Evaluation of growth response of Parkia biglobosa (JACQ) under different levels of organic manures

An investigation was carried out to evaluate early growth of Parkia biglobosa under different levels of organic manures in the nursery in order to promote its sustained utilization and regeneration. Seeds were sown in the germination bed at the nursery of Department of Forestry and Fisheries of KSUST, Aliero which took average of three days to germinate and at two weeks after germination, seedlings were transplanted into polythene bags (16 × 14 × 12 cm) filled with cow dung, poultry manure and farmyard manure at 40, 70 and 100 g kg–1 of top soil and top soil only was used as control. The experiment was laid in a completely randomized design with nine replications. Data collection commenced two weeks after transplanting and was done fortnightly for 12 weeks on stem height, collar diameter and number of leaves. Biomass was assessed at twelve weeks and the data were analysed using analysis of variance and follow up tests were conducted with Duncan Multiple Range Tests. The result revealed significant effect on all the variables (stem height, collar diameter and number of leaves) assessed, where poultry droppings at 40 g kg–1 and cow dung at 100 g kg–1 gave the highest growth and cow dung was recommended

Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of baboon (Papio anubis), warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) and waterbuck (Kubus deffasa) in Yankari game reserve, Bauchi state Nigeria

A total of ninety four (94) fresh faecal samples of baboons (Papio anubis), Warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus) and Waterbucks (Kubus deffasa) were collected from different strategic locations within Yankari Game Reserve in August, 2008. Samples were collected in sterilized specimen bottles containing 4% formalin and analyzed by simple floatation, sedimentation and concentration Mc master techniques. The sixty (63) fecal samples of baboons examined; 7(11.11%) had intestinal parasites, comprises of 260 (54.1%) metastrongylus eggs, 180 (37.50%) eggs of mites and 40 (8.33) of adult mites. A total of Seven 7 (28%) of the twenty five (25) fecal samples of warthogs had parasites which comprised of 4960 (98.0%) eggs of hyostrongylus eggs and 100 (2.0%) of monizia eggs. Only 2(33.3%) of the six (6) fecal samples of waterbucks had Hystrongylus eggs 180(1.1%).The infection rate was significantly higher (p<0.05) among Warthogs (98%) fallowed by Baboons (54.1%) and the least Waterbucks (1.1%). Exposure to posture may be the predisposing factor responsible for the prevalence rate recorded in the study area. This may posed a potential danger to visitors in Yankari Game Reserve and other wild animals. Implementation of control policy of helminthes parasites in the Reserve will reducethe prevalence of helminthes diseases.Key words: Baboon, Intestinal parasites, Waterbuck, Warthog, Yankari Game Reserv

Impact of Environmental Disclosure on Performance of Cement and Brewery Companies in Nigeria

This research empirically assessed the impact of environmental disclosure on performance of listed cement and breweries companies in Nigeria. The population of the study consists of nine cement andbreweries companies listed on the Nigerian stock exchange. Three listed cement and four breweries companies were selected as a sample for this study. Secondary data were used and were collected from annual reports of selected companies for the period of five years from 2011 – 2015. Ordinary Least Square regression technique was employed to analyze the data. Content analysis was used for measuring quantitative environmental disclosure and unweigted approach was used to rank environmental disclosure indices for measuring qualitative voluntary environmental disclosure. Return on Asset (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE), and Earning per Share (EPS) were used as proxies for measuring performance. The empirical result indicates that environmental disclosure quantitative (EDQN) has a positive insignificant on ROA and EPS at 0.707 and 0.616 respectively, it has negative insignificant impact on ROE at 0.756. On the other hand, environmental disclosure qualitative (EDQL) has positive significant impact on ROAat0.025 also with EPS at 0.00, it however has positive insignificant impact on ROA at 0.660. and is statistically significant, also negative impact on ROE and EPS and is insignificant. . The control variable firm size (FRMS) has positive significant impact on EPS at 0.009.  The study recommends that cement tand breweries companies should practice how to disclose more environmental information. Government should also come up with clearly define policy on environmental disclosure issues and should ensure its full implementation. Keywords: Environmental disclosure, firm performance, mandatory disclosure, voluntary disclosure

Preliminary Survey of Medicinal Plants Used in Treatment of Animal Trypanosomosis in Kaduna State, Nigeria

A preliminary survey of medicinal plants used in the treatment of animal trypanosomiasis in Kaduna State, Nigeria, was carried out. Three hundred questionnaires were distributed and interviews were conducted with livestock owners, livestock traders, herb sellers, herdsmen and agricultural extension workers in six local government areas namely, Birnin Gwari, Kachia, Kafanchan, Makarfi, Saminaka and Soba - Zaria. Plants commonly used included Khaya senegalensis 23.3% (70), Terminalia avicennioides 16.3% (49), Ximenia americana 12.7% (38), Anona senegalensis 10.7% (32) and Azadirachta indica 9.3% (28). The parts of the plants used included leaves, fresh bark, and roots prepared by either soaking or boiling in water. The investigation provides a baseline data for future research into these plants

Preparation and Application of Polyvinyl Alcohol Based UV Curable Flexographic Printing Ink

Polyvinyl alcohol was utilized as a single sole binder in the formulation of water based UV curable flexographic printing inks. Six different formulation composition containing 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 8% and 10% polyvinyl alcohol were prepared using 1-(4-nitrophenyl)azo-2-naphthol as pigment and potassium dichromate as a cross linking agent. The formulations prepared were characterized for viscosity and FT-IR before being printed on different substrates. The integrity and pigment particle distribution of the ink film formed were assessed by optical microscopy, the print quality and fastness properties were found to meet most requirements in colour printing chemistry and technology applications

Bridge Collapse in Nigeria: A Case Study of Tatabu Bridge in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State

Large parts of Niger State are located in low terrain and have proximity to River Niger: the largest river in Nigeria; coupled with the presence of three hydro Electric power stations in the state. Niger State has been confronted annually by flood disaster that has destroyed many lives and properties. The focus of this paper is to investigate the causes behind Tatabu bridge collapse. In this investigation, soil strength and index test, hydrological data, nature of the terrain, concrete strength test and evaluation of flood impact on the bridge and its embankments using ANSYS Finite Element Method were conducted. The results of the investigations revealed that the collapsed bridge was positioned within a valley as well as steady increase in precipitation from 2015 to 2017 which directly increased the stream flow rate and also runoff.  It was also observed that the debris settlement within the cell of the collapsed bridge contributed to reduction of the cross sectional area of single cell. The compressive strength test of the bridge members revealed that the strength are within acceptable limit. The authors recommended that there is the need for embankment protection either covers vegetation, stone pitch, slope stabilizer, or concrete interlocking is required for future consideration. Due to increase in water balance, the new bridge capacity should be increased to accommodate the high volume of water.  The new bridge should be reconstructed above the valley or repositioned away from the valley. it is also recommended that a complete replacement of the underlain material forming the adjacent slope to the bridge retain wall with a better compacted engineering soil to avoid future pavement failure of the kind. Keywords: Bridge, Flood, ANSYS, Collapse, Terrai

Modification and Performance Evaluation of Active Solar Dryer for High Moisture Tomato Crop

In this study, two active solar cabinet dryers with capacity each to dry 10 kg of fresh vegetable were fabricated. The drying cabinet of the first dryer was fabricated using plywood and is refer to as unmodified dryer (UM) while the second dryer with white transparent glass and is refer to as modified dryer (MD). The performances of the two dryers in terms of total drying time, final moisture content obtained and preservation of nutritive values of the dried vegetable were investigated using tomato as sample. Ten kilogram of the sample were sliced to about 1cm and neatly arranged in the drying chamber for the drying process in a period of two days (8am-6pm). The results revealed that there was a reduction in total drying time of 2.5 hours, from 18 hours in UM to 15.5hours in MD which corresponds to reduction in moisture content (wet basis) from initial value of 92% to final moisture content of 12- 13.3%. The results further revealed that maximum drying rate of 6.9 kg/h was observed for UM dryer and 9.4 kg/h for MD both obtained within 8 hours of drying time.  The average temperature recorded in the MD was found more than the UM by about 13°C at 3.00pm. The efficiency of the MD in terms of reduction in total drying time was 13.89% higher than the UM. Proximate analysis result shows the composition of the dried tomato in the UM to be protein, 0.76%; lipids, 1.00%; vitamin E, 0.0083%; moisture content, 13.3%; ash, 0.60% and crude fiber, 1.80%. However, the composition of dried tomato in MD were protein, 0.69%; lipids, 0.90%; vitamin E, 0.0080%; moisture content, 12%; ash, 0.58% and crude fiber, 1.78%

Handbook On Improved Agronomic Practices Of Groundnut Production In North East Nigeria

This handbook is intended to guide farmers, extension personnel, students of agriculture and researchers in Nigeria to use improved varieties and associated production practices to increase productivity. The guide draws its lessons from the work and experiences of ICRISAT and its partners in Research for Development on crop-based systems in Nigeria. The publication of this handbook is a demonstration of effective collaboration between ICRISAT, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), numerous farmers’ groups and Innovation Platform (IPs). The authors are grateful to the Management of these Institutes and organizations and gratefully acknowledge the work of other researchers that have helped immensely in compiling this manual

Hand Book on Improved Pearl Millet Production Practices in North Eastern Nigeria

This handbook is intended to guide farmers, extension personnel, students of agriculture and researchers in Nigeria to use improved varieties and complementary production practices to increase pearl millet productivity. The guide draws its lessons from the work and experience of ICRISAT and partners in Research for Development on crop-based systems in Nigeria. The publication of this handbook is a demonstration of effective collaboration between ICRISAT, Lake Chad Research Institute, (LCRI) Maiduguri, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), several farmer organizations and the demand by Innovation Platform members (IPs) members. ICRISAT and the authors are grateful to the management of these Institutes. The authors gratefully acknowledge the work of other researchers whose work have helped immensely in compiling this manual

Isolation, Characterization and Heavy Metals Tolerance Indices of Indigenous Fungal Flora from a Tannery located at Challawa Industrial Estate of Kano State, Nigeria

Seven fungal species (Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus versicolor, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Rhizomucor pusillus, Trichophyton equinum and Rhizopus oryzae) were isolated from the tannery effluent collected at a tannery industry located at Challawa industrial estate of Kano State, Nigeria. Aspergillus niger had the highest percentage occurrence frequency of 36% (31) while Trichophyton equinum had the least percentage occurrence frequency of 4% (5). Consequently, Aspergillus niger recorded the highest mean tolerance indices of 1.175, 0.830, 0.580, 0.780 and 0.630 while Rhizomucor pusillus had the least of the tolerance indices of 0.675, 0.375, 0.346, 0.450 and 0.255 for chromium, cadmium, manganese and lead respectively. Accordingly, furthermore the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and biomass yield of the seven tested fungi isolates cultured in the presence of the five heavy metals used in this study showed different level of growth pattern. Hence the high resistant potentials and tolerance to the selected heavy metals exhibited by the fungal species isolated in this study is an indication that indigenous fungal floral isolated from tannery effluent if properly harnessed may offer a feasible solution to the serious environmental pollution problems associated with the presence of heavy metals in tannery effluent