The Effect of Variety and Planting Date on the Growth and Yield of Pearl Millet in the Southern Guinea Savanna Zone of Nigeria

Uzoma¹, A.O., Eze¹, P.C., Alabi¹, M., Mgbonu², K., Aboje², J.E. and Osunde¹, A.O

¹ Departments of Soil Science Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria

² Department of Agricultural Education, Federal College of Education, Kontagora

E-mail:uzo_ozo@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The effect of planting date and variety on the growth and yield components of Millet in the Southern Guinea Savanna Zone of Nigeria was evaluated in the research farm of the School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Federal University of Technology, Minna during the 2006 cropping season. Minna lies within the Southern Guinea Savanna Zone of Nigeria, latitude 9⁰41¹ N and logititude 6⁰31¹ E Treatment consisted of three planting dates (10th, 17^th and 24^th of June) and three varieties (Maiwa, Ex-bronu and Sosaat-c88). The experiment was a 3×3 factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and data collected were: Plant height, leaf area, Flag leaf length, grain, panicle and husk weights respectively. Results obtained showed that Sosaat-C88 recorded a grain weight of 2,246 kg ha^-1while Ex-bronu gave 2,324 kg ha^-1. The lowest was 2,083 kg ha^-1 recorded by local variety Maiwa. Results also revealed that 17^th June was the suitable planting date irrespective of varieties followed by 24^th June. Sosaat –c88 which had the best growth and yield components irrespective of planting date should therefore be recommended for further studies.

Keywords: Growth and Yield Component; Millet variety; Planting date; Southern Guinea Savanna.

STRATEGIES FOR INVOLVING RURAL FARMERS IN AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

Camilus Bassey Ben

Department of Vocational and Special Education

 University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria

E-mail: bencamilus@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Akwa Ibom States is located in the rainforest belt of Nigeria known for preponderance of agricultural biodiversity. Agricultural biodiversity or agrobiodiversity is succinctly referred, is the diversity of agrogenetic resources used directly for food and agriculture; the diversity of species that support production and the diversity of species that support agroecosystem, as well as diversity agroecosystems themselves. Itperforms many closely interrelated socioeconomic and environmental functions, including promoting food and livelihood security, maintaining productive and environmental sustainability; and contributing to resilient rural economics. Because of these enormous potentials, and farmers have been making frantic efforts at conserving this vital resource. However, despite these efforts, agrobiodiversity is being lost at an alarming rate. This study was designed to determine the measures for enhancing the involvement of rural farmers in agricultural biodiversity conservation In Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria A research question and one related null hypothesis were formulated to guide the study. A total of 858 respondents comprising rural farmers, agricultural extension officers, forestry officers, professional conservators and staff of conservation based NGOs were involved in the study. The data were obtained through a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed with mean, and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The findings of the study revealed that some of the key measures for involving rural farmers in agricultural biodiversity conservation In Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria include the application of incentive system in the management of agricultural resources, non-imposition of fines on agro based produce/products and the provision of adequate marketing outlets in the rural areas for agro-based produce among others. Finally, it was concluded that to enhance agrobiodiversity conservation, programmes of agrobiodiversity conservation in the state should involve the rural communities who are the major actors in the development of agroresources and its conservation principles.

Keywords: Biodiversity, Agrobiodiversity, Agroecosystems, Conservation, Rural farmers

EFFECTS OF EXTRACT OF Piper guineense AND Aframomun melegueta ON THE REPRODUCTIVE CAPACITY OF Oreochromis niloticus

*¹Ekanem, Albert Philip; ²Okon, Timothy John and ³Obiekezie, A.I.

*¹ Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Calabar, Nigeria

² Institute of Oceanography, University of Calabar, Nigeria

³Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture University of Calabar, Nigeria

E-mail: alberekanem@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Effects of Aframomum melegueta and Piper guneense on reproductive capacity of Oreochromis niloticus was investigated in three replicates for 90 days. Extracts were incorporated into feed of O. niloticus sub-adult, while normal feed without extracts was used in feeding the controls at 20% body weights daily. A total of 180 fish (135 females and 45) males were stocked in the ratio of 15 females to 5 males. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in reproduction between the fish fed test diets (B and C) and the control (A); less juveniles were recruited in diets containing A. melegueta than in P. guineense. There was a significant (p<0.05) higher GSI in the tests than controls. Mean fecundity was highest in controls than in tests and in diet B than C. Histologically, the gonads showed normal oocytes in the controls and immature and poorly developed oocytes in the tests. Similarly, the testes showed normal development in the control, inflamed testicular cells in the tests. It was concluded that extracts of A. melegueta and P. guineense contain substances capable of reducing reproductive capability in O. niloticus.

Keywords: Piper guineense, Aframomum melegueta, Oreochromis niloticus

OCCURRENCE OF BACTERIA IN THE SKIN, GILLS AND BUCCAL CAVITY OF Psettiae sebae (Cuvier 1829), Pomadasys jubelini (Cuvier, 1830) and Cynoglosus senegalensis (Kaup, 1858) FROM LAGOS LAGOON, NIGERIA

Akinyemi, A. A. and Yekeen, O. A.

Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management

University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Abeokuta, Nigeria

E-mail: adeoluakinyemi@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The morphometrics of Psettiae sebae (African moony), Pomadasys jubelini (Grunter) and Cynoglossus senegalensis (Sole)  from Lagos lagoon were determined and the bacteria flora in the skin, gills and buccal cavity of the fish species were examined. There were no significant difference in the weight, head length and gill length of the fish sample but there were significant difference (P< 0.05) in the standard length and buccal depth of fish samples. Psettiae sebae recorded the highest mean body weight (148.55 ± 16.76g), Cynoglossus senegalensis recorded the highest mean standard length (24.80 ± 2.32cm), Pomadasys jubelini recorded the highest mean head length (4.53±0.93cm), Psettiae sebae recorded the highest mean gill length (2.83 ± 0.48cm) while Psettiae sebae recorded the highest mean buccal depth (1.58 ± 0.05cm). The highest mean percentage bacterial occurrence of 14.46 ± 0.26 was recorded in the buccal cavity of Psettiae sebae while lowest mean percentage bacteria occurrence of 9.64 ± 0.22 was recorded in the skin of Psettiae sebae.The number of colony forming unit per milligram ranged between 2.81×10⁴ – 3.38×10⁴. The bacteria isolated from the water sample were similar to those of the fish samples except for Clostridium perfrigenes and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. In this study, a total of eighteen (18) bacteria species were isolated from the skin, gills and buccal cavity of Psettiae sebae, Pomadasys jubelini and Cynoglossus  senegalensis, twelve (12) of the bacteria species were Gram negative (Enterobacter spp, Pseudomonas spp, Proteus spp, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp, Citrobacter spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Alcaligenes spp,  Seratia spp, Salmonella spp, Shigella spp, Enterobacter aerogenes) while six (6) bacteria isolates (Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus spp, Bacillus spp, Streptococcus pyogen, Streptococcus spp, Staphylococcus epidermidis) were Gram positive. This study confirms the existence of pathogenic bacteria in the fish species (Psettiae sebae, Pomadasys jubelini and Cynoglossus senegalensis) which are of public health significance.

Keywords: Bacteria, Morphometrics, Psettiae sebae, Pomadasys jubelini and Cynoglosus senegalensis  

FOETAL WASTAGE IN RUMINANTS AND SUSTAINABLE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA

¹Tizhe, M.A, ¹Kubkomawa, H. I., ²Waba, Y.E and ³Addass, P.A

¹Department of Animal Health and Production Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Nigeria

²Department of Animal Health and Production Technology, College Of Agriculture, Maiduguri, Nigeria

³Department of Animal Science, Adamawa State University, Mubi, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted to ascertain the proportion of pregnant animals slaughtered in Mubi main slaughter house. This is with the view to contribute to the already published information from other parts of the world in order to create more awareness on the dangers of such practice on food security and the sustainable livestock sub- sector of the economy. Data used in this study were obtained from daily records on three classes of animals slaughtered at the Mubi main slaughter house for a period of four years (2005-2008). The number of pregnant animals slaughtered and foetuses wasted in year 2005, 2007 and 2008 did not differ significantly (P>0.05) from one another. However, year 2006 has significantly (P<0.05) higher number of pregnant cows, does and ewes slaughtered and foetal wastage encountered. The number of foetal loss encountered in the does and ewes surpassed that of dams due to twins and triplets recovered. Number of pregnant animals slaughtered and the foetuses wasted differ significantly (P<0.05) between seasons. The number of pregnant cows slaughtered and foetuses wasted were highest during the early dry season. The number of pregnant dams slaughtered and foetal wastage encountered tally because of single birth which is common in cows.  Pregnant does slaughtered during the early dry and late dry seasons did not show any significant difference (P>0.05). But fetuses recovered differ significantly (P<0.05) between the two seasons mentioned. Early dry season has the highest number of pregnant ewes slaughtered and foetuses recovered. Late wet season seems to have least number of pregnant animals slaughtered and fetuses wasted. The distribution of general slaughter of female animals on monthly basis revealed that more cows and does were slaughtered in the month of December which were the highest. Highest number of pregnant ewes slaughtered was in the month of November but foetal wastage was highest in the month of April. Slaughter of animals irrespective of specie differs significantly (P<0.05) between months. Abattoir foetal wastage is a monster eating silently and deeply into the life of livestock industry. Unless this bottle neck is checked and eliminated, the sustainability of the livestock industry will just be an illusion.

Keywords: Abattoir, Foetal Wastage, Ruminants, Sustainable, Livestock Industry

AN ASSESSMENT OF BIO-SECURITY STATUS OF POULTRY FARMS IN MUBI ZONE OF ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA

*¹Augustine C., ²Mojaba D.I. and ³Igwebuike J.U.

*Department of Animal Production, Adamawa State University, Mubi, Nigeria

Department of Animal Science, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

A survey was conducted to assess the bio-security status of poultry farms in Mubi zone of Adamawa state Nigeria. One hundred poultry farms were purposely sampled and visited. Questionnaires, bio-security assessment forms and farm inspection were used as instruments for data collection. Simple descriptive statistics using frequencies and percentages were used to summarize and present results. The results revealed that 92% of the respondents keep poultry as source of income and 86% practice the intensive management systems. The predominant source of labour (68%) was family labour. Majority of the farmers (89%) depend on commercial feeds. The poultry industry in Mubi zone is dominated by chicken (84%). Greater proportions of the farmers operate backyard or small scale medium farms. The result of the bio-security status of farms in Mubi showed that bio-security in facilities, hygiene, vaccination, water quality control check and education standards were not well observed by farmers in Mubi zone. The results of symptoms of poultry disease observed by farmers in Mubi zone revealed that faeces stained with blood accounted the highest (39% ) followed by whitish diarrhoea (16%) and yellowish diarrhoea (8%). It is therefore recommended that bio-security be given top most priority in the poultry sub sector. Government should support the implementation of bio-security at all levels of the livestock subsector. Government should support farmers financially in order to boast poultry production in Mubi.

Keywords: Assessment, Bio-Security, Status, Poultry farms, Mubi zone.

EFFECT OF STRAINS ON SOME GROWTH TRAITS OF MEAT-TYPE CHICKENS REARED IN DERIVED SAVANNA ENVIRONMENT OF NIGERIA.

*Amao, S.R¹.; Ojedapo, L.O² and Sosina, A.O³

^*1Department of Agricultural Education, Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo

 ²Dept. of Animal Production and Health, Ladoke Akintola University of Tech. Ogbomoso

³Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State

E-mail: amaosr@yahoo.com,amaosr@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Thestudy focuses on the effect of strains on some growth traits of meat type chickens. Data were obtained on 200 broiler chicks consisting of 100 each of Ross and Anak birds respectively. They were divided into two sex groups-male and females lines and parameters measured at 1- 8 weeks of age and were analysed for fixed effect of strain and sex in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Significant sex (P<0.05) differences were obtained among the growth traits. Body weight, shank length, breast width and thigh length in both sexes were significantly (P<0.05) differed at 1 and 3 weeks, bodyweight was only significantly different (P<0.05) in female strains chicken. Significant (P<0.05) differences were obtained for body weight, breast width, shank length and thigh circumference in both sexes except that thigh length were not significantly (P>0.05) different in female strain chicken at 5th week. At later age, significantly sex differences (P<0.05) for all traits measure also favoured male Ross strain. A highly positive significant (P<0.001) correlation coefficient was observed for body weight and thigh. The interaction between strain and sex had no significant effect.

Keywords: Sex, Strains, Growth traits, Derived savanna.

A SURVEY OF SMALL MAMMALS IN THE KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BOTANICAL GARDEN AND FACULTY OF RENEWABLE NATURAL RESOURCES FARM

^*1Oduro, W and ²Anti, P

Department of Wildlife and Range Management,

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

E-mail: williamoduro@yahoo.co.uk; priscilla.anti@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

There are no records of small mammal fauna on the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) campus in Kumasi, Ghana since its establishment sixty three years ago. Since then the land cover has been replaced with buildings, roads and farmlands. Nevertheless, small patches of the land before construction are left. It is important to have records of what is left to ensure protection. The study was undertaken in the KNUST Botanical Garden (natural) and Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources Farm (anthropised) within the Moist Semi-deciduous vegetation zone of the Ashanti Region of Ghana, to identify the small mammal (rodent) fauna in these areas and also to compare their species richness, diversity and relative abundance. Sherman live traps were used in the capture of small mammals and identification of captured specimens was carried out by estimating their standard morphometric measurements. Species richness and diversity were determined using standard diversity indices. Overall, 13 individuals representing four species of the Family Muridae were caught in 720 trap-nights namely; Typical spotted grass mouse – Lemniscomys striatus (three); Rusty-bellied rat – Lophuromys sikapusi (six), which was  the commonest species encountered with a total of five captures in the farm and one in the garden; Multimammate rat – Mastomys natalensis (two) and Soft-furred mouse – Praomys tullbergi (two). The Farm possessed a higher Shannon’s diversity index (0.447) than the Botanical garden (0.276). It also recorded the highest captures (10) and larger relative abundance (2.88) with the Botanical garden registering the least-(three) and 0.82 respectively. However, using the Mann Whitney U test, there was no significant difference between the Farm and Botanical Garden in terms of small mammal capture at p>0.05. This survey establishes a preliminary list of some small mammals in KNUST.

Keywords: Small Mammals, Morphometric Measurement, Species Abundance and Diversity

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF DAM CONSTRUCTION, THE CHALLENGE AND SOLUTION TO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY IN NIGERIA: A CASE STUDY OF TURA DAM IN MASHIGI VILLAGE, KANKARA L.G.A., KATSINA STATE

^1*Haruna Saleh, ²Kabir Idris and ³Aliyu Ibrahim Kankara.

*Department of Geography, Katsina State University, Kastina Nigeria

E-mail: harunasaleh@gmail.com,

ABSTRACT

The aim of Tura Dam was to provide domestic water supply to Malumfashi and Kankara Towns. The effect of the Dam has brought some laudable environmental challenges and economic gains to the population of Mashigi village. This paper examines those activities during the two periods; before and after the Dam construction. The variables measured therein are information obtained from a checklist method, personal observations, information from official records and informal discussions with the dwellers of Mashigi village. 50 questionnaires were administered to the respondents. The results obtained showed that the construction of Tura Dam has brought losses of farmlands, particularly Fadama holdings, and at the same time expanded fishing production. Farmers’ income has risen. Although construction of Dam has both negative and positive effects, the gains are greater than losses, hence could be a challenge and solution to agricultural productivity in Nigeria.

Keywords: Dam, Pre-Dam period, Post-Dam period.