Nitrogen Fixation and Yield Potential of Some Early-Maturing Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata (L) Walp) Lines

Field experiment was conducted at Mampong Campus of the University of Education to determine the yield and nitrogen fixation potential of some cowpea lines. Nine lines plus Asontem variety were studied in a Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications. The results showed that all the lines nodulated freely with the natural rhizobia in the soil. There was significant differences (P<0.05) in the nodulation abilities of the lines. Number of nodules negatively correlated with nodule dry weight (r= -0.38) whiles the amount of nitrogen fixed positively correlated with total seed yield (r= 0.94). Line IT97K-506-1 produced the highest number of nodules per plant but did not fix the highest amount of nitrogen. Lines IT97K-566-18 and IT97K-570-18 which contained the highest amount of nitrogen (4.43 and 4.70kgN/ha) respectively in their residue also produced the highest seed yield (3.58 and 3.61t/ha) respectively. The results showed that lines IT97K-570-18 and IT97K-566-18 have high yielding potentials and N-fixing abilities and should be tested on farmers’ fields. Key words: Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp), Nitrogen Fixition, Anova, Soil Fertility.

Influence of Cowpea Lines As Green Manure on Growth and Yield of Carrots in Root-Knot Nematode Infested Soil

An experiment was conducted at the University of Education, Winneba, Mampong-Ashanti campus to determine the effect of some cowpea lines as green manure on the growth and yield of carrot in root-knot nematode infested soil.  Randomized complete block design with five treatments and four replications was used. The treatments were cowpea lines IT97K-570-18; IT97K-566-18; and IT00K-1150 as green manure, N.P.K (15, 15, 15) and control.  The results showed negative correlation between root-knot nematode infestation and growth and yield parameters of carrot. The various cowpea green manure treatments and NPK (15, 15, 15) fertilizer significantly (p<0.05) improved the vegetative growth of carrot plants. Carrots from plots incorporated with cowpea line IT97K-570-18 produced significantly higher root yield than the control. Root-knot nematode infestation on carrot was lowest from plots incorporated with line IT97K-570-18. For all the parameters studied, carrot plants produced from plots incorporated with line IT97K-570-18 green manure gave the best results with respect to growth and yield. It also reduced the severity of galling. The results suggest that line IT97K-570-18 can be a better alternative to NPK (15, 15, 15) for increased carrot yield and root-knot nematode control on the Bediese Soil Series of Ghana. Key Words: Cowpea, Green manure, Carrot, Root Knot Nematodes and UEW

Towards a definition for returnees' reintegration processes in the context of rural Ethiopia

Although there is a substantial and growing volume of research on the return and reintegration processes of migrants, insufficient attention has been paid to the contextual meaning of reintegration, in particular for those returning to rural areas. Accordingly, based on an extensive literature review complemented with insights from forced returnees and stakeholders working with this population in rural Ethiopia, the current article disentangles the contextual meaning returnees give to reintegration, its dimensions and the indicators determining success. By doing this, we highlight crucial environmental and social factors within these reintegration processes that have been omitted in previous operationalizations. We conclude with a concrete operationalization of reintegration in the context of rural Ethiopia and reflect on the implication of these findings for theory contextualization and for policymakers and people who implement reintegration support

Adaptation of the Wound Healing Questionnaire universal-reporter outcome measure for use in global surgery trials (TALON-1 study): mixed-methods study and Rasch analysis

BackgroundThe Bluebelle Wound Healing Questionnaire (WHQ) is a universal-reporter outcome measure developed in the UK for remote detection of surgical-site infection after abdominal surgery. This study aimed to explore cross-cultural equivalence, acceptability, and content validity of the WHQ for use across low- and middle-income countries, and to make recommendations for its adaptation.MethodsThis was a mixed-methods study within a trial (SWAT) embedded in an international randomized trial, conducted according to best practice guidelines, and co-produced with community and patient partners (TALON-1). Structured interviews and focus groups were used to gather data regarding cross-cultural, cross-contextual equivalence of the individual items and scale, and conduct a translatability assessment. Translation was completed into five languages in accordance with Mapi recommendations. Next, data from a prospective cohort (SWAT) were interpreted using Rasch analysis to explore scaling and measurement properties of the WHQ. Finally, qualitative and quantitative data were triangulated using a modified, exploratory, instrumental design model.ResultsIn the qualitative phase, 10 structured interviews and six focus groups took place with a total of 47 investigators across six countries. Themes related to comprehension, response mapping, retrieval, and judgement were identified with rich cross-cultural insights. In the quantitative phase, an exploratory Rasch model was fitted to data from 537 patients (369 excluding extremes). Owing to the number of extreme (floor) values, the overall level of power was low. The single WHQ scale satisfied tests of unidimensionality, indicating validity of the ordinal total WHQ score. There was significant overall model misfit of five items (5, 9, 14, 15, 16) and local dependency in 11 item pairs. The person separation index was estimated as 0.48 suggesting weak discrimination between classes, whereas Cronbach's α was high at 0.86. Triangulation of qualitative data with the Rasch analysis supported recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ items 1 (redness), 3 (clear fluid), 7 (deep wound opening), 10 (pain), 11 (fever), 15 (antibiotics), 16 (debridement), 18 (drainage), and 19 (reoperation). Changes to three item response categories (1, not at all; 2, a little; 3, a lot) were adopted for symptom items 1 to 10, and two categories (0, no; 1, yes) for item 11 (fever).ConclusionThis study made recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ for use in global surgical research and practice, using co-produced mixed-methods data from three continents. Translations are now available for implementation into remote wound assessment pathways