Forest and Horticultural Crop Research Centre
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://197.255.125.131:4000/handle/123456789/23112
Browse
85 results
Search Results
Item Development Of Appropriate In Vivo Technique For Rapid Field Multiplication Of Plantain (Musa Aab) Using Coconut (Cocos Nucifera L.) Water And Indole-3-Acetic Acid(African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 2020) Mintah, L.O.; Arhin, L.Plantain production in Ghana is challenged by inadequate healthy and uniform-sized planting materials for cultivation. In vitro and rapid field multiplication techniques of plantains have been developed to overcome the problem of obtaining many vigorous and uniform suckers free from pests and diseases. However, in vitro techniques require expensive equipment and expertise that are unavailable to most plantain farmers in Ghana. Therefore, an appropriate and inexpensive technique has to be developed in vivo to increase the multiplication rate of plantain planting materials. This study investigated the effects of coconut water (CW) alone or in combination with varying concentrations of auxin (indole-3-acetic acid, IAA) on axillary bud initiation, growth, and development of plantain (cv. Asamienu). Coconut water from fully matured dried fruits (13 months old) was supplemented with three different indole-3-acetic acid concentrations, 10-4 M, 10-3 M, and 10-2 M to produce five different coconut water: IAA ratios (v:v), viz: 8:0, 6:2, 4:4, 2:6, 0:8. Distilled water was used as control. These treatment solutions were then injected into the base of developing suckers of plantain. Three weeks after injection treatments, the highest number of well-differentiated buds was obtained from 2 ml of coconut water and 6 ml of 10-2 M IAA (2:6 ratio). Eight ml of coconut water alone (8:0 ratio) also produced the highest number of fully differentiated plantlets. One month after the application of the bud manipulation technique, the highest number of additional well-differentiated axillary buds and fully developed plantlets were produced with 2 ml coconut water plus 6 ml 10-2 M IAA and 4 ml coconut water plus 4 ml 10-2 M IAA, respectively. The study generally showed that treatments with coconut water from fully matured dried fruits alone produced the largest and the most vigorously growing plantlets. On the other hand, coconut water from fully matured dried fruit combined with IAA induced significant proliferation of axillary bud and shoot formation of plantain significantly over the control treatment. These findings demonstrated the potential of using coconut water from fully matured dried fruits alone or in combination with IAA at ratios of (2:6) and (4:4) to improve the multiplication rate of plantain planting materials.Item Mobile Phone-Assisted Agricultural Extension Services: User Competency And Usage Frequency In Eastern Ghana(African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 2021) Nyaplue-Daywhea, C.; Adjei-Nsiah, S.; Ahiakpa, J.K.; et al.Adoption studies have mainly focused on econometric and quantitative modeling that usually assume smallholder farmers competently adopt agricultural technologies. This study provides novel insights on user competency and frequency of usage of mobile telephony for agricultural extension services among smallholder farmers and agricultural extension agents (AEAs) and key factors that impede the adoption process. The study examined users’ competencies and mobile phone usage frequency for access and delivery of agricultural extension services in Eastern Ghana. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 95 AEAs and 330 smallholder farmers in five districts of the Eastern region of Ghana and data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and regression analyses were performed to analyze the data. Results showed substantial differences between AEAs and smallholder farmers’ competency in the use of mobile phones for agricultural extension services. Socio-demographic characteristics of smallholder farmers and AEAs correlated with the usage frequency of mobile phones for access to extension services and delivery. Educational level, amount of weekly expenditure of money on mobile phone use, mobile phone network quality, income level, and age of both AEAs and smallholder farmers had positive and significant correlations with the frequency of usage of mobile phones. User competency differentially impacts the frequency of mobile phone use in agricultural extension services between AEAs and smallholders. High call tariffs and access to recharge cards are major challenges in using mobile phones for agricultural extension in the study areas. The study shows components of the adoption theory of compatibility, and complexity where an innovation fits within the socio-cultural framework and perceived difficulty of use. Thus, the frequent use of voice calls is indicative of the early stages of the diffusion process and may diversify into other applications in the future. Farmer-based organizations should be resourced to support the training of farmers to use mobile phones to improve access to agricultural information dissemination. Integrating voice-based agricultural information services (IVRs) into the current SMS-based agricultural extension services in Ghana could potentially boost extension service delivery to smallholder farmers in the Eastern region and across the country. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture may partner with key stakeholders and mobile service providers to offer hands-on capacity building to smallholder farmers and AEAs in video calling/conferencing, multimedia service, and social media to enhance their competencies for improved agricultural extension services.Item Susceptibility of five cabbage varieties to attack by aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in the Accra plains of Ghana(Springer, 2021) Adenka, K.D.; Fening, K.O.; Afreh-Nuamah, K.; Wamonje, F.O.; Carr, J.P.We investigated the susceptibility of five cab bage varieties (‘Oxylus’, ‘Super Cross’, ‘Vantar F1 Hy brid’, ‘Santa’F1 and ‘Fortune’) to aphids. Trials were set up in the Accra plains for two rainy seasons in 2017. The first trial examined aphid infestation and the second included weekly blanket spray of neem oil at 0.48 L/ha (60 ml/15 L water) during the second rainy season. Five systematically sampled cabbage leaves per plot were examined for the numbers of aphids and associated nat ural enemies (predators). Symptoms of aphid attack (in cidence and severity of infestation) were also recorded. Lipaphis erysimi pseudobrassicae (Davis) and Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) were the two aphid species observed and their numbers differed signif icantly between varieties in both seasons during the first but not the second trial. Few aphids settled on ‘Oxylus’, while more occurred on ‘Fortune’. L. e. pseudobrassicae was the most abundant aphid on all the varieties. Aphid numbers were significantly decreased by neem applica tion. Occurrence of natural enemies did not differ signif icantly between varieties, except for spiders during the major rainy season. There was no significant difference in aphid infestation between varieties during the first season as all of them completely succumbed to the infestation, while in the second season aphid incidence and severity of infestation was highest on ‘Fortune’, with ‘Oxylus’ being the least attacked by aphids. The crop yield was zero during the first season without protection for all the varieties. However, in the second season, lower yields (0.19–3.66 t/ha) was obtained with cabbage without pro tection, and much higher yields (14.8–21.1 t/ha) were obtained on neem-treated plots.Item Effect of Root Restriction on the Performance of Three-Truss Cultivated Tomato in the Low-Node Pinching Order at High-Density Cultivation System(MDPI, 2021) Ayarna, A.W.; Tsukagoshi, S.; Nkansah, G.O.The low-node pinching order at a high-density plant cultivation system (LN&HD) is now widely adopted for increasing tomato yield and fruit quality. The LN&HD cultivation period spans 70–120 days, employs the use of a small amount of substrate (low substrate volume), and plants are usually topped between the first and the fourth truss. Using a small amount of substrate in cultivation induces root restriction. Increasing the extent of root restriction in small pots has been adopted for increasing the fruit quality of tomato in some advanced countries. However, improving fruit quality at the expense of yield becomes a major drawback for adopting the LN&HD in Ghana. The LN&HD was introduced into Ghana mainly to increase tomato yield sustainably at a cost-effective level. This study aimed to manipulate or reduce the extent of root restriction to increase tomato yield. Information related to manipulating or reducing the extent of root restriction has not been extensively reported. Thus, an experiment was conducted (between 21 April 2019 and 11 August 2019) in the greenhouse of the University of Ghana Forest and Horticultural Research Centre, Kade-Ghana. Plants of two tomato cultivars (Jaguar and Momotaro York) were subjected to four root restriction conditions. The extent of root restriction were (1) complete root restriction in a 1.0 L volume capacity pot, (2) complete root restriction in a 1.5 L volume capacity pot, (3) partial root restriction in Rockwool-like cultivation, otherwise referred to as Cocowool, and (4) No root restriction in a trough containing 1.5 L of the substrate. The experiment was laid out in a 2 x 4 factorial in a randomized complete block. Results showed that partial root restriction in Cocowool and unrestricted roots in the trough produced the highest tomato yield and total dry matter compared to the plants that received complete root restrictions in the 1.0 and 1.5 L pots. However, the tomato’s total soluble solids increased with a complete root restriction in the 1.0 L pot. Reducing the extent of root restriction increased the yield and total dry matter of tomato. With the LN&HD, a small amount of substrate could be used (at a reduced cost) with a partial root restriction to increase the yield of tropical tomato cultivars grown in Ghana.Item Impact of sugarcane bagasse mulching boards on soil erosion and carrot productivity(Catena, 2021) Yakubu, A.; Sabi, E.B.; Onwona-Agyeman, S.; Takada, H.; Watanabe, H.Sustainable crop production depends primarily on water and nutrients among other inputs. Mulching improves soil moisture and nutrient conservation as well as ameliorates soil erosion. We conducted two different experiments to examine the impact of mulch on soil erosion and the productivity of carrot (Daucus carota L.). Mulch used were sugarcane bagasse boards (SBB) and sugarcane bagasse chips (SBC). Each experiment consisted of three treatments in a completely randomized design with three replications. The first experiment under rainfall simulation consisted of 2 SBB and 4 SBB representing 25 and 50% soil surface coverage and no sugarcane bagasse (NSB) represented the control. Treatments in the second experiment were SBB, SBC, and NSB. The 4 SBB and 2 SBB significantly decreased (p < 0.05) erosion by 1.74 Mg ha 1 and 1.57 Mg ha 1. However, there was no significant difference in mitigating erosion between the 4 SBB and 2 SBB. Compared to NSB, 4 SBB and 2 SBB again decreased runoff rate by 223 and 23%. There was no significant improvement in soil moisture retention, temperature, carrot yield, and water productivity under either mulch. Weed growth was significantly reduced at 104 and 72% by SBB and SBC. The yield gap between SBB and SBC was only 18.75%. Unlike the particulate SBC which is susceptible to erosion during runoff, the bulky SBB cannot easily be eroded by runoff. Hence the SBB was recommended for farmers due to its significant impact on ameliorating runoff and erosion, as well as curtailing weed growth under carrot production.Item Effect of rice straw biochar and irrigation on growth, dry matter yield and radiation-use efficiency of maize grown on an Acrisol in Ghana(journal of agronomy and crop science, 2019-11-18) Danso, E.O.; Yakubu, A.; Arthur, E.; Sabi, E.B.; Abenney-Mickson, S.; Andersen, M.N.In order to determine whether the current low productivity associated with rainfed cultivation on degraded soils in Ghana can be improved by biochar amendment and irrigation, field experiments with maize were conducted over two seasons in 2017 and 2018. Rice straw biochar at rates of 0 t/ha (B0), 15 t/ha (B15) and 30 t/ha (B30) was combined with irrigation regimes of full irrigation (I100), deficit irrigation (I60) and no irrigation (I0). The I100 treatment was irrigated to field capacity every 3–4 days according to time domain reflectometry measurements while the I60 treatment received 60% of the irrigation amount given to I100 but with the same irrigation frequency. The I0 treatment was not irrigated. In both seasons, the B30 treatment recorded the highest total dry matter yield (TDMY), intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR) and radiation-use efficiency (RUE) and these were significantly (p ≤ .05) higher than B0 except for RUE in 2017. Irrigation regimes did not significantly affect TDMY, IPAR and RUE in 2017 but compared to I100, I0 significantly reduced TDMY, IPAR and RUE in the relatively dryer 2018 season. Measured ratio vegetation indices differentiated biochar treatments earlier in the 2018 season than during 2017 and increase of leaf chlorophyll content indices with biochar rate in both seasons indicated that biochar amendment improved nitrogen uptake. Our study demonstrated that rice straw biochar is capable of increasing TDMY, IPAR and RUE of maize grown on degraded soils in Ghana. The study further showed that TDMY, IPAR and RUE of deficit irrigated maize for two seasons were similar to the counterpart fully irrigated maize and may be a viable water management option for farmers in Ghana to save irrigation water resourcesItem Evaluating the effects of storage conditions on dry matter loss and nutritional quality of grain legume fodders in West Africa(Animal Feed Science and Technology, 2020-01-21) Adjei-Nsiah, S.; Akakpo, D.B.; De Boer, I.J.M.; Duncan, A.J.; Giller, K.E.; Oosting, S.J.Feed scarcity is a major challenge for livestock production in West Africa, especially during the dry season when grass quality and quantity on grazing lands are inadequate. In the dry season, crop residues are a key source of livestock feed. The residues of grain legumes, also known as grain legume fodders (GLFs), are stored and traded for feeding in the dry season. The objectives of our experiment were to evaluate the effects of storage conditions and duration on dry matter (DM) and nutritional quality of GLFs, and to assess the risk of aflatoxin in stored groundnut fodder. The experiment was designed as a factorial trial with 18 treatment combinations with four replicates (4 farms). The treatments included: 3 types of GLFs (cowpea, groundnut and soybean fodder), 3 types of storage locations (rooftop, room and tree-fork) and 2 types of packaging (packed in polythene sacks and unpacked but tied with rope). Over a 120 day storage period, DM quantity reduced by an average of 24 % across all storage conditions, showing a range from 14 % in the best condition (sacks and rooms) to 35 % in the worst condition (bundles tied with rope and stored on rooftops or tree-forks). Soybean fodder had no leaves, the lowest crude protein content (CP) and organic matter digestibility (OMD), and the highest content of cell wall components compared to cowpea and groundnut fodder. These nutritional quality parameters in soybean fodder hardly changed during storage. Cowpea and groundnut fodder showed a decrease in leaf-to-stem ratio (LSR), CP and OMD, and an increase in the content of cell wall components during storage, but their nutritional value remained better than that of soybean fodder. Storage in sacks resulted in less DM loss, in less reduction of LSR and in a smaller increase of the content of cell wall components than storage of bundles tied with rope. Our study shows that the DM loss, the decrease in LSR, and the increase in the content of cell wall components can be prevented partly by storing GLFs in sacks instead of tying bundles with rope, and to a minor extent by storing in rooms instead of in the open air. Aflatoxin was not detectable in the groundnut fodder samples. Our results highlight that attention to storage conditions can improve the feeding value of GLFs which are key for livestock nutrition during the dry season.Item Impact of rice straw biochar and irrigation on maize yield, intercepted radiation and water productivity in a tropical sandy clay loam(Field Crops Research, 2019-09-28) Danso, E.O.; Yakubu, A.; Darrah, Y.O.K.; Arthur, E.; Manevski, K.; Sabi, E.B.; Abenney-Mickson, S.; Ofori, K.; Plauborg, F.; Andersen, N.M.Continuous cultivation of staple crops to feed a growing population in the semi-deciduous agro-ecological zone of eastern Ghana (SDAG) has led to degraded soils and decreased crop yields. Biochar constitutes a potential remedy as it is often reported to improve soil health and increase crop yield of infertile soils. We thus conducted an experiment over two seasons to evaluate the impact of rice straw biochar on yield, radiation interception and water productivity of maize grown in the SDAG. The biochar was incorporated into the soil at rates of 0, 15 and 30 t ha−1 under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions. Maize grain yield (GY), accumulated intercepted photosynthetic active radiation (IPAR) and water productivity (WP) were compared among treatments. Regardless of season, the highest GY, IPAR and WP were achieved in plots amended with 30 t ha−1 biochar. A biochar rate of 30 t ha−1 increased grain yield by 17% and 36% and IPAR by 19% and 25% in 2017 and 2018 seasons, respectively, compared to a no biochar control. For both seasons, maize GY for the 15 t ha−1 treatment was statistically similar to that of 0 t ha−1 treatment whether irrigated or not. Irrigation increased grain yield by 9% and IPAR by 3% in 2017 and with 30% and 17%, respectively, in the dryer 2018 season. The effects of biochar and irrigation were additive. Water productivity from the 30 t ha−1 treatment was significantly higher in the non-irrigated than in the irrigated plots. Overall, in the SDAG, a biochar soil amendment rate of 30 t ha−1 might be a viable solution for farmers to increase yield and enhance water productivity of maize. Future studies should focus on the effect of biochar on the soil and crops over a longer time span in order to recommend viable management options to the farmers in SDAG.Item Effect of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) water of different fruit maturity stages on axillary bud initiation, growth and development of plantain (Musa AAB.)(Journal of Applied Horticulture, 2018-01) Mintah, L.O.; Arhin, L.; Ofosu-Anim, J.; Nkansah, G.O.The effect of endogenous content of cytokinin (trans- zeatin riboside, T-ZR) and auxin (indole-3-acetic acid, IAA) in coconut water from fruits at four different fruit maturity stages: liquid endosperm, solid endosperm formation stage, semi matured endosperm stage and fully matured dried fruit stage on proliferation of axillary bud initiation and development of local plantain cultivar (cv. Asamienu, Musa AAB) was investigated at the University of Ghana Forest and Horticultural Crops Research Centre, Kade. The results indicated that the IAA content decreased while the T-ZR content increased with fruit maturity. Three weeks after treatments, the highest number of well-differentiated axillary buds was obtained for suckers treated with coconut water from fruits at liquid endosperm formation stage whilst the highest number of fully developed plantlets was produced from treatments with coconut water at semi-endosperm formation stage. One month after the application of the split corm technique, the highest number of additional well-differentiated axillary buds and fully developed plantlets were produced from treatments with coconut water at the liquid endosperm formation stage. In general, treatments with coconut water from fully matured dried fruits produced the largest and the most vigorously growing plantlets. © 2018 Society for Advancement of Horticulture. All rights reserved.Item Social network to inform and prevent the spread of cocoa swollen shoot virus disease in Ghana(Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 2018-10) Andres, C.; Hoerler, R.; Home, R.; Joerin, J.; Dzahini-Obiatey, H.K.; Ameyaw, G.A.; Domfeh, O.; Blaser, W.J.; Gattinger, A.; Offei, S.K.; Six, J.The cocoa swollen shoot virus disease is a major factor limiting cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) productivity for West African farmers. The only treatment against this disease is to cut infected trees and replant with disease-free planting material. Research has recommended the prevention measures: (i) cordon sanitaire (leaving 10-m-wide cocoa-free zone around cocoa), (ii) barrier cropping, (iii) using partly tolerant hybrids, and (iv) removing specific alternative host tree species. Here, we evaluate the current adoption of these measures and identify their adoption constraints. We conducted a quantitative survey with 396 farmers in the Eastern and Western Regions of Ghana, held six focus group discussions and hosted a multi-stakeholder validation workshop with 31 key actors in the cocoa value chain. Our results indicate that the adoption of prevention measure against the disease remains limited. Farmers with a more extensive social network (number of family members/close friends who already adopted a particular measure), a larger farm size, more secure land tenure rights, and more knowledge about the measures were more likely to adopt them, especially barrier cropping, hybrid seedlings, and removing alternative host trees. Lack of knowledge about the measures was the single biggest barrier for their adoption, with 51% of the participating farmers not even being aware of any prevention measures. Here, we show for the first time that the social network is the main information source for farmers, which agrees with the finding that the flow of information between farmers and other stakeholders is a critical factor affecting knowledge spread and consequently adoption. Our results provide crucial insights for the elaboration of an implementation action plan to boost the dissemination of feasible prevention measures against the cocoa swollen shoot virus disease in Ghana in order to efficiently cover farmers’ needs for information (technical advice) and inputs (access to hybrid seedlings).