Robert Abaidoo - Profile on Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Robert Abaidoo
Dietary Risk Assessment Due to the Consumption of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon in Two Commonly Consumed Street Vended Foods
Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds
Antibiotic Uptake by Plant Model
Environmental Modeling & Assessment
Agronomic and economic benefits of integrated nutrient management options for cowpea production
Experimental Agriculture
The limitation of soil amendments and insufficient and irregular rainfall are the main factors ac... more The limitation of soil amendments and insufficient and irregular rainfall are the main factors accounting for the decline in crop yields in the Sahelian low-input cropping systems. This study explored the agronomic and economic responses of integrated use of millet glume-derived compost with synthetic fertilizer in cowpea-based cropping system. A two-year field experiment was laid out as factorial design arranged in randomized complete blocks with three rates of compost (0, 4000, and 8000 kg ha−1) and three rates of recommended synthetic fertilizer (0, 50, and 100%). Cowpea grain yield increased markedly with combined application of compost and synthetic fertilizer. The combined use of compost applied at 8000 kg ha−1 and 50% of the recommended rate of synthetic fertilizer increased cowpea grain yield by 51% compared to the application of 100% of the recommended rate of synthetic fertilizer. The rainwater use efficiency (RaUE) increased by 52 and 49% with the combined application of ...
Combined application of inoculant, phosphorus and organic manure improves grain yield of cowpea
Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science
Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
Soybean yields on smallholder farms in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) are far below the potential yield ... more Soybean yields on smallholder farms in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) are far below the potential yield thus creating a huge yield gap. Interventions are thus needed to bridge this yield gap and ascertain the factors influencing the yield variation. This study evaluated the on farm response of soybean to rhizobia inoculation and or mineral P fertilizer in Northern and Upper West regions of Ghana in a single non-replicate trial using four treatments: no input (control), TSP fertilizer (P), rhizobia inoculant (I) and TSP plus inoculant (P + I). In addition, the study sought to develop a robust approach for determining responsiveness and non-responsiveness using agronomic and economic indices. The results showed that the average grain yield of plots that received P or I were higher than control plots. Higher grain yield responses were however, obtained by the plots that received combined application of P and Bradyrhizobium inoculant. Grain yield response in the Northern region was higher than in the Upper West region. Response to P and or I were highly variable within and between locations. The cumulative rainfall and some soil factors including soil nitrogen, phosphorus, soil type, organic carbon, pH and texture explained about 42-79% of these variations in soybean grain yield. The agronomic approach for determining responsive and non-responsiveness revealed that 17-40 % and 6-17% of the locations within the Northern and Upper West regions, respectively were responsive to P fertilization and/ or Bradyrhizobium inoculation. However, the economic approach indicated that 64-75% and 14-24% of the locations within the Northern and Upper West regions, respectively were responsive to P fertilization and Bradyrhizobium inoculation. The results imply that rhizobia inoculation is an effective strategy for increasing soybean yield and improving livelihood of smallholder farmers.
Probabilistic modeling for an integrated temporary acquired immunity with norovirus epidemiological data
Infectious Disease Modelling
HortScience
The growth and nutrient accumulation responses of taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott, cv. Bun ... more The growth and nutrient accumulation responses of taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott, cv. Bun long] to varying sodium chloride concentrations were studied in an aerated hydroponic system. Vegetative propagules were grown at seven levels of NaCl (0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 mm) for 43 days. We estimated the NaCl tolerance threshold (95% of maximum growth) to be at 4.9 mm solution NaCl. Relative dry-matter yield decreased 1.6% per mm increase in solution NaCl above 4.9. These values for tolerance threshold and response slope led us to classify this taro cultivar as sensitive to salinity. As solution NaCl levels increased, Na concentration in petiole and root tissues increased, but not in lamina (leaf blade) tissues. This implies the existence of an effective mechanism for excluding excess Na, in spite of a lack of tolerance to solution NaCl in terms of growth response. Chloride concentration increased in all plant tissues with increasing solution NaCl levels; the greatest increase...
Journal of Scientific Research and Reports
Background: The call for use of improved Soil Fertility Management (SFM) technologies is a prereq... more Background: The call for use of improved Soil Fertility Management (SFM) technologies is a prerequisite to increase agricultural productivity among farmers. This study assessed farmers' willingness to pay (WTP) for selected financially rewarding biofertilizer technologies/packages for legume production in northern Ghana. Primary data was elicited from 400 grain legume farmers selected from Northern and Upper West Regions of Ghana through a simple random sampling technique. The double bounded dichotomous choice (DBDC) format of contingent valuation approach was employed to elicit willingness to pay values and determinants of farmers WTP was evaluated using the maximum likelihood estimation procedure. Results: The results showed that about 60%, 25% and 46% of soya, cowpea and groundnuts farmers were willing to pay for the selected biofertilizers (Biofix, BR3267 and Legumefix respectively) at prices not exceeding GHC 14.00, GHC 28.00 and GHC 20.00 per 0.2kg of the Original Research Article
Is there a need for Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense and B. japonicum reinoculation in subsequent cropping seasons under smallholder farmers’ conditions?
Applied Soil Ecology
Asssesing the effectiveness and impact of agricultural water management interventions: the case of small reservoirs in northern Ghana
Agricultural Water Management
{"__content__"=>"Bacteria related to from Ghana are effective groundnut micro-symbionts.", "i"=>{"__content__"=>"Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense"}}
Applied soil ecology : a section of Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 2018
The identification of locally-adapted rhizobia for effective inoculation of grain legumes in Afri... more The identification of locally-adapted rhizobia for effective inoculation of grain legumes in Africa's semiarid regions is strategic for developing and optimizing cheap nitrogen fixation technologies for smallholder farmers. This study was aimed at selecting and characterising effective native rhizobia, from Ghanaian soils for groundnut ( L.) inoculation. From surface-disinfected root nodules of cowpea and groundnut plants grown on farmers' fields, 150 bacterial isolates were obtained, 30 of which were eventually found to nodulate groundnut plants. After testing the symbiotic potential of these isolates on groundnut on sterilized substrate, seven of them, designated as KNUST 1001-1007, were evaluated in an open field pot experiment using N-labelled soil. Although N dilution analyses did not indicate differences among treatments in the proportion of nitrogen (N) derived from the atmosphere (%Ndfa), all seven strains increased total N derived from N fixation by inoculated groun...
Occurrence and risk assessment of antibiotics in water and lettuce in Ghana
The Science of the total environment, Jan 4, 2017
Hospital wastewater and effluents from waste stabilization ponds in Kumasi, Ghana, are directly d... more Hospital wastewater and effluents from waste stabilization ponds in Kumasi, Ghana, are directly discharged as low quality water into nearby streams which are eventually used to irrigate vegetables. The presence of 12 commonly used antibiotics in Ghana (metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, trimethoprim, ampicillin, cefuroxime, sulfamethoxazole, amoxicillin, tetracycline, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline and doxycycline) were investigated in water and lettuce samples collected in three different areas in Kumasi, Ghana. The water samples were from hospital wastewater, wastewater stabilization ponds, rivers and irrigation water, while the lettuce samples were from vegetable farms and market vendors. Antibiotics in water samples were extracted using SPE while antibiotics in lettuce samples were extracted using accelerated solvent extraction followed by SPE. All extracted antibiotics samples were analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS. All studied compounds were detected in concentrations signif...
Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering B
A field experiment was conducted at Kpongu in the Upper West region of Ghana to determine the add... more 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 kgha-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 kgha-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.
Frontiers in Plant Science
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is a major source of dietary protein and essential component of the cr... more Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is a major source of dietary protein and essential component of the cropping systems in semi-arid regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. However, yields are very low due to lack of improved cultivars, poor management practices, and limited inputs use. The objectives of this study were to assess the effects of rhizobia inoculant and P on nodulation, N accumulation and yield of two cowpea cultivars in Mozambique. Field study was conducted in three contrasting environments during the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons using randomized complete block design with four replications and four treatments. Treatments consisted of seed inoculation, application of 40 kg P 2 O 5 ha −1 , inoculation + P, and a non-inoculated control. The most probable number (MPN) technique was used to estimate the indigenous bradyrhizobia populations at the experimental sites. The rhizobia numbers at the sites varied from 5.27 × 10 2 to 1.07 × 10 3 cells g −1 soil. Inoculation increased nodule number by 34-76% and doubled nodule dry weight (78 to 160 mg plant −1). P application improved nodulation and interacted positively with the inoculant. Inoculation, P, and inoculant + P increased shoot dry weight, and shoot and grain N content across locations but increases in number of pods plant −1 , seeds pod −1 , and 100-seed weight were not consistent among treatments across locations. Shoot N content was consistently high for the inoculated plants and also for the inoculated + P fertilized plants, whereas the non-inoculated control plants had the lowest tissue N content. P uptake in shoot ranged from 1.72 to 3.77 g kg −1 and was higher for plants that received P fertilizer alone. Inoculation and P either alone or in combination consistently increased cowpea grain yield across locations with yields ranging from 1097 kg ha −1 for the non-inoculated control to 1674 kg ha −1 for the inoculant + P treatment. Grain protein concentration followed a similar trend as grain yield and ranged from 223 to 252 g kg −1 but a negative correlation between grain yield and protein concentration was observed. Inoculation increased net returns by $104-163 ha −1 over that for the control. The results demonstrate the potential of improving cowpea grain yield, quality and profitability using inoculant, although the cost-benefit for using P at the current fertilizer price is not attractive except when applied together with inoculant at low P site.
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Wastewater irrigation is associated with several benefits but can also lead to significant health... more Wastewater irrigation is associated with several benefits but can also lead to significant health risks. The health risk for contracting infections from Soil Transmitted Helminths (STHs) among farmers has mainly been assessed indirectly through measured quantities in the wastewater or on the crops alone and only on a limited scale through epidemiological assessments. In this study we broadened the concept of infection risks in the exposure assessments by measurements of the concentration of STHs both in wastewater used for irrigation and the soil, as well as the actual load of STHs ova in the stool of farmers and their family members (165 and 127 in the wet and dry seasons respectively) and a control group of non-farmers (100 and 52 in the wet and dry seasons, respectively). Odds ratios were calculated for exposure and non-exposure to wastewater irrigation. The results obtained indicate positive correlation between STH concentrations in irrigation water/soil and STHs ova as measured in the stool of the exposed farmer population. The correlations are based on reinfection during a 3 months period after prior confirmed deworming. Farmers and family members exposed to irrigation water were three times more likely as compared to the control group of non-farmers to be infected with Ascaris (OR = 3.9, 95% CI, 1.15-13.86) and hookworm (OR = 3.07, 95% CI, 0.87-10.82). This study therefore contributes to the evidence-based conclusion that wastewater irrigation contributes to a higher incidence of STHs infection for farmers exposed annually, with higher odds of infection in the wet season.
Field Crops Research
Smallholder farmers in the Guinea savanna practise cereal-legume intercropping to mitigate risks ... more 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 productivity 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 intercropping patterns and soil fertility status on resource use efficiency, crop productivity and economic profitability 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 absolute grain yields of soybean resulted in larger net benefits.
Plant Breeding, 2017
Freely nodulating soybean genotypes vary in their phosphorus (P) uptake and P-use efficiency (PUE... more Freely nodulating soybean genotypes vary in their phosphorus (P) uptake and P-use efficiency (PUE) in low-P soils. Understanding the genetic basis of these genotypes' performance is essential for effective breeding. To study the inheritance of PUE, we conducted crosses using two high-PUE genotypes, two moderate-PUE genotypes and two inefficient-PUE genotypes, and obtained F 1 , F 2, BC 1 and BC 2 populations. The inheritance of PUE was evaluated using a randomized complete block design. A generation mean analysis of phenotypic data showed that PUE was heritable, with complex inheritance patterns and the presence of additive, dominance and epistatic gene effects. Seed P, shoot P, root P, P-incorporation efficiency and PUE were largely quantitatively inherited traits. There were dominance, additive 9 additive and dominance 9 dominance gene effects on PUE, grain yield, shoot dry weight, 100-seed weight, root dry weight and shoot dry matter per unit P for populations grown under low-P conditions. Dominance effects were generally greater than additive effects on PUE-related indices. These PUE indices can be used to select P-efficient soybean genotypes from segregating populations.
Frontiers in Plant Science, 2016
This study evaluated the symbiotic effectiveness and economic evaluation of Rhizobium inoculants ... more This study evaluated the symbiotic effectiveness and economic evaluation of Rhizobium inoculants with the objective of recommending the most effective inoculant strain for soybean and cowpea production in Northern Ghana. Field experiments were established in three locations using randomized complete block design with five blocks. A total of four treatments (Legumefix, Biofix, 100 kg N ha −1 and uninoculated control for soybean and BR 3267, BR 3262, 100 kg N ha −1 and uninoculated control for cowpea) were applied. At Nyankpala, inoculation of soybean with Legumefix and Biofix led to significant (P < 0.05) increases in nodule number (90-118%), nodule dry weight (>twofolds), and grain yield (12-19%) relative to the control. The Biofix effect on soybean grain yield was 1.5-fold of Legumefix. Similarly, inoculation of cowpea with BR 3262 and BR 3267 significantly (P < 0.05) increased nodule number (41-68%), nodule dry weight (45-65%), and grain yield (11-38%) relative to the control. Strain BR 3267 performed consistently (>two-folds) better than BR 3262 on grain yield. At Nyagli, there was no significant effect of inoculation on cowpea. Wilks lambda values (0.067, 0.039; P = 0.00) indicated that 93.3 and 96.1% of the variations observed in soybean and cowpea, respectively, were due to the applied inoculants. Biofix and BR 3267 were economically profitable with VCR ratio of 8.7 and 4.6, respectively. Based on grain yield and economic returns observed, Biofix and BR 3267 can be recommended in Nyankpala for inoculation of soybean and cowpea, respectively.
Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 2016
Over the years, a scarcity of information on nutrient gains or losses has led to overemphasis bei... more Over the years, a scarcity of information on nutrient gains or losses has led to overemphasis being placed on crop yields and economic income as the direct benefits from fertilizer micro-dosing technology. There is increasing concern about the sustainability of this technology in smallholder Sahelian cropping systems. This study was designed in the 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons to establish nutrient balances under fertilizer micro-dosing technology and their implications on soil nutrient stocks. Two fertilizer micro-dosing treatments [2 g hill −1 of diammonium phosphate (DAP) and 6 g hill −1 of compound fertilizer Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium (NPK) (15-15-15)] and three rates of manure (100 g hill −1 , 200 g hill −1 and 300 g hill −1) and the relevant control treatments were arranged in a factorial experiment organized in a randomized complete block design with three replications. On average, millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) grain yield increased by 39 and 72% for the plots that received the fertilizer micro-dosing of 6 g NPK hill −1 and 2 g DAP hill −1 , respectively, in comparison with the unfertilized control plots. The average partial nutrients balances for the two cropping seasons were −37 kg N ha −1 yr −1 , −1 kg P ha −1 yr −1 and −34 kg K ha −1 yr −1 in plots that received the application of 2 g DAP hill −1 , and −31 kg N ha −1 yr −1 , −1 kg P ha −1 yr −1 and −27 kg K ha −1 yr −1 for 6 g NPK hill −1. The transfer of straw yields accounted for 66% N, 55% P and 89% K for removal. The average full nutrient balances for the two cropping seasons in fertilizer microdosing treatments were −47.8 kg N ha −1 yr −1 , −6.8 kg P ha −1 yr −1 and −21.3 kg K ha −1 yr −1 which represent 7.8, 24.1 and 9.4% of N, P and K stocks, respectively. The nutrient stock to balance ratio (NSB) for N decreased from 13 to 11 and from 15 to 12 for the plots that received the application of 2 g DAP hill −1 and 6 g NPK hill −1 , respectively. The average NSB for P did not exceed 5 for the same plots. It was concluded that fertilizer micro-dosing increases the risk of soil nutrient depletion in the Sahelian low-input cropping system. These results have important implications for developing an agro-ecological approach to addressing sustainable food production in the Sahelian smallholder cropping system.
Variability of yam (Dioscorea spp.) genotypes in root colonization by Arbuscular mycorrhiza in the yam belt of Nigeria
8Th African Crop Science Society Conference El Minia Egypt 27 31 October 2007, 2007
Dietary Risk Assessment Due to the Consumption of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon in Two Commonly Consumed Street Vended Foods
Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds
Antibiotic Uptake by Plant Model
Environmental Modeling & Assessment
Agronomic and economic benefits of integrated nutrient management options for cowpea production
Experimental Agriculture
The limitation of soil amendments and insufficient and irregular rainfall are the main factors ac... more The limitation of soil amendments and insufficient and irregular rainfall are the main factors accounting for the decline in crop yields in the Sahelian low-input cropping systems. This study explored the agronomic and economic responses of integrated use of millet glume-derived compost with synthetic fertilizer in cowpea-based cropping system. A two-year field experiment was laid out as factorial design arranged in randomized complete blocks with three rates of compost (0, 4000, and 8000 kg ha−1) and three rates of recommended synthetic fertilizer (0, 50, and 100%). Cowpea grain yield increased markedly with combined application of compost and synthetic fertilizer. The combined use of compost applied at 8000 kg ha−1 and 50% of the recommended rate of synthetic fertilizer increased cowpea grain yield by 51% compared to the application of 100% of the recommended rate of synthetic fertilizer. The rainwater use efficiency (RaUE) increased by 52 and 49% with the combined application of ...
Combined application of inoculant, phosphorus and organic manure improves grain yield of cowpea
Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science
Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
Soybean yields on smallholder farms in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) are far below the potential yield ... more Soybean yields on smallholder farms in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) are far below the potential yield thus creating a huge yield gap. Interventions are thus needed to bridge this yield gap and ascertain the factors influencing the yield variation. This study evaluated the on farm response of soybean to rhizobia inoculation and or mineral P fertilizer in Northern and Upper West regions of Ghana in a single non-replicate trial using four treatments: no input (control), TSP fertilizer (P), rhizobia inoculant (I) and TSP plus inoculant (P + I). In addition, the study sought to develop a robust approach for determining responsiveness and non-responsiveness using agronomic and economic indices. The results showed that the average grain yield of plots that received P or I were higher than control plots. Higher grain yield responses were however, obtained by the plots that received combined application of P and Bradyrhizobium inoculant. Grain yield response in the Northern region was higher than in the Upper West region. Response to P and or I were highly variable within and between locations. The cumulative rainfall and some soil factors including soil nitrogen, phosphorus, soil type, organic carbon, pH and texture explained about 42-79% of these variations in soybean grain yield. The agronomic approach for determining responsive and non-responsiveness revealed that 17-40 % and 6-17% of the locations within the Northern and Upper West regions, respectively were responsive to P fertilization and/ or Bradyrhizobium inoculation. However, the economic approach indicated that 64-75% and 14-24% of the locations within the Northern and Upper West regions, respectively were responsive to P fertilization and Bradyrhizobium inoculation. The results imply that rhizobia inoculation is an effective strategy for increasing soybean yield and improving livelihood of smallholder farmers.
Probabilistic modeling for an integrated temporary acquired immunity with norovirus epidemiological data
Infectious Disease Modelling
HortScience
The growth and nutrient accumulation responses of taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott, cv. Bun ... more The growth and nutrient accumulation responses of taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott, cv. Bun long] to varying sodium chloride concentrations were studied in an aerated hydroponic system. Vegetative propagules were grown at seven levels of NaCl (0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 mm) for 43 days. We estimated the NaCl tolerance threshold (95% of maximum growth) to be at 4.9 mm solution NaCl. Relative dry-matter yield decreased 1.6% per mm increase in solution NaCl above 4.9. These values for tolerance threshold and response slope led us to classify this taro cultivar as sensitive to salinity. As solution NaCl levels increased, Na concentration in petiole and root tissues increased, but not in lamina (leaf blade) tissues. This implies the existence of an effective mechanism for excluding excess Na, in spite of a lack of tolerance to solution NaCl in terms of growth response. Chloride concentration increased in all plant tissues with increasing solution NaCl levels; the greatest increase...
Journal of Scientific Research and Reports
Background: The call for use of improved Soil Fertility Management (SFM) technologies is a prereq... more Background: The call for use of improved Soil Fertility Management (SFM) technologies is a prerequisite to increase agricultural productivity among farmers. This study assessed farmers' willingness to pay (WTP) for selected financially rewarding biofertilizer technologies/packages for legume production in northern Ghana. Primary data was elicited from 400 grain legume farmers selected from Northern and Upper West Regions of Ghana through a simple random sampling technique. The double bounded dichotomous choice (DBDC) format of contingent valuation approach was employed to elicit willingness to pay values and determinants of farmers WTP was evaluated using the maximum likelihood estimation procedure. Results: The results showed that about 60%, 25% and 46% of soya, cowpea and groundnuts farmers were willing to pay for the selected biofertilizers (Biofix, BR3267 and Legumefix respectively) at prices not exceeding GHC 14.00, GHC 28.00 and GHC 20.00 per 0.2kg of the Original Research Article
Is there a need for Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense and B. japonicum reinoculation in subsequent cropping seasons under smallholder farmers’ conditions?
Applied Soil Ecology
Asssesing the effectiveness and impact of agricultural water management interventions: the case of small reservoirs in northern Ghana
Agricultural Water Management
{"__content__"=>"Bacteria related to from Ghana are effective groundnut micro-symbionts.", "i"=>{"__content__"=>"Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense"}}
Applied soil ecology : a section of Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 2018
The identification of locally-adapted rhizobia for effective inoculation of grain legumes in Afri... more The identification of locally-adapted rhizobia for effective inoculation of grain legumes in Africa's semiarid regions is strategic for developing and optimizing cheap nitrogen fixation technologies for smallholder farmers. This study was aimed at selecting and characterising effective native rhizobia, from Ghanaian soils for groundnut ( L.) inoculation. From surface-disinfected root nodules of cowpea and groundnut plants grown on farmers' fields, 150 bacterial isolates were obtained, 30 of which were eventually found to nodulate groundnut plants. After testing the symbiotic potential of these isolates on groundnut on sterilized substrate, seven of them, designated as KNUST 1001-1007, were evaluated in an open field pot experiment using N-labelled soil. Although N dilution analyses did not indicate differences among treatments in the proportion of nitrogen (N) derived from the atmosphere (%Ndfa), all seven strains increased total N derived from N fixation by inoculated groun...
Occurrence and risk assessment of antibiotics in water and lettuce in Ghana
The Science of the total environment, Jan 4, 2017
Hospital wastewater and effluents from waste stabilization ponds in Kumasi, Ghana, are directly d... more Hospital wastewater and effluents from waste stabilization ponds in Kumasi, Ghana, are directly discharged as low quality water into nearby streams which are eventually used to irrigate vegetables. The presence of 12 commonly used antibiotics in Ghana (metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, trimethoprim, ampicillin, cefuroxime, sulfamethoxazole, amoxicillin, tetracycline, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline and doxycycline) were investigated in water and lettuce samples collected in three different areas in Kumasi, Ghana. The water samples were from hospital wastewater, wastewater stabilization ponds, rivers and irrigation water, while the lettuce samples were from vegetable farms and market vendors. Antibiotics in water samples were extracted using SPE while antibiotics in lettuce samples were extracted using accelerated solvent extraction followed by SPE. All extracted antibiotics samples were analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS. All studied compounds were detected in concentrations signif...
Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering B
A field experiment was conducted at Kpongu in the Upper West region of Ghana to determine the add... more 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 kgha-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 kgha-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.
Frontiers in Plant Science
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is a major source of dietary protein and essential component of the cr... more Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is a major source of dietary protein and essential component of the cropping systems in semi-arid regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. However, yields are very low due to lack of improved cultivars, poor management practices, and limited inputs use. The objectives of this study were to assess the effects of rhizobia inoculant and P on nodulation, N accumulation and yield of two cowpea cultivars in Mozambique. Field study was conducted in three contrasting environments during the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons using randomized complete block design with four replications and four treatments. Treatments consisted of seed inoculation, application of 40 kg P 2 O 5 ha −1 , inoculation + P, and a non-inoculated control. The most probable number (MPN) technique was used to estimate the indigenous bradyrhizobia populations at the experimental sites. The rhizobia numbers at the sites varied from 5.27 × 10 2 to 1.07 × 10 3 cells g −1 soil. Inoculation increased nodule number by 34-76% and doubled nodule dry weight (78 to 160 mg plant −1). P application improved nodulation and interacted positively with the inoculant. Inoculation, P, and inoculant + P increased shoot dry weight, and shoot and grain N content across locations but increases in number of pods plant −1 , seeds pod −1 , and 100-seed weight were not consistent among treatments across locations. Shoot N content was consistently high for the inoculated plants and also for the inoculated + P fertilized plants, whereas the non-inoculated control plants had the lowest tissue N content. P uptake in shoot ranged from 1.72 to 3.77 g kg −1 and was higher for plants that received P fertilizer alone. Inoculation and P either alone or in combination consistently increased cowpea grain yield across locations with yields ranging from 1097 kg ha −1 for the non-inoculated control to 1674 kg ha −1 for the inoculant + P treatment. Grain protein concentration followed a similar trend as grain yield and ranged from 223 to 252 g kg −1 but a negative correlation between grain yield and protein concentration was observed. Inoculation increased net returns by $104-163 ha −1 over that for the control. The results demonstrate the potential of improving cowpea grain yield, quality and profitability using inoculant, although the cost-benefit for using P at the current fertilizer price is not attractive except when applied together with inoculant at low P site.
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Wastewater irrigation is associated with several benefits but can also lead to significant health... more Wastewater irrigation is associated with several benefits but can also lead to significant health risks. The health risk for contracting infections from Soil Transmitted Helminths (STHs) among farmers has mainly been assessed indirectly through measured quantities in the wastewater or on the crops alone and only on a limited scale through epidemiological assessments. In this study we broadened the concept of infection risks in the exposure assessments by measurements of the concentration of STHs both in wastewater used for irrigation and the soil, as well as the actual load of STHs ova in the stool of farmers and their family members (165 and 127 in the wet and dry seasons respectively) and a control group of non-farmers (100 and 52 in the wet and dry seasons, respectively). Odds ratios were calculated for exposure and non-exposure to wastewater irrigation. The results obtained indicate positive correlation between STH concentrations in irrigation water/soil and STHs ova as measured in the stool of the exposed farmer population. The correlations are based on reinfection during a 3 months period after prior confirmed deworming. Farmers and family members exposed to irrigation water were three times more likely as compared to the control group of non-farmers to be infected with Ascaris (OR = 3.9, 95% CI, 1.15-13.86) and hookworm (OR = 3.07, 95% CI, 0.87-10.82). This study therefore contributes to the evidence-based conclusion that wastewater irrigation contributes to a higher incidence of STHs infection for farmers exposed annually, with higher odds of infection in the wet season.
Field Crops Research
Smallholder farmers in the Guinea savanna practise cereal-legume intercropping to mitigate risks ... more 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 productivity 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 intercropping patterns and soil fertility status on resource use efficiency, crop productivity and economic profitability 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 absolute grain yields of soybean resulted in larger net benefits.
Plant Breeding, 2017
Freely nodulating soybean genotypes vary in their phosphorus (P) uptake and P-use efficiency (PUE... more Freely nodulating soybean genotypes vary in their phosphorus (P) uptake and P-use efficiency (PUE) in low-P soils. Understanding the genetic basis of these genotypes' performance is essential for effective breeding. To study the inheritance of PUE, we conducted crosses using two high-PUE genotypes, two moderate-PUE genotypes and two inefficient-PUE genotypes, and obtained F 1 , F 2, BC 1 and BC 2 populations. The inheritance of PUE was evaluated using a randomized complete block design. A generation mean analysis of phenotypic data showed that PUE was heritable, with complex inheritance patterns and the presence of additive, dominance and epistatic gene effects. Seed P, shoot P, root P, P-incorporation efficiency and PUE were largely quantitatively inherited traits. There were dominance, additive 9 additive and dominance 9 dominance gene effects on PUE, grain yield, shoot dry weight, 100-seed weight, root dry weight and shoot dry matter per unit P for populations grown under low-P conditions. Dominance effects were generally greater than additive effects on PUE-related indices. These PUE indices can be used to select P-efficient soybean genotypes from segregating populations.
Frontiers in Plant Science, 2016
This study evaluated the symbiotic effectiveness and economic evaluation of Rhizobium inoculants ... more This study evaluated the symbiotic effectiveness and economic evaluation of Rhizobium inoculants with the objective of recommending the most effective inoculant strain for soybean and cowpea production in Northern Ghana. Field experiments were established in three locations using randomized complete block design with five blocks. A total of four treatments (Legumefix, Biofix, 100 kg N ha −1 and uninoculated control for soybean and BR 3267, BR 3262, 100 kg N ha −1 and uninoculated control for cowpea) were applied. At Nyankpala, inoculation of soybean with Legumefix and Biofix led to significant (P < 0.05) increases in nodule number (90-118%), nodule dry weight (>twofolds), and grain yield (12-19%) relative to the control. The Biofix effect on soybean grain yield was 1.5-fold of Legumefix. Similarly, inoculation of cowpea with BR 3262 and BR 3267 significantly (P < 0.05) increased nodule number (41-68%), nodule dry weight (45-65%), and grain yield (11-38%) relative to the control. Strain BR 3267 performed consistently (>two-folds) better than BR 3262 on grain yield. At Nyagli, there was no significant effect of inoculation on cowpea. Wilks lambda values (0.067, 0.039; P = 0.00) indicated that 93.3 and 96.1% of the variations observed in soybean and cowpea, respectively, were due to the applied inoculants. Biofix and BR 3267 were economically profitable with VCR ratio of 8.7 and 4.6, respectively. Based on grain yield and economic returns observed, Biofix and BR 3267 can be recommended in Nyankpala for inoculation of soybean and cowpea, respectively.
Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 2016
Over the years, a scarcity of information on nutrient gains or losses has led to overemphasis bei... more Over the years, a scarcity of information on nutrient gains or losses has led to overemphasis being placed on crop yields and economic income as the direct benefits from fertilizer micro-dosing technology. There is increasing concern about the sustainability of this technology in smallholder Sahelian cropping systems. This study was designed in the 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons to establish nutrient balances under fertilizer micro-dosing technology and their implications on soil nutrient stocks. Two fertilizer micro-dosing treatments [2 g hill −1 of diammonium phosphate (DAP) and 6 g hill −1 of compound fertilizer Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium (NPK) (15-15-15)] and three rates of manure (100 g hill −1 , 200 g hill −1 and 300 g hill −1) and the relevant control treatments were arranged in a factorial experiment organized in a randomized complete block design with three replications. On average, millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) grain yield increased by 39 and 72% for the plots that received the fertilizer micro-dosing of 6 g NPK hill −1 and 2 g DAP hill −1 , respectively, in comparison with the unfertilized control plots. The average partial nutrients balances for the two cropping seasons were −37 kg N ha −1 yr −1 , −1 kg P ha −1 yr −1 and −34 kg K ha −1 yr −1 in plots that received the application of 2 g DAP hill −1 , and −31 kg N ha −1 yr −1 , −1 kg P ha −1 yr −1 and −27 kg K ha −1 yr −1 for 6 g NPK hill −1. The transfer of straw yields accounted for 66% N, 55% P and 89% K for removal. The average full nutrient balances for the two cropping seasons in fertilizer microdosing treatments were −47.8 kg N ha −1 yr −1 , −6.8 kg P ha −1 yr −1 and −21.3 kg K ha −1 yr −1 which represent 7.8, 24.1 and 9.4% of N, P and K stocks, respectively. The nutrient stock to balance ratio (NSB) for N decreased from 13 to 11 and from 15 to 12 for the plots that received the application of 2 g DAP hill −1 and 6 g NPK hill −1 , respectively. The average NSB for P did not exceed 5 for the same plots. It was concluded that fertilizer micro-dosing increases the risk of soil nutrient depletion in the Sahelian low-input cropping system. These results have important implications for developing an agro-ecological approach to addressing sustainable food production in the Sahelian smallholder cropping system.
Variability of yam (Dioscorea spp.) genotypes in root colonization by Arbuscular mycorrhiza in the yam belt of Nigeria
8Th African Crop Science Society Conference El Minia Egypt 27 31 October 2007, 2007