ABSTRACT Generally, soils in coastal savanna in Ghana are low in phosphorus (P) which affects crop growth and yield. Most phosphate rock deposits in West Africa are not reactive and therefore their direct applications do not promote readily P availability to crops. Co-composting organic waste and phosphate rock and using phosphorus solubilizing micro-organisms (PSMs) are some of the options currently attracting the attention of scientists. A study was conducted to (1) evaluate the effectivene...
ABSTRACT This study reports investigation of the biodiversity of bradyrhizobia isolates that nodulate cowpea in Ghanaian soils. As a prelude, some components of nitrogen fixation of cowpea in the various soils were examined through: (1) assessment of the natural nodulation of 45 cowpea cultivars in 20 soils sampled from 5 ecozones (coastal savanna, tain forest, semi deciduous forest, forest savanna transition and guinea savanna), (2) determination of the numbers of bradyrhizobial isolates in ...
ABSTRACT Biochar prepared from cocoa pod, sawdust, rice straw and husk wastes may provide new low cost technology for environmental management with emphasis on P removal from waste water to minimize eutrophication and to enhance P availability in tropical soils. To achieve this, the sorption characteristics of the biochar types would have to be understood. In this study, laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the P adsorptive characteristics on four biochar types derived...
ABSTRACT Soils of the semi-deciduous forest zone of Ghana are known to be moderately acid and very low in plant available phosphorus (P). These soils need to be fertilised to improve their potential for crop production. However high cost of commercial, water soluble fertilizers makes them beyond the reach of local farmers. Instead of expensive superphosphates, the use of less expensive phosphate rocks such as Togo rock phosphate (TRP), Gafsa rock phosphate (GRP) and 50% partially acidulated r...
ABSTRACT Biochar-based soil management strategies in Ghana are new and are now being evaluated in the context of the country’s agricultural system. Biochar produced from organic materials such as saw dust, rice husk and saw dust are being used in Ghana. These different feedstocks may have different physico-chemical properties which will influence the quality of the biochar produced when the feedstocks are carbonized and in turn govern their suitability for use in agriculture. A detailed ch...
ABSTRACT This study evaluated pedological differences in three soil profiles of the Amo series following cessation of seasonal flooding due to the construction of the Volta Dam. Three Pedons were used in this study. Pedon 1 is a modal profile; Pedon 2 is sited about 500m downslope from an oyster shell deposit site while Pedon 3 is on the oyster shell site. Soil properties determined include particle size distribution, hydraulic conductivity, pH, organic carbon, available and total phosphorus...
ABSTRACT The association between leguminous plants and rhizobia helps to meet the limiting nitrogen in the soil by producing about 40 to 60 million metric tons (Mt) per hectare per year of nitrogen. However, the focus of legume-Rhizobium symbiosis has been on biomass productivity, nodulation and nitrogen fixation of the major and domesticated food legumes whereas little research has been conducted on the indigenous legumes which hold promise in retaining agricultural diversity and achieving f...
Abstract Carbon is a major constituent of all living things and the cycling o f carbon between the atmosphere and the biosphere is one of the bases for life on earth. However, as a result of m an’s exploitative activities such as deforestation, automobile emission and power generation to increase productivity to m eet energy demands, the quality of the natural environment has and continues to deteriorate in many parts o f the world at a time when the human population is growing at an accele...
Nitrogen (N) is known to be a major limiting crop nutrient which is required in large amounts as compared with other major nutrients. In rice (Oryza sativa L.) cropping, urea is the main source of N which is applied to the crop because of its relatively low cost and its high N concentration (46%). However, low N use efficiency is always associated with urea application under paddy fields because of its high N loss, mostly through ammonia (NH3) volatilization. The split application of pri...
ABSTRACT Phosphorus deficiency is widespread in most soils of northern Ghana. Presence of lateritic concretions in some of the soils constitute an additional limitation to crop production in the region because the concretions act as an effective sink for added P. To assess the role of the concretions on phosphorus availability in a typical concretionary soil of northern Ghana, a soil originally containing 70% concretions was fractionated into soil fines and concretions and the soil reconstitu...
ABSTRACT THE EFFECTS OF SOILS AND TIME ON THE ACCURACY OF CROP IDENTIFICATION IN S.W. ONTARIO FROM 1974 SATELLITE IMAGERY Samuel Kojo Dapaah, M.Sc. Supervisor: University of Guelph, 1974 Dr. T.P. Phillips ERTS-1 imagery (June 2, June 20 and July 8, 1974), supplemented with airborne photography was used to identify com, winter wheat, soybeans, oats and fieldbeans in Southwestern Ontario. Sample areas were selected within Chatham - Harwich Townships, Kent County, Ontario according to land use ...
ABSTRACT This research was carried out to characterize, classify, and evaluate soils of four geomorphic units in Oguta Imo State Southeastern Nigeria. Four Pedons, each was located in each geomorphic unit. ] soil sampling was carried out in the study site, sixteen surface soil samples (0-20 cm) were collected, four from each of the geomorphic units using an auger giving a total of thirty three soil samples which was chosen to represent the main morphological variations and to present map...
ABSTRACT The study was carried out between October – November 2008 and aimed at applying Geographical Information System (GIS) approach in characterizing, classifying and making suitability recommendations of soils in Ohia Nekechi within Amasiri area, Afikpo north, Ebonyi State. This study site was identified in a farmland consisting of a toposequence some meters away from Okposi road, Amasiri. A transect was cut across the toposequence revealing its North facing and the South facing s...
ABSTRACT Characterization, classification and evaluation of some Wetland soils of Oguta, Imo State Southeast Nigeria were executed. The aim was to have baseline information that will assist farmers and other land users in well informed decision making. Four profile pits was dug on the study area Osse moto Oguta. Free sampling technique was used. With the aid of Global Positioning System (GPS) and soil sampling tools. Soil samples were collected based on the FAO guidelines for profile...
ABSTRACT The soils of Owerri area, Southeastern Nigeria were studied with a view to characterizing and classifying them. Four locations namely Umuhu (control), Amakohia (summit), Akpodim (midslope) and Ife (footslope) were selected in the study area, to assess the impact of topography on soil properties. Three profile pits were dug in each site. 65 soil samples were collected and examined with regards to their morphological, physical and chemical properties. Test for variance was carri...