Length-Weight Relationship And Condition Factor Of The Elephant Fish, Mormyrus rume (Valenciennes, 1846) In River Ose, Southwestern Nigeria

A total of 791 elephant fish, Mormyrus rume specimens of various sizes were sampled from River Ose, southwestern Ngera. Length-weight relationship and condition factor of the M rume specimens were studied. Their standard lengths ranged from 15.0 to 45.0 cm. Mean standard lengthfor males, females and combined sex were 27.86 cm, 3008 cm and 28.97 cm, respectvely. The body weight ranged from 75.5 to 610.0 g Mean body weight for males, females and combinedsex were 167.57 g 237.38 g and 202.48 g respectvely. Lengh-weight relatonship for males, emales andcombined sex were 1.699, 2.134 and 1990, respectively. The fsh exhibited alometrcgrowth in the river. The predictive equation was log W = -0.636 + 199 log L. The mean condition factor varied between seasons. The mean condition for males, females and combined sex were 0.787, 0.859 and 0.823, respectvely. The condtion factor decreased with increase in ndvidual sizes. Keywords: Length-weight relationship, Condition factor, Mormyrus rume, River Ose, NigeriaAnimal Research International Vol. 4 (1) 2007 pp. 617-62

Optimization of Process Parameters for the Carbonization of Flamboyant Pod Bark (Delonix Regia)

This study investigates the carbonization of flamboyant pod bark (FPB) for the purpose of production of effective activated carbon from the agricultural residue. Central Composite Design (CCD) under the Response Surface Methodology was employed to combine the selected process parameters [Temperature (300 - 600 0C) and Time (30 - 65 mins)] for the carbonization. FPB were collected within the fields of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, mechanically cracked, crushed, washed with distilled water and sun-dried for seven days before eventually subjecting to carbonization, after which the resultant yields were determined and the statistical analysis was evaluated. The maximum (45.45%) and minimum (11.82%) yields were obtained at Run 1 (3000C/30 mins) and Run 11 (6000C/ 65 mins). The quadratic model equation is given as Yield = 23.27 - 3.48A - 4.38B - 2.81A2 + 0.19B2 + 0.11AB and the R2 value for the model equation is 0.9705 while the adjusted as well as predicted R2 values are 0.9459 and 0.8578, respectively. The numerical optimization by the Design Expert (6.0.8) software suggested minimum yield of 12.89%, (600 0C/ 65 mins) at desirability of 0.941. This research has indicated the suitability of using CCD for the optimization of process parameters for the carbonization of Flamboyant Pod Bark

Technical Efficiency of Resource-Conserving Technologies in Rice -Wheat Systems: The Case of Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh in India

This study has evaluated the technical efficiency of farmers engaged in rice-wheat cropping systems in North-eastern India, who are using Resource-Conserving Technologies (RCTs) such as Zero Tillage (ZT) and Direct Seeded Rice (DSR). These technology promotions are being carried out under the intervention of the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) project, primarily funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The resource-conserving technologies are being promoted as part of conservation agriculture supported by the project. The data used in this study have been derived from the socioeconomic surveys conducted in Eastern Uttar-Pradesh and Bihar in North-eastern India during the kharif season of 2009 and rabi season of 2010. A stochastic frontier analysis was carried out to investigate and compare the determinants of technical efficiency among the farmers receiving intervention and those who are not. The study has revealed that farmers receiving CSISA intervention have realized higher levels of technical efficiency. Additionally, farmers who are receiving subsidies and farmers who are planting more diversified crops have higher levels of technical efficiency.Conservation agriculture, Direct seeded rice, India, Resource-conserving technology, Technical efficiency, Stochastic frontier, Zero tillage, Agricultural and Food Policy, O30, Q18, O22,

NUTRITIONAL STUDY ON THE SEEDS AND FRUITS OF THREE CUCURBITS IN SOUTH WESTERN NIGERIA

A comparative study was carried out on the nutritional contents of the seeds and fruits of Cucumis melo (L.), Lagenaria breviflora (Benth) and Citrullus lanatus (Thunb). Proximate composition, Vitamin C content and phytochemical analysis of air-dried, powdered epicarp, mesocarp and seeds of the mature fruits were also carried out using standard procedures. Data on nutritional and phytochemical characteristics were collected and subjected to two - way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at p<0.05. Means were compared using LSD. Total sugar and vitamins C were detected in the other parts of the fruits except the seeds in the three Cucurbits. Percentage dry matter, fat, ash and crude protein were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the seeds than in the epicarp and mesocarp. Crude fibre was highest in the epicarp for C. melo (1.75 0.13), L. breviflora (1.85 0.07) and C. lanatus (2.18 0.07

COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE PHYTOCHEMICAL CONTENT OF THE SEEDS AND FRUITS OF THREE CUCURBITS

A comparative study was carried out on the phytochemical cotent of the seeds and fruits of Cucumis melo (L.), Lagenaria  reviflora(Benth) and Citrullus lanatus(Thunb). Phytochemical analysis of air-dried, powdered epicarp, mesocarp and seeds of the mature fruits were carried out using standard procedures. Data on phytochemical characteristics were collected and subjected to two - way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at p<0.05. Means were compared using LSD. Phytochemicals such as glycosides, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, phlobatanin, anthraquinone and saponin were detected in the epicarp, mesocarp and seeds of the Cucurbits under investigation&nbsp

INDIGENOUS POULTRY PRODUCTION IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA: A CASE OF YEWA NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

A study was conducted to determine the types and spatial distribution of Indigenous Poultry (IP) in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State. Five locations (Idofoi, Ibese, Imasai, Eggua and Ayetoro) were randomly selected across the geographical distribution of the Local Government Area. Data were collected from 75 respondents comprised of 15 each from the locations using a well structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The result revealed that women were more involved (57.3%) in indigenous poultry production in the area. Fowl (chicken) population dominated (57.3%) and was widely distributed followed by duck (24.5%) and guinea fowl (8.60%) while turkey recorded the least population (2.4%). Eggua recorded the highest (27.3%) chicken population whereas Ayetoro had the least (15%). However, Imasai had the overall highest (22.90%) indigenous poultry in the study area while the least was recorded in Ibese (16.2%). Major challenges militating against IP in the area were disease (33.3%), pilfering (14.6%), and socio-taboo (8.0%). Only 2.7% respondents indicated feeding as a problem militating against IP. The study concluded that female and the aged were major indigenous poultry farmers in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State and the prevailing indigenous poultry were chickens, ducks and guinea fowls with turkey having the least population. Imasai had the highest poultry population followed by Eggua while Ibese had the least population. Majority of the people in Yewa North Local Government Area reared indigenous poultry for income and domestic use.Â

Perception Paysanne Des Effets Du Changement Climatique Sur La Production Des Noix D’anacardier (Anacardium Occidentale L.) Dans La Commune De Savalou Au Bénin

This study aims to analyze the perception of farmers from the effects of climate change on the production of cashew nuts in the town of Savalou. Thus 210 farmers were surveyed in the Municipality of Savalou based on a semi-structured questionnaire. The data collected relate to the socio-cultural characteristics of the planters, their perception of the causes and weather events affecting the performance of the cashew tree and adaptation strategies. The results show that the majority of farmers have age less than 50 years. The age of the plantations, the average yield, density and performance achieved in 2014 varied significantly (P <0.05) from one district to another. Adults and youth sociocultural groups Nago, Mahi, and Ife have seen that climate change is the major constraint in the production of cashew nuts. As for the main climatic parameter affecting the production of cashew, the majority of farmers (80%) in this case, old Ife, Mahi and youth Idaatcha think it is rather the rainfall deficit. Regarding the causes of decline in yield, the analysis shows that the old Mahi and Ife have the perception that the prolonged drought, high winds and wildfires are the main while Idaatcha adults perceived that harmattan and wandering animals are the causes of yield loss. Ploughing followed by mowing in the late rainy season is the main coping strategy to mitigate the effects of climate change on the plantations of cashew. The contribution of research would be to put at the disposal of farmers planting material adapted to climate change

Genetic relationships among okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) cultivars in Nigeria

This study was conducted on okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) cultivars at the Teaching and Research Farm, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria. The objective was to evaluate the level of genetic divergence and heritability of eight characters in 2015 and 2016 dry seasons using irrigation. The results showed highly significant (p<0.01) differences in the ten okra cultivars for days to anthesis, plant height, fresh capsule length, fresh mass per capsule and fresh capsule diameter across the two years. A high genotypic coefficient of variation, heritability, and genetic advance were detected in all the characters except for days to anthesis and fresh capsule diameter. This implied that different genetic constitution and preponderance of additive effects governed these characters, thus presenting a significant opportunity for selection. The Mahanalobis D2 analysis allotted the ten cultivars into four clusters. The highest was cluster I comprising four cultivars, followed by cluster II containing three cultivars, cluster III consisting two cultivars, and cluster IV with mono genotypic. The three most superior okra cultivars (Salkade, Y’ar gagure and Kwadag) for yield and related characters could be exploited directly or introgressed with other promising ones in future breeding programs

Microbial Water Quality Assessment of Packaged Drinking Water of Pre-School Children in some Parts of Accra

Episodes of Cholera outbreaks are still common in most developing countries and children usually are at the greatest risk. This study assessed the importance of diarrhoea-related illnesses among children five years of age or less at the University Hospital, Legon and the importance of packaged water handling in the contamination of drinking water of pre-school children. Diarrhea-related diseases (DRD) accounted for 6.3% of cases involving children five years and below reporting at the University Hospital, Legon during the period of the study. Generally, greater number of cases (DRD) were reported among males (6.9%) than among females (5.6%). High counts above recommended levels of either Total Heterotrophic Bacteria, Pseudomonas or Total Coliforms were observed in 88% of the water samples tested. Inadequate cleaning of water bottles and in some instances the use of inappropriate water bottles (reusing PET mineral water containers) contributed to the poor quality of the drinking water of the preschool children. A greater part of the contamination of the drinking water occurred at home and not at the schools. Parents therefore need to be targeted with water, sanitation and hygiene related health education

Analysis of volatile compounds by GC-MS of a dry fermented sausage: chorizo de Pamplona

The profile of volatile compounds of a typical Spanish dry fermented sausage, chorizo de Pamplona, has been analyzed by GC-MS, using a simultaneous distillation-extraction (SDE) system. Qualitative and quantitative differences were found in the volatile profiles obtained in the five analyzed commercial brands. One hundred and ninety three different substances were isolated, the group of acids being the most important from a quantitative point of view in all brands, accounting at least for the 60% of the total area. Aldehydes, basically from lipid oxidation, contributed between 7.72% and 13.97% to the total amount. Acids and aldehydes were the chemical families that showed the lowest variability among brands. In contrast, esters showed the highest coefficient of variation among brands (111%), followed by phenols (82%) and terpenes (76%). The variability observed in these three families could be attributed respectively to the different starter cultures, smoking process and spices employed in their production. Butylated hydroxytoluene (added as an antioxidant, E-321) was the third most abundant compound in 3 of the 5 brands