Showing papers by "Cross River University of Technology published in 2004"

Profile distribution of sesquioxides in the inland valley soils of central cross river state, nigeria.

Abstract: The morphological properties (colour, structure, texture, consistence, miscellaneous features and horizon boundary conditions) of inland valley soils in central Cross River State were described. The soils were sampled from pedogenic horizons and analyzed for physico-chemical properties. They were specially analyzed for pedogenic forms of iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn), namely, acid (pH 3) oxalate extractible and citrate-bicarbonate-dithionite (CBD) extractable forms The soils were deep, gleyed/mottled acid loams and clays, with low ( 3%) orgaic matter contents. The contents of CBD extractible Fe (FeD) in the surface horizons of soils range from 6255.00 mg kg-1 to 8131 mg kg-1 with a mean of 7100.0 mg kg-1 while the subsoil horizon values range from 5421.0 mg kg-1 to 8131 mg kg-1 with a mean of 6500 mg kg-1. Amorphous iron (Feox) in the surface soil ranged between 959.0 mg kg-1 and 5838 mg kg-1 with a mean of 4000.00 mg kg-1; and the subsoil horizon values ranged from 1084 mg kg-1 to 5838.0 mg kg-1 with a mean of 3500 mg kg-1. Active iron ratio of the surface horizons was in the range of 0.15 and 0.85 with a mean of 0.55. The extractable manganese oxides for the surface horizons ranged between 83.3 mg kg-1 and 550.0 mg kg-1 with a mean of 250.0 mg kg-1 while the subsoil values ranged from 25.0 mg kg-1 to 3392.7 mg kg-1 with a mean of 570.0 mg kg-1. The surface amorphous manganese oxide values ranged from 41.70 mg kg-1 to 325.0 mg kg-1 with a mean of 261.0 mg kg-1. The subsoil results ranged between 20.8 mg kg-1 and 1583.3 mg kg-1 to give a mean of 378.0 mg kg-1. With these concentrations of manganese and iron oxides in these soils, supplemental phosphorus especially after liming during cultivation is recommended for optimum crop yield. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science Vol.4 2003: 41-49

Attitudes of Nigerian Secondary School Teachers to Student Evaluation of Teachers.

Abstract: The study investigated the general attitude of Nigerian secondary school teachers toward peer evaluation of teachers. It also sought to determine whether teacher characteristics such as gender, school geographical location, academic qualification and teaching experience affected Nigerian teachers’ attitude toward peer evaluation of teachers. To accomplish the research purpose, four null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The research design adopted was a survey. The sample consisted of 480 secondary school teachers selected from among 3179 teachers in Akwa Ibom State secondary schools using a stratified random sampling technique. The instrument used for collecting data for the study was a 13‐item questionnaire. Population t‐test, independent t‐test, dependent t‐test and four‐way ANOVA were used to test the hypotheses. The study revealed that the general attitude of Nigerian secondary school teachers toward peer evaluation of teachers is negative, whether the results of the evaluation serve for...

Cadmium uptake by the green alga Chlorella emersonii

Abstract: Investigations were carried out on the uptake of the heavy metal cadmium (Cd) by the green alga Chlorella emersonii with the aid of an ion selective electrode. Cadmium uptake by Chlorella was very rapid with 70% of total uptake occurring during the first 10 seconds. Uptake of cadmium by Chlorella showed a direct relationship to the amount of metal present, suggesting ‘equilibrium conditions' being responsible for the amount of metal removed from solution rather than just number of binding sites available. Absence of metabolic involvement in the uptake process was observed as there was no difference on final uptake of cadmium whether cells were alive or dead. It is concluded that living or dead Chlorella biomass has a high biosorption potential for cadmium, and its rapid uptake makes it an attractive candidate in the current proposed application of biosorption technology for industrial waste treatment. KEY WORDS: Cadmium uptake, alga Chlorella, industrial waste treatment, biosorption technology, cell biomass. Global Jnl Pure & Applied Sciences Vol.10(2) 2004: 257-262

RESPONSE OF MAIZE (Zea mays) TO A LOAMY SAND AMMENDED WITH RICE HUSK AT OBUDU, SOUTH EASTERN NIGERIA

Abstract: The scarcity or non-availability of inorganic fertilizer in the third world is a great impediment to achieving increased production of maize today. An alternative to this is to increase soil fertility with readily available and affordable materials. This study was conducted using a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with the following rates of rice husk to boost soil fertility for improved maize production 0 tha -1 (T 1 ), 16.7tha -1 , (T 2 ), 33.3 tha -1 (T 3 ), 50.0 tha -1 (T 4 ), 66.7tha -1 (T 5 ). From result obtained for grain yield for the two years, T 4 gave optimum yield. In 1999 treatments T 1 , T 2 and T 3 were not significantly different from each other while in 2000, treatments T 2 and T 3 were significantly different (P 1 . Plant heights obtained at three weeks after planting in 1999 showed that T 3 , T 4 and T 5 were significantly different (p 2 and T 1 . The results were the same for treatments T 3 , T 4 and T 5 at five weeks after planting while treatments T 1 and T 2 had the same effect. At 7 weeks after planting treatments T 4 and T 5 had the same effect, but were the best followed by treatment T 3 , T 2 and T 1 in that order. However, in 2000, treatments T 3 , T 4 and T 5 were the best followed by treatment T 1 and T 2 . For cob length, the results were not too distinct while treatment effect on cob girth was not significant. KEY WORDS: Rice husk, organic fertilizer, soil fertility, tropical soil Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol.2(2) 2003: 110-112