Nutritional Composition of Telfairia occidentalis leaf grown in hydroponic and geoponic media

The bioactive components of Telfairia occidentalis Hook F. leaf grown in both geoponic (GM) and non-circulating hydroponic (HM) media were assessed. The bioactive components assessed were vitamins, proximate composition and amino acids. Standard procedures were followed in the analyses. The percentage vitamins showed that cobalamin content was the highest (40.29%), followed by beta-carotene (19.89%), riboflavin (13.25%), ascorbic acid (10.33%), thiamine (9.78%), pyridoxine (6.13%), niacin (3.46%), tocopherols (2.66%) and Vitamin K (1.46%) in that order for HM while the sequence for GM was beta-carotene (17.27%), cobalamin (12.70%), thiamine (6.13%), ascorbic acid (3.16%),  pyridoxine (2.12%), niacin (1.25%), tocopherols (0.97%), riboflavin (0.80%) and Vitamin K (0.63%). The proximate composition of T. occidentalis varied in HM and GM. The percentage protein  were 0.53% and 0.30%, crude fat (0.90% and 0.30%), moisture (83.36% and 81.42%), crude fibre (2.09% and 4.76%) and ash (0.37% and 0.47%) for HM and GM, respectively. The carbohydrate composition (12.76%) remained same for both treatments. The essential and non-essential amino acids ranges from 0.11-3.44% and 0.01-2.51% for HM and 0.05-1.73% and 0.01-1.26% for GM, in that order. The percentage total amino acids of T. occidentalis grown in HM and GM were 19.07% and 9.77%, respectively. The study therefore support the growing of T. occidentalis in hydroponic nutrient medium with the aim of improving the bioactive components, directly providing the nutritional requirements of humans and thereby addressing an aspect of food security challenges.Keywords: Bioactive, geoponic, hydroponic, medium of growth

Assessment of natural chelates to enhance zinc biofortification in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

The study examined the potentials of some organic chelates to enhance zinc availability, uptake and deposition in the edible root of cassava. The chelates used were EDTA as standard chelate, Bontera as commercial organic chelate and periwinkle effluents and Smoke solution as local organic chelates. The cultivars used were TME419 and TMS3168/UMUCASS/36 also known as YELLOW ROOT (YR). One hundred (100ml) of 100μg of zinc obtained from zinc oxide was added to 5000ml each of deionized water, 1ml/L Bontera, 1ml/L EDTA, Periwinkle effluents and Smoke solution. The treatments were applied through foliar application at 3 months after planting. The zinc concentration distribution ranged from 13.627μg/g (YR peel; control) to 85.843μg/g (YR edible root; EDTA +ZnO). In the edible root, the bioavailable zinc ranged from 18.494μg/g (YR; Boontera+ ZnO) to 85.843μg/g (YR; EDTA +ZnO). After processing to garri and fufu, the content ranged from 0.2116mg/100g (TME419; control) to 1.1645mg/100g (YR; Smoke solution + ZnO) in fufu and 1.0178mg/100g (YR, Bontera +ZnO) to 4.494mg/100g (TME419; PE +ZnO) in garri. After seven months storage, TME419 retained Zn in 30% of the treatments, while YR retained Zn in 60% of the treatments. The study revealed that organic chelates have good potentials to enhance zinc biofortification. Periwinkle effluents proved to be better because it retains the nutrient for longer period after processing to garri. YELLOW ROOT proved to be better because it can retain zinc for a longer period. The use of organic chelates should be encouraged for micronutrients sufficiency, sustainable agriculture and food security.Keywords: Organic chelates, Zinc, Bioavailability, Cassav

Response of African Yam Bean to Charcoal and Calcium Chloride Treatment in a Crude Oil Polluted Soil

The Response of African Yam Bean to charcoal and calcium chloride treatment in a crude oil polluted soil was carried out. 10kg of soil was polluted with 600ml of crude oil and was remediated with 500g of charcoal; the germinated seeds were pre-treated with 25g/l of Calcium chloride for 15mins before it was sown. The different treatments were: Control, 6% pollution, 6% pollution and charcoal, Charcoal only, Pre-treatment with calcium chloride, Pre-treatment with calcium chloride and 6% pollution, Pre-treatment with calcium chloride and 6% pollution and charcoal, Pre-treatment with calcium chloride and charcoal. Results showed that crude oil pollution impacted negatively on the parameters studied, the addition of materials (Charcoal and Calcium chloride) to the crude oil polluted soil improved the growth of African yam bean. Calcium chloride pre- treatment inhibited the emergence of AYB in a polluted soil. There was a significant difference (P>0.05) in the plant height, leave area, number of leaves, carbohydrate content, stem girth and root length, while treatments had no significant difference in the chlorophyll content and number of roots. The combined treatment (CaCl2 + Charcoal + pollution) did not show any significant impact on the growth and biochemical parameters when compared to the single treatments therefore; Charcoal and Calcium chloride are very good biostimulants but are more effective when they are applied separately

Growth performance evaluation of leaf characteristics of Rhizophora racemosa grown in amended mangrove - garden soil

The present study investigated the effect of soil type on leaf characteristics of the Rhizophora racemosa. Matured propagules were grown for 75days on mangrove and garden soil amended with Saw dust (SD), Rice husk (RH), NPK and RH+ SD+NPK combination treatments at the Botanical Garden of the University of Port Harcourt. Leaf properties such as leaf area, Leaf dry weight, specific leaf area and leaf dry matter content was determined 75 days after planting. The leaf area of Rhizophora racemosa were not significantly different from one another at p<0.05 in the amended garden soils while in the amended mangrove soils there was significant difference. Result of leaf dry weight showed significant difference at p<0.05 in both amended soil types. Maximum Specific Leaf Area of 157 ± 31.7 cm2 g-1 was observed in the garden soil amended with RH+ SD+NPK combination while the highest SLA of 143.7 ± 19.3cm2 g-1 was observed in the mangrove soil amended with SD. Leaf Dry Matter Content varied from 0.224 ± 0.012g g-1 - 0.271 ± 0.013 g g-1 across the various amendment in the mangrove soil while it ranged from 0.256 ± 0.004 – 0.355 ± 0.041g g-1 ) for the garden soil. Result indicated that Rhizophora racemosa can be successfully raised in amended garden and mangrove soil, and this may provide valuable information for mangrove forest restoration in the Niger delta region.Keywords: leaf area, leaf dry weight, leaf dry matter content; specific leaf are

VARIATIONS IN FOOD CONTENT OF CROPS AS INFLUENCED BY BIO STIMULANTS IN AN OIL CONTAMINATED SOIL

A study was carried out at the University of Port Harcourt botanical garden, to determine the influence of bio stimulants on food content of crops grown at two levels of crude oil contamination. Results showed that bio stimulants (sawdust and chromolaena leaves) enhanced protein and carbohydrate accumulation in the crops. However, chromoleana leaves was more effective than sawdust while the test crops-Z. mays and Vigna unguiculata differed in their accumulation potentials in protein and carbohydrate

VARIATIONS IN FOOD CONTENT OF CROPS AS INFLUENCED BY BIO STIMULANTS IN AN OIL CONTAMINATED SOIL

A study was carried out at the University of Port Harcourt botanical garden, to determine the influence of bio stimulants on food content of crops grown at two levels of crude oil contamination. Results showed that bio stimulants (sawdust and chromolaena leaves) enhanced protein and carbohydrate accumulation in the crops. However, chromoleana leaves was more effective than sawdust while the test crops-Z. mays and Vigna unguiculata differed in their accumulation potentials in protein and carbohydrate

Spread of Composite Pollutants in Shallow Waters of the Niger Delta

Experimental survey has been advanced on the effects of composite pollutants spread in shallow waters of the Niger Delta, using the Trans-Amadi creek as a case study. The analysis, which involves the identification of the nature of pollutants by the absorption photo spectrometer method and the Aitken Lagrangian interpolation model, shows that the contaminated water body, whose contaminants resulted from both human and industrial wastes consist of K, Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn and SO42- pollutants. The amount per litre of these elements in the sampled water were found to be higher than the United Nation recommended standards. The analysis shows that the spread follow a trend of the form: is the initial quantity deposited at the point y = 0. The overall analysis shows that K, Mg, Mn and SO42- were most predominant in the spread

Performance of natural chelates in the enhancement of iodine biofortification in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

The study investigated the ability of some organic chelates to enhance iodine availability, uptake and deposition in the edible root of cassava. The chelates used were EDTA as standard chelate, Bontera as commercial organic chelate and periwinkle effluents and Smoke solution as local organic chelates. The cultivars used were TME419 and TMS3168/UMUCASS/36 also known as YELLOW ROOT (YR). One hundred (100ml) of 100μg of iodine obtained from potassium iodide was added to 5000ml each of deionized water, 1ml/L Bontera, 1ml/L EDTA , Periwinkle effluents and Smoke solution. The treatments were applied through foliar application at 3 months after planting. The iodine content distribution ranged from 350μg/g (TME419 Root peel; control) to 23440μg/g (YR Stem; SS +KI). In the edible root, the bioavailable iodine ranged from 790μg/g (YR; PE +KI) to 7710μg/g (TME419; PE +KI). After processing to garri and fufu, the content ranged from 100μg/g (YR; control and PE +KI) to 1030μg/g (TME419; PE +KI) in fufu and 410μg/g (YR, PE +KI) to 4010μg/g(TME419; PE +KI) in garri. The study revealed that all the chelates had good potentials to enhance iodine biofortification. However, among the chelates used Bontera proved to be best because, it was stable when used individually and in combination with KI and was also stable in both cultivars used. Among the cultivars used YR proved to be better because, it has the ability to retain iodine for a longer period of time. The use of organic chelates should be encouraged to fast track micronutrients biofortification and availability. Key words: Iodine, Biofortification, Cassava, Organic chelates, Bioavailabilit

Spread of Composite Pollutants in Shallow Waters of the Niger Delta

Experimental survey has been advanced on the effects of composite pollutants spread in shallow waters of the Niger Delta, using the Trans-Amadi creek as a case study. The analysis, which involves the identification of the nature of pollutants by the absorption photo spectrometer method and the Aitken Lagrangian interpolation model, shows that the contaminated water body, whose contaminants resulted from both human and industrial wastes consist of K, Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn and SO42- pollutants. The amount per litre of these elements in the sampled water were found to be higher than the United Nation recommended standards. The analysis shows that the spread follow a trend of the form: is the initial quantity deposited at the point y = 0. The overall analysis shows that K, Mg, Mn and SO42- were most predominant in the spread

Spread of Composite Pollutants in Shallow Waters of the Niger Delta

Experimental survey has been advanced on the effects of composite pollutants spread in shallow waters of the Niger Delta, using the Trans-Amadi creek as a case study. The analysis, which involves the identification of the nature of pollutants by the absorption photo spectrometer method and the Aitken Lagrangian interpolation model, shows that the contaminated water body, whose contaminants resulted from both human and industrial wastes consist of K, Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn and SO42- pollutants. The amount per litre of these elements in the sampled water were found to be higher than the United Nation recommended standards. The analysis shows that the spread follow a trend of the form: is the initial quantity deposited at the point y = 0. The overall analysis shows that K, Mg, Mn and SO42- were most predominant in the spread