Quantitative difference method for estimation of fertilizer nitrogen balance and uptake by zea mays on an orthic oxisol of North Central Nigeria

The percentic recovery and balance of fertilizer nitrogen can be determined by different methods. In this study, quantitative difference method in recovery of Nitrogen of above-ground dry matter was applied to investigate the uptake of field applied nitrogen by maize cultivated in an orthic oxisol soil. It was found that the maximum uptake of fertilizer N is about 75 % decreasing at the end of the growing period to about 65%. About 25% of the N remains in the upper part of the profile, while about 10% can not be localized and presumably lost by denitrification

Salt Affected Soils Evaluation and Reclamative Approaches for Crop Cultivation in Keana, Northcentral Nigeria

In this study, a field experiment was conducted on salt (saline) affected soils during the cropping seasons of 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 to evaluate the soil properties, determine their effects on two test crop   performances, and its reclaim ability under three different approaches. Reclamative approaches were employed not only to increase efficiency but also reduce the time of reclamation. Soil samples were collected from the surface (0-15) and subsurface (15-30cm) soils for laboratory   determinations. The soils were treated to gypsum (CaS04) at 100% GR alone; gypsum plus farm yard manure (FYM) at 25t/ha and chiseling.  Leaching with irrigation water over a period of 2-4 hours per week was  done. Rice and millet crops were grown for the two crop years. Result of  pre-cultivation soils showed that the physical properties of bulk density had a mean value of 2.37gcm-3 and a low total porosity value of 17.46.  Chemically, the soils are high in acidity (>pH 7.5) and then large   quantities of exchangeable bases and high base saturation.    Post-cultivation results show that gypsum application proved to be the best treatment giving highest grain yield of rice and millet. However, this  treatment followed statistically similar results with gypsum + FYM. Noapplication (control) remained low. Chemically, the pHs was reduced after harvesting of second crop (millet 2005-06). Electrical conductivity (ECe) was reduced after growing of first millet crop except control. The reduction of sodium adsorption ration (SAR) was more after the 2nd crop. The soil parameters in control treatment did not improve. The study concluded thatcontinuation of gypsum + FYM + Chiseling was more effective in improving the soil condition for sustainable land use.Keywords: Salinity, Reclamation, Gypsum, Farm yard manure, Cereal, Tropic

Development of sorghum populations for resistance to Striga hermonthica in the Nigerian Sudan Savanna

Six elite sorghum varieties, ICSV 111, ICSV 400, KSV 4, Gaya Early, CS 54, and CS 95 were used to improve Striga resistance through pedigree breeding. SRN 39 and IS 9830 varieties were confirmed resistant to Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth in field trials. The two Striga resistance lines were crossed with the six elite varieties. Three hundred and sixty Striga-free plants from F2s of good agronomic traits were identified, and selfed to produce F3s. The number of selections varied from 12 (ICSV 400 x IS 9830) to 59 (ICSV 400 x SRN 39) per F2 population. About 50% more plants were selected from the crosses involving SRN 39 as donor parent for Striga resistance than the crosses involving IS 9830. In addition, 58 out of the 100 plants selected were from a cross, ICSV 111 and SRN 39. Crosses from which Striga free plants were obtained were CS 54 x SRN 39 (12 plants selected), CS 95 x SRN 39 (9), ICSV 400 x SRN 39 (6), Gaya Early x IS 9830 (6), Gaya early x SRN 39 (5), and KSV 4 x IS 9830 (4). Crop syndrome reaction score was higher in 1995 (2.3 - 4.0) than in 1996 (1.0 - 2.7). Our results suggest that SRN 39 is a better donor parent for Striga resistance than IS 9830. ICSV 00090 NG, a cross between ICSV 111 and SRN 39 gave the highest grain yield of 2.02 t/ha in a replicated trial compared to the two parents, ICSV 111 (1.11 t/ha) and SRN 39 (0.86 t/ha). This variety combines potential for high yield and resistance to Striga. Our data indicates that the elite varieties can be improved for Striga resistance using pedigree breeding. A large F2 population (500 to 1000 plants per cross) is recommended for the selection of transgressive segregants. Further efforts are required to back cross-promising segregants with established Striga resistant variety in order to develop durable Striga resistant varieties with acceptable agronomic traits. Key words. Sorghum, Striga hermonthica, parasitic weed, resistance. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.3(6) 2004: 324-32

Promoting women and minorities owned enterprises in African countries.

This paper attempts to examine the key issues relating to African women and minority owned enterprises development in the context of its relationship with economic development. The analysis is further broadened to underscore the determinants of women entrepreneurship development and the environment conducive for its operations. In addition, the policies that are necessary to make this environment favorable are discussed. The generic constraints faced are also listed out. The paper shows the need to accelerate economic development in African countries through promotion of women and majorities owned enterprises. Entrepreneurial orientations should be based on stimulating local entrepreneurial talent and subsequent growth of indigenous companies. This in turn would create jobs and add economic value to the region and at the same time keep scarce resources within the region. The paper recommends that African women and minority owned enterprises should be encouraged and taught to develop new entrepreneurial life styles, capacities, develop global sensitivity and strategic thinking capabilities. Therefore, greater gender equality, better institutions and more efficient economic functioning could possibly lead to access to opportunities, rights and voice

Effects of rumen digesta on the physico-chemical properties of soils in Nsukka, Southeastern Nigeria Ifeoma

In tropical and subtropical areas, the importance of organic manure in improving soil physico-chemical properties and crop production for food security cannot be overemphasized. A study was conducted to investigate the effects of rumen digesta on the physical and chemical properties of soils in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. The soil samples collected from Opi, Nsukka were treated with four rates of rumen digesta (viz. 0, 50, 100 and 150 g/kg soils). Physical and chemical properties of the soil were determined pre- and post-experiment. The results obtained reveal that rumen digesta significantly (p = 0.05) increased the mean weight diameter (0.49 to 1.75 mm), aggregate stability (54.7 to 75.3%), soil pH (3.8 to 7.8), total nitrogen (0.01 to 0.02%), exchangeable sodium and potassium (0.22 to 4.39 cmol/kg for Na+ and 0.30 cmol/kg to 4.31 for K+), CEC (7.2 to 14.9 cmol/kg) and organic matter content (0.97 to 4.29%). It had no significant effect on the texture, micro-aggregate stability (measured as dispersion ratio), exchangeable calcium and magnesium content of the soils. The study found a significant reduction in the exchangeable aluminum (1.5 to 0.0 cmol/kg) and hydrogen content (3.7 to 2.2 cmol/kg) of the soils. It is recommended that farmers can improve the physical and chemical properties of soils by using rumen digesta as an alternative liming material.Key words: Rumen digesta, soil properties, evaluation, rural land, Nsukka-Nigeria

Adoption of information and communication technologies to the development of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in Africa.

This study presents Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a phenomenon that could assist entrepreneurs in small- and medium- scale enterprises fit into globalization to overcome poverty prevalent in most African countries. The study revealed the roles that ICT has played in the lives of entrepreneurs and how ICT can assist individuals develop competitive small enterprises. The study emphasized that the potential benefits of ICT on the development of SMEs in African countries are boundless, that consumers would have all the power to choose the best prices, given the friction free flow of information, and that businesses would find it easier to stay in touch with their customers and make better informed decisions. The study showed that most African countries’ SMEs are unable to take advantage of economies of scale and capture market opportunities requiring large productive run, standard inputs and consistent standards, often lack training, market intelligence and the capacity for technological innovation. The study also provided strategic framework to enhance the competitiveness of African countries SMEs to assist them compete both in regional and global markets. The study recommended that more research be carried out to develop in depth the strategic framework of information and communication technology for the development of sustainable small- and medium- scale enterprises in Africa. The recommendation is expected to assist the policymakers plan more positively for the general good of the society

Character association and path analysis in grain sorghum

Association and path analysis between hill count, bloom, plant height, panicle length, panicle count, 1000 seed mass, head weight and grain yield of thirty sorghum varieties were studied over two locations and years. There is significant high positive correlation between grain yield and head weight (r=0.976), grain yield and 1000 grain mass (r=0.522) and 1000 grain mass and head weight (r=0.528). Similarly, significant but negative correlation exists between panicle count and panicle length. Partitioning of yield and yield components into direct and indirect effects revealed that head weight had the highest direct effect on grain yield (0.961) while 1000 grain mass contributed indirectly to grain yield via head weight (0.507). Panicle count also contributed to grain yield indirectly through head weight (0.420) indicating the importance of head weight as one of the most important yield components followed by 1000 grain mass and then panicle count. There is high positive phenotypic and genotypic correlation coefficient between hill and panicle count, panicle count and head weight, panicle count and grain yield and head weight and grain yield. Plant height has high positive phenotypic and genotypic correlation coefficients with head weight (rp= 0.550, rg=0.881) and grain yield (rp=0.555, rg=0.904)

A Disaggregated Analysis on the Effects of Foreign Investment Inflows on Exchange Rate: Evidence from Nigeria

This study is an investigation of the effects foreign investments have on exchange rate in Nigeria The work covered a period of 1987-2012 using annual data from Central Bank of Nigeria statistical bulletin A growth model via the Ordinary Least Square method was used to ascertain the relationship between foreign investment inflows and exchange rate in Nigeria Its main objective is to find the impact which foreign investments decomposed into foreign direct investment FDI and foreign portfolio investment FPI have on exchange rate and the bidirectional influences between them Of course several studies have endeavored to examine the determinants of exchange rate in Nigeria This study contributes to the literature by examining a possible determinant of exchange rate that has received less attention in the literature foreign investment inflows This paper examines this relationship with a view to determining the extent to which FDI and FPI effect exchange rate in Nigeria employing the Granger causality and OLS techniques The Granger Causality test further provides insight on the causal direction of the variables Whereas the causality tests suggest no statistical dependence between both FDI and FPI and exchange rate the regression analyses reveals exchange rate follows FPI though not significantly while FDI has an insignificant inverse relationship with exchange rat

Inheritance of resistance to head bug (Eurystylus oldi) in grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)

The inheritance of resistance to head bug (Eurystylus oldi) was studied in ten populations of sorghum derived from crossing three susceptible sorghum elite varieties (ICSV 111, ICSV 112 and ICSV 400), and two resistant sorghum varieties (Malisor 84-7 and KSV 4). Parental lines, F1 and F2 populations were sown on a Randomized Complete Block Design in two replications. Artificial infestation of head bugs on sorghum was employed in carrying out the experiment. Samples of 5 panicles each from every artificially infested plot were observed. Resistance to head bug in sorghum seems to be controlled by a single pair of recessive genes in Malisor 84-7 x ICSV 400 and Malisor 84-7 x ICSV 111. The cross, KSV 4 x ICSV 112 appeared to be controlled by double recessive pair of genes. Head bug population affects quality of grains rather than the yield produced. There is a negative correlation (-0.095) between head bug population and the germination percentage of the grain. Positive relationship exists between glume size and head bug population, which suggests that longer glumes harbour more head bug. (African Journal of Biotechnology: 2003 2(7): 202-205

EFFECTS OF CONCESSIONAL DEBT ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: A MULTILATERAL AND BILATERAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE WEST AFRICAN MONETARY ZONE

Studies on the contribution of concessional debt to economic development are sketchy. The paucity of empirical studies on this subject is even more glaring in the context of the English-speaking West African countries. Bilateral and multilateral aid donors have intensified the flow of official assistance to the developing countries of the world with the aim to bridge the developmental gap between the less developed countries and the industrialized countries of the world. The question that often arises is whether such aids have yielded the desired results among the recipient countries. Against this backdrop, we examined the effect of concessional debt on the economic development in the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) using cross-sectional data from 1975-2014. The panel cointegration and panel unit root tests were employed to test for long-run relationship and stationarity of the series respectively. Our model was analysed with both fixed and random effect panel regression while the Hausman test be used to determine the best and appropriate choice between the two. Our findings reveal that multilateral and bilateral concessional debts have significant positive effect on standard of living in the West African Monetary Zone. The panel cointegration test also indicates that there is no long-run relationship between concessional debt and per capita income. We conclude that inflow of concessional aid from multilateral and bilateral donors has had remarkable influence on the standard of living in the region. We recommend that concessional aid to the less developed countries be intensified. However, recipient countries should have a credible external borrowing guideline scribed in their legislation to check against excessive borrowing and also ensure that aid received is used for the intended (developmental) purposes. External institutions and aid agencies should also be involved in the entire aid administration with aim of ensuring that aid is extended based on need, not political ties. JEL: A10; B20; C01 Article visualizations