7 research outputs found

    Calibrating and validating AquaCrop model for maize crop in Northern zone of Nigeria

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    Farmers in the northern Guinea Savannah ecological zone of Nigeria have been experiencing declining crop yield due to erratic water supply. In recent times, research on better water management and interaction between effects of climate, soil and field management on crop production is fast gaining grounds with the use of models. Models can be used to predict the impact of long-term climate variability, thus providing an opportunity of better techniques compared with the traditional multi-location trials. This study presents the calibration and validation of AquaCrop model for drip irrigated maize (Zea mays). Calibration was done using data of 2013, while validation across seasons was done with data of 2014. The modelling efficiency of grain yield, biomass yield and crop water use were 81%, 90%, and 85% when calibration was done, while during the validation the modelling efficiency were 86%, 74% and 50%, respectively. This indicates a good fit between the simulated output and measured data. The model has a tendency to over-predict grain and biomass yield at harvest by 3%-4%, under-predict seasonal evapotranspiration by 2%, and over-predict grain water productivity by 3% and biomass water productivity by 24% according to the coefficient of residual mass. The AquaCrop model high reliability for the simulations indicates it can be useful for on-the-desk assessing of the impact of irrigation scheduling protocols when properly calibrated

    Sedimentation Assessment of a Small Reservoir at Afaka Forest Reserve, Kaduna, Nigeria

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    The sedimentation assessment of a small reservoir constructed in 1987 at the Afaka Forest Reserve, Kaduna, Nigeria was carried out between 2004 and 2013. The procedure for the assessment involved the peripheral survey as well as bathymetric survey of the reservoir to determine its water surface area and mean water depths, by means of a hand-held Global Positioning System, GPS (Model: GPSmap76CSGARMIN) and a 4m leveling staff, respectively. The study showed that the reservoir storage capacity has decreased, due to sediment build-up, from its initial design capacity 16400m3 to 10665 m3, implying a storage loss of about 35%. A linear relationship was established between the reservoir storage capacity and the age of the reservoir and the result shows a rate of change (decrease) in the reservoir storage capacity of 221m3yr-1. This implies that the reservoir storage capacity would eventually reduce to zero at reservoir age of 76.5, if desilting is not carried out. For economic justification, it is recommended that the reservoir be desilted, at least, every 15 years by a capacity of 3280m3 (which is equal to reservoir depth of 0.66m), equivalent to 20% of the design capacity, to ensure continuous life span of the reservoir. Results of reservoir sedimentation assessment are necessary tools that serve as guide for safe design of reservoirs for various catchments. Key Words: Reservoir sedimentation, Storage capacity, Assessment, Catchment, Afaka Kadun

    Choice of place of antenatal care among women of reproductive age in a semiurban population in northcentral Nigeria

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    Background: Antenatal care has an important role in identifying high‑risk pregnancies and improving the chances of safe motherhood particularly in developing countries where obstetric indicators are still poor. The objective of this study was to determine the choices women of reproductive age in Vom, a semirural town at the outskirts of Jos the capital of Plateau State Nigeria made to have antenatal care.Materials and Methods: This was a cross‑sectional study carried out between January and March 2015 in Vom, a semirural area about 30 km from Jos the capital of Plateau State among 2,641 (Two thousand six hundred and forty one) women of reproductive age.Results: Fifty‑eight percent of the respondents opted for antenatal care in government‑owned hospitals while 29% chose faith‑based institution which was in their vicinity, 11% favored private hospitals for antenatal care, while 1% chose traditional birth attendants (TBAs) and prayer houses to receive antenatal care. The majority of the respondents (32%) were females between the ages of 40 and 44 years while 22% were aged between 25 and 29 years of age. They were predominantly farmers of the Berom ethnic group and 47% of them had completed primary level of education.Conclusion: Females in the reproductive age in this rural setting in northcentral Nigeria favored government‑owned hospitals as places to receive antenatal care. Their choices were not affected by their educational status varied according to the age ranges of the respondents.Keywords: Antenatal care; reproductive age women; semiurban populatio

    EFFECT OF VARIOUS IRRIGATION LEVELS AND FERTILIZER MATERIALS ON WATER USE AND YIELD OF ONION UNDER CHECK BASIN IRRIGATION

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    The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of various irrigation levels and fertilizer materials on water use and yield of onion crop (Allium cepa L.). The experiment was carried out at the Irrigation Research Farm which is located at latitude 110 11’ N longitude 70 38’E and 686m above the mean sea level in the Northern Guinea Savanna ecological zone of Nigeria (semi-arid zone). A randomized block design was used, with four irrigation levels and three fertilizer materials in three replications. Water was conveyed to the check basins using calibrated 7.5cm diameter Plastic pipes under observation using stopwatch. The minimum crop water use was 275.4mm corresponding to the treatment 25% irrigation level and chicken droppings (CH) while the maximum CWU was 405.2mm corresponding to 100% irrigation level and Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium (NPK). The crop water use efficiency varied from a minimum value of 1.24kg/m3 recorded at 25% irrigation level and NPK to a maximum value of 2.41 kg/m3 recorded at 100% irrigation level and CD. The highest irrigation water use efficiency of 1.02kg/m3 was recorded at 25% irrigation level and CH while the corresponding lowest value of 0.23kg/m3 was recorded at the 75% irrigation level and NPK. This implies that irrigation water use efficiency has an indirect relationship with irrigation level. The biomass yield ranged from the minimum of 22.0 t/ha recorded at the 75% irrigation level and NPK to the maximum of 39.2t/ha obtained from 100% irrigation level and CH. After curing, the yield ranged from 13.9t/ha to 25.6t/ha obtained from 25% irrigation level and CD and 100% irrigation level and CH respectively
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