The zooplankton and environmental characteristics of Yardantsi Reservoir, Gusau, Nigeria

Zooplankton play an important role in the faunal biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems as they assist in transferring algal energy to higher trophic levels through grazing and also eliminate harmful algae from water. The zooplankton and environmental characteristics of Yardantsi Reservoir were studied in order to provide essential information on this important ecosystem that serves as domestic and irrigation water supply, and fishing ground. Samples for water quality and zooplankton analyses were collected from the reservoir from May, 2015 to April, 2017 using standard methods. Three groups of zooplankton (Copepoda, Cladocera and Rotifera) comprising of thirteen genera were encountered. Rotifera (36.69%) and Cladocera (34.44%) were numerically dominant during the rainy and dry seasons, respectively. The highest zooplankton abundance (5646), species richness (11), Shannon-Weiner index (2.25) and Margalef's index (1.16) were observed during the rainy season. Axes 1 and 2 of the principal component analysis (PCA) explained 74.82% and 11.89% of the zooplankton-environmental variable relationship. Diaphanosoma sp, Eubranchipus sp, Kellicottia sp and Macrothrix sp were mostly influenced by NO3, BOD, depth, pH and dissolved oxygen while Cyclops sp and Daphnia were mostly influenced by changes in alkalinity, hardness and chloride. Brachionus patulus, the dominant species in the reservoir was mostly influenced by PO4-P. The study shows that the reservoir is slightly polluted and it is essential to adopt effective management strategies such as reduced agricultural run-offs and riparian animal grazing to prevent further deterioration of water quality

Effect of Science-Technology-Society Approach on Creativity in Environmental Conservation Concept among Secondary School Biology Students in Zaria, Kaduna State

Creativity in STEM Education is now widely recognized as an essential 21st century skill, which can be fostered through innovative pedagogy. This study therefore examines the effect of Science-Technology-Society (STS) Approach on creativity in Environmental Conservation Concept among secondary school biology students in Zaria, Kaduna State. The design is quasi-experimental, specifically the non-equivalent pretest, posttest, control group design. A sample of 105 SS2 students from two schools was used for the study. Schools were purposively sampled from 28 public Schools in Zaria Education Zone. Students’ Creativity Assessment Test (SCAT) was adapted and used for data collection. Three null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study and were tested using ANCOVA at P < 0.05 level of significance. Results obtained revealed that students exposed to STS Instructional Approach, exhibited significantly higher level of creativity than those taught concept environmental conservation using Lecture Method. There is no significant difference in the creativity level of male and female students in the experimental group. Gender and treatment were found not to have any significant interaction effects on students’ level of creativity. On the basis of these findings, the study advocated for the teaching of Biology for creativity through innovative strategies like STS Approach

Efficacy of Acid-treated Sawdust in Decolourization of Tanning Wastewater

Colour removal from dye-bearing effluent is a serious challenge due to the difficulty in treating such wastewater by conventional treatment methods. The present investigation explores the decolourization of contaminated wastewater using acid-activated sawdust as an adsorbent. The physicochemical properties of wastewater samples labelled A, B, and C vizaverage temperature; pH; electrical conductivity; and total dissolved solids were determined using standard methods to be 302.63; 6.1; 284.47 µS/cm;35116.66 mg/L respectively. Colour removal efficiency of the adsorbent was studied under variable conditions (contact time, rate of agitation,loading). Experimental results demonstrated that the sawdust adsorbent has a significant capacity for colour removal from tannery effluent. There was significant variation in the absorbance of the treated samples. Adsorbent dose, stirring rate, and contact time were found to be directly proportional to colour removal while pH variation of the samples show that the effluents became less alkaline (slightly acidic) after decolourization

Histopathological observations of the liver of albino rats orally exposed to the African black soap (Sabulun salo)

Aim: This is to determine the effect of oral administration of the sabulun salo (African traditional black soap) on the liver of albino rats. It is commonly produced and widely used in the Northern part of Nigeria and other parts of the country for herbal medication. Methods: Twenty (20) albino rats were divided into four groups of three test groups and a control group. The albino rats were administered with different concentrations of sabulun salo for the period of two weeks. The groups (AC, BC and FC) received 2000mg/kg, 3000mg/kg and 4000mg/kg of the sabulun salo respectively. And the control group received normal feed. Results: At end of the intervention, the albino rats were sacrificed and the livers were removed and processed for paraffin embedding. The blood samples were also collected for the biochemical and hematological analysis. At the end the analysis, the liver presented a normal histo-morphology across all the groups, the hematological and biochemical analysis showed some significant changes in the entire groups and the reduction in water and food consumption as the concentrations increased. There were also significant increased in white blood cell, hemoglobin and packed cell volume in the entire groups except in group FC when compared to the control and a haphazard changes in the blood biochemical parameters Conclusion: The results of this research have shown that the African traditional black soap (Sabulun Salo) is histologically non toxic to the liver of the albino rats exposed

Investigating the mineral composition of proceessed cheese, soy and nunu milks consumed in Abuja and Keffi metropolises of Nigeria

Milk and its products are needed for proper body building. Processed cheese, nunu and soy milk consumed within Abuja and Keffi metropolises were analyzed for their mineral contents. X1, Y1, Z1 represents soy milk, nunu and cheese from Abuja metropolis while X2, Y2, Z2 represents sample from Keffi metropolis respectively. Calcium (265.53±0.25 mg/mL), iron (1.19±0.92 mg/mL), potassium (162.77±0.02 mg/mL) were found to be higher in cheese milk (Z1) from Abuja than that (225.82±0.13 mg/mL, 1.05±0.60mg/mL and 130.41±0.04 mg/mL) found in Keffi (Z2) examined respectively, though the amount of sodium present (151.0±0.08 mg/mL) in cheese (Z2) from Keffi is slightly higher than that (150.08±0.01 mg/mL) from Abuja (Z1). Also, Soya milk from Abuja (X1) had highest amount of zinc (0.76±0.00 mg/mL) while that of Keffi (X2) was 0.65±0.3 mg/mL, for magnesium and copper, higher values 18.40±010 mg/mL and 0.25±0.02 mg/mL were recorded for soy milk (X2) from Keffi while soy milk from Abuja (X1) had 17.97±0.20 mg/mL and 0.16±0.01 mg/mL respectively. Chromium was dictated in both cheese samples but not dictated in soya and nunu milks from both metropolises. It is seen from the investigation that cheese had more minerals followed by soya milk. Nunu milk sample had the least quantity of minerals; also all the samples analyzed have minerals present in them. Therefore, they are needed for the proper functioning of the body system Keywords: Analysis, Concentration, Milk, Mineral, Metropolis, Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscop

Qualitative And Quantitative Phytochemical Screening Ofcola Nuts (Cola Nitida And Cola Acuminata)

A study was carried out to evaluate the phytochemical constituent ofaqueous and methanol nut extracts of Colanitida and Colaacuminata. The phytochemical screening which involves both the qualitative and quantitative analysis revealed the presence of secondary metabolites; alkaloid, tannins, glycoside, steroids and saponins glycoside with higher contain in methanol and aqueous extracts. The saponins content is higher in the aqueous extract  and not detected in the methanol extract of the two species. Flavonoids expressed strong presence in methanol extract of C.nitida and not detected in the aqueous extract as well as the aqueous and methanol extracts of C. acuminata. For cardiac glycoside and volatile oil, they show moderate and trace presence in the methanol and aqueous extracts respectively. Anteraquinones are not detected in all the extracts of the two species. The quantitative result shows that, there were significant differences (p&lt;0.05) in glycoside, tannins, saponins and alkaloid content of C. acuminata compared to C.nitida, withC. acuminata having the highest percentage of alkaloid (1.00%) while C. nitidahad (0.80%) alkaloid content,C. acuminatahad (0.80%) saponins, with C. nitida having (0.40%), more over the tanninscontent of C. acuminatawas higher (0.89%) compared to C. nitidawith (0.77%) while the glycoside content of C. acuminatawas (0.53%) and that of C. nitida was (0.43%). The results as indicated above disclose the scientific basis for the traditional uses of cola nut. Finally, the study  recommend the isolation of these metabolites using highly purify methods in other  to obtain their maximum therapeutic potentials. Keywords:Colanitida, Cola acuminate,Qualitative and Quantitative PhytochemicalScreening

EVALUATION OF OPEN POLLINATED MAIZE VARIETIES FOR RESISTANCE/TOLERANCE TO Striga hermonthica Del. Benth AT MOKWA SOUTHERN GUINEA SAVANNAH OF NIGERIA

Three trials were conducted on the College of Agriculture experimental field which was highly anduniformly infested by Striga at Mokwa (latitude 09o 18'N and longitude 05o 04'E) in the SouthernGuinea Savanna agro- ecological zone of Nigeria during 2004, 2005 and 2006 wet seasons. The studywas conducted to evaluate fifteen maize genotypes consisting of eleven improved, open- pollinatedStriga tolerant varieties, a susceptible 8338-1 and tolerant hybrids 9022-13, an improved recommendedopen pollinated variety and a local selection (Mokwa Dzurugi) for their reaction to Striga hermonthica.The treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design and replicated fourtimes. Among the varieties tested, TZL Comp.1Syn Y-1F2, Cam, 1 STR &ndash; 1 and hybrid 9022-13 consistentlyresulted in significantly lower Striga emergence and crop syndrome reaction to Striga parasitismcompared to all the other varieties including STR genotypes in 2004 and 2005 and of very lowvalues of the parameters in 2006. The varieties also gave higher grain yield comparable to most oftolerant varieties evaluated. Under Striga infestation, maize grain yields of var. TZL Comp. 1 Syn Y-1F2 were 2.94, 3.04 and 2.93 times than those of the recommended TZB- STR (1015kg/ha, 989kg/haand 993kg/ha) in 2004, 2005 and 2006, respectively. The corresponding values for the other promisingvariety, Cam- 1STR-1 were 2.93, 3.05 and 2.89 times higher than TZB STR in 2004, 2005 and 2006respectively. The local selection, Mokwa Dzurugi also exhibited good performance with respect toStriga and maize parameters and could therefore be used in the breeding programme for Striga resistance

Growth Response of Upland Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Varieties to Nitrogen and Seed Rates in the Northern Guinea Savahah.

Field experiments were carried out at the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) farm at Samaru during 2011 and 2012 rainy season. The treatments evaluated were two rice varieties (NERICA 4 and 8), three rates of nitrogen (0, 65 and 130 kg N ha-1) and three seed rates (30, 60 and 90kgha-1). The treatments were factorially combined and laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated three times. Results obtained shows that NERICA 4 produced taller plants than NERICA 8. Application of nitrogen up to 65 kg N ha-1significantly increased plant height, and leaf area index, however, crop growth rate and relative growth rate responded to applied 130 kg N ha-1. Plant height was not significantly increased beyond seed rate of 60 kg ha-1. Based on this study it can be concluded that both NERICA varieties can be sown at the rate of 60 kg ha-1 with application of 65 kg N ha-1. Key words: NERICA, Nitrogen, Seed rate, Northern guinea savanna

Dry Matter Accumulation in Maize as Influenced by Row Arrangement, Nitrogen and Phosphorus Levels in Maize (Zea Mays L)/ Castor (Ricinus Commumis L.) Mixture

Field experiment was conducted at the Institute for Agricultural Research farm Samaru, Zaria in the Northern Guinea Savanna zone of Nigeria during the 2007, 2008 and 2009 rainy seasons to evaluate the effect of row arrangements, nitrogen and phosphorus levels on maize dry matter  accumulation. The treatments consisted of factorial combinations of three alternate row arrangements of maize: castor in 1:1, 1:2 and 2:1, four levels of nitrogen (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg N ha-1) and three levels of phosphorus (13, 26 and 39 kg P ha-1), laid out in a split plot design and replicated three times.  Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer were assigned to the main plots while row arrangements were assigned to the sub-plots. The result showed that row arrangement significantly increased plant height and LAI only at 10 WAS in 2007and 2008. Where 1:2 recorded higher measured parameters than the other patterns. Increase in nitrogen up to 120 kg N ha-1 resulted in significantly taller plants and higher LAI in 2007 and at 10 WAS in 2009. TDM was also observed to increase throughout the years of study except at 10 WAS. The response was observed up to 120 kg N ha-1 for most of the parameters. Application of phosphorus significantly increased plant height only in 2009, LAI in 2007 and 2009, and TDM at 6 WAS in 2007 only. These parameters showed no response beyond applied 26 kg P ha-1. Based on the finding of this study, maize can be intercropped with castor with 1:2 planting pattern with application of 80 kg N ha –l plus 26 kg P ha –l. Key words; nitrogen, phosphorus, leaf area index, total dry matte