benniseed

Despite the huge nutritional benefits of black benniseed (Sesamum radiatum), there is dearth of information with regards to its requirements for optimum productivity, especially in this part of the world where it is grown mainly by resource-poor farmers who have little knowledge on its potentials.

The use of cocoa pod husk powder has been tested on some crops but there is little or no information on its use as fertilizer on black benniseed.

There have been few reports on the use of cocoa pod husk powder as organic amendments on some vegetables but no report of its use on black benniseed. Integrated application of agro wastes and mineral fertilizers have been found to increase productive capacity of the soil [7]; [11].

This study was therefore carried out to evaluate the influence of farm waste (cocoa pod husk powder) on growth, leaf and seed yield of black benniseed (Sesamum radiatum) under basal application of phosphorus fertilizer in view of its enormous benefits and potential role in improving the nutritional quality of man.

The influence of application of cocoa pod husk powder on the vegetative growth of black benniseed under basal application of phosphorus fertilizer in 2014 and 2015 planting seasons is as shown on Table 3.

Tables 4 and 5 shows the influence of cocoa pod powder on the yield and yield parameters of black benniseed under basal application of phosphorus fertilizer in 2014 and 2015 planting seasons.

This could be that the native nitrogen in the soil was low and the basal application of phosphorus was not sufficient for the growth of black benniseed.

This signifies that basal application of phosphorus fertilizer alone (90 kg [P.sub.2][O.sub.5] [ha.sup.-1]) will not be sufficient for the production of black benniseed. In the same vein, application of 15 t [ha.sup.-1] of cocoa pod husk powder resulted in value reduction for all the parameters in the study area.

The reduction in all the parameters measured when 5 t [ha.sup.-1] cocoa pod husk powder was applied could be that the soil is deficient in macro and micro nutrients and application of 5 t [ha.sup.-1] cocoa pod husk powder could not sustain the production of black benniseed.

Thus, application of 10 t [ha.sup.-1] of cocoa pod husk powder was observed to be the best for black benniseed cultivation under basal (90 kg [P.sub.2][O.sub.5] [ha.sup.-1]) application of phosphorus fertilizer in the study area.

Emulsion capacity (45.5%) of okra seeds is lower than those reported for pigeon pea flour (49.4%) reported by Oshodi and Ekperigin (1989), gourd seed, white and yellow melon, benniseed and bulma cotton seed (Ogungbenle, 2006).

Chemical composition, functional properties and nutritionally valuable minerals of benniseed, pearl millet, quinoa seed flour.