SYNTHESIS OF STRUVITE USING (XRF):X-RAY FLUORESCENT SPECTROMETER: POTENTIAL WASTE-DERIVED FERTILIZER

¹Ibrahim Yusuf & ²Saidu Hassan

Department Chemistry

Umar Suleiman College of Education Gashua Yobe State

E-mail: ibrazuby@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT          

Struvite is a phosphate fertilizer, although it contains a significant amount of nitrogen and magnesium, and it is an effective alternative source of rock phosphate to maintain the agricultural production system. The present review deals with the principles and concept of Struvite formation, crystal growth, elemental contents, pHvalues. Struvite precipitation occurs in an equimolecular concentration of Mg²+, NH₄ and PO₄ at slightly alkaline conditions. Addition of a source of Mg is essential to maintain the favorable condition of PO₄ and Mg. Different factors such as Mg: PO₄, pH, as well as P and N efficiencies were also discussed. The slower nutrient leaching loss and its fertilizer quality make Struvite an eco-friendly fertilizer. It is possible to overcome the acute shortage of rock phosphate. Struvite can be beneficial, in the sense that it can be used as fertilizer. It provides a good source of phosphorus, Nitrogen and Magnesium for plant growth, Struvite is also economic feasible to be used as fertilizer, due to the anticipated global scarcity of phosphorus reserves. Struvite when used as fertilizer, it does not harm the intake or rooting system of the plants.it can be used in making ornaments, grazing activities, and can be applied on orchards and plants on pots. In addition Struvite when applied once in a growing season it has a low rates of leaching compared to other fertilizers, meanwhile, the rates at which nutrients are released too differs with other conventional fertilizers.

Key words: Struvite, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Fertilizer, Waste water. 

AETIOLOGY OF FUNGAL DISEASES OF SWEET POTATO (Ipomoea batatas (L)) DURING POST HARVEST STORAGE IN OFFA KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Gambari, U. O. B. & Okinedo, J. I.

Department of Science Laboratory Technology

Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro

Email: u.gambari@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L)) is the traditional food of Offa people of Kwara State but is recently observed to be in short supply with attendant high cost for some years now. Post-harvest spoilage is found to be a major problem of the tuber. Disease survey on the incidence and severity of the fungal rot on the tuber crops within the locality was carried out. This study was carried out to isolate, identify and confirmed the microorganisms responsible for the post-harvest disease of the crop. Conventional isolation and culture techniques of diseased tissues in nutrient Agar (NA), Malt Extract Agar (MEA) and Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) plates were adopted. Five replicate samples of healthy sweet potatoes were obtained randomly at different time intervals from farms and markets in Offa. They were homogenized and serially diluted to “thin-out” the microbial population. The fungal populations were observed after five days of incubation. The organisms were identified using morphological and biochemical tests. They were confirmed using pathogenicity tests. The isolated fungi are; Aspergillus, Mucor, Fusarivm and Penicillium. Efforts are currently going on to treat the diseases with leaves extracts of some medicinal plants. Data were obtained from disease survey was analysed with ANOVA and means were separated with FLSD.

Keywords: Post harvest spoilage, incidence and severity, Offa, Fungi, Leaves extracts.

PROFITABILITY ANALYSIS OF FROZEN FOODS MARKETING IN IKORODU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF LAGOS STATE

¹Akerele, E. O, ²Pearse, O A,³Uthman-Akinhanmi, Y.O, ⁴Yangomodou, O.D,⁵Ilori, A.R. &⁶Fadipe M. O.

^1,2Department of Agricultural Economics and FarmManagement

^3,.4Department of Home and Hospitality Management

^{5, 6}Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology

Faculty of Agricultural Management and Rural Development

College of Agricultural Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University,Yewa Campus, AyetoroOgun State, Nigeria

¹E-mail: akereleeze@gmail.com            

ABSTRACT

This study examined the profitability analysis of frozen foods market in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of frozen foods consumers; know the various level of consumption of different frozen foods; determine the profitability of frozen food market; and identify the problems faced by frozen food marketers in the study area. One hundred and twenty (120) frozen food marketers were selected from villages/towns within the selected Local Government Area through the use of a random sampling technique. The frozen food marketers were interviewed using a well-structured questionnaire. Data collected from the frozen food marketers were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. With respect to socio-economic characteristics of the frozen food marketers, findings showed that majority of the marketers (95.8%) were female, large proportions (61.7%) were in their active years (31-50years), 66.7% were Christians, 70.8% were married. About 87.5% have one form of formal education to the other with an average household size of 8 persons, having trading as their major occupation and having marketing experience ranging from 6-10 years. In line with level of consumption of different frozen foods, majority (73.3%) consumed frozen fish regularly, 74.2% regularly consumed frozen chicken, 71.7% consumed frozen vegetables on regular basis and 70.8% consumed frozen fruits on regularly basis. Therefore, this study is concluded that frozen food marketing is a lucrative business despite the various bottlenecks being faced by the frozen food marketers in the study area. Based on these assertions, it is therefore recommended that improvements in market infrastructure such as storage facilities, cold storage, better road, good electricity etc. would also be helpful in improving the marketing profitability as well as providing solutions to problems associated with high cost of transportation, custom dues, lack of finance among others which were encountered by the frozen food marketers in the study area.

Keywords: Food, Cost, Market, Storage, Profit

PROFITABILITY ANALYSIS OF SOYA BEANS PRODUCTION IN ARDO-KOLA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF TARABA STATE, NIGERIA

¹Alam, M.K,²Danji M.B³Adamu, M.M.⁴Musa, H.Y, ⁵Daloba, J.&Atule, T.M

^1,2,4&5Dept of Agric Extension& Mgt., College of Agriculture, Jalingo

³DepartmentAgricultural Economics and Extension, Taraba State University, Jalingo

⁶NYSC State Secretariat Jalingo.

Email: meetalammk@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The study analyzed the profitability of Soya beans production in Ardo-Kola Local Government Area of Taraba State. It specifically described the socio-economic characteristics of Soyabeans farmers, estimated the costs and return of soyabeans production and identified the constraints to soysbeans production in the study area. Data were collected from 120 soyabeans farmers using purposive and random sampling techniques. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The cost result revealed that most of the soyabeans farmers in the study area were young, married and formally educated.The farmers were mainly small holders without access to credit facilities. The results of the Gross Margin analysis showed a cross income of N122,500, Gross margin of N53,900 and Net farm income of N45,250 with a return on Naira invested of N0.67K, which implied, it is a profitable venture. Constraints to syabeans production were identified as; inadequate funds high cost was recommended that soyabeans farmers should farm or join Cooperative Society in order to access finance from Government as well as  other financial institutions. And also, Government as well as should subsidize the price of farm inputs to make them affordable and accessible to farmers.

Key Words: Profitability, Analysis, production, Soyabean Ardo-Kola.

PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS OF STEM BORER INFESTATION ON MAIZE FIELDS IN HASSAN USMAN KATSINA POLYTECHNIC KATSINA

Abubakar Usman

Department of Agricultural Technology

College of Agriculture

Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, Katsina

E-mail:abubakar19usman64@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Maize is one of the most important staple food crops in Nigeria.  It is cultivated under a broad range of agro-ecological zones in the country.  Lepidopterous stem borers are the main insect pests that attack maize plant.  This study was conducted atHassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic Katsinato investigate stem borer infestations, damage and economic losses in maize at farmers’ fields.  Observation of stem borer infestation was done in four farms and a total of 2174 maize plants were observed randomly.  All the farms surveyed were infested by stem borer (Chilopartellus) with infestation between 29 – 43 per cent.  Larval feeding was observed on the leaves, growing points, stems and tassels.  Yield assessment indicates 15 per cent loss although this was despite the use of insecticide in the farms surveyed. Further study to provide empirical evidence of the economic status of the stem borer pest in the area is recommended.  Farmers should be informed on the possible measures to minimize the emergence of the adult borers that can assault the new crops in the next cropping seasons.

Key words: Preliminary investigation, stem borer, maize, Katsina.