ASSESSMENT OF SURFACE WATER QUALITY IN RIVERS AND PONDS FOR SUSTAINABLE IRRIGATION PRACTICE IN NIGERIA

1Samaila Kunden Ishaya, 2Marcus Nengak Danjuma, 3Kwarfwang Kevin Jack

1&2Nasarawa State University Keffi

      3Plateau State University, Bokkos

Email: ikunden@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Nigeria is blessed with abundant surface water in rivers, streams, rivulets and ponds. However one of the greatest problems faced in the country is assessment of water quality from the numerous receiving surfaces for irrigation. This has resulted in the use of water likely to be injurious to the soils and plants, causing serious implications on the productive capacity of soils and the developmental processes of many crops. It is in this respect that this study undertook a review on assessment of water quality for irrigation and its application to Nigeria. The study used content analysis and reviewed relevant works on water quality for irrigation. The study examined major issues that affect the safety in the use of water for irrigation. These included issues associated to application of water high in salinity that may result in the built-up of salts in the soils, which cause difficulty in plants uptake of water a condition that causes plants to become stunted even when water is sufficient. High sodium ion in the irrigation water may raise exchangeable sodium percent in the soil and may impede the free flow of water and aeration in the soil thus interfering with normal developmental processes of many plants. Low or high pH in water affects the solubility of the soils and plants performance during irrigation. Other specific ion toxicity also have significant effect on water quality at levels that cause ailment to human health, for example the presence of trace elements in irrigation water can bio-amplify in due course within the food chain thus affecting the consumers of crops from such water. To use water wisely the study recommends that there is the need for intensive assessment of water quality for most surface sources and that research institutes be set in each state to monitor the quality of water to ensure standards recommended for a variety of uses are met.     

Keywords: Salinity, Sodicity, Toxicity, Assessment and Irrigation.


HAEMATOLOGY AND BIOCHEMICAL INDICES OF BROILER FINISHER CHICKEN FED GRADED LEVELS OF ZIZIPHUS MAURITIANA FRUIT PULP

B.J. Mufwa; A.A Maigari; I. Baya

Department of Animal Production

College of Agriculture, Jalingo, Taraba State

ABSTRACT

An experiment was conducted to investigate the replacement of maize with ziziphusmauritiana fruit meal in broiler finisher diets. One hundred and twenty Anak 2000 broilers were used for the study’ four diets were formulated using ZMFM at 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% in the diets respectively the birds were randomly allotted to dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. Each treatment consults of thirty birds with ten birds per replicate. The experiment lasted for four weeks. Feed and water were given ad-libitum. The Haematological indices indicates high significant (P<0.05) difference at different levels of maize replacement with ZMFM in packed cell volume (PCV), Red blood cell (RBC) Haemaglobin (Hb) while blood cell (WBC), mean corpuscular Haemaglobin (MCH) Haemoglobin concentration (HB)Heterophils and Lymphocytes. The serum biochemical indices revealed high significant (P<0.05) difference in total protein, albumen, glucose, chloride, potassium and sodium. In view of above, up to 15% replacement of maize with ziziphusmauritiana fruit meal has no adverse effect on the blood component of broiler finisher chicken.Keywords: Broiler finisher, ziziphusmauritiana fruit meal maize and blood


ARSENIC REMEDIATION OF DRINKING WATER

Kamaru M. B1. Umar S2. Usman A. A3, Fatima L. B4

1,2,3,4 Department of Science Laboratory

Technology Umaru Ali shinkafi Polytechnic Sokoto

E-mail: bashirkamaru@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

In this study, the potential of limestone as an adsorbent of different particle sizes for the removal of arsenic from drinking water was investigated. Effects of various operating parameters such as particle size, contact time and adsorbent dosage ere studied using batch adsorption studies.  X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was used to certify the mineral composition of limestone. This method shows maximum removal of arsenic 98.4 % under the following operating conditions: contact time 10 min, adsorbent dosage 2 g, and particle size 2 µm and temperature 28 oC. Pseudo-first and pseudo-second-order kinetic models were employed to elucidate the adsorption behaviour of the system. The result of the adsorption process showed a poor correlation value with the pseudo-second-order model compared to the pseudo-first-order. This designates that the rate-determining steps in the adsorption of arsenic could be physical adsorption processes.

Keywords: Limestone, arsenic, adsorption, correlation, kinetics


EFFECT OF GLOBAL WARMING ON BIODIVERSITY: NIGERIA’S EXPERIENCE

1Mathew, B. A., 2Aboritoli, S., 3Olorundare, J., 4Okpe, Y. Y. & 5Mustapha, S.I.

1&2 Department of  Integrated Science, Kogi State College of Education, Ankpa, Nigeria

 3&4 Department of Geography, Kogi State College of Education, Ankpa, Nigeria

 5 Ministry of Educ. and Human Capacity Development, Kwara State, Ilorin

Email : mathewaledare44@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Disturbed by the plethora of factors that aggregate together to destroy the beauty of the biodiversity and generally the ecosystem and make it unhealthy owning to heating up of the surface; the paper discussed to an extent the resultant effects of global warming on Nigeria and related problems  and mitigating steps has been presented and similarly recommendations has been adduced which among others includes the Government of Nigeria should acknowledge the importance of developing a national response to climate change, and taking steps to build a governance structure and technologies   for adaptation and mitigate the attendant effects of global warming.

Keywords: Global warming, Biodiversity, climate change, Nigeria


EFFECT OF PAWPAW PLANT EXTRACTS AGAINST Sitophilus zeamais (Mots) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) ON MAIZE SEEDS

Adenekan, M. O1, Olubode, T2, Ikuejawa, I.I 3and Akinboboye, O.A1

1Department of Biological Sciences, Southwestern University, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. Nigeria,

2Department of Home and Rural Economics, Fed. Coll. of Agriculture, Moor Plantation, Ibadan.

3Department of Agric. Extension and Management, Fed. Coll. of Agriculture, Moor Plantation, Ibadan.

Email: mopadenekan@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The effect of Pawpaw plant partextracts (leaf, stem bark, root and flower) at different dosages (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5g) against Sitophilus zeamais infesting stored maize grains were assessed at the Biology Laboratory of the Southwestern University, Okun-Owa. Treatments were admixed with 30g of maize grains, infested with ten adults of S. zeamais and stored in 3.0 mm petri dishes. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design (CRD) and replicated four times each. Data were collected on adult mortality, oviposition and percentage weight loss of the grain in each of the replicate. Data collected were analyzed using analysis of variance, while sample means were separated with the aid of least significant difference (LSD) at 5%. There were significant differences in adult mortality of S. zeamais treated with different dosages of the plant parts powder. The flower powder of the plant recorded the highest means adult mortality (10) compared to the lowest adult mortality of 0.1 obtained at the control experiment. The flower part powder also revealed the lowest mean eggs laid (oviposition) (7.1) and the lowest grain damage loss (1.4 %) when compared with the values of 18.7 and 40.0 obtained for mean eggs laid and percentage weight loss obtained when stem bark and control treatments respectively. This clearly showed that the powder of the flower of C. papaya showed good potential as bio-insecticide for protecting stored maize grains.

Keywords: Mortality, Sitophilus zeamais, toxicity, storage, oviposition, eclosion,


MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF ENTEROPATHOGENIC Escherichia coli (EPEC) AMONG CHILDREN WITH GASTROENTERITIS IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Akinboboye, O.A1., Adenekan, M.O1., Olubode, T2., Ikuejawa, I. I3 & Onasanya, R.O4.

1Department of Microbiology, Southwestern University, Okun-Owa, Ogun State.

2Department of Home and Rural Economics, Fed. Coll. of Agriculture, Moor Plantation, Ibadan

3Department of Agric. Ext. and Management, Fed. Coll. of Agriculture, Moor Plantation, Ibadan

4Department of Agriculture, Fed. College of Agriculture, Moor Plantation, P. M. B. 5029, Ibadan.

E-mail: omolikiarinola@gmail.com; mopadenekan@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli is one of the most important pathogens causing severe and persistent watery diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, vomiting and often lead to death in humans. Diarrhoeic faecal samples were collected from 210 children (aged < 5 years) in three different hospitals which are Federal Medical centre Idi-Aba Abeokuta, Otunba Tunwase Padectrics Centre, Ijebu Ode and Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching hospital Sagamu after questionnaires were administered. The stool samples were cultured for bacteria on Eosin methylene blue agar, MacConkey agar, and Salmonella-Shigella agar. Escherichia coli were identified using biochemical characterization. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli were serotyped by slide agglutination test using specific Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli monovalent antisera (EPEC O111, O126, O86, O55, O128 and O26). Antibiotic sensitivity was carried out using disc diffusion method. Plasmids from multi-drug resistant Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli were extracted by Alkali-lysis method and electrophoresed. Genomic DNA were extracted from Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and subjected to multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction for detection of effacing and attaching (eae), bundle-forming pili (bfp) and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli adherence factor (eaef) genes. The strains that exhibited multiple drug resistant were 21(18.8%) with plasmids detected in 12(57.1%) of the 21 multi-drug resistance Escherichia coli. Twenty-one of the Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains possessed effacing and attaching genes, 6 possessed bfp while 18 possessed eaef. Typical Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains were more prevalent (tEPEC) with (71.4%) than atypical (aEPEC) (28.6%). The molecular characterization of the Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli among children in this study, revealed typical Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (tEPEC) as the dominant strain in Ogun state.

Keyword: Multidrug, Enteropathogenic E. coli, Prevalence, Gastroenteritis, Typical Enteropathogenic E. coli,


DESIGN OF A PORTABLE TUBULAR FILTER PIPE FOR BOREHOLE WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEM

Yousuo Digieneni1, Igbani, Sunday2, Raphael Tari Samuel3

1Department of Chemical Engineering, Niger Delta University, Yenagoa, 2Department of Petroleum Engineering,Niger Delta University, Yenagoa,

3Department of Chemical Engineering, Niger Delta University, Yenagoa,

E-mail: digieneniyousuo@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The aim of this work is to design a portable tubular filter pipe for borehole water purification system. The materials used in the portable tubular filter pipe (sand layer depth of 0.15m of size 0.8 – 2mm and coarse gravel layer of 0.02m of size 5-8mm) were sourced locally. The coarse aggregate (gravel) layer served as support and distribution of water while the sand layer served as the filter medium. The diameter of the portable tubular filter pipe was assumed to take 4 inches PVC diameter pipe (0.1016m). The design reveals that the filter area is 0.0479m2, the flow rate in the filter is 8 X 10-5m3/s, the filter volume is 0.02m3 and the head loss in the filter is 0.5m. Tests were carried out on borehole water and system filtered water. The results show that the portable tubular filter pipe performed relatively well in purifying borehole water. The model constructed for the tests was a prototype.

Key words: Design, Portable, Tubular-filter, Borehole, Purification


ISOLATION AND STRUCTURAL ELUCIDATION OF 20 HYDROXYECDYSTONE FROM VITEX DONIANA SWEET STEM BARK (BLACK PLUM)

Mustapha A. Tijjani1, Y.A. Shettima2,  Fanna I. Abdulrahman3, Irfan Z. Khan4, Cong Li

1Department of Chemistry, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B 1069, Maiduguri,

2Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Maiduguri

3Departement of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Maiudgur, , Maiduguri,

4National Centre for Natural Products Research and, University of Mississipi, United States of America

Email; mustaphatijjani22@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The ethanolic extract of Vitex doniana stem bark (11.9g) was subjected to a silica gel accelerated column chromatography and eluents fractions (150ml aliquots) obtained were collected and monitored with thin layer chromatography (TLC).. Fractions with similar Rf values from same solvents system were poled together. Phytochemical test of all the fractions were perform. Complete elution yielded 48 fractions (150ml/fraction) which were pooled to 24 fractions and finally to eight (8) eight fractions and coded. Fraction Vd8-a (56mg) has gave a single spot  a white crystal compound coded V1 on checking with TLC and observed under Ultraviolet lamp .The Rf values was calculated to be 0.433 and melting point was found to be 241-243°C uncorrected. The infra red spectrum of compound V1 shows prominent peaks that corresponds to OHstr (3365cm-1) and C=0 (1652cm-1). The 1H NMR (400 MHZ) spectrum of compound V1 in DMSO-d6 displayed five singlet signals. It further showed a broad singlet at δ 5.58 integrated for 1 H is due to an olefinic H-atom adjacent to the carbonyl carbon atom. Three signals at δ 3.10` (d, J = 9.0 Hz, H-22), 3.59 (m, 1H, 2H-a) and 3.72 (m, 1H, 3H-e) each integrating for one proton is due to an oxymethine protons indicating that three oxymethine H-atoms were present in the compound. The 13C-NMR spectrum showed the presence of 27 Carbon atoms, suggesting that may be steroid skeleton and The DEPT-135 spectra showed the presence of five CH3, eight CH2, and seven CH groups, and seven quaternary C-atoms. The Molecular formula was established as C27H44O7 by HRES-MS positive ion mode m/z 481.3179. Based on the spectral analysis, the compound V1 is thus concluded to have ecdysteriod skeleton and conclusively conforms to 2β, 3β 14α, 20R, 22R, 25- hexahydroxy-5 β cholest-7-ene-6- one, commonly known as 20-hydroxyecdysone. This is the first time this compound was isolated from vitex doniana sweet.

Keywords: Vitex, Phytochemical, purification, isolation, chromatography, spectroscopy


ESTIMATION OF GLOBAL SOLAR RADIATION USING SUNSHINE AND TEMPERATURE BASED MODELS IN MAKURDI, NORTH-CENTRAL, NIGERIA

Benjamin Ternenge Abur1, Francis Fanen Abur2, Emmanuel Enemona Oguche3 and Godwin E. Ede4

1Department of Mechanical/Production Engineering, ATBU, Bauchi

2Projects Development Institute Enugu, Nigeria

3Industrial Skills Training Centre, Dorayi-Kano, Nigeria

4Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Jos, Nigeria

Email: engrbenjaminabur@gmail.com;

ABSTRACT

Precise knowledge of solar radiation distribution at a particular geographical location is of great significance for the development of solar thermal and photovoltaic energy devices. The monthly mean daily data for global solar radiation and sunshine hours for a period of ten years for Makurdi (Latitude 7.7322°N, 8.5391°E) were obtained from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, and used to develop a number of first order Angstrom-type correlations. The regression constants of ‘a’ and ‘b’ in Angstrom-page equation were found to be 0.273 and 0.558 respectively. Maximum and minimum measured monthly mean global solar radiations were 20.09 and 13.25MJ/m2/day which occurs in the months of November and August respectively. Estimated monthly clearness index and monthly sunshine duration were used in modeling four temperature-based and two sunshine-based models. Estimated values of global solar radiation by the various models and the measured solar radiation were tested using statistical tools of mean bias error (MBE), root mean square error (RMSE), mean percentage error (MPE), relative root mean square error (RRMSE), coefficient of residual mass (CRM), and Nash–Sutcliffe Coefficient (NS).  The values of coefficient of determination (R2) were also determined for each developed equation. Comparing these models, it was observed that the Louche model equation performed better in terms of coefficient of determination (R²) and least values of MBE, RMSE, MPE, and CRM while, Hargreaves-Samani model have the least R².

Keywords: Solar Radiation, clearness index, sunshine hours, regression constants and statistical tools


CHARACTERIZATION AND PRODUCTION OF AJASE – IPO CLAY IN KWARA STATE AS REFRACTORY MATERIALS FOR FURNACE LINING

M. Alagbe and F. F. Ihogbetin

Department of Metallurgical Engineering

Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Nigeria

E-mail: alagbemic@yahoo.com, amenosahon@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Characterization and physical production of Ajase – Ipo clay in Kwara State as refractory material was carried out with a view to determine its possible applications. Twenty-four different clay mixes were prepared to test for each property. The clay mixes were formed with clay, 5%ww sodium silicate and 5%ww tempering water addition. Prepared samples were heated to temperature of 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200 and 13000C, soaked for 2 hours and allowed to cool to room temperature. Testing of properties such as gas permeability, apparent porosity, linear fired shrinkage, hot strength, baked strength, baked hardness and refractoriness were carried out on standard samples of these mixes. The experiment was carried out for both the local clay (Ajase-Ipo) and imported refractory materials (London and India). The result of the tests showed Ajase-Ipo clay mix has average values of 151ml/min gas permeability, 520KN/m2 hot strength, 685KN/m2 baked strength, 94.7BH baked hardness, 14.47% apparent porosity and 24% linear shrinkage at 1300OC. These properties compared with clay materials used in local foundries for ferrous castings and could be a suitable replacement for those clay mixes in use at present.

Keywords: Characterization, production, clay, bond, furnace


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