Abstract The study analysed off-farm income and farm capital accumulation among small-scale farmers at farm level in North Central Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 360 respondents, comprising participants and non-participants in off-farm work. The participants were disaggregated into three main typology namely, agricultural wage, nonagricultural wage, and self-employments. Data for the study were obtained from primary source with the aid of standard questionnaire and ...
ABSTRACT One mechanism by which plants can mobilize organic and inorganic forms of phosphorus (P) in soils is by exudation of low molecular weight organic acids. Laboratory and field trial were carried out during 2011 and 2012 cropping seasons to study the effects of additions of organic acids ( citric, oxalic and tartaric acids) on the mobilization of phosphate of soils from Minna and Mokwa, both in Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria. For initial laboratory studies and prior to field cultiva...
Abstract The overall purpose of the study was to determine the perception of extension staff of manpower and institutional factors that constrain agricultural extension services in Benue State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (BNARDA). The study was guided by three research purposes, namely: to describe the respondents’ socio-economic characteristics; to determine the perception of the extension staff on the number of extension staff as a manpower constrain; and to examine the e...
ABSTRACT This study was conducted to investigate the effect of 45 and 60 minutes of exposure of crossbred (LW x Local) and exotic (LW) boars to tropical solar radiation on their body temperature pattern, libido, semen quality and haematological profile. 12 LW x Local and 12 LW boars of 10 months old were used for the experiment. The experiment was carried out in the Piggery Unit of the Department of Animal Science Farm, University of Nigeria, Nsukka for a period of eight weeks (4 weeks for th...
ABSTRACT The study ascertained indigenous and emerging adaptive agricultural technologies to climate change in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Data were collected from 400 respondents through the use of semi structured interview schedule using a multi stage random sampling technique. The collected data were analyzed using percentages, mean score, and factor analysis. The findings revealed that majority (89.8%) of the respondents were aware of climate change though only 9.0% of them knew of...
Abstract This study examined the contributions of women to household farming decisions among cocoa-based agroforestry households in Ekiti state, Nigeria using cross-sectional data. The study used purposive, multistage and random sampling techniques for the selection of 120 cocoa-based agroforestry farm units that constituted respondents for the study. The analytical techniques involved descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis and multinomial logistic regression model. With regards ...
ABSTRACT Plukenetia conophorum Muell Arg commonly called African walnut is cultivated principally for the nuts which are cooked and consumed as snacks. The plant serves many nutritional and medicinal purposes yet its availability is on the decline. To preserve and ensure continued availability of P. conophorum, there is the need to develop propagation protocols for the plant. Five accessions were collected from Mbu, Nsukka, Orba and two locations in Edem-ani all in Enugu State, Southeastern, ...
Abstract Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macf.) is an important crop in Sudan. The quality of grapefruit is affected by many factors which are suspected to cause the low yield and poor quality of fruits. These factors may include infection by pests and diseases, damage, soil problems and poor management practices. The present study aimed to identify the specifications of two grapefruit cultivars (Foster and Duncan).This was achieved through determining quality indices such as, number of segments,...
Abstract This study was conducted to investigate the economics of cassava processing into garri and pellets in Kogi State. Data were collected from 100 cassava processors (22 males and 78 females) and analysed to describe socio-economic characteristics, identify and describe various technologies used in cassava processing, ascertain gender roles, estimate the influence of socio-economic characteristics on income of processors, determine profitability and identify constraints militating agains...
ABSTRACT Four field experiments were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka to: (i) improve the photoperiodic response, especially in local (late) maturing varieties of Okra; (ii) estimate heterosis and heritability for improved yield and productivity; (iii) determine combining ability and gene effects of 13 genotypes of okra; (iv) estimate gene effects of quantitative traits; (v) determine inheritance pattern of qualitativ...
ABSTRACT An economic analysis of farmland erosion control practices was conducted in Enugu State, southeastern Nigeria. The study aimed at identifying and describing the erosion control practices applied by the farmers, determining the net-benefit of erosion control practices, determining the socio-economic factors affecting the farmers’ use of a particular erosion control practice and identifying from the farmers perspective the possible causes and extent of cause of erosion on the farmlan...
ABSTRACT An experiment was conducted to determine the metabolizable energy of maize pap waste (MPW) and rice milling waste (RMW) using adult male broiler birds. Eighteen male adult broiler birds were used in the experiment. Eight birds were assigned to each of the feedstuff with two birds left unfed which served as the negative control. Each of the samples was ground, made into slurry and force-fed to sixteen 10-week old finisher broiler birds that had been starved for 30 hours. The droppings...
ABSTRACT Baking and roasting are important cooking operations domestically and commercially carried out in bakeries, eateries and homes. It involves cooking with hot air as a result of heat and mass transfer processes. Baking and roasting of food items could be done using an oven. Therefore, this work is aimed at harnessing agricultural waste materials as heat sources in oven cooking and baking operations. The design, construction and performance evaluation of a biomass fired oven was underta...
ABSTRACT The study was carried out to examine the impacts of fuel wood harvesting activities on forest degradation in Mutum- Biyu area. Both Quantitative and Qualitative methods of data collection were used. Data was collected through the use of close ended questionnaire, key informants structured Interview Guide and Transect sampling method. Additionally, the study also employed the use of descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentage, mean and standard deviation distribution tables...
ABSTRACT Poultry products are among the most valuable sources of animal protein, and offer a means of meeting the animal protein needs of the population. Compounded poultry feed, physical inactivity of the birds due to overcrowding and certain unhealthy habits like pecking are major setbacks to intensive poultry production. The result is high cost and high cholesterol content of products. The later has been a cause for concern to health-conscious consumers. High blood cholesterol levels have ...