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GROWTH RESPONSE, NUTRIENT UTILIZATION, AND HEALTH PARAMETERS OF Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) FED VARIOUS LEVELS OF SOAKED AND FERMENTED Enterolobiumcyclocarpum LEAF
(2025-05-20) ABUBAKAR IBRAHIM TOYIN
ABSTRACT High cost of conventional dietary protein ingredients sources such as soybean meal, in aquafeed production necessitates the exploration of cost-effective and locally available alternatives with limited relevance in human diet. This study investigated the performance, nutrient utilization and health of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings fed diets with graded (0, 10, 20, and 30%) levels of soaked and fermented Enterolobiumcyclocarpum leaf meal. Seven isonitrogenous (40% crude protein) and isoenergetic (314kcal) diets were formulated,the control diet without either meal and designated as TS1–TS3 (10%, 20%, 30% SEcLM) and TF1–TF3 (10%, 20%, 30% FEcLM). The feeds were fed to triplicate groups of fish at 3% body weight daily for eight weeks. Growth, feed conversion ratio (FCR), specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio and apparent protein digestibility (APD) parameters were monitored weekly. Blood samples were collected from each group for haematology and blood chemistry analyses, while the liver and mid gut were observed for histopathological studies. Data obtained were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that fish fed TF2 (20% FEcLM) and TF3 (30% FEcLM) achieved superior growth compared to the control. Final body weight for TF3 (13.85 g) and TF2 (13.12 g) significantly exceeded that of the control group (12.42 g). Specific Growth Rate (SGR) was highest in TF3 (2.09%/day), compared to 1.91%/day in the control. Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) also improved in TF3 (1.54), over the group fed the control (1.70). Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) peaked in the group of fish fedTF3 (2.67), also surpassing the control diet (2.40). These results suggest that fermentation enhanced the nutritional quality of E. cyclocarpum leaves, likely by reducing anti-nutritional factors, improving nutrient value and nutrient availability. Haematological parameters remained within normal physiological ranges, indicating no adverse health effects. Packed Cell Volume (PCV) was highest in TF3 (31.3%) and TF2 (30.6%), compared to the control (27.6%). Haemoglobin concentration also followed this trend, with TF3 and TF2 recording 7.8 g/dl and 7.6 g/dl, respectively, versus 6.9 g/dl in the control group. Red Blood Cell (RBC) counts were 2.64 ×10¹²/L and 2.51 ×10¹²/L in TF3 and TF2, respectively, which were higher than the control (2.21 ×10¹²/L). White Blood Cell (WBC) levels remained stable across treatments, suggesting no immunological stress. Histological examination revealed no significant lesions in the liver and intestinal tissues of fish fed diets up to 20% FEcLM, though mild hepatocellular atrophy and enterocyte degeneration were observed at 30% inclusion in the soaked groups. Gut histomorphometry supported better nutrient absorption in the fermented groups, as evidenced by higher villi height and crypt depth. In conclusion, E. cyclocarpum leaf meal, particularly when fermented, can replace soybean meal in C. gariepinus diets at levels up to 30% without compromising growth or health.
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EFFECTS OF SOME FUNGICIDE ON INCIDENCE AND SEVERITY OF LEAF BLIGHT AND FRUIT ROT DISEASES OFCUCUMBER
(2025-04-22) MORONFOLU, OLUMIDE ALANI
ABSTRACT Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is a widely consumed fruit vegetable popular for its nutritional, economic, and health benefits. In Nigeria, its production is significantly threatened by Leaf Blight (LB) and Fruit Rot (FR) fungal diseases, causing yield losses of 60% to 76%, when not controlled. This study therefore evaluated the effects of three fungicides; FS (Five Star (Azoxystrobin 200 g/L + Difenoconazole 125 g/L SC), DF (Dew Force (Pyraclostrobin 40 g/L + Dithomethorm 72 g/L EC), and RG (Ridomil Gold (Metalaxyl 40 g/kg + Mancozeb 640 g/kg) for the management of incidence and severity of LB and FR diseases on two cucumber varieties, Amarsia Super F1 and Oliver Bold F1. The experiment was conducted during the 2023 and 2024 late and early planting seasons respectively, at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. Treatments were arranged in a split-plot fitted into Randomized Complete Block Design with three replicates. Cucumber variety was the main plot, while fungicide treatments were assigned to sub plots. Fungicides were applied once in 2 Weeks After Sowing (WAS) for 5 consecutive weeks. Data on disease incidence and severity were collected. Analysis of Variance was performed and significant means were separated using DMRT at a 5% significance level. Fungal pathogens were isolated on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), and residue analysis was done via UV-visible spectrophotometer. Result shows that FS, RG, and DF reduced LB incidence to 33%, 44%, and 77% respectively at 5 WAS compared to control 100%. However, all treatments showed 100% LB incidence at 7 WAS. The DF fungicide had the lowest disease severity (1.33), followed by RG (1.67) and FS (2.00), while control had the highest (3.67). Fruit rot incidence was lowest on FS (5.56%), followed by DF (7.33%) and RG (9.22%), relative to 74% in the control. Disease severity was lowest in RG (0.22), DF (0.22), and FS (0.33), compared to 2.44 in the control. The FS fungicide enhanced the highest marketable fruit (91% = 5690.67g), followed by DF (89% = 4858.00g), and RG (84% = 3888.33g), compared to 35% yield and 720.67g weight in the control. Fungal species identified as associated with leaf blight symptoms included Aspergillus niger, Fusarium spp., Alternaria cucumerina, and Cercospora spp., while pathogenicity test confirmed Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium spp., and Pythium spp. as the causal organism for fruit rot disease. Residue analysis showed that Metalaxyl (0.000068 mg/kg), Mancozeb (0.000049 mg/kg), Azoxystrobin (0.000049 mg/kg), Difenoconazole (0.000032 mg/kg), Pyraclostrobin (0.000053 mg/kg) and Dithomethorm (0.000038 mg/kg) contamination of fruits remained within acceptable Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs).In conclusion, the three fungicides Five Star, Dew Force and Ridomil Gold along with early planting effectively reduced disease incidence and severity with good yield and had a standard safe residue level in cucumber fruits.
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RESPONSE OF BROILER CHICKENS FED DIET CONTAINING MIRACLE LEAF
(2025-06-02) LAWAL, MOHAMMED BASHIR
ABSTRACT The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and drug residues in animal products has led to stricter regulations on conventional medication use in livestock. Combined with rising public demand for organic and residue-free food, this has spurred interest in phytogenic feed additives. This study evaluated the effect of Bryophyllumpinnatum (B. pinnatum) inclusion on growth performance, blood profile, gut microbiota, carcass traits, and meat quality of broiler chickens over a six-week period. Two hundred day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments (four replicates of 10 birds each): a positive control (0 g/kg B. pinnatum with antibiotics), three treatment groups with 10 g/kg, 15 g/kg, and 20 g/kg B. pinnatum, and a negative control (0 g/kg B. pinnatum, no antibiotics). Data were collected weekly on growth performance, and on days 21 and 42 for blood profile, serum antioxidant activity, and blood lipid profile. On day 42, additional data were collected on carcass characteristics, gut microbiota, fecal oocyst counts, meat antioxidants, and meat lipid profile. All data were analyzed using One-Way Analysis of Variance. At the starter phase, birds fed B. pinnatum or antibiotics showed significantly higher final weight, weight gain, and feed intake compared to the negative control. At the finisher phase, growth performance was not significantly affected by treatment. Hematological indices were influenced by B. pinnatum inclusion, with improved red blood cell indices in birds fed 10 g/kg and 15 g/kg, and reduced white blood cell count at 20 g/kg. Serum biochemical parameters, including total protein, creatinine, and AST, were significantly affected, with the highest total protein and AST in birds fed 20 g/kg. Blood lipid profiles showed reduced cholesterol and LDL in birds fed 15 g/kg and 20 g/kg, while VLDL and triglyceride levels varied among groups. Carcass traits including head, shank, neck, breast, kidney, and abdominal fat percentages were significantly influenced by treatment, although dressing percentage remained unaffected. Gut microbiological analysis showed reduced Salmonella, E. coli, Clostridium, and Aspergillus in birds fed 15 g/kg and 20 g/kg. Total coliform count was lower in the negative control. Meat antioxidant properties were significantly affected, with lower malondialdehyde and higher superoxide dismutase in B. pinnatum groups. Meat lipid profile was also significantly altered, with reduced cholesterol and LDL observed in birds fed B. pinnatum. In conclusion, inclusion of Bryophyllumpinnatum did not affect overall growth performance in broiler chickens but significantly influenced blood indices, serum biochemistry, lipid profile, carcass traits, microbial load, antioxidant status, and meat composition. Birds fed 10 g/kg and 15 g/kg showed better blood indices at the starter phase, while 15 g/kg and 20 g/kg were more effective at the finisher phase. The 20 g/kg level yielded the most favorable serum biochemical results. The study recommends dietary inclusion of B. pinnatum at 10 g/kg and above, as it posed no adverse health effects. Up to 15 g/kg is advisable for supporting health status and immune function, while 20 g/kg may serve as an antimicrobial due to its effect on oocyst and egg count reduction.
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EFFECTS OF PRECEDING 5-YEARS DIVERSIFIED CROP ROTATION (DCR) ON THE AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annuus L.) IN THE FOREST SAVANNA TRANSITORY ZONE
(2025-05-20) ADEBESO, ZAINAB OLADIMEJI
ABSTRACT Crop rotation and diversity are critical for improving soil fertility, enhancing crop resilience, and stabilizing crop yields. Therefore, this study investigated the agronomic performance of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) grown after 5-years crop rotation which involved five cropping systems: continuous cropping without fertilizer (CS1), continuous cropping with organic fertilizer (CS2), crop rotation with organic fertilizer (CS3), crop rotation without organic fertilizer (CS4), and conventional cropping (CS5), using sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), and sunflower as component crops. The study was carried out during the late cropping season of 2023 and 2024 at the organic research farm of the Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources, and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. The cropping system treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replicates. Data collected on phenology, growth, grain yield, yield attributes, oil content, and oil yield of sunflowerwere subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) with means of significant treatments separated using the least significance difference method (LSD) at 5 % level of probability. The results revealed that CS2 significantly (P < 0.05) reduced number of days to flowering of sunflower by two days when sown after all the component crops in 2023 and soybean only in 2024. Plant height at flowering was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by cropping system when sunflower was sown after all the component crops in both years, except soybean in 2023 with the sunflower under CS5 as the tallest (199.3 cm). Dry matter accumulation was significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by cropping system at 5, 6 and 7 weeks after sowing with sunflower sown under CS2 accumulating dry matter that was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the dry matter of plants under CS1 in both years. Preceding crops had no significant effect on grain yield and yield attributes of sunflower in both years. Cropping systems significantly (P < 0.05) influenced head diameter, head weight, seed weight, number of seeds per head, and grain yield in both years. Sunflower sown under CS2 recorded the highest values for these traits in 2024. The highest grain yield recorded under CS5 (573.6 kg/ha) in 2023 and CS2 (1,376.0 kg/ha) in 2024 was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the control in 2023 (215.3 kg/ha) and 2024 (564.0 kg/ha). Sunflower under CS2 and CS3 recorded significantly (P < 0.05) higher oil content and oil yield than sunflower under CS1 in both years, except oil yield in 2023. In 2024, sunflower under CS3 recorded the highest oil content (42.3%) which was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the oil content of sunflower under CS1 (37.6%) and CS4 (37.1%). The soybean in the rotation enriched the soil nitrogen to the tune of 0.1 to 0.6 % total N post-planting in 2023 compared to other component crops. It is concluded that organic sunflower could be cultivated by prospective sunflower growers under CS2 and CS3 for higher productivity in the forest-savanna zone.
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DETECTION AND REMEDIATION OF CRITICAL NODES AND BRANCHES IN AN INTERCONNECTED POWER SYSTEM NETWORK
(2025-06-06) OLAJIDE, SAMUEL ADEYEMI
ABSTRACT Voltage instability has been a major concern to power supply utilities and its effect has resulted into system voltage collapse and high power losses. This study employed the fast voltage stability index technique (FVSI) to detect critical nodes and branches in an interconnected power system network, considering the IEEE 57-node and Nigeria 34-node electricity grids as case studies.The detected critical branches were corrected using static var compensator (SVC). Load flow modelling and simulation were carried out to determine the node voltage, phase angle and active power loss along the network lines. Simulations were done for the base case and the contingency-variation of the reactive loads in the network until the FVSI value approaches one (1) to determine the maximum permissible load of each load nodes. The ranking in the system was done by sorting the maximum permissible load, of the load nodes in ascending order. The smallest maximum permissible load was ranked highest implying that the node is the weakest in the system. Thereafter, the node voltage magnitudes and branch active power losses were computed and compared for the two case networks. The results revealed that, for IEEE 57-node power system, 43 node voltages out of 57 node voltages were outside the statutory limit of ± 5%. The total active power loss was 65.303 MW. The inclusion of SVC in the system corrected the voltage limit violations on the critical nodes while the total active power loss was reduced by 43.29% amount to 37.039 MW. In the case of Nigeria’s 34-node power network, voltage limit violations occurred at two nodes which were node 2 (BirninKebbi) and node 13 (Kano T.S). The voltages at the two buses were outside the acceptable limit of ± 5%. The total active power loss was 134.920 MW. The SVC introduction into the system normalized the voltages on the critical nodes with the total active power loss reduced by 52.95% amount iv to 63.481 MW. These results were indications that FVSI when appropriately applied can aid the detection of critical nodes and branches in power system network while the SVC installation can minimize the power loss and improve the voltage magnitude of the system. This study established the suitability of fast voltage stability index technique for the weak nodes and branches detection in a power system and static var compensator (SVC) for possible remedial action.