ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to evaluate growth differences in Eleusine indica collected from different localities within the forest agro-ecological zone in Nigeria. Nine random localities situated within three States – Edo, Delta and Anambra States, were selected. Eleusine indica samples collected from these localities and were immediately transported to the Screen House, where they were sown and acclamatized. Subsequently fresh tilllers were raised from these plants, which were used eventually used for the study. The respective tillers were then sown in the Botanic Garden. After eight weeks , results showed that that there was no significant difference between number of root and number of leaves of plant samples obtained from the various local government area and control (p>0.05). There was also no significant difference in number of spikes of plant samples at week 7 and week 8 (p>0.05).There were dirrefences in plant height. Plant obtained from Ogbaru LGA in Ananmbra (15.32 cm), Oshimili South LGA in Delta (12.43 cm) and Ikpoba Okha LGA (13.46 cm) in Edo State were taller than the control plants (6.31 cm). Number of days to first triller generation in samples obtained from Idemili North was 42, Egor was 42, Ikpoba Okha was 37, Aniocha South was 39, Oshimili north was 33, Idimili south was 54, Ovia North East was 35, Ogbaru was 21 and Oshimili south was 51. Samples from Idimili south had highest number (54 days) of first triller generationcompared to control which was 24. Total number of plants affected by forage activity in samples obtained from Idemili North was 22, Egor was 25, Ikpoba Okha was 18, Aniocha South was 11, Oshimili north was 7, Idimili south was 5, Ovia north east was 13, Ogbaru was 29 and Oshimili south was 26 compared to control which was 15. The pH of the soil samples ranged from 5.63 – 7.08 and control (5.58). The organic matter content of soils samples ranged from 0.23 to 4.75% while organic carborn ranged from 0.13 to 2.76%. Bacteria isolated from soil samples in the study include Salmonella sp., Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus sp., Citrobacter sp., Klebsiella sp., Staphylococcus spand Escherichia coli. Eleusine indica samples from six different local government area were able to grow well after transplanting from thier initial environment to control environment.
