Estimation of Planting Dates for Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) in the Humid Tropical Environment of Owerri, South-eastern Nigeria.

In order to fill the gap existing between the production and consumption of roselle in the humid tropical areas of Nigeria, this experiment was carried out in Owerri between May and December, 2012 to evaluate the effects of planting dates and accessions on the growth and performance of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa). Six planting dates including planting at monthly intervals from May to October and two accessions (Purple calyx and Green calyx) were evaluated. The experiment was laid out as a 2 x 6 factorial in Randomized Complete Block (RCB) with three replications. Results revealed that all roselle crops planted in May through August flowered within the same period (26 – 29th September) which coincided with the period of short days in the northern hemisphere. Consequently, roselle planted in May produced flower buds significantly (138 days after planting) compared to other dates. July sown roselle in addition to producing flower bud relatively earlier (80.2 days after planting), had comparably higher number of flower buds/plant and calyx length. Roselle sown in September and October however did not flower. For use as vegetables in soup making, green calyx roselle should be sown in May and harvested not later than 8 weeks after planting. Planting in July appears to favour early flowering and is appropriate for purple calyx roselle.Keywords: Roselle, Accession, Planting Date, Month, Calyx Lengt

Effects of Ten Plant Materials in the Preservation of Stored Cowpea Against Callosobruchus maculatus F

The potentials of the pulverized parts of ten locally available plant products compared to a conventional storage insecticide (Actellic 2% dust) as protectants of stored cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp were evaluated under laboratory conditions. Each of the plant materials was tested at four rates (2.5g, 5.0g and 10.0g/100g seed including a control, i.e., 0.0g. Actellic dust was applied at the rate of 1.0g, 2.0g and 3.0g/100g seed. Fifty (50) seeds from each of the treatments were infested with 5 pairs of adult weevils. Assessment was based on the emergence of the F generation and seed damage (mean number of seeds with holes and the number of holes per seed). The seed damage data were used to estimate the weevil perforation index (WPI).All data were analyzed for variance at P=0.05.Although most of the plant materials afforded some measure of control of the insects in this experiment, only three of them, Piper guineense, Moringa oleifera and Ocimum gratissimum in that order, performed comparably well with Actellic dust. Actellic dust treated seeds had the least number of emerged adults (26.2-75.0) over the 7-month storage period, and a WPI of between 0.0 - 26.7%. The cumulative number of emerged adults were also significantly reduced (40.5 86.8 insects) with WPI of between 12.2 and 44.4% and 35.4 90.3 insects with WPI of 16.4 47.8% in seeds treated with Piper guineense and Moringa oleifera, respectivelly. For Ocimum gratissimum, the cumulative number of emerged insects were between 85.6 and 195.0 with only the highest rate (10.0g/100g seed) having protection ability with WPI ranging between 31.7 48.5%. The untreated control had between 104 272.7 emerged insects and an average of 100.0%WPI.Key words: Piper guineense, Moringa oleifera, Ocimum gratissimum,actellic dust, cowpea, bruchid

Comparative effectiveness of some plant materials on the mortality of cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (Fab.) (COLEOPTERA: BRUCHIDAE) in stored cowpea

Studies were carried out in the laboratory to evaluate the potential insecticidal efficiency of the powdered form of some locally available plant materials relative to a conventional storage chemical, Actellic 2% dust (Pirimiphos-methyl) on stored cowpea against the cowpea bruchid. Ten plant materials selected based on their reported active ingredients or one form of folk medical use or the other were used. Each of the materials were tested at four rates (2.5g, 5.0g, 10.0g/100g seed including the control, i.e., 0.0g). Actellic dust was applied at the rate of 1.0g, 2.0g and 3.0g/100g seed. Data on the effects of the materials on mortality of C. maculatus were collected at 24 hours, 48 hours and 7 days over a seven-month period. The ten plant materials generally performed better than the control. The interactive effect of the plant materials was found to be dose-related. However, only Piper guineense, Moringa oleifera and Ocimun gratissimum, in that order, performed comparably well with Actellic dust. Actellic dust at the lowest rate inflicted adult mortality of 90-100% in the first 48 hours after treatment whereas Piper guineense at the lowest rate (2.5g/100g seed) inflicted mortality of up to 90.0% in 48 hours. Moringa oleifera at the medium rate (5.0g/100g seed) and Ocimum gratissimum at the highest rate (10.0g/100.0g seed) gave mortality of 76.7% and 60.0% in 48 hours, respectively

Critical issues in Investment, Production and Marketing of Moringa oleifera as an Industrial Agricultural raw material in Nigeria

Moringa oleifera Lam, is one of the most useful ‘multi-purpose’ plants known to man. Virtually every part of the tree is beneficial in some way and both rural and urban people depend on it for their livelihood. Though the Moringa tree is widespread throughout the tropics, around farms and compounds and often used as fence especially in Northern Nigeria, not much has been done to enhance its large scale production, processing, marketing and investment as an industrial raw material in Nigeria. With the exception of medium scale cultivation of the tree in Nigeria for the production of leaves as an alternative green vegetable source for human nutritional and other medicinal uses, there have been few attempts to commercialize the tree for the other products: oil for cosmetic and edible purposes, natural coagulant from the seeds and other ancillary uses from virtually all parts of the plant. The paper has attempted to bring to the fore critical issues in the production, processing marketing and commercialization of Moringa and associated products. The cost of processing various Moringa parts to acceptable use, product research and development, highly competitive markets, and the need for regulatory approval by NAFDAC are perhaps some of the most significant constraints. Added to these constraints is the challenge of popularization of the plant among farmers, as studies have shown a high level of ignorance of the plant. Properly articulated cluster programmes will tackle such problems and the likes of emerging markets and products. This will require a well-coordinated programme involving policy development, research in such areas as agronomy, physiology and farming systems as well as extension services. Information on these is generally unavailable from literature and has to be garnered through practical trials. This takes time and resources that may not be readily available. So far, some nursery practices have been developed in the Federal University of Technology,Owerri, Nigeria. Despite the critical issues identified, analysis shows that investing in Moringa is a viable enterprise. With a breakeven yield of 1,295kg/ha; profitability index of 2.047 per ha per year; the viability options, when broken down further into specifics like processing, gets evenbetter with a net return of N11,965,000.00 per ha per year.Key words: Moringa, Cluster, Profitability index, Cropping Systems, Breakeven yiel

Prospects and Challenges in the Utilization of moringa oleifera lam. for Agroecosystem Sustainability in Nigeria

This paper reviews the practice of continuous crop production relative to the traditional shifting cultivation system and the associated impacts on the environment. It highlights the potentials of the use of Moringa oleifera for agro ecosystem sustainability. When used as a green manure Moringa can generate as high as 650 metric tons of green matter per hectare through which it can richly supply essential nutrients such as calcium(26.4g kg-1DM), phosphorus(1.36g kg-1DM) and potassium(21.7g kg-1DM). Its plant growth enhancing properties (phytohormone) can increase yield by as much as 20-35% while the cake derived from the oil extraction process is an excellent soil conditioner. Futhermore, Moringa has biopesticidal properties and serves as windbreak and mulch material. These beneficial ecological properties, apart from the medicinal, nutritional and industrial properties which have implications for socioeconomic development of households, suggest that Moringa could be exploited for agroecosystem sustainability as a strategy to supporting the emerging practice of continuous cultivation for food security. The major challenge now is the popularization of the plant among farmers, as studies have shown a high level of ignorance of the plant. This will require a well coordinated programme involving policy development, research in such areas as agronomy, physiology and farming systems as well as extension services

Nursery and Field Establishment of Moringa Oleifera: The Federal University Of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria Experience

Moringa oleifera fondly called “The miracle tree” is currently drawing global attention as a multi-utility plant. The products of this miracle plant (also called a life saver) have been reported to be useful to nutritionists, animal scientists, pathologists, entomologists, environmentalists, practitioners of natural medicine, etc. Though the Moringa tree is widespread throughout the tropics, around farms and compounds and often used as fence especially in Northern Nigeria, not much has been done to enhance its large scale production to ensure sustained availability. The Federal University of Technology, Owerri has keyed into the Moringa oleifera initiative through its Centre for Agricultural Research. About 2 hectares of this plant have been successfully established in the University farm sourced from different locations (Ilorin, and Lafiagi in Kwara State and Mokwa in Niger State), all in Nigeria. So far, some nursery practices have been developed for this crop including the avoidance of heavy shades and seed dressing with Apron Star 42 WS® (20% Thiamethoxam + 20% Metalaxyl-M + 2% Difenoconazol). Field trials are currently going on to monitor the performance of the seedlings in the field

Preliminary Evaluation of Nursery and Early Field Propagation Practices for Jatropha curcas L. at Owerri, Nigeria.

Jatropha curcas dubbed ‘the best source of biofuel production among the various plant - based fuel resources the world over’ is reputed to yield substantial quantity of seed oil which can be converted to biodiesel without refining. Though the Jatropha plant is found growing in semi arid, arid and tropical environments, around farms and compounds and often used as fence especially in Northern Nigeria, not much has been done to enhance its large scale production to ensure sustained availability. The Federal University of Technology, Owerri has keyed into the Jatropha initiative through its Centre for Agricultural Research. About 2 hectares of this plant have been successfully established in the University farm sourced from different locations (Ilorin, and Lafiagi in Kwara State and Mokwa in Niger State), all in Nigeria. So far, some nursery practices have been developed for this crop including the avoidance of heavy shades and seed dressing with Apron Star 42 WS® (20% Thiamethoxam + 20% Metalaxyl-M + 2% Difenoconazol). Field trials are currently going on to monitor the performance of the seedlings in the field.Key words: Jatropha, Nursery, Field Establishment, CAR, FU

Lymphatic Filariasis in Nigeria; Micro-stratification Overlap Mapping (MOM) as a Prerequisite for Cost-Effective Resource Utilization in Control and Surveillance

Background Nigeria has a significant burden of lymphatic filariasis (LF) caused by the parasite Wuchereria bancrofti. A major concern to the expansion of the LF elimination programme is the risk of serious adverse events (SAEs) associated with the use of ivermectin in areas co-endemic with Loa filariasis. To better understand this, as well as other factors that may impact on LF elimination, we used Micro-stratification Overlap Mapping (MOM) to highlight the distribution and potential impact of multiple disease interventions that geographically coincide in LF endemic areas and which will impact on LF and vice versa. Methodology/Principal findings LF data from the literature and Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) were collated into a database. LF prevalence distributions; predicted prevalence of loiasis; ongoing onchocerciasis community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTi); and long-lasting insecticidal mosquito net (LLIN) distributions for malaria were incorporated into overlay maps using geographical information system (GIS) software. LF was prevalent across most regions of the country. The mean prevalence determined by circulating filarial antigen (CFA) was 14.0% (n = 134 locations), and by microfilaria (Mf) was 8.2% (n = 162 locations). Overall, LF endemic areas geographically coincided with CDTi priority areas, however, LLIN coverage was generally low (<50%) in areas where LF prevalence was high or co-endemic with L. loa. Conclusions/Significance The extensive database and series of maps produced in this study provide an important overview for the LF Programme and will assist to maximize existing interventions, ensuring cost effective use of resources as the programme scales up. Such information is a prerequisite for the LF programme, and will allow for other factors to be included into planning, as well as monitoring and evaluation activities given the broad spectrum impact of the drugs used