Short-term response of Soil Physical properties of an Ultisol, and Nutrient composition of Fluted Pumpkin to Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer mixtures.

A field experiment was conducted at the Research Farm of Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Ebonyi State  to evaluate the influence of sole organo-minerals and inorganic fertilizer and mixed forms on some selected soil physical properties and leaf nutrient composition of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia Occidentalis Hook F). The treatments (T1 = Control; T2 = 10 t/ha of rice-husk dust; T3 = 10 t/ha rice husk ash; T4 = 10 t/ha poultry droppings; T5 = 0.375 t/ha of NPK fertilizer 15:15:15; T6 = 5 t/ha of rice husk dust + 5 t/ha of poultry dropping; T7 = 5 t/ha of rice husk dust + 0.188 t/ha NPK 15: 15: 15; T8 = 5 t/ha poultry dropping + 5 t/ha of rice husk ash; T9 = 5 t/ha rice husk ash + 0.38 t/ha of NPK 15:15:15) were built into a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Data on soil physical properties and leaf nutrient composition of fluted pumpkin`     were collected and subjected to statistical analysis using Genstat 3 7.2 Edition. The results obtained showed that soil bulk density was significantly reduced on soils treated with different amendment combinations of organo-minerals and inorganic fertilizer compared to the control which received no application of amendment. The soils total porosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity and moisture content were improved when treated the soil with different amendment combinations compared to the control .More so, the results equally revealed that treatments application did statistically improve the leaf nutrient compositions. Key words: Amendments, Soil physical properties, organo-minerals, nutrient composition, fluted pumpkin

The oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq): nature’s ecological endowment to eastern Nigeria

The paper highlights oil palm as a multipurpose tree crop symbolizing nature’s endowment to the people of South East, Nigeria, and presents available evidence that the center of origin for the palm is within the area. The structure of the natural habitat of the oil palm – the groves, from where several genetic collections have been made for the improvement of the crop worldwide – is described. The oil palm is viewed as closely interwoven with the people providing their requirements in terms of food, medicine and materials for infrastructural development. In a wider context, the ecological, socio-economic, and socio-cultural and traditional values of the palm are discussed. The history of efforts to exploit the potentials of the crop through domestication and genetic improvement is given. Because the potential of oil palm is yet exhausted, the action plan for further development in the natural habitat and plantations is also given, highlighting the prospects of increased oil palm production as well as some of the constraints on the way to realising this all-important project. The paper identifies areas needing action research towards the sustainable development of oil palm. Among other suggestions in this direction, the paper recommends the creation of a center of excellence in oil palm studies within the South East, Nigeria to expand the scientific exploitation of the natural groves and encourage plantation establishment for the benefit of not only the people whose God-given gift is now a highly valuable crop in the world, but the entire country and even beyond.Keywords: multipurpose tree, natural groves, oil palm plantations, agricultural growth, South East Nigeri

Demographic and Sociocultural Characteristics of Sickle Anaemia Children with Positive Hepatitis B Surface Antigenaemia in a Tertiary Health Facility in Enugu

Hepatitis B virus infection is contracted through contact with body fluid of infected persons. Patientswith sickle cell anaemia (SCA), a common haematological disorder inNigeria, have tendencies to visit traditional healerswho administer scarifications and ritualmarks thatmay expose themtoHBVinfection. To determine the demographic and socio-cultural characteristics of children with SCA infected withHBVat theUniversity ofNigeriaTeachingHospital Enugu. Two hundred and twenty one children aged 6months to 17years with SCA were recruited consecutively from October 2004 to April 2005. They were screened for HBsAg using ELISA method. There was no statistically difference in hepatitis B surface antigenaemia among different age group (P=0.907). Social class did not significantly influence the prevalence of HBsAg among subjects (p=0.887). Socio-cultural practices like circumcision and scarification did not influence the prevalence of HBsAg, (p=0.636) (p=0.771) respectively.Significantly highernumber of people fromlowest socioeconomic class  practice scarification (p=0.0001). Demographic and sociocultural factors do not appear to influence the prevalence of HBsAg among childrenwith SCAinEnugu,Nigeria. Sickle cell anaemia; Hepatitis B surface antigenaemia, Demographic, Sociocultural characteristicKeywords: Sickle cell anaemia; Hepatitis B surface antigenaemia, Demographic, Sociocultural characteristics

Water use and grain yield response of rainfed soybean to tillage-mulch practices in southeastern Nigeria

Despite the agronomic, economic and food values of soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill), there is still dearth of information on the tillage need and the implications of surface mulch for the crop in the eastern part of the forest-savanna transition zone of Nigeria. This study was therefore carried out on a sandy loam Ultisol at Nsukka with a sub-humid climate, during 2006 and 2007 cropping seasons. Our objective was to devise an appropriate tillage method for the crop from evaluated effects of no-till (NT), conventional tillage (CT) and mulch on selected key agronomic indices. Each of the NT and the CT was either unmulched (U) or mulched (M) in a split-plot, giving four treatments/tillage methods (NTU, NTM, CTU and CTM) randomized in four blocks. Rainfall was more favorable in the first than in the second season. The mean seasonal soil water storage (range, 99-109 mm) within 0.5-m soil layer differed among the treatments (NTU < CTU < NTM = CTM). However, for the first and second seasons, both water use (582-616 and 667-709 mm respectively) and grain yield (0.71-0.81 and 1.22-1.91 Mg ha-1 respectively) were not different. Mulch lowered the crop water use but had no influence on grain yield. Water use efficiency was enhanced with mulch only in the second season. Although either of the two mulch treatments (NTM/CTM) would be suitable for growing soybean especially in years of unfavorably distributed rainfall, NTM is a more rational choice than CTM. Rainfall adequacy at the critical reproductive stage of the crop showed to be a more important yield factor than the tested tillage methods

Aggregate breakdown and dispersion of soil samples amended with sugarcane vinasse

Soil aggregation is a very complex issue related to important soil attributes and processes. The aggregate breakdown and dispersion of soil samples amended with sugarcane vinasse were evaluated using ultrasonic energy. Vinasse is an important byproduct of sugarcane industries, intensively applied to soils in Brazil as liquid fertilizer. Samples of two Oxisols and one Ultisol were used in this study. The physical and chemical characterization of soils was performed, and the 1 to 2 mm size aggregates (200 g) were packed in PVC columns (6.0 cm high and 4.0 cm internal diameter) and incubated with sugarcane vinasse under lab conditions for 1, 30 and 60 days. After incubation, aggregates were submitted to levels of ultrasonic energy, and the particle size distribution (53 to 2,000 µm, 2 to 53 µm, and < 2 µm fractions) was quantified. Mathematical equations were used to relate the mass of aggregates in each of these fractions to the applied ultrasonic energy, and parameters related to aggregate stability were then obtained. Soils showed an aggregate-hierarchy resulting in a stepwise breakdown under ultrasonic agitation. Considering this soil-aggregation hierarchy, vinasse contributed even in a short time to the bonding between and within 2 to 53 µm aggregates, mainly in the Oxisols. This may be related to organic compounds present in the vinasse, cementing soil particles. Potassium enrichment of soil samples did not contribute to soil dispersion