International Journal of Agriculture and Biosciences

This research was carried out to analyze the profitability of goat marketing in Port Harcourt metropolis. Two markets were purposively selected and 35 respondents were chosen at random from each market to give a total of 70 respondents. Collected data was analyzed with descriptive statistics like frequency and percentages. The major socio-economic attributes of the goat marketers that were described and used in analysis include gender, age, marital status, educational status, household size and years of experience. The study revealed that males dominated goat marketing. Majority of the respondents were in the age range of 51-60 years and 57.14 per cent of the goat marketers lacked formal education. Socio-economic factors such as family size and years of experience of these goat marketers were seen to have effects on goat marketing profitability levels. It was revealed that the profitability level of goat marketing is high and is positively influenced by the unit sales’ price. In addition, some major constraints were observed to be facing the goat marketers and these included high cost of transportation, lack of holding facilities and inadequate capital. It is recommended amongst others that the management and sanitation procedures in goat marketing should be improved to reduce negative environmental impact and goat marketers should be given some formal education to be more enlightened and skilled.

Keywords: Profitability, Marketing margin, Livestock production, Goats, Rivers state

Turfgrass can create a green space in urban and sports areas and it has an immense impact on making the environment beautiful and relaxing. Fusarium species always threaten the health of Turfgrass all over the world. This study aims to investigate the role of Fusarium species in root and crown rot and other symptoms on Turfgrass shoots and sampling of all areas suspected to have fungal contamination in the green Turfgrass areas of Qom province, Iran. Fusarium species were isolated and cultured according to standard methods and identified according to the valid identification keys. From among a total of 16 isolates, 4 isolates were examined in this study. Pathogenicity test was performed on 4 selected species including Fusarium solani, Fusarium delphinoides, Fusarium cerealis and Fusarium compactum on Barenbrug Turfgrass in the greenhouse. The most pathogenicity and frequency was seen in Fusarium Cerealis and Fusarium Solanispecies respectively in Turfgrass contaminated areas in Qom province, Iran.

Keywords: Turfgrass, Fusarium Species, Root Rot, Pathogenicity

Phosphodiesterase I isolated from Naja nigricolis (spitting cobra) was purified and characterized. Inhibition studies using methanolic leaf extract of Guiera senegalensis were also carried out. Phosphodiesterase I was purified using protamine sulphate, sephadex G-100 gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. The enzyme was purified 13 fold with an overall yield of 25 %. The purified enzyme was homogeneous by the criteria of SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with a molecular weight of 100 kDa. The PDE-I had pH and temperature optima of 9.0 and 600C respectively with activation energy of 19.43 kJ/mol. The Naja nigricolis venom PDE-I had Km and Vmax of 2.8 x 10-3 mM and 4.14 x 10-1 µmol/min respectively with bis-p-nitrophenyl phosphate as substrate. Studies on the effect of pH on Km and Vmax gave a PKa1 of 8.7 and PKa2 of 9.2 respective with enthalpy of ionization of 37 kJ/mol suggesting histidine in or around the active site. The enzyme activity was inhibited by Cu2+, Zn2+, Fe2+, Ca2+, Hg2+ and Co2+ but potentiated by Mg2+ ion. Guiera senegalensis methanolic leaf extract produces mixed type inhibition of PDE-I with an inhibition constant of 1.2 x 10-1 mM. This study revealed the presence of PDE-I in Naja nigricolis venom and gave some scientific bases for the use of the plant material for the treatment of Naja nigricolis envenomation by the locals.

Keywords: Naja nigricolis, Guiera senegalensis, phosphodiesterase I, bis-p-nitrophenyl phosphate

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of adding liquid amino acid in the drinking water on the performance of broiler chickens fed commercial diets. Two hundred and twenty eight (228) day old unsexed commercial broiler chicks (Arbro Acres) were assigned to four treatments in a completely randomized design with three replicates per treatment. The birds were housed on deep litter open sided house for 8 weeks at the Poultry Production Research Farm, Kogi State Ministry of Agriculture, Nigeria. All diets had similar crude protein and metabolizable energy for the starter and finisher phases. The diet was ascertained through proximate analysis to meet the minimum nutrient specifications for broiler bird. For the starter and finisher phases, birds in treatment 1 received commercial diet and portable drinking water. Treatments 2, 3 and 4 received commercial diet with liquid amino acid in water at 1.15, 2.25 and 3.00 ml/day respectively. The results showed that the addition of liquid amino acids to the drinking water improved the performance of broiler chickens significantly (P<0.05). For the starter phase, inclusion of liquid amino acid in water had significant (P<0.05) effects on final weight, weight gain and average daily weight gain. At the finisher phase, inclusion of liquid amino acid in water had significant effects (P<0.05) on final weight, weight gain, average daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and feed cost per kg gain. Feed intake was not significantly (P>0.05) affected across the treatment groups. The results indicated that 2.25ml/19birds/day for the starter phase and 1.50ml/19birds/day for the finisher phase had better performances in terms of feed conversion ratio, more profit and reduced production cost under the study conditions.

Keywords: Liquid amino acid, Broiler, Performance

A field study was conducted in Maiduguri, (11o 53’ N; 13o 16’ E) to study the comparative effect of cow dung and poultry droppings singly or in combination with mineral fertilizer on some Soil chemical properties and yield of maize (Zea mays L). The treatments consisted of cow dung and poultry droppings (5.0 tons/ha). Singly and combined with four levels of mineral fertilizers (0, 45, 60 and 90 kg/ha N). The experiment therefore contained nine (9) treatments laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). From the result, it was found that cow dung significantly increased the ECEC, soil organic carbon and P content both singly and in combination with mineral nitrogen fertilizer. On the other hand, poultry droppings significantly decreased soil pH, but significantly increased total nitrogen and fulvic acid fraction of organic matter. Maize yield was significantly affected by the different treatments. There was consistent increase in grain yield with addition of cow dung and poultry droppings applied singly and in combination with mineral nitrogen fertilizer in the first and second year of experiment and in combined analyses. Combining sub-optimal rates of nitrogen fertilizer (90 kg/ha N) with cow dung (5.0 tons/ha) gave the highest grain yield especially in the first year (2466.7 kg/ha) and in the combined analysis (1883.7 kg/ha). From this study, it could be concluded that cow dung and poultry droppings either singly or in combination with mineral nitrogen fertilizer significantly improved soil pH, total nitrogen organic carbon content, CEC and organic matter fractions and increased the yield of maize in the study area and is recommended to farmers in the area more and better than sole mineral fertilizer.

Keywords: Comparative study, Cow dung, Poultry droppings, Mineral fertilizer, Soil chemical properties Maize yield and Semi-Arid Sub-Region

Manilkarazapota bark have been reported to have antimicrobial activities. However, the specific active compound other than triterpenoid that contribute to the antimicrobial activity is not known yet. Therefore, this study was aimed to identify antimicrobial active compound in the selected fraction of the selected solvent extract of Manilkarazapota bark. Manilkarazapota bark was macerated with water, methanol, ethanol and acetone. Furthermore, the yield of each extract was calculated and evaluated for antimicrobial activities employing disc diffusion and micro-dilution method. Extract of the selected solvent fractionated gradually with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and dichloromethane, then its tannins were removed. The fraction that showed the best antimicrobial activities proceed to the stage of isolation using preparative thin layer chromatography. Lastly, the result of isolation was characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Liquid Chromatography with Mass Spectrometer. There was a significant difference between the ability of antimicrobial activities for water, methanol, ethanol and acetone extract of Manilkarazapota bark. Based on the amount of yield and antimicrobial test results, methanol was the selected solvent to extract the Manilkarazapota bark of the four solvents. The fractionation of the methanol extract showed an increase of antimicrobial activity. Methanol tannins free fraction at concentration of 0.05 mg/mL inhibit Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus and Shigellaflexneri. This fraction at concentration of 0.2 mg / mL was able toeliminat B. cereus and S. aureus. Based on the results of the analysis and characterization, the most important antimicrobial compounds from the Manilkarazapota bark was 3′,4′,5,7-tetramethylquercetin.

Keywords: Antimicrobial, Bark, Manilkarazapota, Quercetin

An investigation was carried out in a pot experiment to access the effect of a rhizobial inoculant on the performance of soybean varieties. This study was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Abuja, Nigeria. Three varieties of soybean (TGm 263, TGm 295 and TGm 307) and 2 rhizobial inoculation levels (with and without) were set up as a factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design. Plant height, number of leaves, shoot and root weight, number and weight of nodules were among the parameters evaluated. Significant interaction was observed between soybean varieties and rhizobial inoculation. Shoot dry weight under non-inoculated TGm 307 (TGm307*NRh) increased by 49.5% as compared to the inoculated TGm 307 (TGm307*Rh). However, with rhizobia inoculation, number of nodules for TGm 263 (TGm263*Rh) significantly increased by 61% over that of uninoculated TGm 263 (TGm263*NRh). The study indicated inoculants interaction with soybean varieties varied across parameters.

Keywords: Soybean varieties, Inoculation, Biomass, Interaction

The trial was conducted at three locations such as at Wondo Genet, Hawassa and Koka during 2014/2015 to determine appropriate environment and harvesting cycle for enhancing the growth, yield and yield components of Spanish mint. The experiment comprised two levels of harvesting cycle (Cycle 1 and Cycle 2) were used on a plot size of 1.8 m length and 3.6 m width arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications. SAS (version 9) software was used to compute the analysis of variance. The LSD test was used to compare the mean separations at 5 % probability level. The result showed that, location had a significant influence on fresh leaf weight/plant, fresh leaf yield/ha and percent essential oil content; however, it did not significantly influence on plant height and essential oil yield/ha. The highest fresh leaf weight/plant and fresh leaf yield/ha was obtained at Wondo Genet; whereas, the least values were obtained at Hawassa. Harvesting cycle had a significant influence on plant height, fresh leaf weight/plant and fresh leaf yield/ha; however, percent essential oil content and essential oil yield/ha were not influenced by the different in harvesting cycle. The highest plant height was obtained at the first harvesting cycle; whereas, the least value was obtained at the second harvesting cycle. Conversely, the highest fresh leaf biomasses per plant and per hectare were obtained at the second harvesting cycle. In contrast, the least fresh leaf biomasses per plant and per hectare were obtained at the first harvesting cycle. Moreover, the interaction of the two factors had a significant influence on all parameters like plant height, fresh leaf weight/plant, fresh leaf yield/ha, percent essential oil content and essential oil yield/ha. Therefore, cultivation of Spanish mint at Wondo Genet and at a place where having identical environment with Wondo Genet is much more advantageous than Hawassa and Koka for fresh leaf production. But for essential oil production, cultivation of Spanish mint at Hawassa and at a place where having identical environment with Hawassa is advantageous than Wondo Genet and Koka.

Keywords: Spanish mint, Fresh leaf yield, Essential oil yield

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of replacement levels of boiled and fermented castor seed meal (BFCSM) on the productive performance, carcass evaluation and cost effectiveness in cockerels. One hundred and fifty (150) harco black strains of day-old cockerels were fed ad libitum for 16 weeks with diets containing 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% boiled and fermented castor seed meal (BFCSM). The various replacement levels of BFCSM in the diets of cockerels had no adverse effect on their daily feed intake, daily weight gain and FCR. The slaughter weight, bled weight, plucked weight and dressed weight of cockerels on 20% BFCSM diet were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those on 15% BFCSM, but not significantly (P>0.05) different from those on control (0%), 5 and 10% BFCSM diet. It was concluded that boiled and fermented castor seed meal could serve as an alternative to soya bean meal and groundnut cake in the diets of cockerels at 10% level of replacement.

Keywords: Cockerels, Boiling, Fermentation and Castor Seed Meal