AMERICAN RESEARCH JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE

4

Authors: DEGRI, M.M. SANI, A.A.

Tomato crop is widely cultivated in Nigeria. It is prone to heavy infestation by several insect pest species which limit its production. Field experiments were conducted at Gombe State Agricultural Development trial farm, Kwadon, Gombe State in 2012 and 2013 rainy seasons. The study was laid out in a randomized complete block design with four improved tomato varieties and one local variety as treatments replicated four times. Different insect pest species were counted and recorded, plant height, mean number of branches, fruits, mean number of holes, damaged and undamaged fruits were recorded. The results indicated that improved tomato varieties Roma VFN, UTC, Leventis, and Ronita (TOM) were less susceptible to insect pest species infestations while local tomato variety was more susceptible to the pests. Improved tomato varieties used for the study had less insect pest species, produced taller plants, more branches and fruits compared to the local variety. The result further showed that improved tomato varieties were less susceptible to Helicoverpaarmigera damage, hence the lower mean number of holes, damaged fruits and higher undamaged fruits compared to the local tomato variety which had higher mean number of holes, damaged fruits and lower undamaged fruits per plant. The use of improved varieties by poor resource tomato farmers will increase tomato production in Nigeria. Tomato farmers in the study area should be advised to adopt the use of improved tomato varieties for cultivation.

7

Authors: W.J. Baipusi,, B. Kayombo and C. Patrick

Rain water harvesting (RWH) is described as concentration, collection, storage and use of rain fall via runoff for various purposes such as domestic, livestock and agricultural use. RWH systems can be classified as macro, mini, micro and in-situ. A study was carried out during the 2013/14 cropping season to (1) characterize the soil tillage surface conditions on their runoff generation potential using micro-catchment RWH systems and (2) appraise the micro-catchment RWH systems resulting from different tillage systems on crop performance. In order to address stated objectives, two experiments were laid out. For specific objective one, a Completely Randomized Block Design comprising of three blocks of runoff/catchment plots measuring 25m2 , 50m2 and100m2 were laid out. Within the same plots/rainfall catchment, the following four soil surface conditions were imposed: Ploughed with moldboard surface (PS), Ploughed with mould board and un-weeded surface (UP), Ploughed with mould board and subsequently harrowed surface (HS) and naturally vegetated surface (NV). At the bottom of the catchment area, a runoff collection system was laid and runoff was measured after every storm event. The second experiment was also a Completely Randomized Block Design with two factors i.e. catchment size (in-situ, 25m2 50m2& 100m2 ) and the four soil tillage surface conditions were repeated but this time a maize crop was planted at the bottom of the slope, such that runoff was collected at the cropped area. Plant performance (growth rate) was assessed fortnightly, by measuring 10 plants’ height of the mid-leaf or growing point, from each plot. The results showed that a 5 x 5 m mould board ploughed and un-weeded surface yielded significantly more runoff than other catchment areas and surface condition combinations. With respect to crop performance, a 5 x 5 m catchment whose runoff was directed to a mould board ploughed cropped area had a significantly higher growth rate of maize than run-off from other catchment areas and surface condition combinations.