Soil chemical properties and heterotrophic bacterial population in the rhizosphere of oil palm plantations under different ages

This study was carried out to determine the soil chemical properties and heterotrophic bacterial population and species that are predominant in the rhizosphere of oil palms (Elaeis guineensis. jack) and to compare the bacteria population in the rhizosphere of matured (10 years and above) fruit bearing palms with those present in young (3 – 6 years) palms that are just bearing fruits for the first few years. Four plantations of different ages were sampled at the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) main station located in Ovia North Local Government Area of Edo State at soil depth of; 0 – 15 cm, 15 – 30 cm, 30 – 45 cm and 45 – 60 cm. The soil samples obtained were analyzed for their physical, chemical and microbial compositions and the bacteria counts found in the various oil palm plantations were tested for significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) using Duncan multiple range test in a Completely Randomized Design. The soil texture of Field 52 (3 – 6 years) was sandy in both top and sub soil (0 – 60 cm) while the older plantations had sandy-loam and loamy-sand at some depth. The nitrogen, phosphorus and organic carbon content of the soil were also observed to increase with age. The investigation further showed a high presence of bacteria at the top soil (0 – 15 cm and 15 – 30 cm) than in the sub soils (30 – 45 cm and 45 – 60 cm). This was in close relationship with the high presence of carbon and other primary nutrients that were also more at the top soils. On the basis of plant age, the heterotrophic bacteria populations were greater in the older plantations than found in the young (3 - 6 years) plantations. The specific bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere soils were Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Micrococcus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Coryrubacteria spp. &nbsp

Response of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) and soil chemical properties to different amendment types in an ultisol

A field experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of different organic manure on the growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) at the teaching and research farm of the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria between April to August, 2016. Four treatments; control (T1), cattle dung + poultry manure + pig manure (T2), poultry manure + foliar blend (T3) and bacterial inoculant (T4) were laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Data were collected on growth (plant height, number of leaves, stem girth and leaf area) and yield parameters of okra plant. Results obtained from the research indicated that the growth and yield of okra was lowest in control (T1). These results further suggest that, the organic manure used in the study especially in a combined form (cattle dung + poultry manure + pig manure) positively influenced the agronomic performance of the okra plant. T2 increased okra plant height and, leaf area compared with the control. T3 recorded significantly higher number of leaves (7.188), compared with the control (3.375) whereas, fresh fruit weight from the various treatment plots were in the following order; T2 (79.15g) > T3 (53.58g) > T4 (22.53g) > T1 (20.24g). Although the nitrogen content of the soil was higher (21.33 g/kg) with T4, the highest fruit weight was obtained in T2 treated soils. It was also observed from the microbial analysis carried out on the soil samples obtained from the various plots that, soils with organic amendments (T2, T3 and T4) generally had higher microbial population, relative to control (T1). Based on the findings of this experiment, it could be deduced that cattle dung, poultry manure and pig manure promotes higher performance of okra. &nbsp

Effect of various pre-treatments on the seedling growth performance of Tamarindus indica L

Various methods of seed scarification including concentrated sulphuric acid, alcohol; methanol, ethanol, iso-propanol, butanol and hot water (100°C), were applied on seeds of Tamarindus indica L. and Prosopis africana Guill and Peri., to improve germination and assess seed vigor. The highest germi nation and germination energy (Germ. En.) for T. indica occurred following pre-treatment in methanol for 10 minutes (70% germination; 42, Germ. En.), while better response was obtained for P. africana following pretreat ment in ethanol for 10 minutes (58% germination; 38, Germ. En.), and Cone. H2S04i for 5 minutes (60% germination; 38, Germ. En.)

EFFECT OF SOIL TYPES ON THE SEED GERMINATION OF HELIANTHUS ANNUUS L.

The effects of some soil media viz., sand, clay, loam + sawdust (in a 1:1 ratio), and "Garden" soil on the seed germination of 9 cultivars of the HeDanthus annuus L. was investigated in a laboratory study. The results obtained showed that higher germination percentages of above 60% in most of the cultivars were observed in the sandy and loam + sawdust media. A consequent performance was also recorded for the garden soil treatment. However, low germination percentage of below 40% was observed In the clay treatments

The microbial burden load of eggshells from different poultry rearing systems in Ekosodin Village, Edo State, Nigeria

Eggs are valuable source of food used throughout the world to feed the ever growing world population. Majority of freshly laid eggs are sterile, however, the shells soon become contaminated with litter droppings and dust present in the environment. In this study, the microbial load of egg shell from different poultry system in Ekosodin, Edo State was evaluated. The results obtained from the study revealed that eggshell samples from different poultry rearing systems (battery cage, deep litter and free-range chicken eggs) were contaminated with bacterial and fungal species of public health concern. Microbial species isolated from eggshells were Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii, Bacillus cereus, Enteroccocus faecalis and Proteus mirabillis for the bacterial isolates while the fungi isolates include Mucor sp., Rhizopus sp., Aspergillus sp., Fusarium sp. and Penicillium sp. The bacterial and fungal load of free-range chicken eggshell ranged from 9. 7 ± 0.7 x 104 to 1. 27 ± 0.2 x 105 and 7. 0 ± 0.5 x 103 to 2. 2 ± 0.5 x 104 cfu/g respectively. Bacterial and fungal counts were 3. 3 ± 0.8 x 104  to 7. 4 ± 0.5 x 104 and 1. 1 ± 0.1 x 104 to 1. 6 ± 0.4 x 104 cfu/g for battery cage eggshells and 6. 8 ± 0.9 x 104 to 1. 38 ± 0.5 x 105 and 2.0 ± 0.3 x 104 to 3. 7 ± 0.5 x 104 cfu/g for deep litter eggshells respectively. Statistically, the mean fungi count of deep litter egg shells samples differed significantly (P<0.05) from the mean fungal count of battery cage and free-range chicken eggshells. Also, the mean bacterial count of battery cage egg shells differed significantly from deep litter and free-range chicken eggshells (P<0.05). The presence of these microorganisms on eggshell might constitute a serious risk to consumers. Proper education to enlighten retailers and consumers by the government on microbial quality of table eggs is important. Proper sanitation and battery cage system of rearing eggs should be encouraged.Keywords: Deep litter system, battery cage system, eggshell microbial load, microbial quality of table egg

Magnesium Releasinng Potential of soils of Edo State, Nigeria

A green house experiment was conducted to determine the magnesium releasing potential of soil of Edo State. Exhaustive cropping technique was used with maize as test crop. Twenty composite surface soil samples collected from pre-classified sites were used for this study. From the study, exchangeable Mg decreased from an initial mean of 1.39 to a mean of 0.26cmol kg-1 soil after four successive croppings. Exchangeable Mg before cropping and the decrease in exchangeable Mg after four successive croppings were positively and significantly correlated with total update with “r” values of 0.937 *** and 0.992***, respectively. The only 4.30% of the total Mg that was taken up by maize plant during four successive croppings conceivably came from non-exchangeable sources. This was too small to meet its requirement. Incipient deficiency symptoms were associated with Mg content or concentration of less than 0.3% in plant; 0.28cmol kg-1 soil of IN NH4 OAc (PH7) extractable Mg or 5% Mg saturation of ECEC. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science Vol. 17 2007: pp. 30-3