Cooperative societies have increasingly been acknowledged as a perilous institution for driving socio-economic development, especially in emerging nations like Nigeria. Cooperatives being owned and managed democratically by their members, aim to solve economic inequalities, promote independence, and foster community support. Cooperative societies, known for their potential to address these issues, are faced with numerous challenges including; inadequate funding in sustaining development in their business activities.

The rising demand for sustainable agriculture is driving a global shift toward eco-friendly vegetable production methods that prioritise human health and environmental protection Vegetables. However, the level of uptake of eco-friendly practices and their drivers are poorly understood, which prompts the current study. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 300 randomly selected vegetable farmers in Enugu State. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression were used for data analysis.

The study assessed the technological capability of rice processors in Enugu State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used in selecting 120 respondents across two town communities in two local governments of agricultural zones. Frequencies and percentages were used to analyze the data collected. Findings showed that 88.3% of parboilers were aware of maintaining hygienic conditions and 58.3% practice. While 100.0% knew that they should wash/dewater paddy till wash water is colourless, only 33.3% practised.

Long-term surface coal mining near agricultural zones can degrade arable land and reduce soil productivity. This study evaluated the effects of extended coal mining on sandy soil properties in three mining areas of Ankpa LGA, Kogi State, Nigeria—Okaba-Odagbo (55 years), Okobo-Enjema (12 years), and Onupi (9 years). Soil samples were collected from both mining sites and adjacent fallow (arable) lands and analyzed using standard methods. Statistical comparisons were made using t-tests and Pearson correlation.

Abstract

<p>The response of soil structure to nutrient management may vary across environments. Poultry manure (PM) and/or inorganic fertilizers (IF) effects on soil pH, organic carbon (SOC), and hydraulic properties were assessed in derived savannah sandy-clay-loam Ultisols and rainforest sandy-loam Alfisols of Nigeria during 2013-2015. The Ultisols were inherently lower in soil pH and SOC than the Alfisols. Three PM rates (0, 5, and 10 t ha^–1), each with four NPK/Urea-based IF levels (0, 50, 100, and 150%), were applied in 2013 and 2014 but not in 2015.

Abstract

The low fertility status of the highly weathered tropical soils offers the opportunity to study the potential and optimum application rate of biochar as an organic soil amendment, especially for the dominant coarse-textured Ultisols. Despite the relatively fast mineralisation of organics in these soils and the need to synchronise nutrient release crops critical stages of nutrient requirement, the time corresponding to peak effects of biochar remains unclear.

A major limitation to the use of some biowaste as manure is their high C/N ratio and hence slow mineralisation rate. Combined use of such slow-mineralising animal manures with N-rich fertilizers and/or synthetic lime may valorize them. The objective of this study was to assess the synergistic effects of cattle dung (CD), Urea and lime on crop productivity and physicochemical properties of sandy tropical soils. Treatments of CD, Urea, Lime, CD+Urea, CD+Lime, Urea+Lime, CD+Urea+Lime, standardized CD+Urea and Control were used to grow okra on sandy soils from a long-term fallow land.

Abstract