FEDERAL COLLEGE OF ANIMAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTION

TECHNOLOGY VOM
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL AND PEST MANAGEMENT
TECHNOLOGY
PROJECT PROPOSAL
ON:
DETERMINATION OF THE CRITICAL PERIOD OF WEED

INTERFERENCE IN POTATO (SOLANUM TUBEROSUM L.)

PRODUCTION IN VOM, JOS SOUTH LGA PLATEAU STATE.

BY:

ARUGU ENDURANCE ONWU ND/AGT/2020/0338

JOSEPH LOT AKARAH ND/AGT/2020/0339

 
SUPERVISED BY:

MR DALYOP THOMAS
 
SIGN: …………………… ` DATE:…………………

MR ABDULLAHI ISHAKU
 
SIGN: …………………… ` DATE:…………………

 
 

MARCH, 2022
 ssCHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study

Agriculture is the main stay of Nigeria economy. It is a catalyst for the overall development of
the country (Ogbalubi and Wokocha, 2013). Thus, it is a critical sector that drives the economic
development and industrialization. The role of agriculture in hunger and poverty reduction
remains the subject of debate, m, especially the part that produces food, is linked to poverty
alleviation and human development.

Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the world‟s fourth largest food crop after wheat, rice and
maize (Raemaekers, 2001). World production reached a record of 320 million tons in 2007 and
production in the developing countries has almost doubled since 1991, with a corresponding
increase in consumption (Sofyan et al., 2007). Potato is an important source of food,
employment and income in developing countries (FAO, 2008). Potato’s high energy content and
ease of production have also made it an important component of urban agriculture which
provides jobs and food security to some 800 million people globally (Sofyan et al., 2007).
Hundreds of millions of people in the developing countries including Nigeria are facing food
crisis as the cost of their staple foods continues to rise. Rice prices have almost doubled during
the year 2008, as wheat prices are climbing rapidly while maize prices are skyrocketing. But On
the contrary, the price of potato has remained stable. The potential of the Irish potatoes is yet to
be fully realized and has never been more evident until the recent rising prices of rice, wheat and
maize (FAO, 2008). Potatoes have the potential to relieve the pressure of increasing cereal prices
on the poorest people and contribute significantly to food security. Potatoes are grown and eaten
locally, with little significant international trade compared to cereals, so they are particularly
valuable as food in the developing countries. Potatoes mature in 3-4 months and can yield about
40 tons/ha and hence ideally suited to places where land is limited and labour is abundant (FAO,
2008).

Critical periods of weed-crop competition for potatoes have been monitored and statistically
analysed in only relatively few environments and only for a limited variety of weed types
(Ciuberkis et al., 2007; Costa et al., 2008; Ahmadvand et al., 2009). On average, the critical
period for weed removal in potatoes has been assessed as 4 to 6 weeks from planting. However,
Costa et al. (2008) established data demonstrating that in Brazil, the critical period for weed
interference was only one day, i.e. 20 to 21 days after tuber planting. Again, by comparison, in
the UK, one weeding between 2 to 8 weeks after crop planting was sufficient to stop any
significant yield losses Weed management in potato production is one of the main cost and time
consuming practices. Understanding the most effective time of weed control could reduce the
costs and increase potato yield.

Baziramakenga & Leroax (1994) reported that to achieve 90% of highest tuber yield, the
maximum time permitted for weeds to grow after potato emergence was 15 days, and the same
level of tuber yield could be obtained if the crop was kept free of weeds from its emergence until
23–68 days. Ciuberkis et al. (2007) showed that the critical period of weed control in potato
began at time of planting until 25 days after flowering.

1.2 Statement of the problem

Weeds are a major problem in potato production. In common with other crops, weed control in
potato crops is a vital part of successful crop production (Solan et al., 2011). The yield of potato
tuber production can be significantly decreased by weeds as they compete for nutrients, water
and light. Yield is also reduced by diseases and insects inherently carried by weeds if they are
not controlled at the correct and critical time (Boydston et al., 2008). Thus, without such control,
if one assesses the seasonal growth period in any given annual period,
potato yield can fall by as much as 16% to 76% (Tripathi et al., 2009).

Weeds reduced the potato yield 54.8 percent. The beginning and the end of the critical period of
weed control (CPWC) was based on 5% and 10% tuber yield loss. The onset of the CPWC
ranged from 486 to 572 GDD, AT 5% and 10% yield loss level corresponding to 11 and 19 days
after crop emergence, respectively.

1.3 Significance of the Study

Knowledge of crop critical period of weed interference (CPWI) also contributes to minimize
yield losses that this crop can exhibit due to weed infestation (Safdar et al., 2016); determining
CPWI is an indispensable tool to propose effective weed management strategies in any crop
production system (Tursun et al., 2016). Information about CPWI in limited and its effect on
yield is very limited; However, weed interference not only affects crop yield but also alters the
amount of plant secondary metabolites, which accomplish important functions within the plants
(Olivoto et al., 2016).

The results of the present study could help potato producers to improve the efficiency of their
current weed management systems and reduce yield loss resulting from weed competition.

1.4 Aim

To determine the critical period of weed interference in potato (Solanum tuberosun L.)
Production in Vom, Jos South L.G.A Plateau state.

1.5 Objectives

i. To determine the critical period of weed interference in potato in the study area
ii. To established the effect of weed interference on potato yield.

1.6 Justification of the Study

The finding of this study is expected to provide a guide to assist farmers on areas to explore Irish
potato production for increased yield and economic benefits. This is because farmers‟ decision
towards the control weed in potato is influenced by their expectation of economic benefits.
 CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Study Area

The Research will be conducted in Vom Jos-South L.G.A of Plateau State. The Research will
be carry out at the college farm (orchard) which is located at latitude 40 0 N and longitude 350 E,
with an elevation of 1,285 meters above sea level.

3.2 Materials and Methods:

This research was conducted using the quadratic method. Two locations of potato plant areas as
samples scattered at different altitude or topographic conditions were randomly selected in each
sub-district. At each location the sample was weighed diagonally (5 times) for each plot of potato
cropping using the iron squares of size 0.5×0.5 m. Field data was used to determine weed
species, weed density, weed frequency, weed domination, importance value, summed dominance
ratio, weed dry weight and species diversity index.

3.3 Experimental Design

The experimental design will be a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three
replications. To determine the critical period of weed control, a quantitative series of treatments
comprising two components will be applied: (1) increasing duration of weed interference; and
(2) increasing length of weed-free period. Timing of weed removal will be based on the number
of days after crop emergence. In order to evaluate the onset of the critical period of weed
removal, the first component—increasing duration of weed interference—will be established by
delaying weed control from the time of crop emergence until 10, 20, 30 and 40 days after crop
emergence (DAE), after which plots will be maintained weed-free until harvest. To determine
the end of the critical period, the second component—increasing length of weed-free period—
will be established by maintaining weed control from the time of emergence until the above-
presented time before allowing subsequent emerging weeds to remain for the rest of the season.
In addition, weed control and weed-free control treatments will be included in the experiments.
3.4 Population And Sample Collection

The sample used in this research work are potato (varieties marable) which will be planted in
Nine (9) plots and are replicated three (3) times.

Every plot of each treatment is 3m x 2m (6m2) and each plot consist of four (4) ridges at one (1)
cm apart inter-row spacing and 30 cm intra-row spacing between plants. The total area of land
used in the research is (972m2).

3.5 Sampling Technique

The technique used for the Research work will be the complete Randomized block design. This
technique will be used to compare the effect of weed interference on potato yield.

This potato were planted on different plots with different treatment which are shown below:

EXPERIMENTAL LAYOUT

Design RCBD plot size= 3m X 3m = 9m2

T4 T1 T3 T2 T6 T5
T5 T2 T3 T4 T6 T1
T6 T5 T3 T1 T2 T4

T1 = Weed free throughout planting

T2 = Weeding at 14 day after planting
T3 = Weeding at 28 day after planting
T4 = Weeding at 42 day after planting
T5 = Weeding at 56 day after planting
T6 = No weeding through out

AGRONOMIC PREPARATION
Spacing = 30cm X 100cm
Plant propagation = 30 tuber/plant
Land preparation
Fertilizer 15-15-15 at 40kg/hectare applied at plant
Manure (poultry)
Rain fed
3.6 Procedure for data collection
3.6.1 Data collection on the field
The data collection will carry out three weeks interval after planting.
The data’s that will be collected include:
1. Weed biomass: A squadron of 100m x 100m will be used to collect weed sample for
weight from each experimental plots and all weeds species within the squadron will
be harvested and airs dried to a constant weight to determine weed dry weight
2. Plant height: which is the measurement of the distance from the ground level to the
apex of each plants samples per plot.
3. Stem girth: is the measurement of the diameter of the same plant using threat and
meter rule to determined the
4. Number of leaves: is the counting of the number of leaves on each sample per plant.
5. Number of branches: it will be obtained by counting the number of branch on each
plant sample per plot.
6. Number of ware tubers: is the counting of the number of marketable tuber per plot.
7. Number of seed tuber: is the counting the number of unmarketable tuber per plot.

3.6.2 Data analysis

All data collected were subjected to statistical analysis according to Steel and Torrie (1980)f- test

was used to determine mean differences where f-test showed significant different, least

significant differences (L.S.D)was calculated to identified the different means.

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