Biology subjects

Oluwatobi, A. S.

Publications and source records attributed to Oluwatobi, A. S..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2020

Growth assessment of juvenile oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) intercropped with fruit vegetables in a rainforest zone of Nigeria

Many farmers spend a lot of money in the control of weeds during the long juvenile phase of oil palm. Intercropping is a popular practice employed by farmers to increase productivity of wide alley and overcome weed problem. However, improper intercropping of Elaeis guineensis with other crops has impaired the growth and development of the oil palm due to competition for environmental resources. The study was conducted to investigate the impact of intercropping on the growth of juvenile oil palm for 2 years. The research commenced during the rainy season of 2016 at an established juvenile oil palm plantation in Ala, Akure-North Local Government of Ondo State. Four fruit vegetables were intercropped separately within the alley of the plantation at 1, 2 or 3 m away from the oil palms in a randomized complete block design. Growth parameters of intercropped and non-intercropped juvenile oils were compared. Results of the study revealed that at 16 weeks after intercropping (WAI), the intercropped oil palm recorded better growth performance with higher values of canopy spread, number of frond, number of leaflets and trunk height (218.20, 37.00, 87.48 and 38.17 cm) respectively, than the sole oil palms (214.67, 32.83, 72.89 and 31.67) respectively. There was no significant difference in all the growth parameter examined except canopy height at (P<0.05) level of significance. Juvenile oil palm cultivated in rainforest agroecological zone of Nigeria can be intercropped with fruit vegetables without any deleterious effect when intercropped at minimum of 1 m away from the oil palms.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Weed species composition and diversity of 2-year-old oil palm tree/fruit vegetables intercrop in rainforest zone of Nigeria

The spacing pattern and growth habit of juvenile oil palm during the early stages of field establishment have often led to serious weed problem until canopy closure at subsequent years. This study was carried out during the rainy season of 2016 to evaluate the weed species composition and diversity of an intercrop between 2-year-old oil palm tree and two fruit vegetables at an oil palm plantation in Ala, Akure-North Local Government, Ondo state, Nigeria. Two accessions of tomato (NGB 01665 and NG/AA/SEP/09/053) and eggplant (NGB 01737) were intercropped within the alley of immature oil palm. Weed sampling was carried out using 0.25 m2 quadrat within each experimental plot. Quantitative analysis of weed species parameters and Simpsons Diversity Index were evaluated. The result revealed that 28, 21 and 20 weed species were found across all the plots at 3, 6 weeks after intercropping (WAI), and after harvesting respectively. Members of Asteraceae produced the highest weed species at 3 WAI (17.857%); Poaceae recorded the highest weed species at 6 WAI and after harvesting (19.048% and 20%) respectively. A total of 23, 16 and 15 broadleaves were found at 3 and 6 WAI, and after harvesting. In all the juvenile oil palm/vegetable intercrops evaluated, the control plot recorded the highest weed species richness at 6 WAI, when compared to other intercropping regimes. The control and juvenile oil palm/tomato (NGB 01665) intercrop plot recorded the highest and lowest Simpsons Indices of Diversity at 6 WAI (0.877 and 0.734) respectively.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Physiological responses of two accessions of tomato to three distance regimes in juvenile oil palm-tomato intercrop in rainforest zone of Nigeria

This study was conducted during the rainy season of 2017 within the alleys of juvenile oil palms that were 2-year-old at the oil palm plantation located in Ala, Akure-North Local Government, Ondo State. Tomato accessions (NGB 01665 and NG/AA/SEP/09/053) were intercropped at 1, 2 and 3 m from the juvenile oil palm within the alley in a randomized complete block design. The results showed that tomato (NGB 01665 and NG/AA/SEP/09/053) planted at 3 m from the juvenile oil palm performed better than those at other planting distances in terms of growth and yield attributes with number of fruit; fruit weight and yield per hectare of 39.50, 2265.8 g and 3.74 ton/ha respectively. However, the control (sole) recorded the best yield but was not significantly different from those planted at 3 m from the juvenile oil palm. Varietal advantage was recorded by tomato (NGB 01665) with higher number of fruits, fruit weight and yield per hectare (26.94, 1834 g and 3.158 ton/ha) respectively. Intercropping advantage was not recorded for any of the intercropping distance regimes during the trial (when the juvenile oil palms were 2-year-old), with LER values less than unity.

plant biology↗