Effects of Tractorization and Organic Manure on Physical Properties of Sandy Loam Soil in Abeokuta, Nigeria

Soil compaction has effect on soil physical properties which could affect crop growth and yield. This study was conducted to determine the influence of incorporating organic materials and load application (tractorization) on the physical properties of sandy loamy soil in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. Organic materials were cow dung, poultry and swine manure. Application rates of organic manures were 0 (control), 5 and 10 tonnes per hectare. Forty-five plots measuring 5 by 3 m were established in a complete randomized block experimental design with three replications making a total of 135 plots. Load application was done using an MF 435 tractor coupled with a 20-disc harrow at 0 (control), 5, 10, 15 and 20 passes. Penetration resistance, bulk density, gravimetric moisture content andporosity were determined using standard procedures. Penetrometer resistance at these passes were 392.2, 293.3, 285.0, 302.0 and 224.9 kPa respectively with significant differences between treatments (P≤0.05). Mean bulk density for the passes were 1.21, 1.26, 1.31, 1.27 and 1.29 g/cm3 respectively and bulk density increased with tractor passes. The effect of tractor passes, and manure incorporation rate did not have any significant effect on gravimetric moisture content. Poultry manure increased bulk density and penetrometer resistance on plots than swine manure and cow dung hence poultry manure at 10 t/ha can be incorporated on a sandy loam soil to enhance soil fertility and sustainability. Keywords: Tractorization, organic manure, sandy loam, penetration resistance, bulk densit

Quality Evaluation of Household Wastewater for Irrigation

Water is becoming an increasingly scarce resource and planners are forced to consider any sources of water which might be used economically and effectively to promote further development. Irrigated agriculture occupies approximately 17 percent of the world\u2019s total food production. Whenever good quality water is scarce, water of marginal quality will have to be considered for use in agriculture. Domestic wastewater varies in composition from place to place due to different water sources used and also the composition and soil minerals from these sources. Ten samples were collected respectively from kitchen, laundry and toilet wastewaters were collected and physical, chemical, metallic and non-metallic analysis were carried out on the various samples collected following standard procedures

Evaluation of the Penman–Monteith reference evapotranspiration under limited data and its sensitivity to key climatic variables under humid and semiarid conditions

The objectives of this study were to assess the accuracy of FAO Penman Monteith equation (FAO PM) under limited data conditions and to perform sensitivity analysis to determine approximately the change in reference evapotranspiration (ETref) expected for a known change in one of the independent variables and derive the sensitivity coefficient. Meteorological data were collected from 8 weather stations under humid and semiarid condition in Côte d'Ivoire. The results showed good performance of FAO PM equation under missing solar radiation (Rs) in semiarid condition and under missing wind speed data (U2) and relative humidity (RH) in all locations with coefficient of determination (R2) ranging from 0.70 to 0.99 and regression slope from 0.99 to 1.05. Under missing Rs, RMSE varied from 0.45 to 0.48 mm/day and AME from 0.30 to 0.35 mm/day. The RMSE and AME vary respectively from 0.12 to 0.51 mm/day and from 0.09 to 0.30 mm/day under missing RH data, and respectively from 0.11 to 0.60 mm/day and 0.04 to 0.34 mm/day under missing wind speed data. The poor performance of FAO PM method to estimate ETo was observed when three climatic variables were missing with regression slope from 0.93 to 1.06 and R2 from − 0.06 to 0.26. The response of ETo to changes in all climate variables was linear, with high R2 values (≥ 0.99) in most cases. Any error in Rs, maximum temperature (Tmax) data would have contributed to significant change in ETo estimate. The effect of Rs on change in ETo estimates had the greatest slope (≥ 2.80) in Bouake, Daloa, Korhogo, Man, Seguela whereas it had the lowest slope in Ferkessedougou (slope = 2.74), Odienne (slope = 2.73), Yamoussoukro (slope = 2.77). The effect of Tmax in change in ETo was also important in all location except Daloa and Man with low regression slope values of 1.63, 1.74, respectively. All sensitivity coefficients showed a large degree of daily and seasonal fluctuations and revealed significant differences in northern and central study locations. The sensitivity coefficients of U2 and Tmax were greatest under semiarid condition while the one of Rs were very high in humid condition. Accurate measuring of U2, Tmax and Rs in estimating reference evapotranspiration using Penman–Monteith equation is required

Structuring and Characterisation of the Medical Infusion set as emitter for Low-Cost Drip Irrigation System

The medical infusion set was re-structured to serve as a point source emitter for low-cost drip irrigation systems. The re-structured device, here referred to as ‘medi-emitter’, was subjected to laboratory tests to evaluate its hydraulic characteristics. A calibration experiment, relating flow rate and level of emitter opening, gave a discharge range of 0-533 lhr-1 as the emitter flow regulator was gradually opened to its maximum. The peak discharge of 533 lhr-1 was recorded under a pressure of only 49.05 kPa. This makes the medi-emitter particularly suitable for low-cost drip systems that operate under gravity flow with low pressures often less than 58.86 KPa. The exponent values of the emitter flow functions ranged from 0.610 to 1.038, thus characterising the device as a laminar emitter. The laminar characteristic increases progressively with closure of the flow regulator. Manufacturer’s coefficient of variation of the medi-emitter was 0.065. Measured coefficient of variation and deviation from nominal flow were between 5 and 19%. The energy head loss coefficient of the emitter ranged from 1.48 to 28.25, which is within the range of common water outlets widely in use. Discharge through the medi-emitter was found to increase with rise in water temperature, although these variations were insignificant at 95% probability level. The influence of temperature on discharge was stronger at lower levels of emitter opening. The emitter gave average soil wetting diameters of 0.679, 0.924 and 1.07 m for sand, loam and clay soils respectively, under a discharge of 2 lhr-1. These values are comparable to those of conventional emitters. Results from this research reveal the potential of the medical infusion set to adequately serve as emitter for low-cost drip irrigation systems, particularly because it is widely available even in most rural communities

Quality Evaluation of Household Wastewater for Irrigation

Water is becoming an increasingly scarce resource and planners are forced to consider any sources of water which might be used economically and effectively to promote further development. Irrigated agriculture occupies approximately 17 percent of the world’s total food production. Whenever good quality water is scarce, water of marginal quality will have to be considered for use in agriculture. Domestic wastewater varies in composition from place to place due to different water sources used and also the composition and soil minerals from these sources. Ten samples were collected respectively from kitchen, laundry and toilet wastewaters were collected and physical, chemical, metallic and non-metallic analysis were carried out on the various samples collected following standard procedures

Impact of stationary magnets as irrigation water softener for sustainable cowpea production

Magnetic irrigation water was studied at the research farm in Kwara State University, Malete on the growth and yield of cowpea cultivar TVX-117 under transparent garden. Water was passed hrough 112.74mT magnetic flux twice and ordinary water served as control treatment. Cowpea seeds were planted in buckets replicated 10 times using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Irrigation interval of 3-day and 1.50 litres of water as volume of water required for two stands of cowpea were experimented. Magnetic fields changed the physicochemical properties of water and results obtained indicated significant differences in seeds germination, crop height, stem diameter and cowpea yield compared to control treatment of non-magnetized irrigation water at P<0.05 significant level. Magnetic agriculture is environmentally friendly, no health implications on consumption of produce and reduces cost of production