Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) Journal
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Business Educators’ Appraisal of Relevance of Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) to Business Education programme in Universities in South East, Nigeria.
Get PDFThe essence of the study was to appraise the relevance of the Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme to business education programme. The study sought to identify the relevance of SIWES to the development of student academic career, the relevance of SIWES to business education graduates' job placement and the place of SIWES in the exposure of students to work method in acquiring skills and handling tools. Three research questions and three hypotheses guided the study. The population consisted of 77 Business Educators from Universities offering Business Education in South- East Nigeria. The researcher adopted a survey design for the study. A structured questionnaire of 28 items was used to elicit responses for the study. The research instrument was validated by three experts, the correlation coefficient obtained using the Spearman Brown Prophecy formula was .88. This indicates that the instrument was of a high level of reliability. Research questions were analyzed using the mean with standard deviation while the hypotheses were tested using t-test at .05 level of significance. The findings showed that SIWES is relevant to student academic career,business education graduates' job placement and in exposure of students to work method in acquiring skills and handling tools. The researcher recommended among others that students' should be properly and adequately oriented on the importance of SIWES to their academic and professional development from their first year of study, monitored and supervised properly by both school and industry based supervisor to enhance their seriousness for job placement and students should participate actively in SIWES for development of their academic career
Responses of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) Varieties to Photoperiod
Get PDFIn two light controlled experiments, the effects of 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 hour photoperiods and natural daylength on flowering and pod set in four varieties of okra (‘Awgu’ early, NHAe47-4, ‘Clemson’ and ‘Nsukka’ local) were investigated. The first experiment was conducted between May and July, 1992 (Early season planting) and the second between October 1992 and February 1993 (Late season planting). Each was a factorial experiment set out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. From the results of the investigation, short photoperiods of 8 to 12 hours were generally more conducive to flower production and pod set. The results of experiment 1 conducted from May to July, 1992 when the temperatures were lower compared with the situation between October 1992 and February 1993, showed that ‘Nsukka’ local was more sensitive to its requirement of short photoperiod of 8 to 12 hours as it failed to attain anthesis or set pod at photoperiods of 12.28 hours and above. ‘Awgu’ Early and NHAe47-4 were less sensitive since they produced flower buds at 14 and 16 hours but however did not attain anthesis to produce harvestable pod at those long photoperiods. ‘Clemson’ showed more adaptation to a range of photoperiods as it produced harvestable pods even at 14 and 16 hours of photoperiods. In experiment 2, all the varieties produced flower buds and attained anthesis under both short and long photoperiods, more probably as a result of modifying effects of higher temperatures that occurred during the period of that experiment
Technical Efficiency of Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato Root Production in North Central, Nigeria
Get PDFThe paper analysed the technical efficiency and its determinants in orange-fleshed sweet potato root production system in North central, Nigeria. A multistage sampling was used to select 174 OFSP root entrepreneurs in Benue, Nasarawa and Kwara States from whom data were collected on input-output, farmer and farm characteristics with the aid of a structured questionnaire. A Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier production function was used to analyse the data. The results of the analysis showed that the mean technical efficiency of OFSP root entrepreneur was 76 percent. The study found that the coefficient for household size was negatively assigned and significant at 5 % while age, education, farm experience, extension visits and access to credit were positive and have significant influence on technical efficiency at 5 % level of probability respectively. The study recommends policy decisions that encourage new entrepreneurs to take up OFSP root production and existing ones to remain in business through increased access to education, extension services and credit
Utilisation of Information and Communication Technologies for Entrepreneurial Skills Development among Students of Selected Agricultural Institutions in Ibadan Oyo State, Nigeria
Get PDFThe challenges of unemployment as a result of limited white-collar jobs prompted the investigation into the study of utilisation of ICTs for entrepreneurial skills development to help train and expose students to opportunities after graduation from school. Hence, the study investigated the utilisation of Information and Communication Technologies for entrepreneurial skills development among students of selected agricultural institutions in Ibadan, Oyo state. The parameters examined were: availability of ICTs, the extent of ICTs utilization, and constraints experienced by respondents in utilizing ICTs in the study area. A well-structured questionnaire was used for collection of data through a purposive and random sampling procedure to select a sample of 105 students for the study. The data collected were analyzed with descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages; and inferential statistics like Pearson product moment correlation, PPMC to draw inferences between variables of the hypotheses. The result showed that majority of the respondents (77.2%) ascertained that personal computers were available in their institutions whereas 72.6% of the respondents possessed mobile phones as ICTs devices in the study area. Furthermore, the findings revealed low extent of ICTs utilization among the students in the study area. The findings also revealed that there were major constraints hampering ICTs utilization in the study area. There was no significant relationship between availability of ICT devices and utilization of the ICTs for entrepreneurial skills development (r= 0.117, p= 0.245), whereas there was significant relationship between the constraints experienced by the respondents and utilization of ICTs for entrepreneurial skills development (r= 0.060, p= 0.026). The study however concluded that generally the utilization of ICTs for entrepreneurial skills development among the respondents was at a low level due to low extent of ICTs use and some constraining factors among the students in the study area. Therefore, the study recommends that awareness creation should be carried out to educate and elicit students’ interest on the importance and use of ICTs among students of these institutions, and these institutions should integrate ICTs to strengthen their curriculum for entrepreneurial studies in the study area
Growth and Yield Performance of Bambara nuts (Vigna subterranean (L). Verdc) as Influenced by Cropping System and Plant Spacing in Yola, Nigeria
Get PDFThe experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth and yield performance of Bambara nuts (Vigna subterramean (L) Verdc) under a cropping system (bambara nuts/maize intercrop) and different plant spacing. The experiment was conducted during the 2017 and 2018 cropping seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Crop Production and Horticulture, Modibbo Adama University of Technology Yola, Nigeria. The field experiments were factorial design laid out in a split plot design. The treatments consisted of three (3) plant spacings of 20, 25 and 30 cm which were assigned to main plot treatment while maize variety samaz 17 and bambara nut were assigned to the sub- plots treatment was replicated three (3) times. Performance parameters measured included establishment count expressed in percentage, plant height, harvest index, days to 50% flowering, shelling percentage, weight of dry pod, weight of seed and total yields. Results showed that plant spacing and maize-bambara nut intercrop has no significant effect on establishment, plant height, harvest index, days to 50 % podding and shelling percentage of bambara nuts. Results also showed that plant spacing and maize-bambara nut intercrop had significant effect on weight of dry pod, 100 seed weight and total grain yield of bambara nut. It is recommended that a wider plant spacing of 30 cm in a maize – bambara nut intercrop should be observed for meaningful yield in Yola
Effects of Harvesting Stages, Packaging Materials and Storage Duration on Seed Quality of Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicon Mill) Varieties
Get PDFThree laboratory experiments on two varieties of tomato (Gianfranco Fuscello and Rio-grande) were conducted in 2017 and repeated in 2018.The experiments were aimed to study the effects of harvesting stages, packaging materials and storage duration on seed quality of tomato varieties. Two varieties of tomato, three harvesting stages, three packaging materials and three storage durations were used as treatments in a 2x3 and 2x3x3 factorial in Completely Randomized Design with four replications. Observations were recorded on germination counts (6 and 12 days after planting), post-emergence mortality, germination percentage, germination rate, germination index, seedling height, seedling fresh weight and seedling dry weight. Tomato fruits were harvested at three different stages as green matured, partially ripened matured and ripened matured at 40, 60, and 80 days after anthesis. Results were as follows; eighty days after anthesis recorded higher germination counts (6 and 12 days after planting), germination percentage, germination index, as compared to other harvesting stages; Aluminum foil bag was significantly higher in all the parameters observed; while the highest germination percentage was found after 3 months of storage. The study therefore recommends 80 days after anthesis as the best harvesting stage of tomato for optimum seed germination, growth and yield; also, aluminum foil is recommended as packaging material for farmers for adoption; Duration three and six months of storage are also recommended to farmers for better seed quality of tomato
Perception and Challenges of Small-Scale Farmers to Human Labour Access in North Central Nigeria
Get PDFThe study evaluated perception and challenges of small-scale farmers to human labour access in north central Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used for sample selection while questionnaire was used for data collection. A total of 1,750 farmers were randomly interviewed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and two-way mixed factorial analysis of variance and mean separation was done at 5% probability level. Result shows that the farmers are aware of lack of access to labour. Mean separation showed Abuja (2.01) and Kwara State (1.72) having least access to labour. High cost of labour is the biggest challenge for farmers in accessing labour in north central Nigeria. Based on the findings, the research concluded that there is an ongoing decline in the availability of agricultural labour which will result in increased cost of production for the small-scale farmers. The study recommends that government should implement sector-specific policies that would protect the sectors most vulnerable from minimum wage shocks in order to boost their outputs and exports 
Efficacy of Some Botanicals in the Control of Bacterial Soft Rot Disease of Cucumber (Cucumis sativum L.) Varieties in Umudike, Abia State.
Get PDFA field experiment was conducted at the Eastern Research Farm of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) from June to August 2017 cropping season to assess the disease incidence and severity of the bacterial soft rot disease of cucumber (Cucumis sativum L.) and to determine the efficacy of leaf extracts of Bryophyllum pinnatum, Ficus sur, and Jatropha curcas in the control of bacterial soft rot disease of cucumber and on yield performance. The experimental design was RCBD replicated three times. The treatments were the leaf extracts of Bryophyllum pinnatum, Ficus sur,and Jatropha curcas. Streptomycin synthetic (antibiotics) served as a positive check while sterile water served as the control. Three varieties of cucumber used were Beta alpha, Marketer and Ngwa Local. Seeds were sown on a 6m ridge at Im x 0.75 m spacing. Diseased fruits were taken to the laboratory for examination, isolation and identification of micro-organisms, and the causal organism identified as Pectobacterium carotovorum. The result showed that fruit rot can initiate from the 6th week after planting increasing till harvest; and disease symptoms develop and become more pronounced after long period of rainfall (402.6mm) and high humidity (85%). Result showed that all the botanicals assessed significantly (P≤0.05) reduced the disease incidence and severity when compared to the control which recorded 62.20% and 3.76 respectively. Plants treated with leaf extract of Ficus sur had the best performance in yield (18.56t/ha), and compared favourably with Streptomycin which recorded 20% and 1.24 incidence and severity. It is therefore recommended that extracts of Bryophyllum pinnatum, Ficus sur, and Jatropha curcas be used as a better alternative biopesticides to synthetic pesticide in the management of bacterial soft rot of cucumber in Umudike, South Eastern Nigeri
Variation and Correlation Studies on Some Adapted Genotypes of Potato (Solanum Tuberosum.L) in Kuru, Jos, Nigeria
Get PDFSixteen genotypes of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) were grown during the rainy seasons of 2006 and 2007 in Kuru to estimate genetic variability and interrelationship between yield and some traits as well as heritability of some traits. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replications. Analysis of variance indicated that significant variation existed in all the traits studied. Tuber yield showed significant genotypic correlation with emergence count, plant height, internode length, days to maturity and number of tubers per plant. Tuber yield showed a significant negative genotypic association with vigor score and number of main stems per plant. It was found that there were highly significant positive correlations between tuber yield and vigor score, plant height, internode length and number of tubers per plant, indicating that improvement in any of these characters will lead to indirect improvement in tuber yield. The high negative values of correlation coefficients recorded between tuber yield and vigor score and tuber yield and number of stems per plant signify that selection for those traits would have effect in the opposite direction in respect of tuber yield in the crop
Soil Chemical Properties and Growth Parameters of Maize(Zea mays) as influenced by Integrated Composted Animal Manure and NPK fertilizer in an Acidic Ultisol
Get PDFA greenhouse-scale study was conducted at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria to determine the effects of composted animal manure (poultry, pig and goat droppings) and N.P.K (15:15:15) fertilizer on maize height, biomass yield and soil chemical properties. The trial involved six treatments viz: control (received no amendments), NPK 15:15:15 (400kg/ha), NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer (200kg/ha) + 10% of compost (1kg/10kg of soil), NPK 15:15:15 (200kg/ha) + 20% of compost (2kg/10kg of soil), 10% of compost manure and 20% compost manure. The treatments were laid out in a completely randomized design and replicated three times. The results obtained showed that T5 (10% of compost) gave the highest increase in plant height, which was significant from the second week till the seventh week after planting. Stem girth and number of leaves T5 also gave the highest values all through the greenhouse period; T3 (200kg/ha of NPK 15: 15: 15 fertilizer + 10% of compost, gave the highest increase in biomass yield of maize, followed by T4 (200kg/ha of N.P.K 15:15:15 fertilizer + 20% compost). After harvest, T4 also gave the highest values for Soil pH (6.77), total nitrogen (0.23%), organic matter (3.41%), Exchangeable calcium and potassium (11.20 and 0.64 cmol/kg respectively). All the values were significantly higher than the control and the other treatments considered. It was concluded from the result that compost manure application either solely or in combination with N.P.K (15:15:15) fertilizer performed best in the growth and biomass yield of maize. It also improved the soil chemical properties in the study area