Cross River University of Technology

About: Cross River University of Technology is a education organization based out in Calabar, Nigeria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Exergy. The organization has 465 authors who have published 507 publications receiving 2705 citations.

Evaluation of the Phenotypic Characters in Archachatina marginata Hatchlings Fed Leaves of Phyllanthus amarus (Schonn. and Thonn.)

Abstract: A breeding investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of Phyllanthus amarus (Schonn. and Thonn.) on the phenotypic characters of hatchlings of Giant African Land Snails (GALS), Achachatina marginata. The phenotypic traits of one hundred (100) hatchlings investigated were live (body) weight (BW), shell mouth length (SML), shell mouth width (SMW), shell length (SL), shell width (SW) and Feed Intake (FI). The snails were randomly assigned to treatment groups A(10%), B(20%), C (30%) inclusion of Phyllanthus amarus powdered leaves into the normal chow of the hatchlings and D (control), with twenty-five (25) snails in each group. 5 weeks after commencement of treatment, the live (body) weights (BW) and shell length (SL) of the snails showed significant differences (p 0.05) The feed intake was highly significant (p<0.01) in all the groups. From the results obtained, P. amarus leaf meal was well tolerated by the hatchlings and is recommended to snail breeders, as a feed supplement for A. marginata hatchlings bred for commercial purposes.

Nutrient Status and Ameliorating Effects of Poultry Droppings on Soil pH and Sustainable Production of Garden Egg

Abstract: Sustainable production of crops on tropical soils requires soil amendment to remediate soil acidity status and raise fertility level. Industrial lime and inorganic fertilizers are either not available or too expensive to buy. This study was carried out with the objective of investigating the effects of poultry droppings on soil acidity amelioration and increased fertility for sustained production of garden egg ( Solanum aethiopicum L.).The field trials were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farms of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, and the Faculty of Agriculture, Cross River University of Technology, Obubra in 2009 and 2010. Two varieties of African garden egg (Gilo and Kumba) and three rates of poultry droppings (5, 10 and 15 t ha -1 ) were in factorial combinations. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The results obtained showed that all rates of the manure reduced the soil pH within 30 days after incorporation in both years and locations. At 60 days after application, and up to 140 days after incorporation, all manure rates increased the soil pH in both locations and years. The highest increase occurred with 15 t ha -1 poultry droppings at 140 days after incorporation. With no manure application, there was a steady decrease in pH up to the harvest time. All manure rates significantly (P<0.05) increased the yield of the garden egg varieties over when no manure was used. Poultry droppings at 15 t ha -1 produced the highest fruit yield in both years and locations. The crop yields were significantly (p<0.05) higher in Makurdi than Obubra in both years. Yield for 2010 was significantly higher than 2009 in both locations. Poultry dropping at the rate of 15 t ha -1 may be used to remediate soil pH and improve fertility for sustainable production of garden egg in the Guinea savanna or the Rainforest agro-ecologies.

Ethical issues in information use and the exploitation of library resources by undergraduate students in federal universities in south-south zone, nigeria

Abstract: Libraries acquire and stock all forms of intellectual property documents and materials (print and non-print) required for study, learning and research. They offer information literacy programmes and studies not only to provide access to the resources in their collections but it is also necessary that through these programmes users are expected to be equipped with relevant skills to ethically use the resources in a proper manner in order to promote scholarship and academic discipline. This study investigated the influence of knowledge of ethical issues on the exploitation of library resources by undergraduate students in federal universities in South-south zone, Nigeria. The objective of the study was to investigate the extent of awareness of ethical issues in information use and the exploitation of library resources as a requirement for academic integrity by undergraduate students in federal universities in South-south zone, Nigeria. The research design adopted for this study was ex-post facto design. This was so considered because the researcher had no direct control of the independent variable since their manifestation had already occurred and could not be inherently manipulated. The population comprised 952 registered library users randomly sampled from three selected universities, namely University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State and University of Calabar, Cross River State all in Nigeria. A questionnaire was used to collect data. Data collected was analysed by using mean, standard deviation and simple linear regression analysis. Also, the hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The instrument was validated using Cronbach Alpha reliability test. The reliability estimate obtained in the variable was .70 showing that the instrument was significantly reliable enough to be used. 10% of the registered users from each of the institutions selected were made up of 346 in University of Uyo, 304 in University of Port Harcourt and 302 in University of Calabar respectively. The study produced a regression co-efficient of R = .573 which indicate that there was a strong positive influence of knowledge of ethical issues in using library resources. The implications of this study are that students learning and information handling experiences or skills can be improved through the teaching of relevant and appropriate information literacy programs or studies. Since information literacy skills have significant influence on appropriate use of library materials and resources in an ethical manner, students should be adequately instructed in information literacy studies. From the study, it was inferred that undergraduates’ knowledge of ethical issues was relatively low in the study areas. It was recommended that more adequate attention should be given to guiding, instructing and teaching of information literacy skills with particular focus on ethical issues in information use to avoid the implications of doing otherwise especially in academic environments. It was also recommended that university management should be more committed to put in place appropriate policy measures and strategies that ensure the provision of adequate staff and infrastructure to implement the teaching of information literacy programs in the institutions. It is important that a culture of appropriate use of information resources should be inculcated early in students’ learning process.

Occurrence, Distribution and Identification of Viruses Infecting Some Cucurbits Across Major Cucurbit-Growing Areas in Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract: Cucurbits are group of plants which belonged in the Cucurbitaceae family and constitute one of the most important vegetables for human consumption throughout the world. A survey conducted between January to March 2021 across major cucurbit-growing area in Cross River State revealed wide spread virus infection of these crops, surveyed plants showed mosaic, mottle and leaf deformation symptoms. This research was aimed at identifying viruses infecting some cucurbits in the study areas. Twenty four samples showing virus like symptoms were collected and tested against ACP-ELISA and RT-PCR. Result obtained from ACP-ELISA showed that 20 out of 24 samples collected tested positive to universal potyvirus antisera, the gene sequence analysis revealed that samples were predominantly infected with Algerian watermelon mosaic virus representing 40% of total viruses detected followed by Morroccan watermelon mosaic virus representing 15% of total viruses detected followed by Papaya ringspot virus, Zucchini tigre mosaic virus, Watermelon mosaic virus and Soybean mosaic virus representing 10% each for total viruses detected and finally Potato virus Y representing 5% of total virus detected. This survey is an accurate and timely detection and will form the basis for mitigating yield losses resulting from virus infection on cucurbits. This is the first report of wide scale detection of viruses infecting cucurbits in Nigeria.