Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) Journal
Not a member yet
141 research outputs found
Sort by
Extracurricular Activities and their Influence on Academic Performance of Students in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike
No full textThis study adopted a survey design to determine the influence of extracurricular activities on academic performance of students in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. The study adopted the random sampling technique in which two hundred students were randomly sampled from the ten colleges. The instrument used for collecting the data was questionnaire which was validated by an expert in the department of agricultural education. This was based on three research questions formulated. The data collected were analyzed using percentage for the research questions. The findings made include the high level participation of students in extracurricular activities, high Grade Point Average (GPA) of students that participate in extracurricular activities and inability of some students to balance extracurricular activities and academic performance. The study recommended that students should participate in academic and formal extracurricular activities to empower them improve their academic performance, aspiration and GPA. Time management, seminars should be held regularly for student, so that they will appreciate the importance of managing their time well to enhance their academic performance
Properties of Chocolate Bars Produced by Partial Replacement of Cocoa with Bambaranut Flours
No full textCocoa powder (Theobromo cacao) and bambaranut (Voandzeasubterranea) flours blended at 100:0, 90:1, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60, 30:70, 20:80 and 10:90 ratios were used for the production of chocolate bars. Qualities which included sensory properties (appearance, flavour, texture, mouthfeel and general acceptability), proximate, mineral (zinc, copper, calcium, magnesium and iron) and vitamin (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and pyridoxine) composition were evaluated. Levels of moisture (7.35 – 9.60%) and protein (16.01 – 22.27%) in the bars were adequate to enhance shelf life stability and good nutritional quality respectively. The bambaranut bars compared favourably with the control (100: 0 cocoa: bambaranut bar) in most of the properties evaluated moreover the overall acceptability of the 60:40 and 70:30 cocoa: bambaranut bars were significantly higher (p<0.05) than the control
Effects of Changes in Personal Income Tax Act on Taxable Income of Individual Taxpayers in Nigeria.
No full textThis paper investigates the comparative effects of Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) 2004 and Personal Income Tax Amendment Act (PITAM), 2011 on the chargeable income of individual taxpayers in Nigeria. The objective is to resolve speculations that chargeable income under the new Act is higher than previously existed and that the effects of the changes are not equitably distributed among taxpayers of different income brackets, and thus, the reforms fail to resolve the problem of high income gap between the rich and the poor. Based on the provisions of both Acts, chargeable income was computed with data collected from 319 salaried and self-employed taxpayers who filed tax assessment returns with the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue in 2014 tax year. The sample was grouped into four income levels based on established criteria. Descriptive statistics, paired samples t-test, and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) were used in analysing the data with the aid of SPSS version 20.0. Results indicate that PITAM, 2011 produces a significantly lower chargeable income than PITA 2004, and that this difference cuts across taxpayers in the four income groups. Results also indicate that the percentage of income relieved from tax decreases as one moves from low to very high income group. The implication is that a greater percentage of chargeable income of high income earners is exposed to tax than the low income earners and thus contributing to the resolution of the income inequity problem. The paper recommends further fiscal adjustments that grant more reliefs to taxpayers to further reduce their chargeable income and enhance voluntary compliance to tax demand
An Analysis of the Chemical Water Quality Characteristics of River Kaduna
No full textThis study determines the level of pollution of the waters of the Kaduna River. To achieve this aim, the determination of the chemical characteristics of the water was carried out from different selected sites and analysis of the level of pollution of river water samples carried out. From the result obtained, simple inferential statistical techniques were used to test the hypotheses postulated, and result indicated that the Kaduna River is moderately polluted and there is a variation in the chemical parameters tested according to sampling sites. The result also shows that Makera River is heavily polluted and belongs to class>8
Characterization of Copper Fractions in Soil of A Cocoa Plantation Treated With Bordeaux Mixture At Ajata Bende In The Rainforest Agro - Ecological Zone Of Nigeria
No full textSoil characterization of various copper fractions in a cocoa (Threobroma cacao) plantation treated with Bordeaux mixture, on a clayey soil at Ajata in Bende, Abia State, Southeast agro – ecological zone of Nigeria, was conducted. The sequential extraction process was used to separate copper into its operationally defined fractions namely: water soluble, exchangeable, organic matter, manganese oxide, amorphous iron oxide, and crystalline iron oxide, residual, available and total forms. Result showed that copper forms in the soil were affected by the application of Bordeaux mixture, in the dry and wet seasons. The exchangeable and Mn oxide fractions had the least (0.22 mg kg-1) and highest (14.40 mg kg-1) Cu levels, respectively in the wet season and 0.23 and 25.10 mg kg-1 respectively in the dry season. Seasonal variation had no effect on water soluble, exchangeable and residual Cu forms. It greatly influenced the organic matter, Mn oxide, amorphous Fe oxide and crystalline Fe oxide forms. Manganese oxide and amorphous iron oxide forms of Cu were higher in the dry than the wet season and they served as sink for Cu. There was strong correlation among such soil properties such as CEC, silt and clay, and the various Cu forms. The results showed that application of Bordeaux mixture in the cocoa plantation increased the copper content in the soil above the critical value (0.20 mg kg-1) for optimum growth and of cocoa
Performance Determinants Of Women Self Help Groups In Agricultural Financing In Isiala-Ngwa North Local Government Area Of Abia State, Nigeria.
No full textThis study analysed performance of women self help groups in Agricultural financing in Isiala-Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia state, Nigeria. Multi stage and purposive sampling techniques were used to select respondents. Primary data were gathered using semi structured questionnaire that were personally administered. Descriptive statistics and ordinary least square (OLS) multiple regression model were used for data analysis. Results showed that mean age and household size of the women farmers were 41.78 years and 4 members respectively. Also, mean number of years of membership in women self help group was 6.43 years and mean annual income of the women farmers was N 195, 333.3. The result indicated that the women members of self help groups disbursed more loans to women crop farmers (N361, 000.00).The OLS multiple regression result revealed that years of formal education, farm size, household size and total value of savings of the groups were significant determinants at varied signs and level of volume of fund supplied to food crop production by women self help groups. Also, years of formal education, farm income, interest rate and total value of savings/income were significant determinants at varied signs and level of volume of fund supplied to poultry production by women self help groups. The major problems encountered as observed by 75.0% and 60.0% of the groups were insufficient loanable fund and irregular contribution respectively Policy makers interested in improving the living conditions of women farmers are advised to consider promoting women self help groups as one relevant ingredient to achieve gender equality and poverty alleviation.
Key words: Self-Help-Group, agricultural financing, women, credi
Characterization, Classification and Suitability Evaluation of Soils of Eastern Part of Akoko Southwest Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria for Cassava Cultivation.
No full textSoils in the tropics are inherently low in fertility and form the basis on which agricultural production takes place. In order to characterize, classify and evaluate selected soils formed on basement complex for cassava cultivation in eastern part of Akoko Southwest Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria. Six pedons were excavated in the area; pedons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 at Ikun 1, Ikun 2, Iwaro, Oka, Akungba, and Ayegunle respectively. Pedons were characterized and classified according to USDA soil Taxonomy and WRB systems of soil classification. The suitability of the study area for cassava cultivation was evaluated by non-parametric and the parametric square methods. Topsoil morphology indicated grayish brown (10YR 5/2) to brown (7YR 5/3) colour matrix, sandy loam to sandy clay loam textures and friable (moist) consistence underlain by yellowish (7.5YR 5/4) to reddish brown (2.5YR 4/3) colour matrix, sandy clay loam to clay textures and firm (moist) consistence endopedon. The distribution of clay content increased with soil depth for all pedons. The soil reaction (in water) was moderately acid to moderately neutral (pH 5.6 to 6.9). Base saturation, percentage organic carbon and total nitrogen were generally low. Pedons 1 was classified as Typic Kandiustult (USDA) with (FAO/WRB) correlation as Kandic Acrisol. Pedon 2 was classified as Plinthic Kandiustult (USDA) and Plinthic Acrisol (FAO/WRB). Pedons 3 and 6 were grouped as Typic Kandiustepts (USDA) and Kandic Cambisols (FAO/WRB). Pedon 4 was classified as Typic Kandiustalf (USDA) and Kandic Luvisol (FAO/WRB) while pedon 5 was Typic Kandiaquept (USDA) and Kandic Cambisol (FAO/WRB). The suitability assessment of the soils by parametric method showed that potentially, 50% of the study area was highly suitable (S1) while remaining 50% was moderately suitable (S2) for cassava cultivation. When assessed by the non-parametric method, the result revealed that the entire area was currently marginally suitable (S3) whereas potentially, 50% was moderately suitable (S2) and the remaining 50% was marginal (S3) for cassava cultivation. The soils require varying levels of fertility management practices targeted at alleviating the identified constraints to cassava productivity
Effects of Agricultural Waste Ash on Nutrients Concentration and Yield of Maize (Zea Mays L) in a Haplic Acrisolof Southeastern Nigeria
No full textField trials and a pot experiment were conducted during the 2005 and 2006 cropping seasons at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria,to assess the effect of various agricultural wastes ash on nutrient concentration, growth and yield of maize in a Haplic Acrisol. The treatments comprised of palm bunch ash, kitchen residues ash, cocoa pod husk ash, saw dust ash, calcium carbonate, oyster shell ash and a control (without any amendment )
Level of Compliance with Vaccination against Rabies by Dog Owners in Umudike and Environs Abia State, Nigeria
No full textA study was carried out to ascertain the level of compliance by dog owners to anti-rabies vaccination, fifty households were visited. A total of 44 dogs were examined 15 (34.09%) were males while 29 (65.90%) were female
A Comparative Growth and Economic Performance of Broiler Chicks Fed Pelletized and Non-Pelletized Feed in a Humid Tropical Environment
No full textThe study was designed to evaluate the economic performance of birds fed 100% pelletized, 100% reground pelletized, and a combination of 50% pelletized and 50% reground pelletized feed. A total of one hundred and fifty day old broiler chicks were used for the study. There were three treatments of fifty birds each and five replicates of ten birds each per treatment. The first group of treatment one (T1) were fed 100% pelletized feed. Those of treatment two (T2) were fed 100% reground pelletized feed, while those of treatment three (T3) were fed a combination of 50% pelletized and 50% reground pelletized feed. Data collected were the feed intake, live weight, overall weight gain, daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and feed cost per weight gain and gross margin. The results showed significant (P<0.05) differences in the weight gain, feed conversion ratio, live weight, feed cost per weight gain, revenue and gross margin. Birds fed pelletized feed had significantly higher mean weight gain and daily weight gain compared to other treatment groups. Feed conversion ratio was highest while revenue was lowest for broilers fed 100% reground pelletized feed. This group also had the least gross margin compared to other groups (N763.85 Vs N1190.41 Vs N1327.28 for T2 Vs T3 Vs T1). The study recommends 100% pelletized feed for broiler production.
(Keywords: Growth performance, gross margin, Pelletized feed, non-pelletized feed, broiler