93cm. The highest mean value for number of branchlets was recorded in G. sepium treated soil with 33 branchlets while the control recorded the least number with 28 branchlets. This study revealed that the addition of G. sepium manure can better enhance the growth of P. biglobosa seedlings than T. diversifolia manure in the nursery. G. sepium leaves compost can be used in raising this species in the nursery for the production of vigorous seedlings in replacement of inorganic fertilizers. G. sepium leaves is an organic fertilizer that is readily available which can be collected by the farmers from the tree to raise this species.Keywords: Seedling, Parkia biglobosa, Green manure, Fertilizer, Growth performance

Recently, bioactive component of plant and plant parts have been used as rumen modifier to reduce methane gas production in ruminant livestock so as to reduce their contribution to the implicated greenhouse effect. This study therefore, evaluated the potential of Siam weed (Chromolaena odorata) leaves as a modifier of rumen fermentation in West African dwarf bucks. Fresh C. odorata leaves were harvested, air dried (3 weeks), milled using a 2mm sieve size and bagged for both proximate and phytochemical analysis. Concentrate diets were formulated with C. odorata leaf meal included in the diet at 0, 2, 4 and 6% of the whole diet. Rumen fluids were collected from West African dwarf (WAD) bucks (averaged 25kg) using suction tube and randomly allotted to the 4 experimental diets in a Completely Randomized Design. Incubation of inoculums was done for 96hrs with 12 replicates per treatment in a single run. Data obtained were analyzed using a One-way Analysis of Variance and means compared using Tukey’s Test. Results indicated that C. odorata had 969.0mg/kg dry matter, 175.1mg/kg crude protein, 204.3mg/kg crude fibre, 521.6mg/kg nitrogen free extract, 19.9 mg/kg saponin, 25.7 mg/kg tannin, 10.8mg/kg flavonoid and 12.6 mg/kg alkaloid. The addition of 2 and 4% C. odorata to the diets resulted in increased (P < 0.05) in vitro gas production while C. odorata at 2 % reduced (P < 0.05) the methane gas (%) estimate. In vitro organic and dry matter digestibilities, total digestible substrates and short chain fatty acids were increased (P < 0.05) with C. odorata addition to the diets. This study concluded that the use of C. odorata as an additive at 2 and 4% inclusion increased total gas output; however, 2% inclusion will be beneficial as it reduced the methane output while maintaining higher gas production and digestibility.