Sustainably intensifying at right densities in northern Ghana: Small ruminant corralling density, plant density, and nitrogen rate effect on maize

United States Agency for International Developmen

ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DETERMINANTS OF PUBLIC SECTOR BUDGET DEFICITS: THE CASE OF NIGERIA

The main focus of the paper is to analyze the effects of both economic and political variables on public sector budget deficits. The econometric results show that the main determinants of budget deficits include international capital inflow, international interest rate, debt service costs, public expenditure, political instability and economic growth. The author makes the following recommendations. Firstly, international capital should be used to finance projects that contribute meaningfully to the economy. Secondly, since international interest rate is outside the control of Nigeria’s government and monetary authorities, emphasis on foreign loans should be reduced. Thirdly, government should avoid external debt where necessary. Fourthly, government should increase her spending on infrastructural development. Furthermore, government should strengthen the political institutions including the judiciary, as well as create a level playing ground for all its citizens, so as to promote political stability. Moreover, government should give more incentives and subsidies such as low corporate profit tax, improvement in power and energy generation, etc., in order to encourage producers as well as promote economic growth. Lastly, government should sustain the on-going war against corruption so that public funds are not misappropriated or embezzled by government officials

Effect of Neem Seed Husk Ash on Concrete Strength Properties

Neem Seed Husk is a by-product obtained during industrial processing of Neem Seed to extract oil and produce fertilizer. Laboratory tests on Neem seed husk ash (NSHA) mixed with cement were conducted to find its effect on concrete strength and workability. Tests including slump test, compressive strength test, concrete density test and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were carried out on concrete partially replaced with 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%NSHA and presented. The test results indicate that concrete workability is affected by NSHA partial replacement by increase in the slump at 5% and 10% replacements. But it decreases the slump at 15%, 20% and 25% replacements. At 28 days curing, only the control (0% replacement) and 5% replacement satisfied the target compressive strength and therefore can be used for non-structural and mass concrete applications. Densities of most of the cubes partially replaced with NSHA are generally higher than that of the control concrete; this is further supported by the SEM. which indicates that NSHA act as filler and occupy the voids between the aggregates, thereby making the concrete more compact and having higher densities. All the samples have satisfied the density requirement of British standard for normal- weight concretehttp://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v33i2.

Options for intensifying vegetable production

United States Agency for International Developmen

Identification and relative abundance of native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with oil-seed crops and maize (Zea mays L.) in derived savannah of Nigeria

Article Details: Received: 2019-07-22 | Accepted: 2019-10-10 | Available online: 2019-09-30https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2019.22.03.84-89A field survey was conducted to assess root colonization, spore densities and relative abundance of native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) based on morphological aspects. Roots and rhizosphere soil samples were collected from established fields of selected oil seed crops [soybean (Glycine max L.), sesame (Sesamum indicum) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus)] and maize (Zea mays L.) grown in derived savannah agro-ecology of Southwest Nigeria. The mean percentage of AMF colonization across all crops was 60.8%, ranging from 34% to 87.5%, with highest root colonization observed in soybean. The spore densities retrieved from the different rhizospheres were relatively high, varying from 124 to 298 spores per 50 g dry soil, with highest spore densities observed in maize rhizosphere soils. The spore densities in the soil significantly correlated (r = 0.52, and P <0.05) with the root colonization. A total of 4 morphologically classifiable genera (Glomus, Gigaspora, Acaulospora, and Scutellospora) of AMF within the phylum Glomeromycota were detected. The dominant genus was Glomus in all the crops with highest relative abundance of 60.9%, followed by Acaulospora (21.3%) and Scutellospora (12.8%), with lowest relative abundance of AM spores observed for Gigaspora (5%). This study could contribute significantly to a better understanding of AMF community structure in derivedsavannah agro-ecology of Nigeria.Keywords: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, community structure, oil-seed crops, root colonization, spore densityReferencesAZCÓN-AGUILAR, C. and BAREA, J.M. (1997) Arbuscular mycorrhizas and biological control of soil-borne plant pathogens – an overview of the mechanisms involved. In Mycorrhiza, vol. 6, pp. 457–464.BIERMANN, B. and LINDERMAN, R.G. (1983) Use of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal roots, intraradical vesicles and extraradical vesicles as inoculum. In New Phytolologist, vol. 95,pp. 97–105.BODDINGTON, C.L., and DODD, J.C. (2000) The effect of agricultural practices on the development of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. I. Field studies in an Indonesian ultisol. In Plant Soil, vol. 218, pp. 137–144.BRUNDRETT, M.C. (2002) Coevolution of roots and mycorrhizas of land plants. In New Phytologist, vol. 154, pp. 275–304.DAVISON, J. et al. (2015) Global assessment of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus diversity reveals very low endemism. In Science, vol. 349, pp. 970- 973.DOUDS, D.D. Jr, 2005. On-farm production and utilization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus inoculum. In Canadian Journal of Plant Science, vol. 85, pp. 15–21.EVELIN, H., KAPOOR, R. and GIRI, B. (2009) Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in alleviation of salt stress: a review. In Annals of Botany, vol. 104, pp.1263–1280.GIOVANNETTI, M. and MOSSE, B. (1980) An evaluation of techniques for measuring vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal infection in roots. In New Phytologist, vol. 84, pp. 489–500.HAZARD, C. et al. (2013) The role of local environment and geographical distance in determining community composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi at the landscape scale. In The ISME Journal, vol. 7, pp. 498–508.LEKBERG, Y. et al. (2007) Role of niche restrictions and dispersal in the composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities. In Journal of Ecology, vol. 95, pp. 95–105.LIN, X. et al. (2012) Long-term balanced fertilization decreases arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity in an arable soil in north China revealed by 454 pyrosequencing. In Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 46, pp. 5764–5771.OEHL, F. et al. (2003) Impact of land use intensity on the species diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in agroecosystems of Central Europe. In Applied Environmental Microbiology, vol. 69, pp. 2816–2824.OEHL, F. et al. (2009) Distinct sporulation dynamics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities from different agroecosystems in longterm microcosms. In Agric Ecosyst Environ., vol. 134, pp. 257–268.OEHL, F. et al. (2010) Soil type and land use intensity determine the composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities. In Soil Biology and Biochemistry, vol. 42, pp. 724–738.OHSOWSKI, B.M. et al. (2014) Where the wild things are: looking for uncultured Glomeromycota. In New Phytologist, no. 204, pp. 171–179.PEYRET-GUZZON, M. et al. (2016) Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities and Rhizophagus irregularis populations shift in response to short term ploughing and fertilisation in a buffer strip. In Mycorrhiza, vol. 26, pp. 33–46.PHILLIPS, J.M. and HAYMAN, D.S. (1970) Improved procedures for clearing roots and staining parasitic and VA mycorrhizal fungi for rapid assessment of infection. In Trans Br Mycol Soc., vol. 55, no.158–161.PIVATO, B. et al. (2007) Medicago species affect the community composition of arbuscular myccorhizal fungi associated with roots. In New Phytologist, no. 176, pp. 197–210.RILLIG, M. C. (2004) Arbuscular mycorrhizae, glomalin, and soil aggregation. In Canadian Journal of Soil Science, vol. 84, pp. 355–363.RILLIG, M.C. and Mummey, D.L. (2006) Mycorrhizas and soil structure. In New Phytologist, no.171, pp. 41–53SCHENCK, N.C. and PEREZ, Y. (eds.) (1990) Manual for identification of VA mycorrhizal fungi. Gainesville: INVAM, University of Florida. 241 p.SCHEUBLIN, T.R. et al.( 2004) Nonlegumes, legumes, and root nodules harbor different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities. In Applied Environmental Microbiology, vol. 70, pp. 6240–6246.SCHÜΒLER, A, SCHWARZOTT, D. and WALKER, C. (2001) A new fungal phylum, the Glomeromycota: phylogeny and evolution. In Mycology Research, vol. 105, pp. 1413–1421.SMITH, S.E., and READ, D.J. (2008) Mycorrhizal symbiosis. 3rd ed. New York: Academic Press. 787 p.VERBRUGGEN, E., and TOBY KIERS, E. (2010) Evolutionary ecology of mycorrhizal functional diversity in agricultural systems. In Evolutionary Appl., no. 3, pp. 547–560.YAMATO, M., IKEDA, S., and IWASE, K. (2009) Community of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in drought-resistant plants, Moringa spp., in semiarid regions in Madagascar and Uganda. In Mycoscience., vol. 50, pp. 100–105

Antibiotic susceptibility pattern and biofilm formation in coagulase negative staphylococci

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Options for intensifying cereal-legume cropping systems in West Africa

United States Agency for International Developmen