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A screen house experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of Tithonia diversifolia biochar on selected soil physicochemical properties. The study included five treatments with Tithonia diversifolia biochar applied at rates of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 t ha − 1 , arranged in a completely randomised design with three replicates. Surface soil (0–15 cm depth) from the Iwo soil series (sandy loam) was collected from the Teaching and Research Farm of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria. Each 10 kg soil sample was thoroughly mixed with the respective biochar rate and maintained at field moisture capacity for four weeks in the screen house before sowing broccoli seeds. Soil samples were analyzed for particle size distribution, bulk density, porosity, moisture content, pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Agronomic parameters measured included broccoli height, number of leaves, leaf area, stem girth, and fresh weight of broccoli biomass. Leaf nutrient concentrations of broccoli were also determined. Data were subjected to analysis of variance, and significant means were separated using Duncan’s multiple range test at p  = 0.05. Results indicated that biochar-amended plots significantly improved soil physicochemical properties compared to the control. Biochar application also significantly increased broccoli height, number of leaves, leaf area, stem girth, leaf nutrient concentrations, and fresh weight of broccoli biomass. The application of tithonia biochar at rates of 10, 20, 30, and 40 t ha − 1 increased the fresh weight of broccoli biomass by 13%, 38%, 26%, and 23%, respectively, compared to the control. The application rate of 20 t ha − 1 was found to be the most beneficial, enhancing leaf nutrient concentrations and growth parameters. This study recommends the use of Tithonia diversifolia biochar as a soil amendment to improve soil quality of sandy loam and enhance broccoli productivity and quality.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the nutritional composition and rumen fermentation attributes of the tithonia plant (Tithonia diversifolia) treated with Lactobacillus bulgaricus bacteria at different fermentation durations and doses. Materials and Methods: In this research, an experimental approach employed a factorial pattern with two factors as treatments with three replications using a complete randomized design. The primary factor was the dose of L. bulgaricus inoculum, with concentrations at 2% and 3%. The secondary factor examined during the study revolved around the duration of fermentation, offering three time frames of 1 day, 3 days, and 5 days for analysis. The inoculum of L. bulgaricus contained 65 × 1015 CFU/ml. Results: The use of L. bulgaricus bacteria on tithonia plants (T. diversifolia) with different inoculum doses and fermentation times demonstrated a highly significant effect and significant disparities (p < 0.05). In phytic acid content, nutrient content (crude protein (CP), crude fiber, crude fat, and dry matter (DM)), and in vitro digestibility, which includes DM, organic matter (OM), CP, volatile fatty acids (VFA), NH3, and gas production. However, it did not show any significant interaction between pH and OM content. Conclusion: The optimal results of nutrient profiling and in vitro digestibility, including DM, OM, CP, rumen pH, VFA, NH3 (ammonia), and gas production, were observed when the tithonia plant (T. diversifolia) was fermented using L. bulgaricus with 3% inoculum doses and a fermentation time of 5 days.

The establishment of invasive plants negatively affects natural environments. Invasive herbivores that attack weeds can be used as a form of biological control, but natural enemies of herbivores must be associated with this interaction to prevent the invasive phytophagous from become a local pest. We performed a greenhouse experiment to evaluate how the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii, a ok and invasive herbivore, affects the performance of the weed Tithonia diversifolia, the Mexican sunflower. We also examined the relationship between the aphid and local natural enemies. Seedlings of T. diversifolia were divided in two groups: one infested by the aphid and another not infested. After 22 days, we assessed the relationship between aphid abundance and the presence of natural enemies (Coccinelidae and Aphidius platensis) on infested plants, and compared the vegetative performance of the two seedling groups. Both natural enemies were positively related to high aphid density on infested plants. Plants infested by the aphid presented foliar necrosis and senescence, and a reduction of around 50% in leaf number, foliar area, shoot length and shoot, root and total plant weight compared to non-infested plants. These results indicate potential biological control of Mexican sunflower seedlings by the cotton aphid, and control of this aphid by the studied natural enemies.

Potential insecticides generated from several plants or some plant wastes are used to control citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri. The aim of the study was to determine the toxicity of botanical insecticides from the extract of tobacco leaf, marigold leaves and Japansche citroen (JC) citrus peel against D. citri. The three plants, which were extracted with five kinds of solvents, namely acetone, distilled water, dichlormethane, hexane and methanol by maceration method. The test used leaf dipping method at 10% concentration with control and imidacloprid chemical insecticide as a comparison. The results showed that tobacco extract with all solvents was effective in controlling D. citri, starting at 1 day after treatment (DAT) with 44-92% mortality. The effective marigold leaf extract was those with the solvent of distilled water, dichlormethane and acetone. The mortality at 8 DAT was 100% and 70% and 74% respectively. Meanwhile, JC citrus peel extract with acetone, methanol and dichlormethane solvents were effective to control D. citri with the mortality at 8 DAT, the mortality reached 98%; 88% and 70% respectively. Thus, botanical insecticides of tobacco, marigold and JC orange peel with certain solvents can be used as controller of D. citri.

Use of organic manures to meet the nutrient requirement of crop would be an inevitable practice in the years to come for sustainable agriculture since organic manures generally improve the soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Hence, field experiments were carried out in 2017 and 2018 to compare the impact of different organic manures and NPK fertilizer on soil properties, growth, yield, proximate and mineral contents of okra ( Abelmoschus esculentus L.). The treatments each year 2017 and 2018 consisted of: rabbit manure, cow dung, poultry manure, green manure [Mexican sunflower ( Tithonia diversifolia Asteraceae)], pig manure, NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer applied at 120 kg N ha −1 and a control (no manure/inorganic fertilizer). The seven treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replication. Organic manures and NPK fertilizer increased the soil organic matter (OM), N, P, K, Ca and Mg (NPK fertilizer did not increase OM, Ca and Mg significantly), growth, yield, minerals, protein, ash, carbohydrate and mucilage contents of okra fruit as compared with control. Organic manures improved okra yield compared with NPK fertilizer. Okra growth and yield parameters were significantly higher in 2018 compared with 2017. Control, rabbit manure, cow dung, poultry manure, green manure, pig manure and NPK fertilizer in 2018 increased the pod yield of okra by 9.7%, 35.3%, 57.9%, 36.2%, 39.2%, 45.5% and 3.2%, respectively compare with the same treatment in 2017. Amongst various organic manures, poultry manure produced significantly higher plant growth, yield, mineral and proximate composition of okra because of its high soil chemical properties which could be related to its lowest C: N ratio, lignin and lignin: N ratio. Results also showed that okra grown during high intensity rainfall has higher yield but with reduced quality except its mucilage content. Therefore, planting of okra with poultry manure under moderate rainfall will enhance the health benefit from the fruit, however, those that desire its mucilage content planting during high rainfall is recommended.

Red onions are such a demanding horticultural product that farmers have to grow them intensively. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of composting applications of Trichoderma harzianum and his Tithonia diversifolia on shallot growth and production. This research was conducted from October 2021 to January 2022 in Sekkang, Mattiro Sompe, Pinrang, South Sulawesi. The study was conducted by experiment using split plot design in a randomized complete block design which consisted of 2 plot factors such as the Trichoderma harzianum fungus as a main plot with 4 levels of doses, and the sub-plots using Tithonia diversifolia compost with 4 levels of doses. The research was done in three main steps: preparing the media and the material, maintenance and examining the result. The results showed that there was an interaction between the treatment of Trichoderma harzianum 15 g with Tithonia diversifolia compost 3 kg per plot, which gave the best results for plant height (41.78 cm). Then, the application of Trichoderma harzianum 10 g with Tithonia diversifolia compost 3 kg per plot gave the best results on the of tuber fresh weight (89.89 g), tuber dry weight (74.61 g) and production per hectare (18,65 ton).

In the fight against arthropod crop pests using plant secondary metabolites, most research has focussed on the identification of bioactive molecules. Several hundred candidate plant species and compounds are now known to have pesticidal properties against a range of arthropod pest species. Despite this growing body of research, few natural products are commercialized for pest management whilst on-farm use of existing botanically-based pesticides remains a small, but growing, component of crop protection practice. Uptake of natural pesticides is at least partly constrained by limited data on the trade-offs of their use on farm. The research presented here assessed the potential trade-offs of using pesticidal plant extracts on legume crop yields and the regulating ecosystem services of natural pests enemies. The application of six established pesticidal plants ( , and ) were compared to positive and negative controls for their impact on yields of bean ( ), cowpea ( ), and pigeon pea ( ) crops and the abundance of key indicator pest and predatory arthropod species. Analysis of field trials showed that pesticidal plant treatments often resulted in crop yields that were comparable to the use of a synthetic pesticide (lambda-cyhalothrin). The best-performing plant species were , and . The abundance of pests was very low when using the synthetic pesticide, whilst the plant extracts generally had a higher number of pests than the synthetic but lower numbers than observed on the negative controls. Beneficial arthropod numbers were low with synthetic treated crops, whereas the pesticidal plant treatments appeared to have little effect on beneficials when compared to the negative controls. The outcomes of this research suggest that using extracts of pesticidal plants to control pests can be as effective as synthetic insecticides in terms of crop yields while tritrophic effects were reduced, conserving the non-target arthropods that provide important ecosystem services such as pollination and pest regulation. Thus managing crop pests using plant secondary metabolites can be more easily integrated in to agro-ecologically sustainable crop production systems.

Robust evidence linking organic amendments to cassava yield, starch content, and profitability on derived savanna sandy loam Alfisols remains limited. Therefore, field experiments were conducted in April 2021 and 2022 at the Teaching and Research Farm of Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria. This study was conducted to determine the effects of Tithonia diversifolia ( Tithonia ) and cow dung (CD) on soil physical and chemical properties, cassava performance, and economic returns. The experiment consisted of seven treatments: control, CD applied at the rate of 10 t ha -1 (CD 10), CD applied at the rate of 20 t ha -1 (CD 20), Tithonia applied at the rate of 10 t ha -1 ( Tithonia 10), Tithonia applied at the rate of 20 t ha -1 ( Tithonia 20), CD10 + Tithonia 10 and NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer applied at a rate of 400 kg ha -1 arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data on the initial soil properties (bulk density, particle size, pH, soil organic matter (SOM), N, P, K, Ca and Mg), along with the chemical properties of the soil on a per-plot basis at the end of the experiment, were collected. Additionally, data on soil bulk density, porosity and moisture content were collected during the vegetative growth of the cassava. Cassava plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, tuber yield and starch content determined. Economic evaluation was conducted using partial budget analysis to estimate the gross margin per hectare for each treatment. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the General Linear Model procedure. Treatment means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at p < 0.05. Results revealed that organic amendments significantly improved bulk density, porosity, moisture content, soil organic matter, and nutrient status compared with the control and NPK fertilizer. The combined CD10 + Tithonia 10 treatment produced the greatest improvements, reducing bulk density from 1.63 g cm⁻³ to 1.20 g cm⁻³ (36%), and increasing porosity from 38.5% to 54.9% (43%) and moisture content from 9.5% to 14.9% (57%) compared to the control. Average over two years, CD10 and Tithonia 10 recorded the highest values of SOM (3.19%), N (0.25%), P (20.9 mg kg⁻¹), K (0.61cmol kg⁻¹), Ca (5.67 cmol kg⁻¹), and Mg (0.91 cmol kg⁻¹), which were significantly ( p < 0.05) greater than all other treatments. This improved soil environment promoted vigorous cassava growth, resulting in an increase in cassava tuber yield and starch content from 19.5 t ha⁻¹ and 21.1% in the control to 32.4 t ha⁻¹ (66%) and 48.9% (57%) respectively in the CD10 + Tithonia 10 plots. In addition, CD10 + Tithonia 10 produced the highest net return compared with other treatments, confirming its economic superiority. Among sole applications, Tithonia 10 was the most cost-effective, delivering high yield gains at minimal input cost, making it an attractive option for resource-limited farmers. Although NPK fertilizer improved yield over the control, its high cost reduced its cost-benefit ratio (2.42) relative to organic treatments. These findings demonstrate that integrating low-cost organic amendments, particularly the combination of CD10 and Tithonia 10, offers a sustainable pathway to improving cassava yield, starch quality, and farmer income while enhancing long-term soil fertility. For smallholder farmers, Tithonia10 alone represents a practical, low-cost strategy for yield improvement, whereas integrated organic applications are recommended where the goal is to maximize both economic returns and soil health.

This article deals with the improvement of the productivity of (poor) sandy and acidic soils in Kinshasa (DRC) using local natural resources in addition to mineral fertilization. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of ground charcoal (biochar) and Tithonia diversifolia leaves combined with mineral fertilizer on soil properties and on the performance of the maize crop. Five treatments and an eyewitness: T0 (control), T1 (N sub( 120) P sub( 141) K sub( 134)), T sub( 2) ([N sub( 60) P sub( 71) K sub( 67)] + 30 t.ha super( -1) biochar), T sub( 3) ([N sub( 60) P sub( 71) K sub( 67)] + 8 t.ha super( -1) T. diversifolia), T sub( 4) ([N sub( 120) P sub( 141) K sub( 134)] + 30 t.ha sub( -1) biochar), T sub( 5) (N sub( 160) P sub( 188) K sub( 179)) repeated four times were compared in a randomized complete block. Physical and/or chemical analyses were carried out on the ground, on T. diversifolia leaves and on maize biomass. The results showed that application of biochar and T. diversifolia leaves combined with mineral fertilizers increased the carbon content, the potassium content and the cation exchange capacity of the soil as well as grain yield, exports of mineral elements and the apparent coefficient of mineral elements use by the crop. Treatments under biochar reduced acidity and aluminum saturation with an improvement of the soil's phosphorus availability. Taking into account the acceptability index, the T sub( 3) (AI = 3.06), T sub( 4) (AI = 2.92) and T2 (AI = 2.14), it would be possible for these treatments to be easily accepted by farmers. The results of this study provide an opportunity to improve the productivity of poor soils in Kinshasa and to increase the crop performance for a period of two campaigns with the use of biochar and T. diversifolia leaves in addition to mineral fertilizer.

Tithonia diversifolia is widely used in African traditional medicine for the treatment of a large number of ailments and disorders, including malaria. In the present study, we evaluated the repellent activity of essential oils (EO) of this plant against Anopheles coluzzii , a major vector of malaria in Africa. Fresh leaves of T. diversifolia were used to extract EO, which were used to perform repellency assays in the laboratory and in the field using commercially available N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) and Cymbopogon (C.) citratus EO as positive controls and vaseline as negative control. The repellency rates and durations of protection of the human volunteers involved were used as measures of repellent activity. Chemical composition of the T. diversifolia EO was established further by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The moisture content and oil yield were 81% and 0.02% respectively. A total of 29 compounds in the T. diversifolia EO was identified, with d -limonene (20.1%), α-Copaene (10.3%) and o-Cymene (10.0%) as the most represented. In field studies, the mean time of protection against mosquito bites was significantly lower in T. diversifolia EO-treated volunteers compared to treatments with C. citratus EO (71 min versus 125 min, p = 0.04), but significantly higher when compared with the non-treated volunteers (71 min vs 0.5 min, p = 0.03). The same pattern was found in laboratory repellency assays against A . c oluzzii . In contrast, repulsion rates were statistically similar between T. diversifolia EO and positive controls. In conclusion, the study suggests promising repellent potential of leaves of T. diversifolia EO against A. coluzzii.