This study evaluated the genetic and agronomic parameter estimates of maize under different nitrogen rates. The trial was established at the Njala Agricultural Research Centre experimental site during 2021 and 2022 in...This study evaluated the genetic and agronomic parameter estimates of maize under different nitrogen rates. The trial was established at the Njala Agricultural Research Centre experimental site during 2021 and 2022 in a split block design with three maize varieties (IWCD2, 2009EVDT, and DMR-ESR-Yellow) and seven nitrogen (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 kg∙N∙ha<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>) rates. Findings showed that cob diameter and anthesis silking time (ASI) had intermediate heritability, ASI had high genetic advance, ASI and grain yield had high genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), while traits with high phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were plant height, ASI, grain yield, number of kernel per cob, number of kernel rows, ear length, and ear height. The PCV values were higher than GCV, indicating the influence of the environment in the studied traits. Nitrogen rates and variety significantly (p < 0.05) influenced grain yield production. Mean grain yields and economic parameter estimates increased with increasing nitrogen rates, with the 30 and 180 kg∙N∙ha<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> plots exhibiting the lowest and highest grain yields of 1238 kg∙ha<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> and 2098 kg∙ha<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>, respectively. Variety and nitrogen effects on partial factor productivity (PFP<sub>N</sub>), agronomic efficiency (AEN), net returns (NR), value cost ratio (VCR) and marginal return (MR) indicated that these parameters were significantly affected (p < 0.05) by these factors. The highest PFP<sub>N</sub> (41.3 kg grain kg<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>∙N) and AEN (29.4 kg grain kg<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>∙N) were obtained in the 30 kg∙N∙ha<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> plots, while the highest VCR (2.8) and MR (SLL 1.8 SLL<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> spent on N) were obtained in the 180 kg∙N∙ha<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>. The significant influence of variety and nitrogen on traits suggests that increasing yields and maximizing profits require use of appropriate nitrogen fertilization and improved farming practices that could be exploited for increased productivity of maize.展开更多
Soil loss through erosion continues to pose serious challenges to increasing the smallholder agricultural productivity in Sierra Leone. While emphasis on sustainable land use practices continue to gain attention among...Soil loss through erosion continues to pose serious challenges to increasing the smallholder agricultural productivity in Sierra Leone. While emphasis on sustainable land use practices continue to gain attention among land users, however, the rate of adoption among smallholder farmers is still very low and hence, in most part of the country soil fertility has been declining at alarming rates. In the Njala area, studies have shown that soil loss ranges from moderate to high. Though soil erosion has been identified as a major soil fertility declining factor, however, the effect of land use practices on the inherent resistance of soil materials to erosion is lacking. This study was therefore conducted to assess the effect of land uses on soil erodibility. The results showed that the soils are coarse sandy loam with high sand content. The dispersion ratios and erosion indices of soils under cassava, plantain, maize and guava were above the minimum thresholds of 15.0 and 10.0 respectively, thus indicating that these soils are highly erodible compared to soils under fallow and sweet potato which have dispersion ratios and erosion indices below the minimum thresholds. Clay content was inversely proportional to and significantly correlated with dispersion ratio and erosion index while the correlations between silt + clay, dispersion ration and erosion index, and silt, silt + clay and dispersion ratio were negative and non-significant. Considering the coarse nature of soils, landscape features and high erodibility indices, these soils would need special soil and water conservation practices to counter further degradation. These may include following, agroforestry, silvi-pasture, controlled and rotational grazing. In addition, awareness of sense of self-responsibility and forest policies and regulations are needed.展开更多
文摘This study evaluated the genetic and agronomic parameter estimates of maize under different nitrogen rates. The trial was established at the Njala Agricultural Research Centre experimental site during 2021 and 2022 in a split block design with three maize varieties (IWCD2, 2009EVDT, and DMR-ESR-Yellow) and seven nitrogen (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 kg∙N∙ha<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>) rates. Findings showed that cob diameter and anthesis silking time (ASI) had intermediate heritability, ASI had high genetic advance, ASI and grain yield had high genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), while traits with high phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were plant height, ASI, grain yield, number of kernel per cob, number of kernel rows, ear length, and ear height. The PCV values were higher than GCV, indicating the influence of the environment in the studied traits. Nitrogen rates and variety significantly (p < 0.05) influenced grain yield production. Mean grain yields and economic parameter estimates increased with increasing nitrogen rates, with the 30 and 180 kg∙N∙ha<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> plots exhibiting the lowest and highest grain yields of 1238 kg∙ha<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> and 2098 kg∙ha<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>, respectively. Variety and nitrogen effects on partial factor productivity (PFP<sub>N</sub>), agronomic efficiency (AEN), net returns (NR), value cost ratio (VCR) and marginal return (MR) indicated that these parameters were significantly affected (p < 0.05) by these factors. The highest PFP<sub>N</sub> (41.3 kg grain kg<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>∙N) and AEN (29.4 kg grain kg<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>∙N) were obtained in the 30 kg∙N∙ha<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> plots, while the highest VCR (2.8) and MR (SLL 1.8 SLL<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> spent on N) were obtained in the 180 kg∙N∙ha<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>. The significant influence of variety and nitrogen on traits suggests that increasing yields and maximizing profits require use of appropriate nitrogen fertilization and improved farming practices that could be exploited for increased productivity of maize.
文摘Soil loss through erosion continues to pose serious challenges to increasing the smallholder agricultural productivity in Sierra Leone. While emphasis on sustainable land use practices continue to gain attention among land users, however, the rate of adoption among smallholder farmers is still very low and hence, in most part of the country soil fertility has been declining at alarming rates. In the Njala area, studies have shown that soil loss ranges from moderate to high. Though soil erosion has been identified as a major soil fertility declining factor, however, the effect of land use practices on the inherent resistance of soil materials to erosion is lacking. This study was therefore conducted to assess the effect of land uses on soil erodibility. The results showed that the soils are coarse sandy loam with high sand content. The dispersion ratios and erosion indices of soils under cassava, plantain, maize and guava were above the minimum thresholds of 15.0 and 10.0 respectively, thus indicating that these soils are highly erodible compared to soils under fallow and sweet potato which have dispersion ratios and erosion indices below the minimum thresholds. Clay content was inversely proportional to and significantly correlated with dispersion ratio and erosion index while the correlations between silt + clay, dispersion ration and erosion index, and silt, silt + clay and dispersion ratio were negative and non-significant. Considering the coarse nature of soils, landscape features and high erodibility indices, these soils would need special soil and water conservation practices to counter further degradation. These may include following, agroforestry, silvi-pasture, controlled and rotational grazing. In addition, awareness of sense of self-responsibility and forest policies and regulations are needed.
