Effect of coconut coir and poultry manure on the growth and yield of Amaranthus hybridus L.

This study was carried out to determine the effect of coconut coir and poultry manure on the growth and yield of amaranthus hybridus L.  The parameters accessed are germination percentage, growth performance and yield of Amaranthus hybridus L. The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design consisting of two (2) treatments and control, each with fifteen (15) replicates. The data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The means were further separated using Least Significant Difference (L.S.D) where significant differences were observed. The data collection from the experiment was taken for seven (7) weeks. The results showed that coconut coir had the highest mean value of 14.71 mm, 10, 0.4290mm and 3.600mm for the plant height, for number of leaves, stem girth, and for weight of yield (harvested Amaranthus hybridus L.) respectively at seventh (7th) week. The results of analysis of variance indicated significant differences in plant height, number of leaves, and stem girth in coconut husk among treatments applied at 0.05 level of  probability. The results obtained for analysis of variance for (yield) weights of harvested Amaranthus hybridus L (yield) revealed significant difference in different media with the value of (2.000g of for top soil, 3.600g for coconut coir and 2.267g for poultry manure) among  treatments applied at 0.05 level of probability

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

Comparative Effect of Grinded and Ungrinded Palm Kernel Shell on the Strength of Pavers

Paving stones are increasing, being used by corporate bodies and individual for its functionalities and aesthetic value, the production of pavers over the years have been specifically carried out using stone dust which is relatively expensive and not readily affordable to the common man. This study was carried out to determine comparative effect of grinded and un-grinded palm kernel shell on the strength of pavers. Stone dust, river sand, grinded palm kernel shell, un-grinded palm kernel shell and cement were combine in different ratio namely,T1(4,0,0,0,l), T2(0,2,2,0,l), T3 (1,2,0,1,1), T4(1,1,2,0,l), T5(1,1,0,2,l), T6(0,2,l ,l,1) respectively to form six treatment with two replicates. The pavers were tested for weight and strength properties, T3 has the highest value of the mean weight while T1 has the lowest value. T3 (stone dust (1),river sand (2), un-grinded palm kernel shell (1) and 25kg of cement (1)), T1(stone dust (4) and 25kg of cement (1)).Also, the compressive strength results show that T3 also has the highest value of 127Mpa(Mega pascal) whileT6 has the lowest value of 33Mpa (Mega pascal). The data collected was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine the difference in the strength of the pavers. The analysis of variance shows that there is no significant difference between the compressive strength of the treatments. The colour of the paver shows that the paver produced with river sand and un-grinded palm kernel shell is brighter and stronger than others, it is then recommended that T3 can be used in the production of pavers because it is strong and can also withstand environmental stress

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

Performance Evaluation of a Triple Layer Electric Sieving Machine (TLESM)

A multi-layer sieving machine is of multiplayer and highly efficient sieving machine that retains particles based on the difference in size. This study was carried out to evaluate the performance of a multi-layer electric sieving machine. The performance test of the machine was carried out in the Agricultural department farm of the Federal College of Forestry, Jericho Ibadan. The electrical sieving machine was used to carry out separation operations on a mixture of food crop materials at varying speeds. The machine passed the test of workability; it was able to perform the specific function of sieving and separating food materials of varying sizes. Mixed food materials were poured in the first layer of the mesh assembly and sieved. The time to completely separate the mixture into the three different layers was recorded and the respective weight of each layer was finally measured. Layer 1 had a mean weight gain of 0.42kg; layer 2 had a mean weight gain of 0.14 while layer 3 had a mean weight loss of 0.56kg when sieving was done for 5 minutes; at 7 minutes, Layer 1 had a mean weight gain of 0.1kg; layer 2 had a mean weight gain of 0.18 while layer 3 had a mean weight loss of 0.28kg, while at 10 minutes, the first layer had a mean weight gain of 0.06 kg, second layer also had mean weight gain of 0.02 while the third layer had a mean weight loss 0.08. The mean efficiency was highest at 99% in all the layers when sieving operation was carried out for 10 minutes and lowest at 96% for layer 3 when the machine ran for five (5) minutes. The effect of change in speed suggests that increment in sieving speed above 750rpm or below 300rpm gives a low efficiency

Assessment of Timber Resource Exploitation in Shasha Forest Reserve, Osun State, Nigeria: Implication for Sustainable Forestry

Records on rate of timber exploitation are very essential for sustainable forestry. They help in managing the forest sustainably. Therefore, the study collected and analysed data on rate of timber exploitation in Shasha forest reserve in Osun state. Logs arranged and set to be taken out of the forest were identified and measured every Monday between December, 2017 and June, 2018 for twenty-eight (28) weeks. The species and families of logs encountered were identified. A total of 13,944 logs were assessed. Fifteen (15) families belonging to twenty-one (21) species of logs were identified. Result revealed that Sterculiaceae family with five species was the most exploited. Ricinodendron heudelotti has the highest number of exploited logs with overall frequency of 27.71%. Ricinodendron heudelotti had the highest basal area and volume with values of 18018776.71cm² and 113289.36cm³ respectively. The study concludes that the population of Ricinodendron heudelotii tree was high in Shasha forest which made it available for extraction at high rate. The study recommends strict monitoring and enforcement of sustainable forestry laws with regular inventory and up-to-date inventory of timber exploitation rate from the reserve

Fish farmers’ perceived environmental effects on dam operation and coping strategies used in Ikere George Dam of Iseyin, Oyo State

The study examined the fish farmers‟ perceived environmental effects of dam operation and coping strategies among fish farmers in Ikere George dam, Iseyin Oyo state. Multi stage sampling technique was used to select 102 respondents in the study area. Data were collected through the use of interview schedule and were analysed using descriptive statistics such as percentage and frequency, while chi-square and PPMC were used to analyse hypotheses at p < 0.05. The result revealed that majority (54%) of the respondents below 40 years, with males predominantly higher than females. Also, 71.6% were married and 58.8% had educational attainment below secondary school. Challenges identified were disruption of movement of aquatic animals (137), blockage of migrations of aquatic species (135) and problem of overcrowding in the community (129) were prominent perceived effects of dam operation. The result further showed that migration (99) and planting of trees (146) were the most commonly used coping strategies. Chi-square showed that there was significant relationship between socio-economic characteristics of the respondents and perceived effects of dam operation except religion which was not significant (p>0.05). PPMC analysis revealed that there was significant relationship between coping strategies used (r=0.687, p=0.000). It is therefore recommended that proper training and adequate facilities should be given to fish farmers to ensure sustainability of the dam