ENHANCEMENT OF HERBAGE AND SEED YIELD IN Corchorus olitorius THROUGH REPEATED CUTTING AGROTECHNIQUE 1

• A. M. Abdul-Rafiu

  Seed Technology Unit, National Horticultural Research Institute, P.M.B 5432 Ibadan. Oyo State, Nigeria.

  Author

• O. O. Ajayi

  Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B 2240 Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

  Author

• O. A. K. Olomide

  Seed Technology Unit, National Horticultural Research Institute, P.M.B 5432 Ibadan. Oyo State, Nigeria.

  Author

• T. A. J. Olofintoye

  Genetic Resources Unit, National Horticultural Research Institute, P.M.B 5432 Ibadan. Oyo State, Nigeria.

  Author

The effect of repeated cuttings on herbage and seed yield characters were compared in three cultivars of Corchorus olitorius during 2011 and 2012 cropping seasons. Seeds of Corchorus olitorius were steeped in hot water at 97oC for five seconds before sowing by drilling directly on the field. Three different cutting frequencies (for herbage yield) were applied by cutting the stem at 10 cm above the soil (for the first harvest) at 6, 9 and 12 weeks after sowing (WAS) and herbage yield were recorded. At 15 WAS, plant height, number of leaves and number of branches were recorded. After maturity, dry pods were harvested and data were collected on seed yield characters. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance and means separation was carried out using DMRT at 5% probability level. The result indicated that herbage yield/plant (25.71g), number of pods/plant (57.94 g) and pod weight/plant (15.76 g) were highest in plants pruned three times while highest seed yield of 8.41 g/plant (1.68 t/ha) were recorded in cutting twice. Among the varieties, Amugbadu recorded highest number of pods/plant, pod weight/plant and seed weight/plant whereas Eleti-Eku had the lowest. However, Eleti - Eku produced the highest 100 seed weight under zero cutting (0.173g). Although cutting three times produced highest herbage yield, but cutting twice is recommended if the objective is for seed production as it recorded highest seed yield.

1. A. M. Abdul-Rafiu, Seed Technology Unit, National Horticultural Research Institute, P.M.B 5432 Ibadan. Oyo State, Nigeria.

   Seed Technology Unit, National Horticultural Research Institute, P.M.B 5432 Ibadan. Oyo State, Nigeria.

2. O. O. Ajayi, Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B 2240 Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

   Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B 2240 Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

3. O. A. K. Olomide, Seed Technology Unit, National Horticultural Research Institute, P.M.B 5432 Ibadan. Oyo State, Nigeria.

   Seed Technology Unit, National Horticultural Research Institute, P.M.B 5432 Ibadan. Oyo State, Nigeria.

4. T. A. J. Olofintoye, Genetic Resources Unit, National Horticultural Research Institute, P.M.B 5432 Ibadan. Oyo State, Nigeria.

   Genetic Resources Unit, National Horticultural Research Institute, P.M.B 5432 Ibadan. Oyo State, Nigeria.

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