Journal of Natural Sciences Research最新文献

{"title":"Assessment of Perception/Awareness of Radiological Impacts of Some Artisanal, Active & Inactive Mines in Zamfara State","authors":"Y. M. Ahijjo, Usmanu Danfodiyo","doi":"10.7176/jnsr/12-16-04","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/jnsr/12-16-04","url":null,"abstract":"Mining of minerals has caused huge environmental contaminations and grave health effects with little or no detailed evident pathways in recent times. The impacts range from unabated contamination through particulate radionuclide inhalation and ingestion, environmental degradation, worn-out of agricultural lands, increased poverty among inhabitant and increased toxic burden on biodiversity, summing up to a huge human health burden. To assess the perception and awareness of the inhabitants around mines being the stake holders in potential contamination and its adverse effect of exposure, observational data were collected through two separately structured questionnaires during identification of sample points between April 2015 and January 2016 across Gummi, Bukkuyum, Anka, Maru, Gusau, Tsafe and Zurmin Local Government Areas in Zamfara State. The target audience were inhabitants around mines and health personnel in a stratified randomly sampled health centers that attends to cases of related ailments as a result of these mines. The result of 217 respondents in the ratio of 87 for health personnel across health centres to 130 for the dweller who participated in this survey is presented in this paper. Based on the Likert scores, about 80% of the respondents are of the view that mining in their localities could predispose them to numerous radiological impacts of health maladies and environmental contamination. The responses of the health personnel also revealed that there are evidences of numerous ailments ranging from widespread Upper Respiratory Tracts Infections (URTI) which is connected to aerosol transporting particulate radionuclides from left over mines to heavy casualty inform of death. The result also revealed that most of the inhabitant who responded to our correspondents have either undermined the radiological impacts in their neighborhoods or are biased due to their direct or indirect involvement in the menace. It is therefore recommended that further studies should be intensified on the perceptional analysis to help bridge the potential gaps between the experimental findings and the opinion and perceptions of the inhabitants in relation to the potential radiological future dangers. disagree and strongly disagree on the Likert scale. The significant rate of the male mortality was directly or indirectly linked to their indulgence in mining and farming according to our correspondents. Based on the Likert scale, the percentage of the respondent’s perception on female mortality rate are 46%, 29%, 17% and 8% for agree, strongly agree, disagree and strongly disagree. This shows that their perception is significantly high in contract to the male mortality which could be due to female radiosensitivity over male according to a study reported by Wallace et al., (2003).","PeriodicalId":16368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Sciences Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85411701","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors that Influence Farmers’ Participation in Soil and Water Conservations in Farta Woreda, South Gondar Zone of Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia","authors":"","doi":"10.7176/jnsr/12-15-01","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/jnsr/12-15-01","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Sciences Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86706828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Yield and Quality Response of Snap Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) to P and S Fertilizers Application under Different Irrigation Regimes in Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia","authors":"","doi":"10.7176/jnsr/12-15-03","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/jnsr/12-15-03","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Sciences Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85692772","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determinants that Affecting the Production of Haricot Bean by Small Holder Farmers in Oromia Region of Ethiopia","authors":"A. Keba","doi":"10.11648/J.RD.20210202.14","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11648/J.RD.20210202.14","url":null,"abstract":"Haricot bean is an important pulse crop, which serves as consumption and basis for income, but its output and production are minima. So, this study aimed to analyze the factor affecting haricot bean producer smallholder farmers Oromia regional state of Ethiopia. The data for the analysis were obtained from the World Bank data published on their website in 2018. The result of the regression shows it is likely to rise production of haricot bean by increasing the source of seed, fertilizer or manure, education, total income, family size, and the land size these factors significantly affect production positively but the price is significantly influencing smallholder farmers production of haricot bean negatively. The program inferences of the results are to have to educate the smallholder farmers, encouraging using educated family, providing access haricot bean seed for smallholder producer farmers, setting minimum procurement price for inputs and providing input subsidies, ease delivery of inputs, encouraging and training ways allocating land for different haricot bean crop, diversified income sources should be created to increase the income of the farmers. The Government, Ministry of agriculture, the regional office of agriculture, Zonal agricultural office and woreda’s Agricultural office, Non-governmental Organization, Investigators, and academicians are needed additional encourage the production of improved haricot beans by designing based on farmer's problems and need.","PeriodicalId":16368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Sciences Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82589288","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Over View of Thyme Value Chain in Ethiopia: The Case of Dinsho and Tarmaber Areas","authors":"T. Girma, Kulumsa","doi":"10.7176/jnsr/12-13-02","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/jnsr/12-13-02","url":null,"abstract":": This paper aimed to explain the value chain of thyme herb in Ethiopia. Potential thyme collection areas Tarmaber and Dinsho were taken for the study. The study employed qualitative data collection method focus group discussion, personal observation and key informant interview. Thyme herb is collected from wild; particularly from bushy or forest areas. The collection took place by local dwellers. The major production and marketing constraints in thyme herb value chain were over grazing, destructive harvesting, limited knowledge of harvesting and processing; and small and volatile supply of the herb. The supply was small and volatile which hindered the herb not to secure sustainable domestic and foreign consumers thus brought difficulty in product branding. Although thyme herb demanded highly in the market the supply was yet dependent on wild thyme collection. Therefore domestication of the plant to garden crop and conservation of the plant genetic resource should be given an emphasis to get benefited from the plant and to rehabilitate the natural wild thyme diversity.","PeriodicalId":16368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Sciences Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80827237","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of Newly Released Soybean Varieties (Glycine max.) under Smallholder Farmers’ Condition in Western Ethiopia","authors":"Takele Atnafu Delele, Yaregal Fekadu Simachew, Dirshaye Hailu Gebre, Talefe Ayele Zenebe","doi":"10.7176/jnsr/12-13-04","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/jnsr/12-13-04","url":null,"abstract":"Soybean is a miracle legume crop in the world due to its multipurpose use. The global demand of the crop is increasing rapidly because of its growing demand particularly in the animal feed industries. But, the current production status of the commodity is not comparable to the rapidly increasing demands. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of improved soybean varieties under smallholder farmers’ condition in western Ethiopia. Six kebeles were selected purposively in Pawe and Jawe districts based on their potential and suitability for soybean production. A total of 24 hosted farmers were selected purposively by considering their willingness and performance to implement the demonstration. Pawe-1, Pawe-2, Pawe-3 and Ethio-Yugoslavia varieties were the materials used in the evaluation. Grain yield, seed size, pod number per plant, seed number per pod, plant height, disease resistant and maturity date were the main preference traits for farmers. Bothe qualitative and quantitative data were collected from 41 farmers (17 control group). The collected data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics by using SPSS software package. Farmers’ preference ranking also conducted based of their selection criteria. The combined results over locations show that 1767.58, 1723.46, 1619.58 and 1600.08 kg ha -1 mean grain yield recorded from Pawe-3, Ethio-Yugoslavia, Pawe-1 and Pawe-2 varieties respectively. Overall mean grain yield of improved varieties was 1677.68 kg ha -1 . The least (927.41 kg ha -1 ) mean grain yield observed from the local variety. Findings revealed that all the demonstrated improved varieties have significant yield advantage over the control at (p<0.01) in all locations. Farmers put Pawe-3 variety in the first rank based on the total score of their preference traits. Agricultural professionals and other concerned bodies have to give more emphasis to promote the newly released proven soybean varieties with full recommended packages to increase the production status further to ensure the demands of domestic processing and export marketing and this will contribute to the overall economic growth. Findings of this study suggest that 61% of yield gain and income increment achieved for adopters of improved varieties(Tufa et al., 2019). Adoption of improved soybean variety/ies couple with new management practices positively and significantly impacted on soybean productivity and farmers’ income. The results of propensity score matching (PSM) in this study revealed that soybean productivity increased by 15% for those farmers who adopted improved soybean variety(Teshale, 2019). Planting of soybean in the optimal dates potentially increased the productivity of soybean varieties(Fedorova et al., 2020). Benishangul Gumuz is one the potential regions of Ethiopia in soybean production. The crop is producing in all the three administrative zones of the region.","PeriodicalId":16368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Sciences Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75422199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Review on Breeding Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Genotypes for Processing Quality Traits","authors":"Ebrahim Seid","doi":"10.7176/jnsr/12-13-03","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/jnsr/12-13-03","url":null,"abstract":"Potato (Solanum tuberosum L .) is a rich source of protein, energy, vitamins and minerals. Potato is in the family Solanaceae with chromosome numbers vary from diploid (2n = 2x = 24) to hexaploid (2n = 6x = 72). In Ethiopia, the major objectives of potato breeding was targeted at selection of clones for high yield, wide adaptability and resistance for late blight, hence processing qualitative traits were not the main targets in potato breeding program still near future. Therefore, the objective of this review article is to discuss breeding potato genotypes for desirable processing quality traits. Tuber shape is a syndrome of many characters that considers the length/width ratio for describing the overall shape; it varies from compressed/round to long. The yellow pigment in potato tuber flesh is caused by various carotenoids that may protect against cancer, cardiovascular disease, and macular eye degeneration. The genetics of morphological traits are Tuber flesh color, skin color and tuber shape and eye depth. To minimize waste, varieties with long tubers are preferred for French fries and varieties with round tubers are ideal for crisps. Eye depth is an important trait of tuber quality because deep eyes affect the appearance of tubers and add to the cost of peeling in processing factories. Tuber quality traits in potato are specific gravity, dry mater content, starch content, Glycolalkaloids and tuber size uniformity. Specific gravity of potatoes is commonly used by the potato processing industry as a tool for quick estimation of dry matter content, as both are highly correlated. Tuber dry matter content and specific gravity significantly influenced by the interaction effect of growing environment and cultivars. Processing quality usually has relatively low to moderately high heritability, depending on the progenitor materials. Therefore, multiple location tests over several years are often required in order to determine whether a clone has indeed a high processing quality.","PeriodicalId":16368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Sciences Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84900603","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spectral Analysis of Sandy Desertification in the Semi-Arid Zone of North Eastern Nigeria","authors":"C. Ndabula","doi":"10.7176/jnsr/12-14-06","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/jnsr/12-14-06","url":null,"abstract":"The method of integrating remote sensing, Geographic Information System (GIS) and field survey was employed. Assessment of the rate and intensity of sand dune encroachment using multi-temporal Landsat images (Landsat.TM, 1986, Landsat.ETM, 2000 and Landsat.OLI, TIR, 2016) and GIS. The satellite images were processed by converting raw Digital Number (DNs) values to radiance images which were converted into reflectance images used for spectral analysis.The satellite images were processed accordingly for evaluating six (6) spectral indices; Crust Index (CI, Grain Size Index, Bare soil Index (BSI), Normalized Difference Sand Dune Index (NDSDI), Normalized Difference Sand Index (NDSI), Normalised Difference Soil Index (NDSLI). An aggregate index of each of the six (6) selected indices was evaluated and the long term geometric mean was determined and used for image differencing with the baseline date image. A combination of MEDALUS.ESA and Image Differencing was adopted for change detection technique. Sandy landscapes were mapped into four (4) natural classes using natural jenks classifier of the ArcGIS analytical tool based on pre-field field determination and post verification. The description of the four (4) sandy landscape classes is as follows: Active, Semi-active, Semi-fixed and Fixed sand dune/sheets. Results of overall sandy desertification based on Aggregate Sandification Index indicates that active and semi-active sandy landscapes have progressed steadily at annual rate of expansion of 1.20 and 1.28 km 2 and intensity for the of 0.13 and 0.23% respectively. This has caused a corresponding decrease in the semi-fixed and fixed sandy landscapes of 1.24 and 1.39 km 2 and intensity for the period of 0.17 and 0.47 % respectively. The highest risk of sandy desertification is in the fixed sandy landscape which is be lost an an annual rate of 1.39 km 2 and 0.47% intensity being the highest among other classes. The result of this study indicates that the natural ecology or vegetation, graze lands, irrigated lands, rainfed farmlands, settlements, infrastructure are at high risk of sandy desertification in the semi-arid zone of Nigeria. This study is also a pointer that the shelter belts have not been very effective in controlling wind erosion and thus sandy desertification. findings in this study suggest the need for concerted efforts to control sandy desertification in Nigeria. The present banded spacing and orientation of belts need be appraise with regards to their effectiveness in controlling wind erosion and sandy desertification and with a view towards improvement.","PeriodicalId":16368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Sciences Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84581817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biosorption of Arsenic (III) by Using Lemon Peel Powder as Low Cost Effective Biosorbent","authors":"","doi":"10.7176/jnsr/12-14-01","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/jnsr/12-14-01","url":null,"abstract":": The use of lemon peel powder, a novel, low-cost, and sustainable biosorbent derived from food waste, to remove arsenic has largely gone unexplored. The feasibility and viability of the As (III) biosorption abilities of lemon peel powder are compared in this study. The parameters such as contact time, pH, the amount of lemon peels used, the initial arsenic concentration, and temperature all had an effect on the sorption process. Thermodynamic, kinetic, and equilibrium were all evaluated. The optimal pH was 6.0, and it lasted until pH 8 with 72.34% removal efficiency. Lemon peel (LP) has a pH PZC value of 7 and a surface pH of 7. The analysis of kinetics revealed that the biosorption was regulated by a second-order reaction, as well as the fact that the catalytic region of the biosorbent was heterogeneous; however, the biosorption process was better defined by the Freundlich and Temkin isotherms. Finally, it is possible to remove arsenic (III) using waste content. Thermodynamic and equilibrium analysis have shown that sorption is a natural process that is spontaneous, beneficial, and endothermic. In addition, Fourier Transfer Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) research shows that arsenic reacts with metal oxides and the -OH functional group in lemon peel. These findings indicate that this peel can be used to remove arsenic from a simulated aqueous solution as a valuable, low-cost sorbent. This research lays the groundwork for the potential production of an effective filtration device that uses citrus peel powder as a low-cost, innovative, and long-lasting biosorbent to treat water polluted with arsenic (III). morphology on biomaterial is observed confirming the binding/chelation of molecules to the lemon peel portion. (d) The surface has a wavy nature with various aberrations and hollow pores and a light/dark shaded surface signifying the presence of arsenic molecules. (e) Agglomeration has been observed as a result of chelates formation and two separate phases on the biomaterial are seen with sponge-like porous and thread-like fibrous structures.","PeriodicalId":16368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Sciences Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78585820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of Weed Control Methods and Canopy Characteristics on Weed Biomass, Yield and Yield Components of Two Contrasting Cassava Varieties in the Rainforest Zone of Nigeria","authors":"O. Ola, O. O. Ogedengbe, G. O. Adesina, T. M. Raji, O. Akinyemiju","doi":"10.7176/jnsr/12-14-05","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7176/jnsr/12-14-05","url":null,"abstract":"Weed infestation is one of the reasons why the average cassava yield is low in Nigeria. This study was conducted in 2010 at the Teaching and Research Farm, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife to evaluate the impact of different cassava canopy structures on (i) weed biomass and (ii) yield and its components. The treatments consist of hand-weeded, herbicidal treatment, and unweeded checks in the main plot. The sub-plots constituted the cassava cultivars (TMS 30572 and TME 1) laid out in a randomized complete block with a split-plot arrangement in three replications. TMS 30572 reduced weed biomass by 59% when compared to TME 1 in the unweeded plot. However, there was no significant difference in the weed biomass between the hand-weeded and herbicide-treated where TMS 30572 and TME 1 were cultivated. Root dry matter of TMS 30572 was higher by 72% when compared to TME 1 in the untreated field. However, there was no significant difference between the yield of TMS 30572 and TME 1 in both hand-weeded and herbicide-treated plots. In conclusion, TME 30572 is recommended for cultivation in regions with similar agroecological patterns coupled with Integrated Weed Management (IWM) especially, when planting TME 1 to obtain optimum yield.","PeriodicalId":16368,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Natural Sciences Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84247606","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}