International Journal of Agriculture and Biosciences

Control of storage insect pest of Tamarindus indica in Zamfara State were conducted in order to suggest an appropriate control of the insect pest. Infested tamarind fruit sample was collected from all markets selected and conveyed to the laboratory for insect pest isolation, culture and specimens processing. Formulations of treatments namely garlic, ginger, clove, and lime peel powders at 1g, 2g, 3g, 4g, and 5g/100g of fruit alongside control, were evaluated for insecticidal activity on taste insect in entomology laboratory. All the treatments administered were found to be effective in controlling pests. But treatment 1 (ginger) was significantly higher 4.00g followed by clove 3.00g and garlic 2.67g P>0.05 on Caryedon serratus. Spices (ginger, clove, garlic, and lime peels) were found to be effective in controlling C. serratus, ginger was found to be more effective. the plant is accessible, affordable and therefore is recommended for use in controlling Caryedon serratus insect pest of stored tamarind.

Keywords: Control, Caryedon serratus,Tamarindus indica

The search for non-competitive feed materials for farm animals especially in the poverty laden Trans Saharan Africa cannot be over emphasized. Therefore, a 56 days investigation was carried out on 32 mixed sex Red Chinchilla weaner rabbits obtained from a reputable rabbitry farm to evaluate the carcass characteristics and organ proportions of Red Chinchilla weaner rabbits fed diets containing graded levels of Gmelina arborea fruit meal (GFM). The study was conducted in the Rabbitry unit of Teaching and Demonstration farm, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Ndele campus, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. The animals were randomly assigned to four dietary treatment on as fed basis in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Treatment one (T1 0% GFM) inclusion rate served as the control while Treatments two, three and four (T2, T3 and T4) had 5%, 10% and 15% GFM inclusion rates respectively. Results obtained showed significant differences (P<0.05) for all the carcass characteristics and organ proportion indices measured. However, T4 had the third highest numerical value of dressed carcass weight of rabbits. This is indicative of economic viability in least feed cost since Gmelina arborea fruit meal (GFM) causing nuisance with no financial implication could totally replace maize with no negative effect on rabbits. The intestine of the rabbits in T4 weighed a little heavier than T1 but lesser than T2. This may be attributable to the fat content of GFM. Although, there was no visually noticeable adverse effect on organ characteristics, chemical analysis may be required for further investigation on organ characteristics. Conclusively, Gmelina arborea fruit can totally replace maize in rabbit diet for possible least cost feed production and improved performance of Red Chinchilla rabbits.

Keywords: Carcass characteristics, Red Chinchilla rabbits, Gmelina arborea fruit meal (GFM)

This study is aimed to investigate the haematological and serum biochemical indices of Red Chinchilla weaner rabbits fed diet containing Gmelina arborea fruit meal (GFM). A total of 36 mixed sex weaner were bought from a reputable farm in Ibadan and placed in rabbit hutches in a Completely Randomized Design allotted to four experimental diets. Gmelina arborea fruit meal was included at 0, 5, 10 and 15% in treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively, whereas T1served as the control. The diets were subjected to proximate analysis to ensure that the calculated nutrient composition is within range. The rabbits were fed and offered drinking water ad-libitum throughout the experimental period. At the end of 56 days feeding trial, three rabbits from each treatment (one rabbit/replicate) was randomly selected, weighed and blood collected for determination of serum and haematological observation. Result showed no significant difference (P>0.05) on the haematological parameters of the rabbits and means were within normal range. However, in serum biochemical analysis, there was significant difference (P<0.05) only in total protein and urea. Total protein for T1 (60.00g) doubled that of T4 (26.33g), perhaps because of protein inhibitors or anti nutritive factors present in GFM which should be further investigated. Also, the method of Gmelina arborea fruit meal preparation, treatment and preservation may also be responsible. On the contrary however, urea was least for T1 and highest for T3, this suggests the reason for low total protein in T3 and T4 respectively. The rate of urea may become poisonous therefore, better means of conversion to useable protein is vital and should be further investigated.

Keywords: Haematological indices, Red Chinchilla weaner rabbits, Gmelina arborea fruit meal (GFM)

This study was undertaken to evaluate the varietal variation in the nutrient composition of some varieties of sweet potato and yam peels. Samples of these varieties were collected from International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Onne. They were sun – dried for 4 -6 days and taken to the laboratory for proximate, mineral, anti- nutritional factors and fibre fraction analyses. Results showed significant (P<0.05) differences in the proximate composition, fibre fractions, anti – nutritional factors and mineral composition of the different varieties of sweet potato and yam peels. CP was highest in water yam peel (6.56%), CF was highest in white yam peels (18.16%), Ash was highest in white yam peels (10.64%), EE was highest in white sweet potato peel (16.60%) and DM highest in yellow sweet potato peels (95.58%). Saponin and tannin were highest in water yam peel (6.14%) and yellow sweet potato peels (3.51%), respectively. NDF was highest in water yam peels (52.60%) while ADF was highest in water yam peel (30.58%). The CP contents of the different varieties of sweet potato and yam peels fell below the recommended CP (10.25%) ideal for sheep and goat production and therefore can only be used as supplements.

Keywords: Crude protein, Fibre fractions, Saponin, Sweet potato peels, Tannin and Yam peels

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is one of the most important food crops in Ethiopia. Yield of sorghum is declining from time to time below the potential due to abiotic and biotic factors. The purpose of this research was to study the effect of herbicide rates, N fertilizer level, and sorghum varieties on striga infestation and sorghum yield. Field experiment were conducted in Humera, North Western Ethiopia during 2017 growing season. Split-split plot design was done and replicated thrice. The experiment comprised of four N fertilizer levels in main plot, four herbicide rates in sub-plot and three varieties in sub-sub plot under naturally Striga hermonthica infested area. Sorghum yield and striga count were recorded. Partial budget analysis was computed to assess the economic visibility of all factors. Result showed maximum grain yield (4383 kg ha-1) was obtained from application of 23 kg N ha-1 and 15 g Cl ha-1 with variety Deber. Stand count of striga at 65 DAP were significantly (P<0.01) affected with the application of N fertilizer, herbicide rates and varieties. The partial budget showed that an investing of 1.0 birr on application of N fertilizer, herbicide with varieties earns 4.23 birr. Generally, an integrated approach was found to be the best method to control striga and as well-as to obtain the optimum yield. Thus, using N fertilizer, herbicide, and variety could be an advantage to obtain highest yield and profit for the farmers in striga infested areas.

Keywords: Sorghum bicolor, Striga hermonthica, Urea- Nitrogen fertilizer, Herbicide, Varieties and Sorghum yield

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of Artificial insemination (AI) through crossbreeding on productive and reproductive performance dairy cows of smallholder farmers in Laelay maichew district. Using multistage random sampling method, 155 household dairy cow keepers selected. Semi-structured questionnaire interview and checklist tool was used to collect milk yield, lactation length, age at first service and calving. Descriptive and inferential statistics techniques were used to analyze the survey result. The survey shows that a crossbred and indigenous dairy cow of mean daily milk yield was found (5.71±0.47) and (1.67± 0.06) liters per cow per day, respectively. This productive performance of between the cross bred and indigenous shows a significance difference with (t-value=8.24, p=0.00). The age at first calving of crossbred heifers was found to be (31.67±1.18) whereas an indigenous heifer is (44±0.70) months that shows a significant difference with (t-value=8.48, p-value=0.00). In other hand, age at first calving of crossbred was found (44± 1.09) and indigenous also (55± 0.71) months which shows a significant difference between the two breed with the value of (t-value=9.43, p-value=0.00). In conclusion, productive and reproductive performance of crossbred has an advantage over indigenous dairy cows in terms of milk yield, early age at first service and at first calving under the management of smallholder farmers in the study area. Then, AI needs strategically designed crossbreeding programs to be effective, improve the genetic resource and enhance the income of household incomes.

Keywords: Effect, AI, crossbreeding, productive, reproductive, performance

The present study was carried out to assess some performance indicators such as yield, WUE and IWUE under deficit irrigation for both tow local and two introduced winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes in the water-deficient wheat-plateaus of Sétif province, northeastern Algeria. Results showed that when deficit irrigation was efficiently managed, the number of irrigations was reduced by 2. Water use efficiency for grain yield increased significantly from local to introduced cultivars confirming that introduced genotypes used less water than local cultivars, whereas Djanet genotype recorded the highest water use efficiency for grain yield with 1.07 kg/m3. Increasing water use efficiency for grain yield for the new genotypes was associated with improved canopy structure due to the selection for the semi-dwarf stature with larger leaf area as well as for higher harvest index. IWUE was greater for lower irrigation regimes and maximum grain production was achieved with moderate water deficit. Whilst, in addition to the growing season rainfall pattern, applying a first irrigation of 10mm on jointing stage (Z31) followed by a second irrigation of 15mm on flowering stage (Z65-Z69) reduced the gross watering to 286mm, which allowed to achieve an increase in grain yield of 14.60% from the rainfed treatment furthermore an IWUE of 11.52 kg/m3 with an increase of 140% in comparison to the most irrigated regime (W5), on which irrigation seemed excessive.

Keywords: Deficit irrigation, Triticuma estivum L., Grain yield, Water use efficiency, Irrigation water use efficiency

Giant sensitive plant (Mimosa invisa Mart – Family: Fabaceae; sub Family: Mimosoideae) is an exotic, invasive and obnoxious weed introduced into Nigeria over two decades ago. It is a perennial, thorny and scrambling legume which hinders the regeneration, reproduction and growth of native species in all infested areas resulting in gradual loss of biodiversity. The weed thrives in a wide range of soil types and prefers open areas and human disturbed ecosystems including roadsides and farmlands where it produces large number of small tough seeds. These seeds remain viably dormant in the soil for a very long time. The Giant sensitive plant can cause severe losses of up to 60-90% yield reductions in cassava, maize, plantation and other arable crops. It can also cause fire hazards during the dry season in infested fields. It forms large swathes of impenetrable prickly thickets that are difficult to remove. Furthermore, being a shrubby, sprawling and scrambling climber, M. invisa smothers other weed species. Thus, it can be used to control soil erosion and restore fertility in marginal lands. Similarly, it can be used to control other obnoxious weeds including spear grass. Apart from its efficient land protection against erosion, it further serves as a protection hedge row against wild and domestic ruminants. Mimosa invisa also has ethno medicinal and ornamental values as Mimosa pudica. With Integrated weed management practices like such as burning, ploughing in before flowering (as green manure), the use of pre- and post-emergence herbicides as well as biological control, the benefits of this eccentric plant can be greatly appropriated in our farming systems especially as ground cover in some tree crop plantations.

Keywords: Mimosa invisa, Invasive weed, Integrated weed management, Soil fertility

In this study, a typological inventory was carried out on holm oak forests in the mountains of Tlemcen. The aim was to determine the structure of the different types of holm oak stand existing currently in this area under study. The cluster analysis which was applied to the data set of 80 plots and tree size classes variables (dbh”diameter at breast height” ≥7.5 cm) has resulted in 14 types and/or subtypes of holm oak forest stands. Based on the results obtained from cluster analysis, a classification key was established in order to facilitate the identification and description of all types of stand.

Keywords: Stand typology, Holm oak “Quercus rotundifolia L.”, Mountains of Tlemcen, Algeria

Sesame is one of the important oil seed crop in Ethiopia, but its production is challenged by several abiotic and biotic factors. Fusarium wilt disease is among the major sesame production constraints and causes huge yield loss from time to time in western Tigray. Simple lattice design with three replication including eighty-one sesame genotypes was used in the study. The objective of the study was to screen sesame genotypes resistance to fusarium wilt disease on May kadra, western Tigray. The study showed that significant (P<0.001) variation among genotypes about disease incidence and seed yield. Disease incidence was ranged from Gida-Ayana (0.53%) to Baeker BH-01(87.82%), genotypes. The lowest diseases incidence was observed in Gida-Ayana 0.53%, Gonder-1(1.01%), Nigara-MK-01 (1.53%), Tegil (1.73%) and Hirhir (1.84%) respectively. whereas the highest disease incidences recorded from Baeker BH-01(87.82%), Lugdi-0188 (86.4%), Baeker BH-15 (73.28%) and Shellela-035(62.16%). The highest yield was recorded from Hirhir (707.9 kg/ha) while the lowest yield obtained from Baeker BH-01(94.8 kg/ha). Negative correlation and highly significant difference among disease incidence, plant population, and seed yield were observed. Genotypes with low disease incidence will be recommended and promoted for breeding programs to develop fusarium wilt resistance.

Keywords: Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. sesami, Genotypes, Resistance, Sesame, yield