ABSTRACT Agricultural practices affect the production and emission of Carbon dioxide (CO2) from paddy soils. Evidence now exists on increased CO2 concentration in the atmosphere as a result of decomposition of organic matter which impacts on climate change and global warming. The release of CO2 from soil (soil CO2 efflux or soil respiration) is the largest source of carbon to the atmosphere. In Ghana, the major challenge is lack of data on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission to form the basis of sc...
ABSTRACT V Field trials were sited on soils belonging to the Ultisols family at three sites (Pokuase Agric. Research Station, Parrico and Silwood farms) within the southern forest-savanna ecotone to determine the influence of different N/K20 fertilizer ratios on the yield and quality of pineapple. A split-plot design was used with two (2) P levels on main plots and six (6) N/K20 fertilizer ratios on sub-plots was used. Soil samples were taken from the three (3) sites. Leaf samples of the pine...
ABSTRACT The objective o f the study was to obtain information on the existence o f Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains in Ghanaian soils, evaluate their effectiveness with the view to improving nodulation, nitrogen fixation and yield potential o f soybean. Eight soil series were screened for nodulation capabilities of soybean using six cultivars (four promiscuous and two non-promiscuous). The soils were Adenta, Akuse, Anyinase and Bekwai; the rest were Hatso, Nyigbenya, Nzima and Toje. Four cul...
ABSTRACT In Togo, rice (Oryza sativa L.) is mainly cultivated on highly weathered acid soils where plant-available phosphorus is generally deficient due to the inherent low P availability of acid soils. Suboptimal and unbalanced P fertilizer rates used by rainfed rice farmers in Togo is often the main cause for low yields. The blanket P fertilizer recommendation applied to the rainfed lowland rice acid soils is outdated and thus, does not take into account the current fertility status of the ...
ABSTRACT A Ferric Acrisol (Toje series) under three land use systems namely, natural fallow (forest), a Leucaena leucocephala woodlot and a cultivated plot were studied. Soils from profiles and surface horizons were evaluated to determine the effect of management systems on variability in soil properties and soil quality. A combination of field study and laboratory analyses was carried out. In all, 15 profile samples and 75 grid samples taken from a 12 m x 12 m area at intervals of 3 m each b...
ABSTRACT Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L) Schott) is an important staple food crop grown throughout many part of the world for it fleshy corms and nutritious leaves. Suckers are the main planting materials used in West Africa; therefore, it is traditionally conserved in field collections. This is not an effective conservation strategy for medium to long term preservation of taro genetic resources due to extreme climatic conditions, pests and diseases. Tissue culture is one of the invitro te...
ABSTRACT Continuous irrigation has been observed to degrade soil quality, through leaching of soluble and colloidal materials, development of saline conditions and breakdown of soil structure. Evaluating the quality of soils give information on the current soil condition as has resulted from previous soil management practices such as continuous application of fertilizer, and direct future management practices to sustain the soil ecology. Soil physical parameters (aggregate stability); Chemica...
ABSTRACT Maize streak disease (MSD), one of the most destructive maize diseases causes an estimated yield loss of about 20 % in Ghana. A baseline survey was conducted from July to August, 2015 across three agro-ecological zones within the Volta Region to assess the level of MSD incidence and severity in the zones. In addition, field experiments were conducted at Nkwanta during the cropping seasons of 2015 to assess the effects of tillage practices, maize variety and fertilizer application on ...
ABSTRACT Indigenous and traditional crops are very essential in the survival strategies of local farmers, since they have multiple uses such as a variety of plant parts that can be consumed as well as for medicinal purposes. Traditional crops play an important role in achieving food security as well as conserving biodiversity. Some of these indigenous crops (e.g. legumes) have the capacity to establish and grow relatively well on poor fertility soils where crops such as maize (a major staple...
ABSTRACT Pedogenic changes and P saturations in five ferruginous soils (Lixisols or Alfisols) and their associated nodules on two different landscape positions in northern Ghana were investigated. Tingoli, Tolon and Kumayili series are well drained upland soils which occur on one landscape (toposequence 1). Kpelesawgu series which is imperfectly drained and Changnalili series which is poorly drained occur on a relatively lower landscape (toposequence 2). Chemical, physical and mineralogi...
ABSTRACT Potassium (K) plays an outstanding role in plants and animals. Cassava, a widely grown staple in Ghana is noted for extracting large amounts of K from the soil. Cassava’s ability to absorb K from the soil is worth studying as it is vital for sustainable production and biofortification. The study was conducted to assess cassava’s ability to absorb K under fertilized and unfertilized systems. Two cassava genotypes, Cape Vars and Botan were grown under different fertilizer treatment...
ABSTRACT Exponential growth in human population has led to the exploitation of natural resources e.g. organic matter reserves for crop production. Various interventions such as manuring, fertilization, green manuring etc. have been proposed to enhance continuous crop production. However, the sustainability of these methods are unknown. Soil productivity depends largely on organic carbon stocks (SOC). The labile organic matter fraction or pool is associated with nutrient dynamics and responds ...
ABSTRACT The need to improve soil fertility and enhance crop production has led to a renewed interest in the use of cocoa pod husk (CPH) in form of biochar, an organic fertilizer, relative to, mineral fertilizer as soil amendment. The deleterious effect of inorganic fertilizer, on the environment, has been enumerated and the global effect of CPH. Field experiment on okra (Abelmoschus esculentus ) fertilized with Biochar. deried from cocoa pod husks (CPH), was conducted at the Cocoa Research I...
AbstractSeveral irrigation systems or methods have been use by many people to efficiently provide water for crop productivity. Drip irrigation system has been a best method so far, supplying water to plant, maximizing water usage, it tends to be cost effective and reduces stress. The field experiment was conducted between January 2017 and March 2017 at the Teaching and Research Farm, Federal University Oye-Ekiti (lkole Campus). The experiment design used entail; two factorial laid in a random...
ABSTRACT A study was conducted to investigate changes that may occur in the soil due to conversion of forest land to plantation, fallow and arable lands. Four locations in two-agro-ecological zones at Ikole Local Government Area, Ekiti State, were used for this study. They are; Itapaji (L 1), Asin (L2); in rainforest agro-ecological zone and Odo-Ogo (L3), Odo-Ayedun (L4) in derived savannah. Soil parameters evaluated include particle size distribution, bulk density, saturated moisture conte...