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Farmers in the tropical environment face the acute problem of using mineral fertilizers due to their unsustainable attributes ranging from scarcity and high cost of the material to the adverse effects on tropical soil which resulted to soil acidity and pollution of underground water. This study evaluated the effects of rice-bran compost on the growth and yield of improved variety of soybean on an Alfisol, in Ibadan, Nigeria. The investigation involved a screen house experiment conducted at the Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan. The experiment comprised five rates of compost (0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 t/ha) replicated four times with two pots per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) using soybean (TGX 1740- 1F) variety with a total of 40 pots in all. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance ANOVA and Duncan multiple range test was used to separate the means. The experimental results showed significant differences (p˂0.05) among the levels of compost on soybean; however, 10 t/ha gave the highest value on the number of leaves while 7.5 t/ha performed better in respect of plant height compared with the other treatments. Also, rice bran compost at 10 t/ha produced statistically highest root and grain yields followed closely by 7.5 t/ha. However, 10 t/ha of rice bran compost promoted shoot performance. Soybean yield increased with higher rates of rice-bran compost. Soybean growth and yield are improved with a compost of rice- bran and cattle dung up to 7.5 t/ha to supply 95 kg N, 169 kg P and 12 kg K.

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Passion fruit is valued for its intense flavoured juice used in juice mixes. Though cultivation is prominent in many tropical regions, it is a new crop in southwest Nigeria regardless of the favourable ecology. New crop establishment depends on meeting the nutrient requirements, among other growth resources. Two experiments were conducted at Abeokuta to evaluate the optimum rate(s) of Sunshine Organic Fertilizer? (SOF) required for the growth of the seedlings. The SOF was applied at 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 t/ha in experiments arranged in Completely Randomised Design (CRD) replicated thrice. The application of SOF improved the growth of seedlings, but a rate above 2.0 t/ha resulted in depressed growth. In experiment 1, the application of 0.5 t/ha SOF gave the highest values of 152.7 cm, 19 mm and 19.0 for vine length, vine diameter and the number of leaves. In experiment 2, the number of leaves was the highest at 1.0 t/ha though similar to 1.5 and 2.0 t/ha. The application of SOF had a significant influence on the seedling leaf area (LA) in the experiments. The largest LA occurred in seedlings treated with SOF at 2.0 and 2.5 t/ha. Dry weight and foliar nutrient uptakes in both experiments were significantly influenced by SOF application. The application of SOF at 0.5 t/ha in experiment 1 resulted in higher N uptake, but the reverse was the trend in experiment 2, with higher nutrient uptakes at 1.5-2.5 t/ha SOF. Conclusively, an optimal rate of 2.0 t/ha had positive effects on seedling response.