Yellow passion fruit, consumed mainly as juice in many parts of the world, is an emerging fruit crop in south-eastern Nigeria. Farmers need vigorous seedlings for optimum performance in the field. For such, a study was conducted to evaluate the effect of poultry manure (PM) rates on seedling development and juvenile growth of yellow passion fruit.Two yellow passion fruit genotypes ('KPF-4' and 'Conventional') received five poultry manure rates (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 t/ha). The experiment was laid out as a split plot in completely randomized design and replicated thrice. The result revealed that the early seedling growth performance of the two genotypes did not statistically (P>0.05) vary. On the other hand, there was a progressive increase in the growth parameters with increasing rate of PM. Specifically, the application of 20 t/ha PM produced tallest seedlings, broadest stems and highest number of leaves in the first five weeks after PM application. However, most vigorous vines (vine length, number of leaves, fresh weights of leaves, shoots, roots) and highest accumulation of dry matter were produced by KPF-4 vines grown with 40 t/ha PM although these did not vary significantly with values recorded with 20 t/ha PM application. In view of the economics of fertilizer use, it was recommended to apply poultry manure at 20 t/ha during nursery in the study area.

<p><strong>Background.</strong> The evaluation of crop variety in the field involves large expanse of land and could be expensive but container evaluation of crops is thought to complement field evaluation. <strong>Objective.</strong> To compare the growth and fruit yield of yellow passion fruit in the field and container (mega-pots) as influenced by varying rates of poultry manure with the hypothesis that vines grown in containers could predict the performance of the crop in the field. <strong>Methodology. </strong>Two yellow passion fruit genotypes (KPF-4 and ‘Conventional’) received varying rates of poultry manure (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 t/ha) in both the field and containers. These were laid out as split plot in randomized complete block design and completely randomized design, replicated four and ten times, respectively in the field and pots. <strong>Results.</strong> In both field and pot, days to first flowering and fruit dropping were earlier in KPF-4 than ‘Conventional’. Vine girth and number of branches were not significant different (p&gt;0.05) between the genotypes in both field and container. Most of the fruit yield traits obtained from either field or pot experiment did not statistically vary between the genotypes except fruit length and circumference. The application of poultry manure (PM) reduced the days to first flowering but enhanced the growth characteristics of the vines compared to vines that received no manure. Increase in PM rate increased the number of fruits picked per plant. The economic analysis of both studies indicated that net return and return per naira invested increased with increase in PM rates with the peak at 20 t/ha PM application. <strong>Implications. </strong>Pot studies could be utilized for preliminary evaluation of crops and prediction of field performances. <strong>Conclusion. </strong>The study revealed that phenology, growth and fruit yield of the two genotypes had relatively similar responses to PM rates in both pot and field studies, yet less inputs were made in the pot study.</p>

Micronutrient malnutrition is a global challenge. However, there are promising opportunities for combating it through the consumption of neglected and underutilized leafy green vegetables. Senecio biafrae is an underutilized and nutrient-rich green leafy vegetable with huge nutritional and health potentials that have remained unexploited. The aim of this research was to evaluate the proximate, mineral, vitamin, anti-nutrient contents of the leaves of Senecio biafrae. Leaves of Senecio biafrae were collected from five communities in Ekiti State and analyzed using standard biochemical methodologies. The results showed that the leaves differed significantly in nutritional and anti-nutritional contents. The leaves were rich in potassium, magnesium, and calcium, and low in fat and anti-nutrient contents for all the groups studied. The Pearson?s correlation results showed that most of the nutritional parameters either had inverse or no relationships with anti-nutrients. The crude protein showed significantly positive correlations with dry matter (0.90**) and a negative correlation with cyanogenic glycosides (-0.90**). Cyanogenic glycosides showed significantly negative correlations with potassium (-0.63**), calcium (-0.66**) and dry matter (-0.44*). Nitrate showed no significant relationship with any nutritional parameter. Oxalate and tannin showed no significant relationship with the vitamins. Phytate and tannin showed no significant relationship with the proximate contents and minerals. The results showed that Senecio biafrae leaf is nutrient-rich and could help to mitigate the effects of micronutrient deficiencies. The variations and relationships among the nutritional and anti-nutritional parameters could enhance meaningful selection and nutritional quality through breeding.

Three experiments were conducted from 2014 to 2018 to examine the economics of yellow passion fruit production under different soil fertility management. In 2014, two yellow passion fruit genotypes, that is Conventional and KPF 4, were grown in the field and pot simultaneously under varying rates of poultry manure (PM), including 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 t/ha. In 2016, the response of the two genotypes to a single and combined application of organic and inorganic fertilisers was evaluated under field conditions, namely no fertiliser application, 10, 20 t/ha PM, 400 kg/ha NPK 15:15:15, 5 t/ha PM + 200 kg/ha NPK, and 10 t/ha PM + 200 kg/ha NPK. The profitability indicators were gross revenue, net revenue, returns per naira invested and the profitability index. In 2014, total variable cost increased significantly (P < 0.05) with an increase in PM rates in both the field and pot studies. The highest net returns and returns per naira invested were obtained with the application of 20 t/ha PM. The combined application of 10 t/ha PM + 200 kg/ha NPK recorded the highest gross return, net return and return per naira invested in the 2016 production cycle. Growing the vines without fertiliser application gave significantly least net returns without profit in both production cycles and methods. Consequently, applying 20 t/ha PM was adjudged the most profitable for yellow passion fruit production in the study area, and hence is recommended particularly when organic farming is intended. However, if growers must use inorganic fertiliser, a combined application of 10 t/ha PM + 200 kg/ha NPK will be most profitable.