Volta basin water balance

Water balances pertaining to the flux of water through the Volta River Basin and a black box model of the rainfall/runoff relationship for estimating the river flows into the Akosombo Reservoir are presented. As the water demand has approached supply, the tradeoffs between competing water uses are likely to intensify. It is also apparent from the balances that land use and land cover changes in the uplands of the basin are destined to play a pivotal role in determining the future of the basin

Final report : strengthening the capacity for research and development to enhance natural resources management and improve rural livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa

The project worked to strengthen partnerships and build capacity of National Agricultural Research and Extension Systems (NARES) researchers, NGOs, CBOs and farmers groups to carry out research for development, using participatory research approaches and natural resource management, to improve livelihoods of the poor. The report highlights some of the project accomplishments and gives recommendations that form the basis for future work. Barriers and bottlenecks to effective agro-enterprise development need to be dissolved, such as lack of credit schemes for the farmers, which boost growth and help stabilize farmer organizations

Evaluation of Low Phosphorus Tolerance of Rice Varieties in Northern Ghana

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is a major constraint to upland rice production on highly weathered, low activity clay soils in the humid zones of West Africa. There is a paucity of information on the short-term fertilizer P effects on rice on these soils. A field experiment was conducted in 2011 to determine the response of twenty-four (24) upland rice cultivars to fertilizer Phosphorus (P) applied at 0 and 60 kg P ha−1. An uncultivated field at SARI research area with available P (Bray 1) P content of 3.0 mg/kg was used for the experiment. The ploughed area was divided into two plots with one plot for +P and the other for -P treatment. Each of the 24 varieties was allocated three rows and spaced at 20 x 10 cm in four replications. The varieties were randomized for each replicate and planted on 2nd July 2011 at one seed per hill. Pre-emergence herbicide Pendimethaline 400 g/l (Alligator) was applied at 3.2 L/ha two days after planting followed by one hand weeding. For the (-) P plot, the entire field received N at 60 kg/ha as Sulphate of ammonia and K2O at 60 kg/ha as Muriate of Potash. For the (+) P plot, fertilizer was applied at NPK 60-60-60 kg/ha from Sulphate of ammonia, Triple superphosphate and Muriate of potash, respectively. For each plot, the N was split applied. Results showed that the plants that received P were more vigorous and healthier. There was significant variety effect on number of tillers per plant (NOTPP), days to 50% flowering (DFF), days to maturity (DTM), dry weight of biomass (DWOB), number of panicles per plant (NOPPP), and grain yield per plant. Similarly, there was significant phosphorus effect on number of tillers per plant (NOTPP), days to 50% flowering (DFF), days to maturity (DTM), dry weight of biomass (DWOB), number of panicles per plant (NOPPP), and grain yield per plant. There was generally no interactive effect of variety by fertilizer except for DFF and DTM. The number of tillers per plant ranges from 3 – 16 with the overall mean without P application being 4 while overall mean with P application was 9. When P was applied, the number of days to 50 % flowering reduced from 86 days to 79 days. Days to maturity (DTM) was also reduced from 118 to 111 on average by P application. The varieties that were most tolerant to low P were ITA 257, Nerica 3 and TOX 1011-4-A2. The grain yield of ITA 257 remained the same whether P was applied or not. This is the variety that is best adapted to low P. We concluded that rice growth and yield components were affected by Phosphorus application. Plants that received phosphorus flowered and matured earlier. They also accumulated higher biomass and grain yield. ITA 257, Nerica 3 and TOX 1011-4-A2 were most tolerant to P deficiency

Fertilizer and Genotype Effects on Maize Production on Two Soils in the Northern Region of Ghana

Soils in the Guinea Savanna agro-ecological zone of Ghana are depleted in major nutrients by continuous cropping and residue removal, resulting in low maize yields. While many studies have assessed the fertilizer requirements for maize, most did not account for the role of the soil type and maize genotype. A study was conducted on Plinthosol and Lixisol in the Tolon district of the Northern Region of Ghana to assess fertilizer and genotype effects on maize productivity. Two maize genotypes (i.e. Obatanpa -110 days to maturity) and (Dodzie - 75 days to maturity) were compared at three fertilizer application rates (i.e. 0-0-0, 60-15-35 and 90-25-50 kg ha-1 N, P K) in a randomized complete block design using four replications, with genotype allocated to the main plots and fertilizer levels to the subplots. Soils were characterized, revealing very low total N and available P concentrations in the top layers. Grain yield was significantly affected by maize genotype, irrespective of the soil type. The longer-duration (Obatanpa) tended to out yield the short duration genotype (Dodzie), and generally outperformed Dodzie in all yield parameters except for the harvest index on Plinthosol. Inorganic fertilizers significantly (P<0.001) increased yield and all yield parameters over the control on both soils, with yield increases of 84 and 90% at 60-15-35 and 90-25-50 kg ha-1 N, P K, respectively. Genotype by fertilizer interaction was highly significant (P<0.001) for grain yield on both soils. We conclude that farmers in the Guinea Savannah agro-ecological zone of Ghana need to supply nutrients to enhance grain yields of maize, irrespective of the prevailing soil type

Fertilizer Adoption and Use Intensity Among Smallholder Farmers in Northern Ghana: A Case Study of the AGRA Soil Health Project

Northern Ghana is characterized by food insecurity largely due to over reliance on rain-fed agriculture under low farm input conditions. The present study investigated the effect of factors influencing mineral fertilizer adoption and use intensity among smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana. A total of 330 smallholder farmers selected through multi-stage sampling technique were interviewed. Adoption of fertilizer technology was determined by age, nativity, farm size, access to credit, and distance to agricultural office. The result of the truncated regression estimates indicated that income of household head, membership of farmer association, distance to agricultural office, access to input shop, income earning household that do not participate in agricultural development project and income earning male headed household were the significant factors influencing fertilizer use intensity. Distance to agricultural office was a key positive determinant of fertilizer adoption and use intensity. The study recommends improvement in road infrastructure and technical training of agricultural extension agents. Farmer based organization must be trained on regular basis to enhance their productive skills and technology uptake

Setting up agricultural water management interventions - learning from successful case studies in the Volta and Limpopo river basins

Long-term investments in agricultural water management (AWM) interventions in the Volta and Limpopo river basins have aimed at improving water availability and quality for smallholder farming systems. However, sustained and wider uptake of AWM technologies and approaches has not been as successful. We need to learn from successful AWM interventions, those interventions that have led to a sustained or increased uptake of AWM technologies or approaches, and which have led to improved well-being of farmers and livestock keepers in the rural development context of sub-Sahara Africa. This paper explores AWM interventions, specifically, the impacts these interventions have had and the factors contributing to the success of these interventions. In four countries within the Volta and Limpopo river basins, consultations were carried in 33 case studies of successful AWM interventions with implementing organisations and beneficiaries using a participatory GIS methodology. A systematic text analysis of 55 case study reports showed that these 33 interventions have had a positive impact on the well-being of beneficiaries and there was a sustained and wider uptake of the AWM technologies or approaches introduced. A clear demand for the technology, appropriate design of the technology, input support, training and capacity building, and a sense of ownership of the community helped to sustain the uptake of AWM technologies and approaches. We conclude that implementing organisations would benefit from investing in the soft components of an AWM intervention, as this will increase the likelihood of successful adoption and adaptation of the AWM technologies and approaches in the long-term