Browsing by Author "Abaidoo R. C"
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- ItemAssessing the performance of the grain legume marketing system in northern Ghana(Academia, 2013) Aidoo R.; Mensah J.O; Opoku A; Abaidoo R. CThe main objective of this study was to examine costs, returns and efficiency levels associated with the activities of key players in the grain legume marketing chain in northern Ghana. A total of 140 market participants comprising 93 retailers, 39 wholesalers and eight (8) assemblers/aggregators were selected from major and satellite markets in the three Northern Regions of Ghana through a multi-stage sampling approach. Data for the study was obtained through personal interviews with the use of structured questionnaire. In addition to descriptive statistics, gross marketing margin, net margin and marketing efficiency analyses were performed using field data. The study identified a long chain of greater than four different channels/pathways through which grain legumes moved from farm gate to final consumers. Marketing of grain legumes in the study Districts was found to be profitable, as only 18% of gross marketing margin was spent as marketing costs, with the remaining amount retained as net marketing margin. The study further showed that net marketing margins were not equitably distributed among different trading partners along the marketing chain. Generally, net marketing margin for assemblers/aggregators was far higher than that received by wholesalers and retailers. Marketing activities by all traders in the grain legume value chain were performed efficiently, with efficiency ratios far in excess of 100%. Trading in groundnut was far more profitable than trading in cowpea and soyabean. The main constraints identified by grain legume traders were limited access to credit, high cost of transportation, poor road network and inadequate storage facilities
- ItemGenetic variation and genotype × environment interaction in yams (Dioscorea spp.) for root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhiza(Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment, 2008) Dare M. Olajire; Abaidoo R. C; Fagbola Olajire; Asiedu RobertRoot colonization by arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) enhances nutrient acquisition by plants and could benefit the production of yam (Dioscorea spp.). The variation in AM colonization in yam genotypes was evaluated in two experiments at four locations (Ibadan, Onne, Abuja and Ubiaja) in different agroecologies of Nigeria in 2004 and 2005. Twenty-seven genotypes of D. rotundata and 28 of D. alata were investigated in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonized all yam genotypes. Root length colonization ranged from 24 to 95% in D. rotundata and from 21 to 95% in D. alata. Colonization was observed to be high in locations with lower soil available P but was not precluded by relatively high soil acidity. Highly significant (P< 0.001) effects were observed in D. rotundata for genotype and location, as well as genotype × location, location × year and in D. alata for genotype, location and year. The location × genotype × year interaction was significant (P < 0.05) in both experiments. The broad sense heritability estimates for AM colonization were 0.60 in D. rotundata and 0.87 in D. alata. Further analysis of genotype × environment interactions using a GGE biplot for the two-year data showed that the most stable genotypes for AM colonization across locations were TDr 93-32 (D. rotundata) and TDa 98/01183 (D. alata). The highest percentage AM colonization mean were found in TDr 93-32 (D. rotundata) and TDa 01/00204 in (D. alata). Generally, the highest mean colonization values were obtained at Abuja and Ubiaja. The results of this study reveal that AM colonization in yam is host-dependent and influenced by the environment.
- ItemGenotypic variation for phosphorus uptake and dinitrogen fixation in cowpea on low-phosphorus soils of southern Cameroon(Wiley, 2006) Jemo Martin; Abaidoo R. C; Nolte Christian; Horst Walter J.In cowpea, efficient N2-fixing genotypes are being selected to promote sustainable cropping systems in southern Came roon (SC). However, N2 fixation and growth of these geno types are largely hampered by low levels of soil plant-avail able P. To evaluate the genotypic variation in N2 fixation and P uptake among cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) genotypes, field experiments were conducted over two years on two acid soils low in available P. The experiments were laid out in a split-block design with four replications on typic (TK) and rhodic (RK) Kandiudult soils with seven cowpea genotypes. Phosphorus (P) fertilizers were applied on the main plots with 0 kg P, 30 kg P ha–1 as triple superphosphate (TSP) and 90 kg P ha–1 as Togo phosphate rock (PR). Nodule dry matter(DM), shoot DM, grain yield, and P uptake of cowpea significantly varied with site, P application, and genotype (p < 0.05). The N2 fixation of the cowpea genotypes ranged from 29 to 51 kg N ha–1 on both TK and RK soils and was sig nificantly increased with P application. Significant genotypic variations in N2 fixation were observed with superior ability of the genotypes IT89KD-391 and IT90K-59 to fix N2. The harvest index (HI) did not significantly differ between soils and P application levels (p > 0.05). Four genotypes were selected to investigate root mechanisms responsible for effi cient P acquisition in pot experiments. The results suggest that a better root infection by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in genotype IT90K-59 and root morphological and phy siological characteristics in IT89KD-391 were the most impor tant factors for inc
- ItemIrrigated urban vegetable production in Ghana: microbiological contamination in farms and markets and associated consumer risk groups(IWA Publishing, 2007) Amoah P.; Drechsel P.; Abaidoo R. C; Henseler M.Ghana is a typical low-income sub-Saharan African country facing significant sanitation challenges. In Ghana, fresh salads are not part of the normal diet, but have become a common supplement to urban fast food served in streets, canteens and restaurants. In Accra, about 200 000 people consume from such supplements every day. The figure also describes the size of the risk group from contamination, which comprises all income classes including the poor and children. The purpose of this study was to investigate widespread water pollution in urban and peri-urban areas, where 95% of the lettuce consumed in the city is produced. Over 12 months (April 2004– June 2005), lettuce samples from the same production sites in two cities were followed and analyzed along the “farm to fork” pathway for total and faecal coliform (FC) and helminth egg numbers. Questionnaire surveys were conducted among producers, sellers and consumers to quantify lettuce flows to the final risk group. The study identified the farm as the main point of lettuce contamination. Besides the irrigation water, contamination was also attributed to manure application and already contaminated soil. Despite poor sanitary conditions in markets, post-harvest handling and marketing did not further increase the farm-gate contamination levels. To reduce the health risk associated with the consumption of contaminated lettuce; safer farming and irrigation practices are required while the remaining risk could best be addressed where lettuce is prepared for consumption.
- ItemLand Use and Land Cover Changes in the Owabi Reservoir Catchment, Ghana: Implications for Livelihoods and Management(MDPI, 2019) Antwi-Agyei Philip; Kpenekuu Felix; Hogarh ,Jonathan N.; Obiri-Danso Kwasi; Abaidoo R. C; Jeppesen Erik; Andersen Mathias NeumannReservoir catchments in Ghana have undergone significant changes in recent years with major implications for socio-economic development and local livelihoods. We studied land use and land cover changes and their impacts on livelihoods in the Owabi reservoir catchment from 1970 to 2014 using Landsat, ERDAS Imagine and Arc Geographic Information System (ArcGIS 10.2) software supplemented with participatory approaches including focus group discussions, key informant interviews and questionnaire surveys with 400 households. Our results showed that, since 1970, 24.6% of high-density forests and 15.8% of sparse forests have disappeared, while the built-up areahas increased from 9.8% to 56.6%. Additionally, the proportion of bare soil (areas that do not have vegetation cover due to forest clearing and other anthropogenic activities) has increased, while the areas of waterbodies have declined. We identified urbanisation and lack of community involvement in catchment management as the key factors driving the land cover changes that have adversely affected the livelihoods of the local fringe communities. This study highlights the threats from urbanisation to land cover changes and identifies the key drivers of land use change. For effective and sustainable management of natural resources, the local communities should be more actively involved in the decision-making process regarding the management of their individual catchments.
- ItemMaize-grain legume intercropping for enhanced resource use efficiency and crop productivity in the Guinea savanna of northern Ghana(Elsevier, 2017) Kermah Michael; Franke Angelinus C.; Adjei-Nsiah Samuel; Ahiabor Benjamin D.K; Abaidoo R. C; Giller Ken E.Smallholder farmers in the Guinea savanna practise cereal-legume intercropping to mitigate risks of crop failure in mono-cropping. The productivity of cereal-legume intercrops could be influenced by the spatial arrangement of the intercrops and the soil fertility status. Knowledge on the effect of soil fertility status on intercrop pro ductivity is generally lacking in the Guinea savanna despite the wide variability in soil fertility status in farmers’ fields, and the productivity of within-row spatial arrangement of intercrops relative to the distinct-row systems under on-farm conditions has not been studied in the region. We studied effects of maize-legume spatial in tercropping patterns and soil fertility status on resource use efficiency, crop productivity and economic profit ability under on-farm conditions in the Guinea savanna. Treatments consisted of maize-legume intercropped within-row, 1 row of maize alternated with one row of legume, 2 rows of maize alternated with 2 rows of legume, a sole maize crop and a sole legume crop. These were assessed in the southern Guinea savanna (SGS) and the northern Guinea savanna (NGS) of northern Ghana for two seasons using three fields differing in soil fertility in each agro ecological zone. Each treatment received 25 kg P and 30 kg K ha−1 at sowing, while maize received 25 kg (intercrop) or 50 kg (sole) N ha−1 at 3 and 6 weeks after sowing. The experiment was conducted in a randomised complete block design with each block of treatments replicated four times per fertility level at each site. Better soil conditions and rainfall in the SGS resulted in 48, 38 and 9% more maize, soybean and groundnut grain yield, respectively produced than in the NGS, while 11% more cowpea grain yield was produced in the NGS. Sole crops of maize and legumes produced significantly more grain yield per unit area than the respective intercrops of maize and legumes. Land equivalent ratios (LERs) of all intercrop patterns were greater than unity indicating more efficient and productive use of environmental resources by intercrops. Sole legumes intercepted more radiation than sole maize, while the interception by intercrops was in between that of sole legumes and sole maize. The intercrop however converted the intercepted radiation more efficiently into grain yield than the sole crops. Economic returns were greater for intercrops than for either sole crop. The within-row intercrop pattern was the most productive and lucrative system. Larger grain yields in the SGS and in fertile fields led to greater economic returns. However, intercropping systems in poorly fertile fields and in the NGS recorded greater LERs (1.16–1.81) compared with fertile fields (1.07–1.54) and with the SGS. This suggests that intercropping is more beneficial in less fertile fields and in more marginal environments such as the NGS. Cowpea and groundnut performed better than soybean when intercropped with maize, though the larger ab solute grain yields of soybean resulted in larger net benefits.
- ItemMINERAL NUTRIENT UPTAKE AND REMOVAL BY COWPEA, SOYBEAN AND MAIZE CULTIVARS IN WEST AFRICA, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR CARBON CYCLE EFFECTS ON SOIL ACIDIFICATION(Cambridge University Press, 2006) RANDALL P. J; Abaidoo R. C; HOCKING P. J.; SANGINGA N.A field study of cowpea, soybean and maize was made at Ibadan, Nigeria, to determine the uptake of mineral nutrients and quantities removed in crop residues and seed. Concentrations of N, the major cations (K, Ca, Mg and Na) and major anions (P, S and Cl), and the micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) were determined in shoots harvested at flowering and maturity. Concentrations of excess cations in shoots at flowering were 135 cmolc kg−1 for soybean, 158 cmolc kg−1 for cowpea and 58 cmolc kg−1 for maize. In crop residues and seed at maturity, the values decreased to 75 and 56 cmolc kg−1 respectively for soybean, 68 and 27 cmolc kg−1 respectively for cowpea, and 52 and 10 cmolc kg−1 respectively for maize. Nutrient and excess cation concentrations were also measured in 13 soybean and eight cowpea lines grown in replicated field trials at Fashola in the derived savanna zone and Shika in the northern Guinea savanna zone of Nigeria to assess the variation within these species. Maize, mucuna and lablab were included at these sites. The results are discussed in the context of soil nutrient depletion due to removal of nutrient elements in harvested seed and stover. The contribution of seed and stover removal to the proton (H+) budget and acidification of the soil is also discussed. It is estimated that the quantity of lime required to neutralize the acidity resulting from the removal of 1 t seed is 28 kg for soybean, 14 kg for cowpea and 5 kg for maize. The corresponding values for stover were soybean 35, cowpea 24 and maize 26 kg lime t−1 stover. Given the soil pH buffer capacity at the Ibadan site for the surface 16 cm, the yields obtained and assuming that seed and crop residues are removed, carbon cycle acidification would lead to a fall of 1 pH unit after 75 crops for soybean, 114 crops for cowpea and 68 crops for maize. The inclusion of legumes in cropping systems to increase N supply, and the use of P fertilizer to maximize N-fixation by legumes will raise production, but will inevitably accelerate removal of alkalinity and nutrients in harvested products, and the consequent decline in soil fertility. The data presented in this paper can be used in estimating the lime and fertilizer nutrients needed to maintain soil fertility and sustain yields
- ItemNutrient release dynamics from decomposing organic materials and their mulching-effect on pearl millet yields in a low-input Sahelian cropping system(Springer, 2018) Ibrahim Ali; Abaidoo R. C; Tawaye Iliasso Aboubacar Dan Kassoua; Tawaye Iliasso Aboubacar Dan Kassoua; Fatondji Dougbedji; 0000-0002-1235-2252Organic material inputs for increased crop yields are insufficient in the Sahelian West Africa. There is a need for diversifying organic amendment sources for improved nutrient supply in low-input cropping system. The 2-year study aimed to (1) explore the rates of mass losses and nutrient release dynamics from Acacia tumida prunings (AT) and millet straw (MS) under field conditions, (2) assess termite’s contribution to the decomposition of AT and MS, and (3) ascertain the mulching-effect of these organic materials on pearl millet yields. The study was conducted in Niger using field experiment and litterbag methodology and the data modelled using single exponential decay equations. Under field con ditions, mulching with AT and MS increased millet grain yield by 35 and 33%, respectively compared to control. The harvest index (HI) in 2014 increased by 21% compared to that obtained in 2013 with the highest HI being recorded for the AT mulched treatment. The results from litterbag experiment indicated a greater dry mass losses from MS decom position in 2013 whereas relatively higher mass losses were recorded from AT decomposition in 2014. The differences in mass losses among the organic materials could be related to the interaction of soil moisture dynamics and termites’ population which are posi tively correlated with mass losses. The contribution of termites to the decomposition was estimated to be 36% for MS and 8% for AT. In 2013, at 126 days after litterbags placement, the amounts of N, P, and K released from MS were 16, 1, and 25 kg ha-1 of initial nutrient applied, respectively compared with the 22, 1, and 23 kg ha-1 recorded from AT treatment. During the same period in 2014, the total amounts of N, P and K released from MS were 15, 0.6, and 29 kg ha-1 , respectively compared to the 32 kg ha-1 of N, 1 kg ha-1 of P, and 29 kg ha-1 of K released from the AT treatment. The intrinsic organic material quality could explain markedly the variation in nutrient released among the organic material. These results indicate that Acacia tumida prunings have a potential to provide nutrient through mineralization for enhanced crop yield in the Sahel
- ItemOn-farm evaluation of biological nitrogen fixation potential and grain yield of Lablab and two soybean varieties in the northern Guinea savanna of Nigeria(Springer, 2005) Okogun J.A.; Sanginga N.; Abaidoo R. C; Dashiell K.E.; Diels J.; 0000-0002-1235-2252Several legumes with high biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) potentials have been studied in on-station trials. The processes involved in BNF and the benefits of these species to crop production need to be evaluated using farmers’ management practices in farmers’ fields. An on-farm trial with 20 farmers was conducted in the northern Guinea savanna (NGS) of Nigeria. The aims were to evaluate the BNF potentials of an improved soybean variety (TGx 1448-2E) and a local variety (Samsoy-2) when inoculated with Bradyrhizobium strains, and of Lablab in farmer-managed and researcher-managed soybean-maize and Lablab-maize crop rotation systems. The level of soil P was generally low with more than 50% of the fields having less than the critical P level. The plant available P content was statistically significantly (P = 0.05) correlated with P in grain (r = 0.60), P in the shoot (r = 0.68), grain yield (r = 0.40) and nodule weight (r = 0.35). Variations in plant parameters (nodulation, shoot dry matter, percentage nitrogen derived from the air [%Ndfa], grain yield, and nutrient uptake) among and within farmers’ fields were attributed to differences in soil fertility and crop management. About 60% of the fields were mod erately fertile, sufficient to support legume establishment, while about 30% of the farmers’ fields had a low fertility level. For farmers in the study area to benefit from the BNF potentials of the legumes, an external P fertilizer input was necessary as well as suitable crop management practices because all parameters mea sured in the researcher-managed plots were higher than in the farmer-managed plots.
- ItemPhosphorus sorption characteristics in the Sahel: Estimates from soils in Mali(Aimpress, 2023) Kouyate Aliou Badara; Logah Vincent; Abaidoo R. C; Tetteh Francis Marthy; Bonsu Mensah; Dembélé Sidiki Gabriel; 0000-0002-1235-2252Crop yield in sub-Saharan Africa is often limited by low phosphorus fertility. Farmers in the region can apply phosphate rock, which should increase the plant-available phosphorus level, but this may be prone to sorption in acid soils of the Sahel. The objective of this study was to determine phosphorus (P) sorption characteristics of four representative soil series in Sahelian Mali namely, Longorola (Gleysol), Danga (Fluvisol), Niessoumana (Arenosol) and Konobougou (Acrisol) under Tilemsi Phosphate Rock (TPR) treatment. Data for phosphorus sorption was obtained by equilibrating 5 g of soils for 7 days at room temperature in 50 ml of 0.01M CaCl2 containing six (6) rates of phosphate as TPR (0, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160 mg/L). The linear form of the Langmuir equation was used to calculate sorption parameters of the soils. The Gleysol with the greatest clay content had the highest phosphorus sorption maximum which was over three times greater than that of the Acrisol with the least clay content. The sorption maxima in the range of 59–200 mg/kg were well estimated with Langmuir sorption isotherm (R2 ≥ 0.78). Soil organic matter and clay contents influenced phosphorus sorption from the TPR. The degree of phosphorus saturation ranged from 2.39 to 6.47 %, being greater in the Arenosol. In a two-season field experiment on the Haplic Acrisol, we tested on maize, the TPR in two forms (powder and pellet) in addition to water-soluble diammonium phosphate at different rates (0, 11 and 16 kg P /ha). The water-soluble DAP and TPR (powder) had similar effects (p < 0.05) on soil P availability but with DAP producing greater grain yields. This shows that application of TPR in powder form can improve phosphorus availability as water-soluble DAP with positive impact on grain yield. The study provides useful information on P sorption characteristics of TPR amendment in the Sahel.