Table of contents

Geotechnical Investigation of Gully Erosion Sites

in Ankpa Metropolis, Kogi State, Central Nigeria

Omali, A.O. Imasuen, O.I and Musa, K. ……………………………..                     1-10

An Assessment of the Organic Pollution Indicator Levels

of River Gongola In Adamawa State, Nigeria

O. N. Maitera; V.O. Ogugbuajaand S.T. Magili……………………..                       11-22

Geochemical Assessment of Cretaceous Sediment in the

Nigerian Sector of the Chad Basin fromKadaru-1 and Herwa-1

Exploratory Wells for Possible Petroleum Generation

Y. B. Mohammed ………………………………………………………….                   23-36

Geology and Hydrogeology of Groundwater Systems

of Yola Area, Northeast, Nigeria

Gabriel .I. Obiefuna and Donatus M. Orazulike…………………                              37-64

Bioenergy Sources, Advantages and the Environment

Idiata, David. J; Aiyamenkhue, Uwuidia; Omoregie, Charles

and Enabulele, Andrew. O…………………………………………………                  65-70

Effect of Types of Organic Waste on Soil Contaminated

with Spent Engine Oil in Umuahia Metropolis, Abia State

Onwuka, M. I. and Igwe A.C……………………………………………                    71-80

Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture

Chikaire, J. Nnadi, F.N., Nwakwasi, R.N., Anyoha, N.O., 

Aja O.O., Onoh, P.A., and Nwachukwu, C.A……………………….                        81-85

Permeability and Grain-Size Characteristics of Sagamu

and Ibadan-Toll-Gate Lateritic Soils in Southwestern Nigeria

S. O. Idowu, G. O. Adeyemi and S. S. Dada ……………………                            86-94

Community Participation in Urban Water Supply Management

 in Abeokuta – Lessons For Sustainable Water Supply in Urban

Communities

Adekitan, O., Oyerinde A. O. and Musa A. I………………………                          95-108

Analysis of the Characteristics of Different Soil Types

Stabilized With Cassava Starch

Nimlyat Pontip Stephen ……………………………………………..              109-123

ANALYSIS OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF DIFFERENT SOIL TYPES STABILIZED WITH CASSAVA STARCH

Nimlyat Pontip Stephen

Department of Architecture, University of Jos, Nigeria

E-mail: pontipn@unijos.edu.ng

ABSTRACT

Soil can be stabilized using several kinds of chemical and other stabilizing agents. The possibilities of utilizing cassava starch as a soil stabilizing agent and the response of five different soil types are studied in this paper. Compaction characteristics, penetration resistance, abrasion resistance, swelling potentials and compression strength of Sandy, Clayey, Humus, Laterite and Gravelly soils are analyzed. This analysis was carried out at 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 15 and 20 percent stabilization levels by weight. The soil samples were treated with cassava starch paste at various levels and compacted in CBR and Proctor moulds using heavy and light compaction methods respectively. It is observed that the adhesive property of cooked cassava starch has a binding effect on the particles of the five soils studied. Also, a level of stability, which is soil dependent, is achieved. Laterite soil recorded a difference in CBR values of about 27 percent between the 0 percent and 7.5 percent stabilization levels with better penetration resistance. Stabilized clay offered the best resistance to abrasion that improved with increase in starch content. The other soil types were also observed to be relatively poor in resistance to water absorption. Increasing the starch content and hydration period, a compressive strength of 3.55N/mm² at the 20 percent stabilization level was established for the laterite soil at 28 days hydration period. This result when compared to the strength of 0.5N/mmn² at 0 percent level is an indication of improvement in compressive strength.

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN URBAN WATER SUPPLY MANAGEMENT IN ABEOKUTA – LESSONS FOR SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLY IN URBAN COMMUNITIES

Adekitan, O., Oyerinde A. O. and Musa A. I.

Department of Civil Engineering

Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

E-mail: lambano2009@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Provision of water adequately (in terms of quality and quantity) has been a major concern across the globe especially in the developing world. In Nigeria, a number of intervention schemes are established to meet inadequacies in water provision. One of these is the institution of River Basin Development Authorities to augment water supply through the provision of boreholes, dams and the likes. However, there have been claims that the sustainability of these schemes depend largely on the involvement of the recipient communities in the operations and maintenance of these facilities. The involvements of communities in running the borehole facilities provided by Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA) at some locations in the city of Abeokuta (south-west Nigeria) were reviewed in this work. Twenty borehole stations were randomly chosen across the urban areas in Abeokuta and questionnaire items (coded) were administered to ten neighbouring residents to do self-assessment of the functioning and water delivery conditions and the level of community involvement in the management of the boreholes. Using the ratings obtained from questionnaire items, an hypothesis was tested at the significance level a = 0.05 using the t statistic. Results show that community participation is highly significant across all but one of the eleven communities whose borehole schemes are still functioning. In addition, a qualitative survey was conducted on two of the eleven communities. The information gathered are deem helpful especially in ensuring sustainable power supply for borehole pumps and in ensuring prompt and adequate maintenance of facilities.

Keywords: borehole water supply, OORBDA boreholes, community involvement, operations and            maintenance.  

PERMEABILITY AND GRAIN-SIZE CHARACTERISTICS OF SAGAMU AND IBADAN-TOLL-GATE LATERITIC SOILS IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

¹S. O. Idowu, ²G. O. Adeyemi and ³S. S. Dada

^1&3 Department of Earth-Sciences, Salem University, Lokoja, Nigeria.

²Department of Geology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

Permeability and grain-size tests were performed on three samples each from two locations to provide direct as well as indirect measures for highway failure. All samples tested show a significant degree of permeability with low volume of fines [average value of] for soils developed over Ibadan basement complex, while those of Sagamu sandstone show a high proportion of fine materials of with low flow gradient rate. Comparing these parameters with the values obtained from compacted soils, the grain sizes and gradient flow, the Sagamu samples show a significant increase in the proportion of fines, over that of Ibadan. Applying these data to highway geotechnics, the flexibility characteristics of low permeability terrains can be checked provided fluid flow especially out of the sediments is not impeded and can therefore solve susceptibility of shear failure.

Keywords: permeability, grain-size, highway-geotechnics Sagamu-Ibadan, Shear-failure

POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AGRICULTURE

Chikaire, J. Nnadi, F.N., Nwakwasi, R.N., Anyoha, N.O.,  Aja O.O.,

 Onoh, P.A., and Nwachukwu, C.A

Department of Agricultural Extension,

 Federal University of Technology, Owerri.

E-mail: bankausta @ yahoo.com.

ABSTRACT

Climate includes patterns of temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind and seasons. Climate change affects more than just a change in weather, it refers to seasonal changes over a long period of time.These climate patterns play a fundamental role in shaping natural ecosystems, and the human economics and cultures that depend on them. Because so many systems are tied to climate, a change in climate can affect many related aspects of where and how people, plants and animals live, such as food production, availability and use of water and health risks. Analysis of the impacts of climate change suggests that agro-ecological system is the most vulnerable sectors. Further warming is expected to reduce crop productivity adversely. It seems obvious that any significant change in climate on a global scale should impact on local agriculture, and therefore affect the world food supply.

KEY WORDS: Climate change, Agriculture

EFFECT OF TYPES OF ORGANIC WASTE ON SOIL CONTAMINATED WITH SPENT ENGINE OIL IN UMUAHIA METROPOLIS, ABIA STATE.

Onwuka, M. I. and Igwe A.C.

Department of Soil Science and Meteorology

Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria

E-mail: ifyonwuka2000@yahoo.com or onwuka.ifeoma@mouau.edu.ng

ABSTRACT

An incubation study was conducted at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike to evaluate the effect of types of organic waste on soil contaminated with spent engine oil in Umuahia Metropolis. The treatments were poultry manure (PM), goat dung (GD), kitchen residue ash (KRA), maize husk ash (MHA) and a control (C). The wastes were applied at 4t/ha and replicated three times in Completely Randomized Design (CRD). At the end of the incubation, the effects of the treatments were measured on soil pH, exchangeable acidity, organic carbon, available phosphorus and total nitrogen. Other parameters determined were exchangeable calcium, potassium, magnesium, lead, cadmium and chromium. All the data were subjected to the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the differences between the treatments means separated using the least significant differences at 5% probability level. Linear correlation analyses were done using the GENSTAT package. The result obtained showed that organic wastes significantly (p < 0.05) increased soil pH, available phosphorus, total nitrogen, organic carbon, exchangeable calcium, potassium, magnesium and percentage base saturation over the control. The organic wastes also significantly (p < 0.05) reduced lead, cadmium chromium and exchangeable acidity. Among the organic wastes tested poultry manure significantly (p < 0.05) increased available phosphorus, total nitrogen and percentage base saturation and significantly (p < 0.05) reduced lead and chromium. Kitchen residue ash, on the other hand significantly (p < 0.05) increased soil pH and exchangeable calcium, while goat dung significantly (p < 0.05) increased the soil exchangeable magnesium. The soil pH significantly (p<0.001) and negatively correlated with lead, cadmium and chromium while the exchangeable acidity significantly (p<0.001) and positively correlated with lead, cadmium and chromium. Further research is recommended for the field application of the treatment.    

Key words: Organic waste, spent engine oil, contaminated soil, incubation

BIOENERGY SOURCES, ADVANTAGES AND THE ENVIRONMENT

¹Idiata, David. J; ²Aiyamenkhue, Uwuidia; ³Omoregie, Charles and ⁴Enabulele, Andrew. O

^{1& 4}Department of Civil Engineering, ² Department of Mechanical Engineering,³ Department of URP

Edo State Institute of Technology and Management, Benin City, Nigeria

E-mail: djgrandmaster4christ@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The world today depends on fossil-based fuel Fossil (provides about 90 percent of the total world energy) for its energy production, use and consumption and from researches carried out a lot of environmental associated harmful phenomena has been traced to its usage.  Bioenergy based fuel is the viable alternative which is more environmental friendly. Agricultural residues have an enormous potential for the production of bioenergy (biofuel). Generally, residues are still used very inefficiently for electricity production, in many cases deliberately to prevent their accumulation, but also because of lack of technical and financial capabilities in developing countries. Developing countries could theoretically derive 15 per cent of present energy consumption from this source and industrialized countries could derive 4 per cent. It is pertinent for developing to seek ways to harness these agricultural residues.

Keyword: Bioenergy; Biofuel; Fossil fuel; Biomass; Residue

GEOLOGY AND HYDROGEOLOGY OF GROUNDWATER SYSTEMS OF YOLA AREA, NORTHEAST, NIGERIA

Gabriel .I. Obiefuna¹ and Donatus M. Orazulike²

¹Department of Geology;Federal University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria.

²Geology Programme, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria.

Email: gobiefuna2000@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The study Area which is underlain by the Bima Sandstone Formation occupies an area of about 431Km² in northeastern Nigeria. Groundwater in the area occurs in two aquifer systems namely the upper alluvial aquifer and the lower-semi-confined to confined aquifer systems. The upper alluvial aquifer system occur at a depth range of 20m to 80m with an average thickness of about 39m and have undergone lower diagenetic alteration, and thus behave like recent or quaternary sands. The mean hydraulic conductivity is 2.54m/d with a corresponding mean transmissivity value of 237m²/d determined from both the pumping test method and the Statistical Grain-size method with an average yield of about 9.63m³/hr which indicate poor to moderate aquifer. The lower semi-confined to confined aquifer system occur at a depth range 80m to 250m with an average thickness of about 14.52m and have undergone inherent compaction/cementation(diagenetic effect), probably arising from  the longer burial history. These gave a mean hydraulic conductivity value of 3.81m/d and a mean transmissivity value of 103.51m²/d with an average yield of about 47.25m³/hr and thus a moderate to good aquifer. The average linear groundwater velocity estimated from Darcy’s Law range from 27.48m/yr to 79.33/yr for the upper unconfined aquifer system and from 48m/yr to 149m/yr for the lower semi-confined aquifer system respectively. Linear-regression analysis of the transmissivity and specific capacity indicate a good correlation between log transmissivity and log specific capacity for the underlying aquifers. Finally with a total groundwater reserve of about 5,826,904,500m³ estimated for the study area as well as the relatively high recovery rate of the boreholes indicates very high groundwater potentials of the underlying aquifers.

The above information will also give insight into the hydrogeology and assist in the overall groundwater resources management of the area.

Keywords: Groundwater, aquifer systems, transmissivity, Yola, Nigeria

GEOCHEMICAL ASSESSMENT OF CRETACEOUS SEDIMENT IN THE NIGERIAN SECTOR OF THE CHAD BASIN FROM KADARU-1 AND HERWA-1

EXPLORATORY WELLS FOR POSSIBLE PETROLEUM GENERATION

Y. B. Mohammed

Department of Geology

University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria

Email: bzakirai@yahoo.com

 ABSTRACT

Two of the exploratory wells, Kadaru-1 and Herwa-1 drilled in the Nigerian sector of the Chad basin were used for the research. The geochemical assessment was carried out using twenty (20) selected shale samples for the analytical work. The samples were raw shale from some Cretaceous sediment. The overall average SOM, SHC, AHC, and NSO values are 130ppm, 22.8ppm, 38.3ppm, and 67.8ppm in Kadaru-1 well and 280ppm, 33.5ppm, 65.3ppm, and 156ppm in Herwa-1 well. The concentrations of SOM, SHC, AHC, and NSO as a function of burial depth in both wells are generally inconsistent, but there is a progressive increase of these parameters with burial depth in Herwa-1 well between (1745- 2455) m, which is characterized as the source bed and reveals “oil shows”. The general interpretation signifies that the samples are relatively of low quality and the nonhydrocarbon heteroatomic compounds (NSO) have higher concentration values than the hydrocarbon compounds (SHC&AHC) in the two studied wells and the anaerobes utilized sulfate and nitrate ions instead of molecular oxygen as electron acceptors for their metabolic processes and survived under anoxic-suboxic condition.

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ORGANIC POLLUTION INDICATOR LEVELS OF RIVER GONGOLA IN ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA.

O. N. Maitera¹ ;    V.O. Ogugbuaja² and S.T. Magili¹

¹Department of Chemistry; Adamawa State University, Mubi

²Department of Chemistry, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.

E-mail: olivermaitera@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT                      

An assessment of organic pollution indicator levels of River Gongola in Adamawa State was carried out in ten sampling stations. The sampling was done in the months of February, March, April, 2007 representing dry season and in the months of August, September, and October 2007 representing wet season. The water samples collected were analysed using standard procedures as described in Radojevic and Bashkin (1999) and Ademoroti (1996).The organic pollution levels determined includes Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Total Organic Carbon (TOC). The results revealed the following concentrations of the parameters assessed.BOD ranges between 2.64±0.11 to 2.96±0.80 for dry season and 2.06±0.08 to 2.31±0.05 for wet season. These values are high during dry season as compared to wet season. Likewise the COD ranges between2.43±0.48 to 4.38±0.92 for dry season and 1.57±0.52 to 3.48±0.35 for wet season. The values were also high during dry season than wet season. The TOC values ranges between 1.39±0.68 to 1.86±0.30 for dry season and 0.33±0.15 to 1.20±0.26 for wet season. It is also high in dry season than in wet season. While the DO values ranges between 5.44±0.19 to 6.44±0.16 for dry season and 6.94±0.43 to 7.81±0.75 for wet season. These values are high during wet season than dry season, which is in contrast to those of BOD, COD, and TOC. The correlation between DO/BOD is negative with a coefficient of -0.809, while that of COD/BOD gives a positive correlation of 0.515 and that of COD/TOC is also positive with a value of 0.457. These relationships agree with Radojevic and Bashkin (1999), and Ademoroti (1996). The above values are within the allowable limits of the WHO/NAFDAC (2001).Key words:  Organic indicators, pollution, River Gongola, Parameters, Sediment