June 2013
Appraising the combustion of biogas for sustainable rural energy needs
This paper shows the combustion of biogas in rural households’ appliances. Biogas has been known since 1800s as an odourless and colourless gas with high combustion rate. Its use is beginning to gain ground in most developing countries like Nigeria due to its availability, ease of generation and environmental friendliness. Developing countries are characterized by poor infrastructural development, inadequate...
June 2013
Transesterification of oil extracted from different species of algae for biodiesel production
In the current study, biodiesel production efficiency of Chlorella vulgaris, Rhizoclonium hieroglyphicum and mixed algae culture was measured by transesterification process. Growth rate of algal species was measured on the basis of increase in their dry matter in various media. Protein, carbohydrates and lipids in all selected algae were measured on dry matter basis....
June 2013
An application of Geographic Information System in mapping flood risk zones in a north central city in Nigeria
This study deals with the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in mapping flood risk zones in Makurdi Town. This study draws its relevance from the importance of a GIS database in tackling flood related problems. To create a map of flood risk zones in Makurdi town, the ArcView GIS package was used to digitize a topographic map and other relevant themes of the study area. Through GIS overlay and...
June 2013
Variations in the mineral composition and heavy metals content of Moringa oleifera
The parts of Moringa oleifera were assessed for mineral composition and some heavy metal contents in this study, which included Ca, Mg, K, Na, Mn, Fe, Zn, Co, Se, Pb and Cd. Parts of the plant were obtained from Badagry in Lagos State, Nigeria. The samples were digested with HNO3 and analysed for the mineral element content using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The observed mean...
June 2013
The logistic model-generated optimal stocking levels, optimal species mix and carrying capacity of wild herbivores in southern rangelands game ranches in Kenya
This paper derives logistic models for Grant's gazelle Gazella granti, Thompson's gazelle(Gazella Thompsonii) and plains Zebra (Equus burchellii), in a game ranching system. The study was conducted on an 8100 hectares savannah ecosystem in Machakos district, with an average annual rainfall of 514±159.3 mm. Modelled as discrete-time logistic equations with fixed carrying...
June 2013
Harmonisation of physical and chemical methods for soil management in Cork Oak forests - Lessons from collaborative investigations
As part of a collaborative project to investigate human impacts on Quercus suber L. (cork oak) forests, five research groups from countries in Europe and North Africa undertook a survey of soil quality (physical properties, potentially toxic elements) at sites in NW Tunisia and NW Sardinia. All groups performed the analysis of soil samples after agreeing prescribed methodologies to ensure...
June 2013
Food items and general condition of Hyperopisus bebe occidentalis (Lacepede, 1803) caught in Warri River, Nigeria
A total number of 202 specimens, comprising 75 females and 127 male specimens ofHyperopisus bebe occidentalis were caught from Warri River. This gave a 1:1.7 female to male sex ratio. The total length range for male specimens was 189.2 to 355.0 mm and 246.0 to 376.1 mm for females. The body weight range for male specimens was 51.0 to 448.0 g, while that recorded for female specimens was 106.0 to 400.0 g....
June 2013
Public perception of ecosystem service functions of peri - urban forest for sustainable management in Ogun State
Forest ecosystems and landscapes are under strong and multiple pressures that challenge their capacities to continue to deliver the many and critical environmental goods and services that all life systems require. This study was therefore carried out to evaluate public perceptions on the ecosystem services (ES) of Arakanga Forest Reserve in order to provide relevant information for successful initiatives...
June 2013
Ecohydrological characterization of the Nyando wetland, Lake Victoria, Kenya: A State of System (SoS) analysis
Lake Victoria floodplain wetlands have a complex hydrological setting characterized by...
June 2013
Bio-ethanol production from poultry manure at Bonga Poultry Farm in Ethiopia
This study aimed to determine bio-ethanol potential of poultry manure. The manure was hydrolyzed by dilute H2SO4 (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1 M) at temperature of 100 and 130°C for 30 min. Maximum glucose (115.6 g/l) was obtained from hydrolysis of 100 g poultry manure by 0.8M H2SO4 at 100°C for 30 min. The study shows that treatment of poultry manure releases more total...
June 2013
An economic assessment of the Ramsar site of Massa (Morocco) with travel cost and contingent valuation methods
As the only protected area in the whole south west of Morocco, the Souss Massa National Park(SMNP) is characterized by a remarkable biodiversity, with more than 300 plants species, 250 bird species, 20 mammal species and also by the high diversity of its ecosystems, such as theAragnia spinosa forest, steppes, dunes and coastal wetlands. This park can...
June 2013
The cost of poor land use practices in Lake Nakivale Wetland in Isingiro District, Uganda
The land use practices around Lake Nakivale Wetland have over the last five decades changed from dominantly cattle keeping to crop farming, human settlement and urbanisation. This change, has increased food production and security, it has come at a cost to the natural environment in form of land degradation, wetland encroachment, loss of wildlife habitats and crucial wetland resources. Based on a research conducted in...
June 2013
Market conduct and performance of wild and semi-wild food plants traded in Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom, Uganda
This study assessed the market conduct and performance of wild and semi-wild food plants (WSWFPs) traded in Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom, Uganda. A rapid market survey (RMS) was conducted in 17 local markets in Kibanda County. Market prices and weekly volumes of traded WSWFPs were compared with some of the selected conventional food plants traded in the same locality. Weekly volumes of traded WSWFPs based on the usual...
June 2013
Impediments, opportunities and strategies to enhance trade of wild and semi-wild food plants in Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom, Uganda
This study examined the impediments, opportunities and strategies to enhance trade of wild and semi-wild food plants (WSWFPs) in Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom, Uganda. Semi-structured questionnaire was administered face-to-face to sixty six (66) traders of WSWFPs in the formal markets: five (5) mobile hawkers and eleven (11) home-based/roadside traders. As a result of their small number, all traders that were found selling...
June 2013
Aquatic Environmental Contamination: The fate of Asejire Lake in South-Western Nigeria
In Nigeria major cities face serious water pollution crises, in which lack of environmental control of water-dependent activities play an important part. This generates unpleasant implications for health and economic development since most urban and rural areas depend upon lakes and rivers for their water supplies. A study of catfish from Asejire Lake (located at the outskirt of Ibadan, a major city in Oyo...
June 2013
Recovery of pure slaked lime from carbide sludge: Case study of Lagos state, Nigeria
Carbide sludge is the by-product of reaction between calcium carbide and water in the production of acetylene gas for welding purposes. This by-product is discarded as waste due to high content of impurities as a result of the reactants and reaction processes. In this research work an attempt was made at developing an appropriate process technology for the recovery of pure slaked lime from Nigeria’s...
June 2013
Evaluation of physico-chemical and microbial parameters on water quality of Narmada River, India
The present study was carried out to ascertain the quality of water at western zone of Narmada River of Madhya Pradesh (India). Due to heavy discharge of harmful and deleterious substances in river, the biological, chemical and physical characteristics of water have changed to a considerable extent. The objectives of this study were to find out the changes in physico-chemical nature as well as biological...
June 2013
Hydrochemistry of shallow groundwater and surface water in the Ndop plain, North West Cameroon
This study was conducted on the hydrochemistry of shallow groundwater and surface water in the Ndop plain, North West Cameroon. The objectives were to determine the physico-chemical characteristics of water, controls on water chemistry and suitability for drinking and irrigation. Forty-six shallow groundwater and 26 surface water samples were investigated. Field measurements of physical parameters were...
June 2013
The performance characteristics of groundnut (Arachis hypogea, L.) biodiesel in a diesel engine
The performance of groundnut ethyl ester blended with diesel in a compression ignition engine was experimentally determined. Groundnut oil reacted with ethanol to produce ethyl esters in a two-step transesterification process. The ethyl-esters were blended with automotive gas oil at (0 to 20%) mix with 5% increment of groundnut ethyl-esters to produce biodiesel. The performance of a 2.46 kW diesel engine was...
June 2013
Earthworm-assisted bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated soil from mechanic workshop
The use of earthworms (Eudrilus eugenia) for vermi-assisted bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated mechanic workshop soils was investigated. Parameters of interest where earthworm survival, microbial count and identification, carbon and nitrogen contents of the soil and total petroleum hydrocarbon content of the soil. Earthworm survival was found to be dependent on the concentration of petroleum...
June 2013
Impact analysis of lead, copper and zinc content in selected African indigenous and exotic vegetables from Nairobi markets, Kenya
Vegetables consumed in urban sites can be contaminated with harmful metal levels absorbed from planting sources because metals are commonly present in soil. The present study was carried out to evaluate Pb, Cu and Zn concentration in ten of the commonest vegetables in Nairobi markets. Vegetables were collected from 15 markets in urban and peri-urban Nairobi and analyzed for metal content using an Atomic...
June 2013
Simulation of oil spill infiltration and redistribution in a shallow aquifer
Simulations of oil spill infiltration and redistribution in a shallow aquifer were conducted in this work to quantify their effects on groundwater. Results showed that flow of oil spills can be adequately described by infiltration and redistribution patterns within the domain. Without the influence of rainfall, the contaminant plume pervaded the water table within one year of the spill through the influence...
June 2013
Microbiological and chemical assessment of spring water from a rural setting in Ondo State Southwest, Nigeria
Assessment of spring water from Ikare-Akoko, a rural setting in southwest, Nigeria for microbial and chemical contaminants was carried out. Total heterotrophic bacteria count of 4.0 x 106CFU/mL was highest during the peak of the rainy season in Omi-idu spring (Igbede community) while the lowest population of 0.14 x106 CFU/mL was in Agadagidi spring (Ishakunmi community). The highest coliform population...
June 2013
Assessment of ground water contamination in Erode District, Tamilnadu
A systematic study has been carried out to assess the water contamination and the effect of the tanneries and dyeing industries effluents on Erode District, Tamil Nadu. Ten (10) sampling locations were selected in and around industries. The water samples were collected from the selected sampling points. The samples were analyzed for major chemical water quality parameters like pH, EC, Ca, Mg, Cl,...
June 2013
Tuhar pulse flowers corroding by corrosive pollutants
Tuhar (Arhar) pulse is a very important crop of Indian farmers. It is one of the most proteinous foods of the public. It is a common food for Indian people. It is cultivated mostly in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharastra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. Recently, in these states, industrialization and infrastructure development works are going very fast causing huge amounts of pollutants and...
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