Assessment and Management Strategies for the Receding Watersheds of Ebonyi State, Southeast Nigeria

The conditions of the watersheds of Ebonyi State has become a concern for individuals, communities, governments, donor agencies and private and public businesses as everybody depends on its resources. A study was therefore conducted within 2011 to 2012, to identify the dimensions and level of environmental degradation at the watershed sites with a view to developing management strategies for them. The study involved global positioning, reconnaissance survey and evaluation. The assessments of the sites identified were based on technical judgments, using the environmental baseline data collection and secondary information methods. A total of 39 degraded watersheds were identified, and which environmental assessment was carried out on. The results indicated that erosion, siltation and deforestation were the major environmental degradations, and cutting across almost the entire watersheds.  Previous restoration measures were reviewed and recommendations for future conservation strategies were highlighted. Key words: Receding watersheds, Degradation, Environmental assessment, Management, Ebonyi state

Comparative Efficacy of Neem Seed Extract with Carbofuran in the Management of African Rice Gall Midge, Orseolia oryzivora Harris and Gagne (Diptera: Cecidomyppdae)

African rice gall midge (AfRGM) Orseolia oryzivora Harris and Gagné is one of the major insect pests of rice in Africa. The dominant pest control strategy in the tropical rice over the past few decades has been in the use of synthetic insecticide. Unfortunately synthetic insecticides have not given the desired results in the management of African rice gall midge, in addition to the side effects of synthetic insecticides on the environment. In order to alleviate the growing public concerns regarding the effects of synthetic pesticides on human health and environmental impact, much attention has been given to botanicals pesticides in the recent decades. Consequently, this study was conducted to determine the efficacy of neem seed extracts in the management of AfRGM compare to carbofuran during 2006/ 2007 farming seasons at two eco-sites in Nigeria. Moreover the effect of the treatments on grain yields was carried out to determine its efficiency. Results showed that the plots treated with neem seed kernel extracts significantly (P < 0.001) reduced AfRGM damage compared to untreated check, and was not statistically different from those plots treated with synthetic pesticide across the levels and seasons. The highest infestation was recorded in the untreated control plots throughout the experimental periods. There was also significant (P < 0.05) increase in number of productive tillers in the treated plots, which significantly increased rice grain yield than in the control plots. The results therefore suggest that the application of neem seed extracts could serve as a suitable alternative to synthetic insecticides in the management of AfRGM. More so the extract has the potential to increase rice grain yield without the disruption of the agro-ecosystem. Keyword: Plant extract, Carbofuran, Orseolia oryzivora control, grain yield

Review of the Fertility Status of the Wetlands of the Lower Anambra River Basin for Sustainable Crop Production.

The Wetlands of the Lower Anambra River Basin have been subjected to continuous crop production for a long time without adequate fertility restoration strategies. There was therefore the need to re-evaluate the soils health for sustainable crop production. Soil samples were   collected from the different zones of the study area and used to evaluate the soils texture, and physico- chemical properties. The results revealed that bulk density ranged from 1.3gcm-3 to 1.74gcm-3 with a mean value of 1.50gcm-1, while the hydraulic conductivity values ranged from 48.0 to 120.0 cm/hr with a mean value of 72.7cm/hr.  The moisture content of the soils was as high as 47.72 to 59.11%.  The soils were generally strongly acidic, ranging from pH 3.39 to 4.94. The organic matter status was generally low, ranging from 0.7 to 2.53 %. The Cation exchange capacity (CEC) was also generally low. The soils suffer multi-nutrient deficiencies. Total N was generally low in all the zones <0.15%, with a range of 0.042 to 0.14%. The available phosphorus in most of the soils were low (<15.0mg kg ), the exchangeable K had a range of 0.077 to 0.246 Cmol/kg. The exchangeable Ca had a range of 1.60 to 5.20 Cmol/kg, low to medium level, while Mg and Na had ranges of 0.80 to 3.20 Cmol/kg and 0.044 to 0.139 Cmol/kg respectively. It was concluded that the soils require conventional to minimum tillage, use of organic manures, judicious use of organic residues, liming, Bio-fertilizers and NPK fertilizers in other to sustain the soil for intensive crop production. Keywords: Soil fertility; Wetlands; Anambra river basin; Crop production

Effect of Abiotic Factors on the Incidence of African Rice Gall Midge, Orseolia oryzivora and its Parasitism by Platygaster diplosisae and Aprostocetus procerae

African rice gall midge (AfRGM), Orseolia oryzivora is one of the most damaging insect pests of lowland rice in Nigeria in the recent time, and could result in total crop failure in endemic areas. Of all the control measures adopted so far biological control is the most promising. Two parasitoids (Platygaster diplosisae, Hym: Platygastridae and Aprostocetus procerae, Hym: Eulophidae) have been identified with the potential to suppressed AfRGM population. In the current study, we evaluated the effect of abiotic factors (rainfall, relative humidity and temperature) in two eco-sites for two years on the incidence of AfRGM, and on the efficiency of the two parasotioids in the management of AfRGM. The incidence of AfRGM was significantly influenced by abiotic factors (rainfall, relative humidity and temperature). The percentage infestation increased with increase in rainfall and relative humidity. The trend was similar at both locations with the highest infestation recorded in October, and decreased in November. At both locations, percentage tiller infestation was greater in the rainy season of 2006 with more frequent rains than in 2007, with highest infestation recorded at Edozhigi in both years. Percentage parasitisms by the two parasitoids were found to have significant correlation with the abiotic factors. Heavy rains and high humidity significantly reduced the efficiency of the two parasitoids. On the contrast, the population and efficiency of the parasitoids were observed to increase with reducing rainfall, RH, but increasing temperature thus increasing the efficiency of the parasitoids later in the season with up to 70% parasitism when combined, with P. diplosisae dominating the field. The results suggest that abiotic factors played significant role on the incidence of AfRGM and the efficiency of these parasitoids and should be considered in the adoption of these parasitoids as bio-control agents of AfRGM. Keywords: Orseolia oryzivora, Platygaster diplosisae, Aprostocetus procerae, abiotic factor

Body Mass Index, Blood Pressure and Serum Cortisol Level as Stress Index in Symptomatic HIV/AIDS Male Subjects on Antiretroviral Therapy Negative to Malaria Parasite in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria

Background: HIV infection is a risk factor for a variety of endocrine problems. Objectives: This study investigated the body mass index (BMI), Systolic blood pressure (SBP), Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and serum cortisol level as stress factor/index symptomatic HIV/AIDS male subjects on ART who are negative to malaria parasite in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 274 adult male participants aged between 18 and 60 (42 ±13) years were randomly recruited at the Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) Centre in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital and grouped based on WHO criteria for staging HIV into symptomatic HIV (stage 11) infected male participants on ART (A: n=69), Symptomatic HIV subjects not on ART (B: n= 69), Asymptomatic HIV positive subjects (C: n= 68) and HIV seronegative subjects (D: n= 68). Blood samples were collected from the participants for the determination of HIV status by immunochromatography and HIV confirmation by Western Blot. Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used to assay for cortisol level. Results: The results showed a significantly increased BMI and decreased mean serum cortisol level in HIV/AIDS seropositive participants on ART than in those, not on ART (p<0.05). Also, the BMI and mean serum cortisol level were significantly decreased and increased respectively in  HIV/AIDS seropositive participants not on ART than in Asymptomatic HIV positive subjects and control respectively (p<0.05). However, the mean SBP and DBP did not differ significantly between the groups studied (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study revealed a decreased stress index in HIV/AIDS subjects on ART with hypercortisolism and lower BMI in symptomatic HIV participants, not on ART. Keywords: HIV; AIDS; Malaria uninfected male subjects; Cortisol; Blood pressure; Antiretroviral therapy

Body Mass Index, Blood Pressure and Serum Cortisol Level as Stress Index in Symptomatic HIV/AIDS Male Subjects on Antiretroviral Therapy Negative to Malaria Parasite in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria

Background: HIV infection is a risk factor for a variety of endocrine problems. Objectives: This study investigated the body mass index (BMI), Systolic blood pressure (SBP), Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and serum cortisol level as stress factor/index symptomatic HIV/AIDS male subjects on ART who are negative to malaria parasite in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 274 adult male participants aged between 18 and 60 (42 ±13) years were randomly recruited at the Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) Centre in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital and grouped based on WHO criteria for staging HIV into symptomatic HIV (stage 11) infected male participants on ART (A: n=69), Symptomatic HIV subjects not on ART (B: n= 69), Asymptomatic HIV positive subjects (C: n= 68) and HIV seronegative subjects (D: n= 68). Blood samples were collected from the participants for the determination of HIV status by immunochromatography and HIV confirmation by Western Blot. Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used to assay for cortisol level. Results: The results showed a significantly increased BMI and decreased mean serum cortisol level in HIV/AIDS seropositive participants on ART than in those, not on ART (p<0.05). Also, the BMI and mean serum cortisol level were significantly decreased and increased respectively in  HIV/AIDS seropositive participants not on ART than in Asymptomatic HIV positive subjects and control respectively (p<0.05). However, the mean SBP and DBP did not differ significantly between the groups studied (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study revealed a decreased stress index in HIV/AIDS subjects on ART with hypercortisolism and lower BMI in symptomatic HIV participants, not on ART. Keywords: HIV; AIDS; Malaria uninfected male subjects; Cortisol; Blood pressure; Antiretroviral therapy

Effect of coffee consumption on liver enzymes (alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase), total and conjugated bilirubin levels among students in Nnewi

Background: Coffee has a number of bioactive compounds that have beneficial effects on human health in general and more importantly is the fact that coffee consumption has positive impact on the liver function. The present study investigated the effect of coffee consumption on liver enzymes: alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB) and conjugated bilirubin (CB) levels among student in Nnewi.Methods: A total of twenty-five (25) apparently healthy participants aged between 18 and 30 years which were randomly recruited from College of Health Sciences’ students to serve as both test and control group. Each participant was advised to abstain from coffee and similar beverages for a period of three weeks prior to the commencement of the study. Subsequently, in addition to their normal diet, each of the subjects was given 2 gm of coffee dissolved in 150 ml of hot water in which 50 mg of non-dairy creamer was added before breakfast daily for 28 consecutive days. 6 ml each of baseline and test samples (after an overnight fast) were collected at day 0 and 29 respectively from each participant. Liver enzymes such as ALT, AST, and ALP activity as well as TB and CB levels was determined using standard laboratory methods.Results: This showed significant reductions in the mean serum AST and ALT activity, TB and unconjugated bilirubin (UB) levels with no significant alterations in the mean ALP activity and CB level in participants studied after short-term coffee consumption.Conclusions: This study revealed the hepatoprotective effect of coffee intake at short term basis

Assessment of intercropped sweet corn (Zea mays var. saccharata) and vegetable cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) using competitive indices in the derived savannah of south-eastern Nigeria

Field experiments were established in 2009 and 2010 cropping seasons at Federal College of Agriculture project farm, Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria to assess the biological and economic productivity of intercropping sweet corn with varying plant populations of vegetable cowpea using additive series technique in the derived savannah of south-eastern Nigeria. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The plot size was 3 m x 3 m (9 m2). On the average over both cropping seasons, sweet corn intercropped with vegetable cowpea, especially at the highest cowpea population gave higher yield advantage in terms of total land equivalent ratio, (1.41), crop yield equivalent for sweet corn (4.71 t ha-1) and vegetable cowpea (2.03 t ha-1), total gross monetary returns (6,763.88 US dollars), monetary equivalent ratio (1.13), and monetary advantage index (2,308.81 US dollars). Therefore, for maximum financial returns, intercropping sweet corn with high vegetable cowpea populations is important because of enhanced productivity of the system, bonus yield and improved protein intake of the farmers from the cowpea component. Keywords: Sweet corn, vegetable cowpea, yield, biological and economic productivity. 

Adapting Carrot (Daucus carota L.) Production to the Environment of Abakaliki Agro Ecological Zone, South East Nigeria

Abstract: A Study was conducted between 2005 and 2006 rainy seasons at four different locations (Abakaliki, Ezzamgbo, Ikwo and Okposi) within Abakaliki agro-ecological zone of Southeastern Nigeria, to determine the suitability or otherwise of producing Carrot in the study area. The design of the experiment was a simple Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated three times at each location. The measurement included weather parameters, soil physical and chemical characteristics and crop and yield attributes. The data collected were subjected to statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) and correlation analysis. The result of the study showed that the yield range of 11.01 -33.48 t/ha obtained in the study area compared favourably with the yield from other African countries that produce Carrot, but is below the world average potential yield, specifically Carrot root yield at Ezzamgbo was 5.91 and 5.58 t/ha significantly (p<0.05) higher than at Okposi and Ikwo, whereas the Carrot root yield at Abakaliki was also 5.75 and 5.42 t/ha significantly (p<0.05) higher than at Okposi and Ikwo. The significantly higher Carrot root yield at Ezzamgbo and Abakaliki was ascribed to superior growth performance of the crop at the two locations, and also the ability of the plants at the two locations to adapt to the inherent adverse soil physical and chemical properties of the study area. It was concluded that it is possible to produce Carrot in the Abakaliki agro-ecological zone, specifically best at Ezzamgbo and Abakaliki