Browsing by Author "Opoku Andrews"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    Evaluating Added Benefits from Combined Cattle Manure and Fertilizer Application in a Maize Cropping System
    (Academia, 2017) Brempong Mavis Badu; Opoku Andrews; Abaidoo R. C
    A field experiment was conducted at Kpongu in the Upper West region of Ghana to determine the added benefits in grain yield of maize derived from the concurrent use of manure and mineral fertilizer, and their cost effectiveness. Factorial combinations of cattle manure and mineral fertilizer each at 0, 50 and 100% of their recommended rates were evaluated in both the field and the laboratory studies. The treatments were applied in a randomized complete block design with three replications on the field. The same treatments were applied in the incubation study in a completely randomized design. The use of 100% NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) + 5 t manure gave the highest grain yield of 4,678 kgha-1. Synergistic interactions resulting in added benefits in grain yield were observed in all the combined nutrient inputs except 50% NPK + 2.5 t manure which accrued an added disadvantage of 44 kgha-1. Economic analysis proved that 100% NPK + 2.5 t manure and 50% NPK + 5 t manure were the most economically viable combined treatments in terms of grain yield. Based on the results from this study, resource poor farmers in the Upper West region of Ghana may reduce mineral fertilizer recommended rates by 50% and supplement it with 5 t quality (N >2.5%) cattle manure without compromising yield and profit.
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    Factors influencing Soyabean Production and Willingness to Pay for Inoculum Use in Northern Ghana
    (American Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 2014) Aidoo Robert; Osei Mensah J.; Opoku Andrews; Abaidoo R. C
    Aim: This study was aimed at providing empirical information on key drivers of soyabean production in northern Ghana and factors that determine farmers’ willingness to pay for inoculum use in the production of the crop. Research Design and Methodology: A total of 240 grain legume producers were sampled from the three northern Regions in Ghana, out of which 188 were soyabean producers. Farmers who were selected through a combination of stratified and simple random sampling techniques were interviewed with the use of standardized structured questionnaires to elicit primary information for analysis. The Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) estimation procedure was used to estimate a Cobb-Douglas Soyabean production function. In addition, a binary logistic regression model was used to examine factors that determine farmers’ willingness to pay for inoculum use in soyabean production. Results: Evidence from the study showed that area cultivated and farming experience significantly influenced soyabean output positively at the 5% level. However, quantity of labour employed in production and educational level had significant negative relationship with soyabean output, all things being equal. Farmers’ willingness to pay for inoculum was found to be positively influenced by experience in soyabean production, access to credit, percentage of produce sold and awareness about inoculum at the 5% significance level. Male farmers were found to be more willing to pay for inoculum than female farmers, and distance from home to farm was found to be negatively related to farmers’ willingness to pay for inoculum, ceteris paribus. Conclusion: In an attempt to step up soyabean production and increase the uptake of inoculum among farmers without subsidy, awareness creation about inoculum, credit access and commercial orientation of farmers should be targeted as the key variables in any strategy or policy formulation.
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    Integrated use of fertilizer micro-dosing and Acacia tumida mulching increases millet yield and water use efficiency in Sahelian semi-arid environment
    (Springer, 2015) Ibrahim Ali; Abaidoo R. C; Fatondji Dougbedji; Opoku Andrews; 0000-0002-1235-2252
    Limited availability of soil organic amendments and unpredictable rainfall, decrease crop yields drastically in the Sahel. There is, therefore, a need to develop an improved technology for conserv ing soil moisture and enhancing crop yields in the Sahelian semi-arid environment. A 2-year field exper iment was conducted to investigate the mulching effects of Acacia tumida pruning relative to commonly applied organic materials in Niger on millet growth, yields and water use efficiency (WUE) under fertilizer micro-dosing technology. We hypothesized that (1) A. tumida pruning is a suitable mulching alternative for crop residues in the biomass-scarce areas of Niger and (2) combined application of A. tumida mulch and fertilizer micro-dosing increases millet yield and water use efficiency. Two fertilizer micro-dosing options (20 kg DAP ha-1, 60 kg NPK ha-1) and three types of organic mulches (millet straw, A. tumida mulch, and manure) and the relevant control treatments were arranged in factorial experiment organized in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Fertilizer micro-dosing increased millet grain yield on average by 28 %. This millet grain yield increased further by 37 % with combined application of fertilizer micro-dosing and organic mulch. Grain yield increases relative to the un mulched control were 51 % for manure, 46 % for A. tumida mulch and 36 % for millet mulch. Leaf area index and root length density were also greater under mulched plots. Fertilizer micro-dosing increased WUE of millet on average by 24 %, while the addition of A. tumida pruning, manure and millet increased WUE on average 55, 49 and 25 %, respectively. We conclude that combined application of micro-dosing and organic mulch is an effective fertilization strategy to enhance millet yield and water use efficiency in low-input cropping systems and that A. tumida prun ing could serve as an appropriate mulching alternative for further increasing crop yields and water use efficiency in the biomass-scarce and drought prone environment such as the Sahel. However, the eco nomic and social implications and the long-term agronomic effects of this agroforestry tree in Sahelian millet based system have to be explored further. Keywords Organic mulch Fertilizer micro-dosing Acacia tumida Millet yield Water use efficie
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    Native Bradyrhizobium Strains From Ghana Can Enhance Grain Yields of Field-Grown Cowpea and Groundnut
    (Frontiers in Agronomy, 2020) Osei Ophelia; Abaidoo R. C; Opoku Andrews; Rouws Janaina R. C; Robert M. Boddey; . Ahiabor Benjamin D. K.
    The existence of large population of ineffective native rhizobia and inconsistent performance of exotic strains in Ghanaian soils necessitate the need to identify effective and locally adapted elite strains for enhanced legume-rhizobium symbiosis.This study was designed to test the suitability of two previously selected potential elite Bradyrhizobium strains for use as inoculants on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in multilocation experiments. Field experiments were set up at 26 locations (12 planted with cowpea and 14 planted with groundnut) in the Northern region of Ghana. Four treatments were applied at each location: inoculation with Bradyrhizobium strains KNUST 1002 and KNUST 1006, a positive nitrogen (+N) control and a negative control (without nitrogen or inoculation) arranged in randomized complete blocks with four replications. The results showed that inoculation with strains KNUST 1002 and KNUST 1006 promoted significant increases in grain yields of both cowpea and groundnut. On average, inoculating cowpea with strains KNUST 1002 and KNUST 1006 resulted in 63 and 52% increases in grain yield when compared to the negative control. Pod yields of groundnut, on the other hand, were significantly (p < 0.05) increased at 57% of the study locations with one or both test strains. Responses to inoculation were, however, highly variable across the different study locations (i.e., significant Treatment Location Interaction, TLI). A detailed analysis of this significant TLI based on the genotype main effect (G) plus genotype-by-environment (GE) interaction (GGE) biplot analysis revealed that location contributed 71 and 88% of the variation observed in cowpea and groundnut, respectively, and grouped the locations into mega-environments for cowpea. These results demonstrate that native elite Bradyrhizobium strains KNUST 1002 and KNUST 1006 have potential for use as inoculants to increase cowpea and groundnut production in Northern Ghana.
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    Nutrient Inputs for Rehabilitation of Non-responsive Soils in the Guinea and Sudan Savannah Agroecological Zones of Ghana: Impact on Grain Yield and Soil Quality
    (Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 2022) Asei Rechiatu; Abaidoo R. C; Opoku Andrews; Adjei-Nsiah Samuel
    Studies have shown that the continuous application of N, P, and K fertilizers has led to the depletion of secondary and micronutrients, which have become limiting nutrients hindering crop growth and yield. An on-farm trial was conducted to determine the effect of site-specific nutrient fertilizers and compost on soybean yield, phosphorus use efficiency, and soil properties, at Nyong Guma, Serekpere, Daffiama Saapare, and Naaga in northern Ghana. Nine (9) treatments (3 rates of mineral fertilizer × 3 rates of FertiSoil) were applied in a factorial combination arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications. On average, the soybean grain yield increased significantly with the combined application of FertiSoil and mineral fertilizer at full rates at Nyong Guma,Serekpere, and Naaga from <1,000 kg ha−1 to > 1,500 kg ha−1. The co-application of 50% recommended rate (RR) of mineral fertilizer and 5 t ha−1 FertiSoil increased soybean grain yield by over 250% at Daffiama Saapare. The application of 50% RR mineral fertilizer significantly increased phosphorus use efficiency by 5–55% compared to its combination with FertiSoil or FertiSoil alone at different rates across locations. Incorporation of 5 t ha−1 FertiSoil and 100% RR mineral fertilizer significantly increased exchangeable K, Ca, and Mg, and microbial C and P by 0.33, 2.84, 0.56 cmol(+) kg−1 and 102.7, 33.37 mg kg−1, respectively, at Serekpere. The combined application of 5 t ha−1 FertiSoil and 50% RR mineral fertilizer relatively increased soil organic C (42%) and available P (12%) at Naaga. The soil quality index revealed that the addition of 5 t ha−1 FertiSoil to 100% RR mineral fertilizer was the most sustainable nutrient management option across the study sites. Sole mineral fertilizer treatments at 50% RR were the most profitable in all the study locations ranging from value cost ratio (VCR) of 2.7–7.6. The application of limiting nutrients and organic amendments serves as an efficient nutrient management option to improve soil health, crop production and economic profitability on smallholder non-responsive soil
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    Organic Manure Improves Soybean Response to Rhizobia Inoculant and P-Fertilizer in Northern Ghana
    (Frontiers in Agronomy,, 2020) Ulzen Jacob; Abaidoo R. C; Ewusi-Mensah Nana; Osei Ophelia; Masso Cargele; Opoku Andrews
    Inherently low concentrations of soil nutrients and erratic rainfall pattern in sub-Sahara Africa limit soybean response to rhizobia inoculant and P-fertilizer. The study was conducted to: (i) improve soybean response to rhizobia inoculation and P-fertilizer through the addition of organic manure; (ii) enhance rain water use efficiency and (iii) determine the economic viability of combined application of the three factors in soybean cropping systems in the Northern region of Ghana. A factorial experiment with two levels of rhizobia inoculant, two levels of Phosphorus, two different kinds organic manure [fertisoil (a commercially prepared compost from urban waste, rice husks, of poultry manure and shea butter waste) and cattle manure] and a control arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications was established on farmers’ fields. The combined application of rhizobia inoculant, P-fertilizer, and organic manure markedly increased nodulation, shoot biomass, haulms, harvest index (HI), P agronomic efficiency (P-AE), and rain water use efficiency (RUE) compared to the control. The combined application of rhizobia inoculant, P-fertilizer, and fertisoil increased grain yield by four-folds whereas the combined application of rhizobia inoculant, P-fertilizer, and cattle manure increased grain yield by three- folds. Harvest index, P-AE, and RUE were relatively higher with the fertisoil treatment combinations than with the cattle manure combinations and the control treatment. The application of rhizobia inoculant, P-fertilizer in combination with fertisoil was profitable with VCR of 2 as compared to the combination of cattle manure which had a VCR of 0.40. The results showed that fertisoil offers a better option of improving soybean response to rhizobia inoculant and P-fertilizer; and has the potential to enhance rain water use efficiency. However, the long term benefit must be quantified.
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    Use of Limiting Nutrients for Reclamation of Non-responsive Soils in Northern Ghana
    (Frontiers in Soil Science, 2021) Asei Rechiatu; Abaidoo R. C; Opoku Andrews; Adjei-Nsiah Samuel; Antwi-Agyei Philip
    A better understanding of soil fertility factors that constraint positive crop response to fertilizer inputs will facilitate the improvement of soil nutrient management. In this study, a nutrient omission trial was carried out in a greenhouse condition to identify soil chemical properties limiting in non-responsive soils and to ascertain their effect on soybean (Glycine max) production. The treatments evaluated were control (distilled water), complete nutrient solution (all nutrients), and complete solution with the omission of each of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S and micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, B, and Mo) arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. After the greenhouse study, the identified limiting nutrients were tested with or without FertiSoil (commercial compost) in a 3 year field experiment. Results of the soil analyses showed low fertility status of the non-responsive soils. The sufficiency quotient index revealed non-responsive soils in all the sites to be predominantly limiting in P and K. The occurrence of other limiting nutrients was also identified: Pishegu (Zn, B), Serekpere (Mg, S), Daffiama Saapare (Ca, Mg, S), and Naaga (Mg, S, Zn, B). The nutrient inputs positively influenced soybean yield response in all the locations. The application of PKZnB with FertiSoil and FertiSoil alone significantly increased soybean grain yields by 585 and 477 kg ha−1, respectively, at Pishegu. Soybean grain yields also increased by 585, 573, and 364 kg ha−1 under the FertiSoil, PKMgS + FertiSoil, and PKMgS applications at Serekpere, respectively. At Daffiama Saapare, the highest (103%) percent increase in soybean grain yield was recorded from the combined application of PKMgSCa and FertiSoil. However, the application of FertiSoil and PKMgSCa singly equally increased soybean grain yield by 77%. Percent soybean grain yield increases of 86, 84, and 74% were observed when PKMgSZnB + FertiSoil, PKMgSZnB, and FertiSoil were applied, respectively, at Naaga. In absolute terms, 83% of the fields had a positive response to mineral fertilizer and 93% to FertiSoil and mineral fertilizer + FertiSoi