Browsing by Author "Adjadeh, T.A."
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Item Assessing the Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential of Different Plant Residues(University of Ghana, 2006-05) Amon, N.K.; Adiku, S.G.K.; Dowuona, G.N.N.; Kumaga, F.K.; Adjadeh, T.A.; University of Ghana College of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Agriculture, Department of Soil ScienceThis study investigated the use o f fallow residue management as a means o f sequestering soil carbon to mitigate the build up o f atmospheric carbon dioxide. The study involved the analysis o f the effect o f three soil moisture levels (W l= Field Capacity (FC), W2 = 70% FC and W3 = 40 % FC) on the decomposition rate o f five different fallow plant residues.(i) Pennisetum spp (elephant grass) from natural bush fallow, RT1, (ii) Cajanus cajan (pigeon pea) residue, RT2, (iii) Vigna unguiculata (cowpea), RT3, (iv) Mucuna pruriens (mucuna) residue, RT4 and (v) Pennisetum spp (elephant grass which had benefited from residual fertilizer) under greenhouse conditions. The residues were incubated for 180 days in potted soils (Haplic Lixosols) and monitored over a 6 -month period and the amount o f organic carbon added to the soil was determined. Limited study o f residue decomposition under field conditions was also carried out and compared with the greenhouse conditions. Results showed that water had a significant effect (P<0.05) on the decomposition rates o f plant residues. The order o f water treatment on the decomposition o f plant residues generally was: W1 > W2 > W3. Decomposition was also different for the residue types in the order: RT1 < RT5 < RT3 < RT4 < RT2. This study showed that the grasses; R T la n d RT5 having h igh C:N ratios were b etter contributors to soil carbon storage. It was also observed that at the end o f the incubation period all the plant residues added significantly higher carbon to the soil than the control. (RT6 ). A similar response was also observed in the field even though water and temperature could not be controlled. A simple equation developed to describe the variation o f residue decomposition with soil water gave reasonable predictions o f residue weight loss with time. It is concluded that residue type and soil moisture management offer measures for improving soil carbon sequestration in tropical agricultural systems.Item Assessment of the Suitability of Some Soils of the Forest-Savanna Transition and the Interior Savanna Zones for Maize Production Using Soil Quality Rating, Crop Modelling and Multi-Criteria Approaches(University of Ghana, 2014-07) Abrefa, N.K.; Adjadeh, T.A.; Adiku, S.G.K.; University of Ghana, College of Basic and Applied Sciences , School of Agriculture , Department of Soil ScienceEight soil series from two agro-ecological zones of Ghana were evaluated for their suitability for maize production intensification using three approaches: the Soil Quality Index (SQI), DSSAT yield simulations and the Multi-criteria Analysis (MCA). Four of the series were from the Forest – Savanna Transition namely Wenchi series (Feric Dystric Leptosol), Ejura series (Haplic Lixisol), Damongo series (Dystric Nitosol) and Lima series (Eutric Gleysol). The four soils from the Guinea Savannah were Mimi series (Haplic Lixisol), Verempere series (Ferric Luvisol), Kpelesawgu series (Eutric Plinthosol) and Kupela series (Eutric Gleysol). The SQI rating considered soil properties such as bulk density, pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and water holding capacity. For DSSAT, the impacts of weather variability were considered in addition to soil and management factors. The MCA evaluation expanded the criteria to include economic factors such as price, input and labour costs, soil erosion and conservation factors as well as distance to market. All the approaches led to different ranking of the soil series. The SQI results rated the soil series in the order: Damongo > Kupela > Mimi > Varempere > Lima > Ejura > Wenchi > Kpelesawgu. The ranking by DSSAT was: Lima > Kupela > Mimi > Ejura > Damongo > Kpelesawgu > Varempere > Wenchi. Yield stability was lowest for Lima (7%) and highest for Varempere (131%). Using the MCA, the ranking was: Damongo > Mimi > Lima > Ejura > Varempere > Wenchi > Kpelesawgu > Kupela. In spite of the differences in ranking of the soils by the three systems, Damongo was the “best” in two cases (SQI and MCA). It was however not the best for DSSAT mean yield. It showed a yield variability average of 49%. Based on the results, Damongo, Mimi, Lima and Ejura soil series could be considered suitable for maize intensification, whereas the other soils may be considered as marginal. The study showed that the soils in the forest - savanna transition zone (Brong Ahafo) is more suitable for maize production than those of the guinea savannah (Northern Region) zone.Item Effect of phosphorus on the concentrations of arsenic, iron and some other elements in barley grown hydroponically(Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 2013) Shaibur, M.R.; Adjadeh, T.A.; Kawai, S.Hydroponic barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. minorimugi) was treated with 10 μM arsenic (As) together with 500, 250, 50 and 0 μM phosphorus (P) for 14 days to observe the response of the seedlings. The plants were also treated with 0 μM As + 0 μM P. Iron (Fe)-plaque was visible in the roots under As-treated and P-depleted conditions. The intensity of reddish coloration in the roots decreased with increasing P in the media. However, reddish coloration was not found in the absence of both As and P. The results show that both As and P played a vital role in the formation of Fe-plaque. Additionally, Fe-plaque formation was dependent on the concentration of P in the media. Iron concentration in the roots of the As treated plants without P was higher than that observed in the roots treated with 0 μM As + 0 μM P which suggests that As may have been adsorbed with Fe on the surface of roots, forming Fe-plaque. Arsenic concentration in the shoots and the roots was low under 500 and 250 μM P conditions while high under 50 and 0 μM P conditions. It was found that a higher concentration of P (50 μM; 5 times of As level) was required in the medium to reduce As concentration in the plant tissues.Item Efficacy of Organic N-Fertilizer on Maize Growth in a Vertisol and an Acrisol in the Accra Plains(University of Ghana, 2012-07) Mutala, E.B.; Dowuona, G.N.N.; Nartey, E.K.; Adjadeh, T.A.The use of inorganic fertilizers in crop production in Sub Saharan Africa is very low due to exorbitant cost. Coincidentally nitrogen which is a limiting nutrient in sub Saharan African soils is locked up in organic waste with the waste breeding flies and having become an environmental nuisance in most towns in the sub region. Composting these organic wastes to be used as organic amendment has been proposed as one of the ways of improving on the low fertility status in soils and ridding the towns of filth in sub Saharan Africa. Ecological fertilizer is an organic N fertilizer formulated by the Department of Soil Science, University of Ghana from agricultural waste for Eco Products Limited. Though the nutrient composition of the fertilizer is known, its efficacy in relation to crop production is yet to be investigated to ascertain its effectiveness and competitiveness with the traditional inorganic N fertilizer sources. A greenhouse study was, therefore, conducted to test the efficacy of Eco-fertilizer on the growth of maize on Akuse Series, Vertisol and Toje Series, an Acrisol. Exactly 8.0 and 9.7 kg respective weights of fine earth fraction of the Vertisol and the Acrisol were weighed into plastic buckets with perforated bottoms to a predetermined height of 6.2m to attain the field bulk density of the two soils. The packed soils were left undisturbed for three weeks prior to the application of treatments to allow for stabilization of microbial activity. Each soil was kept at two moisture contents of field capacity (FC) and 75% field capacity. Maize of variety Obatampa was sown at three seeds per pot and one week after sowing, two N fertilizers; one organic (Eco-fertilizer) and an inorganic fertilizer , (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 were surface applied at three rates of 0, 20 and 40 kg/ha. Each treatment was replicated three times and the pots were arranged in a randomized complete block design pattern, giving a 2×2×2×1×3x3 factorial experiment. Sampling of soils was done at 28 and 65 days after sowing, after which the soils were tested for NH 4+ and NO 3- . Agronomic parameters such as chlorophyll content, leaf area index, plant height at 28 and 65 days after sowing at the two moisture levels were also measured. Net assimilation rate was estimated and dry matter yield measured after 65 days of sowing. Results of the study showed that leaf area index, dry matter yield, total nitrogen content of the maize plant, net assimilation rate, plant height and chlorophyll content increased with fertilization of the two soils for both fertilizers. When the two soils were amended with the fertilizers, LAI at 28 days after sowing (LAI-1) was higher in the Akuse series than the Toje series at the two moisture contents due to the superior inherent fertility of the former soil. The higher LAI-1 in the Akuse soils is also supported by the higher available N in the soil at 28 days after sowing which also tied in very well with higher chlorophyll content at 28 days after sowing. At 20 kg/ha for the Akuse series, the nitrogen content in the plant was higher in the inorganic amended soil than that of the organic amended one. However at 40 kg/ha the nitrogen contents of the plants were statistically the same. In the Toje series, the nitrogen content of the plants at the two rates of application, irrespective of fertilizer type were similar just as dry matter yield (DMY).Similar growth parameters such as LAI, height and DMY at both 28 days and 65 days of sowing in the organically and inorganically amended Toje soil and the fact that there was generally no difference in DMY in the two soils at the two application rates indicated that the organic fertilizer competes favourably with the inorganic one in maize growth. There was generally no difference in moisture content at FC and 75% FC on N accumulation and hence DMY of maize plants after 65 days of sowing. At 28 days after sowing which is the vegetative stage of the maize plant, the NH 4+ contents in the soils was higher at 75%FC than at FC suggestive of the fact that more NH 4+ had been absorbed at FC due to the prevailing optimum condition for N absorptionItem Evaluating the Effect of Land use Land Cover Changes on Land Suitability for Crop Production Using Remote Sensing and GIS(West African Journal of Applied Ecology, 2023) Ajala, O.N.; Adjadeh, T.A.; Olaniyan, J.O.; Ilori, O.A.The impact of Land Use and Cover Changes (LULCC) on agricultural land from 1986 to 2016 was examined using remote sensing (RS) and the Geographic Information System (GIS) in Kwara State, Nigeria. The aim of the study was to show how a GIS tool could be incorporated into a multicriteria analysis (MCA) and an Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) model to assess the suitability of land. Under several conditions, which define suitable land for arable cropping, the structural design of an integrated GIS-MCA-AHP was anticipated to correspond with the decision maker's preferences. Additionally, the integration was anticipated to quantify the extent of land cover modifications and assess how the removal of vegetation would affect the soil. As a major factor in the analysis, the Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI) was employed with GIS and Remote Sensing (RS) technologies, and, as secondary, MCA and AHP models. In Arc-Map (GIS), 10.3.1, the RS data imagery from 2016 was used and recognized by NDVI satellite images. The images were categorized according to RS data, field study data, and geographical factors. The variables were soil texture, depth, pH, organic carbon, rainfall, temperature, slope, elevation, and land use and land cover. To examine the extent of land use and land cover changes in relation to soil types and land suitability, the MCA-AHP model employed a weighted sum overlay. The results showed that farming accounted for 46% of all land use. and that LULCC was primarily to blame for the loss of arable land and environmental degradation. The proportion of the total land area used for farming (farmland), the built-up area, bare land, and water bodies increased from 34 to 46, 15 to 30.4, 5 to 10, and 3 to 4%, respectively. Forest land, on the other hand, saw a drop from 43 to 9.6%. While 11.40% of the total land area was highly suitable for arable cultivation, 19.30% was moderately suitable, 30.40% was marginally suitable, 23.12% was currently unsuitable, and 15.78% was permanently unsuitable. The study shows that the AHP model was useful for calculating land use weights that were comparable to those calculated using other techniques. The model was helpful in making plans. decisions for land use, and thus could be useful in managing sustainable agriculture. It was concluded that in addition to the fast rate of deforestation, increasing anthropogenic activities were degrading arable land at the study site.Item Evaluation of Suitability of Some Soils in the Forest-Savanna Transition and the Guinea Savanna Zones of Ghana for Maize Production(West African Journal of Applied Ecology, 2018-07) Nketia, K.A.; Adjadeh, T.A.; Adiku, S.G.K.Suitability of four soils located in the Forest-Savanna Transition zone and four others located in the Guinea Savanna zone of Ghana were evaluated for maize production using Soil Quality Index (SQI), Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) yield simulations and the Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA). Wenchi (Ferric Dystric Leptosol), Ejura (Haplic Lixisol), Damongo (Dystric Nitisol) and Lima series (Eutric Gleysol) were located in the Forest-Savanna Transition agro-ecological zone whereas Kpelesawgu (Eutric Plinthosol), Varempere (Ferric Luvisol), Mimi (Haplic Lixisol) and Kupela (Eutric Gleysol) series were located in the Guinea Savanna agro-ecological zone. The study sites in the Forest-Savanna Transition zone were located in the Brong-Ahafo region whereas those in the Guinea Savanna zone were in the Northern region of Ghana. Properties used for the SQI rating included bulk density, pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, texture and water holding capacity. For the DSSAT, 1980 – 2010 weather variability impacts in addition to soil and management effects were used. The MCA evaluation included factors such as price, input and labour costs, distance to market, soil erosion and conservation factors. The three approaches gave different rankings of the soils for maize production. The SQI results rated the soils in the order: Wenchi > Damongo > Mimi > Ejura > Kupela > Lima > Varempere > Kpelesawgu. From the DSSAT simulations, the order was Varempere > Kpelesawgu > Damongo > Ejura > Kupela > Mimi > Lima > Wenchi. From the MCA, the rankings under different soil management options was in the order: Damongo > Mimi > Ejura > Wenchi > Lima > Varempere > Kupela > Kpelesawgu. Whereas both the SQI and the MCA ranked Kpelesawgu series as the least suitable for maize production, the DSSAT ranked it as the second most suitable. From the results, the soils in the Forest-Savanna Transition zone were more suitable for maize production than those in the Guinea Savannah zone. The soils with negligible gravel content could generally be considered as more suitable for intensive maize production. Although the SQI and the DSSAT yield simulations gave less desirable outcomes than the MCA simulations, they should be considered as useful basis for evaluating and designing the MCA criteria. © 2018, Ecological Laboratory. All rights reserved.Item Genetic Variability in Micronutrients Composition of Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.)(International Journal of Agricultural Research 8(2): 655-666, 2008) Hasinur-Rahman, M.; Adjadeh, T.A.; Saitoh, H.; Saiga, S.In this study, it is hypothesized that plants selected and/or bred for improved desired characteristics (e.g., macronutrients) may affect other characteristics (e.g., micronutrients) negatively. To test the hypothesis, we evaluated the metal micronutrient concentrations of four experimental strains viz., HighMgE, HighMgM, LowEq and LowMg and two commercial cultivars viz., Okamidori and Akimidori of orchardgrass. There were no genetic differences among the experimental strains/cultivars of orchardgrass for dry matter accumulation. The concentration of micronutrients varied with genetic differences among the four strains and the two commercial cultivars of orchardgrass. The amounts of Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mo, Co, Ni, Se and I in the shoot, irrespective of strain or cultivars used, were 76.36, 74.83, 14.03, 9.36, 2.19, 5.00, 5.17, 2.00 and 19.33 μg g-1 at first harvest and 85.89, 74.56, 15.06, 12.30, 3.84, 6.14, 4.99, 2.54 and 19.53 μg g-1 at second harvest, respectively. The average amounts at the third harvest were 119.97, 90.36, 17.67, 13.39, 3.36, 4.56, 4.89, 2.36 and 20.06 μg g-1, respectively, whereas the corresponding amounts at the fourth harvest were 128.22, 156.00, 21.92, 10.31, 4.25, 4.53, 4.54, 1.47 and 28.72 μg g-1, respectively. Apart from few exceptions, Mn, Fe, Zn, Mo and I levels were highest in the fourth harvest, whereas the levels of Co and Se were highest in the second harvest. The level of Cu was the highest in the third harvest. The levels of Mn, Fe, Ni, Se and Mo were higher in low Mg containing plants irrespective of strain or cultivar. On the other hand, Co, Cu and I tended to peak in plants containing higher amounts of Mg. The Cu/Mo ratio was highest in the first harvest followed by the third, second and fourth harvests. The amounts of Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, Zn and Mo were within the optimum levels required for maintaining forage quality.Item Overview and future research needs for development of effective biocontrol strategies for management of Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae) in sub-Saharan Africa(Pest Management Science, 2021) Heve, W.K.; Adjadeh, T.A.; Billah, M.K.Infestation of fruits by native and invasive fruit flies causes significant economic losses. In most cases, incidence of ‘regulated’ dangerous fruit flies in orchards results in restrictions on export of fruits from such places to international markets. Unfortunately, use of insecticides applied on foliage and fruits does not kill the fruit-to-soil stages of fruit flies. However, diverse biological control agents (BCAs) do so. Thus, prevalence of native and invasive fruit flies in orchards will require that a combination of BCAs is included in integrated pest management (IPM) programmes. In the case of Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel and other economically important fruit flies found in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), use of classical biocontrol approach involves concomitant releases of two exotic parasitoids (Fopius arisanus Sonan and Diachasmimorpha longicaudata Ashmead). These non-native wasps may have complemented the indigenous parasitoids in combination with application of entomopathogenic fungi (EPFs) and conservation of predatory ants (Oecophylla longinoda Latreille, with O. smaragdina) in fruit fly IPM plans. Consequently, some levels of decline in fruit infestation have been observed. Although interspecific interactions between BCAs against several insect pests have produced varying results, including threatening the survival of other BCAs, the prevalence of B. dorsalis in orchards across SSA requires further research to investigate effects of coalescing biocontrol approaches in IPM strategies. Therefore, future research into combining parasitoids, EPFs and entomopathogenic nematodes, in addition to conservation of predatory ants (O. longinoda, O. smaragdina and others) in IPM plans may improve the effectiveness of currently used strategies for the management of fruit-infesting tephritids. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.Item A phase analysis of season on the earth surface using GVIP data(Advances in Space Research, 2002-11) Tanaka, S.; Sugimura, T.; Adjadeh, T.A.October is the peak of fall in the middle latitude whereas August is the beginning of the season in the northern polar region. In the northern polar region, the peak of the infrared reflectance arrives at the beginning of August and it marks the onset of sleet. Thus, fall starts earlier in the northern polar region. However, the emergence of red-leaf is what is actually used as an index of fall. Reddening of leaves progresses from the north to the south. When fall is defined as the period in which leaf blossom is at its peak, then the period could be used to analyze the time of fall in the region. On the contrary, fall dose not occur in the tropical region. However, it is known that the tropics vegetation reaches full blossom a few weeks after the end of the rainy season. This time could be defmed as being equivalent to fall. Thus, our objective is to determine the time of fall all ove:r the world by making a phase analysis of a time, series of NOAA/AVHRR data. The first approach makes use of a method, which considers the date on which the channel 2 data records the peak value to be the date of fall. A global view of fall obtained by this method is presented. Progress of fall is indicated correctly in the eastern part of the Asian continent and the North American continent. The equivalent of fall in West Africa is discussed as representative of the season in the tropical region. © 2002 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.Item Poultry litter and cow dung biochar as P sources for cowpea cultivation in two Ghanaian soils(Frontiers in Agronomy, 2023) Nartey, E.K.; Sulemana, N.; Razak, A.; Adjadeh, T.A.; Akumah, A.M.; Amoatey, C.; Abekoe, M.K.Introduction: The main constraint to cowpea, Vigna unguiculata, production in West Africa is unavailability of applied phosphorus due to ligand exchange with clay minerals and precipitation reactions facilitated by low pH and low organic matter. Materials and methods: To overcome this challenge, cow dung biochar (CB) and poultry litter biochar (PB) were applied as P sources for cowpea cultivation in Plinthustult and Kandiustalf soil in Ghana. The biochar types and triple super phosphate (TSP) were applied to meet the standard phosphorus requirement (SPR) and ½ SPR of the soils. Basal K from KCl was added to the TSP treatment. In addition to a non-amended soil, the treatments were triplicated and arranged in a completely randomized design in a screen house for an efficacy trial using cowpea as the test crop. Moisture content was maintained at 80% field capacity. Results and discussion: Hundred cowpea seed weight was 20.3 g and 19.6 g for the TSP-amended Plinthustult at SPR and ½ SPR, respectively. This increased to 25.1 g and approximately 27 g at SPR and ½ SPR in the CB- and PB-amended Plinthustult, respectively. Hundred seed weight for TSP at both rates was similar in the two soils. The PB-amended Kandiustalf at SPR had seed with a weight of 27.02 g, 1.1 g heavier than the ½ SPR. The CB-amended Kandiustalf at both rates had 100 seeds weighing 25 g. Residual available P was 334.2 mg/kg and 213.2 mg/kg at SPR and ½ SPR, respectively, in the Plinthustult as opposed to a paltry 2.5 mg/kg at SPR in the TSP counterpart. The study recommends for the two biochar types to be applied at ½ SPR.Item Simple formulation of the soil water effect on residue decomposition(Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 2010-02) Adiku, S.G.K.; Amon, N.K.; Jones, J.W.; Adjadeh, T.A.; Kumaga, F.K.; Dowuona, G.N.; Nartey, E.K.Soil water content, θ, is a major factor affecting residue decomposition, but simple formulation of this factor is often lacking. We observed that θ significantly (P < 0.001) affected the residue decomposition constant, kd· When θ varied from 0.09gg-1 to 0.23gg-1, kd ranged from 0.009 to 0.013d-1 and from 0.009 to 0.022d-1 for residues with carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N) > 30 and C/N < 25, respectively. A θ factor was formulated in terms of the field capacity θFC and the air-dry θ d in the form fw = (θ - θd) / (θFC - θd), and this was used to modify the potential kd as θ varied. Coupling fw with a first-order residue decomposition equation resulted in the prediction of the decomposition of four residue types in the greenhouse (R2 = 0.94; relative root mean square error, RRMSE, = 0.06) and in the field (R2 = 0.93; RRMSE = 0.11). © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.Item Simplifying the analysis of soil particle sizes. I. Test of the Sur and Kukal's modified hydrometer method(Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 2005-01) Adiku, S.G.K.; Osei, G.; Adjadeh, T.A.; Dowuona, G.N.This study tests the validity of the Sur and Kukal modified hydrometer method for particle size analysis on eight Ghanaian soils of varying texture. The method assumes that hydrometer readings at any time could be predicted from an exponential equation provided that two important parameters are known: the 4.5-min hydrometer reading (R4.5) and the exponent (B). In a series of sedimentation experiments conducted on each soil in this study, 11 hydrometer readings were taken between 40 s and 8 h. Some of these data were used to determine the value of the parameters R4.5 and the exponent B. The B values for the light textured soils were within the range of 4.2 × 10 -3 to 9.7 × 10-3 and were comparatively lower than those for the heavy textured soils (1.0 × 10-2 to 1.5 × 10-2). In addition, the R4.5 values were much lower for the light textured soils than for the heavy textured soils. Using these parameter values in the Sur and Kukal's equation enabled the prediction of the hydrometer readings at different times during the sedimentation process. The predicted 8-h hydrometer reading also was used to calculate the percent clay. A comparison between the observed and predicted hydrometer readings was satisfactory. The predicted percent clay also agreed very well with that observed for all soils (R2 = 0.96). It is concluded that the Sur and Kukal method indeed simplifies the determination procedure and yields acceptable results for a wide range of Ghanaian soils.Item Water surface area measurement of Lake Volta using SSM/I 37-GHz polarization difference in rainy season(Advances in Space Research, 2002-11) Tanaka, M.; Adjadeh, T.A.; Tanaka, S.; Sugimura, T.The objective of this study is to examine the possibility of measuring the area of Lake Volta using DMSP-SSMA data. In the method 1, using the difference between 37-GHz data of water surface and of the ambient land, stable values for three years in the rainy season are obtained. The difference between 37-GHz Vpol values and that of 37-GHz HPOl fluctuates slightly. Although we could not obtain the truth data due to cloud cover over the area in the rainy season, data obtained from NOAA/AVHRR and ETOPO5 elevation provide a means to evaluate the result from the SSM/I data. © 2002 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.