Annals of Advanced Agricultural Sciences

Download PDF (435 KB) PP. 1 - 6 Pub. Date: February 19, 2019

DOI: 10.22606/as.2019.31001

• Philip Wani Marchelo-d’Ragga^* and Simon Duku Jebidayo
  Department of Agricultural Sciences, School of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (SNRES), University of Juba, P.O. Box 82 Juba, Republic of South Sudan

The present study was carried out at University of Juba Nursery (Latitude 4.50 N, Longitude 31.50 E) and 457 meters above sea level (msl) to elucidate the allelopathic effects of neem seed powder on viability of stored maize seeds. Maize variety Longe 5 was mixed with neem seed powder as a stored grain protectant at four rates of: 2.5g/kg (T1), 5.0g/kg (T2), 7.5g (T3) and 0g/kg (T4-control) neem material / kg of maize seeds.16 maize seeds were taken from each treatment and planted at the rate of four seeds/pot every month for a period of six months. The trial was arranged in a randomized complete block design, and replicated four times. The germination percentage, shoot and root lengths were recorded for each sowing date 10 days after planting (DAP) for the entire period. Data collected were analyzed by the statistical package MSTATC and means separated by LSD test at P<0.05 probability level. Mean germination percentage was 84.4%, 85.5%, 82.3% and 86.5% for T1, T2, T3 and T4 neem preparations, respectively. Shoot and root lengths were not significantly (P<0.05) affected by the different concentrations of neem seed powder preparations tested. Neem seed powder has no harmful alleopathic effects on maize seed viability and germination for up to the tested period of six months. The abstract should summarize the contents of the paper and should contain at least 70 and at most 150 words. It should be set in 9-point font size and should be inset 1.0 cm from the right and left margins. There should be two blank (10-point) lines before and after the abstract. This document is in the required format.

Neem, Azadirachta indica, allelopathy, maize, seed viability, storage

[1] O.O. Ogunsina, M.O. Oladimeji and L. Lajide, “Insecticidal action of hexane extracts of three plants against bean weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) and maize weevil, Sitophillus zeamais Motsch.”, Journal of Ecoloy and Natural Environment, vol. 3, pp. 23-28, 2011.

[2] D. Byerlee, C. Eicher, and D. Yerlee, Africa’s Emerging Maize Revolution. In Africas Emerging Maize Revolution: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1997.

[3] M. Sagheer, A. Khaliq, F.Z.A. Khan, H.T. Gul and K. Ahmad, Assessment of relative resistance in advanced rice genotypes in response to variation in a biotic factors and development of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). International Journal of Biosciences, vol. 3, pp. 33-38, 2013.

[4] C.O. Adedire, “Biology, Ecology and Control of Insect Pests of Stored Grains” in Pest of Stored Cereals and Pulses in Nigeria, Ofuya, T.I. and N.E.S. Lale (Eds.). Dave Collins Publications, Nigeria. 2001, pp. 59-94.

[5] J. Derera, K.V. Pixley and P.D. Ginga, “Inheritance of maize weevil resistance in maize hybrids among lines in southern Africa, Mexico and CIMMIT-Zimbabwe” in Maize production technology for the future: Challenges and opportunities. Proceeding of the South Eastern and Southern African Regional Maize Conference, 21-25 September 1998. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: EARO (Ethiopia Agricultural Research Organization) and CIMMYT, Addis Ababa. 1999, pp. 19-23.

[6] S. Ganguli, “Neem: A therapeutic for all seasons,” Current Science, vol. 82 pp.1304, 2002.

[7] A. Yohannes, G. Melaku, M. Derbew, S. Kedir and N. Raja, “Evaluation of certain plant leaf powders and aqueous extracts against maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais Motsch. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Asian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 6: pp. 83-88, 2014.

[8] K.D. Ileke, and M.O. Oni, “Toxicity of some plant powders to maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) [Coleopteran: Curculionidae] on stored wheat grains (Triticum aestivum)”, African Journal of Agricultural Research, vol.6, pp. 3043-3048, 2011.

[9] M.M Hossain, G. Miah, T. Ahamed and N.S. Sarmin, “Allelopathic effects of Moringa oleifera on the germination of Vigna radiata, International Journal of Agriculture and Science, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 114-121, 2012.

[10] S.D. Raikar, B.S. Vyakarnahal, D.P. Biradar, V.P. Deshpande, and B.S. Janagoudar, “Effect of seed source and seed treatment with chemical and bio-pesticide on storability of scented rice cv. Mugad sugandha”, Karnataka J. Agricultural Science, vol. 24, no. 4, pp. 448-454, 2011.

[11] S.A. Lawan, M. Suleiman, and S.U. Yuhaya, “Inhibition of germination and growth behaviour of some cowpea varieties using neem (Azadiractha indica) leaf water extract”, Bayero Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 169-172, 2011.

[12] W.G. Daniel, “Historical Review and current Models of Forest Succession and Interference” CRC Press, Florida: 251 pp., 1999.

[13] J.W. Purseglove, “Tropical Crops: Monocotyledons I”. Longman Group Limited, London, 1972.

[14] P.W. Marchelo-d’Ragga, and S.K. Binyason, “Evaluation of some plant and other inert materials for the control of Bruchids [Callosobruchus maculatus (Colleoptera: Brucidae)] in stored cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata Walp.). International Journal of Current Agricultural Research, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 205-207, 2016.

[15] NRC, “Neem, A tree for solving Global Problems, National Academy Press, Washington, DC, USA, 1992.

[16] F.A. Einhelling, “Interactions involving allelopathy in cropping systems”, Agronomy Journal, vol. 88, pp. 886-893, 1996.

[17] S. Sazada, Y. Rchi, Y. Kavita, A.W. Feroze, K.M. Mukesh, S. Sudarshana, and J. Farah, “Allelopathic potentialities of different concentration of aqueous leaf extracts of some arable trees on germination and radicle growth of Cicer arietinum Var. – C235”. Global Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 91-95, 2009.

[18] C.L. Duruigbo, “Assessing the viability of maize and cowpea seeds stored using local plant Biocides”, New York Science Journal, vol. 3, no. 5, pp. 1-3, 2010.

[19] R.K. Kohil, H.P. Singh, and D.R. Batish, “Allelopathy and its implication in agroecosystems”. Journal of Crop production, vol. 1, pp. 169-202, 1998.

[20] S. Ogunyemi, and A.F. Odewole, “Effect of Neem (Azadiratha indica A. (Juss.) on seed germination of Senna sophera L. Roxb. and Crotalaria onchroleuca G. Don”. African Journal of Plant Science and Biotechnology, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 63-65, 2011.