Intercropping Sunflower with Soyabeans Enhances Total Crop Productivity

There is a need to develop sustainable and productive cropping systems for edible vegetable oilseeds in tropical Africa. Field trials were conducted during the late cropping season (July–Nov.) of 2001 and 2002 to determine the grain yields, and other yield attributes of sunflower and soyabeans and their productivity under monocropping and intercropping. Three sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) varieties (a local adapted var. Funtua and two exotic varieties Isaanka and Record from Argentina) and five improved, high yielding soyabean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) varieties: TGx 1448-2E (late), TGx 1440-1E (late), TGx 1019-2EB (medium), TGx 1740-2F (early) and TGx 1485-1D (early maturing) were used. Funtua had significantly greater head weight and diameter, achene number and weight per head than Isaanka and Record during the dry and relatively hot cropping season of 2001. Cropping system significantly reduced soyabean grain yield in intercropping, relative to monocropping, except when soyabean was intercropped with Isaanka in 2001 and Record in 2002. All yield attributes of both crops exhibited significant positive relationship with grain yields, except height to the lowest pod of soyabean. TGx 1448-2E and TGx 1440-1E intercropped with Isaanka and Record had average grain yield of 1043 and 1081 kg ha–1 and land equivalent ratios (LER) of 1.47 and 1.58, respectively. It is recommended that intercropped combination of TGx 1448-2E/Isaanka and TGx 1440-1E/Record be used to improve yields of vegetable oilseeds

Improving the food sovereignty in Africa – an Activity Theory approach

This article presents a new approach to the problem of food sovereignty in Africa using an Activity Theory approach. Undernourishment in Africa is big reaching 232.5 million citizens in 2015. Sufficient food sovereignty can’t be reached because of the weak food-producing abilities in Africa. Smallholder sector can’t compete with highly subsidized Northern farmers. Present intensive agriculture is causing environmental pollution and occupational hazards for the workers. Organic agriculture brings benefits - more nutritious diet, job creation and reduced health risk caused by pesticides. Small holder family farmers could double their harvest in a decade if converting to more agro-ecological production like in organic agriculture. There is an urgent need for the governmental interventions impeding selling or renting of land and natural resources to foreign countries and companies. The change of legislation is necessary to increase the private land owning of smallholders. More sustainable trade policy should be introduced to diminish the excessive export of food. Education of the African citizens is necessary to reduce the food wastes and to boost the fairness and sustainability in the food chains including holistic organic system which is actively contributing to all the 17 the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs)

Organic fertilizers improve the growth, seed quality and yield of newly released soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) varieties in the tropics

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) yield in tropical Africa remains below 1t/ha partly because most growers rarely use beneficial organic soil amendments on degraded tropical soils. Therefore, filed trials were conducted during the late cropping seasons (July – Nov.) of 2015 and 2016 on the organic research plots of the Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research, Nigeria (7o 23´ N, 3o 39´ E, altitude 139 m above sea level) the trials evaluated the agronomic response of five recently released soybean varieties (TGx 1448-2E, TGx 1440-1E, TGx 1740-2F, TGx 1987-62F and TGx 1835-10E) to the application of three commercial organic fertilizers (Aleshinloye Grade B, Organo-Farm and Gateway) and a control. The trials were laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a 5 × 4 factorial arrangement and replicated three times. Data were collected on growth parameters, yield and yield attributes, and seed quality. Significant (P<0.05; F-Test) varietal difference was recorded for aboveground plant weight, grain filling period, height at physiological maturity, number and weight of pods per plant, number of branches and, seed yield and quality in both years. Application of organic fertilizers significantly (P<0.05; F-Test) increased aboveground plant weight, number of branches, pods, weight of seeds per plant, seed yield and quality in both years relative to the control treatment, except oil content and seed yield in 2016. The three organic fertilizers appear appropriate for soybean cultivation since soybeans grown on treated plots produced seed yield above 1/ton in both contrasting years of experimentation

Effectiveness of Palm Kernel Shell Ash Concrete Reinforced with Steel Fibres

The steadily increasing cost of cement has made construction very expensive in many countries of the world, coupled with the adverse effect of cement production on the environment. To solve these problems, studies have been made on various materials like Pozzolans which could be used as partial replacement for cement in concrete production. Palm kernel shell ash (PKSA) is the ash produced from burning of palm kernel shell thus, PKSA is used as partial replacement of cement in this study. This study investigated the effect of palm kernel shell ash (PKSA) as a partial replacement with ordinary Portland cement in high strength palm kernel shell ash concrete reinforced with steel fibres. The properties studied includes workability of fresh concrete, compressive strength, flexural tensile strength, and water absorption for hardened concrete. PKSA contents in mixes ranged between 0% and 50% by weight of cement and Steel fibre of 0.75% by volume of concrete was maintained in all mixes containing steel fibre. The use of palm kernel shell ash (PKSA) has advantages like; reduction in cost of concrete, solving environmental pollution problems as well as reduced the number of landfill areas required for disposing the PKSA. The results indicate that the inclusion of steel fibre into concrete contained ordinary Portland cement concrete or PKSA, improved the tensile strength properties. Further, it was observed that increase in percentage of PKSA led to a corresponding reduction in both flexural and compressive strength when compared with control concrete. Since the strength reduced with further addition of PKSA from 25%, it is recommended that optimum replacement level of ordinary Portland cement by Palm kernel shell ash is 25% for good compressive and tensile properties

Agronomic performance and seed quality of advanced breeding lines of soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) as influenced by organic fertilizer application

Sixteen soybean entries (three released varieties: TGx 1448-2E (check), TGx 1440-1E and TGx 1019-2EB, 13 advanced breeding lines: TGx 2007 – 1F, TGx 2010 – 1F, TGx 2008 – 1F, TGx 2004 – 4F, TGx 2010 – 7F, TGx 2006 – 2F, TGx 2003 – 1F, TGx 1987 – 10F, TGx 2010 – 2F, TGx 2007 – 4F, TGx 2006 – 3F, TGx 2008 – 3F, and TGx 1835 – 10E) were cultivated during the late cropping season (June – Nov.) of 2014 to assess their agronomic performance and seed quality as affected by organic fertilizer application. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design using a split plot arrangement and replicated three times. Organic fertilizer was the main plot and soybean entries sub plot. Data were collected on grain yield, yield attributes and quality (oil and protein contents) of the entries. Organic fertilizer application did not affect any of the agronomic traits evaluated, except number of seeds per plant. However, variety effect was significant (p<0.05) for all the traits, height to first pod and weight of seeds per plant. Fertilizer × Variety effect was not significant on nay trait. All the sixteen entries recorded grain yields (2092.2 – 4076.5 kg.ha-1) which compared favorably well with world average (2250 kg.ha-1). Thus, confirming the huge potential of soybean in the transition zone

Towards mapping Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) research into use in Nigeria

Africa as the second largest continent after Asia is still struggling to feed her teaming population (1.1 billion; 15 percent of world’s total population). Organic agriculture has been identified globally as a potential strategy to solve food and related problems affecting Africans because it integrates sustainability, biodiversity and ecosystem services, while producing affordable, nutritious and safe food. Pillar 1 (Research, Training and Extension) of the Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Initiative is poised to oversee the conduct of relevant demand driven, end user oriented and easily adoptable research projects on EOA that will transform the continent’s agricultural output. Consequently, an activity was carried out in 2016 to document recent researches relevant to EOA in various disciplines, identify the gaps in EOA researches across disciplines and recommend appropriate areas for further research activities to bridge the knowledge gaps in EOA researches. The activity covered 2013, 2014 and 2015 with emphasis on Nigeria. A total of 203 research articles were reviewed across eleven thematic areas/disciplines: Agronomy (Soil science, crop production and management), plant health (plant pathology, nematology, virology, bacteriology etc.), genetics and breeding, molecular genetics, physiology, food quality, extension, socio-economics, policy issues, organic livestock and organic aquaculture. The spread of research efforts revealed as follows: Agronomy (131=65%), Plant health (43= 21%), Food quality (4=1.9%), Extension (10=4%), Socio-economics (3=1.4%), Policy issues (3=1.4%), Organic livestock (5=2.4%) and Organic aquaculture (4=1.9%). No articles were found on genetics and breeding, molecular genetics and physiology. The implication of this spread is discussed in the paper

Borehole Drilling, Usage, Maintenance and Sustainability in Ado- Ekiti, Nigeria

Boreholes are an effective way of tapping into the water bearing aquifer below the ground and pumping the water to the surface. Boreholes for extracting water consist essentially of a vertically drilled shaft, a strong lining (casing) to prevent collapse of the walls, which includes a means of allowing clean water to enter the borehole space (screen), surface protection, and a means of extracting water. This study examines the common drilling techniques, usage, maintenance and sustainability of water boreholes in Ado-Ekiti. Pumping tests were carried on several boreholes in Ado-Ekiti to acquire a general idea of the yield of boreholes in order to proffer viable solution. Hydro geological maps of the area are studied to help in the understanding of the sub surface formation of the region. Questionnaires were also developed and administered in the assessment of borehole usage and maintenance. The study area is characterized by crystalline basement complex rock of low porosity and permeability. Boreholes have to be properly designed, professionally constructed and carefully drilled. It has been discovered that the area generally has low groundwater potential and that there is a high dependence on groundwater as a source for potable water

Assessment Of The Use Of Autocad Package For Teaching And Learning Engineering Drawing In Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti

Drawing is the language of engineers. Drawings encompass the architectural, civil, structural, and mechanical professions, and they are the means of conveying diagrammatic detailed aspects of the design components of a structure. This Study intends to investigate an assessment of the use of AutoCAD package for teaching and learning engineering drawing in Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti State. The investigation was carried out by administering (100) questionnaires to engineering drawing lecturers and Students of the college of engineering in the university. The Findings revealed that there are positive impacts created by AutoCAD package on teachers and Students towards the teaching and learning of AutoCAD package to teach engineering drawing in all the seven programmes in the college. Engineering drawing is done in Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges that offer courses in the areas of technical and vocational education (TVE), Architecture, urban and regional planning and engineering. The traditional teaching and learning of technical drawing in most Nigerian universities has been characterized by the use of such manual equipment and materials part of drawing board, dividers, compasses, set-squares, protractors, drawing paper, drawing pen, pencil, scales, and eraser among others. These manual tools and materials make drawing to be more time and energy consuming. Thus, the arrival of the 21st century information and communication technological facilities or technologies presented a more interesting and efficient facilities for the teaching and learning of technical drawing in institutions in Nigeria. The information and communication technologies that are utilized in the teaching and learning of technical drawing include computer hardware and software, computers, projectors, interactive broad, internet, scanners and so on. These are also known as computer assisted drafting/design tools. The details of these technological facilities /technologies are: Hardware : desktop and laptop computers with complete parts as key board, mouse, UPS, digitizing graphic tablet, plotter, digitizing pen, icons, scanners, projector, satellite and V-sat Software: AutoCAD, micro station, solid work, solid edge, Alibre, CATIA, NX, GTX5000, Power point, VRML, CorelDraw, spreadsheet ,graphics, database

Assessment Of The Use Of Autocad Package For Teaching And Learning Engineering Drawing In Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti

Drawing is the language of engineers. Drawings encompass the architectural, civil, structural, and mechanical professions, and they are the means of conveying diagrammatic detailed aspects of the design components of a structure. This Study intends to investigate an assessment of the use of AutoCAD package for teaching and learning engineering drawing in Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti State. The investigation was carried out by administering (100) questionnaires to engineering drawing lecturers and Students of the college of engineering in the university. The Findings revealed that there are positive impacts created by AutoCAD package on teachers and Students towards the teaching and learning of AutoCAD package to teach engineering drawing in all the seven programmes in the college. Engineering drawing is done in Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges that offer courses in the areas of technical and vocational education (TVE), Architecture, urban and regional planning and engineering. The traditional teaching and learning of technical drawing in most Nigerian universities has been characterized by the use of such manual equipment and materials part of drawing board, dividers, compasses, set-squares, protractors, drawing paper, drawing pen, pencil, scales, and eraser among others. These manual tools and materials make drawing to be more time and energy consuming. Thus, the arrival of the 21st century information and communication technological facilities or technologies presented a more interesting and efficient facilities for the teaching and learning of technical drawing in institutions in Nigeria. The information and communication technologies that are utilized in the teaching and learning of technical drawing include computer hardware and software, computers, projectors, interactive broad, internet, scanners and so on. These are also known as computer assisted drafting/design tools. The details of these technological facilities /technologies are: Hardware : desktop and laptop computers with complete parts as key board, mouse, UPS, digitizing graphic tablet, plotter, digitizing pen, icons, scanners, projector, satellite and V-sat Software: AutoCAD, micro station, solid work, solid edge, Alibre, CATIA, NX, GTX5000, Power point, VRML, CorelDraw, spreadsheet ,graphics, database

Prevalence and associated factors of Plasmodium falciparum and soil transmitted helminth infections among pregnant women in Osun state, Nigeria

Background: Plasmodium falciparum and soil transmitted helminth (STHs) infection are widespread in sub-Sahara Africa, where co-infection is also common. This study assessed the prevalence of these infections and their risk factors among pregnant women in Osogbo, Nigeria.Methods: A total of 200 pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic were recruited. Plasmodium falciparum was detected using thick and thin film methods, while formol ether concentration method was used for STHs detection. A questionnaire was used to investigate the possible risk factors associated with acquisition of malaria and helminth infections.Results: The prevalence of P. falciparum, STHs and their co-infection was 29.5%, 12% and 5% respectively. P. falciparum, STHs and P. falciparum + STHs co-infection was significantly higher in primigravidae (52.5% vs 58.3% vs 80%) than in secongravidae (18.6% vs 25.0% vs 20%) and multigravidae (28.8% vs 16.7% vs 0%) (p=0.02). Prevalence associated factors identified for P. falciparum was age (p=0.0001) while gravidity (p=0.02) was identified for P. falciparum + STHs co-infection.Conclusion: High prevalence of P. falciparum and helminth infections was observed among the pregnant women with primigravidae being the most susceptible to co-infection. There is an urgent need to implement an effective malaria and STHs preventive method for this high risk population.Keywords: P.falciparum, STHs, Co-infection, pregnant women, Nigeria