ABU IAR marks 2024 Field Day
In an effort to promote agricultural production and research, the Institute for Agricultural Research, (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria has marked the 2024 Field Day. The ceremony took place at Institute’s farm, Shika.
Activities marked at the event include; demonstration of strip cropping systems on various crops, influencing the productivity of sole maize through timely organo-mineral fertilization and moisture conservation.
The event also featured development of drought tolerant and striga resistant maize germplasm and implication on artemisinin content and its influence on soil quality and microbial activities.
In a welcome address, the Executive Director, Prof. Ado Yusuf identified groundnut as the pride of the Institute and the North in general.
The Director also stated that seeds are the foundation of the Institute for Agricultural Research.
He commended principal researchers and young researchers for keeping to the expectation of the Institute not only in Nigeria, but within the African Sahel Region.
Explaining the making of the optimum productivity of maize varieties through appropriate seeds bed preparation and sowing date, the Lead Agronomist of the Institute, Prof. J.A.Y Shebayan stated that objectives are to determine the most economic land preparation method for optimum yield of maize and optimum sowing date for maize varieties of varying maturity periods.
Prof. Shebayan said the land preparation methods for the crop are conventional and minimum tillage.
Dr. Muhammad Ahmad Yahaya made a presentation on sunflower SAMSUN 4, breeder seed production, stating that sunflower is the focal of the Institute and important in Northern Nigeria.
Dr. Yahaya noted that sunflower is cultivated under low input system and it is planted with the aim of reducing the burden of oil importation into the country.
On SAMSORG 46, Dr. Yahaya explained that the unit released 54 varieties and that most of the new varieties are an improvement of the old ones, stressing that the variety is suitable for sahel and northern region.
A total of 13 different varieties of crops were presented, with Senior Professors, researchers, administrative and technical staff of the Institute all in attendance.
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Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Tuesday, 15th October, 2024
