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

Soil properties, nutritional quality and yield of two maize varieties using different bio-chars as amendment on metal contaminated soil

The study assessed the yield of the two maize varieties and also determined the proximate composition of the maize grains and assessed the effects  of the Bio-chars on the physical and chemical properties of the soil. The field study was conducted within the vicinity of a metal recycling plant in Ile-Ife believed to have been contaminated with metal particulates and wastewater from the factory. Viable seeds of the two maize varieties (BR-9928-DMR-SR-Y and ART98/SW1) were obtained from the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR & T), Ibadan. The treatment were made up of the crop with: 100% maize stover (MS), 100% Milicia exelsa (ME), 50% MS + 50% AT, and each at the rate of ten tonnes per hectare as treatments. Zero Bio-char application served as control. The result indicate that the highest mean maize grain yield of 0.43 ± 0.28 t ha-1 with 100% maize stover Bio-char application was only significantly (p < 0.05) higher than 0.13 ± 0.08t ha-1 obtained from control plots. Lower values wereobtained with Br-9928-DMR-SR-R. Highest protein (9.94 ± 0.71%), crude fibre (2.60 ± 0.26%) and vitamin C (24.23 ± 2.26 mg kg-1) were obtained for the harvested ART 98 SW1 when compared with Br- 9928-DMR-SR-Y. Addition of Bio-chars soil enhanced the soil organic carbon, nitrogen, availablephosphorus and cation exchangeable capacity. The study concluded that the use of maize stover and M. exelsa Bio-chars at 10 t ha-1 as soil amendments enhanced the physiological performance, yields and proximate compositions of maize. It also enhanced the physical and chemical properties of the Bio-char amended metal contaminated soil. Keywords: Amendment, Bio-char, Contamination, soil properties, environment, maize, proximate composition, pollutio

A review of biofuel and biochemical production from forest and agricultural wastes

Utilization of fuels and chemicals from fossil fuel and its derivatives have some disadvantages. Forest and agricultural wastes such as wood wastes are potential resources for the production of chemicals and biofuels. These wastes are lignocellulosic materials which are cheap, renewable and their conversion to bio-based chemicals contributes to resource and environmental conservation. Application of various conversion methods could convert these wastes to myriad of industrial chemical products, platform chemicals, biofuel and other products. The major obstacle in processing these wastes into chemicals is the recalcitrant nature of lignin and the compact structure of these materials. Pretreatment of these waste materials remains a valid option to fracture their recalcitrance and improve the yield of products obtainable from their conversion. In this article, the sources of wastes useable for production of biofuel and biochemicals were discussed. The article also x-rayed the mode of conversion and the types of biofuel and biochemicals obtainable from these wastes. Notably, conversion of these wastes encourages greener environment and lessens the effect of fossil fuel and its derivatives on climate change. Keywords: Wastes, pretreatment, biofuel, fossil fuel, lignin

Variability of the African Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA) crests during year 2013

This paper discusses the variability of the position and magnitude of the crests of African Equatorial Ionization Anomaly during noon and post sunset periods. Total electron content data covered the year 2013, and were obtained from a chain of global positioning system receivers in both hemispheres around 37°E longitude. Local magnetometer data were used to infer the direction and magnitude of the E × B drift, while the solar extreme ultraviolet proxy index was used as a measure of solar activity. It was found that the time of formation of both crests varied from 1400 to 1700 local time. Additionally, the position of the crests was found to be asymmetric with respect to the magnetic equator. During the noon period, the position of the northern and southern crests varied from 4.91° to 7.36° and −9.17° to −12.62°, respectively. During the post-sunset period, it varied from 8° to 11.7° and −9° to −16°, respectively. Seasonally, with reference to the magnetic equator, both crests moved poleward during equinoxes and collapsed towards the equator during winter and summer. Equinoxes recorded the greatest crest magnitude followed by winter then summer over both hemispheres during the noon period. However, this trend persisted over the northern crest only during the post-sunset period. Overall, during the noon period, we recorded correlation coefficients of 0.67 and 0.68 between crest magnitudes and ΔH, a proxy for equatorial electrojet current, and 0.88 and 0.81 between crest positions and ΔH, for the northern and southern crests, respectively. During the Halloween day storm of 30 October 2013, a westward electric field inhibited the development of the post-sunset crests.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Effectiveness of Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Neem) Seed Oil in Controlling Wood Termite

The protection of wood against biodeteriorating agents like termite during processing or in service has call for serious possible approach using new safer, environmental friendly preservatives hence this study therefore evaluated Azadirachta indica seed oil against termite attack on Gmelina arborea and Triplochiton scleroxylon wood. The seed oil was obtained using a soxhlet apparatus and N-hexane as the solvent. The wood was dimensioned into 20x20x20 mm and the seed oil was applied by brushing, dipping and soaking and exposed to termitarium while the absorption rate and weight loss to termite attack were determined. Data collected was analyzed using simple statistics and analysis of variance at α0.05. The antimicrobial properties of the need seed oil are due to the availability of phytochemicals which promote antimicrobial activity. The maximum wood protection against termite of all the methods of application was obtained from soaking. The absorption and weight loss ranged from 11.20 - 43.88 % and 56.50 -61.58 % for G. arborea and T. scleroxylon respectively. However, all the application methods used for the wood treatment proved to be effective over the untreated wood. Keywords: phytochemicals, seed oil, wood species, wood preservation, wood termit

Antiplasmodial activity of flavan derivatives from rootbark of Cassia abbreviata Oliv.

The root bark of Cassia abbreviata has been traditionally used by the native population of the coastal region of Kenya to treat malaria. As part of our ongoing investigations into compounds with activity against malaria parasites, we tested the in vitro antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum strain namely; chloroquine-resistant W2 and chloroquine-sensitive D6. The methanolic root extract of the plant was active against the chloroquine-sensitive (IC50 = 20.56 μg/ml) and the chloroquine-resistant (IC50 = 13.31 μg/ml) strains of P. falciparum. Two flavans 1 and 2 were purified, identified and further shown to be antiplasmodial. Compound 2 was more active than compound 1 against both strains of P. falciparum with IC50 values of 8.12 μg/ml (D6); 8.89 μg/ml (W2) and 26.02 μg/ml (D6); 25.97 μg/ml (W2), respectively. This study partly provides evidence to support the use of C. abbreviata as a malaria remedy, as used by the native populations