Horticulture

Weeping fig is an important ornamental plant widely used for indoor and outdoor beautification. Difficulty in weeping fig propagation remains a major bane for its mass production in ornamental plant and landscaping industries. Experimental trials were conducted in 2020 and 2021 at the horticultural garden of the Horticulture Department, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria to investigate the effects of type and length of stem cuttings on the rooting and early growth of Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina L.) in the nursery. In the pre-nursery stage, stem cutting of weeping fig was assessed for rooting characteristics and the vigorous seedlings were selected and transplanted into the nursery. The treatments consisted of cuttings obtained from different types of cuttings (soft-wood, semi-hardwood and hardwood) and length of cuttings (10 and 20 cm). The experiment was a 3 x 2 factorial arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) replicated four times. Data collected on percentage rooted cuttings (%), number of roots/cutting, root length/cutting (cm), percentage sprouted cuttings (%), seedling height (cm), number of leaves/seedling, percentage seedling survival (%), root fresh and dry weights (g/seedling) were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using Genstat statistical software. Means of the treatments were separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD) at 5% probability level. Semi-hardwood had 42 and 38% rooted cuttings, hardwood (39 and 35%) and soft wood (35.38 and 31%) in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Stem cuttings with 20 cm length had higher percentage rooted cuttings (41%) and seedling survival percentage (87%) than stem cuttings with 10 cm length 29 and 57%, respectively. It was recommended that 20 cm length of semi hardwood cutting should be used for mass propagation and optimum seedling growth of F.benjamina.

Weeping fig cultivars available in cultivation differ in waviness or color (variegation) of leaves, leafdrop tendency and overall size (Di Beneditto, et al., 2019). Besides genotypic differences, environmental constrains and handling such as propagation techniques; cutting type and length, growing container/media and low irradiance often affect Weeping fig propagation and growth at production in the nursery. Reduced rooting volume may represent a major growth-limiting factor in both the variegated and non-variegated species (Di Benedetto et al., 2020). Improper rooting and shoot development may affect overall performance of the seedlings. Danthu et al., (2002) opined that the most economic method of propagating Weeping fig is mass production through stem cuttings in addition to the traditional air layering technique. Although vegetative propagation is a basic method for mass scale production of cuttings, vegetative propagation of weeping fig has not been extensively studied (Danthu et al., 2002). The three main types of stem cuttings are softwood, semi-hardwood and hardwood. These terms reflect the growth stage of the stock plant, which is one of the most important factors influencing whether or not cuttings will root or not (Okunla and Akinpetide, 2016), the success of rooting stem cuttings also depends mainly on the techniques applied and physiological state and stage of the mother plant, the time of planting, length of cuttings and the type of cuttings used. (Di Beneditto et al., 2018).

To investigate the influence of three population densities (88,000, 44,000, and 29,000 plants/ha) on the growth and yield of five cowpea varieties (IT97K-461, IT97K-568-18, IT98K-131-2, IT99K-1060 and IT99K-`245), a field experiment was conducted at Teaching and Research farm of Landmark University. Growth parameters such as germination count, plant height, and number of trifoliate leaves per plant, number of branches per plant, flower production dynamics and dry matter determination were measured, while harvest index, shelling percentage, number of seeds per pod, see weight pods per plant and grain yield were measured at harvest as yield components. Data were subjected to statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SAS Institute. Significant means were separated using Duncans Multiple Range Test at 5% probability level. Results revealed that there were no constant trends in growth parameters response to population density. Plant height and flower production decreased with increa...