Growth and yield response of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrrill] to inoculation and starter N fertilizer applications in the Tolon District of the Northern Region of Ghana

An experiment was conducted at Nyankpala in the 2012 cropping season and repeated in the 2013 cropping season in the Tolon District of the Northern Region of Ghana. This was to ascertain the effect of N fertilizer and inoculant applications on the growth and grain yield of soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merrill). It was a 3 × 5 factorial experiment laid in Randomized Complete Bock Design (RCBD) with four replications. The factors were three soybean varieties (Jenguma, Quarshie and Anidaso) and four levels of N fertilizer (urea), which were 0, 15, 30 and 45 kg N ha-1 and inoculant. The inoculant was applied at the rate of 5 g to 1 kg of soybean seed through the slurry method that was estimated to give 107 of viable rhizobia cells. Planting was done on 14th and 10th July, 2012 and 2013, respectively, by drilling. Thinning was later done to two plants hill-1 at 10 cm within rows and 50 cm between rows with an approximate plant population of 400 000 plants ha-1. The N fertilizer was applied to randomly assigned plots 2 weeks after planting (2 WAP) in drills 5 cm away from the plants and covered. Growth parameters measured were plant height, leaf area, number of primary branches, nodule and shoot dry weights. Grain yield was measured from 2 m × 2 m net plot and extrapolated to kg ha-1. Results showed that all the varieties nodulated following the inoculation. It also showed that there was promiscuous nodulation where inoculants were not applied. The inoculated treatment produced greater plant growth, grain yield and the amount of N fixed than the uninoculated control. Growth and yield were greatest in the 30 and 45 kg N ha-1 treatment compared with the other treatments. The results showed that for profitable soybean production in the study area, inoculation or 30-45 kg N ha-1 fertilizer should be applied

Effects of tillage and cropping systems on yield and nitrogen fixation of cowpea intercropped with maize in northern Guinea savanna zone of Ghana

Published information is scanty on the response of crops in mixed cropping systems to the various tillage systems practised by farmers in the northern savanna zone of Ghana. A field experiment assessed the yield and nitrogen (N) fixation of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) intercropped with maize (Zea mays L.) on four different tillage systems at Nyankpala in the Northern Region of Ghana. The experiment was laid in a split-plot design with four replications. The main factor was tillage systems comprising conventional (Con), bullock plough (BP), hand hoe (HH) and zero tillage (ZT). The sub-factor was cropping systems (CRPSYT) which consisted of sole maize, sole cowpea, maize/cowpea inter-row cropping system, and bare fallow in 2000. The last-named was replaced by maize/cowpea intra-row cropping system in 2001. The results showed that Con and BP, which produced over 10 cm plough depth, significantly reduced soil bulk density that favoured significant (

Participatory Approach to Variety Selection Using Soybean Production in Ghana as a Model

In the past, soybean varieties released in Ghana were selected primarily for grain yield potential, earliness, seed viability and low phosphorus tolerance. However, most of these varieties are not resistant to pod shattering, resulting in high grain losses. In order to identify traits farmers consider most important when deciding which soybean varieties to adopt, a participatory variety selection approach was used to evaluate varieties in two locations (Nyankpala and Wa) in the Guinea savanna zone of Ghana during the 2010 and 2011 cropping seasons. Twelve medium and 14 early maturing varieties were evaluated. Farmers’ variety selection criteria and ranking did not differ across locations and gender groups. Additionally, four most preferred traits by farmer (grain yield, pod shattering, earliness and pods per plant) out of 12 traits were considered very important by farmers at both locations. In some instances, farmers’ preference for the best varieties was not exactly in line with researchers’ selection. Best four ranked varieties (TGx 1799-8F, TGx 1834-5E, TGx 1445-3E and TGx 1844-22E) were preferred by farmers because they possess positive attributes such as higher grain yields, resistance to pod shattering, numerically more pods per plant and enhanced ability to control Striga hermonthica. These varieties were later released as Suong-Pungun, Afayak, Songda and Favour, respectively for commercial production throughout Ghana. Consequently, soybean breeders should incorporate farmers’ preferred traits in selecting varieties in the breeding process in order to increase likelihood of adoption of the varieties

Effect of Intercropping on Nitrogen Fixation of Three Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L) Genotypes in the Guinea Savanna Zone of Ghana

An experiment was conducted on the research farm of the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), Nyankpala, in the Guinea savanna agro-ecology to study the nitrogen fixation performance of three groundnut genotypes (Jenkaar, Kpanieli and Nkosuor) intercropped with maize (Obatanpa variety). The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with four replications. Treatments evaluated were sole groundnut, sole maize, single-row groundnut intercropped with single-row maize (G1M1), double row groundnut intercropped with single-row maize (G2M1), single-row groundnut intercropped with double-row maize (G1M2) and double-row groundnut intercropped with double-row maize (G2M2). Data collected included canopy width, number of branches plant-1, above ground dry matter, residue and seed N, stover yield and stover N             (kg N ha-1). The results showed that with the exception of Kpanieli, intercropping significantly (P<0.05) reduced the growth parameters and nitrogen fixation of the groundnut genotypes. Row patterns that allowed more space and light penetration significantly (P<0.05) improved nitrogen fixation. Even though all three groundnut genotypes performed within the reported levels with regard to nitrogen fixation, the Kpanieli genotype intercropped with maize using the double row groundnut-single row maize (G2M1) pattern was more beneficial

ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science ECONOMICS OF COMBINING ORGANIC AND IN-ORGANIC FERTILIZERS FOR MAIZE PRODUCTION UNDER TWO TILLAGE SYSTEMS IN THE NORTHERN SAVANNA ZONE OF GHANA

ABSTRACT Soils in the northern savanna zone of Ghana are poor in plant nutrients and are prone to compaction. Some amount of tillage and the application of fertilizers to enhance crop yields are necessary. The performance of maize on two tillage systems (Manual and bullock plough) with the application of different fertilizers was assessed for two years by a field experiment laid in a split-plot design with four replicates. The main plots were manual and bullock plough while the sub-plots were NPK (64 kg N/ha, 15 kg P205/ha and 15kg K20/ha), 6 tons/ha of animal manure, half the rate of in-organic and half the rate of animal manure and no fertilizer as the control in 2008 and 2009. The results showed that tillage loosened the soil and thus reduced soil bulk density, increased porosity and could have enhanced the availability of water and nutrients for better crop growth. The results further revealed that the application of animal manure alone increased maize yields in the second year by 57% as compared to 25% and 35% for the recommended fertilizer rates and half the rates respectively. However, maize yields from the recommended fertilizer rates and the half rates of both in-organic fertilizers and animal manure in each year were similar but significantly (p<0.05) higher than the manure and the control treatment plots. The application of recommended in-organic fertilizers rates gave yields which were similar to yields obtained from half rates of the in-organic and animal manure but for sustainability, the combination of both could be recommended to farmers for adoption. Comparably, the net benefit-cost ratios of both tillage systems are more than 1 indicating that maize production on each of them is profitable; however the bullock tillage system is a better option as it had higher net benefit-cost ratios in each year than the manual system