Constraints facing agroforestry practices among farmers in New Bussa, Nigeria

The study examined agroforestry practices and its constraints among selected farmers in New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria. Data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire, personal interview and observations from the total of one hundred and twenty respondents. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data collected. Findings revealed that farming was male dominated with a mean age and family size of 41years and 10 persons respectively. More than half (69.2%) of the farmers were literate with mean years of experience in farming being 14years. The most common trees on the farmlands were Vitellaria paradoxa, Mangifera indica, Parkia biglobosa, Azadirachta indica, Afzelia africana, Detarium microcarpum and Vitex doniana. Majority of the farmers were aware (70.8%) of agroforestry practices mainly through conservation education (32.5%) and forest guards (20.0%) to conserve economic trees and improve farm produce. Medicinal herbs (98.3%), Source of income (81.7%) and Source of food (80.3%) were the major benefit accrued to farmers from agroforestry in the study area. Constraints to agroforestry practices in the study area included limited use of farm machineries (75%), poor access to credit facilities (70.8%), fast growing nature of trees (68.3%), Land tenure (65.8%), Marketing channel (62.5%) and increase in population (56.7%). The study thus, recommended that extension agents from public and non-governmental organizations should enlighten farmers more on agroforestry through workshops and community awareness campaign and assistance should be given to farmers in form of credit facilities, improved seeds or varieties, and soft loans for enhanced production.Keywords: Agroforestry, Awareness, Benefits, Constraints, Conservation, Economic tree

Determination of some heavy metal content in tilapia and cat fish species in Lake Njuwa, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Concentration (mg/kg) of Lead (Pb), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni) and Cadmium (Cd) were measured in various organs (such as gills, bones and muscles) of Tilapia and Catfish collected from Lake Njuwa Adamawa state during dry season (February, 2017) and wet season (August, 2017). The results obtained were compared to permissible limits set by World Health Organization, WHO (1985), Food and Agricultural organization, FOA (2003), to ascertain its health implications. Comparison between the heavy metals concentration of dry and wet season were carried out using Mann Whitney u test, the relationship between the heavy metal concentration and the weight of the fish was carried out using Pearson correlation test. All the analysis were determined at significant level of p>0.05 using Microsoft excel 2010 and statistical package for social science (SPSS) 2.3. The results obtained shows that the heavy metals are more concentrated in the bones (2.30, 2.50, 1.37, and 1.40) than the gills (2.17, 2.20, 1.19 and 1.23) and the muscles (0.5, 0.7, 0.99 and 1.03) of both the Tilapia and Catfish during the wet season than the dry season.Keywords: Heavy metal, Tilapia fish, Catfish, Lake, dry season, wet seaso

Physical and biochemical studies on excess weight-induced rats maintained on mixed spices-supplemented diet

The research was conducted to assess some growth and biochemical changes in excess weightinduced male Wistar rats maintained on mixed spices-supplemented salty diet. The spices (onions, garlic, ginger and cloves) were separately pulverized and thereafter mixed in ratio of 1:2:2:2 respectively. Eight (8) Wistar rats (151.01±1.12 g) were randomly divided into two groups (A and B) of four (4) rats each with nearly equal average weight. Three experimental diets, A, B and B* were formulated. Diet A was 100% starter’s mash (control diet) while Diet B was 6% salt of starter’s mash and B* was 2% mixed spices of diet B. The rats in groups A and B were maintained on their experimental diets (Diet A and Diet B respectively) ad libitum for four weeks. Diet B was then removed and replaced with diet B* and maintained on this diet ad libitum and the feeding trial continued for another three weeks. Growth, hematological and lipid profiles, and transaminase enzyme activities in the rats were determined. There was no significant variation (p>0.05) in the feed intake between the group maintained on 6% salty diet (76.40±3.20 g) and the control (82.93±4.24 g). Feed conversion ratio (5.69±1.13) was significantly lower while the average weekly weight gain (15.92±2.39 g) was significantly higher in the group maintained on 6% salty diet when compared with the group on control diet. Supplementation of diet B with 2% mixed spices (Diet B*) caused significant (p<0.05) decrease in weight gain (6.19±2.01g) and increase in feed conversion ratio (15.99±4.23) in excess-weight induced rats. Excess-weight induced rats (Group B) maintained on 2% mixed spices of diet B had significantly (P<0.05) higher PCV (41.33) and Hb (13.77), but there was no significant (P>0.05) change in RBC (3.10), WBC (3.43) and Platelet (468.67) when compared with the control. Total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein, and triglyceride were not significantly affected. The concentration of ALT was significantly (p< 0.05) higher in serum (36.67 ±1.45 U/L) and liver (45.00 ±2.65 U/L), but lower in heart (24.67 ±1.76 U/L) and kidney (8.67 ±0.33 U/L) of excess-weight induced rats (Group B) maintained on 2% mixed spices of diet B. AST however, increased (p< 0.05) in kidney (24.67±1.764 U/L). Therefore, 2% supplementation of metabolic disease-causing diets with mixed spices (onions, garlic, ginger and cloves) may have positive effects on reversal of excess weight gain, lipid metabolism, blood formation and organ protection in subjects fed on the diets.Keywords: Mixed-spices; Excess weight-induced; Biochemical; Hematology; Transaminase; Lipi

Forage yield of some grasses in monoculture and their mixtures with legumes under irrigation in central Sudan

    Mixed cropping system provides forage of higher yield than monoculture. This study was conducted during autumn, summer and winter seasons of 2014/15 and 2015/16 at the experimental farm of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Gezira, Wad Medani, Sudan. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of monoculture of selected grasses and their mixtures with selected legumes on their fresh forage yield under irrigation in central Sudan. The experimental material consisted of three grasses, namely; Sudan grass (SG), maize (MZ) and Abu70 and three legumes, cowpea (CP), black-eyed bean (BB) and lablab bean (LB). Grasses were grown in pure stand or mixed with legumes in 1:1 and 2:1 ratios. The results showed that mixing significantly increased growth parameters during all seasons. The highest fresh forage yield of grasses was obtained by the mixture compared with monocultures. Land equivalent ratio exceeded 1.0 in all seasons which indicated clearly the advantage of mixtures over monocultures. Based on the results of this study, to obtain high forage yield of grasses, it was recommended to use seed combinations of 40 kg/ha MZ + 20 kg /ha LB, 40 kg /ha SG+ 20 kg /ha CP and 40 kg /ha SG + 20 kg /ha LB during autumn, summer and winter seasons, respectively.       يؤدي الخلط إلى زيادة في إنتاجية العلف. أجريت هذه الدراسة خلال صيف و خريف وشتاء 2014/15 و2015/16 بالمزرعة التجريبية، كلية العلوم الزراعية، جامعة الجزيرة، السودان. تهدف هذه الدراسة لتقييم أثر الخلط علي إنتاجية العلف لبعض الحشائش النجيلية ومخاليطها بالبقوليات تحت ظروف الري في أواسط السودان. تضمنت الدراسة ثلاثة محاصيل نجيلية هي حشيشة السودان وأبوسبعين والذرة الشامية وثلاثة محاصيل بقولية هي اللوبيا الحلو واللوبيا البيضاء واللوبيا العفن. زرعت المحاصيل النجيلية منفرده وفي مخاليط بنسبة  1:1و1:2 أظهرت نتائج التحليل أن كل من الإنتاج ومكوناته قد زادت زيادة معنوية كنتاج للخلط. تحققت الإنتاجية العالية للعلف الأخضر عند زراعة الاعلاف النجيلية في مخاليط مقارنة بزراعتها منفرده. قيم نسبة مكافئ الأرض فاقت الواحد الصحيح (1.0) خلال كافة المواسم مما يؤكد تفوق نظام الخلط علي زراعة المحصول نقيا. بناء علي نتائج هذه الدراسة ولتحقيق إنتاجية أعلاف نجيلية عالية نوصي بزراعتها في مخاليط بنسبة 40 كجم بذور/هكتار ذرة شامية + 20 كجم بذور/هكتار لوبيا عفن و 40 كجم بذور/هكتار حشيشة السودان + 20 كجم بذور/هكتار لوبيا حلو و 40 كجم بذور/هكتار حشيشة السودان + 20 كجم بذور/هكتار لوبيا عفن خلال مواسم الخريف والصيف والشتاء على التوالي.         &nbsp

Growth differentiation factor 9 gene variants in Sudanese desert sheep ecotypes

Certain variants in the growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) gene have major effects on the ovulation rate in sheep. The aim of this study was to analyse GDF9 variability in the Sudanese desert sheep ecotypes Ashgar, Dubasi and Watish, and to test identified variants for association with litter size. For this purpose, ewes of these ecotypes with litter size records for at least two litters were sampled. The complete GDF9 exon 2 was sequenced in a total of 28 ewes. An additional variant in exon 1 (c260G>A) was genotyped by restriction-length polymorphism analysis in 97 ewes. Differences in genotype and allele frequencies of polymorphic positions between two groups differing in litter size (only a single lamb versus more than a single lamb) were tested for significance using Fisher's exact test. GDF9 exon 2 variants c.477G>A and c.721G>A and exon 1 variant c.260G>A were found to be polymorphic in all three sheep ecotypes. Exon 2 variants c.471C>T and c.978 A>G were polymorphic in at least one ecotype. No significant associations were observed between allele and genotype frequencies of identified variants and litter size. This suggests that GDF9 variants influencing ovulation are absent in these Sudanese sheep ecotypes, and therefore cannot be used to increase litter size within this population of sheep.Keywords: Ashgar, Dubasi, fecundity, litter size, ovine fertility, Watis

Forage yield of some legumes in monoculture and mixtures under irrigation in central Sudan

    The study was conducted during summer, autumn and winter seasons of 2014/15 and 2015/16 at the experimental farm of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Gezira, Wad Medani, Sudan, to investigate the effect of mixing on forage yield of selected three legumes namely: cowpea (CP), black-eyed bean (BB) and lablab bean (LB) and their mixtures with three selected grasses, Sudan grass (SG), maize (MZ) and forage sorghum (Abu70). Legumes were grown in pure stand and mixed with grasses in 1:1 and 1:2 ratios. Treatment combinations were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The results showed that mixing significantly increased plant fresh weight, LAI, and fresh forage yield during most seasons and decreased number of branches per plant during different seasons. Land equivalent ratio mostly was greater than one. Based on the results of this study to obtain high forage yield, it was recommended to use seed combinations of 30 kg seeds/ha LB + 30 kg seed/ha MZ during autumn and winter and 30 kg seeds/ha BB + 30 kg seed/ha SG during summer season.     نفذت هذه الدراسة خلال صيف، خريف وشتاء 2014/2015 و2015/2016 بالمزرعة التجريبية لكلية العلوم الزراعية، جامعة الجزيرة، السودان. تهدف هذه الدراسة لتقييم أثر الخلط علي إنتاجية المحاصيل البقولية المختارة وهي اللوبيا الحلو واللوبيا البيضاء واللوبيا العفن ومخاليطها مع المحاصيل النجيلية حشيشة السودان، أبوسبعين والذرة الشامية تحت ظروف الري في أواسط السودان. زرعت المحاصيل البقولية منفرده وفي مخاليط بنسبة 1 : 1 و 1 : 2. تم استخدام تصميم القطاعات العشوائية الكاملة بأربعة مكررات. الخلط أدى إلى زيادة معنوية لكل من  وزن النبات الرطب، دليل مساحة الأوراق وإنتاجية العلف الأخضر خلال معظم المواسم بينما أدى الخلط إلى نقصان عدد الأفرع في مختلف المواسم. كانت قيم نسبة مكافئ الأرض في أغلب المواسم  أعلى من الواحد الصحيح. بناءً على نتائج هذه الدراسة ولتحقيق إنتاجية أعلاف عالية نوصي بزراعة المحاصيل البقولية في مخاليط بنسبة خلط 30 كجم بذور/هكتار لوبيا عفن + 30 كجم بذور/هكتار ذرة شامية خلال فصلي الخريف والشتاء وبنسبة 30 كجم بذور/هكتار لوبيا حلو + 30 كجم بذور/هكتار حشيشة السودان خلال فصل الصيف.                         &nbsp

Perceived effect of improving labour condition and paramilitary training on staff efficiency in Kainji Lake National Park, Nigeria

This study assessed perceived effect of improving labour conditions and paramilitary training on staff efficiency in Kainji Lake National Park, Nigeria through personal observation and interview with the aid of a semi-structured questionnaire administered to fifty-two (52) staff of the Park. Majority (98%) of park staff agreed that improving working conditions is a necessary tool for employees’ commitment and loyalty in the service and 77% agreed that park authority play an important role towards improving working conditions and making on the job training accessible for the staffs. Most (75%) respondents acknowledged that the new salary (the most important working condition for job efficiency in the study area) is expressively satisfactory while majority (71.15%) also show their enthusiasm towards mode of dressing (use of paramilitary uniform) as they agreed that it bestowed more respect and honour to them in the society. Other areas of improved practices that are considerably satisfactory are training and development, promotion process and relationship with managers. However, only few respondents were pleased with current situation of safety at work, retirement plan and medical insurance though it is perceived from the study that medical insurance and relationship with managers are not too vital for job efficiency in the study area. Respondents further agreed that recent paramilitary training adopted in the National Park Service increases the employees’ morale since paramilitary training will improve employee physical fitness and confidence (4.23±1.26) as well as individual and organizational competences (4.06±1.03). From the study, there is high (70%) consensus that improving working conditions and paramilitary training has positive effect on job efficiency in the study area hence; there is improvement in the organization achievement.Keywords: Employee, Job Efficiency, Job Satisfaction, Labour Condition, Paramilitar

Heavy metals in Bushmeat from New-Bussa and its environs, Nigeria

Bushmeat have provided complimentary protein for human population across the world over the centuries. This study assessed the concentration of heavy metals in bushmeats in New Bussa and its environs. Three carcass of bush meat (Kobus kob (Kob), Tragelaphus scriptus (Bushbuck) and Sylvicapra grimmia (Duiker)) were sourced from the study area. The carcass was digested and concentrations of nine heavy metals (Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, Ni, Co and Cd) were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Results obtained for the heavy metal analysis were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) while Pearson’s correlation was used to determine the relationship in the samples. The heavy metal concentration in muscle tissues of the selected bushmeat revealed that zinc with 815.00±13.00 mg/kg in Kob was the highest mean value of all meat samples, followed by Iron (479.00±10.00 mg/kg) in Duiker while Pb level in Bushbuck 213.00±3.00 mg/kg is outrageously the highest. Copper, Chromium and Nickel did not exceed the permissible limits as set by FEPA/WHO. The concentration pattern of heavy metals in bush meat show that Sylvicapra grimmia and Tragelaphus scriptus had the same pattern of Zn>Fe>Pb>Cr>Mn>Cu>Co>Ni>Cd concentration while Kobus kob pattern of  association is Zn>Fe>Cr>Pb>Ni>Cu>Co>Cd>Mn. The comparative study of the heavy metal concentrations revealed that Zinc (Zn) recorded the highest frequency, followed by Iron (Fe) and Lead (Pb). This study has shown that high level of Pb in the samples from the study area is a matter of concern in bush meat consumption in the study area; hence people should be warned of impending danger in the consumption of heavy metals contaminated bush meat. Keywords: Bushmeat, heavy metals, concentration, toxicity, contaminate

Changes in pulmonary function in patients with ulcerative colitis

SummaryObjectivesInformation on the occurrence and frequency of pulmonary involvement in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) is inconsistent. Some authors reported pulmonary impairment with UC by standard pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and documented a reduced diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) especially in patients with active disease, whereas others could not detect differences in routine PFTs between UC patients and controls.AimThe aim of this prospective study was to determine the frequency and type of pulmonary dysfunction in patients with UC with respect to disease activity. Furthermore, to evaluate the influence of smoking, nutritional status, sputum cytology and sulphasalazine therapy on PFT parameters.Patients and methodsTwenty-six patients with UC (20 with active disease, 6 inactive) and 16 age and sex matched healthy controls were investigated with respect to the following pulmonary function tests, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the 1s (FEV1%) and their ratio (FEV1/FVC) and forced expiratory flow 25–75% (FEF25–75%) as well as oxygen saturation. For UC patients, colonoscopy and biopsy were done. Disease activity was assessed by Truelove index for UC. Induced sputum was sampled for cytology. Smoking habit, body mass index (BMI) and medications were recorded.ResultsFifteen out of 26 patients with UC (57.6%) exhibited at least one pathological pulmonary function test (<80% of predicted value). Small airway obstruction was reported in the 15 patients, restrictive dysfunction in 30.7% and obstructive dysfunction in 11.5%. The impairment of PFTs was significant and more pronounced in patients with active disease, FVC (−14% of predicted), FEV1 (−9% of predicted) and FEF25–75% (−32% of predicted), P<0.01, 0.05 and 0.01, respectively. There was no significant influence of smoking and medications on PFTs.ConclusionsUC patients show significantly decreased lung function tests in comparison to healthy controls. The impairment in active disease exceeded that during the remission. Early recognition is important, as they can be strikingly steroid responsive