The bio transfer and bio translocation factors of heavy metals in the tissues of Rhizophora racemose was evaluated in this study. Soil, roots and shoot samples of the study plant were randomly collected from Kono, Bomu, Ogu and Borokiri mangrove forests at wet and dry seasons, digested and analyzed for heavy metals using standard laboratory methods. The laboratory results of field samples were further subjected to bio transfer and bio translocation factors analysis. Findings on wet season bio transfer factor revealed the concentrations of Cr (0.36mg/kg), Ni (0.86 mg/kg), Cd (2.86 mg/kg), Pb (1.17 mg/kg) and Zn (1.85 mg/kg), while dry season showed Cr (0.36mg/kg), Ni (0.55 mg/kg), Cd (1.24 mg/kg), Pb (2.72 mg/kg) and Zn (1.99 mg/kg). The bio translocation factor results for wet season indicated the concentrations of Cr (0.51mg/kg), Ni (1.47 mg/kg), Cd (1.02 mg/kg), Pb (1.48 mg/kg) and Zn (0.88 mg/kg), while dry season result revealed Cr (0.41mg/kg), Ni (0.65 mg/kg), Cd (1.24 mg/kg), Pb (1.50 mg/kg) and Zn (0.81 mg/kg). This study therefore classifies Rhizophora racemose as a hyper accumulator of Pb and Cd in shoot tissues and non-hyper accumulator of Cr, Ni and Zn in root tissues. Beside other uses, the plant has shown high affinity for the accumulation of heavy metals and thus can be used for phytoremediation.
{"title":"Evaluation of Heavy Metal Phytoextraction Potential of Rhizophora Racemosa in Niger Delta Mangrove Forest, Rivers State, Nigeria","authors":"T. G., Ngerebara","doi":"10.7176/jnsr/12-14-03","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/jnsr/12-14-03","url":null,"abstract":"The bio transfer and bio translocation factors of heavy metals in the tissues of Rhizophora racemose was evaluated in this study. Soil, roots and shoot samples of the study plant were randomly collected from Kono, Bomu, Ogu and Borokiri mangrove forests at wet and dry seasons, digested and analyzed for heavy metals using standard laboratory methods. The laboratory results of field samples were further subjected to bio transfer and bio translocation factors analysis. Findings on wet season bio transfer factor revealed the concentrations of Cr (0.36mg/kg), Ni (0.86 mg/kg), Cd (2.86 mg/kg), Pb (1.17 mg/kg) and Zn (1.85 mg/kg), while dry season showed Cr (0.36mg/kg), Ni (0.55 mg/kg), Cd (1.24 mg/kg), Pb (2.72 mg/kg) and Zn (1.99 mg/kg). The bio translocation factor results for wet season indicated the concentrations of Cr (0.51mg/kg), Ni (1.47 mg/kg), Cd (1.02 mg/kg), Pb (1.48 mg/kg) and Zn (0.88 mg/kg), while dry season result revealed Cr (0.41mg/kg), Ni (0.65 mg/kg), Cd (1.24 mg/kg), Pb (1.50 mg/kg) and Zn (0.81 mg/kg). This study therefore classifies Rhizophora racemose as a hyper accumulator of Pb and Cd in shoot tissues and non-hyper accumulator of Cr, Ni and Zn in root tissues. Beside other uses, the plant has shown high affinity for the accumulation of heavy metals and thus can be used for phytoremediation.","PeriodicalId":16368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Sciences Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82759873","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
I. Udosen, M. Akpanabiatu, Anietie E. Samuel, Imo Y. Sandy
Mannose-binding lectin (MBL2) is an important pattern recognition molecule that identifies and binds to specific sugar molecules on the surface of pathogens thereby activating its destruction by the immune system. Samples for study were recruited from Uyo metropolis of Akwa Ibom state in Nigeria. In this study, levels of MBL2 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in tuberculosis patients and healthy individuals to determine if the immune protein protects against tuberculosis infection. MBL2 levels in tuberculosis patients and healthy controls were 14.0ng/ml ± 13.9 and 19.9ng/ml ± 18.5 respectively. The results from the study showed that there was no association in MBL2 levels between tuberculosis and controls (p=0.107) as well as between the different sub-groups. Therefore, MBL2 is not a contributory factor in resistance against tuberculosis in the population under study.
{"title":"Mannose Binding Lectin Levels Was Not Associated with Resistance to Tuberculosis Infection in the Population of Uyo Metropolis in Nigeria","authors":"I. Udosen, M. Akpanabiatu, Anietie E. Samuel, Imo Y. Sandy","doi":"10.7176/jnsr/12-14-02","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/jnsr/12-14-02","url":null,"abstract":"Mannose-binding lectin (MBL2) is an important pattern recognition molecule that identifies and binds to specific sugar molecules on the surface of pathogens thereby activating its destruction by the immune system. Samples for study were recruited from Uyo metropolis of Akwa Ibom state in Nigeria. In this study, levels of MBL2 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in tuberculosis patients and healthy individuals to determine if the immune protein protects against tuberculosis infection. MBL2 levels in tuberculosis patients and healthy controls were 14.0ng/ml ± 13.9 and 19.9ng/ml ± 18.5 respectively. The results from the study showed that there was no association in MBL2 levels between tuberculosis and controls (p=0.107) as well as between the different sub-groups. Therefore, MBL2 is not a contributory factor in resistance against tuberculosis in the population under study.","PeriodicalId":16368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Sciences Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82671231","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important food security and cash crop for farmers in highland parts of Ethiopia, particularly in Guji zone where it is grown by farmers and seed producers abundantly. However, in the highland areas of Guji zone an access, well adapted, resistance to late blight and high yielder potato variety is highly limited. Due to this reason, there is an urgent need to develop and replace the previous underproduction varieties that suit for the area. As a result, an experiment was conducted in the highland areas of Guji Zone at Bore on-station and three farmers’ fields (Abayi kuture, Raya boda, and Bube korsa) during 2019/20 cropping season to select and recommend high yielding, and diseases resistance improved potato varieties through participatory variety selection. Six (6) improved potato varieties (Gudanie, Belete, Jalenie, Dagim, Horro, and Bubu) were used as testing crop. The treatments were arranged in randomized completed block design (RCBD) with three replications for mother trial and farmers were used as replication for baby trials. Both agronomic and farmers data were collected based on the recommended standards. Data collected from mother trail were subjected to analysis of variance where as matrix ranking was used for data collected from baby trials. The analysis of variance indicated that significant differences observed at (P≤ 0.05) among the tested Irish potato varieties for day to 50% emergence and flowering, stem number per hill, tuber number per hill, marketable and total tuber yield. However, non-significant difference was observed at (P> 0.05) among the varieties for days to days to 90% maturity, plant height, tuber weight and unmarketable tuber yield. The highest marketable tuber yield was (48.17t/ha) was recorded for Belete followed by Bubu and Gudanie (35.35 and 34.3t/ha) respectively. But, the lowest marketable tuber yield (18.07t/ha) was obtained from improved Dagim variety. In other cases, farmers were allowed to evaluate the varieties using their own criteria. Accordingly, variety Bubu and Gudanie were selected by farmers due to their resistant to disease, stem number, tuber size, tuber color, tuber eye depth, number of tubers and marketability. Therefore, these two improved Irish potato varieties are selected based on agronomic data result and farmers preference and recommended for production to the highland areas of Guji zone.
{"title":"Participatory Selection of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Varieties in the Midland Areas of Guji zone, Southern Ethiopia","authors":"Arega Amdie, S. Teshome, Beriso Wako","doi":"10.7176/jnsr/12-16-01","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/jnsr/12-16-01","url":null,"abstract":"Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important food security and cash crop for farmers in highland parts of Ethiopia, particularly in Guji zone where it is grown by farmers and seed producers abundantly. However, in the highland areas of Guji zone an access, well adapted, resistance to late blight and high yielder potato variety is highly limited. Due to this reason, there is an urgent need to develop and replace the previous underproduction varieties that suit for the area. As a result, an experiment was conducted in the highland areas of Guji Zone at Bore on-station and three farmers’ fields (Abayi kuture, Raya boda, and Bube korsa) during 2019/20 cropping season to select and recommend high yielding, and diseases resistance improved potato varieties through participatory variety selection. Six (6) improved potato varieties (Gudanie, Belete, Jalenie, Dagim, Horro, and Bubu) were used as testing crop. The treatments were arranged in randomized completed block design (RCBD) with three replications for mother trial and farmers were used as replication for baby trials. Both agronomic and farmers data were collected based on the recommended standards. Data collected from mother trail were subjected to analysis of variance where as matrix ranking was used for data collected from baby trials. The analysis of variance indicated that significant differences observed at (P≤ 0.05) among the tested Irish potato varieties for day to 50% emergence and flowering, stem number per hill, tuber number per hill, marketable and total tuber yield. However, non-significant difference was observed at (P> 0.05) among the varieties for days to days to 90% maturity, plant height, tuber weight and unmarketable tuber yield. The highest marketable tuber yield was (48.17t/ha) was recorded for Belete followed by Bubu and Gudanie (35.35 and 34.3t/ha) respectively. But, the lowest marketable tuber yield (18.07t/ha) was obtained from improved Dagim variety. In other cases, farmers were allowed to evaluate the varieties using their own criteria. Accordingly, variety Bubu and Gudanie were selected by farmers due to their resistant to disease, stem number, tuber size, tuber color, tuber eye depth, number of tubers and marketability. Therefore, these two improved Irish potato varieties are selected based on agronomic data result and farmers preference and recommended for production to the highland areas of Guji zone.","PeriodicalId":16368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Sciences Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76910942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gebisa Benti, Fikadu Tadesse, Gezu Degefa, M. Jafar, Alemayehu Biri
Organic fertilizers improve the soil texture, structures, aeration and allow it to hold water longer, and increase the bacterial and fungal activity in the soil. So, they not only assist your plants, they help the soil. Increasing the use of organic fertilizers and minimizing the use of chemical fertilizers lead to sustainable production of food for human being. Shifting crop production to the use of organic fertilizers can minimize the cost of purchasing chemical fertilizers. Insufficient amount of nutrients in the soil is also among the main factors which constrained productivity of the tomato. Due to this gap the experiment was conducted in Sofi district, Harari People Regional State, Ethiopia in 2016 and 2017 cropping season to investigate the effect of vermicompost and nitrogen rate on yield and yield components of tomato. Experimental treatments were vermicompost rate (0, 1.4, 2.8 and 4.2 t ha-1) and nitrogen rate (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha-1). A total of 16 treatments were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in factorial arrangement with three replications. Melkashola Variety was used for the experiment. The result showed that plant height was significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the application of vermicompost while number of branches, number of clusters, number of fruits, average fruit weight and fruit yield were significantly (P<0.05) affected due to the interaction effect of vermicompost and nitrogen.. The highest plant height was rerecorded at 2.8 t ha-1 of vermicompost whereas the lowest was for the rest rates. Maximum number of clusters, number of fruits and fruit yield were obtained at combined application of 2.8 t ha-1 of vermicompost with 100 kg ha-1 N while maximum number of branches and average fruit weight were recorded at 2.8 t ha-1 with 150 kg ha-1 N and 4.2 t ha-1 with 50 kg ha-1 N respectively. Maximum economic return (461,606 birr ha-1) was also recorded at 2.8 t ha-1 and 100 kg ha-1 vermicompost and nitrogen, respectively with acceptable marginal rate of return. In general, the combination of vermicompost and nitrogen at 2.8 t ha-1 and 100 kg ha-1 was the best combination for the study area.
有机肥改善土壤的质地、结构、通气性，使土壤保持水分的时间更长，并增加土壤中细菌和真菌的活性。所以，它们不仅能帮助你的植物，还能帮助土壤。增加有机肥的使用，尽量减少化肥的使用，才能为人类可持续地生产粮食。将作物生产转向使用有机肥料可以最大限度地减少购买化肥的成本。土壤养分不足也是制约番茄产量的主要因素之一。由于这一差距，本试验于2016年和2017年种植季在埃塞俄比亚哈拉里人民州的Sofi区进行，研究蚯蚓堆肥和施氮量对番茄产量和产量成分的影响。试验处理为蚯蚓堆肥率(0、1.4、2.8和4.2 t hm -1)和氮肥率(0、50、100和150 kg hm -1)。采用随机完全区组设计(RCBD)进行因子排列，共16个处理，3个重复。试验采用Melkashola品种。结果表明:施用蚯蚓粪对株高有显著(P<0.05)的影响，而施用蚯蚓粪与氮素的交互作用对枝数、穗数、果数、平均果重和产量有显著(P<0.05)的影响。在2.8 t hm -1蚯蚓堆肥处理下株高最高，其余处理株高最低。蚯蚓堆肥配施100 kg hm -1 N，配施2.8 t hm -1，最大穗数、果数和产量;配施150 kg hm -1 N，最大枝数2.8 t hm -1，平均果重4.2 t hm -1，配施50 kg hm -1 N，最大果重4.2 t hm -1。在可接受的边际收益率下，2.8 t hm -1和100 kg hm -1蚯蚓堆肥和氮肥的最大经济效益分别为461,606 birr hm -1。综上所述，研究区以2.8 t hm -1和100 kg hm -1蚯蚓堆肥配氮效果最佳。
{"title":"Integrated Effects of Vermicompost and Nitrogen on Yield and Yield Components of Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum L.) in Lowlands of Eastern Harerghe","authors":"Gebisa Benti, Fikadu Tadesse, Gezu Degefa, M. Jafar, Alemayehu Biri","doi":"10.7176/jnsr/12-11-03","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/jnsr/12-11-03","url":null,"abstract":"Organic fertilizers improve the soil texture, structures, aeration and allow it to hold water longer, and increase the bacterial and fungal activity in the soil. So, they not only assist your plants, they help the soil. Increasing the use of organic fertilizers and minimizing the use of chemical fertilizers lead to sustainable production of food for human being. Shifting crop production to the use of organic fertilizers can minimize the cost of purchasing chemical fertilizers. Insufficient amount of nutrients in the soil is also among the main factors which constrained productivity of the tomato. Due to this gap the experiment was conducted in Sofi district, Harari People Regional State, Ethiopia in 2016 and 2017 cropping season to investigate the effect of vermicompost and nitrogen rate on yield and yield components of tomato. Experimental treatments were vermicompost rate (0, 1.4, 2.8 and 4.2 t ha-1) and nitrogen rate (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha-1). A total of 16 treatments were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in factorial arrangement with three replications. Melkashola Variety was used for the experiment. The result showed that plant height was significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the application of vermicompost while number of branches, number of clusters, number of fruits, average fruit weight and fruit yield were significantly (P<0.05) affected due to the interaction effect of vermicompost and nitrogen.. The highest plant height was rerecorded at 2.8 t ha-1 of vermicompost whereas the lowest was for the rest rates. Maximum number of clusters, number of fruits and fruit yield were obtained at combined application of 2.8 t ha-1 of vermicompost with 100 kg ha-1 N while maximum number of branches and average fruit weight were recorded at 2.8 t ha-1 with 150 kg ha-1 N and 4.2 t ha-1 with 50 kg ha-1 N respectively. Maximum economic return (461,606 birr ha-1) was also recorded at 2.8 t ha-1 and 100 kg ha-1 vermicompost and nitrogen, respectively with acceptable marginal rate of return. In general, the combination of vermicompost and nitrogen at 2.8 t ha-1 and 100 kg ha-1 was the best combination for the study area.","PeriodicalId":16368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Sciences Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82140612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Coffee is one of the most valuable primary products in the world trade, and also a central and popular part of our culture and the crop is cultivated in about 80 countries across the globe and entangles huge business worldwide. Industrial coffee production involves either a dry or a wet processing method for the removal of the shell and mucilaginous parts from the cherries resulting in the production of coffee husk and pulp, respectively. These main by-products generated by the coffee processing plants and are disposed into arable land and surface water causing environmental pollution due to presence of toxic materials such as caffeine and tannins. To contribute to safe disposal of solid biomass waste in coffee processing many research was conducted to assess the opportunities and challenges of expanded use of solid waste from coffee processing in energy and agricultural services in across coffee producing countries. Therefore the objective of this review was to summarize the literatures and the current knowledge on the utilization of coffee husk and pulp waste for soil amendment, for sustainable agricultural systems within small-scale farming in developing countries like Ethiopia, using these easily available materials as good option for developing plant-nutrient management strategies in highly weathered soil area.
{"title":"Utilization of Coffee Husk and Pulp Waste as Soil Amendment. A Review","authors":"Bikila Takala","doi":"10.7176/jnsr/12-11-02","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/jnsr/12-11-02","url":null,"abstract":"Coffee is one of the most valuable primary products in the world trade, and also a central and popular part of our culture and the crop is cultivated in about 80 countries across the globe and entangles huge business worldwide. Industrial coffee production involves either a dry or a wet processing method for the removal of the shell and mucilaginous parts from the cherries resulting in the production of coffee husk and pulp, respectively. These main by-products generated by the coffee processing plants and are disposed into arable land and surface water causing environmental pollution due to presence of toxic materials such as caffeine and tannins. To contribute to safe disposal of solid biomass waste in coffee processing many research was conducted to assess the opportunities and challenges of expanded use of solid waste from coffee processing in energy and agricultural services in across coffee producing countries. Therefore the objective of this review was to summarize the literatures and the current knowledge on the utilization of coffee husk and pulp waste for soil amendment, for sustainable agricultural systems within small-scale farming in developing countries like Ethiopia, using these easily available materials as good option for developing plant-nutrient management strategies in highly weathered soil area.","PeriodicalId":16368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Sciences Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84007302","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
O. Ola, F. Ekhator, J. Opabode, O. Akinyemiju, O. O. Ogedengbe
The impact of weed competition on crop growth is a universal concern to farmers. This study was conducted in 2010 at the Teaching and Research Farm, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife to evaluate the impact of cassava canopy on weed diversity and identify shade-tolerant weed species in response to varying canopy structure at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching and Research Farm, Ile-Ife ecological zone. The treatments consist of hand-weeded, herbicidal treatment, and unweeded checks in the main plot. The sub-plots constituted the cassava cultivars (TMS 30572 and TME 1) laid out in a randomized complete block with a split-plot arrangement in three replications. Fifteen weed species survived under the shade of TMS 30572 where two families were monocots while four families were dicots. However, twenty weed species were recorded where TME 1 was cultivated of which two families were monocots while five families were dicots. TMS 30572 suppressed weeds by 20% when compared to TME 1. In conclusion, TME 30572 is recommended for cultivation in this agroecology to obtain a maximum benefit on cassava production. The study designed was a randomized complete block with a split-plot arrangement laid in three replications. The weed control treatments (hand-weeded, herbicidal treatment, and unweeded check) constituted the main plot while cassava cultivars (TMS 30572 and TME 1) were the sub-plots. The cassava cultivars planted at 1m × 1m have 12 rows per sub-plot with 288 plant density and 576 per plot which amounted to 5,184 per location. The weed floras collected were from the fallow vegetation before land preparation and during the study. Quadrat of 1 m × 1 m was randomly thrown before land preparation, two times at 5 m intervals along transects that were 5 m apart, given a total of 40 samples for each location. Weed species found within each quadrat were harvested and identified using Akobundu and Agyakwa, (1987). Weed density was determined by counting the harvested weed stands at monthly intervals.
{"title":"Evaluation of two contrasting cassava canopy structures on weed flora composition in a rainforest zone of Nigeria.","authors":"O. Ola, F. Ekhator, J. Opabode, O. Akinyemiju, O. O. Ogedengbe","doi":"10.7176/jnsr/12-12-05","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/jnsr/12-12-05","url":null,"abstract":"The impact of weed competition on crop growth is a universal concern to farmers. This study was conducted in 2010 at the Teaching and Research Farm, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife to evaluate the impact of cassava canopy on weed diversity and identify shade-tolerant weed species in response to varying canopy structure at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching and Research Farm, Ile-Ife ecological zone. The treatments consist of hand-weeded, herbicidal treatment, and unweeded checks in the main plot. The sub-plots constituted the cassava cultivars (TMS 30572 and TME 1) laid out in a randomized complete block with a split-plot arrangement in three replications. Fifteen weed species survived under the shade of TMS 30572 where two families were monocots while four families were dicots. However, twenty weed species were recorded where TME 1 was cultivated of which two families were monocots while five families were dicots. TMS 30572 suppressed weeds by 20% when compared to TME 1. In conclusion, TME 30572 is recommended for cultivation in this agroecology to obtain a maximum benefit on cassava production. The study designed was a randomized complete block with a split-plot arrangement laid in three replications. The weed control treatments (hand-weeded, herbicidal treatment, and unweeded check) constituted the main plot while cassava cultivars (TMS 30572 and TME 1) were the sub-plots. The cassava cultivars planted at 1m × 1m have 12 rows per sub-plot with 288 plant density and 576 per plot which amounted to 5,184 per location. The weed floras collected were from the fallow vegetation before land preparation and during the study. Quadrat of 1 m × 1 m was randomly thrown before land preparation, two times at 5 m intervals along transects that were 5 m apart, given a total of 40 samples for each location. Weed species found within each quadrat were harvested and identified using Akobundu and Agyakwa, (1987). Weed density was determined by counting the harvested weed stands at monthly intervals.","PeriodicalId":16368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Sciences Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89705513","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are carcinogenic pollutants which get into foods during smoking. This research was used to develop an improved smoking kiln and to determine its effects of the methods of smoking in reducing the level of PAHs of a locally consumed fish in Nigeria. The fish specie clarias gariepenus (catfish) was smoked with different methods. They are the firewood in open-fire fish smoking drum (FOSD), charcoal using improved fish smoking kiln (CISK) and gas using improved fish smoking kiln (GISK). The PAHs was determined using the Gas Chromatography (GC) coupled with flame ionization detector (FID). Comparison of the concentration of PAHs in smoked fish samples were investigated with the aim of determining the process that has reduced the concentration of the PAHs in the fish samples. The total values of PAHs have shown that the methods FOSD, CISK and GISK have PAHs level of 80.01µg/g, 20.95µg/g and 14.69µg/g respectively. Benzo(a)pyrene, which is highly carcinogenic and posses health risk was found only in FOSD to be 9.20µg/g, while it was not detected in CISK and GISK respectively. As for other PAHs, they were all detected in FOSD, while fluoranthene was exceptionally high in all the methods used as 22.08µg/g, 10.23µg/g and 5.04µg/g respectively. However, naphthalene, phenanthrene, anthracene, pyrene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthrene, benzo(k)fluoranthrene, benzo(a)pyrene and benzo(g,h)perylene were not detected (ND) in the developed improved fish smoking kiln. The developed improved fish smoking kiln has been able to reduce the level of PAHs considerably and is therefore recommended.
{"title":"Development and Evaluation of Low Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Improved Fish Smoking Kiln","authors":"","doi":"10.7176/jnsr/12-12-04","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/jnsr/12-12-04","url":null,"abstract":"Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are carcinogenic pollutants which get into foods during smoking. This research was used to develop an improved smoking kiln and to determine its effects of the methods of smoking in reducing the level of PAHs of a locally consumed fish in Nigeria. The fish specie clarias gariepenus (catfish) was smoked with different methods. They are the firewood in open-fire fish smoking drum (FOSD), charcoal using improved fish smoking kiln (CISK) and gas using improved fish smoking kiln (GISK). The PAHs was determined using the Gas Chromatography (GC) coupled with flame ionization detector (FID). Comparison of the concentration of PAHs in smoked fish samples were investigated with the aim of determining the process that has reduced the concentration of the PAHs in the fish samples. The total values of PAHs have shown that the methods FOSD, CISK and GISK have PAHs level of 80.01µg/g, 20.95µg/g and 14.69µg/g respectively. Benzo(a)pyrene, which is highly carcinogenic and posses health risk was found only in FOSD to be 9.20µg/g, while it was not detected in CISK and GISK respectively. As for other PAHs, they were all detected in FOSD, while fluoranthene was exceptionally high in all the methods used as 22.08µg/g, 10.23µg/g and 5.04µg/g respectively. However, naphthalene, phenanthrene, anthracene, pyrene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthrene, benzo(k)fluoranthrene, benzo(a)pyrene and benzo(g,h)perylene were not detected (ND) in the developed improved fish smoking kiln. The developed improved fish smoking kiln has been able to reduce the level of PAHs considerably and is therefore recommended.","PeriodicalId":16368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Sciences Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86186905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sylvia Opiyo, K. Muna, P. Njoroge, Ephantus G. Ndirangu
Traditional medicine still plays an important role in managing infections especially in Africa. Extracts of Conyza floribunda Kunth are used to treat sore throat, ringworm and other skin related infections, toothache and to stop bleeding from injuries. Extracts from the plant have been reported to exhibit antibacterial and antifungal activities. Previous phytochemical studies on the plant yielded terpenoid, sterols and flavonoids. The aim of the present study was to determine the analgesic activity Conyza floribunda extracts. Methanol, DCM and n -hexane extracts of the plant were subjects to toxicity, hot plate latency and acetic acid induced-writhing tests using Swiss Albino Mice. The plant extract showed analgesic activity in both hot plate latency and acetic acid induced-writhing tests. The extracts significantly increased the response time in the animals compared to the negative control. In the hot plate latency test, the analgesic activity of the extracts and that of morphine rose over time to peak at 90 minutes and then decreased afterwards. In the acetic acid-induces writhing test, administration of the plant extracts significantly reduced the number of abdominal contractions compared to the negative control. The percentage inhibitions of abdominal contractions were 67.2, 46.5 and 39.4 for methanol, DCM and n -hexane extracts respectively. The findings from this study have confirmed the folkloric information that extracts from C. floribunda have analgesic properties. We therefore recommend the extracts from the plant for use in pain management. Further studies should be carried out to isolate and characterize the analgesic principles from the plant.
{"title":"Analgesic Activity of Conyza Floribunda Extracts in Swiss Albino Mice","authors":"Sylvia Opiyo, K. Muna, P. Njoroge, Ephantus G. Ndirangu","doi":"10.7176/jnsr/12-12-01","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/jnsr/12-12-01","url":null,"abstract":"Traditional medicine still plays an important role in managing infections especially in Africa. Extracts of Conyza floribunda Kunth are used to treat sore throat, ringworm and other skin related infections, toothache and to stop bleeding from injuries. Extracts from the plant have been reported to exhibit antibacterial and antifungal activities. Previous phytochemical studies on the plant yielded terpenoid, sterols and flavonoids. The aim of the present study was to determine the analgesic activity Conyza floribunda extracts. Methanol, DCM and n -hexane extracts of the plant were subjects to toxicity, hot plate latency and acetic acid induced-writhing tests using Swiss Albino Mice. The plant extract showed analgesic activity in both hot plate latency and acetic acid induced-writhing tests. The extracts significantly increased the response time in the animals compared to the negative control. In the hot plate latency test, the analgesic activity of the extracts and that of morphine rose over time to peak at 90 minutes and then decreased afterwards. In the acetic acid-induces writhing test, administration of the plant extracts significantly reduced the number of abdominal contractions compared to the negative control. The percentage inhibitions of abdominal contractions were 67.2, 46.5 and 39.4 for methanol, DCM and n -hexane extracts respectively. The findings from this study have confirmed the folkloric information that extracts from C. floribunda have analgesic properties. We therefore recommend the extracts from the plant for use in pain management. Further studies should be carried out to isolate and characterize the analgesic principles from the plant.","PeriodicalId":16368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Sciences Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90817507","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
O. C. Onyemesili, C. F. Odumodu, Mmesomma Janefrancis Adoro
Geochemical studies have been carried out on brown coal of the Ogwashi-Asaba Formation in parts of Anambra State, Nigeria, using proximate and ultimate analytical results to evaluate its potentials for industrial utilization. An understanding of the physico-chemical characteristics such as moisture content , volatile matter content, fixed carbon content, and ash content are essential for establishing the quality of the coal. The chemical analysis of the brown coal samples results suggest that fixed carbon varies from 1.51 to 37.50 wt%, moisture content varies from 2.40 to 39.80 wt%, volatile matter varies from 2.44 to 39.92 wt%, and ash content ranges from 6.60 to 70.75 wt%, carbon content ranges from 11.59 wt% to 59.33 wt%, oxygen content ranges from 0.06 to 13.87 wt%, hydrogen content ranges from 0.13 to 4.59 wt%, sulfur content varies from 0.04 to 2.48 wt% and the nitrogen content varies from 1.30% to 1.85 wt%. The high-moisture content poses several challenges for the utilization of lignite, because it lowers the energy density of the fuel and makes its transportation uneconomic over long distances. The analytical results show that the coal cannot be employed in the steel industry for the generation of substantial heat for the working of the furnace but can be used as a steam coal. Proximate analysis and calorific data suggest that the coal belongs to the lowest rank i.e. lignite. The brown coal is less hazardous to the ecosystem because of its significantly low sulfur and nitrogen contents. Based on the results of the study, the brown coal can be used for power generation, gasification, production of industrial chemicals and cement production.
{"title":"Geochemistry and Industrial Applications of Brown Coals of the Ogwashi-Asaba Formation in Parts of Anambra State, Nigeria","authors":"O. C. Onyemesili, C. F. Odumodu, Mmesomma Janefrancis Adoro","doi":"10.7176/jnsr/12-12-03","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/jnsr/12-12-03","url":null,"abstract":"Geochemical studies have been carried out on brown coal of the Ogwashi-Asaba Formation in parts of Anambra State, Nigeria, using proximate and ultimate analytical results to evaluate its potentials for industrial utilization. An understanding of the physico-chemical characteristics such as moisture content , volatile matter content, fixed carbon content, and ash content are essential for establishing the quality of the coal. The chemical analysis of the brown coal samples results suggest that fixed carbon varies from 1.51 to 37.50 wt%, moisture content varies from 2.40 to 39.80 wt%, volatile matter varies from 2.44 to 39.92 wt%, and ash content ranges from 6.60 to 70.75 wt%, carbon content ranges from 11.59 wt% to 59.33 wt%, oxygen content ranges from 0.06 to 13.87 wt%, hydrogen content ranges from 0.13 to 4.59 wt%, sulfur content varies from 0.04 to 2.48 wt% and the nitrogen content varies from 1.30% to 1.85 wt%. The high-moisture content poses several challenges for the utilization of lignite, because it lowers the energy density of the fuel and makes its transportation uneconomic over long distances. The analytical results show that the coal cannot be employed in the steel industry for the generation of substantial heat for the working of the furnace but can be used as a steam coal. Proximate analysis and calorific data suggest that the coal belongs to the lowest rank i.e. lignite. The brown coal is less hazardous to the ecosystem because of its significantly low sulfur and nitrogen contents. Based on the results of the study, the brown coal can be used for power generation, gasification, production of industrial chemicals and cement production.","PeriodicalId":16368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Sciences Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80167549","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The effect bio-fertilizer composed of Azotobacter and Pseudomonas spp. was investigated on yield and yield components of malt barley (H. vulgar L). The treatments which were laid at Bekoji, a potential malt barley district in the southeastern highlands of Ethiopia, Azotobacter + Pseudomonas + 46/20.2 N/P kg ha -1, Pseudomonas +46/20.2 N/P kg ha -1, 46/20.2 N/P kg ha -1, Azotobacter +46/20.2 N/P kg ha -1, Azotobacter + Pseudomonas, Azotobacter, Pseudomonas, C- (uninoculated and unfertilized) in randomized complete block design(RCBD) with three replications. Results indicated that application of the bio-fertilizer treatments alone resulted in the minimum performance of different agronomic parameters studied, while inorganic fertilizer application with dual inoculation with Azotobacter + Pseudomonas gives the highest and significant effect on grain yield, harvest index, biological yield, plant height, and thousand seed weight as compared to other treatments. But this trend was not observed in the number of spikes for that case the result was reversed. Hence, the study showed that the use of chemical fertilizer along with dual inoculation (Azotobacter +Pseudomonas) should be considered as a component of inputs especially in inorganic farming systems of malt barley production.
在埃塞俄比亚南部高原大麦潜力区Bekoji，设置固氮菌+假单胞菌+46/20.2 N/P kg ha -1、假单胞菌+46/20.2 N/P kg ha -1、46/20.2 N/P kg ha -1、固氮菌+46/20.2 N/P kg ha -1、固氮菌+假单胞菌、固氮菌、假单胞菌、C-(未接种和未受精)随机完全区设计(RCBD)，有三个重复。结果表明，单独施用生物肥对不同农艺指标的影响最小，而无机肥配合偶氮菌+假单胞菌双接种处理对籽粒产量、收获指数、生物产量、株高和千粒重的影响最高且显著。但这种趋势并没有在峰值的数量上观察到，在这种情况下，结果是相反的。因此，研究表明，应考虑使用化肥和双重接种(固氮菌+假单胞菌)作为投入的一个组成部分，特别是在麦芽生产的无机耕作系统中。
{"title":"Effect of Azotobacter and Pseudomonas with Mineral Fertilizer on Yield and Yield Components of Malt Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)","authors":"A. Tadesse, Kasu Tadesse, Wondesen Melak","doi":"10.7176/jnsr/12-11-04","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/jnsr/12-11-04","url":null,"abstract":"The effect bio-fertilizer composed of Azotobacter and Pseudomonas spp. was investigated on yield and yield components of malt barley (H. vulgar L). The treatments which were laid at Bekoji, a potential malt barley district in the southeastern highlands of Ethiopia, Azotobacter + Pseudomonas + 46/20.2 N/P kg ha -1, Pseudomonas +46/20.2 N/P kg ha -1, 46/20.2 N/P kg ha -1, Azotobacter +46/20.2 N/P kg ha -1, Azotobacter + Pseudomonas, Azotobacter, Pseudomonas, C- (uninoculated and unfertilized) in randomized complete block design(RCBD) with three replications. Results indicated that application of the bio-fertilizer treatments alone resulted in the minimum performance of different agronomic parameters studied, while inorganic fertilizer application with dual inoculation with Azotobacter + Pseudomonas gives the highest and significant effect on grain yield, harvest index, biological yield, plant height, and thousand seed weight as compared to other treatments. But this trend was not observed in the number of spikes for that case the result was reversed. Hence, the study showed that the use of chemical fertilizer along with dual inoculation (Azotobacter +Pseudomonas) should be considered as a component of inputs especially in inorganic farming systems of malt barley production.","PeriodicalId":16368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Sciences Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75593093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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