The study was carried out to identify content areas of climate change for integration into the senior secondary school agricultural science curriculum in countries such as Nigeria. Two research questions were developed and answered by the study while two null hypotheses were formulated and tested. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population for the study was 441 while the sample was 249. A 34-item structured questionnaire was developed for data collection. The questionnaire items were face-validated by five experts while Cronbach alpha method was used to determine the internal consistency of the items. The copies of the questionnaire were administered to the respondents with the help of two research assistants. Weighted mean was used to answer the research questions while t-test statistic was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance and 240 degrees of freedom. The findings of the study revealed that four clusters with 23 items were required for integration in the curriculum while 11 materials were identified to help teach the content areas. It was also found that there was no significant (p > 0.05) difference in the mean responses of Lecturers and extension agents on each item in the content areas of climate change and materials for teaching them. The study recommended among others that the clusters and 23 items with the materials identified by the study should be integrated into the agricultural science curriculum for teaching in secondary schools, especially in Nigeria.

Occupational Stress and Burnout has become a serious challenge to Lecturers in recent time due to increased job and family role conflicts and student's population explosion resulting in more workload on the side of the lecturers. This study aimed to investigate occupational stress and burnout prevalence among agricultural education lecturers in Nigerian universities. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey research design and was conducted in Nigerian universities. A self- structured questionnaire was used as an instrument for data collection. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data collected. The results indicated the presence of occupational burnout in the studied sample. The study, therefore, recommended further investigations on the appropriate preventive measures and equally supports some research findings on the importance of developing interventions or therapies to reduce existing problems.

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of climate-smart integrated fertilizer management on proximate qualities and lycopene contents of three watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)varieties grown in sandy loam soil. The experiment was conducted at the experimental farm of the Department of Agricultural Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka between the months of Augustto October 2017cropping season. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design, with three replications, three main plots (Citrullus lanatus varieties (Sugar baby, Koalack and Charleston grey))and six sub-plots (fertilization treatments). Climate-smart integrated fertilizer considered was combination of Goat manure (GM) and Nitrogen Phosphorus PotassiumNPK15: 15: 15 fertilizer which is regarded as most nutrient-rich fertilizer with climate change mitigation and adaptation potential. The study found that the pH of the watermelon varieties were statistically similar and that Charleston grey treated with 50 kg ha-1NPK + 15 t ha-1GM had the highest interactive effect on pH value which was statistically similar with 100 kg ha-1NPK + 10 t ha-1GM treatment. It was discovered that Koalack variety had the highest moisture contents when treated with 100 kg ha-1NPK + 10 t ha-1GM, crude protein content when treated with 150 kg ha-1NPK + 5 t ha-1GM, crude fibre content when treated with 20 t ha-1GM, ether extract and total soluble solid contents when treated with 50 kg ha-1NPK + 15 t ha-1GM. For the lycopene content, it was found that Sugar baby variety had the highest mean value (0.61g/100g) when compared with Charleston grey and Koalack varieties. Sugar baby variety treated with 20t/ha-1GM had highest (0.89g/100g) interactive effect when compared with other varieties and fertilizer treatments. In conclusion, the proximate qualities and lycopene contents of the three varieties increased with the increase in the amount of GM contents of the fertilizer combinations in sandy loam soil. Climate-smart integrated fertilizer improves the proximate qualities of Koalack variety and the lycopene contents of Sugar baby variety more than in other varieties grown in the same sandy loam soil. Therefore, climate-smart integrated fertilizer is recommended for the production of the identified Citrullus lanatus varieties as a nutrition sensitive production strategy in sandy loam soils by farmers in study area.

This study determined the effects of dietary intake of Moringa Oleifera (M. oleifera) leaf meal on growth performance of pullets. Two hundred and forty Isa Brown day-old chicks were randomly allotted to 4 different treatment groups and each treatment had 3 replicates of 20 chicks each. At 4th week of age, birds in group 1 (T1)were fed with 16% crude protein (CP) grower diet (control feed; 0.0% M. oleifera) whereas birds in groups 2 (T2), 3 (T3) and 4 (T4) received the control feed supplemented with 2.5%; 5.0% and 7.5% M. oleifera leaf meal, respectively. Results indicate that although intake of M. oleifera leaf meal did not affect final body weight and weight gain of the pullets (P greater than 0.05), feed intake of the pullets declined significantly (P less than 0.05) as the amount of dietary M.oleifera intake was increased from 2.5% to 7.5%. Feed conversion ratio of T4 group was better (P less than 0.05) than those of control birds.

Background: Egusi melon production is declining, even though the crop plays a significant role in the well-being of farmers. Few farmers that grow the crop do not allow adequate spacing and seed rate which compels the crop to produce flourishing vegetative parts without producing many fruits. The study was therefore, aimed at determining the effect of planting distance and seed rate on the growth and yield of egusi melon. Methods: A split-plot design which was replicated thrice was adopted to carry out the study during 2018 and 2019 planting seasons. Twenty-four plots were made and were randomly assigned to eight treatment groups with each replicating thrice. The egusi melon seeds were sown in four different seed rates of one seed/hole, two seeds/hole, three seeds/hole and four seeds/hole and four different spacing of 30cm × 50cm, 45cm × 70cm, 60cm × 60cm and 60cm × 90cm respectively. Analysis of variance was used to analyze the data collected and was tested at 0.05 level of probability. Result: The number of leaves/plant, branches/plant, flowers/plant, fruits/plant and fruit weight (g) were significantly higher in egusi melon planted at 60cm × 90cm. Furthermore, the parameters measured were significantly higher in egusi melon planted at 1 seed/hole.

Cashew apple juice is a good source of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Cashew apples are being wasted due to lack of processing and are not much cherished because of its astringency. Some of the available clarifying agents are costly and are mainly imported. The study was, therefore, aimed at finding out the effect of M. oleifera seed powder on the clarity and phytochemical and nutritional contents of cashew apple juice. The study adopted an experimental design where 5 g, 10 g, 15 g, and 20 g of M. oleifera seed powder were used to clarify 250 cm3 of cashew apple juice. The setups were filtered using a filter paper after standing for an hour to get the clarified juice. The clarity of each filtrate was determined using an atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). Similarly, the tannin, lignin, pectin, protein, starch, calcium, zinc, copper, magnesium, and vitamin C were determined following the procedure of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). Results showed that cashew apple juice clarified with 10 g/250 cm3 gave the best clarity. The colloidal particle contents of cashew apple juice were significantly reduced by the use of M. oleifera seed powder. It was equally found out that the clarified cashew apple juice contained an appreciable amount of nutrients. The flavour, colour, and general acceptability of the clarified cashew apple juice were very much liked by the panellist while the aroma was moderately liked. The study recommended that M. oleifera seed powder should be used for clarifying cashew apple juice and be included at the rate of 10 g/250 cm3.

Home background and locality are two significant factors that affect the academic performance of students in agriculture. The home determines the comfort of the students for academic activities while locality provides a conducive environment for students to study. The study was aimed at determining the impact of home background and locality on the secondary school students’ academic performance in agriculture. Survey research design was adopted. The study population was 14,750 where 1,616 respondents were selected. The sample size was made up of 624 teachers of agriculture and 992 students of agriculture from 291 secondary schools in the 17 local government areas of Enugu state, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data collected were subjected to mean and t-test statistic to answer research questions and test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Results show that there was the statistically significant difference in the impact of home background on the students’ academic performance in agriculture. It provides the parents with insights on the needs to make the homes conducive for learning and provide the necessary environment that would promote their children’s academic performance in agriculture.

The study was on the management of poultry farms through the use of electronic facilities for enhanced food security in Enugu State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study sought to determine the utilization, benefits, and obstacles limiting the application of electronic facilities in the management of poultry farms. This study adopted a survey research design. The study was carried out in Enugu state, Nigeria. Population of the study was 466 representing 413 poultry farmers, and 53 extension agents in Enugu state. Data were collected using checklist and questionnaire developed by the researchers. The instruments were face validated by three experts. Cronbach alpha statistical method was used to determine the internal consistency of the questionnaire which yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.74. Administration and collection of the instruments were done by the researchers with the help of 15 research assistants. Out of the 466 instruments administered, 423 representing 370 poultry farmers and 53 extension agents were retrieved. This represents a return rate of 91%. Data collected were analyzed using frequency and percentage to determine the extent of utilization of electronic facilities in poultry farms. Similarly, mean was used to analyze the data collected on the benefits and obstacles limiting the use of electronic facilities in farms. The study found among others that majority of the poultry farmers do not utilize electronic facilities in the management of their poultry farms. It was equally found that automation of poultry farms increases production of meat and eggs, but was also faced by so many challenges.