Remediation potential of Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) Seedlings grown in sewage sludge contaminated by Heavy Metals

Application of sewage sludge to agricultural land is widely practiced and presumed to be beneficial for plants’ growth. However, sewage sludge is often contaminated by heavy metals, organic pollutants, and pathogens. This study assessed the capacity of Adansonia digitata seedlings to accumulate and distribute heavy metals from sewage sludge into their tissue parts. Respective heavy metals concentrations in soil before and after plantings were Cu (55.68; 26.45), Zn (76.22; 48.06), Pb (28.22; 19.58), Ni (22.76; 19.32), Cd (3.11; 1.49), Cr (41.78; 23.39) and As (5.92; 4.71) in mg/kg and these were higher than those from control soil. Heavy metals concentrations (mg/kg) in roots of plants from sewage sludge and control soils were Cu (3.08- 16.01), Zn (4.25-9.83), Pb (1.21-3.74), Ni (0.33-1.57), Cd (0.17-0.93) and Cr (2.23-6.65) while those of the shoots were Cu (4.61-30.11), Zn (5.88-16.22). Pb (1.41-4.86), Ni (0.27-1.56), Cd (0.09- 0.65) and Cr (3.24-10.01). For most of the studied metals, bioaccumulation factor (BCF) values were more than one and generally higher for Cr, Zn, Cu, and Pb. The significant reduction observed in concentrations of heavy metals in soils before and after planting indicated their enrichment in the plant tissues. Bioconcentration factors indicated that Adansonia digitata can be used as bioaccumulation plant. This study has shown the efficacy and ability of Adansonia digitata to accumulate and distribute heavy metals in its tissue parts.Keywords: Bioaccumulation, heavy metals, enrichment, sewage sludg

Effect of Different Sowing Media on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of (Golden Shower Tree) Senna fistula L

This study investigated the effect of sowing media on the seed germination and subsequent seedling growth of Senna fistula L. Treatments were T1 (Top soil), T2 (River sand), T3 (Grinded coconut husk) and T4 (weathered sawdust), replicated two times for seed germination. The treatments were arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and the data generated was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 5% level of significance, while mean separation where appropriate was done using Least Significant Difference (LSD). The different sowing media used had positive effect on the seed emergence, the seeds planted in river sand had the highest emergence percentage of 70%. The different sowing media used did not have any significant effect on the vegetative growth parameters, statistically, they had same effect on the parameters measured. Nonetheless, seedlings from river sand produced highest number of leave (20.4), seedlings from topsoil produced highest plant height and largest leaf area of l0.62 cm and 37.l4 cm2 respectively. The seedlings from weathered sawdust produced the highest stem diameter of 0.79 mm, while seedlings from grinded coconut husk had lowest values for all the growth parameters measured. Therefore, it is recommended that river sand or weathered sawdust can be used to propagate Senna fistula seeds

Effect of Different Sowing Media on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of (Golden Shower Tree) Senna fistula L

This study investigated the effect of sowing media on the seed germination and subsequent seedling growth of Senna fistula L. Treatments were T1 (Top soil), T2 (River sand), T3 (Grinded coconut husk) and T4 (weathered sawdust), replicated two times for seed germination. The treatments were arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and the data generated was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 5% level of significance, while mean separation where appropriate was done using Least Significant Difference (LSD). The different sowing media used had positive effect on the seed emergence, the seeds planted in river sand had the highest emergence percentage of 70%. The different sowing media used did not have any significant effect on the vegetative growth parameters, statistically, they had same effect on the parameters measured. Nonetheless, seedlings from river sand produced highest number of leave (20.4), seedlings from topsoil produced highest plant height and largest leaf area of l0.62 cm and 37.l4 cm2 respectively. The seedlings from weathered sawdust produced the highest stem diameter of 0.79 mm, while seedlings from grinded coconut husk had lowest values for all the growth parameters measured. Therefore, it is recommended that river sand or weathered sawdust can be used to propagate Senna fistula seeds

Effects of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on the Growth of Senecio biafrae (WOROWO) OLIVE & HIERN

Soils have shown a negative balance in nutrient budget which poses a great threat to sustainable soil management for increase in growth and crop yield. This study thus investigated the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the growth of Senecio biafrae (Oliv. &Hiern). Topsoil, organic (poultry manure) and inorganic fertilizers (NPK 15:15:15) were used. The fertilizers were weighed and applied to the soil at 5g, 10g, 15g each; control topsoil without application of fertilizers and were replicated five times. Growth  parameters including height, number of leaves and stem diameter were taken weekly for the period of the experiment. Application ofpoultry manure and NPK fertilizer had significant effects on all the growth parameters considered. The application of poultry manure resulted into significant increase in the growth parameters towards the latter part of the study. This study has shown that organic manure has great potential for improving soil productivity and plant growth. Keywords: Senecio biafrae, investigate, organic, inorganic, plant yiel

Grain and seed protein functionality

Editado por Jiménez-López, José Carlos (CSIC

Assessment of small scale horticultural nursery enterprises in some selected Local Government Areas in Ibadan Metropolis, Oyo State, Nigeria

The study assessed some selected small scale horticultural nursery enterprises in Ibadan metropolis. Data was collected through the use of well-structured questionnaires from 32 respondents and analysed using descriptive statistics and cost and return analysis. The result revealed that 93.7% of the respondents were male, 31.3% were between the ages of 31-40years with mean age of 43years,84.4% were married, 75% had between 1-5 household size with a mean house size of 5 persons. About fifty three percent (53.1%) of them were involved in horticultural practices as their primary occupation, 46.8% had tertiary education, however, majority 93.7% of them had one form of formal education with 14.5% mean years of experience, 75% of them belong to horticultural associations,81.2% source their credit through personal savings, majority (68.8%) rented their land through government, 50% source the seeds through other farmers while only 34.4% source their seeds through research institutions, categories of seedlings raised by the respondent are ornamental seedling (100%), forestry seedling (78.1%), medicinal seedling (65.6%) and agricultural seedling (81.3%) while Ixora (Ixora coccinea) (40.6%) was the most common species of seedling found in the nursery. On the average, the profit realized was ₦578, 925.00k per annum with Benefit cost ratio (BCR) of 4.8. Major problems confronting the enterprise were pest and insects, weeds, credit facilities, weather, transportation, low marketing patronage, cost of agrochemicals as well as availability of quality seeds. Keywords: Assessment, Horticultural, Enterprise, Gross Margin, Oyo, Nigeri

Potential of Ricinus communis L. For Removal of Heavy Metal in Contaminated Soil

Heavy metal contamination has become a serious ecological problem due to its toxic effects on soils, plants and human. Experimental study was conducted on dumpsite soil to assess the potential of Ricinus communis to accumulate heavy metals from the soil using bioconcentration (BCF) and tanslocation factors (TF). Heavy metals concentration (mg/kg) in dumpsite and control soil before planting were Mn (50.68- 220.08); Zn(29.01- 135.56); Cu (8.92- 86.88), Pb (5.88-48.86), Ni (3.01-7.99) and Co (1.78-6.88) while the concentration in soils after planting were Mn(29.89- 135.21); Zn (15.11-88.21); Cu (3.89-50.22), pb (3.68-31.56), Ni (1.22-3.56) and Co (0.67-2.68) in Mg/kg. Ricinus communis showed BCF greater than 1 for Ni and Co and less than 1 for Mn, Cu, Zn and Pb while TF is greater than 1 for all the determined heavy metals. The dumpsite soils have higher heavy metal concentration than the control soil. The levels of heavy metals concentration in soils and plants are in the order of Mn> Zn> Cu> Pb> Ni. Significant reduction (P<0.05) was observed in the heavy metal concentrations in the soils before and after planting indicating their accumulation in the plants. Results of this study indicate the accumulation of heavy metals in Ricinus communis plants and its potential for effective removal of Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Co and Mn from the dumpsite soils. Keywords: Heavy metal accumulation, Ricinus communis, Dumpsite soil, Translocation factor, Remediatio