Abstract： The study was carried out to assess input needs of women vegetable farmers in Gwer-East Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. Simple random sampling was adopted in selecting 150 respondents. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed through descriptive statistics and Logit regression. Results revealed that 66.7％ were between 21-40 years, 82.0％ were married, 58.0％ were farmers with 62.0％ having farming experience of at least 10 years, 60.0％ acquired secondary school certificate, 51.3％ had farm size of between 1.1-2.0 hectares, 55.3％ had household size of between 6-10 persons and 37.5 ％ had an annual income of ₦150,001 and above. 34.0％ required improved vegetable seeds 55.3％ obtained chemical fertilizers, 65.3％ farm inputs were inadequate, 63.3％ their inputs priority was adequate agricultural information, 59.3％ source their farm inputs from markets, 50.0％ extent of access to farm inputs was high, 42.7％ extension contact was low, 26.7％ low level of education was one of the constraints faced by vegetable women farmers in accessing farm inputs. The result of logit regression analysis showed that number of years spent for formal education was significant at P<0.5 and it is recommended that farm inputs particularly improved vegetable seeds should be provided for the vegetable women farmers.

Abstract： Olive tree is subjected to attack by many insect pest species that effect on the yield quality and quantity. Among the most common pest species surveyed in Egypt is; the leopard Zeuzera pyrina (L.) (Lepidoptera: Cossidae), which considered a serious pest in olive fields causing a lot of damage and loss in olive trees. Destruxin consist of an a-hydroxyl acid and five amino acid residues. It is a cyclic hexadepsipeptide produced by fungus causing paralysis and death in insects. It causes the infestations decrease of many insect pests. The effect of destruxins was tested under laboratory and field conditions against Z. pyrina. Results showed that the LC50 of Destruxin recoded 139 ppm when the 3rd larval instars Z. pyrina treated with different concentrations. When the Isolate Destruxin A-304 applied on the target pests the LC50 recorded 33 ppm. Under field conditions, the infestations were significantly decreased to 7.0 ± 3.2 and 7.0 ± 4.2 larvae after treated with Isolate Destruxin A-304 in Ebn Malek and Ismailia, respectively. In the same last places the Isolate Destruxin A-366 application showed a significant decrease in the pests infestations reached to 45.0 ± 1.2 and 41.0 ± 1.2 larvae as compared to 99.0 ± 1.2 and 99.0 ± 1.2larvae in the control. The yields weights in both two regions were significantly increased as the result of Isolate Destruxin A-304 applications.

Abstract： The study examined changes in soil physico-chemical properties in fallow communities in the Rainforest Zone of Southern Nigeria. Fallow vegetation of 1-year, 3-year, 5-year and 10-year, were studied. The quadrat approach of sampling was employed to collect surface soil samples (0 – 15cm) from six plots of 10m x 10m across the four fallow communities. Results showed that the mean contents of organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN), effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) and available phosphorus (Av. P) substantially increased in the 3-10 years fallows presumably due to the increase in litter accumulation following the establishment of woody vegetation. PCA result identified soil nutrient, soil acidity and particle size composition as soil properties that progressively changed across the fallow soils. The study suggested that farmers should be encouraged to allow woody trees on their farmlands to speedy up soil fertility restoration.

Abstract： Numerous physiologic changes occur in the digestive system, acid-base chemistry, and blood hormones during hot weather. Neurons that are temperature sensitive are located throughout the animal’s body and send information to the hypothalamus, which invokes numerous physiological, anatomical or behavioral changes in the attempt to maintain heat balance. In response of farm animals to heat stress, their activity, roughage intake and rumination decrease, while their water intake increase, evaporative loss through sweating, respiration, panting and rectal temperature increase in respective order. Regarding blood metabolites and biochemical changes, exposure to heat stress is accompanied by decline in concentrations of glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin, total lipids, cholesterol, red blood cells, hemoglobin and haematocrit. A decreasing in the level of blood hormones due to heat stress, especially, anabolic hormones such as growth hormone, insulin, triiodotyronine, thyroxin and aldosterone. However, the circulating blood cortisol, follicle stimulating hormone and estradiol showed conflicting results due to the duration of heat exposure, the intensity of environmental heat, species, breed and age of the farm animals.