Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 7675-1686 Vol. 8 (2), pp. 001-005, February, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Catfish culture in Nigeria: Progress, prospects and problems

Adewumi A. A.¹* and Olaleye V. F.²

¹University of Science and Technology, Ifaki Ekiti, Nigeria.

²Department of Zoology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria.

Accepted 26 July, 2010

Abstract

A review of the culture of catfish of the family Claridae in Nigeria was carried out using secondary data. The story of aquaculture in Nigeria is essentially the story of catfish culture. The favoured catfish species include: Clarias gariepinus, Heterobranchus bidorsalis, Clarias × Heterobranchus hybrid (‘Heteroclarias’) and Clarias nigrodigitatus. C. gariepinus and Heterobranchus are the most farmed fish in Nigeria. Catfish farming has continued to attract private sector initiative compared to earlier public or government-sponsored programmes. If the associated problems of production, especially the twin issue of feed production and fingerling supply are tackled, Nigeria will soon become a world exporter of catfish.

Key words: Nigeria, culture, catfish, Clarias, Heterobranchus.

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 7675-1686 Vol. 7 (3), pp. 001-010, March, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Genetic analysis of some agronomic characters in chickpea (CICER  ARETINUM L.)

Ezzat Karami

Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University of Sanandaj Branch, Sanandaj, Iran. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel:+98-09183798761.

Accepted 22 June, 2015

Abstract

A 5×5 half-diallel cross set of chickpea (Arman, Hashem, ILC588, ICCV2 and ILC3279) was studied to estimate the gene effects and genetic parameters of twenty traits including days to 50% flowering, days to podding, days to maturity, plant height, basal pod height, plant ordinate, root length, number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, biomass, pods weight per plant, straw yield per plant, 100- Seed weight, number of pods per plant, number of empty pods per plant, number of double seed pods per plant, number of single seed pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, seed yield per plant, seed size, harvest index. This study was carried out at the experimental farm of the Sara-rood dry land research sub institutes, in Kerman Shah Province (west of Iran) during the spring of 2007. According to analysis of variance for diallel, only additive genes effects were found significant for plant height (cm), pod height (cm) and number of primary branches, empty pods and straw yield (gr) per plant. In addition to the significant additive gene effects, dominant gene effects were significant for days to 50% flowering, days to podding, days to maturity, biological yield (gr), 100-seed weight (gr), seed size, harvest index, pod weight (gr), number of pods, single seed pods, seeds number and seed yield per plant (gr), but about plant ordinate and number of double seed pods per plant only dominant gene effects were significant. Additive and dominant gene effects were not found significant for root length and number of secondary branches. Estimates of genetic parameters also revealed that additive and dominance variance were significant for most studied traits in this research. However, both the additive and dominance gene affects together importance to control of most quantitative traits in the chickpea (CICER ARIETINUM L.). The degree of dominance average (H1/D)1/2 (H1 = dominance variance, D= additive variance) was higher than one, indicating over dominance for all traits except for PHT, BPHT and HI. The narrow-sense heritability was high for HI (67%), 100-seed weight (56%), SS (55%), basal pod height (47%), PHT (42%) and SY/p (37%) indicating that great genetic gain could be achieved for them.

Key words: Additive, chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), half-diallel, dominance, heritability.

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 7675-1686 Vol. 7 (1), pp. 001-009, January, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

An inventory of rainwater harvesting technologies in Swaziland

B. R. T. Vilane* and E. J. Mwendera

¹Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Swaziland, Private Bag Luyengo, Luyengo M205 Swaziland.

Accepted 19 October, 2015

Abstract

Rainwater harvesting involves water collection from surfaces on which rain falls and storing it for later use. Although water supply shortages are a global problem, not much has been done to exploit the rainwater harvesting benefits in Swaziland. A descriptive study using structured questionnaire was conducted to identify rainwater harvesting technologies used in Swaziland. Purposive sampling was employed in targeting 714 households practising rainwater harvesting in four ecological zones. Results indicated technologies consisting of a catchment, conveyance system and storage reservoir. Reservoirs comprised drums, buckets, metal tanks, trailed bowsers, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tanks. Roof catchments with aboveground reservoirs were utilised by 99.6% households, whereas roof catchments with underground reservoir was used by 0.1% household and 0.3% used ground catchments. The lowveld had the highest (31.1%) households using corrugated sheets roof catchments; whereas the highveld and middleveld had 26.6 and 21.6% households using this catchment. The Lubombo Plateau used diverse catchments materials; 20.7% corrugated sheets, 0.1% grass (bamboo) and 0.3% vegetated ground catchments. The water stored per household ranged from < 100 L, to > 1,000 L. Technologies cost ranged from < E100 (< $13.37), to > E1000 (> $133.71). It was concluded that there is potential for increasing water harvesting in the regions where practised.

Key words: Potable water, rainwater harvesting, roof catchments, water quality, water-harvesting technologies.

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 7675-1686 Vol. 6 (4), pp. 001-006, April, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of atrazine (Herbicide) on blood parameters of common carp CYPRINUS  CARPIO  (Actinopterygii: Cypriniformes)

M. Ramesh, R. Srinivasan and M. Saravanan*

Unit of Toxicology, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore - 641046, Tamil Nadu, India.

Accepted 15 November, 2014

Abstract

In the present study an attempt was made to investigate the acute toxicity of atrazine (ATR) a herbicide on an economically important fish, CYPRINUS CARPIO. In which, 24 h median lethal concentration (24 h LC₅₀) of herbicide, atrazine to C. CARPIO was 18.5 ppm. Due to fish exposure to 24 h LC₅₀ of atrazine for 24 h, red blood cells (RBCs) count (-63.17%), hemoglobin (-27.35%), plasma glucose (-6.78%) and plasma protein (-18.73%) levels were decreased; whereas white blood cells (WBCs) count (+3.73%) was enhanced. The differences in haematological and biochemical values were statistically significant (p < 0.05). However, WBC count was not significantly changed. The alterations of the above parameters could be used as an important tool for the assessment of pathological conditions of fish.

Key words: Atrazine, acute toxicity, hematology, biochemical, Cyprinus carpio.

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 7675-1686 Vol. 6 (3), pp. 001-009, March, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The phytase from antarctic bacterial isolate, Pseudomonas sp. JPK1 as a potential tool for animal agriculture to reduce manure phosphorus excretion

Inkyung Park and Jaiesoon Cho*

Department of Animal Sciences and Environment, College of Animal Bioscience and Technology, Konkuk University, 1 Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin- gu, Seoul 143-701, Korea.

Accepted 09 March, 2014

Abstract

Intracellular phytase activity was found in the Antarctic bacterial isolate, JPK1. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the strain was related to Pseudomonas sp. The optimal activity of JPK1 phytase occurred at 50°C and pH 5.0 to 5.5. The enzyme was highly specific for phytate with little or no other phosphate conjugates. Enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by Cu ²⁺ and Zn²⁺, and completely inactivated by sodium dodecyl sulfate. The enzyme effectively liberated inorganic phosphate from wheat bran, a main feedstuff with high phytate content. The enzyme may be a good candidate for use as an environmental-friendly feed additive to enhance the nutritive value of phytate and reduce phosphorus pollution.

Key words: Antarctic, phytase, Pseudomonas sp., phytate, feed additive.

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 7675-1686 Vol. 6 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Pomological characterisation of different kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) cultivars in Adana (Turkey)

Bilge Yildirim¹*, Turgut Yeşiloğlu¹, Müge Uysal-Kamiloğlu², Meral İncesu¹, Önder Tuzcu¹ and Berken Çimen¹

¹Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Cukurova University, 01330, Adana/Turkey.

²Department of Horticulture, Agriculture Faculty, Mustafa Kemal University, Antakya, Turkey.

Accepted 19 December, 2014

Abstract

Kiwifruit production in Turkey has increased very rapidly in recent years due to the high nutritional content, especially of vitamin. The performance and pomological characteristics of seven kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) cultivars (‘Hayward’, ‘Bruno’, ‘Monty’, ‘Abbott’, ‘Elmwood’, ‘Fatma’ and ‘Tere’) were investigated during 2002 to 2007 in the Eastern Mediterranean region, Adana (Turkey). The fruit yield was determined every year from 2002 to 2007, and fruit quality was evaluated between 2002 and 2005. The highest yield per vine was obtained from ‘Hayward’ and ‘Bruno’, whereas the lowest yield was from ‘Fatma’ and ‘Monty’. ‘Elmwood’ had the largest fruit size followed by ‘Hayward’. The smallest fruit size was obtained from ‘Tere’ followed by ‘Abbott’ and ‘Monty’. Vitamin C contents of these cultivars ranged from 78.00 to 52.38 mg ascorbic acid /100 g f.w. Fruit of Elmwood and Monty contained the highest concentrations of ascorbic acid followed by Hayward. For this area, it appears that the ‘Hayward’ variety is the most productive, has the largest fruit and highest vitamin C content.

Key words: Kiwifruit, Actinidia deliciosa, yield, fruit size, vitamin C.