Influence of legume residue and nitrogen fertilizer on the growth and yield of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) in Bauchi state, Nigeria

A field experiment was conducted at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University teaching and research farm Bauchi (10o22' N and 9o47'E) and also at Bulkachuwa village of Katagum LGA. (11o38'N and 10o31'E) both in Bauchi state, during the rainy seasons of 2011 and 2012 to determine the influence of legume residue and nitrogen fertilizer on the growth and yield of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench). The treatments consist of two legumes (cowpea and soybean), nitrogen fertilizer applied at the rate of 0, 15, 30 and 60kgN/ha, both used to determine the performance of a Sorghum (variety; KSV 8). The legumes were sown in the first year while using the same site/plots, sorghum was then sown in the second year. The experiment was laid out in both years using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated three times. No data were collected on the legumes in the first year while data collected on sorghum in the second year included; plant height, number of leaves, 1000 grain weight and grain yield (kg/ha). The results of the experiment revealed that, growing sorghum on cowpea and soybean residue had significant (P≤0.05) effect on all the characters measured than on fallow. The results further revealed that, application of nitrogen fertilizer at the rate of 60kgN/ha gave significantly (P≤0.01) higher effects on all the characters studied than when the other rates were used. Control plots on the other hand recorded the least. It was also observed that, siting the experiment at Bauchi significantly (P≤0.05) produced higher yield than when the experiment was carried out at Bulkachuwa. Studies on interaction revealed that, irrespective of the location used, application of 60kgN/ha following cowpea and soybean in rotation significantly (P≤0.01) increased yield of sorghum. Based on the results obtained, application of 60kgN/ha as top dress to sorghum grown on cowpea or soybean residue should be adopted by farmers in and around Bauchi state for higher yield.Key words: Legume, Residue, Nitrogen, Sorghum, [email protected]

Comparitive experimental fish culture on the river Benue and in a concrete pond at Makurdi, Nigeria

An experimental culture of the mudfish, Clarias gariepinus was done in cages suspended on the River Benue at Makurdi for eight weeks to compare with culture in a concrete fish pond. A weight gain of 273g and specific growth rate, (S.G.R) of 5.2 g/day were obtained. These were not significantly different (p> 0.05) from the weight gain of 211g and SGR of 4.7 g/day in the concrete pond culture. River fish culture in cages can be used to increase aquaculture production of fish from River Benue. Key words: aquaculture; rivers; concrete ponds; Clarias gariepinu

Determination of Groundwater Potentials in Crystalline Basement Areas of Bauchi Local Government Area, Bauchi

Developing groundwater is generally an excellent option for sustainable water supplies in Bauchi due to the ephemeral nature of surface water. However, the large variability in geological and hydrological conditions have a profound influence on the availability of groundwater across the study area. The rationale for this research is to contribute at least, in terms of providing empirical data towards sustainable development of groundwater resource, particularly in the Crystalline Basement hydrogeological unit of Bauchi area. Aquifer properties of wells within the Crystalline Basement were estimated from a constant-rate pumping test of 10 sampled wells by fitting mathematical models (type curves) to drawdown data through curve matching. Generally, yields of sampled boreholes within the crystalline basement aquifer range from 8.64 m3/d to 120.96 m3/d with an average of 52.36 m3/d. The total yield of the boreholes is about 661.83.m3/day. This can sustain a population of 26,473 based on water supply standard of 25 litres per day for rural communities (Babatola, 1997). Considering the total population of 12,218 people (NPC, 2014) that are currently using the water points in comparison to water supply standard of 25 litre per person per day, this shows that the aquifers from the 10 sampled boreholes have relatively enough groundwater in terms of yield to meet the water need of the population. However, any significant increase in population growth may result in water scarcity in these areas, as the Crystalline Basement aquifers generally have low yielding capacity. Also, the crystalline basement aquifer properties evaluated reveal that the transmissivity values range from 2.55 m2/day to 111.0 m2/day with an average of 38.94m2/day (Table 5). According to Offodile (2002), a transmissivity range of 5 to 50 m2/day could be regarded as high potential in crystalline rock situations. By the above standard, the crystalline basement aquifers in the area are classified as aquifers of negligible to high potentials. The specific capacities of boreholes in the study area were computed and the results show that they vary between 1.30 to 691.2 m2/d/m. Keywords: Crystalline Basement, Groundwater, Pumping Test, Aquifer, Transmissivity, Bauchi State, Nigeria DOI: 10.7176/JEES/9-7-02 Publication date:July 31st 201

Effect of Variety, Seed Rate and Row Spacing on the Growth and Yield of Rice in Bauchi, Nigeria

Field experiments were conducted at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Fadama Farm Bauchi, during the rainy seasons of 2006 and 2007 to study the effects of variety, seeding rate and row spacing on growth and yield of rice. Two varieties of rice; Ex – China (Indigenous and upland/lowland) and NERICA-1 (improved and upland), three seeding rates (32, 54 and 75 kg/ha) and four row spacings (15, 20, 25 and broadcast) were used during the study. The treatments were combined and laid in a split – split plot design with three replications. Variety was placed in the main plot, seeding rate in the sub plot while row spacing was placed in sub –sub plot. Data were collected on parameters such as plant height, number of tillers per plant, spikes per hill, spikelets per spike and number of seeds per spike, seed weight per hill, 1000 grain weight and yield kg ha-1 and analyzed using analysis of variance procedure for split – split plot and significant differences among the treatment means were separated using the Duncan multiple range test (DMRT). Variety Ex-China produced significantly (P<0.05) higher numbers of tillers per plant and spikes per hill. However, NERICA-1 produced significantly (P<0.05) higher numbers of spikelets per spike, seeds per spike, weight of seed per spike, weight of seed per hill, 1000 grain weight and yield in kg ha-1 than Ex-China. Row spacings of 15, 20 and 25cm also had significant effects on the number of tillers per plant, number of spikes per hill, number of spikelets per spike, number of seeds per spike, weight of seed per spike, weight of seed per hill, 1000 grain weight and yield kg ha-1 over the control. From the factors studied, seeding rate did not show any significant difference during the two years of investigation. Interactions were also observed among the factors studied. Therefore, row spacings irrespective of the method used, or hole planting of rice could be more appropriate for optimum grain yield.Key words: Seed rate, Row spacing, Spike

Isolation, Characterization and Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Escherichia coli from Diarrhoeic Lambs in Sokoto, Northwestern Nigeria

A total of 127 faecal samples were collected from diarrhoeic lambs and examined for Escherichia coli. The bacterial culture involved pre-enrichment in peptone water before C incubation at 37 for 24 hours. Out of the isolates obtained, 42 (36.84%) were positive for Escherichia coli. Characterization of the isolates revealed serotypes O157 (13), O118 (9), O111 (8), O26 (7), and O103 (5) as the most frequent strains. Their prevalence rates being 31.0%,21.4%, 19.0%, 16.7% and 11.9% respectively. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MICs) of the E coli strains to six antibiotics revealed tetracycline as having the lowest MIC, which ranged from 3.12ìg/ml - 50ìg/ml followed by chloramphenicol with an MIC ranging between 6.25ìg/ml -100ìg/ml. It was concluded that there was need for further research to study the pathogenicity of the E coli strains and that resistance to antibiotics was a problem which might have resulted from indiscriminate use of these drugs

Studies on risk factors of mortality in lambs in Sokoto, Nigeria

Mortality in lambs is complex problem which may result from a variety of climatic, nutritional, management, infectious, genetic and other factors. Associated with death are other factors which could be of maternal or lamb origin that predisposes the young lamb to early death. Records of sex, breed, age, birth weight, type of birth, season of birth and age of ewe from 82 lambs that were dead and posted are recorded and analyzed as the associated risk factors contributing to mortality in these lambs. More male lambs died 49 (59.76%) compared to females 33 (40.24%) whilst mortality in lambs aged 0-7 days was 40 (48.78%). The effect of birth weight showed 47 (57.31%) mortalities in lambs less than 2kg at birth. Higher deaths were seen during the wet season 37 (45.12%) than during cool and hot seasons. Mortality was more in Uda breeds 29 (35.37%) than in other breeds. The outcome of the study showed that the knowledge of when and how mortality occurs could be helpful and to reduce mortality, the management of lambs particularly at early age is imperative

Factors influencing Consumer Preference for Fresh Beef in Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeria

A total of 90 Household heads (15 from each of the six electoral wards of Sokoto metropolis) were randomly selected and interviewed to identify factors that affect preference for fresh beef and to determine the nature of the relationship. Factors identified were; household size, educational level, occupation, expenditure on beef, and expenditure on beef substitutes. A quadratic regression model was found to best explain the relationship between preference and the factors identified. Household size, level of education and expenditure on beef substitutes were significantly related to preference for fresh beef (P<0.01), However, occupation and expenditure on beef did not influence preference (P>0.05). As expected expenditure on beef substitutes tends to decrease preference for beef. Beef has been found to be preferred over other sources of meats.Keywords: Consumer, Preference, fresh beef, Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeri

Antimicrobial activity of Cassia alata

The antibacterial and antifungal activity of the aqueous and methanol extracts of Cassia alata leaves has been evaluated. The extracts exhibited more antifungal than antibacterial properties

Phytochemical and antimicrobial study on the leaf extracts of Erythrophleum africanum (Caesalpiniaceae)

The leaf of Erythrophleum africanum was exhaustively extracted with ethanol using cold maceration techniques. This was subsequently partitioned with petroleum ether, chloroform, ethylacetate and nbutanol. The agar diffusion method was used to determine the antimicrobial activity against the following micro-organisms eithicillin resistant Staphylococus, Staphylococcus aureaus, Streptococcus feacalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Proteus vulgaris, Candida albicans, Candida krusei and Candida tropicalis. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) were determined. The in vitro antimicrobial screening revealed that the extracts exhibited diverse activities against different microbes with zones of inhibition ranging from 12 to 36 mm, MIC ranging from 3.25 to 60 mg/ml and MBC/MFC of 3.25 to 60 mg/ml for sensitive organisms at the tested concentrations. The activities observed could be attributed to the presence of terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids and tannins. The results justify the ethnomedicinal use of this plant in the treatment of sores, boils, wounds, dysentery, diarrhea and sexually transmitted infections.Keywords: Erythrophleum africanum, phytochemistry, antimicrobial activityAfrican Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 13(4), pp. 598-603, 22 January, 201

Case report: Role of imaging in the diagnosis of Achalasia cardia

Background: Achalasia of the cardia is a condition of oesophageal motility disorder that starts at the oesophago-gastric junction and may spraed upwards to involve portions of the mid-oesophagus. It is characterized by inability of the cardiac sphincter to relax fully in response to swallowing,hypertrophy and dilatation of the rest of the oesophagus, and absence or diminution of oesophageal peristalsis. It is commonly seen between the 2nd and 5th decades of life. The case is presented because of its rarity in our  environment and its classical presentationMethods: We reviewed the case of a 36 year old man who presented to the clinic with a 4 year history of progressive chest pain, difficulty in swallowing, difficulty in breathing, and weight loss.Results: Plain radiography showed features that are suggestive of achalasia of the cardia and was confirmed on Barium swallow which showed grossly dilated mid and lower oesophagus with barium seen collected at the lower oesophagus with smooth narrowed tapering distally and absent peristaltic movement noted.computed tomographic  features were in keeping with achalasia cardia.Keywords: Imaging, diagnosis, achalasia cardi