Determination of some mineral components of wowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) Using instrumental neutron activation analysis.

Some mineral elements in the seeds of the cowpea were determined using instrumental neutron activation analysis. The cowpea cultivars were made up of improved varieties (Soronko, Gbeho, Ayiyi, Asontem, Asontem1, Bengpla, Asetenapa and Adom), farmers’ accessions (87/7, 87/1, 87/27, 87/147, 87/34, 87/49, 87/83, 87/157, 87/149, 87/30, 87/153, 96/046, 87/137, 96/129, BTB 96/091, OAA 96/30, BTB 96/054), and experimental materials (IT870-677-2, Caroni, Kaase Market, 1977 and 1239). A total of 14 elements (Al, Ca, Mg, V, Mn, Br, Cl, K, Na, Zn, Cu, Ta, Si andIn) were detected in the seeds of the 30 cowpea cultivars. Five of the elements (Na, K, Mg, Ca and Cl) identified are classified as major elements in the human body, while four (Mn, Zn, V, Si, Cu and I) are trace elements. The major elements K, Na, Ca, Mg and Cl were detected in high concentration in cultivars 96/129, 87/137, Ayiyi, 87/34 and 87/49, respectively. The trace elements Mn, Zn, V, Si, Cu and Al were detected in high concentration in cultivars 87/34, 87/27, 87/34, Bengpla, 87/34 and 87/34, respectively. From the results the following accessions could beselected and incorporated into a cowpea mineral nutritional improvement programme: 96/129, 87/137, Ayiyi, 87/34, 87/49 and 87/27. The presence of the five major elements and the trace elements indicates that cowpea has a rich source of mineral elements and, therefore, can be used to improve the diet of both humans and livestock

Biodiversity loss in Ghana: The human factor

AbstractBiodiversity is the total variability observed in species of all living organisms in relation to their habitats.  It deals with all microorganisms, plants and animals.  Loss of biodiversity in Ghana is due to human activities and other environmental factors.  The country loses a great proportion of its biodiversity, due mainly to unacceptable practices like slash and burn agriculture, surface mining, construction activities and bushfires.  Various conservation measures practiced in Ghana have been discussed.  These include forest reserves, botanical gardens, arboreta, gene banks, home gardens and wildlife protected areas.  The educational and environmental significance of these conservation strategies have been discussed.Subject review article. Received 04 Feb 14; revised 03 Aug 15

Variation in contents of crude protein and mineral elements in 32 cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) accessions in Ghana

Thirty-two cowpea accessions were studied for variation in contents of protein and mineral nutrients (calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium). Cowpea flour from 40 wholesome dried seeds of each accession was used for the analysis. The wet oxidation method was used to determine the content of mineral nutrients. Nitrogen content was determined by the Kjeldahl procedure. Protein content ranged from 16.35 to 27.27 per cent. Sodium content ranged from 90.53 to 91.30 ppm, and potassium content from 30.33 to 71.30 ppm. Similarly, values for magnesium and calcium ranged from 146.73 to 968.20 ppm and from 43.33 to 171.20 ppm, respectively. Percent crude protein correlated significantly positively with sodium and negatively with calcium. Magnesium was correlated significantly with potassium. Black seeds generally recorded the highest percent crude protein on the average, while cream seeds had the highest magnesium and calcium contents, respectively. Trente-deux accessions de dolique étaient étudiées pour la variation en teneurs de protéines et de nutriments minérales (le calcium). La farine de dolique de quarante graines saines séchés de chaque accession était utilisée pour l'analyse. La détermination de nutriments minérales était par la méthode d'oxydation humide. La teneur d'azote était déterminée par la procédure de Kjeldahl. Teneur de protéine variait entre 16.35 et 27.27 %. La teneur de sodium variait entre 90.53 et 91.30 ppm, la teneur de potassium variait entre 30.33 et 71.30 ppm. De la même façon les valeurs pour le magnésium et le calcium variaient respectivement entre 146.73 et 98.20 ppm et entre 43.33 et 171.20 ppm. Le pourcentage de protéine brute corrélait considérablement positivement avec sodium en négativement avec calcium. Le magnésium était corrélé considérablement avec le potassium. Les graines colorées noires enregistraient en général le plus élevé du pourcentage de protéine brute en moyenne, alors que les graines colorées crèmes avaient les teneurs de magnésium et de calcium les plus élevées respectivement. Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science Vol. 39 (1) 2006: pp. 83-8

Age of Transplant and Row Spacing Effects on Growth, Yield and Yield Components of Chilli Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Two field experiments were conducted for two years (2013 and 2014) at the Multipurpose crop nursery of the University of Education, Winneba, Mampong-campus from May to September to evaluate the effect of three transplanting ages (30, 37 and 44 days) and four row spacing (30 x 30 cm, 40 x 30 cm, 50 x 30 cm and 60 x 30cm) on growth, yield and yield components of pepper. The experimental design used was a 3 x 4 factorial in randomized complete block design with three replicates for both experiments. The results showed that 44 aged transplants had the highest yield during the 2013 cropping season, tallest plant in both cropping seasons, highest number of branches and canopy width for the entire 2014 cropping season. The 30 aged transplants differed significantly from the other aged transplants in number of fruits per plant and widest fruit diameter during the 2013 cropping season. The 40 x 30 cm row spacing had the tallest plant and highest number of branches from 8 to 10 weeks after transplanting in both cropping seasons. The 30 x 30 cm row spacing differed significantly from the 50 x 30 cm and 60 x 30 cm row spacing in fruit yield during the 2013 cropping season. The 60 x 30 cm row spacing had the longest fruit length and the heaviest fruit weight per plant during the 2013 cropping season. It is concluded that for high fruit yield, farmers are to transplant pepper seedlings at 44 days using 30 x 30 cm row spacing

RESISTANCE TO POST-HARVEST MICROBIAL ROT IN YAM: INTEGRATION OF GENOTYPE AND STORAGE METHODS

Post-harvest microbial rot is an important disease that causes severe losses in yam ( Dioscorea spp.) storage. Rot from microbial infection of healthy yam tubers reduces their table quality and renders them unappealing to consumers. A study was carried out at Bimbilla in the Nanumba North District of Ghana to evaluate possible interactions of yam genotypes and storage methods for controlling internal rot in yam. Four local varieties (Labalkor, Kplondzo, Olordor and Fushiebila) were studied with four storage methods (barn, pit, platform and heap methods) in a 4 x 4 factorially arrangement. There were significant (P< 0.001) differences among genotypes for resistance to internal rot, with Olordor and Kplondzo recording the lowest internal microbial rot, suggesting their potential in resisting the disease. There were also significant differences (P< 0.05) among the storage methods, with barn and platform being most suitable in reducing the incidence of internal rot in yam. The interaction between yam genotypes and storage methods was not significant (P> 0.05).Le pourrissement microbien apr\ue8s la r\ue9colte est une maladie importante qui cause de pertes s\ue9v\ue8res dans le stockage des ignames ( Dioscorea spp.). Le pourrissement d\ufb \ue0 l\u2019infection microbienne des ignames r\ue9duit leur qualit\ue9 et la pr\ue9f\ue9rence des consommateurs. Une \ue9tude \ue9tait men\ue9e \ue0 Bimbilla dans le District de Nanumba Nord au Ghana pour \ue9valuer des interactions possibles des g\ue9notypes d\u2019ignames et des m\ue9thodes de stockage pour le contr\uf4le du pourrissement interne dans l\u2019igname. Quatre vari\ue9t\ue9s locales, (Labalkor, Kplondzo, Olordor et Fushiebila) \ue9taient \ue9tudi\ue9es avec quatre m\ue9thodes de stockages (m\ue9thodes grange \ue0 igname, silo-fosse, plate forme et tassement) dans un arrangement factoriel 4 x 4. Aucune diff\ue9rence significative (P< 0.001) n\u2019\ue9tait observ\ue9e parmi les g\ue9notypes en rapport avec la r\ue9sistance au pourrissement interne, seuls Olordor et Kplondzo ayant pr\ue9sent\ue9 les taux les moins \ue9lev\ue9s de pourrissement microbien interne, sugg\ue9rant ainsi leur potentiel de r\ue9sistance \ue0 la maladie. Il n\u2019y avait pas aussi de diff\ue9rences significatives (P< 0.05) parmi les m\ue9thodes de stockage, avec grange \ue0 igname et plate forme ayant \ue9t\ue9 les mieux indiqu\ue9es dans la r\ue9duction de l\u2019incidence du pourrissement interne des ignames. L\u2019interaction entre les g\ue9notypes et m\ue9thodes de stockage n\u2019\ue9tait pas significatif (P> 0.05)

Causes of differences in seed quality among cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) cultivars

Three cowpea cultivars differing in seed coat colour, IT83S-818 (white, black-eye), TVX 2724-01F (brown) and IT82D-32 (dark brown), were aged using the controlled deterioration method (20% seed moisture content and incubated at 40 oC) for 0, 1, 2 and 4 days. Time to 50 per cent germination (t50) and final germination percentage were determined to assess the vigour differences that exist among these cultivars. In unaged seeds, the white cultivar germinated quicker than the pigmented cultivars as a result of the characteristically higher rate of water uptake, which enhanced rapid hydration of the embryonic cells for quicker germination. When ageing progressed, however, the white cultivar germinated more slowly with a lower final germination percentage since the embryonic cells possibly became weaker and leaky leading to reduced vigour and eventually, loss of germinability. In contrast, the pigmented cultivars germinated more slowly before seeds were aged due to their slower rates of water uptake; germination became quicker as ageing progressed due to increasing softening of the seed coats. Thus, the pigmented cultivars showed decreases in the time to 50 per cent germination during ageing. They, however, retained high germination percentages throughout the ageing period, which is an indication of high vigour. These three cultivars, together with two other unpigmented cultivars, IT81D-1137 (white) and TVX 3236 (cream and brown) were subsequently examined for the incidence of disease pathogens. It was observed that the unpigmented cultivars had higher levels of the importasnt seed pathogens such as Fusarium species and Aspergillus flavus which cause reduction in germination. These seeds also showed susceptibility to mechanical damage caused by hand-beating of dry pods in sacs. These differences in behaviour between the two groups of cowpea cultivars, pigmented and unpigmented, were attributed to differences in tannin and lignin contents in their seed coats

Manure characteristics of small ruminants fed agro by-products in the guinea savannah agro-ecological zone of Ghana

A 90 day study on evaluating quantity and quality of manure from small ruminants in the Guinea Savannah agro-ecological zone of Ghana was conducted. 36 goats and 36 sheep were random­ly allotted to three dietary treatments - Basal diets of maize stover, cassava and yam peels as Treatment one (T1), T1 supplemented with cowpea residues as Treatment two (T2) and T1 supplemented with groundnut residues as Treatment three (T3) in a randomized complete block design. Feed composition and intake and manure characteristics were assessed and data ana­lyzed statistically using Generalized Linear Model procedures of SAS at 5% significance level. The Chemical composition of feed resources ranged from 3.2-17.3% crude protein, 82-97.2% organic matter and 2.8-18% ash. Total feed intake ranged from 519.55-659.72 g/day and 331.84-420.17 g/day for sheep and goats respectively. Sheep manure weighed 319.17-423.33 g/day and contained 20.74-29.01% carbon, 1.87-2.32% nitrogen, 0.77-3.00 potassium, 9.52-26.50% ash, 0.44-0.77 pH and C:N ratio of 10.98-15.53. Goat manure weighed 178.67-216.17 g/day with 19.58-30.61%, 1.56-2.21% nitrogen, 0.82-2.33% potassium, 10.75-19.80% ash, 0.37-1.47 pH and C:N ratio of 9.49-19.92. Results indicated that manure from small ruminants could serve as alternative source of fertilizer in Ghana since its characteristics compare well with chemical fertilizers. Keywords: sheep; goats; feed resources; manure; fertilizer

Adoption of improved cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) technologies in Ghana

The Ghana Grains Development Project has developed and disseminated improved cowpea production technologies to farmers in Ghana since 1985. These technologies were improved varieties, row planting, and the use of pre- and post-flowering insecticides. To assess the extent of adoption of these technologies by farmers, eight cowpea production districts were surveyed across four agro-ecological zones in 1995 in Ghana. A random sample of 313 cowpea farmers participated in the survey. Results indicated that 70 per cent used recommended pre-flowering insecticides, and 26 per cent adopted post-flowering insecticides across the ecological zones. The highest adoption rate for improved varieties was observed in the Forest Zone (97 %). The adoption of row planting was highest in the Forest Zone (100 %), followed by the Guinea Savanna Zone (92 %), and lowest in the Coastal Savanna Zone (58 %). Most farmers agreed that by adopting improved production technologies, their yields and overall production increased, and they made more profit from cowpea cultivation.The whole family participates in various activities associated with cowpea production. However, men do strenuous work like land preparation, weeding and spraying of insecticides, while women and children participate in less strenuous work such as planting, harvesting and threshing. Le Project de Développement des Grains du Ghana a developpé et disséminé les technologies de la production de dolique amélioré aux cultivateurs au Ghana depuis 1985. Ces technologies étaient les variétés améliorées, la culture en lignes et usage d'insecticides avant et après la floraison. Pour évaluer le degré d'adoption de ces technologies par les cultivateurs, un sondage a été entrepris en 1995 en 8 districts de production de dolique à travers quatre zones agro-écologique au Ghana. Un échantillon pris au hasard de 313 cultivateurs de dolique participaient au sondage. Les résultats indiquaient que 70% utilisaient les insecticides d'avant floraison recommandés et 26% adoptaient les insecticides d'après floraison à travers les zones écologiques. La proportion d'adoption la plus élevée pour les variétés améliorées était observée dans la zone forestière (97 %). L'adoption de la culture en lignes est la plus élevée dans la zone forestière (100 %) et suivi par la zone savane-guinéenne (92 %) et la plus faible dans la zone savane-littorale (58 %). La plupart de cultivateurs étaient du même avis que par l'adoption des technologies de production améliorée, leur rendements et la production globale augmentaient, et ils avaient tiré plus de bénéfice de la production de dolique. Toute la famille participent aux activités différentes liées à la production de dolique. Cependant le travail ardu tel que la préparation de terre, le désherbage et la pulvérisation d'insecticide sont faites par les hommes alors que les femmes et les enfants participent aux travaux moins ardus tels que la plantation, la moisson et la battage. Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science Vol. 39 (1) 2006: pp. 25-3

Influence of Mucuna pruriens Green Manure, NPK and Chicken Manure Amendments on Soil Physico "“ Chemical Properties and Growth and Yield of Carrot (Daucus carota L.)

Field experiments were conducted during the 2010 and 2011 growing seasons at the University of Education, Winneba, Mampong-Ashanti campus, located in the forest-savanna transitional zone of Ghana. The study evaluated the influence of Mucuna pruriens (MP) green manure, NPK (15:15:15) and chicken manure (CM) or their combinations on soil physical and chemical properties; and growth and yield of carrot. The six treatments, which were arranged in a RCBD included: 250 kg NPK ha-1, 20t CM ha-1, 30t MP ha-1, 125kg NPK ha-1 + 15t MP ha-1, 10t CM ha-1 + 15t MP ha-1 and no amendment (control). The application of MP green manure, CM, MP + CM,  and MP + NPK fertilizer  combinations significantly improved soil total porosity and gravimetric moisture content than the control. Soil bulk density was high in the control plots than the manures and their combinations with NPK. Compared with the control, the application of CM, MP green manure, NPK + MP and CM + MP significantly increased soil organic carbon, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, ECEC and percentage base saturation levels. Organic matter content, NH+4-N, NO-3-N and SO2-4-S were high in the amended plots than the control. Plant height, number of leaves per plant and canopy spread per plant for the 20t CM ha-1 treatment were significantly (P<0.05) higher than the other five treatments in both 2010 and 2011 seasons. All the amended plots produced longer carrot roots with larger diameter than the control in 2010 and 2011 seasons. The 20t CM ha-1 produced the highest root yields with the 10t CM ha-1 + 15t MP ha-1 following as the second highest in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Root yield, and harvest index for all the amended plots were significantly higher than the control. The use of Mucuna pruriens green manure, chicken manure and the MP + NPK as well as the MP + CM combinations are recommended for improving soil fertility and increased yield of carrot