A predator-prey mathematical model with competitive interaction amongst two species

A mathematical model is constructed to study the effect of predation on two competing species in which one of the competing species is a prey to the predator whilst the other species is not under predation.  We assume that all species can move by diffusion and study the spatial structure of the species and obtained conditions for the existence and stability of equilibrium solutions. The results indicate the possibility of a stable coexistence of the three interacting species in form of stable oscillations under the reflecting boundary conditions.  Numerical simulations supported our theoretical predictions.   By utilizing Liapunov-like functions and differential inequalities we were able to establish that the system is dissipative

HARVEST TIME AND SUGAR COMPOSITION OF EARLY AND LATE CULTIVATED STAPLE-TYPE SWEET POTATO (Ipomoea batatas (L) Lam) CULTIVARS ON THE JOS PLATEAU, NIGERIA

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L) Lam) is a Staple – type food source on the Jos Plateau. A study was carried out to assay for its carbohydrate and soluble sugars at different harvest times. The improved varieties CIP4400168, Ex-Igbariam, Tanzania, TIS 8164 and TIS 87/0087 and local landraces, Jandankali I, Jandankali II, Jandankali III local varieties were collected from farmers on the Jos Plateau. These were planted within Jos, harvested after 4 and 6 months, processed into chips of 1 x 1 x 6mm dimension, dried in Air ovendrier, milled and sieved to fine flours. One gram (1.0g) of the flour was dissolved in 50ml of distilled water, shaken in 250ml flask to extract its constituents, tested for carbohydrate and soluble sugars qualitatively and quantitatively for glucose, fructose, maltose and sucrose.&nbsp

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINAL PLANTS FROM PARI DISTRICT, KAURU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KADUNA STATE

An ethno-medicinal survey was carried out in October, 2017 to collate information on the medicinal plants used by the Chawai people of Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.A 10m x 10m quadrat size was used to sample 8 plots, 200 metres apart. Oral interviews were conducted with Elders, Alternative Medicinal Practitioners, Hunters and women. Seventy-two (62) plant species were recorded and distributed across 31 families out of which 68 were used for alternative medicinal purposes and distributed according to the following families:Mimosoideae (12.90%),Anacardiaceae (9.68%), Caesalpinodeae (8.06%), Euphorbiaceae (8.06%), while Apocynaceae, Moraceae, Fabaceae and Rubiaceae showed (4.84%) each. The study revealed that the plant part mostly used are the roots when compared to the other parts of the plant (barks, leaves, stems, roots, fruits, seeds,latex and flowers). Latex and flowers were amongst the least parts used. There is the urgent need for more documentation of the traditional ethno-medicinal knowledge

PHYSICO-CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF EARLY AND LATE HARVESTED IMPROVED AND LOCAL SWEET POTATO (Ipomoea batatas (L) Lam) CULTIVARS ON THE JOS PLATEAU

The physicochemical composition and the energy values of the flours of both identified improved sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L) Lam) cultivars: CIP4400168, Ex-Igbariam, Tanzania, TIS 8164 and TIS 87/0087 and three local varieties (Land-races) of sweet potato were investigated. The cultivars were harvested after 4 months (early harvest) and 6 months (late harvest) to determine their suitability for the formulation of sweet potato secondary products. The root of each harvestwas weighed, washed, scrubbed, chipped to 1 x 1 x 6mm dimension, dried, milled into powder, sieved through 250μm mesh size sieve to obtain sweet potato flour. The flour was proximately analysed for moisture content (MC), Protein, Lipid, Fibre, Ash, Starch, Calorific value and pH using standard methods.The late harvest differed significantly in the parameters examined. The flour had low percentage moisture content ranging between 5 and 7.04% for late and early harvests respectively, indicative of long shelf life characteristics and low chances of attack by microorganisms. The crude protein values were higher (7.04%) in the flours of the early harvest but low (0.77%) for late harvest. The lipid concentration of the cultivars was low, 0.24 and 1.67% for the flours of 4 and 6 months harvests respectively. The fibre mean values of the flours were high (3.80%) in the 6 months harvest but low (1.24%) in the 4 months harvest.The ash content of the samples ranged between 0.83 and 2.56% for the flours of 6 and 4 months harvest respectively. The mean percentage values for starch of the flours were high ranging between 79.43 and 89.76% for 4 and 6 months harvested cultivars.&nbsp

VARIABLE GENETIC EXPRESSIONS AND INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GRAIN YIELD AND SOME QUALITY TRAITS OF ACHA (Digitaria spp.) ACCESSIONS IN JOS PLATEAU

Acha (Digitaria exillis kippis. Stapf and D. iburua Stapf L) is one of the oldest West African cereal and of great value to the natives. It belongs to the Poaceae (Grass) family. Despite its potentials, Acha has remained a marginal crop. The present study focused on the evaluation of the variable genetic expressions and interrelationship between grain yield and some morphological traits of some Acha accessions. These accessions were collected from farmers in five villages of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State. This work was conducted at the end of the 2019 rainy season at the Federal College of Forestry Jos. Grains were harvested from the experimental field and proximate analysis was conducted for the Ash content, crude fat, crude fibre, protein content, carbohydrate content, moisture content, dry matter content and energy values. Analysis of variance revealed variability among the different accessions and the variability spanned the nutritional composition of Acha.&nbsp

FOOD AND PASTURE PLANT DIVERSITY FROM PARI DISTRICT OF KAURU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

An ethno-botanical survey was carried out in October, 2017 on the food and fodder plants of the Chawai people of Pari, Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. A 10m x 10m quadrat size was used to sample 8plots, 200metres apart. Oral interviews were conducted with Elders, Alternative Medicine Practitioners, Hunters and women. 49 plants species were recorded as plant species used for food/culinary and fodder/veterinary purposes, by the inhabitants. The results of the study revealed that 31 (62.27%) of the 49 plants are used as food, condiment and/or spice. Out of the 31plant species collected, fruits are consumed more as food than any other part of the plant (74.19%).The Family Mimosoideae accounted for 6(12.12%) out of the 49 used for food and fodder purposes. Anacardiaceae, Sapotaceae, Euphobiaceae, Moraceae, and Apocynaceae had 3 species each. The remaining families had 1 and 2 species each.The study revealed that the plant part mostly used are the fruit 24 (42.11%)this was followed by the leaves14 (24.56%), seed and bark with 5each (8.5%), flower 4 (7.02%), roots 3 (5.26%) and stem 1 (1.8%). There is the urgent need for more documentation of the traditional ethno-botanical knowledge.&nbsp

Effect of Photoperiod on the Germination and Seedling Development of Some (Acha) Digitaria Species

A glass house study was conducted at the Botanical garden, University of Jos, Jos Nigeria to study the effects of photoperiod on germination and seedling development of three Digitaria species (D. exilis, D. barbinodis, and D. iburua) using the Completely Randomized Design (CRD).The three species were subjected to photoperiods of 6, 8, 10, and 12hrs for 21 days. Results show that D. iburua had 30% germination while D. exilis and D. barbinodis had 80% germinatio