CONTENTS

Assessment of Consumer Behaviour on Retail Prices of Garri in Imo State

Eze E. U; Njoku G. U; Anah C. O & Abana P. C……………..……………….…….……1

Security Implication of Farmers and Fulani Herdsmen Conflict in Middle Belt Zone-2010-2018

Jibrin Ubale Yahaya……………………………………………………………….………10

Assessment of Government Role in the Growth of Mechanized Agricultural Marketing System

Bello, B. S.; Nwokenkwo, B. O.; Abdullahi, F. H.; Ozimede, Elizabeth O. & Saidu, Aliyu Baba……………………………………………………………………………………26

Evaluating the Effect of Momordica Balsamina Linn, Selenium and Lamivudine for the Treatment of Newcastle Disease in Pullets

D. Agang; P.A. Abdu; L. Saidu & M.M. Suleiman………………………….…………..40

Larval Morphometric and Adult Mortality of Dermestes Maculatus Degeer Exposed to Powdered and Steam Extracts Piper Guineense Pre-Treated Fish.

Ebochuo V.C. and Onwuka C. N……………………………….…………………………50

Effect of Graded Levels of Fermented Mango (Mangifera spp) Kernel Composite Meal on the Serological Parameters of Laying Japanese Quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Yerima Shettima Kolo; Abang Favour Bette & Attah Sunny…………………………..61

Biodiversity and Species Distribution of Indigenous under-utilized Fruit and Vegetable Crops in the North Senatorial District of Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Okpanachi, O., Aguoru, C.U., Azua, E.T. and Olasan, J.O…………………………….69

BIODIVERSITY AND SPECIES DISTRIBUTION OF INDIGENOUS UNDER-UTILIZED FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CROPS IN THE NORTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT OF NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Okpanachi, O., Aguoru, C.U., Azua, E.T. and Olasan, J.O.

Biodiversity and Environment Unit

Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria

Corresponding author: Olasan J.O.; Email: lekanolasan@yahoo.com)

ABSTRACT

Species distribution and diversity of indigenous fruit and vegetable crops were undertaken in three Local Government Areas of the North Senatorial Districts. Three locations were randomly chosen per LGA. Three random samplings were carried out in each location. A total of 27 localities were studied, each with a unique code and GPIS information. Qualitative and quantitative ecological approaches were adopted. Representative wild plant specimens were collected and identified. Herbarial specimens were also preserved. The Shannon-Wienner Diversity (H) computation was done for each LGA. The African butter pear and Black velvet Tamarind were rare in Akwanga LGA but Drum palm was frequently seen.  Akwanga LGA had 7 species accounting for 64 species richness (Gudi=22, Alushi=17, Walko=25). H-diversity was 1.83 while species evenness was 0.938. In Wamba LGA, African Locust beans and Finger root were abundantly present. However, Desert date, Red bush willow, Baobab and Wild onion spring were rarely encountered. Wamba LGA had 9 species with species richness of 420 dominated by Wamba (263). H-diversity was 1.20. Hmax was 2.20 while species evenness was 0.54.The most abundant species in NasarawaEggon were Jute plants most especially at Mada station. NasarawaEggon LGA had 11 species where species richness was 609 cutting across Mada station (228), Kagbu (102) and Lambaga (279). H-diversity was 1.55; Hmax was 2.4 while species evenness was 0.65. The strength of biodiversity of indigenous fruit and vegetable crop was low in Wamba (H<1.5) but moderate in the two other LGAs (H>1.5). This could be attributed to various anthropogenic activities and pressure causing loss of biodiversity. Many plants such as African butter pear and Black velvet Tamarind, Desert date, Red bush willow, Baobab and Wild onion spring are rare. There is need for intensive domestication and conservation of these plants for sustainable utilization in the Northern Senatorial District of Nasarawa State Nigeria.Key words: Biodiversity, Indigenous crops, Conservation, Sustainable utilization

EFFECT OF GRADED LEVELS OF FERMENTED MANGO (Mangifera spp) KERNEL COMPOSITE MEAL ON THE SEROLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF LAYING JAPANESE QUAILS (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Yerima Shettima Kolo; Abang Favour Bette & Attah Sunny

 Department of Animal Production

Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

An experiment was conducted using one hundred and nine five (195) unsexed laying Japanese quails of about two weeks old to investigate the effect of graded levels of fermented mango kernel composite meal (FMKCM) on the health status of quails. The results for serum biochemical composition showed that serum sodium (Na⁺), serum chloride (Cl^–), serum bicarbonate (HCO₃^–), serum creatinine; ALT, AST and Total Bilirubin were within normal reference ranges. However serum potassium rose slightly above the normal references range. It is concluded that FMKCM could replace maize up to 25% without any nutritional disorder, as the parameter that was not within the normal reference range did not follow a regular pattern and these observation were applicable to the control experiment as well, revealing that diets would not have accounted for these irregularities.

Keywords: fermented mango kernel, maize, Japanese quail, serological indices

LARVAL MORPHOMETRIC AND ADULT MORTALITY OF DERMESTES MACULATUS DEGEER EXPOSED TO POWDERED AND STEAM EXTRACTS PIPER GUINEENSE PRE-TREATED FISH

Ebochuo V.C. & Onwuka C. N.
Department of Fisheries and Marine Technology
Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Ohaji.
Email: victorebochuo@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Effect of powdered and steam extracts of Black Pepper (Piper guineense) Uziza (Igbo), at doses of 5%, 7.5% and 10% on the Hyde beetle ( Dermestes maculatus Degeer) Exposed To pre- treated fish (Clarias gariepinus) was monitored for 21days. Treated and untreated fish were enclosed in plastic jars covered with muslin to which three pairs of the insect had been introduced and left at ambience. Mortalities were monitored every 24hours, while instar stages were obtained through the measurement of larvae present at the end of the experiment to the nearest millimeter. Powdered form caused 100% adult mortality at all doses. Steam extracted form resulted in 33.30%, 50.00% and 66.79%, at 5%, 7.30% and 10% spice concentrations respectively. Black pepper powder destroyed perpetuation of Hide beetle in pre – treated fish while specimens placed on spice extract pre – treated fish reproduced. Linear decreases in length of larval
instars stages reared on substrate with increasing spice steam extract concentrations were observed. Mean length range for each dose 3.25±0.7mm -14.00±0.00mm for 0.00%; 2.00 + 0.04mm – 12.00 + 0.09mm for
5%; 5.50 + 1.10mm -12.00mm for 7.3% and 2.00 + 0.00mm – 9.00±0.33 for 10%.Five larval instars were found in all replicates of the control while six were found in all replicates of the pre – treated fish. In addition to the traditional usage, Piper guineense can further be utilized to preserve and protect smoked dried fish in storage against the hide beetle, “Dermestes maculatus Degeer.”