International Journal of Novel Research in Science, Technology and Engineering

EVALUATION OF CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER FOR THE GEO-POLITICAL ZONES OF NIGERIA USING RICE AS A REFERENCE CROP

2025-12-08T16:59:17+00:00

This study focused on the estimation of crop water requirement of rice to avoid over or under irrigation which may negatively affect crop yields. In this study, agro-climatic data (2013-2024) were collected and analyzed. The data obtained include; minimum and maximum temperature (oC), relative humidity (%), wind speed (km/day), sunshine (hr /day) and radiation (MJ/m2/day). FAO Penman-Monteith model is a universal standard model used to compute the mean monthly reference evapotranspiration (ETo) using the mean monthly weather data for six weather stations in Nigeria. The mean monthly and annual ETo estimated for each weather station were multiplied by the average crop coefficient (Kc) of rice to determine the crop water requirements. The empirical crop growth stage coefficient is used to scale the FAO 56 Penman-Monteith model to a specific crop (Rice). The mean annual ETc computed by FAO 56 Penman-Monteith model for all the six zones were graphically compared to identify the differences in evapotranspiration losses across the study area. The study concluded that, irrigation practices are best done by estimating the consumptive use of water in order to avoid over or under irrigation which may negatively affect crop yields.

INVESTIGATION OF PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL AT OKE-OYI PHASE II IRRIGATION SCHEME FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

2025-12-08T17:45:29+00:00

Irrigation applications have impacts on the soil physical characteristic properties and these impacts may be negative on soil, crop and groundwater quality. This could be as a result of the quality of water used, method of application and the nature of the soil viz the physical composition of the soil. Soil quality analysis at phase II of the irrigation scheme was carried out in the study area. Twenty sampling points were considered from different locations of the irrigation scheme. Soil samples were collected using soil auger at the depths (0-20 cm, 20 - 40cm and 40 – 60cm) of the crops planted on the field making a total of 60 samples. A random sampling method was used and the soil samples were taken to the laboratory for physical analysis. Physical analysis results showed that the soil of the study area was sandy loam; the available soil moisture contents obtained for East, West, South and Northern side of the study area were 1.08%, 1.05%, 1.12% and 1.09%, respectively. The values of infiltration capacities (K) obtained were generally high and varied from 0.00956cm/s to 0.0104cm/s. Therefore, there is need for proper monitoring of the soil condition of the irrigation scheme in order to prevent further deterioration since reduction in crop yields have been observed from 2011 to 2013 growing period.

INFLUENCE OF MINING ACTIVITIES ON PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF WATER AT IFEWARA GOLD MINE SITE DURING DRY SEASON, OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

2026-03-02T02:13:37+00:00

Mining has recently become an important economic activity in south-western Nigeria, but existing studies have largely overlooked its potential to contaminate water in neighboring communities. This study focuses on the effects of physicochemical properties of water in the Ifewara gold mining area. A total of ten water samples were randomly collected from surface and groundwater sources available to the local communities. The surface and groundwater samples collected were analyzed for physicochemical properties and heavy metal concentrations using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). Associated parameters related to both surface and ground waters were also examined. Surface water and groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for physicochemical parameters such as pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), temperature, calcium, potassium, phosphate, sodium and magnesium. Additionally, concentrations of heavy metals such as Fe, Co, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cr and Cd were analyzed following World Health Organization (WHO) standards. During the dry season sampling, the values of pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and total dissolved solids (TDS) ranged from 5.48 to 6.99, 81.3 to 361 μS/cm, and 54 to 180 ppm respectively. Heavy metal analysis (in mg/L) showed that concentrations of Fe, Co, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cr, and Cd in both surface and groundwater ranged from 0.240 to 9.468, 0.001 to 0.090, 0.345 to 3.172, 0.001 to 0.068, 0.001 to 0.001, 0.025 to 0.105, and 0.001 to 0.030 mg/L, respectively. The contamination level index for both physicochemical properties and heavy metal concentrations could not be determined, as samples were collected only during the dry season. Additionally, the possibility of these properties being leached due to mining activities and waste generation from the mine may have influenced the results.