ADAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE
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Soil chemical properties and heterotrophic bacterial population in the rhizosphere of oil palm plantations under different ages
Get PDFThis study was carried out to determine the soil chemical properties and heterotrophic bacterial population and species that are predominant in the rhizosphere of oil palms (Elaeis guineensis. jack) and to compare the bacteria population in the rhizosphere of matured (10 years and above) fruit bearing palms with those present in young (3 – 6 years) palms that are just bearing fruits for the first few years. Four plantations of different ages were sampled at the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) main station located in Ovia North Local Government Area of Edo State at soil depth of; 0 – 15 cm, 15 – 30 cm, 30 – 45 cm and 45 – 60 cm. The soil samples obtained were analyzed for their physical, chemical and microbial compositions and the bacteria counts found in the various oil palm plantations were tested for significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) using Duncan multiple range test in a Completely Randomized Design. The soil texture of Field 52 (3 – 6 years) was sandy in both top and sub soil (0 – 60 cm) while the older plantations had sandy-loam and loamy-sand at some depth. The nitrogen, phosphorus and organic carbon content of the soil were also observed to increase with age. The investigation further showed a high presence of bacteria at the top soil (0 – 15 cm and 15 – 30 cm) than in the sub soils (30 – 45 cm and 45 – 60 cm). This was in close relationship with the high presence of carbon and other primary nutrients that were also more at the top soils. On the basis of plant age, the heterotrophic bacteria populations were greater in the older plantations than found in the young (3 - 6 years) plantations. The specific bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere soils were Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Micrococcus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Coryrubacteria spp.
 
Effect of supplementing maize with yam peel meal on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and cost benefit of rabbit production
Get PDFA 56 - days study was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing maize with yam peel meal on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing rabbits. Eighteen (18) growing rabbits of mixed sexes age between 6-8 weeks were used for the study. The rabbits were randomly allotted into three treatment groups in a completely randomized design (CRD). Each treatment was replicated three times having two rabbits per replicate. Three experimental diets were formulated with YPM at varying levels of replacement. The replacement levels of YPM was 0% for control, 20% and 30% representing T2 and T3, respectively. Each of the diets was offered ad-libitum to the rabbits. Parameters studied include feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass characteristics and cost benefit ratio. Carcass evaluation was done at the 56th day. Cost implication of supplementing maize with YPM was calculated at the end of the experiment. Data was analyzed by one-way analysis of variance ANOVA using Duncan's new multiple range Test. The result showed a non-significant (P>0.05) differences in the body weight and feed conversion ratio among treatments. There were significant (P<0.05) differences in the feed intake of the rabbits. Rabbit fed T2 (20%) and T3 (30%) consumed significantly more feed than rabbits fed T1 (0%). There was no significant (P>0.05) difference for all the parameters considered for carcass traits except kidney. The total feed cost per kg reduced as the replacement levels of YPM in the diets increased. Therefore, the control diet (0%YPM) was more expensive than the diets containing 20% and 30% YPM, respectively. The cost of feed/kg live weight gain was higher for the control diet (0% YPM) when compared with T2 and T3. The results of this study suggest that YPM can replace maize up to 30% optimal level without any deleterious effect on the growth and carcass characteristics of growing rabbits.
 
Response of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) and soil chemical properties to different amendment types in an ultisol
Get PDFA field experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of different organic manure on the growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) at the teaching and research farm of the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria between April to August, 2016. Four treatments; control (T1), cattle dung + poultry manure + pig manure (T2), poultry manure + foliar blend (T3) and bacterial inoculant (T4) were laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Data were collected on growth (plant height, number of leaves, stem girth and leaf area) and yield parameters of okra plant. Results obtained from the research indicated that the growth and yield of okra was lowest in control (T1). These results further suggest that, the organic manure used in the study especially in a combined form (cattle dung + poultry manure + pig manure) positively influenced the agronomic performance of the okra plant. T2 increased okra plant height and, leaf area compared with the control. T3 recorded significantly higher number of leaves (7.188), compared with the control (3.375) whereas, fresh fruit weight from the various treatment plots were in the following order; T2 (79.15g) > T3 (53.58g) > T4 (22.53g) > T1 (20.24g). Although the nitrogen content of the soil was higher (21.33 g/kg) with T4, the highest fruit weight was obtained in T2 treated soils. It was also observed from the microbial analysis carried out on the soil samples obtained from the various plots that, soils with organic amendments (T2, T3 and T4) generally had higher microbial population, relative to control (T1). Based on the findings of this experiment, it could be deduced that cattle dung, poultry manure and pig manure promotes higher performance of okra.
 
Effect of pig dung on the vegetative growth of Xanthosoma sagittifolium (Cocoyam)
Get PDFThis study was carried out at Edo State College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi for a period of thirteen weeks. A 10m x 10m plot was cleared and made bare. The plot was divided into two equal halves of 10m x 5m plots each by bamboo pegs, the two plots were the control plot and the treatment plot. The topsoil of the treatment plot was removed to depth of 50cm. 60kg of pig dung was poured into the dug pit and covered with the sand removed and watered to quicken decomposition. After, five replicate plots of 50cm x 50cm plots were randomly located within the treated plots. In the same vein, 5 replicate plots of 50cm x 50cm were randomly located with the 5m x 10m control plot. Ten sets of cocoyam were planted, one on each of the replicate plots of control and treatment plot. Two weeks after planting, records of growth were taken. At the control plots on the 13th week, the following records were taken: 61:50 24.71cm (height), 19.600 4.65 leaves and 7.50 2.00 branches. The treatment plots at the 13th week recorded 84.20 31.96cm (height), 26.40 13.43 leaves and 15.50 5.10 branches. The growth rate of plants in the treatment plot with pig dung was higher than that of the control, this could have been due to the decomposition of the pig dung to form manure necessary for plant growth.
 
In Vivo antimicrobial activities of Allium cepa on cultured adult Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)
Get PDFThe design of the study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Allium cepa in cultured Clarias gariepinus. The proximate compositions and Mineral assay of whole A. cepa bulb and experimental diets were determined using standard methods. Microbial susceptibility assay was carried out in vitro on Staphloccocus aureus and Escherichia coli using Agar well diffusion. Bacterial isolation and identification from the different treatments and control was carried out according to standard methods. High moisture content (89.25 %) was recorded followed by carbohydrate (9.45%) and crude protein (7.21%). Experimental and control diets revealed 50 % and above crude protein content. In vitro susceptibility test of the various onion extracts and antibiotic shows susceptibility of the reference strains to the onion extracts. Bacterial isolation and identification showed the presence of pathogenic gram positive and negative coli and bacilli respectively. Results obtained for total fungi counts show the presence of both systemic and superficial fungi. Lower bacteria and fungi counts were observed 14 days after the withdrawal of experimental diets. Conclusively, onion can be used as antimicrobial agent in the culture of Clarias gariepinus.
 
Evaluation of nutrient content and in Vitro gas fermentation of some crop residues as feed supplements for ruminants
Get PDFThe objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritive value of Yam peel (YP), Maize chaff (MC) and Rice straw (RS). Evaluation of the nutrient and anti-nutrient content of the crop residues involved determination of the proximate, mineral and phytochemical contents of YP, MC and RS. In vitro gas production (IVGP) of crop residues was carried out over a period of 24 hr incubation to predict Metabolizable energy (ME), organic matter digestibility (OMD) and short chain fatty acids (SCFA). Methane (CH4) was measured by introducing 10 M NaOH into the inoculums after incubation. Result revealed significant (p<0.05) differences in the values of the proximate composition. The dry matter ranged between 85.55 and 92.18 g/100 g in YP and MC respectively. The highest crude protein (5.01 g/100 g) was obtained in MC, while the lowest (4.00 g/100 g) was recorded for YP. The crude fibre ranged between 25.05 g/100g and 41.49 g/100g (YP). The mineral content of YP, MC and RS were not significantly different from each other, but within acceptable limit for optimum metabolism. YP, MC and RS were implicated for anti-nutrients, though no significant. The IVGP varied significantly (p< 0.05) with the MC recording the highest (30.10ml) value, while the lowest (23.96ml) value was obtained in YP. Same trend was observed for ME, OMD, SCFA and CH4 ranging from 5.32– 11.12 MJ/Kg DM; 35.13 – 64.14 %; 0.50- 1.12 μmol and 9.05 – 11.00ml respectively. It can be concluded that YP, MC and RS has potential in livestock nutrition. Also the problem associated with disposal of crop residues can be conveniently reduced by incorporating them into ruminant feed.
 
Socioeconomic determinants of credit need assessment of Fadama farmers in Delta State, Nigeria
Get PDFThe study examined the credit need of farmers involved in Fadama III programme in the three agricultural zones of Delta State, Nigeria. Specifically examined the constraints faced by them as well as tested the relationship between the farmers’ socio-economic characteristics and their credit needs. Data was collected using the questionnaire method administered to 176 Fadama farmers and was subjected to descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment correlation analysis and analysis of variance. The Socio-economic characteristics of the respondents revealed that Fadama participants were young with mean age of 45 years. They were highly educated (91%) and having some form of formal education. The respondents were of 14 years farming experience and 50.1% of them were married and they were faced with problem of getting credit facilities. It was found that both male and female farmers participated in the Fadama III programme. The average loan received by respondents from the Fadama III programme was N500,000. However, the desired credit volume by the respondents was about N920,000, suggesting a gap between what the farmers were given and what they actually needed. The coefficient of determination of the respondents at 0.05% shows that age (r = -0214), educational qualification (r = 0.180) and farming status (r = 0.157 correlated with their desired credit volume. The study concluded that Fadama III management should increase the volume of credit disbursed to the farmers and remove the bottlenecks in acquisition of credit
 
Proximate analysis of some Jatropha curcas L. (Jatropha) Germplasm from Sokoto and Kebbi States
Get PDFJatropha curcas (Linnaeus) belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae and is closely related to other important cultivated plants like rubber tree and castor. Nigeria being a tropical country has wide variations in climatic and soil conditions and therefore has a wide variety of oil crops such as Jatropha. But the paucity of information on the proximate composition and utilization of its seeds in Nigeria is a problem when it comes to the genetic improvement of the crop. Information about nature and extent of genetic variability present in the Jatropha germplasm and association of various proximate compositions is a pre-requisite in planning successful breeding programme. The objectives of the study were to determine the variation in the proximate composition of some Jatropha curcas L. genotype seeds, determine the correlation among the proximate compositions in the Jatropha and suggest the best genotypes in terms of the proximate composition. The experiment was conducted in the laboratory of Product Development Research Programme of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Data were collected on the proximate compositions of the seeds: moisture, ash, protein, lipid, fibre and carbohydrate content and analyzed. Phenotypic correlations were computed for all the proximate compositions. Rank summation index was generated to identify the best genotype in terms of the proximate compositions. Significant differences were observed for all proximate compositions studied except the lipid which showed highly significant variation for all the genotypes. Highly significant correlations were observed between protein and lipid content (r = 0.67). Sokoto3 and Kebbi10 ranked first and last with rank summation indices of 14 and 118 respectively. The results obtained indicated the presence of appreciable amount of variability within the genotypes to be exploited for improvement. Sokoto3 was found to be the best genotype in terms of the proximate composition.
 
Studies on nutritional potentials of Anacardium occidentale (Cashew) leaf as off season feed for ruminants in the humid tropics
Get PDFThis study was designed to investigate the nutritional potential of Anarcardium occidentale leaf (AOL) as off season feed for ruminants. Two studies were conducted; the first study involves evaluation of the nutrient, mineral and anti-nutrient content of green, yellow and brown AOL while the second study involves the in vitro gas production (IVGP) of AOL which was carried out over a period of 24 hr incubation to predict Metabolizable energy (ME), organic matter digestibility (OMD) and short chain fatty acids (SCFA). Methane (CH4) was measured by introducing 10 M NaOH into the inoculums after incubation. Results revealed significant (p<0.05) differences in the values of the nutrient composition. The dry matter ranged between 89.68% and 90.91% in green and brown leaf respectively. The highest crude protein (17.44%) was obtained in green leaf, while the lowest (16.06%) was recorded for brown leaf. The mineral and anti-nutrient content of AOL were not significantly different from each other, but within acceptable limit for optimum metabolism. The total IVGP varied significantly (p< 0.05) with the green leaf recording the highest (16.00ml) value, while the lowest (7.00ml) value was obtained in brown leaf. Same trend was observed for IVGP parameter and characteristics, with green leaf recording the highest values, while the lowest values were obtain from brown leaf for all parameters measured). It can be concluded that AOL has potential in livestock nutrition. Also the problem associated with disposal of falling brown leaf can be conveniently reduced by incorporating them into ruminant feed