Page 6 - index

з.о допкннжткж

Arable crops such as cereals, legumes and vegetables are the major sources of calories and

protein for the tropical African populace. However, due to poor seedling establishment and poor

growth resulting from inadequate crop nutrients and hormones; and also from infection of
pathogens, a huge gap still remains between the potential yield of the crops and their actual yield

(Fakir et ai, 2002).

Prevailing economic and ecological problems have encouraged contemporary farmers to use

biological control agents, organic fertilizer and plant growth regulators among others to boost
their crop productivity. Albit® TPS is composed of poJy-beta-hydroxybutyrate (6.2g PUB L" )
1
and a balanced set of micro and macro elements and terpenes acids. Its application is reported to
have relieved stress influence on several crops and was successfully used with full application

rates of herbicides and insecticides (23otnikov, 2006). Foliar sprayings of Albit® were found to
be necessary for reinforcement and prolongation of presowing seed treatment effect on grain

crops, vegetables, sunflower and fodder grasses (Yakhtanigova, 2009).

Information on the usage of Albit® among African farmers is very limited. The biosubstance

was first applied in Nigeria in 2008 on com field and soyabeans in Sabo Farms Ltd. in Kaduna,

North central Nigeria (Ballah, 2009). Its effects on germination and seedling vigour of Nigerian
crops have not been widely assessed. This study therefore investigated in the laboratory and in

the pot, the germinability and seedling invigoration efficacy of Albit® on ten Nigerian arable
crops. After this, confirmation was carried out on an irrigated field on the Faculty of Agriculture

Experimental field in the mini-campus of University of Abuja, Abuja

3.1 Collection of samples of seeds

The seeds used were those of Abelmoschus esculentum, Solanaceae (Okra - cv lady fingers);

Amaranthus caudatus, Amaranthaceae (Amaranth or African spinach - white seeded unproved

cultivar, Alheri Seeds Nig. Ltd, Sokoto); Arachis Ьурщаеа, Leguminosae (Groundnut - cv
Samnut 10, Samaru ABU, Zaria); CitriUus lanatus, Cucurbitaceae: Water melon - cv crimson

sweet VA-S1-15 L, Premier seeds); Dmtem earvta, Urobeliferae (Carrot - Teehnism France);

5