Category Archives: International Journal of Agricultural Research and Food Production 2016

Comparative Evaluation of the Contribution of Leguminous Crops to Soil conservation, productivity of Selected Advanced Pre Release Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato lines and the Profitability of the Cropping System

Anyaegbu Polycarp Ozobia& Ekwugha, Ugochi Eucharia

Department of Crop Science, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria

Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Email: anyaegbupoly@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Field experiments were conducted during the 2015 and 2016 rainy seasons at the Abuja University Research Farm, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria, to evaluate the Contribution of Leguminous Crops to Soil conservation, productivity of Selected Advanced Pre Release Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato lines and the Profitability of the cropping System. Treatments consisted of Groundnut+ AYT/08/055, Groundnut+NRSP/11/097, Groundnut+EA/11/003, Groundnut+UM/SP/03, Groundnut+ Kwara, Soybean+AYT/08/055, Soybean+NRSP/11/097, Soybean+EA/11/003, Soybean+UM/SP/03, Soybean+AYT/08  Soybean+ Kwara, Cow pea+ AYT/08/055, Cow pea+NRSP/11/097, Cow pea+ EA/11/003, Cow pea+ UM/SP/03, Cow pea+ Kwara, Pigion pea+ AYT/08/055, Pigion pea+NRSP/11/097, Pigeon pea+ EA/11/003, Pigion pea+ UM/SP/03, Pigion pea+Kwara. combined factorially in a Randomized Complete Block  Design. Results revealed  that  the status of some basic elements which was very poor before the experiment commenced was enhanced significantly (P>0.05) especially in Groundnut/Potato and Cowpea/Potato  intercrop plots.Generelly, Sweet potato lines established by 95% in mixture with legumes and by 75% under sole crops. AYT/08/055 in groundnut mixture produced 33%, under soybean,22%, cowpea, 6% and in Pigeon pea mixture,34% more root yield than its sole crop root yield while NRSP/11/097 groundnut mixture produced 28%, in soybean mixture, 16%  and in Pigeon pea mixture 34% more root yield than its sole crop yield but under cowpea/legume mixture, its root yield was 8% less than its sole crop yield an indication of strong inter specific competition between the two crops. AE/11/003 line produced under groundnut mixture 28%, in soybean 24%, cowpea 6% and under pigeon pea mixture, 28% more root yield than its sole crop yield.  For UM/SP/03, its intercrop yield was more than its sole crop yield by 28% in groundnut mixture, 24% in soybean mixture and 34% in pigeon pea mixture but was 42% less than the sole crop in cowpea mixture.  Kwara variety produced 5% more root yield in groundnut mixture, 8% in soybean mixture and 24% in pigeon pea mixture than its sole crop yield but its sole crop root yield was 10% higher than its intercrop yield in cowpea mixture. Pigeon pea+NRSP/11/097 gave the highest L.E.C. while UMU/SP/O3+ soybean mixture gave the lowest L.E.C.(0.45) and the highest GM (4.85) was obtained from Pigeon pea+NRSP/11/097 mixture while the least (0.644) came from Cow pea+ UM/SP/03 crop mixture.  For intercropping purposes, it is therefore suggested that potato/groundnut and potato/pigeon pea intercrops are more suitable for high yield.

Keywords:  Comparative, Contribution, soil conservation, Intercropping, Sole cropping, Land Equivalent Ratio, Land Equivalent Coefficient, Benefit Cost Ratio.

Determining the Moisture Content of the Soil using (TME 419) Variety of Manihot esculenta under (2014) the Federal Government Transformation Agenda at Evwode Ovia North East LGA, Edo State Nigeria

Brai, Marcellus Alugbe

Department of Sciences

National Institute of Construction Technology (NICT)

Uromi Edo State

Email: maxcellusng6@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The use of mechanized method of cassava cultivation tends to assist in reducing the cost of production and increase plant yield. (Akande L.O. 2006) Therefore, the essence of this study is to increase the output of fresh cassava using the recommended International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) TME419 and TMS98/0581 in sustaining the nation’s food security and being able to feed the cassava processing factories in the state. The study was carried out at Evbode in Ovia North East Local Government area of Edo State. Two hectares area of cassava arable land was cited and preliminary soil analysis was carried out using the soil sample and recorded to detect the fertility of the soil.

Alternative Local Canal Lining Materials for sustainable Irrigation Practices

Murtala, A. A &  Oyebode, Y. O.

Department of Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering Technology

Kwara State Polytechnic, P.M.B 1375, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

Email: dejobode2006@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Studies were conducted on Agricultural Engineering Department demonstration farm to ascertain the applicability of low-cost materials for irrigation canal lining. Five treatments of the materials were employed as follows: (Laterite, clay, sandy loam, cow dung and sawdust), (Laterite, clay, sandy loam cowdung and maize chaff),(clay, sandy loam, cow dung, sand and cowpea chaff),(clay, sandyloam, cow dung and sand),concrete-(sand, gravel and cement) as control. These treatments were prepared and allowed to cure. As a guide in selecting suitable mixed ratio, the strength properties of the various materials were first tested in the laboratory using Universal Testing Machine (UTM). Subsequently, seepage through different lining materials was measured on the field using the ponding method. The average seepage losses per day for the treatments, 1,2, 3,4,5, were 0.092, 0.098, 0.110, 0.102 and 0.016 m³/m²/day respectively. Results show that the appropriate local composite of laterite, clay, sandy, loam, cow dung and sawdust at the mixing ratio of 1:1:3:2:2: was found to have average seepage rate of 0.092m³/m²/day. These materials are not expensive and it can easily be afforded by the local farmers.

Keywords: Local materials, Canal lining, Sustainable irrigation practices.

Adaptation Strategies to Climate Variability being Practiced by Farmers’ in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

¹Okringbo, J. I.,²Ominikari, A. G.  & ³Gbede, O. I.

Department of Rural Sociology and Extension,

Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike

Federal Polytechnic Ekowe, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

E-mail: inemo4real@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

This paper determines adaptation strategies to climate variability being practiced by farmers in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. This information was gathered using structured questionnaire, 120 rural farmers in three Local Government Areas using purposive sampling technique. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentages, mean scores, correlation and T- test. The results revealed that the farmers were marginally dominated by females (60.0%). Majority of the farmers (82.0%) were married. A high proportion (65%) had farm sizes of 0.001-0.015 hectares. Majority of respondents (50.0%) were cassava farmers. The results revealed that adaptation strategies being practiced by farmers (use of improved genetic resource, improved production techniques, practiced zero tillage, postponing of planting period and crop rotation) were high than the bench mark mean scores (2.5) and was identified to be effective. The results of the correlation matrix revealed a positive correlation between age (.237**), farm size (.352**), educational status (.261**) and improve genetic resource and were significant at 5% respectively. The results confirmed that there is a positive correlation between adaptation strategies practice by farmers and socio economic characteristics. Hence, the study recommended that government should provide storage and processing facilities in the study area.

Key words: Adaptation strategies, climate variability and rural farmers

Population Structure and Regeneration Potential of the most Abundant Timber Tree Species in a Rainforest Reserve in Southeastern Nigeria

¹Ananah A. Annah

¹Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Cross River University of Technology (Obubura Campus), Cross River State, Nigeria

&

²Opeyemi Olajide

²Department of Forestry and Natural Environmental Management, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria

E-mail: solaolajide1967@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Sustainable management of the remaining areas of tropical rainforest is being canvassed globally. Quantitative and qualitative ecological data on the forests are indispensable for the actualisation of sustainable management. Accordingly, this study assessed the population structure and regeneration potentials of the most abundant timber trees in a rainforest reserve in Southeast Nigeria using belt transect and quadrat techniques for data collection on mature trees and regeneration. Data collected were analysed on per/ha basis, stem diameter classification and calculation of regeneration potential indices. A total of 19 species were found to be the most abundant, with Celtis integrifolia having the highest population density of 53 per/ha, while Brachystegia eurycoma, Enantia chlorantha and Vitex grandifolia had the least of 5 per/ha each. Most of the trees are of small stem diameter with the stem diameter-class 20 – 29cm had the highest frequency of 522 trees, while stem diameter-class 90 – 99cm had the least of 31 trees. The highest regeneration density of 418 per/ha was recorded for Berlinia confuse, while B. eurycoma and Pterygota macrocarpa regeneration were not encountered. Only 9 of the 19 tree species showed sustainable natural regeneration capability as indicated by their regeneration potential indices of ³ 0.10. Limiting timber harvesting to the few big-size trees, and enrichment planting with seedlings of trees of poor natural regeneration potentials would enhance sustainable management of the forest.

Keywords: Rainforest, Timber, Trees, Population, Regeneration, Sustainable Management

Profitability Analysis of Cassava Production in Three Local Government Areas of Taraba State, Nigeria

Zakari, H.U., Abubakar, R.U., Lawan, U.A., Bello, U.D., and Mohammed, U.S

Department of Agricultural Extension and Management

College of Agriculture, P.M.B 1025 Jalingo Taraba State, Nigeria

Email: zakarihu@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The profitability analysis of cassava production in three local government areas of Taraba State was investigated to identify the economics of cassava production in three local government areas of Taraba State. The specific objective was to examine the production function, gross margin, total return in different farm sizes. Contributions of primary and secondary data were used for the investigation. Simple descriptive statistics, production analysis and farm budget techniques were used for the analysis. The results showed that the average cost of production was N36,864.48 per hectare, while the gross return per hectare was N1,652,677.2. Therefore, the gross margin per hectare was N1, 615,812.72. Further analysis showed that for every naira invested in cassava production, N2.48 was realized as profit. Also, a test of hypothesis on profitability showed that cassava production was profitable in the study area, it was concluded that cassava production in the study area is economical. Also, it is recommended that the government should encourage the production of cassava in the area of the study.

Keywords: Profitability Analysis, Cost of Production, Gross Margin, Cassava Production

Impact of HIV/AIDS on the Socio-Economic Lives of Infected Farmers in Benue State

¹Abua, T., ²Ekele, G.E., & ²Agbulu, O.N.

¹Department of Agricultural Education, College of Education, Katsina-Ala

²Agricultural Education Department, University of Agriculture, Makurdi

ABSTRACT

The study examined the impact of HIV/AIDS on the socio-economic lives of infected farmers in Benue state. The objective of the study is achieved by specifically examining relationships between HIV/AIDs and the socio-economic indices considered in this study. The study adopted cross sectional survey design. Analysis was based on primary data generated through a sample of 400 participants was drawn from 48 comprehensive treatment sites in Benue state. The instrument used was the impact of HIV/AIDS on Food Production of Farmers Inventory (IHFPFI).Pearson Product Moment Correlation was employed using the statistical tool known as Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) to test the hypothesis of the study.  Findings revealed significant positive relationship between HIV/AIDS and the socio-economic indicators considered in the study. The study concludes that there was significant positive relationship between HIV/AIDS and educational attainment, farm produce as well as financial status of the infected farmers. Consequently, the study recommends that The absence of a possible cure in the near future means that households will have to deal with the pandemic for a long time to come. Research is thus essential on how rural households can best cope with the pandemic. The findings of this research have demonstrated that most of the HIV/AIDS-affected households in the rural areas are finding it difficult to survive. Hence more research is required to come up with effective survival strategies that strengthen agricultural production practices, rather than diminish them, so that the ability of affected households to cope with the disease is enhanced.

Keywords: Socio-economic, lives, infected, farmers

Heavy Metals Concentration of River Chanchaga and Effects on Fisheries Resources

¹Yakubu, S.O.*, ¹Idi-ogede, A.M., ¹Musa, M.A

¹Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture,

Federal University, Gashua, Yobe State

Email: ysuleiman08@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The concentration of heavy metals at four locations in River Chanchaga, Minna in Niger state and effects on fisheries resources were investigated. Water samples were collected biweekly from June to December, 2015 in triplicates from each sample location. These were Kosobo, Tunga-waya, Numukpan and Chanchaga village. The Atomic Absorption Spectrometric technique was used in determining the concentration of the metals: Pb, Fe, Zn, Cu and Cd.  Mean concentrations (mg/L) of the metals varied along sampling stations with marked reduction in fisheries resources. Agricultural activities such as fertilizer application and domestic activities like bathing, washing and defecation along the river course were considered to be responsible for the high concentration of heavy metals in the river.

Keywords: Heavy metals, River Chanchaga, Water, Fisheries resources and Concentrations.