GPH-International Journal of Agriculture and Research

Examining the Applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Agricultural Pedagogical Process and Farming in Nigeria

2026-03-14T11:11:06+00:00

This study examines the application of artificial intelligence in agricultural pedagogical process and farming in Nigeria. The study was guided by one objective. Reviews were undertaken in line with the objective of the study. The study was a descriptive survey. The target population was agricultural education teachers and students from across the state. A random sampling technique was used to select 202 respondents made up of students and teachers. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire. The data generated were analyzed using Mean and Standard Deviation. The study concludes that the application of AI in teaching and learning agriculture will not only equip learners with modern skills for farming but also create motivation for farming among upcoming generation. The study recommended that training and re-training among teachers and students of agricultural science be conducted on use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for teaching and learning in schools.

Laying Performance of Heritage Chicken (Gallus domesticus) Fed with Madre De Agua Leaf Meal (Trichanthera gigantea) as a Plant Protein Ingredient

2026-03-20T11:38:23+00:00

This study examined the nutritional potential of Madre de Agua leaf meal (MDALM) as a plant-based protein source for heritage layer hens (Gallus domesticus). The experiment lasted 60 days and used a completely randomized design (CRD). Nine-month-old heritage hens were randomly assigned to three treatment groups, with four replicates in each group. The experimental diets were formulated as follows: T1 (control, 0% MDALM), T2 (10% MDALM), and T3 (15% MDALM). The parameters assessed included laying percentage, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed cost per egg produced, income over feed cost (IOFC), egg weight, eggshell weight, eggshell thickness, and egg yolk color intensity. The results revealed that the inclusion of MDALM, up to 15%, did not significantly influence (P>0.05) laying percentage, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, egg weight, eggshell weight, or eggshell thickness; all production metrics remained comparable to those of the control group. Furthermore, feed consumption was consistent across the treatments (112.71 to 114.33 g/bird/day), indicating the satisfactory palatability of the MDALM-supplemented diets. The egg yolk coloration intensity also exhibited a significant increase (P<0.01) which corresponded with the quantity of MDALM added. The control group had the least mean value of 5.7 on the DSM yolk color fan while T2 and T3 groups had significantly higher values of 6.95 and 7.85, which corresponded to improvements of 21.9% and 37.7%, respectively. Although economic data showed numerical trends toward higher feed costs per egg and a decrease in IOFC with greater MDALM inclusion, these differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Thus, the results recommend that Madre de Agua leaf meal (MDALM) can be included in layer diets, up to 15%, without negatively affecting production or the quality of the eggs. The observed enhancement in egg yolk color intensity indicates that MDALM functions effectively as both a viable alternative protein source and a beneficial natural pigment. Therefore, a 10% MDALM inclusion level is recommended for practical application, given its considerable impact on yolk color enhancement and its minimal negative influence on economic outcomes. This study's findings endorse the utilization of locally available MDALM as a sustainable feed ingredient for small-scale poultry operations, potentially reducing dependence on expensive conventional protein sources while simultaneously improving egg quality attributes.

INFLUENCE OF ENRICHED CORN COB BIOCHAR ON SOIL PROPERTIES, GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND YIELD OF PEANUT (Arachis hypogaea L.)

2026-03-23T12:15:02+00:00

In the search for alternative and sustainable inputs for agricultural production, biochar has been shown to improve soil quality and eventually lead to improved crop productivity. Enriching biochar with chemical fertilizers is an innovative way further to explore its benefits on the soil- plant-environment system. A pot experiment was conducted to study the influence of enriched biochar, with and without the combination of other soil amendments, on the growth and yield of peanut and changes on the chemical properties of soil. The high absorptive capacity and slow nutrient release property of enriched biochar demonstrated an increase in peanut yield and enhanced soil chemical properties. A higher bacterial count was recorded in the 2.5 tons/ha FECCBC + microbial inoculant compared to the other treatments. Several growth traits (marketable pod weight, plant fresh weight and root fresh and dry matter weight) were higher in 5 tons/ha FECCBC compared to other treatments. Such results were associated with its higher nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium concentrations in the plant and root. On the other hand, the treatment applied with 5 tons/ha corn cob biochar showed significantly higher nodule formation than other treatments. The 5 tons/ha FECCBC (Treatment 3) and 2.5 tons/ha FECCBC plus microbial inoculant application (Treatment 7) are recommended in sandy loam soil for they both improved the soil chemical, microbial properties, growth and yield of peanut.

Comparative Assessment of Google Meet and Zoom as Real-Time ICT Advisory Tools for Poultry Farmers in Byazhin, Kubwa, Bwari Area Council, FCT Abuja, Nigeria

2026-03-28T15:34:34+00:00

The emergence of real-time video conferencing platforms as instruments of agricultural advisory delivery represents a significant development in the modernisation of extension service systems across sub-Saharan Africa and Nigeria specifically. This literature review-based study undertakes a comparative assessment of Google Meet and Zoom as real-time Information and Communication Technology (ICT) advisory tools for poultry farmers in Byazhin, Kubwa, Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Nigeria. Drawing upon a systematic review of thirty peer-reviewed studies and institutional reports published between 2010 and 2025, the study evaluates both platforms across five principal dimensions: accessibility, data efficiency, functionality, reliability, and user satisfaction. Findings reveal that Google Meet demonstrates superior contextual appropriateness for routine poultry advisory delivery in Byazhin owing to its browser-based accessibility, lower data consumption, stronger performance under variable network conditions, and higher baseline farmer satisfaction among ICT-novice users. Zoom, by contrast, offers a richer interactive feature set suited to technically complex advisory sessions requiring annotation, screen-sharing, and breakout room capabilities. The study concludes that an optimal advisory delivery strategy for poultry farming communities in Byazhin is complementary rather than exclusionary, anchoring routine advisory interactions on Google Meet while deploying Zoom strategically for specialised training events. Critically, platform choice alone is insufficient; institutional coherence, digital literacy training, gender-responsive access strategies, and reliable connectivity infrastructure are identified as indispensable enabling conditions for ICT-based advisory effectiveness.