Information Delivery and its Effect on Production of Cashews in Oyo State,Nigeria

This study assessed information delivery and effect on the productive capacity of contact and non-contact cashew farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria. The results showed that the output of contact farmers was significantly different from that of non-contact farmers (p = .006), despite significant differences in farm size (p < .05). Interpersonal contacts through extension agents and friends were the most frequently used sources of information. In addition, information on cashew production and marketing was the most important to farmers. The study shows that farmer's productivity is enhanced through interaction with extension agents.     

Traditional soil and land appraisal on fadama lands in northeast Nigeria

Abstract. As part of a study of recession farming on the 'fadama' lands on a segment of the Komadugu-Yobe floodplain, a survey was carried out to investigate the local farmers' perception of soil types and management practices. The farmers are clearly aware of the differences in soil type on the fadama and they possess unique skills in managing their farm lands. The farmers classify fadama soils for recession farming by assessing soil texture and soil drainage conditions by feel and observation. Integrating such local knowledge into soil surveys will lead to better practical definition of mapping units and give soil names that have more meaning for the farmers.     

Preliminary evaluation of pineapple mixed-cropping systems for protecting reclaimed gulleys in the tropics: An experiment in Southeast Nigeria

This paper reports on research into the effectiveness of pineapple monocropping or intercropping systems (with cowpeas or egusi-melon) for reestablishing vegetative cover to check soil erosion on a reclaimed gulley in the tropical rainforest of southeastern Nigeria. High-density pineapple planting, intercropped with egusi-melon, was found to promote rapid vegetative cover, checked soil loss, improved soil structural stability and produced a high crop yield. Soil loss was moderate in pineapple plots intercropped with cowpeas and least in pineapple plots intercropped with egusi-melon. Increasing pineapple density enhanced the field establishment of cowpea and egusi-melon respectively.     

Changes in soil properties related to conversion of savannah woodland into pine and eucalyptus plantations,Northern Nigeria

Soil properties associated with six age-grade plantations of Pinus oocarpa Schiede and Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., respectively, including nearby natural vegetation, were compared in the savannah zone of Nigeria. The soil organic matter, total nitrogen and exchangeable nutrients first show declining values with the increasing age of the plantation, then an increase and finally steady or declining values in the 0–15 cm soil depth. Usually the differences between the two youngest plantations and the oldest plantations, and the natural vegetation, were significant. In the 20–30 cm soil depth the properties showed a decrease or steady values over time, with the three oldest plantations showing significant differences from the natural vegetation. The soil pH showed an increased acidity over time. There was little difference in the soil properties between the two tree species. The implications of the results are discussed in relation to sustaining productivity and soil fertility. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于重心模型的西南山区降雨侵蚀力年内变化分析

降雨-植被耦合特征是决定土壤侵蚀的关键性要素,研究降雨侵蚀力的年内变化特征对于揭示不同区域降雨-植被的耦合特征、判定土壤侵蚀的危险期具有重要意义。该文利用中国西南山区439个气象站、水文站的逐日降雨量资料,估算了每个台站逐月降雨侵蚀力,并应用重心模型分析了西南山区降雨侵蚀力的年内变化特征。研究结果表明:西南山区春、夏、秋、季四季降雨侵蚀力变化明显,夏季最高,冬季最低。各季节的降雨侵蚀力空间分布与降水量相似,都表现出东南向西北逐渐递减的趋势。降雨侵蚀力年内分配曲线主要有"单峰型"和"双峰型"2种,绝大多数地区降雨侵蚀力年内分配曲线是"单峰型",峰值出现在6月、7月或8月份,青藏高原区域降雨侵蚀力年内分配曲线是"双峰型",有6月和9月2个峰值。从东南部向西北部,降雨侵蚀力峰值出现的月份不断推后。西南山区降雨侵蚀力重心年内先向北迁移,然后向南迁移,形成一个循环,这展示了季风气候影响下的西南山区降雨侵蚀力年内变化特征。     

Nutrient availability and cocoyam yield under different tillage practices

Research information on the effect of tillage systems on cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott) growth, nutrient status and yield is lacking in Africa. The effects of zero tillage with mulch, zero tillage without mulch, manual mounding, manual ridging and conventional tillage on cocoyam yield, growth and nutrient availability were compared during 2 years on an Alfisol (Oxic Tropuldaf) at Owo in the rainforest zone of Nigeria. The surface soil (0–20 cm) was chemically analyzed before and after crop harvest and selected soil physical properties were determined. Concentration of soil organic C, N, P, K and Mg and the leaf N, P and K were significantly influenced (p = 0.05) by tillage, with zero tillage with mulch being the most effective treatment in conserving the fertility of the surface soil (0–20 cm). Soil fertility, as indicated by organic C, N, P, K, Ca and Mg, declined significantly (p = 0.05) over time in all tillage systems, but this decline was more pronounced in the conventional tillage. Zero tillage with mulch, zero tillage without mulch, manual mounding, manual ridging and conventional tillage reduced the soil organic C concentration by 20, 23, 23, 24 and 33%, respectively over the 2-year period. The decreases in soil N concentration were 25, 31, 31, 38 and 56%, soil P concentration were 13, 15, 17, 16 and 26%, and soil K concentration were 16, 26, 31, 37 and 53%, respectively. Tillage did not affect corm and cormel yields in the first year. In the second year, due to the elimination of ploughing, significant differences were obtained in the cormel yield but not of corm yield. In 2005, zero tillage with mulch produced the highest cormel yield (13.5 mg ha⁻¹) of cocoyam followed by zero tillage without mulch (13.2 mg ha⁻¹), manual mounding (12.7 mg ha⁻¹) and manual ridging (12.5 mg ha⁻¹). The lowest cormel yield (9.5 mg ha⁻¹) of cocoyam was produced by conventional tillage. Soil water contents in zero tillage with mulch and zero tillage without mulch were significantly higher (p = 0.05) than in the other tillage systems. Soil bulk density ranging from 1.21 to 1.40 mg m⁻³ correlated positively with leaf nutrient concentration and yield. Cocoyam can be grown successfully on zero tillage, with mulch and without mulch or minimum tillage systems on an Alfisol of the humid tropics.     

川西南常绿阔叶林土壤呼吸及其对氮沉降的响应

通过原位进行低氮(LN,50 kg N/hm2.a)、中氮(MN,100 kg N/hm2.a)和高氮(HN,150 kg N/hm2.a)处理,研究了川西南天然常绿阔叶林土壤呼吸及其对模拟N沉降的响应。结果表明:(1)该森林土壤呼吸速率最大值612.21±77.82 mg CO2/m2.h出现在7月份,最小值108.95±17.01 mg CO2/m2.h出现在2月,年均土壤呼吸速率为348.00±157.83 mg CO2/m2.h,年均土壤呼吸通量为8.31±3.77 t C/hm2.a。采用双因素关系模型(Rs=aebTWc),土壤温度和土壤湿度共同解释了该常绿阔叶林2005年10月~2006年7月土壤呼吸速率季节变化的68.6%~73.9%,其拟合结果优于以土壤湿度或温度为参数的单因素关系模型。影响土壤呼吸速率的主导因子是温度,其地表温度变化响应的敏感程度Q10值为2.12,以土壤5 cm深处的温度为参数时,Q10值为2.51。(2)N沉降处理3个月后,该森林中HN和MN处理的土壤呼吸速率(309.43±17.24 mg CO2/m2.h,303.82±11.50 mgCO2/m2.h)均显著高于CK(269.28±13.78 mg CO2/m2.h)(P<0.05);处理4个月后,HN的土壤呼吸速率(272.42±13.25 mg CO2/m2.h)均显著高于MN(239.65±10.33 mg CO2/m2.h)、LN(229.10±9.90 mg CO2/m2.h)和CK(234.51±12.77 mg CO2/m2.h)(P<0.05);但处理7~10个月时,各处理之间无显著差异。研究表明,N沉降初期明显促进了常绿阔叶林土壤呼吸,后期无明显影响。     

Prevalence and Significance of Parasites of Horses in Some States of Northern Nigeria

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and significance of parasites of horses in northern Nigeria. Blood and faecal samples were randomly collected from 243 horses from different stables in some states of northern Nigeria for laboratory analyses. Fifty-seven horses (23.5%) were found infected with parasites. The hemoparasites detected, 21 (8.6%), include Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, Trypanosoma vivax and Trypanosoma evansi. The endoparasites encountered, 29 (11.9%) were Strongylus spp., Strongyloides spp., Oxyuris equi, Parascaris equorum, Paragonimus spp. and Dicrocoelium spp., 3 (1.2%) was Eimeria spp. Four horses (1.6%) had mixed infection of hemo- and endoparasites. This preliminary finding shows that parasitism is a problem in the horse stables examined, and calls for proper stable hygiene, routine tick control and regular deworming programme.