A pre-impoundment study of swamps in the Kainji Lake Basin

This paper gives an account of the wet season swamps in the River Niger valley within tbe area now submerged by the Kainji Lake. Their ecology was studied with respect to the soils, plant cover, water chemistry and plankton concentrations. Their value to the fishery in the river basin was discussed

Biochar remediation improves the leaf mineral composition of Telfairia occidentalis grown on gas flared soil

This study evaluates the effects of remediation of gas flared soil by biochar on the nutritional composition of cultivated Telfairia occidentalis leaves, relative to non-gas flared soil. Gas flared soils are degraded due to the presence of heavy metals, noxious gases, carbon soot and acidic rain. Biochar produced from oil palm fibre was applied at five different amounts: 0 t ha−1, 7.1 t ha−1, 13.9 t ha−1, 20.9 t ha−1 and 28.0 t ha−1 to containerized soils (both gas flared and control soil), inside a greenhouse, which were allowed to mineralize for two weeks. Two viable seeds of T. occidentalis per replicate were sown. After eight weeks of growth, leaves were harvested, dried and chemically analyzed. Application of biochar significantly increased leaf ash and crude fibre content of Telfairia occidentalis. Plants from soil treated with 13.9 t ha−1 of biochar had the highest concentrations of vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C and E irrespective of soil type. Maximum increase in leaf vitamin and mineral content was obtained from leaves cultivated on gas flared soil treated with 13.9 t ha−1 and 7.1 t ha−1 of biochar respectively. The results show that biochar treatment can increase leaf mineral concentrations and that this effect is dependent on the amount of biochar application

Action Plan: Policy Implementation /Programmes for Sustainable Management of Nigeria’s Bioresources

This blueprint has documented several important aspects of the process, status, goals and policy for sustainable management of Nigerian bioresources. As can be seen from the different chapters of this document, the path to sustainable development and management of Nigerian bioresources involves a multidisciplinary and participatory approach. Thus, for achievement of effective, sustainable development and management, government, communities, industries, private firms, and non-governmental organizations must work together to plan, monitor and manage Nigerian bioresources. An action plan embodying policy implementation of identified programmes must be put in place, to ensure that all hands are on deck to achieve sustainable development. This therefore means that government, the community and household, for example, must work together. The result of the work carried out from the Okwangwo Division of Cross River National Park has proved that a participatory approach involving all stakeholders can yield substantial revenue from non-timber products far in excess of revenue from timber. It is imperative; therefore, that greater attention should be given to the bioresources endowment of the nation in order to maximize their contribution to the national economy

A pre-impoundment study of swamps in the Kainji Lake Basin

This paper gives an account of the wet season swamps in the River Niger valley within tbe area now submerged by the Kainji Lake. Their ecology was studied with respect to the soils, plant cover, water chemistry and plankton concentrations. Their value to the fishery in the river basin was discussed