FASTNESS AND FADING CHARACTERISTICS OF MANGO LEAVES EXTRACTED DYE ON FABRICS EXPOSED TO SUNLIGHT IN A DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED FRAME

^*1 Akpan, E. A., ²Ikya, J.K.

¹Department of Home Science & Management, University of Agriculture, Makurdi.

²Department of Food Science and Tech, University of Agriculture, Makurdi

Email: akpanefiong77@gmail.com; *1 Corresponding author:

ABSTRACT

In this study, a dye was extracted from mango leaves and the solution obtained was deep yellow but turned light brown when a mordant (alum) was added to it. The two solutions – one containing alum and the other without alum were each tested on their ability to imprint colour on the cotton and wool fabrics. The cotton dyed fabrics (one without alum and the other with alum) were thereafter exposed to sunlight using the exposure frame (designed and constructed sensor instrument) for 40 hours to detect and evaluate the fastness and fading capacity of the dyes. The result revealed that the solution of the dyes without alum (deep yellow) turned the cotton fabric creamy with no significant change in colour after 40 hours of exposure in the designed and constructed exposure frame. This instrument confirmed that the creamy colour on the fabric was indication of its fastness to sunlight and suitability as dye for cotton fabric. The solution with Alum (light brown) turned the cotton fabric lemon green but after exposure to sunlight in an exposure frame there was a significant change and the colour was lost. This indicated fading and the inability of the dye to be applied on cotton favric when alum is usd as a mordant. In dyed wool fabric exposed for 40 hours to sunlight, all lost their colours indicating the unsuitability of the mango dye on wool with or without mordant. The exposure frame was able to determine the suitability of mango dyes for cotton fabric without mordant and unsuitability of the dye for wool fabrics

POTENTIAL ZIKA VIRUS VECTORS OF KAUGAMA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, JIGAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Ahmed, U.A

 Department of Biological Science

Sule Lamido University, Kafin Hausa, Jigawa State, Nigeria          Email: umaradamuahmed@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The Zika virus strain responsible for the outbreak in Brazil has been detected in Africa for the first time. This information will help African countries to re-evaluate their level of risk and adopt increase their levels of preparedness. These should include the study of potential vectors responsible for the disease. Identification of potential Zika virus vectors in Kaugama revealed the presence of five species of Aedes mosquito, Aedes furcifer 109 (19.46%), A. aegypti 92 (16.43%), A. africanus 132 (23.57%), A. albopictus 112 (20.00%) and A. taylori 115 (20.54%). Aedes africanus was the most abundant species encountered. Analysis of species abundance showed no significant difference (p>0.05). The abundance of the vectors was suggested to be due to large number of breeding places in the study area and probably improper mosquito control. Detection of Zika virus from the collected vectors is of great importance, serological detection of specific antibodies against Zika virus from the inhabitants is valuable tool to prove them as vectors and it is good to eradicate the potential vectors from the area.

Keywords: Kaugama, Potential, Species, Vectors, Zika virus

CATFISH FINGERINGS PRODUCTION AND POVERTY REDUCTION IN OWERRI AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF IMO STATE, NIGERIA

Munonye, J.O¹ & Okonkwo, V. N²

¹Department of Agricultural. Econs and Ext, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike Ebonyi State

²Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, Imo State University, Imo State Owerri

*Email: munojane@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The study examined catfish fingerlings production and poverty reduction in Owerri Agricultural zone of Imo State. Fish farming is the production and husbandry of aquatic plants and animals in a controlled environment. As Nigerian population grows, there is a need for intensification of fish production to argument the shortage of protein requirement. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used and forty- five respondents were purposely selected. Questionnaire was the instrument of data collection. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The result showed that number of time fingerlings are produced yearly and number of male and female brood-stock used were positive and significant at 1% level of probability. The producers made a net profit of N496, 163.29. The major constraints encountered were high cost of pond and low quality of brood-stock. The study recommended that credit should be available to reduce cost of production.

Keywords: Catfish, Fingerlings, Brood-stock and Poverty

MEAT ATTACHMENT AND THE WILLINGNESS TO ADOPT A PLANT BASED DIET IN NIGERIA

Paul Uchechukwu Chidolueand Vincent Oko Obinna

¹Department of Food Technology

Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

uchechidolue@yahoo.com, vinoko43@gmail.com

Corresponding author: Vincent Oko Obinna

ABSTRACT:

There has been a global increase in the consumption of meat, this has increased attachment to meat and has resulted to both environmental issues like increase in Green House Gas (GHG) and a rise in the occurrence of Colorectal Cancer, obesity and other health related problems. Only a transition to a more plant-based diet can help improve public health and remove environmental hazard due to increased GHG. Several researches had revealed that a large segment of consumers is not willing to embrace a more plant based diet. This research evaluated Meat attachment and willingness to adopt a more plant based diet among staff and students of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, South-East, Nigeria. A questionnaire survey was administered and Independent sample t-test and correlation was done on the participants (N=150) to examine their attachment to meat and willingness to follow a plant based diet. Correlation was conducted between variables of the sample; meat attachment, willingness to reduce red and white meat, willingness to follow a plant based diet. The research also evaluated the relationship between meat attachment and gender, environmental factors. The result showed that meat attachment is not influenced by gender, although the meat attachment of female in the sample was slightly higher, same with environmental factors (urban and rural dwellers). The research also revealed that the participants were neither ready to reduce their consumption of red or white meat nor follow a more plant based diet. The research recommends a larger target audience in the future and that the relationship between meat attachments, body mass index (BMI) and disease (health).

Keywords: Meat attachment, Human supremacy, Plant-based diet, meat consumption, urban and rural dwellers, Colorectal Cancer, GHG

INFLUENCE OF PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER RATES AND PLANT SPACING ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF GROUNDNUT (Arachis hypogeae L.) IN BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA

Isah, Y.; Sabo, M. U. & Shuaibu, Y. M.

Department of Crop Production, Faculty of Agriculture and Agricultural Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi

Email: ymshuaibu@atbu.edu.ng

Corresponding author: Isah, Y

ABSTRACT:

A field experiment to study the influence of phosphorus fertilizer rates and plant spacing on the growth and yield of groundnut was conducted at Bauchi State University (Main Campus) Gadau teaching and research farm during 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons. The treatments comprised of four levels of phosphorus fertilizer (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg P₂O₅/ha) and three spacing (20cm x 60cm, 25cm x 60cm and 30cm x 60cm). These were factorially combined to give 12 treatments combination and laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The results of the experiment revealed a significant (P<0.01) difference among the treatments used throughout the study period. The result further indicated that, application of 90kg P₂O₅/ha significantly (P<0.01) recorded the highest plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, pod and grain yield than the other treatments used. However, all the treatments were better than the control. Spacing on the other hand, widest spacing (30cm x 60cm) significantly (P<0.01) gave the highest plant height, hundred seed and pod weight, shelling percentage and harvest index. The result also showed that, closest spacing (20cm x 60cm) recorded the highest yields per hectare with the highest grain yield of 1520.2 kg/ha and 1530.5 kg/ha in 2018 and 2019 seasons respectively. Based on the result of this findings, it can be concluded that, the use of 90kg/ha P₂O₅ and closest spacing (20cm x 60cm) significantly gave the highest yields per hectare and can be adopted by farmers for profitable groundnut production in the study area.

Key words: Groundnut, Growth, Phosphorus and Spacing.