Hydrogeology and Physico-Chemical Quality Assessment of Groundwater in Oke-Oyi Area and Environs, Kwara State, Nigeria

An appraisal of the groundwater potential as well as its potability in Oke-Oyi area and its environs was undertaken. This was done in order to provide information on the evaluation of groundwater system in the area as well as on the physico-chemical quality of the groundwater for domestic and Agricultural purposes. The Study entails analysing pumping test data in order to compute the hydraulic characteristics of seven boreholes in the area. Fifteen groundwater samples were also collected from boreholes and hand-dug wells in the area and analysed for their physical and chemical properties.The two aquifer units in the area are weathered overburden aquifer and fractured crystalline aquifer. The boreholes tapping these aquifers  have yields that range from 43.2m3/day to 103.7 m3/day with a mean value of 58.01 m3/day, hydraulic conductivity values range between 1.17×10-1 m/day and 8.60 ×10-2 m/day with a mean value of 6.27×10-2 m/day. Transmissivity varies from 0.95m2/day to 3.16 m2/day with an average value of 1.77 m2/day. The storage coefficient (S) calculated shows values that range from 0.619 to 1.765 with a mean value of 1.238. Results obtained from the physico chemical analysis of the groundwater in the area shows that the physical parameters such as colour, taste and odour are within the acceptable limits of WHO (2006). Also, the major ions analysed are Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe, SO4, NO3, Cl, CO3 and HCO3 and are all below the acceptable limits of WHO (2006). Hence the groundwater of the area is largely characterised as Mg-HCO3-Cl and Mg-HCO3.The groundwater of the area has a low-medium salinity hazard and low sodium hazard, indicating that the groundwater is good for Agricultural purposes.The groundwater has a high recharge potential due to its low storage capacity. Also the groundwater is potable for domestic and Agricultural purposes, based on the physical and chemical parameters of the groundwater analysed which are within the acceptable limits of WHO as well as low-medium salinity hazard of the groundwater. Keywords:Hydrogeology.  Groundwater Potential and potability. Oke-Oyi area and its environs. Physico-Chemical. Nigeri

The Effect Of The Aqueous Extract Of Kohautia Grandiflora On Paracetamol Induced Liver Damage In Albino Rats

Summary: This study was carried out to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of the aqueous extract of Kohautia grandiflora on paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in rats. A total of 20 albino rats of the Wister strain weighing 120-180g were used for the study. The animals were divided into 4 groups of 5-rats each (I-IV). Groups I, II and III served as the normal, paracetamol and plant extract controls and were administered with normal saline, 500mgkg-1 of paracetamol and 300mg/kg of the plant extract respectively for 7 days while rats in group IV served as the treatment group and were pre-treated with 300mg/kg of the plant extract respectively for 7 days before 500mg/kg of paracetamol was administered on the 8th day. At the end of the experimental period, blood was obtained from eachrat for the determination of serum levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), albumin and bilirubin. Biochemical analysis of the serum obtained showed a significantincrease (

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

Borassus aethiopum shell-based activated carbon as efficient adsorbent for carbofuran

ABSTRACT. Carbofuran, a pesticide applied in farmlands, often gets washed away into water bodies due to heavy rainfall and renders the water toxic. In this study, Borassus aethiopum shells-based activated carbon (BAS-AC) was prepared using CO2 and KOH as physical and chemical activating agents, respectively, which was employed as an adsorbent for the removal of carbofuran from an aqueous medium. The adsorbent was produced using the impregnation ratio of 3.28, activation temperature of 800 oC and activation time of 90 min. Textural properties and available functional groups in the adsorbent were determined using N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, respectively. The removal efficiency was performed after optimizing the adsorption parameters and kinetics of the adsorption process was examined using a batch system. The surface area, average pore diameter and adsorption capacity of the BAS-AC were obtained as 632 m2/g, 2.97 nm and 160 mg/g, respectively. Equilibrium adsorption isotherms were fitted better by the Langmuir model than the Temkin and Freundlich models. The adsorption kinetics follow the pseudo-second-order model and the adsorbent diffusion mechanism was further studied using the intraparticle diffusion model.               KEY WORDS: Borassus aethiopum, Carbofuran, Activated carbon, Adsorption isotherm, Adsorption kinetics Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2019, 33(3), 425-436.DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v33i3.

Quality Control Tests on Andrographis paniculata Nees (Family: Acanthaceae) – an Indian ‘Wonder’ Plant Grown in Nigeria

Purpose: To characterize the aerial parts of Andrographis paniculata, a bitter Indian herb grown in Nigeria, for the purpose of quality control.Methods: The determination of bitterness value and of various physicochemical characteristics; tests for key phytochemicals; and thin layer chromatography (TLC) of the air-dried herb, were carried out as prescribed in standard texts. Results: The mean bitterness value of the herb for both men and women was 2.86 ± 1.74 x 103 unitsper g. The male value (2.07 ± 1.42 x 103) appeared to be lower than the female’s (3.52 ± 1.82 x 103) but the difference was not statistically significant. The results (% w/w) of loss on drying (10.64 ± 0.36), totalash (14.10 ± 4.49), water extractive value (30.37 ± 2.63) and acid insoluble ash (1.00 ± 0.06) were similar to those reported for the Asian plant. The phytochemical tests revealed the presence of glycosides, saponins, tannins and alkaloids, but not of anthraquinones. Normal phase TLC of the drug yielded 5 spots as against 6 spots yielded by reverse TLC. Conclusion: The results provide useful quantitative and descriptive data that are essential for identifying and characterizing the Nigerian grown herb for the purpose of quality control; and confirm keysimilarities between the Nigerian and the Asian plant.Keywords:  Andrographis paniculata, Quality control, Bitterness value, Physicochemical, Phytochemical, Chromatography

Potentials of Sludge from Drinking Water Treatment Plant for Use as Source of Soil Nutrients for Reclamation of Degraded Land

The residuals from Gubi drinking water treatment plant are usually discharged directly into the nearby streams without any form of treatment. The decomposition of the organic materials contained in the untreated sludge has caused the production of malodorous gases and unsightly condition in the area. The disposal of this sludge in an environmentally friendly manner is therefore not only desirable but necessary. The aim of this investigation was to assess the feasibility of utilizing the residuals from Gubi water treatment plant as a source of nutrients for reclamation of degraded lands especially those arising from mining activities. The study was carried out at Gubi water treatment plant located in the vicinity of Gubi Dam water reservoir.Ten sludge samples were collected from each of the three clerifiers. Important sludge properties that are known to aid nutrients status of soil were analyzed using standard laboratory procedures. The means of various soil quality parameters recorded in the WTRs were 6.8, 20.06g/kg, 34.90g/kg, 1.65g/kg, 2.30g/kg, 13.45mg/kg, 2.50Cmol/kg, 2.10Cmol/kg and 28Cmol/kg for pH, Organic C, Organic Matter, K, Total N, Olsen P, Ca, Mg and CEC respectively. The means of all the parameters analysed falls within the ranges considered good for vegetation growth. The heavy metals concentrations recorded in the residual were 1.8mg/kg, 0.1mg/kg, 2mg/kg, 29mg/kg, 66mg/kg, 15mg/kg, 8.7mg/kg, 6.2mg/kg and 0.03mg/kg for As, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, Cr and Hg respectively. The concentrations of all the metals did not exceed the acceptable threshold limits recommended by regulatory authorities. Considering the enormous amount of plant nutrients and absence of excessive toxic metals in Gubi WTRs, it is safe to conclude that the residual can be use as a source of soil nutrients for reclamation of degraded land. Key words: Sludge, Soil Nutrients, Degraded Land, Reclamatio

Pre-weaning growth of lambs under village management system in Konni Local Government Area of Tahoua State in Niger Republic

This study evaluated the pre-weaning growth performance of a total of 144 lambs from 118 dams selected purposively from cooperating farmers’ flocks in Gabastawa and Gumbi villages in Konni Local Government Area of Tahoua State in Niger Republic. Body weight of the lambs was assessed weekly, using the hanging type weight-balance, for a period of 12 weeks. Prior to the weekly weighing, each of the lambs was identified, using plastic number tags, on the bases of breed, sex, birth type, location of flock, nutritional status and parity of dam which were recorded on the lambs’ record card. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS software package (SPSS, 1995); and student's t-­‐test as well as Duncan’s new multiple range tests were used for mean separations. Results of the study revealed that mean bodyweight of lambs increased from 2.56±0.75 kg at one week after birth to 10.25±1.80 kg at 12 weeks after birth. Mean body weight gain of the lambs was 641 g week-­‐1 (or 91.5 g day-­­‐1). The lambs’ pre-­‐weaning body weight changes produced a linear regression equation; Y = 0.598x + 3.518; and R2 = 93%. Of the various factors considered, only nutritional status of dam showed significant (P < 0.05) effect on the lambs’ pre-weaning body weights. Lambs from dams that had adequate nutrition weighed significantly (P < 0.05) heavier from week 2 (5.99±2.5 kg) to week 12 (13.14±2.2 kg); followed by those lambs from dams that had moderately adequate nutrition from week 6 to 12 and than those from the dams that had inadequate nutrition from week 2 (3.55±1.9 kg) to week 12 (8.83±2.0). It can be concluded that the pre-weaning growth performance of lambs in this study was comparable to those obtained under on-­‐stationand the results underscore the importance of adequate nutrition as a major factor that influences lambs pre-­‐weaning growth performance under the village production system. Hence, adequate nutrition of dams should be ensured to improve the pre-weaning growth of the lambs and overall productivity of sheep in the study area.Key words: Pre-weaning growth, Lambs, Traditional management system, Niger Republi

Groundwater Resource Appraisals of Bodinga and Environs, Sokoto Basin North Western Nigeria

The groundwater resources of semi-arid region of Bodinga town and its environs within the Sokoto basin of Northwestern Nigeria have been evaluated. Data obtained at site during pumping test sessions which lasted for a period of between 8-12 hours for a total of 67 boreholes in the area of study were used alongside Information gathered from the careful analysis of lithological logs of the drilled Boreholes. The Hydraulic conductivity for the Kalambaina, Wurno, and Taloka formations are 22.00x10 m/s , 8.00x10-1 m/s, and 1.02x10 m/s and respectively with an average of 3.00x10 m/s for the area. The Transmissivity calculated for these formations are 167.54x10 m2/s, 3.02x10 m2/s and 3.00x10 m2/s respectively while the average total for the area is. 20.30x10 m2/s. Specific capacity for the Kalambaina is 140.00x10 m2/s/m, for Wurno the value is 2.10x10 m2/s/m while Taloka formation have a value of 2.35x10 m2/s/m and the mean computed for this part of the basin is 16.30x10 m2/s /m. Yield is between 0.23 l/s and 6.7 l/s. The calculated properties show the area to be rich in groundwater resources mainly tapped from the coarse sandy and cavernous/jointed limestone layers. However the high drawdown values recorded in some of the boreholes is attributed to the presence of silt- clay materials which act as aquiclude. The high yielding boreholes are those with thicker and sandy aquifer material and less drawdown, however the area have high groundwater resource that is partly affected by the presence of silt and clay intercalations within the sandy Aquiferous units.Keywords: Groundwater, Transmissivity, Coarse-sandy layer, Aquiclude, Semi-confined, Sokoto basin

Evaluation of the impact of cadmium poison and cadmium line channel on the dynamic behavior of miniature neutron source reactor (MNSR)

Nigerian Research Reactor-1 (NIRR-1) undergo different installation such as permanentCadmium line due to high demand for epithermal neutrons activation analysis (ENAA)irradiation by the clients and cadmium poison to regulate the reactivity of the reactor witha range value 4.0mk to 3.7mk. Safety and flux stability. Simulations were carried out viaMonte Carlo Transport Code MCNP5 for these installations but very few experimentalcalculation were done. The results of all these research work revealed that the effect ofcadmium-line on safety and flux stability is very small. But in the case of cadmium poison,the reactivity of the reactor after 10 years of operation was observe to be decreasing. Theresults obtained for excess core reactivity after (2.96 and 2.95) mk, and predicted power of14.65 kW for the two experiment with coolant temperature (12.10 and 12.08) °Crespectively. These show that the change in power of the reactor is very small. The outcomeof the research will help sample handling capabilities of NIRR-1 and provide useful data tothe MNSR.Key words: Epithermal neutron, ENAA Irradiation, NIRR-1

Prevalence of malaria infection in children attending emergency paediatrics unit of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching hospital, Sokoto - Nigeria

Background: Malaria infection in children has been of concern in this part of the world - the sub-Saharan Africa. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of this deadly infection in children attending Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) Sokoto.Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty four (124) capillary blood samples were collected from patients attending the Emergency Pediatrics Unit side laboratory. The 'gold standard' method was applied using Giemsa stain to carry out the investigation. Both thick and thin blood films were investigated for malaria parasite concentration and specie identification respectively.Results: Out of the 124 samples collected, 82 (66.13%) tested positive and 42 (33.87%) were negative for malaria infection. A total of 49 (39.52%) males and 33 (26.61%) females were positive for the infection. Of all the positive samples children within the age range of 0 – 5 years had the highest prevalence of 72 (58.06%) while the other age group of 6 – 10 years had a relatively lower prevalence of 10 (8.07%). However, using Chi-square test of independence, statistical analyses suggest that there is no statistically significant association between the distribution of malaria infection and age or gender.Conclusion P. falciparum accounted for about (84.15%) of the cases of malaria infection in the study area.Keywords: Malaria, children, prevalence, UDUTH, Chi-Square