ADAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE
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Effect of intercropping on the incidence and severity of damage of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith) on maize (Zea mays l)
Get PDFThe fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith) is an invasive and destructive pest that came intoNigeria recently, where it has established itself as one of the maize’s most important insect pests. The effectof intercropping on the incidence and severity of damage to maize was investigated, where maize wasintercropped with five different crops, namely, cowpea, groundnut, soya bean, sorghum and roselle, andcontrolled plots with sole maize. Randomized Complete Block Design was used, and the treatments werereplicated four times. Parameters taken were number of damaged leaves per plant, severity of damaged onleaves, number of damaged ears per plot, severity of damage on ears and yield per plot. The result of thestudy had shown that plots where maize was intercropped with soya bean had, significantly (P<0.05), thelowest incidence (17.5 %) and severity of damage (2.8) compared to plots with sole maize, that had thehighest incidence (43.8 %) and severity of damage (5.5). The percentage of damaged tassels was the highestin plots where maize was a sole crop (17.5 %), followed by maize and sorghum (15 % each). The lowestpercentage of damaged tassels was recorded on maize that was intercropped with soya bean (5.0%), andwas significantly (P< 0.05) lower than the rest of the five treatments. Similarly, the percentage of damagedears was the highest with maize as a sole crop (15 %) and lowest on maize intercropped with soya bean (3.7%). Highest yield was also recorded in plots where maize was intercropped with soya bean (7.43 tons/ha),followed by maize-cowpea intercropped plots (6.44 tons/ha) and maize-groundnut intercropped plots(5.23tons/ha) and plots where maize was a sole crop had, significantly the lowest yield (P< .05) The resultof this study is indicative of the potentials of using intercropping, especially when legumes such as soyabean, are included, as a management tactic against fall armyworm on maize. This will reduce a totalreliance on synthetic insecticide to manage the insect pest by small holder maize farmers in Nigeri
Emotional intelligence and quality of work life among Agriculture Faculties of Federal Universities in Southwest, Nigeria
Get PDFThe study's objectives assessed the effects of emotional intelligence on the quality of work life of agriculturalfaculties at Federal Universities in Southwest Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select125 Federal University staff. The first stage involved a simple random sampling of 29.0% of the FederalUniversities in South-west Nigeria; thus, the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), OgunState, and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, were selected. In the fourth stage,proportionate random sampling was used to select equal percentages of staff from selected Departments inthe Agriculture-based Colleges and Faculty in FUNAAB and OAU (64 and 61, respectively). Data onrespondents’ socio-economic characteristics, emotional intelligence and quality of work life were obtainedusing a well-structured questionnaire, and the data were analyzed using descriptive nd inferentist tistics esu ts showed th t st ff possess high e otion inte igence in ter s of their otion regu tion x e f- otiv tion x nd oci s i s x with high quality of work life. Also, emotional intelligence and quality of work life were significantly related (r = 0.189, p<0.05), while emotional intelligence (t = 0.888, p>0.05) and quality of work life (t = 0.860, p>0.05) of FUNAAB and OAU staff were not significantly different. The study concluded that emotional intelligence affects the quality of work life among staff of Federal Universities in South-west Nigeria. Hence, activities focusing on increasing and maintaining emotional intelligence are needed in these institutions to improve the quality of work life among Staf
Evaluation of dietary supplementation of black seed (Nigella sativa) on the histological structure of kidney, liver and testis of rabbit bucks
Get PDFThis study investigated the histological response of kidney, liver and testis of rabbit buck to dietarysupplementation of Black seed (Nigella sativa). Twenty (20) Chinchilla X New Zealand White, 5-6 weeksold, were balanced for weight and assigned to four (4) treatments T1, T2, T3 and T4 of five rabbits each in aCompletely Randomized Design (CRD). The four experimental treatments were supplemented with blackseed (Nigella sativa) at 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% levels, respectively. After twelve (12) weeks of feeding, thebucks were sacrificed and organs (kidney, liver and testes) were extracted for histological evaluation. Theresults showed that kidney tubular system and the interstitium appeared healthy and normal in the treatedgroups (T2, T3 and T4) with a mild improvement over the control (T1). The liver hepatocytes were alsoobserved to be normal across the treatments. The seminiferous tubules in testes of rabbit bucks fed varyinglevels of Black seed had normal and larger well-arranged germ cell population than the control. As Nigellasativa supplementation increased up to 1.5%, the testicular histo-architecture remained normal. This studydemonstrated that Nigella sativa seeds, at the supplementation levels in diet, possess the potential toimprove and preserve the histo-architecture of rabbit kidney, liver and testi
Food insecurity response and severity to changes in integrated household dependency ratio in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria
Get PDFThis study analyzed food insecurity response and severity to changes in integrated household dependency ratio in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria. It covered 15 and five peripheral wards of Maiduguri Metropolitan and Jere LGAs respectively. A two-stage sampling procedure was adopted to draw respondents for the study; Purposive selection of ten large concentrations of integrated household wards and proportionate random selection of 376 integrated households. Bothprimary and secondary data were used for the study. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to analyze the data collected. The descriptive statistics used were frequency tables, percentages and mean while inferential statistics included food insecurity response model (FIRM). The integrated household food insecurity response was positive with a coefficient of 0.307, 0.895 and 1.507 for mild, moderate and severe food insecure households respectively
Unravelling economic heterosis for nutritional profiles and grain yield in extra-early provitamin a quality protein maize
Get PDFHeterosis is a crucial genetic mechanism for enhancing grain yield and nutritional quality in extra-earlyprovitamin A (PVA) Quality Protein Maize (QPM). This study investigated the extent of heterosis in grainyield, tryptophan content, and carotenoid composition among 10 PVA-QPM hybrids. A partial diallelmating design, excluding reciprocals, generated 45 F₁ hybrids from 10 extra-early PVA-QPM inbred lines.These hybrids, along with their 10 parental lines and two commercial hybrid checks, were evaluated underrainfed conditions at the Lower Niger River Basin Authority, Oke-Oyi, Nigeria, over two consecutive years.Significant economic heterotic effects were observed for grain yield, with values ranging from -4.29% inTZEIORQ 26 × TZEQI 82 to 19.38% in TZEIORQ 11 × TZEIORQ 24, demonstrating the genetic advantageof certain hybrids over commercial varieties. The Tryptophan content exhibited notable positive heterosis,surpassing 50% in the derived hybrids, further validating the effectiveness of QPM breeding initiatives.Provitamin A and different carotenoids showed significant hybrid vigour, especially marked by substantialgains in α-carotene (295.65%), β-carotene (46.80%), and β-cryptoxanthin (40.52%). The low standarderror of difference values (0.0044-0.0124) and highly significant critical differences at 5% (0.0087-0.0247)and 1% (0.0114-0.0319) levels confirmed the statistical reliability of the findings. These results underscorethe potential of hybrid breeding for biofortification, reinforcing its role in addressing vitamin A deficiency.Further studies are needed to evaluate genotype-by-environment interactions, ensuring the stability andadaptability of these hybrids in various agroecological region
Assessment of training needs of poultry farmers in Zaria local government area of Kaduna State, Nigeria
Get PDFThis study assessed the training needs of poultry farmers in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria. The study specifically described the socio-economic characteristics of poultry farmers, identified the training needs by poultry farmers, identified the institutional support enjoyed by poultry farmers, and identified farmers’ constraints to poultry production. One-hundred and fifty (150) poultry farmers were used as sample for this study. Interview schedule was used to collect relevant data. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data collected. Result obtained shows that farmer have high level of education. Also, proper record keeping was the major training need by poultry farmers while new agricultural technology ranked as the major institutional support enjoyed by the farmers. High cost of input was the major constraints to poultry production in the study area. This paper concluded that poultry farmers need training on adequate record keeping. It recommended agricultural institutions such as government, private organizations and NGOs should support farmers through intensive training and re-training especially on identified areas of needs in order to increase their productivity.
 
Analysis of productivity of apiculture among ADP contact farmers in Ohafia agricultural zone of Abia State, Nigeria
Get PDFThis study was conducted in Ohafia Agricultural Zone of Abia State. The study assessed the productivity of ADP contact apiculturists and the constraints militating against the productivity of the apiculturists. The study used purposive and random sampling techniques to select 60 beekeepers. Data were collected from the apiculturists through primary source. The collected data were analysed using total factor productivity, multiple regression analysis and Likerty scale. The result of the findings showed that mean productivity of the apiculturists was 4.25kg/N. The result further indicated that education, experience and number of bee hive positively and significantly influenced the productivity of the respondents while age was negatively signed and significant. The major constraints on the productivity were climate change, bush burning, deforestation, poor government intervention, poor extension contact etc. Policy should aim at full implementation of laws guiding bush burning and deforestation. The farmers should be advised to always clear the bushes around their beekeeping surroundings at the onset of dry seasons in order to ward off the bush being burned by fire. Also the few extension agents in the field should be encouraged to visit and teach the apiculturists the improved technologies on beekeeping so as to increase the knowledge of the beekeepers and enhance the productivity of the apiculturists.
 
Gender differences in credit acquisition techniques of rural dwellers in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State
Get PDFThe study assessed gender differences in credit acquisition techniques of rural dwellers in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun state. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select respondents for the study. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire covering respondents’ socioeconomic characteristics, sources of information, constraints faced and credit sources available. Data were analyzed using percentages, frequencies and t-test. Result of analysis showed that the mean ages were 43 and 40 for males and females, 51.5% and 38.5% of males and females had access to credit facilities. Farming was a major (64.7% and 76.9%) source of income in the study area. Farm organization was the major source of information, ̅= 2.53 and =2.58 in the study area. Major constraints faced by males were time wasting and undue embarrassment ̅= 2.93 while high interest rate ̅= 2.88 constrained the females most. Family was the major source of credit, ̅=2.9 for both males and females. There was a significant difference (t= 0.96, p< 0.05) in credit acquisition from money lenders between males and females. The study concluded that respondents mostly acquired credits from family sources, hence, recommended that strings and barriers be lessened to enable respondents have access to formal credit sources.
Sexual dimorphism on body weight and some conformation traits of Ross 308 broiler chickens using Principal Component Analysis
Get PDFThe use of principal component analysis (PCA) is a occurrence in analysis of relationship between scores of variables in domestic animals and could assist in selection and breeding programme of such animals. The study adopted the PCA in describing the growth traits of male and female Ross 308 broiler chickens. A total of 100 males and 100 females Ross 308 broiler chickens were used for the study. Traits measured were body weight (BW), body length (BL), keel length (KL), thigh length (TL) and wing length (WL). The descriptive statistics indicated that the average BW (2161.68g), BL (22.22cm), KL (16.53cm), TL (16.52cm), WL (21.10cm) and SL (18.32cm) were obtained for males Ross 308 broiler chicken while BW (2059.22g), BL (21.56cm), KL (15.99cm), TL (16.27cm), WL (20.83cm) and SL (17.89cm) were obtained for females Ross 308 broiler chicken. The correlation coefficient observed varied from r=0.78 to r=0.97 and r=0.78 to r=0.95 for male and female Ross 308 broiler chickens respectively were positive and highly significant (P<0.01). The PCA results revealed that three principal components were extracted for the broiler chicken explaining 98.64% and 97.63% of the total variation in the original variable for both male and female Ross 308 broiler chicken respectively while PC1 of both chickens accounted for 92.905% and 91.04% respectively. However, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) values of 0.912 and 0.875 for male and female chickens respectively were termed to be Marvelous and Meritorious with Bartlett’s test of 2418.795g at determinants 0.88E for both male and female Ross 308 broiler chicken. These components could be a template for selection criteria growth traits in male and female broiler chickens
Participation of cocoa farmers in farmers field school in Idanre Local Government area of Ondo State, Nigeria
Get PDFThis study investigated the participation of cocoa farmers in farmers’ field school (FFS) in Idanre local government area of Ondo state. A multistage sampling procedure was employed for the survey of the farmers. The data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages and means. The analysis of the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers revealed that about one-third (36.7 percent) of the cocoa farmers were aged 51 years and over, indicating an aging workforce, while 48.3 percent of them were married. About 29.2 percent of the respondents had secondary school education, 44.2% had household sizes of between 3 and 5, and 30.8% had farm sizes of between 2 and 2.9 hectares. Major factors determining participation in FFS were age, level of education, credit sources and extension contacts. Farmers participated highly in land preparation while level of participation is low in control of pests and diseases. Severe constraints faced were lack of skilled trainers and time-consuming sessions. There was a significant relationship between socio economic characteristics and participation in FFS. There is the need to strengthen farmer-based groups to serve as platforms for disseminating extension services information to farmers which could engender the participation of members in farmers’ field school. Moreover, the relevant authorities should provide farmers with credit facilities to enable them to purchase productive resources such as land.