Volume 1 Issue 1 October 2021
Crown-Diameter Model for Madrid Tree (Pterocapus erinacieus Poir) in Okpokwu Area of Benue State, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
Among the current most exploited and threatened species in Western Africa, P. erinaceus is an endemic and multipurpose species. Owing to its economic, social, and high cultural potential, the species is subjected to high pressures causing an important regression of its stands. There is a lack of emphasis on the effective management of open-growth tree species in most African nations; these have slow sustainability of economic tree species in most areas, especially in Nigeria. Also, this had led to a decline in the natural forest areas while this economic tree population is gradually becoming extinct. Crown bole diameter relationship helps to predict growth space requirements for optimum planting and estimation of stand density or stocking for establishing plantations and sustainable management of economic tree species. This study aims to determine the natural spacing among P. erinaceus in Okpoga, area of Benue State, Nigeria. The data collected on every standing tree includes crown diameter (using a 30-meter measuring tape) and diameter at breast height (Dbh) using diameter tape. The data collected from the field were fitted to different modified models and the best-fitted model was used to predict crown diameter from stem diameter at breast height. The results of this study show that P. erinaceaus would require low densities for optimum planting, fast growth, and high yield for the purpose of timber and high densities for non-timber forest products in the study area; because low densities are required to produce maximum diameter growth throughout the life cycle of trees stand which is applicable to this tree species. For the maximum volume of timber, thinning should be administered at canopy closure; this is to create more spacing for continued growth until the trees only react minimally to thinning. The recommended planting spacing would enhance optimum planting, fast growth, high yield/production, and control competition within each tree species. This study showed that upper diameter class distributions were being over-exploited, without replanting or regeneration in the area. Therefore, model 4 is recommended for crown diameter prediction of P. erinaceaus in the study area; the model should be used outside the extent of the original data (dbh 10.00cm – 49.20cm) with caution; as extrapolating to values outside this range may yield misleading results.
Potentiality of RNA Interference Technology in Enhancing the Nutritional Status and Food Value of Plant Species
Aryadeep Roychoudhury*
ABSTRACT
Biofortification or enhancement of nutrient levels in plants via genetic engineering aims at alleviating hidden hunger and eradicating micronutrient deficiency-related malnutrition. A number of approaches have been attempted by plant biotechnologists for the same, of which manipulation of alien genes from diverse sources and their consequent integration within the genome of crop plants for expression of desired traits is quite a popular one. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated gene silencing is an approach that has gained attention and special importance in the last two decades, particularly because of its ability to suppress genes, whose products lead to the formation of various anti-nutrients, allergens and toxins, with appreciable specificity. RNA-induced silencing or RNAi suppresses specific mRNAs in the host plants which leads to inhibition of specific enzymes that regulate many biosynthetic pathways. RNAi uses non-coding siRNAs (small interfering RNA) or miRNAs (micro RNA) to silence the target genes. These non-coding small RNAs have a sequence complementarity to the mRNA to be silenced. The targeted genes generally correspond to the key rate-limiting enzymes in multiple steps of the numerous interconnected pathways of the plant metabolome and hence are carefully chosen for avoiding off-target effects. The major implication of this technology to date has been on staple food crops like rice, wheat and maize, for the enrichment of micronutrients like iron and essential amino acids; however, recent experiments have also targeted plants like coffee, tea and oilseed crops, which equally form inseparable parts of daily food items, worldwide. This review elaborates several such existing examples, highlighting the genes, targeted by RNAi mechanisms, for nutrient and antioxidant enrichment, explores their practical use in daily life and briefly ponders upon the facets of possible initiatives to bring such genetically improved plants to the doorsteps of the masses.
Fuelwood Utilization and Health Effects among Farming Households in Ekiti State, Nigeria
Aminu Folasade Oluremi* and Ojo Olushina Opeyemi
ABSTRACT
Fuelwood has long served as a major energy source known and used for cooking in developing countries. The combustion of fuelwood emits smoke with particles that have adverse effects on the health of users. This study investigated the health effects of fuelwood utilization among farming households in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Primary data was obtained from 120 farming households with the aid of a pre-tested questionnaire and focus group discussion. A multistage sampling technique was employed in selecting respondents for the study. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and a probit regression model. Results revealed that the majority (75.8%) of the respondents were female with a mean age of 42 years and mean household size of 9 persons, 42.5% had primary education and earned a mean monthly income of ₦26,380. The major health problems associated with fuelwood utilization in the study area were eye irritation (56.6%), sneezing (50.8%) and breathing difficulty (43.3%). Sex (p<0.05), marital status (p<0.05), household size (p<0.01), primary occupation (p<0.01) and income (p<0.05) were the factors determining the health effects of fuelwood utilization among the farming households in the study area. The study recommended that renewable energy sources such as kerosene and cooking gas should be made readily available to farm families at subsidized and affordable prices.
Park, People, Policy: Synergy towards a Holistic Approach to Sustainable Management of Protected Areas
Sotolu Rashidat Omolola*, Orsar Tyonzughul Joe, Tyowua Benjamin Terungwa
ABSTRACT
Nature exists with people and for human development, hence, bodies like
Community Based Development, Global Environment Facility and United
Nations Development Program are interested in conservation-development
synergy for guaranteed nature protection. Conservation has broadened its
dimensions due to species and ecosystem extinction cum booming human
population. Social emancipation, economic empowerment, cultural
continuity and political stability within the frame of legislative allowance are
as vital as ecological sustainability in protected areas management. To save
existing Protected Areas from imminent extinction, this review addressed the
rationale behind the participatory approach to conservation; the significance
of policy in nature protection; and the necessity to balance conservation and
rural development. The significance of rural communities within protected
wildlands on the spate of biodiversity and ecosystem loss cannot be neglected
because sustainable livelihood is crucial to the people as sustainable
conservation is to resource managers. However, enforcement shapes both
parties in achieving peaceful coexistence. Socioeconomic and cultural
atmospheres mainly influence the success of conservation efforts and should
be considered to guarantee biodiversity in perpetuity.
Effects of Long-Term Fertilization Methods on Rye Yield Components
Ágnes Hadhazy1, Waleed A.E. Abido2, István Henzsel1
ABSTRACT
To reveal the effect of different fertilization methods on rye yield components, plant samplings were carried out in Westsik’s crop rotation long term experiment of the Research Institute of Nyíregyháza, IAREF, University of Debrecen, Hungary during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Fertilization methods are based on different variations and combinations of organic manure and NPK fertilizers. One of the 15 crop rotations is maintained without fertilization, here we apply fallow in one phase (I). In four crop rotations straw manure (IV, V, VI, VII), in two crop rotations farmyard manure (X, XI), in one crop rotation (II) lupine green manure as the main crop, in two crop rotations (III, VIII) lupine for seed, in CR VIII lupine as main crop plus second crop, in one crop rotation (IX) lupine for green forage, in four crop rotations, lupine green manure as a second crop (XII, XIII, XIV, XV) are applied. Eleven crop rotations are treated with NPK fertilizer (II, III, IV, V, VI, VIII, IX, XI, XII, XIII, XIV). Results showed that all studied characters significantly differed due to fertilization methods in both years. Organic manure form plus chemical fertilizers resulted in the higher of analyzed rye plant parameters (plant weight per m2, seed weight per m2, spike number per m2, and 1000 seed weight). Comparing the effects of the three organic fertilization methods without chemical fertilizer, the farmyard manure was the most effective on the winter rye yield components. In addition, there were positive and close correlations between the rye seed weight, the rye plant weight, and 1000 seed weight, in both seasons. It could be concluded applied three organic manure (farmyard manure, straw manure, and lupine green manure) with chemical fertilizers were the most effective on rye yield component production.
Survey and Identification of Major Insect Pests of Seed Spices in Ethiopia
Wakjira Getachew1, Merga Jibat2, Habtewold Kifelew3
ABSTRACT
Insect pests inflict damage to humans, farm animals and crops. Subsistence cash crop production is essential for the growing population of Africa. Seed spices occupy an important place for their flavoring, culinary uses and essential oil derivatives. Survey was conducted in major growing areas of Ethiopia during 2016 and 2018 main cropping season with an aim of identifying problematic insect pests and providing baseline information on pests of black cumin, fenugreek, coriander and white cumin in different agro ecologies of Ethiopia. Samples were randomly collected from insect infested plants from each study location for laboratory inspection. Specimens of unidentified insects were kept in vials containing ethanol for identification. All specimens were classified into their respective orders, families, genera and species. Generally, the result reveled that pod borer was a common insect pest on black cumin and fenugreek and aphid was a common insect pest recorded on fenugreek. Management study which solves the problem of insects on seed spice must be designed in the future on pod borer, aphids, cut worm and leaf minor.