The Alfisols of Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State was studied with the aim to characterize and classify the soils and determine the optimum fertilizer rate for maize production on the selected soil type of the study area. The soils were formed on Makurdi sand stone, deep (141 cm) and well drained. They were coarse-textured and moderately acidic in reaction (pH 6.6 – 7.0). They had low organic carbon contents ranging from 3.36 to 3.78 % and high base saturation of 58.6 % to 77.4 %. Based on the physical and chemical characteristics, the soils were classified as Eutric Ochrustalfs/Eutric Luvisols. In terms of growth parameters; plant height and number of leaves were not significantly different while leaf area, leaf area index and the stem diameter were significantly different. The highest (130.60 cm, 12.30 and 79.88 mm) plant height, number of leaves and stem diameter were observed at the rate of NPK 150:75:75 kg/ha of fertilizer. In terms of yield parameters, ear weight and grain yield were not statistically significant whereas, ear length and ear diameter were statistically significant. However, NPK 60:30:30 kg/ha showed the highest (178 g) ear weight while application of NPK 150:75:75 kg/ha gave the highest (2.82 kg) grain yield. Since there was no significant difference between the fertilizer rates, it could be concluded that the minimum application rate (NPK 60:30:30 kg/ha) should be used in cultivating maize in Alfisols of Makurdi instead of the highest or the blanket recommendation which involved higher cost.

Global warming is a wide-scale problem and soil carbon sequestration is its local scale, natural solution. Role of soil as carbon sink has been researched extensively but the knowledge regarding the role of soil variables in predicting soil carbon uptake and its retention is scarce. The current study predicts SOC stocks in the topsoil of Islamabad-Rawalpindi region keeping the soil properties as explanatory variables and applying the partial least square regression model on two different seasons’ datasets. Samples collected from the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi were tested for soil color, texture, moisture-content, SOM, bulk density, soil pH, EC, SOC, sulphates, nitrates, phosphates, fluorides, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and heavy metals (nickel, chromium, cadmium, copper and manganese) by applying standard protocols. Afterwards, PLSR was applied to predict the SOC-stocks. Although, current SOC stocks, ranged from 2.4 to 42.5 Mg/hectare, but the outcomes of PLSR projected that if soil variables remain unaltered, the SOC stocks would be likely to get concentrated around 10 Mg/hectare in the region. The study also identified variable importance for both seasons’ datasets so that noisy variables in the datasets could be ruled out in future researches and precise and accurate estimations could be made.

A 70-day feeding trial was conducted with thirty-six 7 weeks old weaned rabbits (mixed breed and sexes), with initial average live weight of 0.81kg to evaluate the nutritional effects of replacing maize at 0,25, and 50%with maize or corn gluten in rabbit diets. Maize gluten is fermented maize milling waste sun dried for three days. The diets were offered to the rabbits which were randomly divided into three (3) groups of 12 rabbits each and each group sub-divided into four (4) replicates of 3 rabbits each in a completely randomized experiment. There was a significant effect (P<0.05) of the treatments on the average daily feed intake of the rabbits as the levels of maize gluten increased. The average weight gain and feed conversion ratio were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by the dietary treatments, nevertheless, the FCR increased across the treatments. Graded levels of maize gluten had no significant (P>0.05) effect on carcass dressing percentage. The percent pelt decreased significantly (P<0.05) as level of maize gluten increased. Furthermore, liver and meat cooking loss percentage values showed significant differences (P<0.05) due to the graded levels of corn gluten fed. The sensory evaluation studies were not statistically affected (P>0.05).

Two studies were conducted to evaluate the nutritional effects of supplementary ascorbic acid (AA) at levels of 0, 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg in the diets of growing pullets reared at different seasons (dry season and rainy season).240 eight weeks-old Harco pullet chicks were used in each trial, they were randomly assigned to each of the four dietary treatments in three replications of twenty chicks per replicate. Each trial lasted 12 weeks (84 days) during which data were collected and a 2 X 4 factorial arrangement was employed in the analysis of data collected. Both ascorbic acid and season significantly affected (P<0.05) growth rate with better growth rate reported in the dry season. Body weights at first lay exhibited a linear reduction with increasing concentration of ascorbic acid (P<0.05). Seasonal variation significantly affected (P<0.05) age and egg weight at first lay with higher values obtained in the rainy season. The cost-benefit analysis of supplementary ascorbic acid in the diet of experimental birds revealed that inclusion of the graded levels of ascorbic acid increased the cost of feed in a linear fashion across the dietary treatments. At the growing stage, cost of feed per kg weight gain was found to be lowest in birds fed 0 mg/kg AA. It was evident that at the growing stage, optimum response occurred with supplementation of 300 mg/kg AA.

This study evaluated soil fertility status of Gboko-South in Gboko Local Government Area and their suitability for cassava and yam production. Auger point investigations were carried out at 100 m intervals along traverses spaced at 100 m apart. Three soil units were identified on the field based on soil colour, structure, textures, surface characteristics and topography. The results showed that the soil units were deep (102 – 141 cm) and well drained except unit I that was poorly drained. The soils were coarse-textured and slightly to moderately acidic in reaction with pH values which ranges from 5.38 – 6.50. They had low organic matter contents ranging from 0.20 to 0.95 % and high base saturation which ranged from 76 to 86 %. The soils were classified as Typic Epiaqualfs/Epigleyic Stagnosols, Arenic Haplustalfs/Eutric Luvisols, and Eutric Haplustept/Eutric Haplic Luvisols. Soils of unit I (Pedon I and II), unit II (Pedon III and IV) and unit III (Pedon V and VI) were evaluated to be moderately suitable for cassava and yam production.Keywords: Soil, Taxonomic classification, Suitability evaluation, Land suitability assessment, Yam and Cassava.