African
Journals Online
Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences
Volume 2 No 1, (2003)
ABSTRACTS
Egg weight and egg shell thickness as affected by
dietary calcium
I. E. Ebenso
Department of Animal Science
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria.
Abstract
Graded levels of dietary inclusions of oyster
shell and bone meal were used as calcium sources to determine their influence
on egg weight and egg thickness for laying chicken in cages, under tropical
conditions. Birds were allocated at random to 8% oyster shell and 2% bone meal
in treatment 1; 7% and 3% in treatment II; 6% and 4% in treatment III; 5% and
5% in treatment IV respectively. Egg weight and egg shell thickness did not
show significant differences (P> 0.05). Increasing calcium level above 2%
depresses egg shell quality, obtained by using 5% oyster shell and 5% bone meal
in the diet.
Keywords: Dietary calcium,
oyster shell, bone meal and caged laying chicken.
Haematological
studies in apparently normal adult camels (Camelus dromedarius) of North
east sahel region of Nigeria
T.N. Kamalu, G.C. Okpe and
A. Williams
Department of Vertinary
Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Abstract
Haematological values of apparently healthy
camels presented for slaughter at the Maiduguri abattoir were determined. The
values for red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume
and erythrocyte indices were similar to those obtained from camels in Sokoto
(North West Region) Nigeria; and also in accord with values published in the
literature for Indian camels. Total leucocyte counts were relatively higher but
within the normal ranges reported for Indian camels. Differential leucocyte
counts showed higher values for monocytes and basophils, and lower values for
neutrophils when compared to Indian data. The differences observed have been
attributed to stress, excitement or environmental factors. The ESR values
obtained by the Wintrobe and Landsberg method were in close agreement with
reference values. The 450 angle method gave ESR values much faster
(about seven times) than the Wintrobe and Landsberg method.
Keywords: Haematology,
Camels, North East Region.
Effect
of aqueous extracts of medicinal plants on growth of Fusarium moniliforme var subglutinans Wollenw. and Reinking.
E. C. Wokoma and
I. A. Anaemene,
Dept of
Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt, P. M. B. 5323, Port Harcourt, Rivers
State, Nigeria
Abstract
The growth of Fusarium moniliforme var subglutinans Wollenw. and
Reinking was evaluated in chloramphenicol potato dextrose agar (cPDA)
containing 20 %aqueous extractsof
eight medicinal plants. Mycelia growth,
was reduced in unautoclaved extracts of Cassia alata, Baphia nitida,
Euphorbia hirta, Vernonia amygdalina, Azadirachta indica,
and Zingiber officinale, with B. nitida, V. amygdalina,
and C. alata, being the most effective. On the contrary, the
unautoclaved extract of Cyathula prostrata did not affect the growth of
the fungus. The antifungal activities of B. nitida, A. indica, E.
hirta, Z. officinale, and C. alata were affected by autoclave
treatment. Unautoclaved extracts of C. alata, B. nitida, A.
indica, V. amygdalina, A. cordifolia, E. hirta and Z.
officinale significantly (pŁ0.05) reduced the dry weight of the fungus
below the control. Autoclaving the extracts affected the fungitoxic activities
of C. alata, B. nitida, and V. amygdalina, on the dry
weight of the fungus. Sporulation was completely inhibited in cPDA medium amended
with unautoclaved extracts of C. alata, B. nitida, A. indica,
V. amygdalina and Z. officinale. However all the autoclaved
extracts supported sporulation of the fungus. Conidia germination in full
strength (w/v, 1:1) extracts was completely inhibited, whereas 90 % of the
conidia germinated in sterile deionised water after 6 h of incubation. These
findings suggest the potential role of the extracts in controlling the fungus.
Keywords: Fusarium
moniliforme var subglutinans, medicinal plants, aqueous extracts, in
vitro growth inhibition.
Effect
of aqueous extracts of some medicinal plants on in vitro growth of Botryodiplodia theobromae pat.
E. C. Wokoma and
I. A. Anaemene,
Dept of
Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt, P. M. B. 5323, Port Harcourt, Rivers
State, Nigeria.
Abstract
The development of Botryodiplodia
theobromae Pat, was evaluated in chloramphenicol potato dextrose agar
(cPDA) medium amended with aqueous extracts of eight plants used in Nigerian
ethnomedicne. Linear mycelial growth in media containing unautoclaved or
autoclaved extract was measured at 12 h interval for 48 h, while dry weight was
determined after 48 h of incubation. Stroma production was determined after 7
days of incubation. Cassia alata was
most inhibitory to the fungus and was followed by Azadirachta indica, Alchornea cordifolia and Baphia nitida respectively. Cyathula
prostrata, Vernonia amygdalina, Euphorbia hirta and Zingiber officinale promoted radial mycelial growth of the
pathogen. Autoclave heat treatment
did not affect the inhibitory action of C.
alata on the linear growth but reduced the efficacy of the leaf extract on
dry weight and stroma production. Autoclaved extracts of A. cordifolia, A.
indica, E. hirta and C. alata supported more stroma
production, heat treatment did not stimulate production of more stroma on media
containing extracts of C. alata, V.
amygdalina and Z. officinale..
The inhibition of mycelial growth and stroma production by unheated aqueous
extracts of some of the test plants suggests that effective control of the
pathogen with extracts of medicinal plants is possible.
Keywords:Botryodiplodia
theobromae, medicinal plants, aqueous extracts, in vitro growth inhibition.
Germination
of witchweed [Striga hermonthica
(del.) Benth.] seeds in response to stimulation by root exudates of soybean (Glycine max l.)
E. S. Okpo1, S.T.O.
Lagoke2, W.B. Ndahi3, O.O. Olufajo4 and R.
Tabo5
1.Department of Crop Science, University of Uyo, Uyo.
Nigeria
2.Department of Crop Technology, University of Agriculture,
Abeokuta Nigeria.
3. Lake Chad Research Institute, Maiduguri. Nigeria.
4. Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria. Nigeria.
5. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid
Tropics, Bamako. Mali
Abstract
Using an adaptation of the Cut-root technique,
twenty-one varieties of soybean were screened at 10, 15 and 20 days after
planting (DAP) for the stimulation of S. hermonthica seed
germination. The varieties were TGX1649-11F, TGX1740-7F, TGX1660-15F,
TGX1740-2F, TGX1670-3F, TGX1674-3F and SAMSOY-2. Other varieties tested
included TGX1681-3F, TGX1479-1E, TGX923-2E, TGX1440-1E, TGX1448-2E, TGX1660-19F, TGX1519-10F, TGX1019-2EN,
TGM-344, TGX1019-EB, TGX1485-1D, TGX536-02D, TGM-351 and TGX849-3B. The strigol
analogue, GR-24, was used as the control. The germination of S. hermonthica
seeds that was stimulated by GR-24 was significantly higher (P≤0.01) than
that stimulated by all the soybean varieties at all the periods. The most
promising varieties were TGX1681-3F, TGX1479-1 E, TGX1649-11F and SAMSOY-2 with
Specific Effectiveness Index (SEI) values of 0.76, 0.75, 0.58 and 0.54,
respectively. The other varieties that showed promise include TGX1740-7F,
TGX923-2E TGX1440-1 E and TGM344 with SEI values of 0.44, 0.44, 0.45 and 0.44,
respectively. There was no relationship between the age of the plant and
potency of its root exudates, except for TGX1649-11F, TGM-344 and TGX1681-3F
where activity increased with age from 10DAP to 20DAP. These varieties may
therefore be used in field crop rotation systems as an option for the
management of S hermonthica.
Keywords: witchweed,
soybean, trapcropping, crop rotation, Striga hermonthica
Notes on the biology of Oryctes
monoceros (OLIV.) A pest of palms in Nigeria
*D. A. Ukeh, **E. J. Usua
and *S. B. A. Umoetok
*Department of Crop Science,
University of Calabar, Calabar
**Department of Zoology,
University of Calabar, Calabar
Abstract
Studies on the biology of the rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes
monoceros Oliv. was conducted in the laboratory. O. monoceros has 3
larval instars. In the mean the egg stage lasted 11, the larval stages 75.6,
the pupal stage 15.5 and the adults stage 51.6 days. The mean developmental
period from egg to adult for O. monoceros was 145 days. The
beetle lives for about 5 months of which between 2-3 months are spent as a
larva.
Keywords: Oryctes monoceros, Oviposition, Larvae, Pupation, Moulting.
Physical
properties of inland valley soils of central Cross River State, Nigeria
A. N
Essoka,.* and I. E. Esu**
* Cross River University of
Technology, Obubra campus
**Department. of Soil
Science, University of Calabar.
Abstract
The physical
properties of six Inland valley pedons in central Cross River State, Nigeria
were investigated. The percent total sand generally decreased with increase in
profile depth with the mean total sand for the surface horizons of 47.4% and
37.2% for the subsoil horizons. The mean of percent silt for the surface
horizons was 26.9% and 27.2% was that of the subsoil ones while the
corresponding values for clay were 25.9% and 38.7%. The percent clay generally
increased with increase in profile depth. The surface layers were generally
loamy in texture while the subsoil layers were clayey. The mean bulk density of
the topsoil horizons was 1.03gcm-3 while that of the subsoil was
1.32gcm-3. Mean particle density of the surface and subsoil horizons
were 2.31gcm-3 and 2.29gcm-3 respectively. The mean of
total porosity for the surface horizons was 55.1% and that of the subsoil
horizons was 32.18%. Soils with these physical properties are very suitable for
swamp rice production and dry season farming since their erodibility is low and
capillarity high.
Keywords: Physical properties, surface soil, subsoil horizon,
porosity, texture.
Effects
of oil palm bunch refuse on humic acid content of five soils grown to oil palm.
* P.O. Oviasogie and N.O. Aisueni
Chemistry Division, Nigerian
Institute for Oil Palm Research P.M.B. 1030, Benin City. Nigeria.
Abstract
The effect of the
addition of composted oil palm bunch refuse on five different soils supporting
palms with respect to the acidic functional groups of the humic acids in the
soils was investigated. The composts was added to the soils at different rates.
The results showed that there was a highly significant (P =0.001) increase in
the carboxylic (-C00H) groups as compared with the phenolic -OH groups. Total
acidity also increased with the E4/E6 ratio of the
isolated humic acids. These changes were associated with the different types of
soil and rates of applied composts. Carboxylic (-C00H) groups contributed more
to total acidity of the humic acids. The study revealed that addition of
composted oil palm bunch refuse to soil is a potential source of carboxylic
(-C00H) groups in the humic acid fraction of the soil.
Keywords: Oil palm bunch, humic acids, carboxylic groups, phenolic groups, E4/E6
ratio.
Nigeria:
macroeconomic environment and the perennial crops
G.
S. Umoh
Department of Agricultural Economics/Extension, University
of Uyo, Uyo. Nigeria
Abstract
This paper examines the impacts of
macroeconomic environment on the output performances of perennial crops –
namely cocoa, rubber, palm oil and palm kernel in Nigeria. The time series data
used for the analysis reveals agricultural policy/programme instability.
Ordinary Least Square estimation shows that most macroeconomic policy variables
– exchange rate, interest rate, government expenditure, credit are negatively
related to outputs. Technological change and policy shift variables are
negative for cocoa but positive for other crops. Collectively, the variables
explain between 70 and 85% of the variation in the outputs of the crops
considered.
Keywords:
Macroeconomic environment, perennial crops, Nigeria.
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