IOSR-JAVS   Volume-7 ~ Issue-2 ~ MAR-APR-2014

ABSTRACT: Coxiellosis (Q fever) is a zoonosis of public health significance. This study was aimed at determining the seroprevalence and the risk factors associated with Coxiella burnetti infection in cattle in Kaduna metropolis, Nigeria. A total of 539 blood samples from 42 cattle farms in the four Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kaduna metropolis were tested using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), in addition to application of structured questionnaires on the farmers. The total prevalence rate and herd prevalence rates obtained were 78 (14.5%) and 24 (57.1%) respectively.

[1]. Addo, P. B. and Schnurenberger P. R., 1977. Q fever antibodies in food animals of Nigeria: a serological survey of cattle, sheep and goats. Rev Elev Med Vet Pays Trop 30(4): 359 - 362.
[2]. Angelakis, E. and Raoult, D., 2010. Q fever. Vet Microbiol, 140 (3-4): 297-309.
[3]. Arricau - Bouvery, N. and Rodolakis, A., 2005. Is Q fever an emerging or reemerging zoonosis? Vet Res, 36: 327-349.
[4]. Babudieri, B., 1959. Q fever: a zoonosis. Adv Vet Sci, 5: 82-154.
[5]. Bildfell, R. J., Thomson, G. W., Haines, D. M., Mcewen, B. J. and Smart, N., 2000. Coxiella burnetti infection is associated with placentitis in cases of bovine abortion. J Vet Diagn Invest, 12(5): 419-425.
[6]. Cabassi, C.S., Taddei, S., Donofrio, G., Ghidini, F., Piancastelli, C., Flammini, C.F.And Cavirani, S., 2006. Association between Coxiella burnetti seropositivity and abortion in dairy cattle of Northern Italy. New Microbiol, 29: 211-214.

ABSTRACT: In promoting increase productivity in rice production system in the Inland valley of central Nigeria, Sawah Eco-technology was introduced to rice farmers around Bida in central Nigeria. The technology involves levelled basin and improved bunding with inlet and outlet for irrigation and drainage to achieve full water control. In assessing the superiority of this technology over the conventional rice production system by the farmers, a survey in conjunction with field agronomic evaluation were conducted in rice growing communities where sawah was introduced.

[1]. FAOSTAT 2004: FAOSTAT Database, http://apps.fao.org
[2]. Fashola, O.O., Oladele, O., Alabi, M.O., Tologbonse, D. and Wakatsuki, T. 2007. Socio-economic factors influencing the adoption of sawah rice production technology in Nigeria. Journal of food, Agriculture and environment. JFAE, 5: 239-242
[3]. Hirose S and Wakatsuki T. 2002: Restoration of inland valley ecosystems in West African Savannah, 600 pp., Norin, Tokei Kyokai, Tokyo
[4]. Ofori, J., Hisatomi, Y., Kamidouzono, A., Masunaga, T., and Wakatsuki, T. 2005. Performance of rice cultivars in various sawah ecosystems developed in inland valleys, Asanti, Region Ghana, Soil Science plant nutrition, 51: 469-476
[5]. Wakatsuki, T. 2002. Sustainable agricultural development of West Africa during global environmental crisis. In:Restoration of inland valley ecosystems in west Africa. Hirose, S. and wakatsuki, T. (eds.), pp 1-82, Nourin,
[6]. Tokei Kyoukai, Tokyo
[7]. Wakatsuki, T. Buri, M.M. and Oladele, O. 2007. Mineralization of Africa rice green revolution by sawah eco-technology: Concept paper of new sawah project, 2007-2008.

ABSTRACT: The present study entitled "Georeferenced Status of cobalt in soils ofYavatmal district of Maharashtra" was conducted during 2012-13 at Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Dr. PDKV, Akola with objective to assess the cobaltstatus in soils of Yavatmal district and to study relationship of cobalt with soil properties and preparation of GIS based soil fertility maps of micronutrients. In the Yavatmal district, the cobalt ranged 0.02-1.80 mg kg-1. Based on critical limit of cobalt (0.25mg kg-1) the deficiency was noticed 61.97 percent. The nutrient indices of DTPA-Co were 1.67 respectively. DTPA-cobalt showed negative and significant correlation with soil pH (-0.142**).The calcium carbonate content of soil showed negative and significant correlation with DPTA-cobalt (r=-0.104*). It could be concluded that, in Yavatmal district the soils were found deficient in cobalt (61.97%).

Keywords: Cobalt, Diethylene triamine penta acetic acid, Geographical information system, Nutrient indices, Thematic map

[1]. Jackson, M. L., 1973. Soil Chemical Analysis (Eds.) Prentice Hall of India Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi. pp 69-182.
[2]. Piper, C. S., 1966. Soil and Plant Analysis, Hans. Pub. Bombay. Asian Ed. pp 368-374.
[3]. Walkely, A and C.A. Black, 1934. The method for determining soil organic matter and proposed modification of chromic acid titration method, Soil Sci. (37): 28-29.
[4]. Lindsay, W.L. and W.A. Norvell, 1978. Development of DTPA soil test for zinc, iron, manganese, copper and cobalt. Soil Sci. Am. J. 42:421-428.
[5]. Randhawa, N.S. and J.S. Kanwar, 1964. Zinc, copper and cobalt status of Punjab soil. Agricultural university, Ludhiana: 403-407.

ABSTRACT: The study examined farmers' knowledge and perception regarding the importance of cover crops in the northern agricultural zone of Delta State, Nigeria. Eighty crop farmers that were randomly selected served as respondents of the study. Data were collected through the use of structured interview schedule. Descriptive statistics such as frequency count, mean scores, and percentage were used to summarize data. Farmers' knowledge of cover crops was determined through a knowledge test, while Likert scaling was used in determining perception on the importance of cover crops and constraints to the utilization of cover crops. Results reveal that majority of the farmers operate on a small-scale with farm size ranging between 1 and 3 hectares.

[1]. Akatugba-Ogisi (1994) Multiple objectives and small farmers production behaviour in Delta and Edo States of Nigeria: Application of goal programming. Ph.D Thesis, Department of Agricultural Economics and Management, University of Reading, UK
[2]. Dabney, S.M., Delgado, J.A. and Reeves, D.W. (2001) Using winter cover crops to improve soil quality and water quality. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis
[3]. Giller, K.E. and Cadish, G. (1995) Future benefits from biological nitrogen fixation: An ecological approach to agriculture. Plant and Soil Historical Archive
[4]. Lichenberg, E.J.C., Decker, A.M. and Clark, A.J. (1994) A profitability analysis of legume cover crops in the Mid Atlantic Region. Journal of soil and water conservation
[5]. Lu, Y.C., Watlains, K.B. and Teasdale, J.R. (2000) Cover crops in sustainable Food Production, Food Receivers International
[6]. Potter, M.J., Davies, K., and Ranthjen, A.J. (1998) Suppressive impact of glycosinolate in Brassica vegetative tissues on root lesson nematode pratelendus neglectus. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 24: 67 – 80