This study evaluated the effects of air pollution on agriculture in Eleme, Rivers State, Niger Delta, Nigeria. The air quality in selected locations in Eleme were monitored, as well as crop pathology and laboratory analysis of crops. Although, small-scale subsistence agriculture is the most common farming system practiced in the area. Cassava, pumpkins, plantains, maize and yams are the dominant crops found on the farmlands. It was observed that concentration of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ozone (O3) and exceeded the USEPA standards for the protection of crops significantly. While suspended particulate matter (SPM) is slightly high in all sampling locations. However, O3, SO2 and NO2 and SPM are the most significant air pollutants that adversely affected the agricultural crops within the area. Although, Cucumber, cocoyam, yams, maize, okras, plantains, cassavas, pumpkins and pawpaw were found to be susceptible to air pollution damage. Statistical analysis showed that there is significant decrease in crop yield between the 2017/2018 harvest season and the 2016/2017 harvest season (F = 20.3; p< 0.05; 95%Cl.). These pollutants can lead to serious reductions of crop growth and yields, a situation which may be aggravated in the future. Air pollution causes approximately 38.3% crop losses in Eleme annually. Hence, there is need for efficient monitoring and implementation of environmental standards for air quality control by regulatory agencies.Keywords: statistical analysis; effect of air pollution; agricultural yield; plant pathology; selected crops

A crude oil polluted soil remediation was investigated using a mixture of avocado pear seed cake and poultry droppings. The seed cake was obtained through the Soxhlet method by extracting the oil from the pear seed. The experiment was carried out within a span of two months. Contamination was done by applying crude oil on 10 experimental reactors containing agricultural soil. The therapeutic treatment was then applied to the reactors, and the soil physicochemical properties were analyzed after set periods. The result shows that pH (6.89%), moisture content (18.1%), electrical conductivity (5430 μs/cm), total organic carbon (0.996%), total petroleum hydrocarbon (32.0 mg/kg) and total nitrogen (2.00%) which is an indication of distinct variation with time with the bacterial count of 9.20 cfu in all the reactors with an increased time. The control reactor does not show significant remediation throughout the study period. However, there was significant degradation of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in all the experimental reactors as follows: 76, 67, 55, 86, 78, 69, 81, 73 and 62% for T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , U 1 , U 2 , U 3 , V 1 , V 2 and V 3 after 2months. The study revealed that good remediation was achieved by the application of poultry dropping only 0.0324 days-1 compared to the mixture of poultry dropping and avocado pear seed cake (0.0275 days-1). Again, treatment with poultry droppings (PD) only removed 89.65% of TPH while combination of PD+ avocado pear seed cake (APSC) removed 85.41% of TPH after 70 days remediation period as predicted. The 200 g PD only (U 1) also increased the amount of nitrogen in the soil which is favorable for plant growth.

Background: Thryonomys swinderianus is a renewable natural resource and is a major mammal that constitute what is termed bushmeat in Ogoni land. Between July 2017 and June 2018, 10320Kg of Thryonomys swinderianus meat or 2580 animals were obtained from the wild by hunting. The number of animals removed compared to its population as at June 2017 prompted this study. Aim: The aim of the study is to ascertain the sustainability of this level of harvest in Ogoni land. Methods: The Robinson and Redford model of 1991 was used to assess the sustainability of this harvest in this study. The maximum possible production of Thryonomys swinderianus from July 2017 to June 2018 was 3.5/Km² and the proportion of this production to be harvested sustainably is 2.1/Km² or 8.4Kg/Km². The actual harvest within this period was 2.58/Km² or 10.32Kg/Km². Results: The actual harvest of 2.58/Km² is greater than the maximum sustainable yield of 2.1/Km² and as such, the harvest of 2.58 Thryonomys swinderianus per square kilometer per year is not sustainable in Ogoni land. Conclusion: The unsustainable harvest of Thryonomys swinderianus should as a matter of urgent concern be monitored and regulated. Continuation of this rate of removal will diminish the renewal rate and lead to the extinction of Thryonomys swinderianus in the near future.