Soil Science Research Papers/Topics

Use Of Biochar To Enhance Bioremediation Of An Oxisol Contaminated With Diesel Oil

ABSTRACT Oil pollution is a worldwide threat to the environment, especially in oil producing countries, and the remediation of oil-contaminated soils is a major challenge for environmental research. Bioremediation is a useful method for restoring oil contaminated soils because of its cost effectiveness and environmental friendliness. However, the process is very slow in soils with low pH. Soils of the Western Region of Ghana where most of the country‘s oil activities take place are classifi...

Monitoring Phosphorus Nutrition Of Maize On Four Land Form Technologies In The Vertisols Of The Accra Plains

ABSTRACT A field trial was started in August 1994, during the minor cropping season to investigate the efficiency of four Landforms in the production of maize with special emphasis in phosphorus (P) management in Vertisols at three localities in the Accra Plains of the Coastal Savanna zone of Ghana. The four Landforms were: Flat, Ridged, Ethiopian and Cambered beds. Generally, the soils were low in available P. Raising available P levels in the soil by the addition of fertilizer led to signif...

Assessing The Growth, Nodulation And Nitrogen Fixing Potential Of Some Multipurpose Trees And Shrubs

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to assess the growth, nodulation and nitrogen fixing potential of some native multipurpose trees and shrubs. A total of fourteen species of indigenous leguminous trees and shrubs were initially screened for nodulation in three Ghanaian soils (Toje, Hatso and Alajo soil series), after 8 weeks of growth in nursery bags. The experiment was repeated with nine species of the tree/shrub legumes, this time under two levels of phosphorus (0 and 60 mg P/kg soil). The ...

Phosphorus Fractions of Biochar-Amended Plinthalqualf under Clean and Waste Water Irrigation Regimes In Northern Ghana

ABSTRACT The reactive nature of phosphorus leads to the formation of insoluble Fe, Al and Ca bound phosphate compounds in highly weathered tropical soils, thus limiting P availability for plant uptake. Biochar with its heterogeneous surface properties can influence phosphorus dynamics in tropical soils. To examine phosphorus fractions in a biochar-amended Plinthaqualf, samples were taken from low yielding soils in northern Ghana that had three cycles of vegetable production under clean and w...

Monitoring Phosphorus Nutrition Of Maize On Four Land Form Technologies In The Vertisols Of The Accra Plains

ABSTRACT A field trial was started in August 1994, during the minor cropping season to investigate the efficiency of four Landforms in the production of maize with special emphasis in phosphorus (P) management in Vertisols at three localities in the Accra Plains of the Coastal Savanna zone of Ghana. The four Land forms were: Flat, Ridged, Ethiopian and Cambered beds. Generally, the soils were low in available P. Raising available P levels in the soil by the addition of fertilizer led to sign...

Dynamics Of Soil Carbon Sequestration Under Oil Palm Plantations Of Different Ages

ABSTRACT It has been estimated that globally a lot of forest is lost in the tropics annually to agriculture. The removal of the forest cover has been cited as one of the main contributors of greenhouse gases. Tree plantations are advocated as carbon (C) sink, however, little is known about rates of C turnover and sequestration into soil organic matter under tropical tree plantations particularly oil palm. One of the commonest management practices adopted by farmers on oil palm plantations inv...

The Occurrence And Diversity Of Indigenous Bradyrhizobia That Nodulate And Fix Nitrogen In Soybean And Pigeonpea In Three Ghanaian Soils Under Different Levels Of N And P Fertilizers

ABSTRACT The need to feed the projected world population of 9.7 billion by 2050 has received much attention and increased food production has been recommended to address the problem. Soybean and pigeonpea are important global commercial and food legumes that have been recommended for food security and sustainable agriculture particularly in tropical and subtropical regions where the majority of the world’s resource poor live, and where agricultural production is constrained by low soil fert...

Phosphorus Reactions In Three Contrasting Soils Amended With Biochar

GENERAL ABSTRACT The reactive nature of phosphate leads to the formation of insoluble Fe, Al and Ca bound P compounds in highly weathered tropical soils. Biochar amendments can change the surface chemical properties of highly weathered tropical soils, and hence affect phosphorus retention and distribution in soils. The overall objective of this study was to investigate P reactions with biochar and biochar amended soils of Ghana for effective P management. To achieve this, three major experime...

Evaluation Of Changes In The Properties Of Soils Under Agroforestry Systems In The Sub-Humid Zone Of Ghana

ABSTRACT The properties of similar soils under two agroforestry systems, a sole Leucaena leucocephala woodlot and alley (one with cassava and the other maize in between Leucaena leucocephala hedgerows) were compared at two depths (0 - 15 cm and 15 30 cm) to assess the relative changes in soil properties due to the agroforestry practices. Similar soils under conventional tillage, adjacent natural fallow and forest reserve were also used in the study for comparison of data and evaluation of imp...

The Relationship Between Nutrients Content of Leaf Segments, Rates of Potassium, Yield And Quality of Pineapple (ANANAS COMOSUS) MERR L. VAR. Smooth Cayenne in The Coastal Savannah Zone OF G

ABSTRACT Plant nutrition holds the key to increased and sustained yields and the production of good quality pineapple fruit. Potassium plays a vital role in obtaining higher yields and good quality fruit. A good knowledge about the nutrient status of the plant is important for the correction of nutrient deficiencies and/or imbalances which tend to influence yield and quality of the fruit. This study was initiated to determine the appropriate leaf segment; viz. the nonchlorophyllous, chloroph...

Physico Chemical Properties And Agrocomic Performance OF Nerica L19 Rice in Three Salt‒ Affected Soils Amended With Gypsum

ABSTRACT In Ghana approximately 318,000 ha of arable land in the Volta region is affected by salt and excess sodium. This aspect of chemical land degradation has adversely affected agricultural productivity in this part of the country. The application of gypsum (CaS04 (2H2O)) to soils affected by salt is widely used because it is easy to apply, easy to acquire and economical. It is against this background that the physico-chemical properties and agronomic performance of NERICA L19 rice was i...

Using Nitrogen And Phosphorus To Stimulate Microbial Degradation Of Diesel Oil In Four Ghanaian Soils

ABSTRACT The amendment of oil-contaminated soils with nutrient elements, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, is a crucial factor for the enhancement of the growth of the indigenous microbes involved in the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons. The present study investigated the(i) effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on diesel oil degradation in four Ghanaian soils, Beach sand (Haplic Arenosol), Toje series (Rhodic Kandiustalfs), Nyankpala series (Plinthic Lixisol), and Oda series (Eutric G...

The Use Of Biochar To Remediate Two Coastal Savannah Soils Contaminated With Atrazine And Paraquat

ABSTRACT The use of atrazine (1-Chloro-3-ethylamino-5-isopropylamino-2, 4, 6-triazine) and paraquat (1, 1’-Dimethyl-4, 4’-bipyridinium dichloride) as alternatives to manual or mechanical weeding in the developing world is becoming inevitable. The frequent application of these two pesticides has led to contamination of soils with dire attendant environmental consequences.A study was therefore, conducted to evaluaate the ability of cocoa and rice husk-derived biochar types to enhance the re...

Green House Investigation And Modelling Effects of Extreme Temperature And Moisture Strenght on Growth, Development And Yield on Soya Bean

ABSTRACT Climate change is a major stressor that would adversely affect tropical agriculture, which is largely rainfed. Available evidence shows that associated with climate change is an increasing trend in temperature and in some locations, decline in rainfall leading to repeated droughts during the growing season. In this study, the effects of increased temperature and drought on soybean, a C3 plant, was investigated under greenhouse conditions. An understanding of how soybean would respon...

Evaluation Of Some Physical And Chemical Properties « Of Soils Under Two Agroforestrv Practices

Abstract Various methods have been proposed for the improvement and maintenance of soil structure. In Ghana, the effects of agroforestry in the improvement of soil physical properties have not attracted much attention. This study seeks to determine the effects of agroforestry on the chemical and physical properties of soils in the semi-deciduous ecological zone. Three plots under Alley cropping and one plot under Woodlot (Leucaena leucocephala) were used. The soil properties determined includ...


46 - 60 Of 87 Results