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GROWTH AND YIELD OF ACHA (Digitaria exilis Kippis Stapf) AS INFLUENCED BY SOWING METHODS AND NITROGEN RATES IN THE GUINEA SAVANNA AREA OF NIGERIA
Get PDFField experiments were conducted in the cropping season of 2015 and repeated in 2016 at the National Cereals Research Institute, Acha Sub-Station Riyom , Plateau State to determine the appropriate sowing method and optimum nitrogen rate for acha (D. exilis) production in Southern Guinea Savanna Zone of Nigeria. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments consisted of two sowing methods (Broadcasting and drilling at 30cm inter-row spacing) and three nitrogen rates (0, 30 and 60kg Nha-1). Plot size was 3.0m x 4.0m. The parameters studied were number of tillers, leaf area, spike length, straw weight and grain yield (kg ha-1). The results indicated that drilling method of sowing had superior influence on number of tillers, leaf area, spike length, straw weight (kgha-1). While the maximum grain yield (kgha-1) was also recorded under drilling method of sowing than under broadcasting method and the lowest grain yield was produced at when nitrogen was not applie
ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASES AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE RESIDENTS OF BWARI AREA COUNCIL
Get PDFThe study focuses on environmental diseases and their effects on the residents of Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory. The study area is located within latitudes 9°01’ and 9°28’N and longitudes 6°23’ and 7°19’E. The basic data sources include questionnaires, oral interviews, literature from past works and photographs taken during field work. Attention was focused on those cultural and environmental risk factors like source of drinking water, source of cooking energy, poor waste management and number of people living per room amongst many. Result show that these risk factors aid the breeding of causative organisms and fueltheir spread to homes thus causing diseases like diarrhea, malaria, flu, typhoid and gastro infections. Results further revealed that the number of health care centers in the area are few and situated far from residents causing them stress, financial drain and reduction in the number of working hours. Several recommendations were made to combat these risk factors and reduce their effects, amongst which are that veterinary regulations, care and control of animals kept by residents should be enforced and that environmental policies centered on new constructions of buildings should be enforced especially obtaining building approval from appropriate quarter
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SOLID MINERALS FROM LOKOJA AND JOS IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA
Get PDFThe structural, qualitative and quantitative analysis of grained rock samples were carried out with the view to establishing the mineral components present in the samples. Two samples were collectedfrom a mining site in Jos, Plateau State as well as from another mining site in Lokoja, Kogi State.The two samples were prepared for XRD analysis using a backloading preparation method and done with X-ray diffractometer. The analysis confirmed the presence of minerals such as Cassiterite (SnO2), Ilmenite (FeTiO3), Zircon (SiO4),Columbite (Fe), Manganoan in the ample from Jos as a result of the matching of the peaks with the database 2θ values. The percentage area integration of the various phases which correlated to the quantity of the various minerals in the sample revealed that Cassiterite(Tin Oxide) of 65.9% value was from Jos and is a Tin Ore. The grain sizes for Cassiterite (SnO2), Ilmenite (FeTiO3), Zircon (SiO4), Columbite (Fe), Manganoan are 17.674, 35.348, 37.208, 70.695, 20.199 in nm respectively. The samples from Lokoja showed the presence of Magnetite (Fe¬3O4), Quartz (SiO2), Hematite (Fe2O3) and Geothite(FeO(OH)) and confirmed the grain sizes of 28.278, 35.348, 28.278. 17.673 and 23.565 in nm respectively.The constituents of Lokoja samples, all of which contained Iron Oxide also indicate that the sample is an Iron Ore. These findings confirm the fact that the mineral resources that are present in these regions of the country areeconomically viable and have the potential to boost economy and industrial development 
EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT SOURCES OF PHOSPHORUS ON PERFORMANCE AND BLOOD CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER CHICKENS
Get PDFThis research was conducted to investigate the utilization of rock phosphate as an alternative phosphorus source in broiler diet. Rock phosphate is known to contain high amount of calcium and phosphorus, but its utilization has been limited due to its fluorine contents. A total of 250 Sayed broiler chicks were purchased at day old and brooded. After brooding, 210 very active and health chicks were allotted at random to 3 dietary treatments, each with 5 replicate pens such that 14 birds were assigned to each replicate and a total of 70 birds made up a treatment. The result showed that there were no significant (P >0.05) variations among all the parameters determined. Different sources of phosphorus did not show any significant difference (P>0.05) on performance of broiler at both starter (28 days of age) and finisher (56 days of age) among the dietary treatment groups for all parameters evaluated. Also, there were no significant (P >0.05) variations among all the blood parameters determined. Mean values of calcium obtained from blood serum of broiler finisher chickens in this study ranged between 2.38 mmol/l and 2.44 mmol/l (4.76 – 4.88 mEq/l or 9.52 – 9.76 mg/dl
ISOLATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND ANTIBIOGRAM OF BACTERIAL PATHOGENS ISOLATED FROM MILK OF COW, GOAT AND SHEEP
Get PDFBacteriological analyses of the milks of cow, sheep and goat were conducted in Keffi, North-Central Nigeria. The bacteriological analyses revealed the presence of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris and Salmonella spp. This study also revealed a total heterotrophic count, total faecal count and coliform count (×104cfu/ml) in the cow, sheep and goats milk to be 4.8, 1.0 and 2.9; 4.5, 0.6 and 2.5; 3.6, 0.4 and1.6 respectively. However, rate of occurrences of the respective isolates indicate varying degree of occurrences. E. coli and Salmonella spp. had the highest occurrences of 86.7% each. Percentage occurrence in descending order is in the order: Staphylococcus aureus (80.0%), followed by Klebsiella spp. (73.3%), P. aeruginosa (66.7%), then Proteus vulgaris (33.3%) 
TIMETABLE REMINDER: AN OFFLINE ANDROID ALGORITHM
Get PDFThis paper introduces and solves one of the timetabling problems in Nigerian Universities with special reference to Federal University Lafia (FULafia). FULafia is one out of the twelve new Universities established by the past President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan). It has two (2) Campuses (Take-off site and the Permanent site) and offers programmes in three (3) faculties. This offline android program is specially built to the taste of Federal Universities with consideration to Federal UniversityLafia (FULafia) Timetable Scheme and works specifically with an android operating system. This lecture Android Time Table Program helps both students and lecturers in reminding them of their respective upcoming lectures, lecturer in charge of the Course, time of lectures and venues everyday according to FULafia days of lectures. It does that every fifteen (15) minutes before the actual lecture time 
GROWTH RESPONSE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER CHICKENS FED DIETS CONTAINING DIFFERENTLY PROCESSED BAOBAB SEED MEAL AT FINISHER PHASE
Get PDFA study was conducted to determine the growth response and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens fed diets containing differently processed baobab seed meal at finisher phase. The following processing methods served as the treatments (raw, cooked, toasting, fermentation and sprouted) alongside the control. One hundred and eighty (180) broilers chickens were used for the study. Each treatment was replicated three times in a completely randomized design (CRD) and lasted for 21 days. Data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means separated using Duncan’s multiple range tests. Final live weightof the chickens fed control diet (T1) was significantly (P<0.05) higher those fed diets T3 – T5 but similar to T2 (raw) and sprouted (T6). The pattern of feed intake at this phase showed that chickens fed baobab based diets T2 – T5 were similar and significantly inferior to control diet and T6 despite the processing methods. The different processing methods did not affect body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio of broiler finisher fed baobab seed meal. The carcass yield and cuts differed significantly (P<0.05) at 10% inclusion of processed baobab seed meal. The study showed sprouted as the best among processing method
PRELIMINARY TOXICITY EVALUATION OF SOIL CONTAMINATED WITH PETROLEUM DERIVATIVES ON SOME CROP PLANTS
Get PDFThe germination and growth of Zea mays and Sorghum bicolor were investigated on soils contaminated with different petroleum derivatives. This was carried out with a view to ascertaining the toxicity effects of these derivatives on the crop plants. Soil was collected from area with no previous contamination and was filled inside polythene bags. The experimental setup for each contaminant was a complete randomized design with three replicates. Each of the petroleum derivatives which include diesel oil (AGO), spent engine oil and lubricant oil each had three treatments i.e. 0 ml, 50 ml and 100 ml. The 0 ml treatment represents control where the soil was mixed with distilled water only. Five seeds of each crop plant were picked at random and sown on the soils containing the treatments and the experiments were monitored for five weeks. The germination percentage was calculated daily for seven days while the plant height and leaf areas were determined weekly. Results showed that the controls of all the crop plants had the highest percentage germination while the treatment that had 100 ml contaminations had the lowest. It was also observed, the higher the diesel oil contamination, the lower the leaf areas of Zea mays and Sorghum bicolor 
PRODUCTION OF BIOETHANOL USING PAPER WASTES AS SUBSTRATES
Get PDFAn investigation was carried out on the production of ethanol from cellulosic material (paper and paper wastes) by acid hydrolysis and fermentation using locally isolated yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Specific weight (1.3Kg) of each sample was mixed with dilute hydrochloric acid and heated for complete hydrolysis. The content was filtered to remove solid and to recover the sugar/acid solution. The sugar/acid solution (wort) was fermented and distilled to obtain 96% ethanol. The results revealed that the quantity of sugar after conversion of newspaper, used A4 paper and unused A4 paper were 42%, 35% and 45%, respectively. The volume of ethanol produced from each paper samples were 250ml/L, 150ml/L, and 300ml/L respectively. The results obtained show clearly that paper wastes can be channelled towards production of ethanol which is of immense industrial and commercial valu
FIELD MEASUREMENT OF FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR SOIL EROSION IN TROPICAL NIGERIA
Get PDFThe soil erosion factor K, is the quantitative expression of inherent successof a particular soil to erode at different rates when the other factors that affect soil erosion are standardized. This study was carried out based on a completely randomized design to determine the erodibility of three different plots under two management conditions (one left bare of vegetation, and the other planted with Grain Amaranth). Runoff and soil loss measurements were measured after every rainstorm. Results revealed that measured K on the vegetable plots does not indicate much variation on the three plots, but were slightly lower than measured K on the bare plots.Plot 1 recorded the least erodibility (0.0424 for the vegetable plot and 0.0549 for the bare plot), while plot 3 had the highest with (0.0492 for the vegetable plot and 0.0684 for the bare plot respectively). The percentage sand content on all runoff plots decreased slightly after the experiment was concluded. So also was the organic matter content. Examination of chemical properties of the soil before and after the studies revealed that the top soil of the runoff plots showed lower organic carbon content, available Nitrogen and Phosphorus content, the exchangeable Potassium on all the runoff plots were lower after soil erosion, the same thing for Magnesiumand Calcium.Plot 3 recorded the highest runoff and soil loss and hence the highest erodibility these may be attributed to its higher slope steepness of 3% when compared to those of plots 1and 2 which has slope steepness of 2% each