Agriculture

Agriculture Research Papers/Topics

FORESTS AND NATIONAL SECURITY IN NIGERIA: AN EVALUATION OF THE SYMBIOSIS AND CHALLENGES

Abstract Forests play many diverse and multifaceted roles in our life. However, there is an emerging nexus between forest and national security in many countries, especially within the sub-Saharan region of Africa. Contrary to the noble objectives for which they were constituted, many forest reserves have become a source of security concern both at the local and national scale. In the light of this, we examined the relationship between forest and national security in Nigeria, with a view to ...

TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF LUMBER RECOVERY FROM HIGH FOREST TREE SPECIES IN SELECTED SAWMILLS OF SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

ABTRACT This study investigates the technical performance efficiency (TPE) of twenty seven sawmills purposely selected and grouped into three classes :small1001ft3 /day based on their production capacities. 243 logs obtained from 20 species of wood sourced from Southwestern Nigeria were examined in 27 selected sawmills using the variables such as wood species, log sizes, shapes and sawkerf, which have direct impact on waste generated from sawn logs and log conversion efficiency. Whereas 135 s...

Processing, Marketing and Utilization of Forest Resources: Implication for Sustainable Forest Management and Trade in Nigeria

ABSTRACT Despite their importance, the forest resource base in most African countries has continued to dwindle. This continuous decline in Africa forest cover and the inability to stem the tide of deforestation indicate among other things the failure of the classically structured resource management institutions established during colonial administration. Consequently, there has been a paradigm shift in forestry practices throughout the world from the classical management approach to managing...

Dimensional Properties Of Wood Cement Panels Produced From Wood Waste Of Some Municipal Tree Species In University Of Ibadan, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT A study was carried out to investigate the dimensional properties of cement bonded particles board from wood waste of 3 urban trees common in University of Ibadan campus. The 3 wood species used for board production are Gmelina arborea, Delonix regia, and Samanea sena. The dimensional properties investigated are thickness swelling and water absorbtion.

Impact of Policy Changes on Technical Efficiency on Farmers: Empirical Evidence From Nigerian Small Scale Food Crop Farmers

ABSTRACT T he s t u dy qu a nt it a t iv el y d et er min e t h e i mp a ct of p ol ic y cha n g es o n t ech n ica l eff ic i ency of s ma ll s ca l e fo o d cr op far mer s in O n do S t a t e, N ige r ia , us ing t h e s t ocha s t ic fr ont i er met h od o lo g y. G iv e n t h e s p eci fica t io ns of t h e C ob b -D ou gl a s S t ocha s t ic fr ont i er mod els , t h e r es u lt s s h o w t ha t t h e ela s t icit y of mea n va lu e of fa r m ou t p u t is a n incr ea s in g fu n ct io ...

UTILIZATION OF ORGANIC FARMING PRACTICES AND MATERIALS BY SMALL SCALE FARMERS IN OGUN STATE NIGERIA

ABSTRACT In Nigeria several small scale farmers make use of organic materials such as compost and manure to maintain soil organic matter and as sources of nutrients. The advantages of organic farming could include increased productivity and enhanced biodiversity of the farm lands and surrounding environment. This paper examined the utilization of organic of practices and materials, with highlight on farmers' demographics, knowledge of organic farming, attitude and constraint to use of organic...

Nutrient Utilisation and Growth Performance of Rabbits Fed Diets Based on Maize, Cassava or Their By-products

Abstract A 70-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate nutrient intake, digestibility and growth characteristics of rabbits fed maize grain (mg), maize offal (mo), cassava tuber (ct) or cassava peel (cp) based diets. The four test ingredients were included at 30.84% in diets supplying 17% crude protein. The consumption of dry matter, crude protein and crude fibre were higher (P4.05) in mo and cp based diets, while apparent digestibilities were better (Pc0.05) in rabbits fed mg and ct based...

Assessment of regeneration potential of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. under established ecosystems in Cameroon

Hibiscus sabdariffa is a non-timber-forest-plant (NTFP) that has the potential of producing fibers good in paper-making. Germination and growth potentials of H. sabdariffa under farmland, fallowland, plantation and forest ecosystems were studied. Seeds of H. sabdariffa were sown to assess germination percentage, germination rate, germination time and velocity coefficient on established plots of each ecosystem. Seedlings were randomly selected to measure growth and yield parameters of hei...

STEM DISTRIBUTIONS AND HEIGHT-DIAMETER ALLOMETRIES FOR TWO SPECIES OF Irvingiaceae (exell and mendonça) IN A TROPICAL MOIST FOREST OF SOUTHERN NIGERIA

The study investigated stem distributions and height-diameter relationships of two Irvingiaceae species in Oban Forest, Cross River State, Nigeria with a view to suggesting appropriate management strategies for their conservation in the area. Using systematic sampling technique, six 2km-transect was cut in each of the primary and secondary forests in the area. Four 50m×50m plots were laid alternately along each transect. Thus, twenty-four plots were used in each of the two forest types, maki...

ASSESSMENT OF AGROPORESTR~ PRACTICES AS A LAND USE OPTION IN AFISBO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OYO STATE, NIGERIA

The paper examines the adoption of agoforestry practices as a land use option in Atisbo Local Government Area of Oyo State. Data were generated from primary and secondary sources. The primary data were obtained from structured questionnaire and direct interview of farmers in the   area, using purposive simple random sampling technique. Fifteen farmers were randomly sampled from each of the ten cells of Atisbo Farmers Association of Nigeria with 440 members. Data generated were analyzed...

Introduction and Participatoryevaluation of Exotic Cultivars of Pepper (Capsicum Spp.) among Small Holder Farmers in South- Western Nigeria

Abstract. Pepper (Capsicum spp.) production by farmers in southwestern Nigeria is limited by low yield due to poor genetic potentials of most cultivars available, use of poor quality seeds, disease infestation, and poor managment practices among others. To overcome the constraints, some varieties of pepper developed at Embrapa Brazil and NIHORT Nigeria, were introducedfollowed bytraining of 100 small scale farmers . Participatory field demonstrations of the improved varieties of pepper were c...

Effect of dietary alternative lipid sources on haematological parameters and serum constituents of Heterobranchus longifilis fingerlings

Abstract The worldwide increase in aquaculture production and the decrease of wild fish stocks has made the replacement of fish oil (FO) in aquafeed industry a priority. Therefore, the use of terrestrial animal fats and vegetable oils, which has lower cost and larger supplies, may be good as substitute for FO. This study investigate the effects of total replacement of FO by two terrestrial animal fats (pork lard and poultry fat) and three vegetable oils (palm kernel oil, shea butter oil and s...

EFFECT OF CRUDE OIL AND SOME PETROLEUM PRODUCTS ON CLARIAS GARIEPINUS FINGERLINGS (CATFISH: CLARIDAE)

ABSTRACT Ninety (90) hatchery bred fingerlings of Clarias gariepinus (mean weight: 0.96 ± 0.1g) were randomly placed in 15 plastic baths (25 litres each) at the Research laboratory and were exposed to different concentrations of oil products to determine their effects on the fish, to facilitate inferential deductions that will enhance effective aquatic environmental management. Three (3) replicate basins of 5 experimental treatments (crude oil, petrol oil, kerosene oil, engine oil and contro...

Effects of dietary lipid source on growth, digestibility and tissue fatty acid composition of Heterobranchus longifilis fingerlings

Abstract One of the major problems facing aquaculture is the inadequate supply of fish oil mostly used for fish feed man- ufacturing. The continued growth in aquaculture production cannot depend on this finite feed resources, therefore, it is imperative that cheap and readily available substitutes that do not compromise fish growth and fillet quality be found. To achieve this, a 12-week feeding trial with Heterobranchus longifilis fed diets differing in lipid source was conducted. Diets were ...

The Use of Cassava, Sweet Potato and Cocoyam, and Their By-Products by Non – Ruminants

Abstract As the search for alternative sources of energy for non ruminants continues, this review was undertaken to examine the potential value of cassava (Manihot utilissima Pohl.), sweet potato (Ipomea batatas Poir.), cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium Schott.) and their by-products as dietary supplements for non ruminants. Studies on these roots and tubers showed that, on a dry-weight basis, contained 2.0 – 7.9% crude protein, 0.3 – 3.1% crude fibre and 72.4 – 77.9% starch. The practi...


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