Impacts of Some Heavy Metals on the Population of Micro-Organisms in the Soil of Maiganga Coal Mining Area, Gombe-Nigeria

¹ADAMU, S.J., ²UMAR, A.T. AND ²MAHMOUD, A.B.

¹Department of Geography, Gombe State University, Tudunwada, Gombe State, Nigeria.

²Department of Biological Sciences, Gombe State University, Tudunwada, Gombe State, Nigeria.

 E-mail: sanidaddy@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The number of bacterial and fungal colony forming unit (CFU) were determined in soils of Maiganga Coal mining area using a plate dilution technique on Thorton agar at dilution factor 10^-3 and 10^-4. Samples of soils were collected from farms in the areas: Farms: Coal mine: as well as residential areas which serve as the control site. Two sets of data were collected for the research: at the beginning of the rainy season (April/May 2012): and at the peak of rainy season (August/September 2012). The number of colony forming unit in the soils of the first sample were generally lower with the highest recorded at the residential area, farmlands and coal mined areas respectively. While the number of colony forming unit in the soils of the second sample were higher, also with the highest number of colony at the residential area followed by coal mined and farming areas respectively for bacterial count. While for the fungal count the highest number of colony were recorded at the residential, farmlands and coal mined areas respectively. The research concluded that for the future: investigation of soil microbial community structure and their activities should be done together; this would give more reliable and accurate information about the toxic effects of heavy metals on soil for either farming, mining or housing purposes.

Environmental Effects of Chemical Fertilizer Production in Nigeria

Environmental Effects of Chemical Fertilizer Production in Nigeria

UCHE OKEKE

Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension

Anambra State University, Uli, Anambra State, Nigeria

E-mail: victorokeke67@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The production of chemical fertilizers increases agricultural productivity but it have many environmental effects. These environmental effects take places in natural environment. These environmental effects result in green-house effect, acidification of soil and water ecosystems, and gaseous pollution of the air. Statistical methods are deplored to show the increase in consumption of fertilizers in Nigeria. The water related environment costs are change in quantity and quality of water as a consequence of human activities, contamination with biological and chemical wastes and water related diseases such as malaria, typhoid and cholera. Soil related environmental costs are altering soil constituents. Air related environmental costs are altering the air composition whereas the biological human related environmental costs are the altering of living conditions.

Economic Analysis of Marketing Locally Milled Rice at Micro Scale in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria

OJUMU, SEGUN AND ADEYELU, ADEGOKE

Department of Agricultural Extension and Management

Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria.

Email: segojum@yahoo.com, adegokeadeyelu@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Nigeria is a major producer, importer and consumer of rice in Africa. The country produces and mills about 60% of the quantity of rice being consumed by its citizens. Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State is a significant producer of paddy rice in the South-South Zone and major supplier of same to the popular Abakaliki Small Scale Rice Mills. The study examined the profitability of marketing locally milled rice at micro scale level in the Local Government Area. Five villages were purposively sampled for the study due to the high population of rice traders/marketers within them. They were Bansara, Ebung, Ekwaro, Down Ibil and Ishiaya. The study depended mainly on primary data which were collected through structured questionnaires, oral interviews, personal observations and the use of a weighing scale. A total number of fifty (50) questionnaires were administered to rice traders who were randomly selected from the five (5) villages and ten (10) respondents from each village. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, budgeting analysis, profitability analysis and marketing efficiency measures. The results of the study revealed that the majority of rice traders were male, literate and within economically productive age bracket. An average net income of N2726.5 per 100kg paddy rice was obtained for rice traders with an average rate of return of 0.35 and a gross ratio of 0.73. The marketing efficiency measure showed that rice traders had a marketing efficiency index of 1.38. The major challenges of the rice traders were insufficient supply of paddy rice and lack of access to credit.

Micro Credit Fund and Financing of Agricultural Production in Anambra State, Nigeria

UCHE OKEKE

Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension

Anambra State University, Uli, Anambra State, Nigeria

E-mail: victorokeke67@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT The work examines the micro credit fund and financing of agricultural production in Anambra State, Nigeria using descriptive and inferential statistics. It looked into the number of people that received credit under the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) and the fund guaranteed. The work further shows the contribution of agriculture to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The paper concludes by stating that, increasing the fund being giving to the farmers, increasing the number of recipients and improving fiscal sanction on states that failed to participate in providing fund to their farmers will increase agricultural

Estimation of Profit Potentials for Sugarcane Production Among Rural Farmers in Nigeria: Empirical Evidence from Madagali Local Government Area, Adamawa State, Nigeria

DANIEL, J.D.

Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension

Adamawa State University, Mubi, Adamawa State, Nigeria

E-mail: ndatra123@yahoo.com 

Evaluation of Forage-Based Diets Fed to Rabbits for Sustainable Development in Nigeria

DANWE A.B, ABDULRAHMAN A.M AND MUSA BAKOJI

Department of Animal Production

College of Agriculture, Jalingo, Taraba State, Nigeria.

E-mail: mraugustinedanwe@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to investigate the performance and nutrients digestibility of rabbits fed forage diets. Twenty four (24) weaners, Rabbits of about five (5) weeks old were used for the study. The rabbits were allocated to four (4) dietary treatments with six (6) replicates of one (1) rabbit each. Diet T1 and T2 contained 50% dry matter Arachis hypogaea haulms and 50% Musa spp fresh leaves respectively. While Diet, T3 and T4 contained 50% Amaranthus spinosus stems and 50% Amaranthus spinosus fresh leaves respectively. Each diet T1, T2, T3 and T4 were supplement with 50% maize bran and the experiment lasted for (8) weeks. The result showed a significant decrease (p<0.001) in body weight gain, increase in total feed intake and forage intake. Dietary treatment also had significant increase (p<0.01) no feed conversion ratio. There was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in dressing percentage and carcass weight. While nutrients digestibility of CF, Dm decreased (p<0.001), Cp digestibility had significant increase (P<0.01). However, rabbits performed better on Arachis hypogea haulms, Amaranthus spinosus leaves were recommended best.