Control of Root-Knot Nematode Pest of Okra using Ocimum gratissimum Compost Technology

¹Abolusoro, S.A; ¹Aremu, C.O; ¹Ige, S. A; ²Izuogu, N.B; ³Abolusoro, P. F. & ⁴Obaniyi, K .S.

¹Crop and Soil programme, Landmark University, P.M.B. 1001, Omu- Aran, Kwara State,

²Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Kwara State

³Department of Agric. Education, Kogi State College of Education, Technical Kabba

⁴Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Landmark University, Omu-aran

ABSTRACT

A research work was carried out at Landmark University teaching and research farm Omu-Aran in 2016 and repeated at the same time in 2017  to evaluate the effects of various levels of Ocimum gratissimum compost on the growth and yield of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) infested okra. A randomised complete block design experiment was conducted, comprising of 5 treatments made up of 3 levels of Ocimum gratissimum, one level of Cabofuran ( a recommended synthetic chemical for nematode control) and an untreated control which acted as standard check.   O. gratissimum composts was applied at 10, 15 and 20 t/ha while Cabofuran was applied at the rate of 3kg active ingredient per hectare (3kg/ai/ha) and the untreated control that acted as standard check. The findings from the experiment showed that O. gratissimum compost brought about a significant reduction in soil nematode population and levels of damage to root-knot nematode infested okra which resulted in significant increase in the performance of okra compared with the untreated control. The efficacy of O. gratissimum compost was comparable with that of Cabofuran in most cases. The efficacy of the compost treatment against root knot nematode was found to increase in line with the quantity applied. The result of the experiment confirmed  O. gratissimum compost as a potent and effective soil amendment material that can be used for the control of root-knot nematode in  infested  soils  and as a formidable protectant for susceptible crops to root knot nematode.

Keywords: okra production, Ocimum gratissimum compost, root-knot nematode, soil amendment, okra yield

1ST Order Perturbation Correction for the Atoms Energy Level

E. W. Likta

Department of Physics

University of Maiduguri, P.M.B 1069, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

Email: emmalikta2014@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The goal of this paper is to obtain an equation of the 1^st order perturbation for the ground state. Dirac equations have been used to achieve the potential of the nucleus. It is considered that the equation obtained for the ground state is simpler and more accurate.

Keywords: Dirac, energy, perturbation, nucleus and potential.  \

Daily Gambian Dalasi/Nigerian Naira Exchange Rates Intervention Analysis

¹Ette Harrison Etuk, ²Richard Chinedu Igbudu, ³Benjamin Ele Chims & ⁴Imoh Udo Moffat

¹Department of Mathematics, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt

²Department of Computer Science, Ken Saro Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, Rivers State,

³Department of Mathematics/Statistics, Ken Saro Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, Rivers State,

⁴Department of Mathematics/Statistics, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria      

ABSTRACT

A realization of the daily Gambian Dalasi (GMD) / Nigerian Naira (NGN) exchange rates from 30^th May 2017 to 25^th November 2017 is the subject of this research work. It has been noticed that there has been a sharp rise in the rate of the amount of naira in the dalasi on 4^th August 2017, and there has not been decline ever since necessitating treatment of this relationship as an intervention case. The pre-intervention series is adjudged as stationary by the Adjusted Dickey Fuller test. A white noise model is suitable for the series. The transfer function model is parabolic. This model may be useful for modeling the intervention relationship between the two currencies.

Keywords: Gambian Dalasi, Nigerian Naira, intervention model, Arima modeling

Implementation of Risk Management in Public Private Partnership (PPP) Housing Projects in Nigeria

¹Yakubu N. Sanda          ²Natalia A. Anigbogu    ²Yohana D. Izam    ³Joshua S. Manggvwat

¹Department of Estate Management, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria

²Department of Building, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria ³Department of Quantity Surveying, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria

Email: mangvwat@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This paper appraised the implementation of risk management in Public Private Partnership (PPP) housing projects in Abuja, Nigeria with the view to suggest measures for improving the practice towards effective housing provision. Data for the research was obtained through questionnaire. The data was analysed using descriptive statistic, mean rating and Kruskal-Walis test. Strong support from top management, level of company’s turnover and the need to comply with set regulations were the main drivers to effective implementation of risk management while lack of information/knowledge of risk management, lack of awareness of the importance of risk management and risk management not been a priority in clients requirements were the inhibiting factors. Results of the hypotheses testing shows there is significant variations in the perceptions of respondents on both the drivers and barriers to to effective implementation of risks management in PPP housing projects. The study suggested formal and structured approach to managing risks in construction projects such as PPP housing, elaborate risk management plan be made a requirement in bidding for PPP housing projects with backing legislations to ensure its implementation and the need for top management to make conscious effort towards creating enabling environment to encourage the implementation of risk management in their organisations.

Keywords: Implementation, risk, management, PPP, housing, Nigeria

AN EVALUATION OF AN ATOM MOVING IN GEOMETRY FORMING IN A NONLINEAR FOCUS MEDIA ON FIELD BLOCKING RESPONSE

E. W. Likta

Department of Physics                    

University of Maiduguri, P.M.B 1069, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

Email: emmalikta2014@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The blocking of field as it passes through the media interface has been described. The formation of an atom moving in geometry at one side interface has been obtained. The solution of coupled nonlinear Schrӧdinger equation at one side form has been obtained and analyzed. It has been observed that the effect of field blocking is only possible at opposite signs of parameters. It has been analyzed the existence of stationary states at the field blocking effect.

Key word: Atom, Nonlinear, Schrӧdinger, Energy and field blocking.

An Explorative Investigation of the Application of Cissus Populnea (Dafara) Powder as an Admixture in Concrete Production

Dachollom P. Bang¹, Paul W. Zakka², Hosea S. Yohanna³ and Erasmus P. Datok²

¹National Film Co-orperation of Nigeria (NFI), Jos

²Department of Building, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Jos

³ Department of Building, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Bells University Otta

ABSTRACT

This research was aimed at investigating the behavior of concrete made with powder extracted from bark of cissus populnea (dafara) as an admixture. To achieve this, the chemical properties of the extract, workability, compressive and flexural strength test of the concrete produced were conducted. A mix of 1:2:4 was adopted with the addition of 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4% and 0.5% of cissus populnea to mass of the cement as admixture in the concrete. The samples subjected to compressive strength test after 3, 7, 21 and 28 curing days. Water absorption test on cubes and flexural strength test at 28 days of curing was carried out on concrete beams. From the chemical analysis of the admixture cissus  populnea,  its  SiO₂  and Fe₂O₃ content were 1.65 and  0.91 addition to mass of cement content, this were in excess of the requirement, however this  contributed to strength development and prolong setting time while excess AlO₃, CaO and MgO content were 4.59, 5.77 and 2.44 respectively, this contribute negatively to strength development in concrete. Dafara also act as retarder by delaying or slowing the initial setting rate of concrete. It was also  found that the average strength of concrete produced with 0.2%  cissus  populnea  powder which is the optimum dosage gave a strength higher than the control mix and also attained the minimum strength  required at 28days  by the BS1881 (1983b) part 116 which is  21N/mm²,  with the highest  flexural strength of  5.17N/mm², water absorption at 4.79 percent, a slump of  12 mm and compacting  factor of 0.93, which is medium  workability. Base on the results and observations, dafara powder can be regarded as a retarder which equally checks segregation and bleeding in concrete.

Keywords: Explorative, Investigation, Cissus populnea, Admixture, Concrete

Comparing the Strength of Blocks Made from Different Materials

Gana A. James; Adewara Sunday O.; Asamu Festus F. & Tolulope .O.G

Department of Civil Engineering, Landmark University Omu-Aran, Kwara State

Department of Economics, Landmark University Omu-Aran, Kwara State     

Department of Sociology, Landmark University Omu-Aran, Kwara State

Email: phildebo123@gmail.com; oladewara02@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Blocks are known to be one of the man-made building materials used for various construction purposes. Blocks can be made from different materials as far as it can stand the rest of strength. The major type of block used for the construction of walls in many building is the sandcrete block which is made from cement, sharp sand and water. Due to the high cost of construction materials such as cement and sharp sand, this study was done to investigate the use of other construction materials (quarry dust, laterite and red earth), thereof re this study is focused on the use of other naturally occurring building materials to substitute the conventional ones in making of masonry blocks that could probably aid in reduction the cost of production of blocks to be used for construction purposes thereby also causing a reduction in the cost of construction of buildings and other engineering structures. Various tests such as sieve analysis, specific gravity test and plastic limit and liquid limit test were carried out on the materials used for production of the locks. A total of five (5) types of blocks were made with twelve (12) block samples made for each type making sixty (60) in total, each of the blocks were cured using the open air curing method and the compressive strength test was carried out on the 7, 14, 21 and 28 curing day of three (3) different blocks from each of the block types made. All blocks made were 6 inch blocks. The test result indicated that the materials were suitable for block making. On crushing the blocks it was discovered that the compressive strength of some did not meet up to the minimum recommended standard of 2.5N/mm² for individual blocks and 3.45N/mm² for five (5) blocks as recommended by the Nigerian Industrial Standard  (NIS 87: 2000). The overall average strength for the blocks made with cement and sharp and (sandcrete) ranged from 2.08N/mm² to 2.56N/mm², for those made with cement and quarry dust it ranged from 1.19N/mm² while those made with cement and laterite had compressive strength that ranged from 0.96N/mm² to 2.25M/mm² and lastly those made with red earth, laterite and sharp sand had the least average compressive strength for every of the curing days and it ranged from 0.75N/mm² to 1.58N/mm².

Keyword: Comparing, Strengths, Blocks, Made, Different Materials.