Comparative studies on the nutrients and mineral elements content of the two grass species was conducted at Gangam Rangeland, Shagari L.G.A., Sokoto state. Sokoto lies on latitude 12.00 0 and 13.60 0 N and longitude 4.80 0 and 6.50 0 E and altitude 350m above sea level. The result show that P. pedicellatum had high crude protein (Cp) ad crude fibre (Cf) content than A. gayanus. The high Cp content was attributed to its leafy nature (having abundant leaves) as Cp is more concentrated in leaves, whereas the high Cf content was possibly due to its stemmy nature particularly at the end of the growing period. However, in terms of Ether extract (Ee) and Ash content, A. gayanus had more. The high Ash content was probably as a result of high mineral elements content of the grass species. On the other hand, A. gayanus had high Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn) content, while P. pedicellatum has high Calcium (Ca) and Sodium (Na) content. The high mineral elements content of A. gayanus made the grass more useful for grazing and feeding of livestock. The high Ca content of P. pedicellatum may account for its high Cf content as Ca forms structural components of cell walls and membranes.

Photoperiod controls the initiation and development of roots on cuttings of Bryophyllum tubiflorum. Root initiation occurred when either the mother plant or the cuttings were exposed subsequently to SD conditions. Cuttings from LD plants exposed to LD did not root at all even after 4 weeks showing that short days are necessary for rooting of cuttings of this plant. The short day requirement can be substituted by IAA or IBA as roots were initiated in cuttings from LD plants when treated with the auxins under LD conditions. GA stimulates rooting of cuttings under SD conditions but does not replace the SD requirement. It failed to induce rooting under LD conditions.

No abstract