Asian Journal of Biotechnology and Bioresource Technology

Cotton Water Use Efficiency under Climate Change in Côte D'ivoire

Brahima TRAORE — 2025-09-13

The objective of the study was to identify water use efficiency (WUE) on cotton subjected to complementary irrigation in northern Côte d'Ivoire. Therefore, a weighted rain water loss coefficient, due to run off and deep percolation, was used. A four treatments trial has been set up. These were T0 (Untreated controls), T1 (Reference control), T2 (Innovation, supplemental irrigation and agro-pharmaceuticals), T3 (Irrigation without agro-pharmaceuticals). Thus, at cotton bolls weight level, WUE, analysis showed high significant difference between treatments (p<0.01). The results were respectively 0.361±0.012; 0.227±0.012; 0.031±0.012 and 0.025±0.012 kg/m3 for T2, T1, T3 and T0. Innovation WUE was like reference control one but 14.4 times higher than untreated control value. Similarly, balls’ average weight comparison showed a high significant difference between treatments. Results were 5.4±0.0614; 4.0±0.0614; 2.9±0.0614 and 2.6±0.0614 g/boll, respectively for T0, T1, T3 and T0. Innovation was 35% higher than reference control (p<0.01), while strait irrigated plots averaged 11.5% higher than untreated control (p<0.01). Thus, it appeared that water supplementation has improved bolls average weight.

Groundwater Quality Assessment in Remediated Oil Spill Sites: Physicochemical and Microbial Characteristics in Obite/Egba, Rivers State, Nigeria

Nwoko-Omere Chiyanigam Kindness — 2025-09-18

Introduction: In many tropical nations, particularly in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, groundwater pollution is a significant problem. However, governments at all levels are doing little to nothing to provide residents with clean, readily available water. However, more than 2 billion people reside in water-stressed nations, a situation that is anticipated to worsen in some areas as crude oil activities persist in communities.

Aim: The present study aimed to determine the groundwater Quality Assessment in Remediated Oil Spill Sites in Obite/Egba, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Methodology: This study adopted an analytical cross-sectional study design. This study was carried out in Obite in Ogba/Egbema, Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. Rivers State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. The data from the laboratory were entered into SPSS version 25 for data analysis. Inferential statistics, an independent t-test was performed. The p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered a statistically significant result.

Results: The results from this study show that the pH of the tap water was within the WHO-recommended limit with a value of (6.1 vs 7.0-8.9). The value of the temperature (^OC) of the tap water was within the WHO recommended limit, with a value of (27.0 vs 25–50). The result also showed faecal coliform in the tap water within the WHO acceptable limit (0 vs 0). The findings suggest that residents may face health concerns associated with elevated phosphate levels. Overall, the water quality in these crude oil remediated sites appears to meet several international standards.

Conclusion: The water's pH, temperature, alkalinity, conductivity, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), and total hardness all met WHO recommendations. Faecal coliform levels were within WHO limits, but total coliform exceeded the limits in one sample. E. coli was absent from the tap water samples. There should be involvement of the local community members in decision-making processes and management of drinking water sources to ensure sustainability and promote a sense of ownership.

Environmental Impacts of Slaughterhouse Waste Management in Daloa and Man, Côte d’Ivoire

Franck Michaël ZAHUI — 2025-09-26

Aims: This study examines waste production and management in slaughterhouses in the Côte d'Ivoirean cities of Daloa and Man, as well as its impact on the surrounding waterways in Man.

Study Design: The study is experimental in nature and employed a Research and Development (R&D) research design.

Place and Duration of Study: Daloa and Man, cities located in the central-western and western regions of Côte d'Ivoire, respectively, Central laboratory of the University of Man, between September and December 2024.

Methodology: Data were collected by surveying slaughterhouse managers in both cities of Daloa and Man and analyzing the physical and chemical characteristics of water samples taken from the Koh River near the Man slaughterhouse using a multi-parameter meter and ISO methods.

Results: The animals slaughtered are sheep, cattle and goats, with cattle predominating. Nevertheless, between 2020 and 2023, the Daloa slaughterhouse recorded the highest number of animals slaughtered each year: 3,440–9,884 sheep, 9,253–10,374 cattle, and 2,912–4,810 goats. The waste produced at these two slaughterhouses consists of blood, horns, hooves, bones, dung (the contents of the animals' rumen) and wastewater from cleaning. These liquids are mixed during the slaughtering process and then discharged. In Man, this mixture is discharged into the Koh River. In Daloa, however, liquid waste is discharged into the natural environment behind the slaughterhouse. Solid waste, such as dung, is usually mixed with wastewater for disposal at both sites. Other solid waste, such as horns, hooves and bones, is left on site and exposed to scavenging animals, including rats, cats and stray dogs. The discharge point for effluent from the Man slaughterhouse into the Koh River is significantly more contaminated with nutrients and organic matter than the sections upstream and downstream, with average chemical oxygen demand and biochemical oxygen demand concentrations of 3,137.5 mg/L and 1,873.7 mg/L respectively. Average concentrations are 40.1 mg/L for total phosphorus, 30.6 mg/L for orthophosphate, 497.9 mg/L for total nitrogen, 81.9 mg/L for nitrate and 341.6 mg/L for ammonium.

Conclusion: The current method of managing slaughterhouse waste in these two cities is seriously damaging their appearance and degrading the water quality of the Koh River in Man. This is also affecting their image as tourist destinations.

Development of Dried Pasta Fortified with Pink Perch Nemipterus japonicus Meat Powder

Samruddhi Dorlekar — 2025-10-07

Aims: The study aimed to develop dried pasta fortified with pink perch meat powder (5–12.5%) to enhance nutritional quality. Pasta samples with control were packed in HDPE and M-PET-PE and stored at ambient temperature for 120 days.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Fish Processing Technology and Microbiology College of Fisheries, Ratnagiri between February -June 2025.

Methodology: A Kent pasta maker was used to manufacture fresh macaroni-shaped pasta using fish flesh powder (0–12.5%) and semolina. Before extrusion, ingredients were combined with warm water (38 ml/100 g at 45 °C) and blended for 15 to 20 minutes. After five hours of drying at 50 ± 5°C in a cabinet dryer, the pasta was cooled and packed in HDPE and M-PET-PE. For examination, five formulations (100:0, 95:5, 92.5:7.5, 90:10, and 87.5:12.5) were kept at room temperature.

Results: The nutritional evaluation observed a significant improvement in Protein, fat, and ash (14.30–20.50%, 2.21–3.00%, 1.53–3.1%) with reduced carbohydrate and moisture. PV, FFA, TMA-N, TVBN, and microbial counts rose during storage, with T3 (10% fish powder in M-PET-PE) showing better stability. T3 had firmness 25.65 N, swelling index 2.4 g/g, water absorption 126.46 g/100 g, cooking time 9.28 min, and cooking loss 7.02 g/100 g. Sensory evaluation rated T3 highest.

Conclusion: The study concluded that pasta fortified with 10% pink perch powder and packed in M-PET-PE exhibited improved nutritional quality and storage stability upto 120 days at ambient temperature, highlighting its potential in developing protein-enriched functional pasta products.

Effect of Transplanting Density and Organo-mineral Fertilization on Growth and Yield of Corchorus olitorius in Côte d'Ivoire

Jean-Mathias Konan KOFFI — 2025-10-16

Aims: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of fertilizer doses and transplanting densities on the agromorphological performance of Corchorus olitorius, a widely consumed leaf vegetable species in West Africa.

Study Design: An experimental design in randomized complete blocks was set up, combining three levels of transplanting density and three fertilization doses, in order to analyze their cross-effects on growth and leaf yield. The main factor was the transplanting density, while the secondary factor was the fertilizer rates.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in southern Côte d'Ivoire, during the wet season from August to September, under agroecological conditions typical of the humid forest zone.

Methodology: Parameters measured include plant height, vegetative vigour, leaf number and weight, and flowering dates. The data were analysed using statistical tools to determine the significant effects of the treatments.

Résults : The study found that fertilizer doses, whether organic or mineral, did not significantly influence vegetative growth, plant size (42.4 cm) or flowering time (68 days after sowing). In contrast, transplanting density had a marked effect on vegetative development, plant height (46.4 cm) and leaf yield, reaching 10.8 t/ha at 400,000 vines/ha. The interaction between fertilization and density influenced stem diameter (2.5 cm) and seed yield (up to 448 kg/ha). Organo-mineral fertilization also favored branching, with a maximum of 18 branches per plant. Thus, the combination of a density of 400,000 vines/ha and an organo-mineral input constitutes the most effective strategy to maximize the growth, branching and foliar and seed productivity of Corchorus olitorius.

Conclusion: These results open up promising prospects for the sustainable intensification of market gardening systems in West Africa, by reconciling improved yields and respect for agroecological balances. They highlight optimized cultural practices, such as high density and organo-mineral fertilization, capable of enhancing productivity while preserving soil quality and crop resilience to climatic constraints.