Nitrolimegation: A Nutrient-In-Water Resource for Sustainable Crop Production on ‘Acid Sands’ of Southern Nigeria

The effects of a low-external-input soil fertility enhancement solution – hereafter termed ‘nitrolimegation’ were investigated as a more convenient strategy for application of nitrogen and calcium in the “Acid Sands” soils of south-eastern Nigeria. Two types of nitrogenous fertilizer sources [Urea and liquid pig manure (LPM)] and two types of lime [limestone-CaCO3 and slake lime-Ca(OH)2] were employed variously at the following levels: Urea [CO (NH2)2] 0, 40, 50, 80, 100, 120, and 150 kg/ha; lime 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 5.0, and 10.0 metric tonnes per hectare (t/ha) and LPM 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 t/ha, arranged factorially and laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD). The results indicated that combining lime at 9 t/ha and LPM at 90 t//ha in irrigation water had significant (P<0.01) positive effects on the soil fertility status and growth of the test crop (Okra- Abelmoschus esculentus). When urea combined with slake lime, it offset acidity and provided nutrient balance in the Acid Sands of Calabar; total nitrogen was significantly (P<0.01) boosted from 0.05 to 0.11 %, base saturation (BS) from 46 to 62 % and exchange acidity was reduced from 2.93 to 1.35 cmol/kg. Combining urea (46-0-0) at 80 kg/ha with lime (CaCO3) at 5 t/ha raised the soil pH from 4.4 to 7.1. Exchange acidity was reduced from 0.8 cmol/kg to negligible value but electrical conductivity was improved from 170.7 to 291.9 μS/cm. When LPM and lime were combined, organic carbon was increased from 2.75 to 2.93%, BS was increased from 46.72 to 75.19 %, and pH was raised from 6.0 to 6.73. Plant height was increased from 9.5 to 16.9 cm while mean number of leaves was also increased from 5.6 to 6.3 only with lower level of lime (3 t/ha) and LPM at 90 t/ha. Of the nitrogen and calcium sources, LPM and limestone y were better at 120 t/ha and 9 t/ha, respectively, to offset soil acidity, boost nutrient availability and provide balanced supply to arable crops grown on the Acid Sands.Keywords: Nitrolimegation, Nitrogen fertilizer, Liming, Liquid pig manure, Acid Sands, Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench)

Medical visits for chemotherapy and chemotherapy-induced neutropenia: a survey of the impact on patient time and activities

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Patients with cancer must make frequent visits to the clinic not only for chemotherapy but also for the management of treatment-related adverse effects. Neutropenia, the most common dose-limiting toxicity of myelosuppressive chemotherapy, has substantial clinical and economic consequences. Colony-stimulating factors such as filgrastim and pegfilgrastim can reduce the incidence of neutropenia, but the clinic visits for these treatments can disrupt patients' routines and activities.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We surveyed patients to assess how clinic visits for treatment with chemotherapy and the management of neutropenia affect their time and activities.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean amounts of time affected by these visits ranged from approximately 109 hours (hospitalization for neutropenia) and 8 hours (physician and chemotherapy) to less than 3 hours (laboratory and treatment with filgrastim or pegfilgrastim). The visits for filgrastim or pegfilgrastim were comparable in length, but treatment with filgrastim requires several visits per chemotherapy cycle and treatment with pegfilgrastim requires only 1 visit.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study provides useful information for future modelling of additional factors such as disease status and chemotherapy schedule and provides information that should be considered in managing chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.</p