Evaluation of insecticidal efficacy and persistence of Nigerian raw diatomaceous earth against Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) on stored cowpea: Presentation

The insecticidal efficacy and persistence of Nigerian raw diatomaceous earth (DE) were evaluated in the laboratory on cowpea against Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). The raw DE was applied to 1.5 kg lots of cowpea seeds at 0 (untreated control), 250, 500, 750, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg, and a commercial DE formulation (Protect-It®) applied at 1000 mg/kg was included in the test as positive (treated) control. The treated cowpea seeds were kept under ambient laboratory conditions (26 - 34°C and 24 - 93% RH. Bioassays were conducted on samples taken from each treatment at the day of storage and every 30 d for 6 consecutive months. Adult C. maculatus were exposed for 3 and 5 d to the samples and adult mortality was assessed over this exposure interval and progeny production and seed damage were assessed after additional 30 d. On freshly treated cowpea, both the raw DE and Protect-It® were highly effective against C. maculatus causing 100% adult mortality following 5 d of exposure. In general, the raw DE was less persistent on cowpea providing complete adult mortality only for two months. Protect-It® on the other hand was stable over the 6- month period of storage causing 95.8 to 100% adult mortality. None of the treatments completely inhibited progeny production after 2-3-moths storage period. The results of this study indicated that Protect-It® may provide suitable protection for 6 months against C. maculatus, but the raw DE in its present state is not suitable for long-term protection against this insect pest.The insecticidal efficacy and persistence of Nigerian raw diatomaceous earth (DE) were evaluated in the laboratory on cowpea against Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). The raw DE was applied to 1.5 kg lots of cowpea seeds at 0 (untreated control), 250, 500, 750, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg, and a commercial DE formulation (Protect-It®) applied at 1000 mg/kg was included in the test as positive (treated) control. The treated cowpea seeds were kept under ambient laboratory conditions (26 - 34°C and 24 - 93% RH. Bioassays were conducted on samples taken from each treatment at the day of storage and every 30 d for 6 consecutive months. Adult C. maculatus were exposed for 3 and 5 d to the samples and adult mortality was assessed over this exposure interval and progeny production and seed damage were assessed after additional 30 d. On freshly treated cowpea, both the raw DE and Protect-It® were highly effective against C. maculatus causing 100% adult mortality following 5 d of exposure. In general, the raw DE was less persistent on cowpea providing complete adult mortality only for two months. Protect-It® on the other hand was stable over the 6- month period of storage causing 95.8 to 100% adult mortality. None of the treatments completely inhibited progeny production after 2-3-moths storage period. The results of this study indicated that Protect-It® may provide suitable protection for 6 months against C. maculatus, but the raw DE in its present state is not suitable for long-term protection against this insect pest

Effects of surgical caponisation on growth, carcass and some haematological parameters in cockerel chickens

The study was conducted to assess the effects of surgical caponisation on growth, carcass and some haematological parameters in cockerel chickens. Sixty (60) apparently healthy day old chicks were randomly distributed into two experimental groups (caponised and un-caponised) of thirty (30) cockerels each. The birds were caponised at the age of eight (8) weeks old and slaughtered at sixteen (16) weeks of age. The means of weekly weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio and final body weight in the two groups were not significantly different (p>0.05) except the mean of final body weight that was significantly different (p.0.05). The mean weights of carcass, eviscerated carcass, hind-limb and fore-limb of the two groups were significantly different (p.0.05) while that of the breast was not significantly different (p>0.05). The mean weights of the heart, liver and gizzard of the two groups were significantly different (p.0.05) however the mean weight of the kidney was not (P>0.05). All the mean values of Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Haemoglobin Content (HBC) and Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) in the two groups were not significantly different (p>0.05) however the White Blood Cells (WBC) was significantly different (p.0.05). It was concluded that the surgical caponisation of cockerel chickens at eight (8) weeks of age has significant effects on the growth and carcass traits (p.0.05) except on kidney (p>0.05) and has no significant effects on the haematological parameters (p>0.05) except on WBC (p.0.05).Keywords: Caponisation, Carcass, Cockerel, Growth, Haematological

Production and characterization of xanthan gum by bacterial isolates

Xanthan gum is a microbial polymer synthesised by a plant pathogen of the Xanthomonas genus. Due to its rheological characteristics and water solubility, it is of enormous commercial significance and has been utilized as a thickening and stabilizing agent in a variety of industries. In this work, the potential for synthesizing xanthan gum in Xanthomonas species isolated from black rot spotted tomatoes, peppers, mango, and bananas was investigated. After washing the leaves in saline solution, a tenfold dilution was made, and aliquots (1 ml) were placed on a nutrient agar plate and incubated for 48 h at 25 °C. Gram staining was made on colonies that appeared yellow. An emulsification test was carried out on bacteria that were gram-negative rods. Potential xanthan gum producers include isolates displaying yellow colonies, gram-negative rods, and stable emulsions on carbon-enriched media. These requirements were satisfied by eight (61.5 %) of the isolates tested. Biochemical analysis of the isolates indicated that they were Xanthomonas species, and they were coded appropriately (BX2, BX3, PX4, MX6, PX7, MX8, TM9, TX11). The molecular analysis of the best two isolates (TM9 and BX3) revealed that they were Xanthomonas campestris and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. After 96 h of incubation, Xanthomonas campestris and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were the most effective xanthan gum producers, generating 2.10 g/l and 1.63 g/l of xanthan gum, respectively. The apparent viscosity (AV), emulsification index (IE24), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to characterize the xanthan gums produced. The findings indicated little or no differences between commercially synthesized xanthan gum and produced xanthan gum. However, xanthan gum from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia has a higher apparent viscosity (660.6 mPas) that is above those of Xanthomonas campestris (526.1 mPas) and commercial xanthan gum (411.3 mPas), respectively. The gums showed structural similarities and exhibited good thermal stability. These findings indicate that Xanthomonas species are viable options for xanthan gum production

SOLIGNUM TREATED SAWDUST AS FINE AGGREGATE IN CONCRETE PRODUCTION

The cost of construction has been on the increase which has become a concern to both individuals and government of especially developing countries, and that is why this study is aimed at using available cheap materials (sawdust) in concrete production. Concrete mix ratio of 1:2:4 was used and replaced with fine aggregate at 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% with soligum treated sawdust. From the tests conducted, it was observed that increase in sawdust resulted in decrease in the compressive strength of the concrete. Also it was observed that increase in the sawdust content resulted in the reduction of weight of the concrete. In conclusion sawdust as an air entraining agent has n appreciable positive effect on the compressive strength of concrete. The reduction in strength of concrete with sawdust as fine aggregate was due to its higher rate of water absorption because the higher the water contents in concrete, The lower the strength of the concrete. Key words: Solignum Treated Sawdust, Fine Aggregate, Concrete Productio

Analysis and Assessment on Compressed Cement Stabilized Earth Blocks as an Alternative Wall making Materials

This paper provides a detailed study on the technical and Economical information on the production of compressed cement stabilized soil blocks an alternative wall making material. With suitable soil types, stabilization and production techniques. The test results have shown that blocks produced using 6% (percent cement) as stabilser have equal compressive strength with hollow concrete blocks when tested at the age of 56days. In addition, increasing cement content results into the compressive strength and a decrease in the absorption capacity of the soil blocks; and increment of the compaction pressure has also improved the compressive strength of the soil cement blocks significantly. The influence of cement types on compressive strength development were also analyzed with the economical advantage of the blocks

Effect of neem fertilizer rates and weed control methods on the growth and yield of soybeans (Glycine max (L.) merrill) in north Central Nigeria

Two field experiments were conducted at the Research Farm of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State during the 2018 and 2019 rainy seasons to determine the effect of neem fertilizer rates and weed control methods on the growth and yields of soybeans. The experimental treatments were made up of four neem fertilizer rates (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha-1) and six weed control methods (pendimethalin at 1.5 kg a.i ha-1 followed by one hoe weeding, pendimethalin at 2.0 kg a.i. ha-1 followed by diuron at 1.5 kg a.i ha-1, weeding once at 3 WAS, weeding twice at 3 and 6 WAS, weed free and weedy check. The experiment was a 3 × 3 factorial experiment laid out in a Randomize complete block design replicated three times. TGX 1448 – 2E variety of soybean was used for the study. Result showed that weed control efficiency was better with the use of 150 kg ha-1 of neem fertilizer, while decrease in weed dry matter was obtained at 50 kg ha-1. Increase in number of leaves and leaf area were encouraged with 150 kg ha-1 of neem fertilizer. Weed free treatments recorded the highest grain yield and 100 seed weight of soybean. Pendimethalin at 1.5 or 2.0 kg a.i ha-1 supplemented with one hoe weeding or diuron at 1.5 kg a.i ha-1 respectively can be an alternative for better control of weeds to obtain greater yield of soybean in the study area

Proliferation and rooting of wild cherry: The influence of cytokinin and auxin types and their concentration

Determination of the most optimal type and concentration of plant growth regulators as medium constituents is one of the most important aspects of successful micro propagation, among other in vitro factors. With the aim of optimization of in vitro multiplication of wild cherry, the effect of the following cytokinins was studied: 6-benzyladenine (BAP), 2-isopentenyl adenine (2iP) and kinetin (Kin) at concentrations of 1, 2, 4 and 8 mg. l-1. Stem segments of seedlings from juvenile and adult materials were disinfected and grown on a Quoirin and Lepoivre (1977) (QL) medium without growth regulators for 4 weeks. Each material responded differently to the tested cytokinins. The use of 6-benzyladenine resulted in the highest percentage of sprouting, the development of shoots and the ratios of multiplication for two materials of Prunus avium L. In the next  experiment, seedlings from the juvenile and adult materials were grown on (MS2/5) medium in the presence of auxins indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), naphtaleneacetic acid (NAA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), when compared with concentrations of 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mg. l-1. For the type of explants and its reactivity with the type and the concentration of auxin, significant differences among explants for root induction were observed. The adult material did not develop roots in any of the auxin and concentration used. In the case of the juvenile material, the IBA was distinguished from the other auxins tested and the highest induction of roots took place in 1mg. l-1. The most significant induction of cal characterizes, especially, the mediums containing the NAA followed by the IAA with concentrations of 2 and 4 mg. l-1, respectively, which block the emergence of the roots partly and decreases the rate of rooting thereafter. The highest average number of roots and the highest average length of roots were obtained with the IBA with 1 mg. l-1.Key words: Wild cherry tree, proliferation, cytokinins, rooting, auxins

Agricultural Credit Utilization among Small Scale Women Farmers in Selected Wards Of Bida Local Government Area Of Niger State, Nigeria

The study investigated agricultural credit utilization among small-scale women farmers in selected wards of Bida Local Government Area of Niger State. The specific objectives were to: identify the major sources of credit to small-scale farmers ; and determine the benefit (if any) which small-scale women farmers had derived after acquiring credit for their farm operations. Data were collected from one hundred respondents randomly selected from five wards with the aid of structured interview schedule. Statistical tools used for data analysis were frequency distribution, percentage and student t-test. Up to fifty-six percent of the respondents claimed that they obtained their credit from various sources for their farm operations. The results showed that t-calculated (17.581) was greater than t-critical (1.9842) at 1% level of significance. Similarly, a total of 47.0 % of the respondents opined that their farm produce increased their income which ranged between N31,000 - N40,000 after acquiring credit from the Cooperative Bank. It was concluded that small-scale women farmers’ income increased when they had access to credit facilities from banks. Therefore, it was recommended that the regulatory body responsible to oversee the activities of (NACRDB) monitor regularly the disbursement of agricultural loan to women farmers at the appropriate planning season with reasonable interest charge and that extension agents should ensure that the loan is utilized for only agricultural purposes

Agricultural Credit Utilization among Small Scale Women Farmers in Selected Wards Of Bida Local Government Area Of Niger State, Nigeria

The study investigated agricultural credit utilization among small-scale women farmers in selected wards of Bida Local Government Area of Niger State. The specific objectives were to: identify the major sources of credit to small-scale farmers ; and determine the benefit (if any) which small-scale women farmers had derived after acquiring credit for their farm operations. Data were collected from one hundred respondents randomly selected from five wards with the aid of structured interview schedule. Statistical tools used for data analysis were frequency distribution, percentage and student t-test. Up to fifty-six percent of the respondents claimed that they obtained their credit from various sources for their farm operations. The results showed that t-calculated (17.581) was greater than t-critical (1.9842) at 1% level of significance. Similarly, a total of 47.0 % of the respondents opined that their farm produce increased their income which ranged between N31,000 - N40,000 after acquiring credit from the Cooperative Bank. It was concluded that small-scale women farmers’ income increased when they had access to credit facilities from banks. Therefore, it was recommended that the regulatory body responsible to oversee the activities of (NACRDB) monitor regularly the disbursement of agricultural loan to women farmers at the appropriate planning season with reasonable interest charge and that extension agents should ensure that the loan is utilized for only agricultural purposes

DETERMINATION OF THE BIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF BOREHOLE WATER IN OMU-ARAN, KWARA STATE

The reliance on groundwater for various activities ranging from domestic, agricultural and industrial activities is ever on the increase in developing countries. The groundwater sources will, therefore, need to be evaluated constantly and periodically to ensure its portability and fitness for use. There is little documentation about the quality of water sources in Omu-Aran. This study therefore, is to assess water quality of borehole present in the area. In order to carry out the purported objective of this project, twenty-four samples withdrawn from boreholes of eight different locations across Omu-Aran were taken into consideration. Precautions and standard procedures were taken in its collection, storage and transportation in order to preserve the sanctity of the water samples. The procedures, materials and equipment required to carry out the test for each parameter such as electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, nitrate, sulphate, zinc, nickel, E. coli, total coliform etc. were all in line with laid down standards and procedures. Results from the research revealed that the value of analyzed parameters were within the acceptable limits for potable water recommended by World Health Organization and Standard Organization of Nigeria except for iron, nickel, E. coli and pH. Iron, E. coli and nickel were much to above the limit while pH did not fall within the minimum and maximum limit allowed. Water quality index and spatial analysis using ArcGIS highlight the significance of these parameters. Borehole water in this region can be considered safe and of good quality but face huge risk of contamination by heavy metals and raises the question of suitability and effect of the drinking in the long run