The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of mechanic village on selected soil physico-chemical properties and heavy metals content in Abakaliki Southeastern Nigeria. Five replicate soil samples were collected from arable land (Control), lorry automobile repair site (Lorry), motorcycle automobile repair site,(motorcycle) car and bus repair site(car and bus),  automobile spare parts market (spare parts). These samples were taken to laboratory for the determination of selected soil physico-chemical properties and heavy metal content. The data obtained from this research was analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) based on CRD and difference between treatment means were dictated using F-LSD at P < 0.05. The result showed significantly (p < 0.05) adverse effect among the different automobile locations studied with respect to control in bulk density, total porosity, mean weight diameter and aggregate stability. The chemical properties of soils of mechanic village were also significantly adversely affected by mechanic village. The observed heavy metals in mechanic village were higher than the recommended ranges in soils. Therefore, it advisable that some agronomical practices that could increase the nutrients and lower the heavy metals level should be employed in order to get high crop yield and safe produce.

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The objectives of the study were to determine the difference in costs of ingredients, the benefit in percentage score of students’ performance and the difference between the benefit in percentage score of students’ performance determined through the two assessment modes RS and CRAT- by implicating rice production in Ebonyi State. The study adopted quasi-experimental design. The population of the study was 570 made up of 20 teachers of agricultural science and 550 students offering agricultural science for the Senior Secondary School Examination (SSCE) in Ikwo and Ivo Local Government Areas of the state. The sample of the study was 100 made up of 60 senior secondary II students and 40 teachers of agricultural science. Four sets of instruments were utilized for data collection. The reliability of the content- validated RS items was determined using Cronbach alpha formula which yielded a coefficient of 0.82.Split-half and Kudder-Richardson (K-R 20) was utilized to determine the stability of the test items which yielded a coefficient of 0.80. Procedural steps was adopted to administer and collect data from the two schools using the RS and CRAT items. Data collected was analysed using percentage, weighted mean and sign test to answer the research questions. Real limits of numbers were utilized to take decision on percentage. The study found out that the estimate cost of CRAT was cheaper than that of RS by ₦13,643.20. The study also established the benefit of CRAT (over RS) which can be utilized as a substitute to “alternative to practical” mode of determining students’ performance in rice production. It was recommended, among others, that external examination bodies should infuse the use of CRAT into their examination policy and that teachers of agricultural science should seek for training in CRAT development for use in determining students’ performance in relevant areas of agriculture.

Farmers’ lack of awareness of agricultural activities that contribute to soil erosion and competencies needed to prevent or control the menace through afforestation contributed to unprecedented hardship, the farmers, stakeholders and individuals in Kogi state. The purpose of this study was to determine competency improvement needs farmers in pre-planting, planting and post-planting operations in afforestation and recommend for a way forward in containing the challenges. Three research question and three hypotheses guided the study. The study made use of survey research design; it was carried out in Kogi state. The population for the study was 1,244 made up of 834 registered crop farmers and 410 Agricultural Extension Agents. The sample of the study was 540. A random sampling technique (Balloting) was used to select 330 registered crop farmers out of 834 and 210 Agricultural Extension Agent out of 410 respectively. The instrument for data collection was a 49 items questionnaire titled: Competency Improvement Needs of farmers Questionnaire (CINFQ). The instrument was validated by three experts. Cronbach Alpha method was used to determine the internal consistency of the instrument and a reliability coefficient of 0.82was obtained. Five hundred and forty (540) copies of the questionnaire were administered to the respondents for data collection, but 534 copies were retrieved and analyzed. Weighted mean and Improvement Needed Index (INI) were used to answer the research questions while t-test statistics was used and test hypotheses of no significant difference at the probability of 0.05 level of significance at 532 degree of freedom. It was found out that farmers needed improvement in all the competencies in pre-planting, planting and post-planting operations for enhancing their skills in afforestation practices on their farms and that of their neighbours as a means of reducing the impact of soil erosion in the area of the study. It was recommended that the identified competencies should be used by the extension agents to re-train farmers on the practice of afforestation along with crop production and soil conservation to reduce soil erosion menace in the State.