Preparation and Application of Polyvinyl Alcohol Based UV Curable Flexographic Printing Ink

Polyvinyl alcohol was utilized as a single sole binder in the formulation of water based UV curable flexographic printing inks. Six different formulation composition containing 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 8% and 10% polyvinyl alcohol were prepared using 1-(4-nitrophenyl)azo-2-naphthol as pigment and potassium dichromate as a cross linking agent. The formulations prepared were characterized for viscosity and FT-IR before being printed on different substrates. The integrity and pigment particle distribution of the ink film formed were assessed by optical microscopy, the print quality and fastness properties were found to meet most requirements in colour printing chemistry and technology applications

Handbook On Improved Agronomic Practices Of Groundnut Production In North East Nigeria

This handbook is intended to guide farmers, extension personnel, students of agriculture and researchers in Nigeria to use improved varieties and associated production practices to increase productivity. The guide draws its lessons from the work and experiences of ICRISAT and its partners in Research for Development on crop-based systems in Nigeria. The publication of this handbook is a demonstration of effective collaboration between ICRISAT, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), numerous farmers’ groups and Innovation Platform (IPs). The authors are grateful to the Management of these Institutes and organizations and gratefully acknowledge the work of other researchers that have helped immensely in compiling this manual

Handbook on Improved Agronomic Practices for Sorghum Production in North East Nigeria

This handbook is intended to guide farmers, extension personnel, students of agriculture and researchers in Nigeria to use improved varieties and associated production practices to increase productivity. The guide draws its lessons from the work and experiences of ICRISAT and its partners in Research for Development on crop-based systems in Nigeria. The publication of this handbook is a demonstration of effective collaboration between ICRISAT, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), numerous farmers’ groups and Innovation Platform (IPs). The authors are grateful to the Management of these Institutes and organizations and gratefully acknowledge the work of other researchers that have helped immensely in compiling this manual

Response of Groundnut to Plant Density and Phosphorous Application in the Sudan Savanna Zone of Nigeria

Despite the recent release of several improved varieties of groundnut in Nigeria the productivities have not increase significantly due to lack of commensurate recommendation in agronomic practices. Two groundnut varieties were evaluated for their response to different plant density and phosphorus application in two locations in the Sudan Savanna zone of Nigeria in 2012 and 2013. The groundnut were planted at density of 44444, 66667, and 133333 hills ha-1 with average of two plants per hill. Phosphorus was applied at rate of 0 or 20 kg P ha-1. P fertilizer application increased pod and haulm yields by 26% and 16% respectively in Minjibir. It increased pod and haulm yields by 62% and 27% respectively in Wudil. Pod and haulm yields, harvest index, revenue, profit and cost benefit ratio increased with increasing plant density. Samnut-24 produced pod yields that were significantly higher than Samnut-22 across treatments. Pod yields at density of 133,333 hills ha-1 was 31% higher than at 66667 and 40% than at 44,444 hills ha-1. Application of fertilizer increased profit by 22% and 49% in Minjibir and Wudil respectively. Planting at density of 133,333 hill ha-1 increased profit by 19% and 27% over 66,667 and 444444 hill ha-1 respectively in Minjibir, while it increase profit by 9% in Wudil. Cultivation of Samnut-24 at high density with phosphorus application will make groundnut production a more profitable venture in Sudan Savanna zone of Nigeria

Productivity, Water- and Nitrogen-Use Efficiency, and Profitability of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum) under Different Nitrogen Applications in Semiarid Region of Nigeria

An experiment was conducted to examine the performance of pearl millet under different nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates in two locations in the semiarid zone of Nigeria. *e objective was to evaluate the effects of different N rates on pearl millet yields, water and nitrogen-use efficiency, and profitability. Grain yield increased by 23, 26, 32, 32, and 27% and by 38, 41, 54, 58, and 56% compared to unfertilized plots when applying 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 kg Nha−1 in Minjibir and Gambawa, respectively. Similarly, stalk yield increased by 4, 3, 9, 9, and 9% and by 16, 24, 36, 40, and 37% compared to unfertilized plot when applying 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 kg Nha−1 in Minjibir and Gambawa, respectively. *e variations in GY that could be explained by TWU and NUE were 28% and 26% in Minjibir and 46% and 41%, respectively, in Gambawa. *ere was a strong and positive correlation (R = 0.81 and R = 0.95) between WUE and GY across N-fertilizer rates and pearl millet varieties in both locations. An increase in N-fertilizer levels increased WUE, confirming the optimal application of 60 kg Nha−1 in Minjibir and of 80 kg Nha−1 in Gambawa. Similarly, the highest net economic return (NER) of US$610 ha−1 was obtained at 60 kg Nha−1 in Minjibir and the highest NER of US$223 ha−1 was obtained at an application rate of 80 kg Nha−1 in Gambawa. Break-even yield was above 1000 kg ha−1, signifying that average farmer with a mean yield of less than 1000 kg ha−1 produces millet at a loss

Genetic variability and heritability of some selected of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) lines

The success of most crop improvement programs largely depends upon the genetic variability and the heritability of desirable traits. The magnitude and type of genetic variability help the breeder to determine the selection criteria and breeding schemes to be used for improvement purposes. Two different but related experiments, one in 2011 rainy season (August to November) and the second in 2012 dry season (February to May) were carried out at ICRISAT-Kano, Nigeria screen house to estimate the genetic variability and heritability of some traits in selected cowpea lines. Results of the study showed that there were considerable variations among the lines for duration of vegetative and reproductive phase and for yield characters (seed/pod, number of pod/plant, weight of pod/plant, and 100 seed weight). Broad sense heritability estimate (h2) was 83% for 100 seed weight, 53% for Number of seed per pod, 48% for days to first flower and 46% for number of root nodules. This information showed that there is sufficient genetic variability to justify selection for improvement in the cowpea. This result will be of immense practical uses for plant breeders to choose parent of interest to meet different breeding objectives