Influence of priming duration on the performance of Amaranths (Amaranthus cruentus L.) in Sokoto semiarid zone of Nigeria

Two field trials were conducted during the 2012 cropping season at the Fruits and Vegetable Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Crop Science, Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (located on latitude N-N and longitude -), to evaluate the effect of priming duration on the growth and yield of amaranth. Treatments consisted of four priming durations (2, 4, 6, and 8 hours) and control (where no priming was applied). The treatments were laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) replicated three times for the germination test and randomized complete block design (RCBD) for the field trial. Data were collected on days to 50% germination, percentage germination, days to 50% emergence, and percentage emergence. Results revealed significant effect of priming duration on days to 50% germination, percentage germination, and days to 50% emergence. Soaking seeds for 2 hours reduced the number of days to 50% germination and emergence and also recorded higher germination. Thus, from the findings of this study, it could be concluded that priming amaranth seeds for 2 hours could be applied to enhance amaranth production

Growth variables, yield and nitrogen fixation of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc.) landraces at different rates of Christmas Island Rock Phosphate and rice biochar on tropical acid soils.

Bambara groundnut presents a great adaptation potential for mitigating climate change and as a potential alternative crop for the future in its production regions and beyond. Experiments were conducted at the Field Research Centre of the Crops for the Future and the Screenhouse of the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus to determine the growth variables, yield and nitrogen fixation of Bambara groundnut landraces at different rates of Christmas Island Rock Phosphate and rice biochar in the study area. The treatments consisted of three Bambara groundnut landraces [Ex-Sokoto, Kaaro and NN-1, for which two (Ex-Sokoto and Kaaro) were maintained after the first experiment], two biochar levels (0 and 10 t ha-1) and four levels of rock phosphate (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg P2O5 ha-1, the equivalent of 0, 555.6, 1111.1 and 1666.7 kg ha-1 Christmas Island Rock Phosphate). The treatments in experiment 1 and 3 were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated three times, whereas experiment 2 was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) replicated three times. For all the experiments, data were collected on growth, yield and nitrogen fixation of the crop. The results obtained revealed grain yield and N fixed ranging from 703-2256 kg ha-1 and 32-81 kg ha-1, respectively in experiment 1, 13.2-18.0 g plant-1 and 587-894 mg plant-1, respectively in experiment 2 and 891-1220 kg ha-1 and 101.6-103.4 kg ha-1, respectively in experiment 3, which are comparable to the yields obtained in other regions. Hence, Bambara groundnut can adapt to the tropical acid soil and the growing conditions in the study area. The two field experiments confirm Ex-Sokoto landrace to perform better in the study area in terms of yield than Kaaro landrace. Growing Bambara groundnut and returning the residues (haulm + shells) back to the soil resulted in net addition of N to the soil in the range of 1 to 25.6 kg ha-1, 150-261 mg plant-1 and 63.3-74.1 kg ha-1 observed in experiment 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Application of biochar increased the yield and nitrogen fixation of the crop in the study area. However, the effect of rock phosphate application on the yield and N fixation of the crop was only observed in the screenhouse studies and was optimum at the application rate of 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 (0.56 g kg-1 soil). Thus, Ex-Sokoto landrace could be recommended for grain yield in the study area. Application of biochar at 10 t ha-1 alone was optimum for increased yield of the crop. The implication of the study is that farmers in the study area could apply 10 t ha-1 of biochar on Ex-Sokoto landrace to enhance the yield of the crop

Application of CAD/CAM in the design of machining process and tooling devices for flange tube

Recently, computer-aided design and computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) is largely applied in universal machinery due to the accelerated development of computer technologies. Owing to the technical application of CAD/CAM tool in the manufacturing industry, enterprises have progressively changed their traditional approaches to design and manufacture of products. The CAD module provides product designers with capabilities of designing product model by feature-based design and obtaining product data. The product model is displayed on a screen in the CAD environment before transferring it downstream to the CAM module. This paper presents the application of CAD/CAM in solid modelling, design of machining process, fixture design and virtual manufacture of a flanged tube. Pro/Engineer (Pro/E) Wildfire 4.0 was used to create the three dimensional (3D) model of the flange tube based on its two-dimensional drawing (2D) blank drawing and the mould was designed and created using the same software. The mould creation was based on the clamping and positioning devices of the flange tube being manufactured. The technical schedule of the flange tube was worked out including the choice of machining method, machine tool, cutting tool and selection and computation of machining parameters based on finished drawing the flange tube. Two dedicated fixtures for holding the flange tube in the machine tool were designed and finally Master CAM 9.0 software was applied to the virtual machining of the mould. It is concluded that CAD/CAM tool is important in manufacturing technology as it automates the manufacturing process thereby saving time, energy, cost, and making production highly flexible

Promoting Exclusive Breastfeeding in Sokoto: The Role of Counseling, Parental Support, and Health Education

Purpose – This study aims to investigate exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in Sokoto. Design/methods/approach – A survey type of 300 respondents was used; data were analyzed with frequency counts/percentages and an X2 test. Findings – All respondents were female (100.0%), aged 26-35 (100.0%). The majority of the participants were single (66.7%) and unemployed (66.7%), with a secondary school education (66.7%). However, 33.3% of the participants were married, were civil servants, and had tertiary education. The study revealed that the majority (66.7%) had received breastfeeding counseling during antenatal care. All respondents (100.0%) received proper guidance/counseling at home on exclusive breastfeeding. Fathers (66.7%) and mothers (33.3%) supported exclusive breastfeeding. The respondents reported exclusively breastfeeding their child for the first six months after delivery (100.0%), and weaning occurred between 19-24 months. The reasons for avoiding exclusive breastfeeding were the sickness of the mother (66.7%) and insufficient milk (33.3%). All respondents (100.0%) agreed that exclusive breastfeeding improved the baby’s health, and health awareness encourages breastfeeding (100.0%). Research implications/limitations – This study provides a limit in the form of maximum exclusive breastfeeding for children aged 24 months. Practical implications – The study suggests that counseling, support from parents, and health awareness can improve exclusive breastfeeding, and healthcare providers should provide such services during antenatal care while promoting the practice through health education campaigns. Originality/value – This study highlights the importance of counseling, parental support, and health education in promoting exclusive breastfeeding and improving the health of infants in Sokoto. Paper type Research pape

Critical Success Factors for Affordable Housing Projects in Nigeria

Housing plays an important role in socio-economic development of any country. However, access to affordable housing is a challenge to many people in developing countries. The purpose of this study is to establish critical success factors for affordable private sector housing projects in Nigeria.  Twenty-six (26) success attributes for affordable housing were identified from literature. A survey questionnaire was designed, and pre-tested, subsequently main survey was performed in which two hundred and eighty (280) questionnaires were administered to experienced researchers, senior managers in public housing agencies, developers and consultants with knowledge and experience in affordable housing. One hundred and seventy-six (176) completed questionnaires were returned completed representing 62.86% response rate. The data collected were analyzed using mean score, factor analysis and stepwise multiple regression analysis. The findings from this study produce four critical success factors for affordable housing projects namely, effective land policies for affordable housing, availability of effective financial institutions, good governance of housing systems, and political will. The results suggested that a well-functioning housing sector must satisfy these factors. It has been concluded that, government has an important role to play in the supply of affordable housing in Nigeria. Thus, government should be committed to supporting affordable housing development through the provision of policy solution and implementation. The study can assist policy makers to understand important factors that influence the success of affordable housing development, and thus include them in the formulation of housing policies in their countries

Revising and devising a classification scheme for Islam : the IIUM Library's experience

The current locally expanded LCC scheme of subclass BP (Islam) used by the IIUM Library, can no longer accomodate the emerging new and sophisticated topics on Islam and Islamic perpectives. IIUM Library decided to revise and devise a new classification scheme for Islam that can blend the would-be classified collection using the new scheme, naturally into the existing collection arrangement. This paper relates the library’s experience, highlighting the important issues that arises from the exercise. It can be a note sharing exercise with other libraries having similar intention or plans, either to expand the existing classification or devise a new classification scheme on Islam altogether

Reproductive traits of rabbits fed Ipomea asarifolia Leaf Meal (IALM) levels in Semi-Arid Zone of Nigeria

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the reproductive traits of rabbit fed varying levels of Ipomea asarifolia leaf meal in the semi-arid zone of Nigeria. Research methodology: Fourty (40) nulliparous composite grower rabbits of 10 - 12 weeks with an average body weight of 1,320 g + 20 g were used for the study. The rabbits were allocated to five dietary treatments. The research used a Completely Randomized Design in allocating the experimental animals with eight rabbits in each treatment. Results: The results obtained in this study indicated that inclusion Ipomoea asarifolia leaf meal at 10% in rabbits' diet had a negative effect as it increased the gestation length. Rabbits fed a 7.5% IALM based diet yielded the best results on litter size (LS) and conception rate (CR). The post-partum performance revealed that kittens on treatment three (5% IALM) performed better in weight at day 7 (61.47 g) and day 21 (235.33 g), respectively. Whereas kittens in treatment five (10% IALM) were reported with the highest daily weight gain (10.09 g) and pre-weaning mortality (38.84%). Does fed 10% IALM based diet performed better (720.10 g) in milk yield. The results of the morphometric traits were mostly not affected by an increased level of MGLM except for tail length (TL), length of the front leg (LFL), and shoulder to tail drop (STT) that have the highest value in rabbits fed 5% MGLM based diet, and nose to shoulder (NTS) and length of the back leg (LBL) that had highest figures in rabbits fed 10% MGLM. Limitations: This research only focused on the effect of the test material on reproductive traits and body Morphometry, yet there might be an effect on blood parameters and serum hormones concentration. Contribution: This research will help the farmers involved in Animal production

Valorization of Bambara groundnut shell via intermediate pyrolysis: Products distribution and characterization

This study provides first report on thermochemical conversion of residue from one of the underutilized crops, Bambara groundnut. Shells from two Bambara groundnut landraces KARO and EX-SOKOTO were used. Pyrolysis was conducted in a vertical fixed bed reactor at 500, 550, 600 and 650 o�C; 50 o�C/min heating rate and 5 L/min nitrogen flow rate. The report gives experimental results on characteristic of the feedstock, impact of temperature on the pyrolysis product distribution (bio-oil, bio-char and noncondensable gas). It evaluates the chemical and physicochemical properties of bio-oil, characteristics of bio-char and composition of the non-condensable gas using standard analytical techniques. KARO shell produced more bio-oil and was maximum at 600 o�C (37.21 wt%) compared to EX-SOKOTO with the highest bio-oil yield of 32.79 wt% under the same condition. Two-phase bio-oil (organic and aqueous) was collected and analyzed. The organic phase from both feedstocks was made up of benzene derivatives which can be used as a precursor for quality biofuel production while the aqueous from KARO consisted sugars and other valuable chemicals compared to the aqueous phase from EX-SOKOTO which comprised of acids, ketones, aldehydes and phenols. Characteristics of bio-char and composition of the noncondensable were also determined. The results show that bio-char is rich in carbon and some minerals which can be utilized either as a solid fuel or source of bio-fertilizer. The non-condensable gas was made up of methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, which can be recycled to the reactor as a carrier gas. This study demonstrated recovery of high quality fuel precursor and other valuable materials from Bambara groundnut shell