FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE

Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is a major staple crop in West Africa, particularly in Nigeria, where it serves as a vital source of food security, income, and cultural significance. Despite its importance, yam production faces numerous challenges, including declining soil fertility, high labor requirements in traditional mound cultivation, the prohibitive cost of inorganic fertilizers and security challenges across Nigeria. Bag propagation has emerged as an innovative alternative, enabling efficient soil and nutrient management, reduced pest and disease incidence, and suitability for limited land areas. Poultry manure, a nutrient-rich organic fertilizer, offers a sustainable means of enhancing soil fertility for yam production. It improves soil structure, microbial activity, and nutrient availability, thereby promoting vegetative growth and tuber yield. However, limited research exists on its application in bag-propagated yam. This study, therefore, evaluates the effect of poultry manure on the growth and yield of bag-propagated yam, aiming to identify a cost-effective and environmentally friendly practice that enhances productivity and supports sustainable yam cultivation. The experimental site was a private farm in Ogida quarters. The experiment comprised two treatments, each treatment had six (6) replications. At outset, date of planting was recorded. Number of days to sprouting, vine lengths, stem diameter, number of leaves were recorded at subsequent intervals. At harvest, tuber weight and vine weight were recorded. Data collected were analyzed using excel, the two means were compared using t-test method with the probability of 0.05 and unequal variance. Yam grown with poultry manure recorded higher vine length and greater tuber weight at harvest compared to those without manure. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that the application of poultry manure significantly improved the growth and yield of bag propagated yam.

This study examined the effect of agricultural credit on rural livelihood diversification among cassava farmers in Orhionwon Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data from a sample of 80 cassava farmers through a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, and mean scores) and inferential statistics (Independent Samples T-test). The socio-economic analysis revealed that the majority (56.25%) of the farmers were female, with a mean age of 43 years and a mean farm size of 1.6 hectares. Cooperative societies were identified as the most frequent source of credit (33.75%), while friends and government sources also played significant roles (30% each). The
primary purposes for seeking credit were the acquisition of farm inputs for cassava
production (50.67%) and the payment of farm labor (26.67%). Despite access, 51.25% of respondents indicated that the credit received was insufficient for their needs. Livelihood diversification was found to be a prevalent survival strategy, with 92.31% of farmers engaging in other activities such as poultry farming, petty trading, and cassava processing. The results of the t-test analysis showed a statistically significant increase in mean income from ₦554,000 before accessing credit to ₦736,500 after accessing credit (P < 0.05), confirming that agricultural credit positively impacts financial leverage and diversification capacity. However, high interest rates (Mean = 2.586) and strict collateral requirements (Mean = 2.525) were identified as the leading constraints to credit access. The study recommends that financial institutions and government agencies should lower interest rates and simplify collateral requirements to enhance credit accessibility, thereby fostering sustainable rural livelihoods and economic resilience among smallholder farmers

The study examined the impact of forest degradation on rural livelihoods in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria, with specific attention to the
economic implications of declining forest resources and the adaptive responses of forest- dependent households. The objectives were to; determine the average household income derived from non-timber forest products (NTFPs) between 2000 and 2025; assess trends
in forest resource supply and availability; identify major causes of forest degradation, and
evaluate its impacts on livelihood activities and coping strategies among forest-adjacent
communities. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered
to 200 respondents across ten purposively selected villages surrounding the Ehor Forest
Reserve. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, and Analysis of Variance
(ANOVA) to identify patterns of change in income, resource availability, and degradation intensity over time. The findings revealed a progressive increase in household income from NTFPs between 2000 and 2025, suggesting that forest-based economic activities have remained central to rural livelihoods despite increasing environmental pressure. ANOVA results showed a statistically significant variation (F = 2118.295; p < 0.05) in mean annual income across the study years, indicating shifts in forest resource dependence and commercialization. However, evidence of declining forest resource supply was observed, with only 8.5% of respondents reporting abundant forest products after 2020 compared to over 79% in the early 2000s. The study identified illegal logging (98.5%), increased community use (87.5%), and weak enforcement of forest laws (69.5%) as primary drivers of degradation. Furthermore, the availability of trees (99%), firewood (98%), and medicinal plants (93%) showed severe depletion, reflecting a substantial loss of ecological assets. Nearly all respondents (97%) confirmed a regular increase in forest degradation, while environmental problems (65%) and health-related challenges (22.5%) were identified as major consequences

Thaumatococcus daniellii, commonly known as the miracle plant or sweet prayer plant, is widely used in Nigeria for wrapping traditional foods such as rice, moi-moi and agidi, leading to the generation of substantial leaf waste. The discarded leaves, if properly analysed for nutrient could serve as a potential resource for animal feed formulation, organic fertilizer, or biodegradable packaging materials. Therefore this study aimed to investigate the proximate and mineral composition of Thaumatococcus daniellii leaf wastes collected from rice and moi-moi wrapping in Benin City, Nigeria. Fresh leaf wastes were collected, air-dried, milled, and analyzed for proximate and mineral compositions using standard analytical procedures. The proximate analysis revealed appreciable levels of crude protein (18-23%), crude fibre (21-26%), and carbohydrate (28-34%), with moderate lipid and ash contents (6.67-6.83%). The mineral analysis showed significant amounts of essential nutrients such as Calcium (3.313_4.168mg/kg), Potassium (0.129_0.008 mg/kg), magnesium (1.737_0.019 mg/kg), phosphorus (2.263_0.147 mg/kg) and iron (0.270_0.215 mg/kg). These findings indicate that the leaf wastes from rice and moi-moi wrapping are rich in proximate and mineral nutrients that can support both nutritional application for livestock. The study concludes that Thaumatococcus daniellii leaf wastes, often considered agricultural waste could be
explored as an alternative raw material in feed production. This would not only promote environmental sustainability but also enhance economic value through waste resource utilization.

A study was conducted in Benin city, located in South South Nigeria, to investigate the insect pest species affecting three distinct fish species: Clarias spp, Tilapia spp, and Synodontis spp, Orechromis niloticus and Hemichromis spp. The common insect pests identified infesting all three fish species included Dermestes spp and Tribolium spp. The data collected included the total count of insect pests infesting each fish species and the distribution of the insects in their two life stages, larvae and adults. Analysis of this data was performed using simple percentage calculations. The results indicated that Tilapia spp exhibited the highest susceptibility to insect pests. The ranking of susceptibility was as follows: Tilapia > Synodontis > Clarias. Notably, Tribolium spp emerged as the predominant insect pest, with an infestation rate of approximately 61.7% on Tilapia spp and 100% on Clarias spp. Necrobia spp followed with an infestation rate of 31% on Tilapia spp and 80% on Synodontis spp. Furthermore, the study observed the distribution of adult and larval stages of these insect pests. The findings revealed that the majority of the insects infesting the five species of smoked fish in Benin city, Edo state, Nigeria, were in the larvae stage.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a major public health issue affecting both people and animals. In Nigeria, the increasing interest in rabbit farming has led to frequent antibiotic use, sometimes without proper veterinary guidance, raising concerns about resistant bacteria. This study aimed to identify the bacterial species present in the feces of rabbits reared at the University of Benin, Research Farm and to evaluate how these bacteria respond to commonly used antibiotics. Fifteen fecal samples were collected from rabbits and analyzed using standard microbiological techniques. The bacteria were isolated, identified, and tested for antibiotic susceptibility using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method. The antibiotics examined included amoxicillin, erythromycin, streptomycin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, and apramycin. The bacterial isolates obtained were Bacillus sp., Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella sp., Shigella sp., and Micrococcus sp. Most isolates showed high sensitivity to erythromycin (74.1%), streptomycin (51.9%), and ciprofloxacin (33.3%), while moderate resistance (22.2%) was observed against apramycin. E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus exhibited the greatest resistance levels. Although the overall resistance rate was relatively low, the presence of resistant strains highlights the need for responsible antibiotic use, better hygiene, and regular monitoring of resistance trends to prevent possible health risks to both animals and humans.

The study is aimed at determining the effects of some selected drying method on the nutritional quality of Apple Watersnail (Lanistis libycus) purchased at Ikpoba hill market One hundred and Fifty (150) Apple snail (Lanistis libycus) specimen was obtained from a fish seller and taken to the Faculty of Agriculture processing unit where processing was carried out using some selected methods. They were slaughtered, removed from the shell to collect the meat and discard the shell. They were weighed before been spiced and then dried using the different processing method (sun drying, smoked drying and oven drying).They were then taken to the lab for analysis. Statistical analysis using Genstat computersoftware was used to compute the result for proximate composition. The result from this study will assist in determining the most appropriate method of processing with regards to nutrient availability and amount of moisture content hence the method that has the best rate of preservation.

This study was conducted at the University of Benin, Faculty of Agriculture experimental farm, from October 2021 to Oct 2022, to determine the best propagation method and planting date for enhanced growth and yield components of onion (Allium cepa) in two seasons (dry and wet) in a rainforest zone of Nigeria. Onions were cultivated using sets and seeds on four planting dates in each season. The experiment was laid out in a factorial design, comprising 8 treatments for each season (P1D1, P1D2, P1D3, P1D4, P2D1, P2D2, P2D3, P2D4) in three replications, where P represents propagation methods (P1: set and P2: seed), and D planting dates for Dry (D1: Oct 10th, D2: Oct 24th, D3: Nov 7th and D4: Nov 21st) and Wet (D1: Mar 6th, D2: Mar 20th, D3: April 3rd and D4: April 17th) season.
Data on growth and yield parameters, including plant height (cm), number of leaves per plant, stem diameter (cm), bulb length (cm), bulb diameter (cm), number of bulbs per stand, bulb weight per plot (g/m2), and yield (t ha-1), were collected and subjected to statistical analysis. Results showed significant effects of propagation method, planting date, and season on most parameters measured.
During vegetative growth, seasonal effects influenced the number of leaves, which was higher in the wet season (16.47) than in the dry season (11.78), while plant height and stem diameter showed no significant differences. Set propagation yielded significantly over seed propagation higher plant height (49.14 cm), number of leaves (29.98) both on planting date April 17 and stem diameter (1.88 cm) on planting date Nov 21. For yield components, dry season cultivation produced significantly higher bulb diameter (9.35 cm), bulb weight per plot (976 g/m²), and yield (9.76 t ha⁻¹) compared to the wet season. However, bulb length and the number of bulbs per stand were not significantly affected by season.

The study was conducted at the screen house of the Experimental Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City. Four different potting media sources: Top soil (TS ), Rice husk (RS ), Poultry manure (PM ) and Oil Palm Refuse Bunch (OPRB ), were used as substrate. The objective of the study was to determine the appropriate potting medium the for the growth and yield of Fluted pumpkin (Telferia occidentalis ) . The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Data was collected on plant height , stem girth , number of leaves ,leaf length , leaf girth, leaf area , dry weight, moisture content and herbage yield. Results obtained after six (6 )weeks showed that Potting media had significant (p < 0.05 ) effect on growth characters. Plants in top soil and Rice husk media exhibited better growth performance than poultry manure and oil palm refuse bunch. Herbage yield , dry and moisture content of fluted pumpkin were significant ( p < 0.05 ) by potting media . Plants solved in top soil had the highest herbage yield which was similar with rice husk plants . Plants in top soil , rice husk and oil palm refuse bunch had comparable values. There was no yield for poultry manure plants as the plants withered immediately after four ( 4 ) weeks after sowing . Top soil potting media is thereby suggested for fluted pumpkin growers due it's ease of availability, handling and also had 12 % herbage yield advantage over rice husk.

This research examined the plants of spice value sold in selected markets within Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, to identify the species in trade, their socio-economic importance, and the challenges faced by traders in the spice market. The study was conducted across seven purposely selected markets: Ekiosa, Oregbeni, Oliha, Oba, New Benin, Santana, and Uselu based on their prominence in spice trading. Data obtained through the administration of 100 questionnaires and direct market observations. Descriptive statistics, Use Value (UV), and Family Use Value (FUV) indices were employed to analyze the data. Results showed that women constituted the majority of spice traders (83%), while men accounted for 17%, indicating a female-dominated occupation. Most respondents were married (78%), with 50% aged between 41 and 60 years, and 48% possessing secondary education. A total of twenty-two (22) spice plant species belonging to fifteen (15) botanical families were identified, with the seeds and leaves being the most frequently used parts, mostly sold in dried form. Prominent spices included Monodora myristica (African nutmeg), Aframomum melegueta (alligator pepper), Piper guineense (black pepper), and Xylopia aethiopica (Ethiopian pepper), which were mainly used in the preparation of traditional dishes such as pepper soup and black soup. The Lamiaceae family recorded the highest Family Use Value (FUV = 0.701), while Thymus vulgaris exhibited the highest Species Use Value (UV = 2.0), indicating high cultural and culinary relevance. The study revealed that the price of spices increased significantly between 2023 and 2025 (p < 0.05), with Aframomum melegueta and Tetrapleura tetraptera ranking among the most expensive species due to carcity and rising demand. Major challenges reported by traders included unstable pricing (92%), high
transportation costs (87%), inadequate storage facilities (35%), and seasonal scarcity (29%). These constraints negatively affected income, with most traders earning below ₦200,000 annually. The research concludes that plants of spice crops remain a vital component of household nutrition, income generation, and cultural heritage in Benin City. However, the increasing preference for modern synthetic spices and deforestation poses significant threats to their sustainability. It is therefore recommended that government and relevant agencies promote
the domestication and afforestation of indigenous spice plants, improve market infrastructure, provide value addition and processing facilities, and enhance awareness of the economic and ecological benefits of conserving spice biodiversity.