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Yield Response of Rice in Nigeria: A Co-Integration Analysis
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 2, March 2014
Pages:
15-24
Received:
8 January 2014
Published:
20 January 2014
Abstract: To help bridge information gap in supply response studies for Nigeria and inform policy decision on how the demand-supply gap for rice in Nigeria could be bridged, the current study through the use of Johansen’s Full Information Maximum Likelihood test estimated a yield response model for Nigeria using national level data for the period 1966-2008. The results suggest that, increasing yield levels for paddy rice in Nigeria and ensuring stability requires interplay of biophysical, socio-economic and structural forces. By estimates for the current study, bridging of the demand-supply gap can be realized through initiation of measures to address inefficiencies in the supply chain to ensure appropriate transmission of price increment, promotion of local rice consumption to ensure ready market for farmers in times of increasing output, addressing soil fertility challenges through efficient use of fertilizer and regular management of fertility of rice fields, and increasing farmers access to credit to help them meet cost of relevant inputs of production. The latter suggestion could to a greater extent incite appropriate response of farmers to both price and non-price incentives in the country. Diagnostic tests conducted indicate that the residual series is normally distributed, non-serially correlated and homoscedastic.
Abstract: To help bridge information gap in supply response studies for Nigeria and inform policy decision on how the demand-supply gap for rice in Nigeria could be bridged, the current study through the use of Johansen’s Full Information Maximum Likelihood test estimated a yield response model for Nigeria using national level data for the period 1966-2008. ...
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Rock Phosphate Solubilisation by Strains of Penicillium Spp. Isolated from Farm and Forest Soils of three Agro Ecological Zones of Cameroon
Fankem Henri,
Ngo Nkot Laurette,
Nguesseu Njanjouo Ghislain,
Tchuisseu Tchakounte Gylaine Vanessa,
Tchiazé Ifoué Alice Virginie,
Nwaga Dieudonné
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 2, March 2014
Pages:
25-32
Received:
24 January 2014
Published:
28 February 2014
Abstract: Rock Phosphate (RP) is theoretically the cheapest fertilizer and most abundant, but its direct application in the soils is not always agronomically effective due to its low phosphorus (P) availability. An environmentally friendly and economically alternative to traditional processing of these deposits is the use of Phosphate Solubilising Microorganisms (PSM). Three Penicillium strains were screened for their aptitude in solubilising sparingly soluble phosphates as well as phosphate rock on plates and in broth supplemented with the different phosphate types. The three strains show the ability in solubilising at least two from the sparingly soluble phosphates types, with the solubilisation index (SI) varying from 1.44 to 4.74. All the strains were able to show halo zone on plates supplemented with Malian and Algerian rock phosphates with solubilisation index ranging from 1.2 to 1.8. No halo zone was detected on plates with Moroccan rock phosphate as sole phosphate source. However, significant amount of phosphorus were mobilised by all strains in broth with the different rock phosphates, including the Moroccan rock phosphate. The amount of solved P varied from 257.46 mgP.L-1 (Penicillium sp. 43) to 326.65 mgP.L-1 (Penicillium sp. 109) for Malian rock phosphate, from 152.61 mgP.L-1 (Penicillium sp. 43) to 337.56 mgP.L-1 (Penicillium sp. 27) for Algerian rock phosphate, and from 283.79 mgP.L-1 (Penicillium sp. 43) to 347.16 mgP.L-1 (Penicillium sp. 109) for Moroccan rock phosphate. The rock phosphate solubilisation was associated with pH media drop and both parameters were strongly correlated.
Abstract: Rock Phosphate (RP) is theoretically the cheapest fertilizer and most abundant, but its direct application in the soils is not always agronomically effective due to its low phosphorus (P) availability. An environmentally friendly and economically alternative to traditional processing of these deposits is the use of Phosphate Solubilising Microorgan...
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Effect of Short-Term Feed Restriction on Production Traits of Brown and Black Plumage Commercial Layer Strains at Late Phase of Egg Production
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 2, March 2014
Pages:
33-38
Received:
31 January 2014
Published:
10 March 2014
Abstract: The effect of strain and different levels of quantitative feed restriction for short time (28d) on egg production, feed consumption and efficiency, mortality and egg quality traits were evaluated during late phase of egg laying. A total number of 90 layers aged 54 weeks old, comprising 45 birds each of Isa Brown (brown plumage) and Bovan Black (black plumage) were randomly distributed into three treatment groups having three replicates each. They were placed under three feeding regimens namely, T1 (ad libitum- control), T2 (90% ad libitum) and T3 (80% ad libitum). Data collected include egg production, mortality, feed variables, external and internal egg quality characteristics. The results revealed that strain has insignificant (P>0.05) effect on egg numbers during the 28 days trial regardless of treatments imposed. This means that feed restriction on short-term has no negative impact on both the brown and black feathered layer birds productivity. However, feed restriction has significant (P<0.01) effect on both egg numbers and hen-day egg production regardless of strain of birds. Regarding the two traits, ad libitum (control) and 90% ad libitum had similar mean values, but higher than 80% ad libitum. As per feed efficiency, brown strain has higher (P<0.01) mean values than the black strain. The two strains subjected to feed restriction recorded similar mean values and performed equally well in egg weight, egg length and other external and internal egg qualities. However, in albumen height and Haugh unit (HU), brown birds had higher (P<0.01) mean values than black hens. Haugh unit is a measure of internal egg quality. The highest net revenue/hen and economic efficiency was recorded in 90% ad libitum ($1.19, 112.26), intermediate ($1.06, 100) in ad libitum and lowest (1.10, 95.28) in 80% ad libitum. Brown strain achieved higher (P<0.01) economic efficiency (100 vs 88.54) and net revenue ($0.96 vs $0.85) per hen than black strain at the end of the experimental period. There was significant strain x treatment interaction effect on egg number, percent egg production and feed variables. Brown feathered birds and adoption of milder feed restriction seem to hold prospect for increased production, profit and sustainability of egg producing industry.
Abstract: The effect of strain and different levels of quantitative feed restriction for short time (28d) on egg production, feed consumption and efficiency, mortality and egg quality traits were evaluated during late phase of egg laying. A total number of 90 layers aged 54 weeks old, comprising 45 birds each of Isa Brown (brown plumage) and Bovan Black (bla...
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Municipal Solid Waste Characterization and It Is Assessment for Potential Compost Production: A Case Study in Zanjan City, Iran
Habib Fathi,
Abdolhossinpari Zangane,
Hamed Fathi,
hossein moradi
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 2, March 2014
Pages:
39-44
Received:
20 February 2014
Published:
20 March 2014
Abstract: The increasing amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) generations and their improper disposal have great social costs, and is an issue of increasing concern. There are strict mandatory targets in many nations to reduce the amount of MSW entering the landfill. At present, the source reducing, recycling, reusing, waste combusting, and also composting the MSW are the major strategies which are being advised spread across the world. Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) practices in Zanjan, a city with population of about 350,000 persons, are generating about 300 tons of MSW daily those are consisting of the collection, transportation and land filling of the wastes. The wastes are not recycled and composted but just mainly land filled. Therefore, this research is conducted to study the generation, characterization and management strategies of solid wastes in Zanjan city. The samplings of MSW were performed in all four seasons during 2010 and the contents of its main components are determined. The qualitative and quantitative results indicated that the composting of MSW is feasible and can be adopted as a proper MSWM approach in the studied area. Recycling of paper, plastic and glass along with composting of MSW are highly recommended.
Abstract: The increasing amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) generations and their improper disposal have great social costs, and is an issue of increasing concern. There are strict mandatory targets in many nations to reduce the amount of MSW entering the landfill. At present, the source reducing, recycling, reusing, waste combusting, and also composting ...
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Distribution and Morphometric Characters of the Mediterranean Brown Ray, Raja Miraletus (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae) in the Gulf of Gabes (Tunisia, Central Mediterranean)
Hasna Kadri,
Sondes Marouani,
Mohamed Nejmeddine Bradai,
Abderrahmen Bouaïn,
Eric Morize
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 2, March 2014
Pages:
45-50
Received:
29 December 2013
Published:
30 March 2014
Abstract: To determine some morphometric characters of the Mediterranean brown ray Raja miraletus Linnaeus, 1758 in the Gulf of Gabes (Tunisia), samples were analysed and described on data from the commercial trawl at monthly intervals between December 2006 and January 2007. A total of 501 male and 629 female specimens were collected during the sampling period. The largest (in terms of Total length: TL) female and male were 58 cm and 56 cm, respectively. Some various morphmetric characters were measured. Relationships between the characters were defined separately for both sexe. Morphometric characters were strongly correlated with total length but the nature of allometry differed according to the characters.
Abstract: To determine some morphometric characters of the Mediterranean brown ray Raja miraletus Linnaeus, 1758 in the Gulf of Gabes (Tunisia), samples were analysed and described on data from the commercial trawl at monthly intervals between December 2006 and January 2007. A total of 501 male and 629 female specimens were collected during the sampling peri...
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Performance Evaluation of New Zealand White Rabbits Fed Alchornea cordifolia Leaf Meal as Replacement for Soya Bean Meal
Philip Cheriose Nzien Alikwe,
Elijah Ige Ohimain,
Amos Ebiowei Kester
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 2, March 2014
Pages:
51-54
Received:
6 March 2014
Accepted:
8 April 2014
Published:
10 April 2014
Abstract: The Twenty-four weaned rabbits were fed graded levels of Alchornea cordifolia leaf meal (ACLM) at different inclusion levels in the diet. A control (0%ACLM) and three other diets containing different levels of ACLM ( 5%, 10% and 15%) as partial replacement for soya bean meal in the diet were fed for six weeks with the aim of evaluating the effects of ACLM on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of the rabbits. The study revealed a decrease in the growth rate with the highest level of inclusion i.e treatment D (15%ACLM). The highest mean weight gain of 1.36±0.04kg and feed intake of 131.94±7g were recorded in treatment C (10% ACLM inclusion in the diet) and the lowest mean weight gain of 1.14±0.04kg was recorded in the treatment A (0% ACLM) and the lowest feed intake of 94.44±10g was recorded in the treatment D. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in feed conversion ratio (FCR) across the treatment groups. Carcass characteristics showed that live weight of rabbits fed 15% ACLM diet was lower (P<0.05) than other experimental diets with lower percentage of ACLM which implies that 15% ACLM diet possibly depressed the final weight of the experimental rabbits . This could be attributed to the higher percentage of the anti-nutritional factors in ACLM in treatment D which has been implicated for reduced weight gain. This study concluded that the use of ACLM may be recommended as protein source for rabbits but at 5-10% inclusion levels.
Abstract: The Twenty-four weaned rabbits were fed graded levels of Alchornea cordifolia leaf meal (ACLM) at different inclusion levels in the diet. A control (0%ACLM) and three other diets containing different levels of ACLM ( 5%, 10% and 15%) as partial replacement for soya bean meal in the diet were fed for six weeks with the aim of evaluating the effects...
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