Browsing by Author "Danso, Frederick"

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    Development of sustainable nutrient management! strategy for oil palm (elaeis guineensis) nursery: neb and polyfeed evaluation
    (2008-08-25) Danso, Frederick
    The responses of oil palm {Elaeis guineesis) seedlings to different fertilizer sources were monitored. Polyfeed and NEB sources were tested whiles the standard practice of the Oil Palm Research Institute and an absolute control were used as standard reference. The trial consisted of two parts with different treatments monitored over a period of ten and our months. The first trial consisted of nine treatments whiles the second trial consisted of five treatments, all replicated three times in randomized complete block design (RCBD). Growth parameters measured included plant height, number of leaves/palm, butt circumference, frond dry weight, leaf area and leaf area index. Leaf samples were analyzed for N, P, K, Mg, Ca. Soil chemical properties, microbial biomass and urease activities were also determined. Oil palm seedlings responded positively to the fertilizer « application. Thirty grams of polyfeed and standard practice per palm per month improved the vegetative growth and the soil nutrient content compared to the absolute control. Polyfeed + NEB-26, polyfeed + NEB-29, polyfeed + NEB-33, standard practice + NEB- 26, standard practice + NEB-29 and standard practice + NEB-33 performed equally well. Sole NEB-33, NEB-26 and NEB-29 did not improve butt circumference, number of leaves/palm and nutrient content of the leaves at the end of the trial. The total biomass production among the different fertilizer sources was more or less similar with the exception of NEB-26 and NEB-29. Monthly application of the treatments influenced the soil chemical properties to varying degrees. NEB-33 recorded the highest urease activity of 15.60 mg/kg with polyfeed and the standard practice accounting for the highest microbial N and P levels. While it costs GH0O.43 to produce a seedling without fertilizer, it costs GH01.15 and GH02.59 to apply NEB-26 and NEB-29 respectively for 12 months. Polyfeed and the standard practice amounted to GH^O.79 and GH0O.6O respectively for 12 months. The use of NEB-33 for 4 months accounted for GH0O.51. The performance of polyfeed treatment agronomically was good and would be more appropriately used to advantage than sole NEB for raising oil palm seedlings. Polyfeed has the potential to be used at the oil palm nursery. The standard practice treatment as observed was agronomically and economically the best treatment.
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    Effects of soil amendments on agronomic characteristics and functional properties of false horn plantain (Apantu Pa)
    (NOVEMBER, 2015) Danso, Frederick
    There is growing public perception that fruits from fertilized plantain plants have their organoleptic qualities reduced during food preparations. Such perception has the potential consequence of lowering production levels of the commodity in Ghana. To ascertain the veracity of this perception, a study was conducted between July 2012 and March 2015 to determine the effects of different rates of poultry manure, cocoa pod husk and NPK as soil amendments on nutritional composition, physical characteristics and functional properties of plantain pulp flour. The experimental design was a Randomized Complete Block with three replications. Selected agronomic data as well as the organoleptic qualities data were collected. Soils amended with NPK+PM and NPK+CPH recorded the highest bunch yields (17.78 mt ha-1 and 17.22 mt ha-1, respectively) whiles soil amended with NPK recorded the highest finger weight (427.33 g) and pulp thickness (3.98 cm). Flours from plantain with amended soils recorded moisture contents (8.41 % to 12.08%) which were within the acceptable levels for flours. The flour with the lowest moisture content was produced from plantain with CPH amendment (8.41%). The protein content of false horn plantain flour was however low (3.39 % to 5.27%). The plantain flour starch was not influenced by any of the soil amendments. On the other hand, flour produced from plantain with NPK+PM amendment had low bulk density and low water absorption capacity. Similarly, the false horn plantain flour had lower swelling power values compared to other flours. Flours from plantain with CPH amendment had lower oil absorption capacity. Flour from plantain with PM amendment was more likely to cook faster than the flour from the plantain with the other amendments. Flours from plantain with NPK+CPH amendment would form a more stable paste because of its lower breakdown value. In conclusion, the plantain flours were comparable to known food flours and therefore could be applicable as thickening agents and also find usefulness in fufu powder preparation and baking.