http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1386 2026-04-14T23:21:35Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/5103 Tillage, rice straw mulch and nitrogen fertilization effects on upland rice yield in Northern Benin Dossou-Yovo, Elliott Ronald; Ampofo, Edward; Igue, Attanda Mouinou; Sintondji, Luc Ollivier; Agbossou, Euloge Kossi In Benin, upland rice is typically grown under intensive tillage in slash-and-burn systems. Some of the major constraints associated with upland rice production are water deficit, declining soil fertility and rice yield. To explore effective ways to improve rice yield, field experiments were conducted on two upland rice soils (Lixisol and Gleyic Luvisol) in northern Benin, West Africa for two consecutive years. The treatments comprised two tillage systems (no-tillage, and manual tillage), two rice straw managements (no rice straw, and rice straw mulch at 3 Mg ha-1) and three nitrogen fertilizer levels (no nitrogen, moderate level of nitrogen: 60 kg ha-1, and high level of nitrogen: 120 kg ha-1). Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers were applied to be non-limiting at 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 and 40 kg K2O ha-1. Four replications of the twelve treatment combinations were arranged in a randomized complete block design. Soil moisture and soil temperature were measured at 5 cm depth in 6 to 10 days intervals during the growing seasons. At maturity, crop parameters measured included rice grain yield, aboveground biomass, and root biomass. No-tillage with rice straw mulch increased soil moisture and decreased soil temperature. Root biomass, shoot biomass and rice yield significantly increased with rice straw mulch and nitrogen fertilizer application. The highest response of rice yield to nitrogen fertilizer addition was obtained for 60 kg N ha-1 in combination with 3 Mg ha-1 of rice straw for the two tillage systems. No-tillage combined with rice straw mulch and 60 kg N ha-1 could be used by smallholder farmers to improve soil water availability and upland rice yield in northern Benin 11p:, ill. 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/5102 The dynamics of potassium (k) in representative soil series of Ghana Yawson, D. O.; Kwakye, P. K.; Armah, F. A.; Frimpong, K.A. The immediate supply of K by soils to growing plants derives mainly from the K that is labile whereas the long term K nutrition of plants depends on the non-labile K. The dynamic relationship between these forms of K constitutes the dynamics of K in soils. Most Ghanaian farmers grow root and tuberous crops which have high K requirements. Knowledge of K dynamics in soils is therefore essential for K management to sustain crop production and management of agroecological environments in Ghana. Quantity-Intensity isotherms provide a better overview of K dynamics in soils. Therefore, Quantity/Intensity (Q/I) curves were used in this study to evaluate the dynamics of K in ten soil series representing the major agro-ecological zones of Ghana. K dynamics in the soils were found to be influenced by some soil properties. Significant correlations were found between soil properties and Q/I parameters; and among equilibrium solution parameters and Q/I parameters. There was no significant variation among the mean quantity (±∆K) values of the soils. The savannah soils had higher non-specific K, K-potential, and potential buffering capacity (PBCK) than the forest soils; and the Akuse series had the highest values for these parameters. However, the forest soils had higher K-intensity. Therefore, the forest soils will require frequent and split K applications since they have lower capacity to maintain long-term supply of K. However, the savannah soils will require less frequent but higher K fertilization to satisfy the exchangeable pool and immediate plant nutrition requirement 8p:, ill. 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/5101 The level of heavy metal pollution in the soil as affected by wastes from pig production in Assin South District, Ghana Ampofo, E. A.; Awortwe, D. Pig wastes have been considered a source of heavy metal pollution in soils in pig production communities in Ghana. The study was conducted to determine the pollution levels of copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) in soils in some pig production communities in Assin South District. Soils and pig droppings from five pig waste dumping sites designated as NS, AM, AK, AD and NK and one non-dumping site,O, (control) were studied. The mean Cu concentration in the droppings varied from 12 mg kg-1 to 46 mg kg-1 and in the order of NKAM NS AK AD. The mean Fe concentration in the droppings also ranged from 551 mg kg-1 to 657 mg kg-1 whilst the Zn concentration ranged from 55 mg kg-1 to 118 mg kg-1 and in the order of AD AM NS NK AK and NS NK AM AK AD respectively. The mean concentrations of extractable Cu, Fe and Zn in the soils from all the dumping sites were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher than the background value (control). The mean Cu concentration in the soils varied from 49 mg kg-1 to 70 mg kg-1, whilst the Fe varied from 957 mg kg-1 to 1020 mg kg-1 and the Zn varied from 108 mg kg-1 to 204 mg kg-1, and the order of the variations differed from that of the pig droppings. The results of the quantification of the metal contamination in the soils from the dumping sites using geoaccumulation index indicated that at all the sites, the Cu pollution in the soils was moderate, the soils were almost not polluted by Fe, and the Zn pollution was light 9p:, ill. 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/5100 The effect of organic soil amendments on root-knot nematodes, soil nutrients and growth of carrot Agyarko, K.; Kwakye, P.K.; Bonsu, M.; Osei, B.A.; Frimpong, K.A. A study was conducted on a Haplic Acrisol at the Technology Village of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana to assess the impact of ground neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) leaves-poultry' manure on root-knot nematodes, soil nutrients and yield characteristics of carrot (Daucus carota Each neem level (10, 30 and 50 g) was thoroughly mixed with 5 g of poultry manure per kg of soil in a plastic pot and seeds of carrots were sown. Carrots were harvested at three months old. The neem leaves at I C) and 30 g plus the poultry manure significantly reduced root-knots on the carrot roots. The higher dose of g neem leaves plus the poultry manures totally prevented the formation of root knots on the carrot roots. The nutrient status of the soil and in the carrot, plant significantly increased relative to the amendment level. The yield characteristics of carrot also significantly increased in relation to the amendment level. The improvement of the nutrient status of the soil and the control of nematodes by the amendments might have led to the improvement of the yield characteristics of the carrot. Combined neem leaves and poultry manure may be used in place of synthetic nematicides and fertilizers to control nematodes and improve soil nutrient levels 7p:, ill. 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z