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| ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological
Science July 2010
| Vol. 5 No. 4 |
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Title: |
An
assessment of the perception of farmers on cocoa pod husk
fertilizer in Cross River state, Nigeria |
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Author (s): |
Ogunlade
M. O., Agbeniyi S. O. and Oluyole K. A. |
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Abstract: |
In Nigeria, there has always
been a problem of inorganic fertilizer scarcity among
farmers especially during the planting season. In order to
solve this problem, cocoa pod husk based compost was
developed for use on cocoa. Being a new technology, the
perception of cocoa farmers on this organic fertilizer was
assessed which is the aim of this study. The study was
carried out in Cross River State, Nigeria. Three cocoa
producing Local Government Areas (LGAs) namely; Etung, Ikom
and Boki were purposively selected and 72 cocoa farmers were
purposively, randomly selected for the study. Information
was collected from the respondents with the aid of
structured questionnaire and the data collected were
analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics as well as
correlation analysis. The result of the descriptive analysis
showed that 94.0% of the total respondents agreed that the
organic fertilizer is good. Correlation analysis showed that
age of farmers (p<0.05), farmers’ educational level (p<0.01)
and association membership of farmers (p<0.05) were strongly
correlated with the perception of farmers on cocoa pod husk
fertilizer. The study recommended that the financial
capability of the farmers should be strengthened by way of
giving them soft loan facility for them to successfully
practice the technology. |
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Title: |
Effect of
plastic mulch and tillage method on yield and yield
components of tomato (lycopersicon esculentum) |
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Author (s): |
Majid
Rashidi, Mohammad Gholami and Saeed Abbassi |
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Abstract: |
A field experiment was
conducted at the Research Site of Varamin Agricultural
Research Center, Varamin, Iran on the sandy loam soils to
study the effect of black plastic mulch and different
tillage methods on yield and yield components of tomato (Lycopersicon
esculentum) during 2007 and 2008 growing seasons. Mulch
levels in the study included were plastic-mulching (PM;
black plastic mulch) and no-mulching (NM), and tillage
treatments were conventional tillage (CT; moldboard plowing
+ two passes of disk harrowing), minimum tillage (MT; one
pass of disk harrowing) and no-tillage (NT). Yield, yield
components (plant population density, PPD; number of fruits
per plant, NFPP; fruit weight, FW; fruit length, FL; fruit
diameter, FD) and fruit quality parameter (total soluble
solids, TSS) were determined for all treatments. Results
indicated that mulch levels and tillage methods
significantly (P ≤ 0.05) influenced the yield, yield
components and TSS. Results also showed that PPD and NFPP
were the most important yield components explaining yield
difference under the different mulch levels and tillage
methods. The maximum PPD (10481 plants h-1), NFPP
(17.6) and as a result yield (11.4 t ha-1) were
observed when PM was applied, while maximum values of FW
(67.5 g), FL (65.3 mm), FD (56.8 mm) and TSS (6.46%) were
noted NM plots. In contrast, minimum PPD (7350 plants ha-1),
NFPP (14.2) and hence yield (7.36 t ha-1) were
obtained with NM, while the minimum values of FW (61.1 g),
FL (63.3 mm), FD (55.9 mm) and TSS (5.21%) were noted in
case of PM treatment. Moreover, the maximum PPD (11438
plants ha-1), NFPP (20.4) and consequently yield
(14.1 t ha-1) were observed with CT, while
maximum values of FW (67.8 g), FL (68.9 mm), FD (58.9 mm)
and TSS (6.35%) were noted NT plots. Conversely, minimum PPD
(6275 plants ha-1), NFPP (12.2) and hence yield
(5.24 t ha-1) were obtained with NT, while the
minimum values of FW (60.6 g), FL (60.1 mm), FD (53.1 mm)
and TSS (5.41%) were noted in case of CT treatment. As a
result, plastic mulch and tillage have pronounced effect on
yield, yield components and TSS of tomato in the arid lands
of Iran. |
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Title: |
RAPD-analysis
of genetic variation of four important rice varieties using
two OPR primers |
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Author (s): |
Panagal Mani, T.M.M. John Bastin, R. Arun Kumar and Abdul
Bakrudeen Ali Ahmed |
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Abstract: |
To assess the genetic
diversity in four Oryza
sativa genotypes using randomly amplified polymorphic
DNA (RAPD) markers. Genomic DNA from O. sativa leaves
was isolated, quantified by UV visible spectrophotometer and
amplified using different primers OPR1 and OPR2. OPR1 showed
four rice non-polymorphic genotypes, whereas OPR2 showed
polymorphic amplified fragments in 2% agarose gel. Above
described data phylogenic tree was constructed according to
Nei’s genetic distance using the free tree software program
with help of tree view. Genetic variation of four rice
varieties that ADT 38 and ASD 16 followed by IR 20 and PONNI
has the highest genetic diversity determined by RAPD. Which
are crossed resulting hybrid with maximum heterosis and
better characteristic such as high yield is possible. |
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Title: |
Factors
declining cassava production in Ogori-Magongo local
government area of Kogi State, Nigeria |
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Author (s): |
A. B.
Mohammed, A. Apata, T. Peter and D. Fidelis |
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Abstract: |
The focus of this paper is to
provide quantitative information on the factor declining the
profitability of cassava production in Ogori-Magongo Local
Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. Using structural
questionnaire, sixty farmers were randomly interviewed
within Ogori-Mangongo metropolis in the 2006/2007 farming
season. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive
statistics and farm budgeting techniques. The result shows
that the respondents were small scale farmers with no access
to improved Cassava stem as well as credit facilities. Cost
and return analysis revealed gross margin of N 4,375.30 per
respondent and return to naira invested of N 0.37. The
implication of this finding is that though the existing
level of resources indicates some level of profitability,
there is need to intensify production as well as create a
viable market for the product. |
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Title: |
Statistical optimization of operating conditions for the
bioconversion of palm oil mill effluent into bioethanol in a
3 litre computer controlled stirred tank bioreactor |
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Author (s): |
Korrapati Narasimhulu and
Harikrishna Yadav Nanganuru |
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Abstract: |
The purpose of this
study was the statistical optimization of operating
conditions for the bioconversion of oil-palm industrial
effluent into bioethanol in a three litre computer
controlled stirred tank bioreactor and to evaluate the
feasibility of producing bioethanol from palm-oil mill
effluent generated by the oil-palm industries .The
bioethanol production was carried out through the treatment
of compatible mixed cultures such as Thrichoderma harzianum,
Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Mucor hiemalis, and yeast,
Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Simultaneous inoculation of T.
harzianum and S. cerevisiae was found to be the mixed
culture that yielded the highest ethanol production as 4.5%
v/v or 31.6 g/l. Statistical optimization was carried out to
determine the operating conditions of the stirred-tank
bioreactor for maximum bioethanol production by a two-level
fractional factorial design with a single central point. The
factors involved were oxygen saturation level (pO2%),
temperature, and pH. A polynomial regression model was
developed using the experimental data including the linear,
quadratic, and interaction effects. Statistical analysis
showed that the maximum ethanol production of 4.8% (v/v) or
38.6 g/l was achieved at a temperature of 320C,
pH of 6, and pO2 of 30%. The results of the model validation
test under the developed optimum process conditions
indicated that the maximum production was increased from
4.8% (v/v) to 6.6% (v/v) or 52.4 g/l with 80% chemical
oxygen demand removal. |
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Title: |
Constraints of farmers in cashew production: A case study of
Orire L.G.A. of Oyo State, Nigeria |
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Author (s): |
Uwagboe
E. O., Adeogun S. O. and Odebode S. O. |
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Abstract: |
This study examines
constraints of farmers in cashew production in Orire Local
Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. There are problems of
low yield and utilization of cashew pseudo apple. The study
was carried out in 2008 and data was collected from one
hundred and ten respondents with the aid of well structured
questionnaire. Respondents were selected using purposive and
systematic sampling techniques. Data were analyzed using
descriptive and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC).
Results showed that cashew production in the study area is
male dominated with 84.5% of the respondents being males.
Majority (70.00%) of the respondents in the study area
ranked inadequate capital (finance) as the most severe
constraint while lack of storage facilities was ranked by
few (5.50%) of the respondents. This could be attributed to
difficulty in obtaining loan from the banks due to
collateral while storage facilities constraint could be
attributed to the fact that the cashew farmers in the study
area do not store their produce for processing. Also the
constraints experienced by cashew farmers negatively relate
to the income generated from cashew fruits (r = -0.177,
P<0.05). This implies that significant increase in
constraints will lead to reduction in income of cashew
farmers. These constraints should be considered in
developmental plans for cashew farmers in the area.
Incentives such as soft loan should be provided for cashew
farmers to alleviate the constraints of inadequate financial
capital, encourage establishment of processing industries to
increase their level of income. |
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Title: |
Osmotic
potentials on water uptake and germination of Guazuma
ulmifolia Lam. (Sterculinaceae) seeds |
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Author (s): |
João F.
Braga, Maria Elena Ap. Delachiave, Lúcia F. Braga, Marcilio
P. Sousa and Sheila Z. de Pinho |
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Abstract: |
This study was carried out in the
Germination Lab, Department of Botany, Institute of
Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu,
São Paulo State, Brazil. The aim of
this study was to determine the water uptake curve and to
evaluate the germination of Guazuma ulmifolia seeds
subjected to different water potentials. For the water
uptake curve, seven replicates of 50 pre-scarified seeds
were placed onto paper moistened
with 15 mL PEG 6000
solution under the potentials 0 (control), -0.3 and
-0.6 MPa at 25oC in the darkness. For the
germination assay, four replicates of 50 seeds were
subjected to the same above-described conditions; however,
one lot of seeds was modified when there was variation in
the refractometric index, whereas the remaining ones were
kept in the same solutions until the end of the experiment.
All three phases of water uptake were detected under 0 and
-0.3 MPa; however, phase II was prolonged under -0.6 MPa and
germination was not observed. For 0 and -0.3 MPa, the
adopted statistical models consisted of asymptotic (phases I
and II) and exponential (phase III) functions, y = a*[1
- b*exp (-c*t) + exp (-d + e*(t - t0)].
For -0.6MPa, only the asymptotic function y = a*
[1
- b* exp (-c*t)]
was used since there was no evidence of germination. The
germination final percentage and speed index were lower
under -0.3 MPa, mainly when solutions were not replaced;
besides, germination was not detected under -0.6 MPa, with
or without solution replacement. |
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Title: |
Knowledge
attitude and practices of university students regarding
hepatitis B and C |
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Author(s): |
Amir Razi,
Rameez ur Rehman, Saima Naz, Farkhanda Ghafoor and M. Aman
Ullah Khan |
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Abstract: |
The purpose of this study was
to assess knowledge, attitude and practices of university
students, regarding hepatitis B and C and to compare
knowledge and practices/attitudes scores between two
different groups. This multi-centre cross -sectional study
was conducted from January to June 2008. A group of 2800, at
least graduate students, studying in six different
universities in Lahore was included in the study.
Close-ended questionnaire was used to record demographic
information and responses to assess knowledge, attitude and
practices about hepatitis B and C. Regarding complications
of hepatitis B and C, 47.5% of group I and 26.5% of group II
had some relevant knowledge. About mode of transmission,
contaminated needles/syringes was mentioned by 89.3% of
group I and 82.1% of group II. Similarly blood transfusion,
used blades, tattooing and ear/nose piercing were stated
higher in group I (92.2%, 90.7%, 68.3% and 73% respectively)
than in group II (72.2%, 75.6%, 45% and 36% respectively).
The availability of hepatitis B vaccine was known to 61.7%
in group I and 57.3% in group II. Absence of any vaccine for
hepatitis C was known to 36.0% of group I and 13.7% of group
II. More than half of both groups wanted to be vaccinated
against hepatitis B and almost three quarters of both groups
were willing to be screened against hepatitis B and C. In
both groups their main source of information was television.
Non-biological-sciences group was less informed than the
biological sciences group. Health education about risk
factors and prevention of hepatitis B and C infections by
running awareness programs was found necessary for all
students especially for non-biological sciences students in
order to improve awareness of these diseases.
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Title: |
Characterization of cyanobacteria within the genus anabaena
based on SDS-PAGE of whole cell protein and RFLP of the 16s
rRNA gene |
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Author (s): |
Anbalagan
Ezhilarasi and Narayanaswamy Anand |
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Abstract: |
In this study, ten isolates of
freshwater filamentous heterocystous Anabaena spp.
has been studied by amplified 16S rRNA gene restriction
analysis and compared with morphological characters. They
were morphologically discriminated two groups, each
containing five Anabaena species based on the
proximity of the akinetes to heterocyst, adjacent to or away
from the spore in the trichome. The amplicons were digested
with three restriction enzymes (AluI,
HheIII,
Taq I) and the banding patterns obtained were analyzed.
Cluster analysis showed the separation of all the strains
into two main clusters. The clusters for three different
enzymes yielded heterogenous groupings of the morphotypes
and resulted in unclear delineation of tested organisms.
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Title: |
A review
on root and tuber crop production and their weed management
among small scale farmers in Nigeria |
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Author (s): |
Iyagba A.
G. |
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Abstract: |
Weed infestation is one of the
constraints the small scale farmers in Nigeria must contend
with in the cultivation of root and crop tubers. The effects
of weeds on the cultivation and yield losses in root and
tuber crops are discussed. The concepts of weed control and
weed management are differentiated in this paper. The
approaches in weed management include cultural method mainly
by hand weeding at different weeding regimes for various
crops, biological method using low growing crops, chemical
method using various herbicides and suggested ways of
over-coming the constraints on herbicide use and integrated
weed management practices such as applying herbicides with
cultural and biological practices. |
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