Agriculture

Research Papers/Topics in Agriculture

ESTABLISHING LONG-TERM BIOLOGICAL MONITORING PROTOCOLS: COMPARING THREE ARTHROPOD SAMPLING TECHNIQUES IN THE AMURUM FOREST RESERVE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT Amurum Forest Reserve (AFR), the area around the AP Leventis Ornithological Research Institute is not currently systematically monitored in terms of arthropods, which is fundamental to the bird species of the reserve that has been extensively monitored. Research opportunities to relate the bird data to this biotic factor (food resource) are being lost, particularly as Amurum has been protected for over 14 years and is undergoing regeneration in terms of gallery forest and savanna. Th...

COMPOST AND NITROGEN FERTILIZER ON MAIZE (Zea mays L) GROWTH AND YIELD AND RESIDUAL EFFECTS ON COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) IN A ROTATION.

ABSTRACT A field experiment was conducted at the University of Ghana research farm to evaluate the influence of compost and Nitrogen fertilizer on soil improvement, growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L) and residual effects on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) in a rotation. The study area is within the coastal savannah ecological zone of Ghana. Two separate experiments were conducted from July to November, 2016 and from December, 2016 to February, 2017. The experimental set up used was a ...

THE STRUCTURE AND EFFICIENCY IN RESOURCE USE IN MAIZE PRODUCTION IN THE ASAMNKESE DISTRICT OF GHANA

ABSTRACT The study sets out to find out on one hand, the present structure of resources in agricultural production and secondly, to delve deeper into the controversy surrounding the comparative efficiency in resource use by sharecroppers and owner farmers in agricultural production. The approaches used to assess the structure of the resources are frequency distributions, descriptive analyses and estimation of cost composition of individual resources. In assessing the comparative effic...

CONSUMER PREFERENCES, CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND SENSORY EVALUATION OF MEAT OF FOUR GUINEA FOWL GENOTYPES IN THE TRANSITIONAL ZONE OF ASHANTI REGION, GHANA

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate consumer preferences for different Guinea fowl genotypes, the effects of genotypes on carcass characteristics and biochemical composition of meat. The study also aimed at investigating the effects of genotype on sensory attributes of meat. This study was divided into 3 phases. In phase one, sales of Guinea fowls and administration of questionnaires to consumers, retailers, producers and processors were made in one Municipal (Asante Mampo...

INTERACTION OF Meloidogyne incognita AND Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum Snyder and Hansen ON GROWTH, YIELD AND WILT SEVERITY ON TWO OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus) VARIETIES

ABSTRACT  The interaction of the fungus, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum and the nematode, Meloidogyne incognita on wilt disease on „Essoumtem‟ and Clemson spineless was examined in pot and field experiments from September, 2016 to June, 2017 in the University of Ghana farms. The fungus used for inoculation of four weeks old „Essoumtem‟ and Clemson spineless seedlings for pot experiment and one week old „Essoumtem‟ and Clemson spineless seedlings for field experiment w...

GENDER AND COTTON PRODUCTIVITY IN THE NORTHERN REGION

ABSTRACT This study examined gender differences in land productivity in cotton production in the Northern Region of Ghana. Data were collected from a sample of two hundred (200) cotton farmers made up of 120 males and 80 females with the help of Cotton Production Assistants. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The Z test was used to test for the significance in the difference between the mean land productivities of male and female cotton farmers....

SCREENING OF LOCAL CASSAVA GERMPLASM FOR DOMESTIC AND INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES

ABSTRACT Two experiments were conducted at the University of Ghana Farm, Leaon and Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute (Bunso). The first o . , experiment was carried out at Legon from March, 2002 to October, 2003 to evaluate Ilcassava accessions. The criteria used for the evaluation were (a) tolerance to whitefly infestation and African Cassava Mosaic Virus (ACMV) disease infection (b) root tuber yield and starch yield characteristics. Based on the performance of accessions in Experim...

ASSESSMENT OF THE ECOLOGICAL AND HUMAN HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF HEAVY METALS AND MICROBIAL LOAD CONTENT OF THE ANKOBRA RIVER, GHANA

ABSTRACT This study focused on heavy metals and microbial pollution assessment of the Ankobra River in Ghana and evaluated their resultant toxic effects on humans and the aquatic environment referring to water and fish species (Clarias gariepinus, Sarotherodon melanotheron and Pseudotolithus brachygnathus). Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry was used for the assessment of Cd, Pb, Ni, Zn, Mn, As, Hg, Co and Cr; while the Pour Plate Count Method was deployed for the study of the microbes E.col...

ESTIMATION OF QUANTITATIVE LOSSES OF RICE (ORYZAE SATIVA L.) DURING HARVESTING, THRESHING AND CLEANING IN THE UPPER EAST REGION: A CASE STUDY AT TONO IRRIGATION PROJECT

ABSTRACT Loss assessment helps to identify constraints affecting the production and therefore the productivity of food crops. Information on loss assessment will thus assist in possible interventions needed to improve productivity. Quantitative losses associated with the production of rice (var. Jasmine 85) in the Kassena Nankana West District of the Upper East Region, one of the major rice producing areas in Ghana has not been adequately documented. A semi structured questionnaire was used t...

COMMERCIAL FEED AVAILABILITY AS A FACTOR IN POULTRY (CHICKEN) PRODUCTION IN SEKYERE WEST DISTRICT, ASHANTI REGION, GHANA

ABSTRACT Commercial feed availability is essential in areas where poultry (chicken) farmers practice intensive production. A study was thus undertaken in the Sekyere West District (SWD) of Ashanti Region to determine the availability of commercial feed as a factor in chicken production. The study also assessed patronage of Agricare feed in Mampong, SWD, covering a period of 3 years (2004-2006). A census survey, involving 62 active chicken farmers and the feed supply agent in the district, was...

ASPECTS OF THE BIOLOGY AND LENGTH-BASED ASSESSMENT OF THE CHUB MACKEREL SCOMBER COLIAS (SCOMBRIDAE) STOCK OFF THE COAST OF GHANA

ABSTRACT The biology and population dynamics of the chub mackerel Scomber colias (Gmelin 1789), one of four small pelagic fish of high economic and nutritional value in Ghana waters, were studied from February 2016 to July 2017 to obtain information for management of its fishery. Total length of the fish in the artisanal landings ranged between 13.7 cm and 40.7 cm with two modal length classes. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters estimated using the ELEFAN method were L∞ = 42.5 cm TL and ...

PERCEIVED COMPETENCY LEVELS AND TRAINING NEEDS OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AGENTS IN COMMUNICATION METHODS AND TEACHING AIDS IN THE GREATER ACCRA REGION OF GHANA

ABSTRACT The need to improve upon the performance of the extension worker and hence agriculturalproductivity is evidenced b y the number 0 fn ational agricultural extension programmes held tried since Ghana gained independence in 1957, One of the drawbacks of these programmes is that the long-term desired outcome of improving agricultural productivity has never been met Recent studies have identified incompetence of staff as a major cause of the poor performance of organizations, This study w...

EFFECT OF EDIBLE COATINGS ON THE POSTHARVEST QUALITY OF EGGPLANT (Solanum aethiopicum L.) FRUITS DURING LOW TEMPERATURE STORAGE

ABSTRACT Eggplant is an important fruit with numerous health benefits, but it has a relatively short postharvest life. Edible coating in combination with low temperature storage can improve quality and extend shelf life but they are normally imported and are costly. This work, therefore, sought to study the effect of edible coatings prepared from inexpensive, locally available materials on the quality of eggplant fruits during storage. Fruits were coated with beeswax, Aloe vera or cassava sta...

GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF LOCAL SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) VARIETIES FOR DROUGHT TOLERANCE

ABSTRACT Drought is the major abiotic factor limiting crop production worldwide. Sorghum is one of the most drought tolerant grain crops that have the ability of addressing food insecurity in semi-arid areas. However, it is exposed recurrently to severe forms of drought and therefore, requires improvement to cope with moisture stress. The present investigation was undertaken to improve local sorghum varieties for drought tolerance in Burkina Faso. A participatory Rural Appraisal was cond...

Assessment of regeneration potential of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. under established ecosystems in Cameroon

Hibiscus sabdariffa is a non-timber-forest-plant (NTFP) that has the potential of producing fibers good in paper-making. Germination and growth potentials of H. sabdariffa under farmland, fallowland, plantation and forest ecosystems were studied. Seeds of H. sabdariffa were sown to assess germination percentage, germination rate, germination time and velocity coefficient on established plots of each ecosystem. Seedlings were randomly selected to measure growth and yield parameters of hei...


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