l J. Agric. Res. & Dev., Factltyof Agrlculture,University of llorin l,e05, vct.' 4 :58-69 AgronomicGharacteristics of Bungu (Ceratotheca sesa moides Endl.). ll: Effectsof Row Spacing and Seeding Rateoh Leaf Yieldand YieldGomponents FASAKIN, K.* and OLOFINTOYE, J. A.** " Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, lJniversity of Ado-Ekiti, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. **Depaftment of CropProduction, University of llorin,lloin, Nigeria, ABSTRACT Leaf yield and yield components in two cultivars of C. sesamoides as affected by interrow spacing and seeding rate were investigated in field trials at the University of Ilorin Teaching andResearch Farmin 1996and1997. The teatrnents, which consisted of four interrow spacings (20,30,40, and 50 cm) and four seeding rates (3, 6,9, and 72 kg/ha), were laid out as split plots in randomised complete block design with four replications. The resultsshowed that plant population densityas well as leaf and shoot yieldsper unit area of land werehigherin the tall than in the dwarf cultivar,and in rows spaced at 20 and 30 cm as compared to 40 and 50 cm rows. On the other hand, the response of plant population densityand leaf and shoot yields per unit area of land showed progressive increment as seeding rate was increased from 3 to 12 kglha, although beyond the 9kglharateyield increases wereno longersignificant. Row spacing did not affect number of branches, total lengthof branches, number and areaof leaves per plant,as well as leaf area index, but seeding rateandcultivareffects weresignificant. These leaf yield components except leaf"area indexshowed a decreasing trendas seeding ratewas increased from 3 to l2kgha. Between the two cultivars, the dwarf morphotype was more profusely branching and with more numerous leaves per plant while the tall morphotype hadhigherleafarea per plantandleafarea index. Kev words; bungu; mucilaginous leaf vegetable; leaf yield; components of leaf yield. INTRODUCTION Thenative tribes of the savanna ecological zones of Nigeriareliqh bungu, known as 'eku' in Yorubaand 'karkashi' in Hausa. Its leaVes and tender shoot portions af,e used for imparting a mucilaginbus coitsisteficy on soup that is intended to be taken with starchy morsels prepared from cereals, cassava, and yarn. Thevegetable