The Persistence of Herbicide Residues in Fadama and Upland Soils in Plateau State, Nigeria

Fadama and upland soil in Plateau State, Nigeria were monitored for the residues of five herbicides widely used for farming within the areas under investigation from June 2010 to June 2012. The average concentration in mg/kg of the residues in the soils were; atrazine (0.123), 2,4-D (0.013), paraquat (0.020), oxadiazon (0.100) and pendimethalin (0.020) for fadama soils. While the concentration of the atrazine, 2,4-D, paraquat, oxadiazon and pendimethalin in upland soils were 0.180, 0.023, 0.030, 0.0130 and 0.010 mg/kg respectively, suggesting the herbicide residues persist at considerably high concentration. Physicochemical factors such as pH, Low Organic matter and textural characteristics of the soils were the factors identified to contribute to the persistence of the herbicides. Other factors like microbial activities were also suggested to play significant roles in the degradation or the persistence of the herbicide residues. The distributions of the residues were monitored seasonally over a period of time within the study area. This was sampled for laboratory analysis during the farming seasons covering planting to harvesting time where most of these herbicides and other chemical farm inputs are still believed to be active in the soils within the study area. The herbicides under investigation were observed to persist more in fadama soils which is characterized by high water holding capacity and low organic matter content.   Keywords: Persistence, herbicide residues, fadama, upland, soil

<b style="">Preliminary studies on the antivenin potential and phytochemical analysis of the crude extracts of <i>Balanites aegyptiaca</i> (Linn.) Delile on albino rats</b>

18-21The stem bark of Balanites aegyptiaca (Linn.) Delile which is known as Desert Date was sequentially extracted with hexane, toluene, chloroform, acetone and methanol at room temperature. The effectiveness of acetone and methanol extracts was tested against Saw-scaled (Echis carinatus) viper venom concentration at lethal dose (0.194mg/ml) which was administered intramuscularly into Wistar rats. Both extracts were found to be effective at 75mg/ml and 100mg/ml concentrations. Phytochemical screening of the acetone and the methanol extracts revealed the presence of saponins, tannins and volatile oils

<b style="">Antifungal activity of extracts of some <i style="">Cassia</i>, <i style="">Detarium </i>and <i style="">Ziziphus </i>species against dermatophytes</b> <b style=""> </b>

357-360The methanol extracts of Cassia occidentalis Linn., C. singuena (Del.) Lack, C. tora Linn., Detarium microcarpum Guill. &amp; Perr., Ziziphus abyssinica (Hochst ex A. Rich) Fiori, Z. mauritiana Lam., Z. mucronata Willd. and Z. spina-christi Willd. found in Bauchi State, Nigeria, showed antifungal activity when tested by the agar diffusion method against dermatophytes, viz.Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagaphytes, Microsporum canis and Aspergillus fumigatus.</i