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Ground Flora Species Richness and Diversity in Traditional Forests of Southwest, Nigeria
Get PDFDiversity indices of tree species in tropical rainforest have been
studied, but less effort has been devoted to the ground flora studies
especially in sacred groves of tropical rainforest, Nigeria, as it
plays a critical role in nutrient cycling and energy flow within the
forest ecosystem. This study was carried out to determine the ground
flora species diversity, richness and density in five traditional
forests (Igbo-Ile, Igbo-Oba, Igbo-Olua, Igbo-Olodumare Igbo-Gbopo) of
southwestern Nigeria. The ground flora enumeration of 5 x 10m was laid
at the centre of 50 x 50m laid in each of the sacred grove. All plants
with dbh 64 10cm were identified and the frequency of occurrence
recorded. In all the Sacred Groves, a total of 14064 plants/ha
individual were recorded with 80 species distributed among 36 families.
Igbo-Oba had highest diversity index of 3.21, followed by
Igbo-Olodumare (2.80), Igbo-Ile (2.42). The least diversity index was
recorded in Igbo-Gbopo (1.97). Among the 36 families, maximum species
was recorded in Sterculiaceae (10), followed by Euphorbiaceae (5),
Apocynaceae (4), Combretaceae (4) and Sapindaceae (4). Among the
families with lowest frequencies (1) recorded are: Acanthaceae,
Araceae, Rutaceae, Sapotaceae, Solanaceae. The study concludes that
anthropogenic disturbances observed, e.g. farming, spiritual
engagements etc. around Igbo-Olua and Igbo-Gbopo might have contributed
to low diversity index compared to Igbo-Ile, Igbo-Oba and
Igbo-Olodumare where high diversity index was recorded. It is
recommended that to maintain high diversity index in the scared groves,
buffer zones should be created around the sacred groves
Seasonal Variation of the Hydro-Environmental Factors and Phytoplankton Community around Waters in Tincan Island, Lagos State, Nigeria
Get PDFThe phytoplankton diversity, pigment, abundance and distribution in
relation to physico-chemical parameters were studied from four stations
for a period of five months (May \u2013 September 2018) and were
analysed using standard procedures. Rainfall was highest (329.5 mm) in
September and lowest (142.7 mm) in July. The total suspended solid
(TSS) had a mean value of 63.10\ub112.81 mg/L and the total dissolved
solids (TDS) had the highest value of 15189 mg/L in May which was not
significantly different around the sampling points {P > 0.05}. The
pH and nitrate level recorded had a mean value of 7.25\ub10.33 and
3.11\ub11.33 mg/L respectively. Microscopic identification revealed a
total of 129 species belonging to 62 genera, 22 families and five
divisions in the following order of specie abundance: Bacillariophyceae
(65 taxa) > Cyanophyceae (27 taxa) > Chlorophyta (20 taxa) >
Dinophyceae (10 taxa) > Euglenophyceae (7 taxa). The high dominance
of Microcystis aeruginosa observed was indicative of organic
pollution. The range of community structure indices were as follows:
Margalef Index (0.1406 \u2013 5.295) and Shannon \u2013 Weiner Index
(0.02644 - 0.4979). The relatively high nutrient status favours the
high abundance of phytoplankton which is understood to be deleterious
to the ecosystem. Municipal wastes must be treated or recycled before
discharge and a continuous environmental surveillance is required to
maintain the biological integrity of this area
Estimation of Annual Erosion in Six Soil Series of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta Nigeria using Rusle in Map Algebra
Get PDFAnthropogenic activities such as deforestation, bush burning and
extensive opening of farmlands in the 10,000 hectares at the Federal
University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) have increased
vulnerabilities of the seven soil series in the campus to agents of
erosion. Therefore it is important to evaluate the rate and locations
of soil erosion in the study area inorder to develop erosion control
intervention programme using standard methods. The results show that
overall soil erosion ranges from 0 to 167.8 tons per hectare per annum.
10% of University land now has high risk of soil erosion being
grasslands exposed to annual fires. Soil erosion is pronounced in the
two soil series (Oke-imesi and Apomu) that are found along river
fringes with topographic factors (Slope length and steepness) playing
major role in the soil erosio
Additive Model of Aboveground Biomass of Larch Single-Trees Related To Age, Dbh and Height, Sensitive to Temperature and Precipitation in Eurasia
Get PDFThe first attempt of modeling changes in the aboveground additive
component composition of larch (genus Larix spp.) tree biomass,
according to the Trans-Eurasian hydrothermal gradients of Eurasia on
the database compiled for the structure of harvest biomass in a number
of 510 sample trees is fulfilled. The adequacy of the obtained
regularities is determined by the level of variability 87-99 %
explained by the proposed regression models. For the central territory
of European Russia, characterized by the mean annual temperature of
January -10 \ub0C and the mean annual precipitation of 400 mm, the
increase in temperature by 1\ub0C at the constant level of
precipitation causes on Larix spp. trees of the equal age and sizes,
the decrease in the aboveground, stem, needle and branches by 0.4, 0.3,
1.4 \u438 1.3 %, respectively. For the same region, in equal-sized
trees, the increase in precipitation by 100 mm at a constant annual
temperature in January causes the decrease of the aboveground and stem
biomass by 1.2 and 1.7%, respectively, and the increase of needle and
branches biomass by 4.0 and 6.0%, respectively. The development of such
models for the main forest-forming species of Eurasia will make it
possible to predict changes in the productivity of the forest cover of
Eurasia in connection with climate change
Diversity in Proximate Analysis of Tubers of some African Yam Bean ( Sphenostylis stenocarpa ) (Hochst Ex. A. Rich.) Harms (Fabaceae) accessions
Get PDFThis study was carried out to determine the proximate and mineral
composition of fresh tubers of 17 African Yam Bean (AYB) accessions.
Standard analytical procedures were adopted in the determination of
bioactive compounds in the tubers of the different accessions. Data
were subjected to descriptive statistics, principal component and
clustering analysis. Ash content ranged between 4.59-9.99%,
Carbohydrate (46.59-66.52%), Crude fibre (6.93-12.13), Fat
(1.06-4.04%), Moisture content ranged between 11.36-21.91% and Protein
(4.91-14.50%). The range of mineral content evaluated were: Calcium
(1.53-5.82), Copper (10.59-44.93), Iron (63.52-240.48), Magnesium
(0.59-2.26), Manganese (42.25-160.01), Nitrogen (0.75-2.23%), Potassium
(1.34-5.08), Sodium (0.05-0.22) and Zinc (28.24-106.93. The proximate
variables in the tubers significantly (P<0.05) distinguished the 17
AYB accessions. Three distinct clusters were visible. The seven
accessions in cluster I had the highest protein, carbohydrate and
moisture content. Cluster II had the least mineral content. Accessions
with the highest fat and mineral content were grouped in cluster III.
Food, nutritional and medicinal values inherent in AYB tubers is high
and promising, its utilization in human and livestock feeds is greatly
encourage
Effects of straw returning on rice growth and yield under water-saving irrigation
No full textStraw returning (SR) is an important means of straw utilization, which
has been tested and is helpful for improving soil fertility and crop
production. However, the effects of SR on plant growth and yield of
paddy rice ( Oryza sativa L. subsp. japonica Kato) under water-saving
irrigation (WSI) are rarely investigated. In the 2015 and 2016 rice
seasons, field experiments were conducted with four treatments, namely
controlled irrigation with conventional fertilization (CI- CF),
controlled irrigation with straw returning (CI-SR), flooding irrigation
with conventional fertilization (FI-CF), and flooding irrigation with
straw returning (FI-SR). The objective of the present study was to
investigate the response of plant height, number of tillers, biomass,
and yield to SR and irrigation management. Results indicated that SR
enhanced rice yield on average by 7.9% and 7.5% and improved irrigation
water use efficiency (IWUE) by 6.3% and 8.3% in 2015 and 2016,
respectively. The CI-SR combination significantly increased IWUE
compared with FI-CF. These results suggested that SR could offset the
inhibition of rice growth caused by CI, and the CI-SR combination could
be an effective measure to enhance soil fertility, maintain the rice
field, and increase IWUE. Furthermore, rice growth (plant height,
number of tillers, and biomass) was slightly inhibited by SR during the
first 20 d of the rice season, but increased after the jointing stage
(approximately 40 d after transplanting). This implied that diverting
some top-dressed chemical N fertilizer into basal application may be
necessary for fertilizer management to better meet crop nutrient
uptakes in rice fields with SR application, especially with CI
Study of physiological and quality parameters during development and ripening of pepino ( Solanum muricatum Aiton) fruit
No full textPepino (Solanum muricatum Aiton) fruit served as an important crop in
Pre-Columbian Andean cultures. Despite the fact that pepino has been
known for centuries, information about maturity indices and
physiological quality parameters of its fruit is scarce. The objective
was to increase our knowledge of pepino fruit physiology and maturity
to improve fruit handling and storage. Pepino fruit were studied during
2015 and 2016 seasons. During 2015, developmental and maturity studies
were carried out, whereas in 2016 the developmental study was repeated.
Twenty-five fruit were analyzed during six developmental stages ranging
from immature (stage 1) to senescent fruit (stage 6). Fruit were
analyzed for soluble solid content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA),
color, respiration and ethylene production, soluble sugars, organic
acids, and aroma. For the maturity assay, nonsignificant differences
were found between green background color (M1) and white background
color (M2) in the different quality parameters, with the exception of
firmness. Pepino is a non-climacteric fruit with a low ethylene
production rate. Unlike foreign cultivars, Chilean pepinos have low
amounts of citric acid, being the predominant acids: malic and quinic.
Out of 22 volatile compounds identified in this study, the predominant
aroma volatiles are 3-methyl-3-butenyl acetate and 3-methyl-2-butenyl
acetate from the terpenoid pathway, and trans-2-hexenal from the
lipoxygenase pathway. The quality parameters changing in a
ripening-dependent manner were firmness, SSC, aroma and color. Other
parameters such as TA and organic acids stayed constant throughout
development. In addition to color and SSC, this study also suggests
aroma as a harvest index
Silicon mitigates ammonium toxicity in yellow passionfruit seedlings
No full textAmmonium (NH4+) toxicity in yellow passionfruit ( Passiflora edulis
Sims f. flavicarpa O. Deg.) may be mitigated by Si application. This
study aimed to evaluate the interaction effect of Si and high level of
NH4+ on yellow passionfruit seedlings nutrition, physiology, growth,
and DM production. Pots were filled with pinus bark and nutrition
solution was applied. Treatments were arranged in a completely
randomized design, with five replicates, in a 2
7 2 factorial
scheme: two ratios of NH4+ and nitrate, NO3+ (40/60%, without high
level of NH4+; and 75/25%, with high level of NH4 +) at N concentration
of 13 mmol N L-1, in the absence and presence of Si (2.0 mmol L-1).
Sixty days after seedling transplant it was evaluated: N, Si, K, Ca and
Mg root and shoots accumulation, leaf green color index (GCI),
electrolyte leakage index (ELI), intracellular CO2 concentration (Ci),
transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (gs), net photosynthesis
rate (Pn), stem diameter, leaf area, root length, N use efficiency
(NUE) and root and shoot DM content. Plants cultivated with Si had
19.1% and 16.3% lower Tr and gs, respectively, regardless NH4+
concentration. Moreover, Ci and Pn were 13.2% and 16.4%, respectively,
higher in plants that received Si. Plants cultivated under high NH4+
concentrations, with Si application had 17% bigger stem diameter and
15.4% bigger root length than plants without Si application. Si
application in yellow passionfruit seedlings cultivated with high level
of NH4 + increased accumulation and NUE, root length, root DM, and GCI.
In addition, Si application reduced ELI, which resulted in higher stem
diameter. These results prove that Si application mitigates NH4+
toxicity in yellow passionfruit seedlings
Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria able to improve NPK availability: selection, identification and effects on tomato growth
No full textNitrogen, P and K are essential macronutrients that are not readily
available to plants. Rhizobacteria are able to convert these
unavailable forms for subsequent uptake by the plant, diverse species
have been characterized as N2 fixers, P solubilizers and capable to
solubilize mineral K from unavailable forms. The objective of this
study was to select rhizobacteria capable of improving NPK availability
and promoting tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) growth. Fifteen
strains were studied. Four strains were selected for their capacity to
fix N2, three for their ability to solubilize P, and six for their
capacity to solubilize biotite and K-feldspar, isolated from tomato,
lentil, chili pepper, faba bean and lettuce crops in Andisol and
Alfisol soils. Through 16SrRNA sequencing, selected strains were
identified as Pseudomonas gessardi , P. koreensis , P. brassicacearum
, P. marginalis , Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Rahnella aquatica
. Phosphorus solubilizing strains did not show a positive effect on
plant growth or an increase in available soil P. The N2 fixing bacteria
Tmt-16 strain increased root growth in 23.57%; maintained the highest N
content in plant tissue, 2.60%, higher amount of N available in the
soil, 2.95 mg kg-1, and a higher content of N-NH4+ 1.95 mg kg-1. The K
solubilizing strains Ls-C21, Ltj-62 and LsC-58 reached 17.0 to 19.0 mg
kg-1 available K and 0.04 to 0.05 mg kg-1 exchangeable K (p 64
0.05.). These four endemic rhizobacteria can be potentially used as
biofertilizers, allowing a reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers
and a more sustainable production of tomatoes
Optimum biochar preparations enhance phosphorus availability in amended Mollisols of Northeast China
No full textBiochar amendment to soils can improve soil P availability, but details
on the optimum application of biochar to black soils in Northeast China
are limited. Three types of biochar were produced at six pyrolysis
temperatures (between 200 and 700 \ub0C) and then added to black soil
samples. P adsorption-desorption isotherms were fitted by the Langmuir
model to evaluate the changes in soil P adsorption-desorption after
biochar amendment. Changes in P adsorption and desorption depended on
biochar feedstock type and pyrolysis temperature. When pyrolysis
temperature increased up to 400 \ub0C, P sorption maximum (Qm) of
soybean pod (SP) and soybean straw (SS) biochar-amended soils were
enhanced from 855.65 and 428.84 mg kg-1 to 1666.67 and 1547.62 mg kg-1,
respectively, while a further increase in the pyrolysis temperature
lowered the adsorption capacity. However, P adsorption of corncob (CC)
biochar amended soils declined from 1428.57 mg kg-1 to 556.70 mg kg-1
as pyrolysis temperature increased. Higher P desorption in SP and SS
compared with CC indicated that SP and SS biochar produced at higher
than 400 \ub0C pyrolysis temperatures were considered to be the
optimum biochar to enhance P availability in the black soils of
Northeast China