http://repository.unizik.edu.ng/handle/123456789/173 Scholarly Works Mon, 06 Apr 2026 21:07:24 GMT 2026-04-06T21:07:24Z http://repository.unizik.edu.ng/handle/123456789/226 Title: EFFECT OF THREE DIFFERENT ORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON THE GROWTH OF FINGERLINGS OF Heterobranchus longifilis (VALENCIENNES, 1840). Authors: DIMAKA, ALBERT C. Abstract: The effect of poultry droppings, cattle dung, and pig excreta, as organic fertilizers on the growth of fingerlings of Heterbranchus longifilis was investigated using the concrete fish ponds in the premises of Department of Zoology’s Garden, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka. A pond without any manure was set up as the control and the investigation lasted for eight months. An application rate of 0.8kg/m2 for dry weights of the organic fertilizers was used. Each of the ponds which measured 3.08 m x 2.27 m x 0.9 m was stocked at a density of 7 fingerlings per m3. The average weight of the fingerlings was 3 g with total length of 5.6 cm. Results showed that there were variations in the percentage content of some important chemical elements and minerals like phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium and nitrogen in these organic fertilizers/manures. These variations reflected on the physico-chemical parameters of ponds’ water particularly pH, temperature, transparency, and dissolved oxygen but all were within the normal range for aquaculture in the tropics. The variations also reflected in the distribution of various plankton which was investigated with the aid of plankton net and microscope and seventeen different plankton identified. Pond II which was treated with cattle dung contained the highest density of most of these plankton. Growth measurements of the fingerlings showed that pond II supported the highest biomass of fish at the end of the investigation, and control pond, although contained no organic manure supported the third high biomass of fish. Statistical analysis of the growth measurements confirmed that the effect of pond treatment with cattle manure was significantly different (P<0.05) from the other treatments. This indicates that the chemical and mineral contents of the cattle dung might have favoured the optimum generation of plankton as energy base more than in other ponds, and this in turn reflected in the support of the highest biomass of fish by pond II. Description: A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.Sc.) IN APPLIED FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://repository.unizik.edu.ng/handle/123456789/226 2010-09-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.unizik.edu.ng/handle/123456789/221 Title: A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE BIOADSORPTION OF CADMIUM AND LEAD FROM INDUSTRIAL WASTE WATER USING ACTIVATED MELON (Citrullus colocynthis) HUSK Authors: NWANKWO, OGONNA DANIEL Abstract: Melon (Citrullus colocynthis) husk (Lloyd,1898), a readily available agricultural waste product was used as a low-cost potential adsorbent to remove cadmium and Lead from industrial effluents. Adsorption studies were carried out on three different activated melon husks as a function of parameters such as contact time, adsorbent dosage and adsorbate concentration. Cadmium removal was found to be dependent on the three parameters with maximum removal attained at 50 min with 0.8 and 1.0g for urea and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) activated melon husks and at 70min with 0.6g for sulphuric acid (H2SO4) activated melon husk. Both metals were mostly removed at low adsorbate concentration. Lead removal did not show strict dependency on these parameters with maximum removal attained within the first minute for both NaOH and H2SO4 activated melon husks with records of 100% adsorption. Maximum removal was attained at 20min by urea activated melon husk with 97.6% adsorption. The pairwise t- test showed that lead is better adsorbed than cadmium. The t-test also indicated that H2SO4 activated melon husk was the most efficient absorbent followed by NaOH and then urea activated melon husk. Activated melon husk, a readily available adsorbent was found to be efficient in the uptake of Cd (II) and Pb (IV) ions in industrial effluents, thus, predisposing it as an excellent alternative for the removal of heavy metals from water and waste water. Description: A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY AWKA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF A MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE (M.SC) IN ZOOLOGY(ECOLOGY OPTION) Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://repository.unizik.edu.ng/handle/123456789/221 2010-11-01T00:00:00Z