Rainfall Variability and Trend Analysis over Lokoja, Nigeria

Studies on rainfall variability and trends are of great importance, particularly to the nations where rainfed agriculture is predominant. This study used CRU data (CRU_TS 4.01) to examine the temporal variability of rainfall data over Lokoja. Statistical tests were employed to examine variability and trend in monthly, seasonal and annual time series. Analysis of variability showed that the rainy seasons and annual rainfall had less variability (CV 30) in some months in the rainy season (April, July and August). Standardised precipitation index showed alternation of wet and dry period conditions had been witnessed in the study area. Trend analysis showed more positive trends had been experienced from 1970 through 2010. The variability in rainfall and the increasing trend may have a tremendous effect on water resources availabilities and vulnerabilities of Lokoja

Comparative Assessment of Sweet (Zeamays Convar.Saccarata) and Dent Maize (Zeamays) for Phytoremediation of Chromium and Nickel Polluted Agricultural Soils

The consequential effects of heavy metal consumption by man suggest the need for plant assessment for bio-concentration and translocation potentials. This study aimed at comparing the potential of dent maize with sweet maize for phytoremediation of Chromium (Cr) and Nickel (Ni) contaminated soils. Soil samples were taken randomly to a depth of 20 cm. Out of the samples taken; about 500 g of the samples were homogenized, dried, sieved, and used for the determination of soil physicochemical properties. The remaining soil samples were used to fill the polythene bags for the plant growth. The experimental design used was 22 by 2 general factorial design consisting of 4 treatments (1 g/dm3 of Ni (NO3)2.6H2O; 3 g/dm3 of Ni (NO3)2.6H2O; 1 g/dm3 of Cr (NO3)2.9H2O and 3 g/dm3 of Cr (NO3)2.9H2O), 2 replicates of each and the control. The setup was made for each of the maize types. Three seeds of maize were planted on each of the soil samples at a depth of 4 cm and the setup was properly monitored. Soil samples were analyzed at day 1 and every 14 days interval in a period of 70 days after planting (DAP). The result of the initial analysis of the soil samples indicates that the control soil sample contained 0.17+0.002 mg/kg of Cr and 0.03+0.001 mg/kg of Ni for soil seeded with both the dent and sweet maize. The mean concentration of Cr and Ni from the soil samples taken from soil contaminated with 1g treatment were 1.24+0.001 mg/kg and 1.43+0.002 mg/kg respectively, while that contaminated with 3g treatment has 3.98+0.02 mg/kg of Cr and 2.96+0.02 mg/kg of Ni. The results also show a reduction in the heavy metal concentrations of the soil through the 70 days of planting. The Cr and Ni contents of the two maize types increase with the increase in the amount of metals (3 g > 1 g> control) in the soils in which they were seeded. Though, the two types of maize are good phytoplant, sweet maize is more active in Cr removal than dent maize. The two maize types are better in bioaccumulation than in translocation. The growth of the plants was not retarded by the presence of the metal which shows their tolerance and effectiveness in remediating Cr and Ni contaminated soil. The use of this technology will help in attaining sustainable development goals as it addresses the problem of environmental degradation while the subsistence agriculture will be promoted and hence poverty will also be alleviated or eradicated

Rainfall Variability and Trend Analysis over Lokoja, Nigeria

Studies on rainfall variability and trends are of great importance, particularly to the nations where rainfed agriculture is predominant. This study used CRU data (CRU_TS 4.01) to examine the temporal variability of rainfall data over Lokoja. Statistical tests were employed to examine variability and trend in monthly, seasonal and annual time series. Analysis of variability showed that the rainy seasons and annual rainfall had less variability (CV < 20), but the variability was high (CV > 30) in some months in the rainy season (April, July and August). Standardised precipitation index showed alternation of wet and dry period conditions had been witnessed in the study area. Trend analysis showed more positive trends had been experienced from 1970 through 2010. The variability in rainfall and the increasing trend may have a tremendous effect on water resources availabilities and vulnerabilities of Lokoja

Formulating Poultry Feeds from Food Processing By-Products

This study was undertaken to formulate poultry feeds (chick mash, growers mash and layers mash) from food processing by-products using mixture design experimental methodology. The proximate composition of the formulated feeds were also determined and compared with the recommended nutrient level of layers feed. Models for the proximate composition of the formulated feeds were also developed. The results of analyses for the formulated samples of chicks, growers and layers mashes showed that the crude protein, the crude fibre, the moisture, the fat, the ash, and the carbohydrate contents, ranged respectively from 16.1% to 17.89%, 4% to 6.25%, 9.34% to 11.9%, 2.9% to 6.1%, 3.54% to 6.23%, and 55.3% to 60.98%. The respectively recommended values for chick mash, growers mash and layers mash are: 18%, 16%, 15% (crude protein); 6.25%, 4.56%, 5.94% (crude fibre); 9.45%, 9.65%, 7.98% (moisture content); 3.25%, 3.84%, 4.1% (fat); 4.29%, 6.02%, 5.39% (ash); and 57.98%, 59.48%, 61.28% (carbohydrate). The study showed that the proximate compositions of the formulated feeds are in close agreement with recommendations on nutrient levels for poultry feeds

Evaluating flood adaptation governance in the city of Calabar, Nigeria

The increasing demand for cities in developing societies to embed climate adaptation into policies and practices has implications for the governance system which mainly focus on governing by traditional hierarchical forms, and by network while neglecting other forms of governing. This raises fundamental questions concerning how governing arrangements support or constrain climate hazard management. The paper assesses existing approaches to adapting to climate hazards in Calabar metropolis in Nigeria, where flooding is a major hazard. The governance systems adopted in the context of flood adaptation and their implication for practice is further investigated, and the strategies necessary for an improved implementation of climate hazard adaptation at the local governance level examined. Data for the study is collected from a stakeholder workshop and document analysis. Despite calls for decentralized governance and prevalence of a hierarchical system, other forms of governing coexist alongside these systems in Calabar. Five key strategies which should form the basis of urban climate hazard adaptation in practice, as identified by stakeholders, are synergy of activities among stakeholders; enforcement devoid of politics and bureaucracy, capacity building and information/data availability; increased focus on international cooperation and funding; and consideration of connections between flooding and other urban processes