Effect of Terralyt Plus, a soil conditioner, on growth and economic yield of tomato

A study was used at the University of Ghana farm, Legon, to determine the performance of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) on a field to which TerralytPlus, a soil conditioner, had been applied. The soil conditioner at the recommended rate significantly increased plant height, number of fruits per truss, mean fruit size, fruit yield, and total soluble solids. Furthermore, Terralyt Plus and the inorganic fertilizer applied at half the recommended rates also increased all the parameters mentioned above when compared with only fertilizer application at the recommended rate

Effect of Biozyme T.F. on yield and quality of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)

The effect of Biozyme T.F., a foliar fertilizer, on the growth and yield of tomato was determined. Plants were treated with Biozyme T.F. concentrations of 250, 500 and 700 cc ha-1. Plants treated with Biozyme T.F. increased percent fruit set, mean number of fruits per plant, fruit weight, fruit diameter, mean number of locules per fruit, and number of seeds per fruit. Applying Biozyme T.F., especially at 500 cc ha-1, resulted in significantly higher fruit yield. Biozyme T.F. did not affect fruit pH. Une expérience était entreprise pour déterminer l'effet de Biozyme T.F., un engrais foliaire, sur la croissance et le rendement de tomate. Les plantes étaient traitées avec Biozyme T.F. de concentrations de 250, 500 et 700 cc ha-1. Les plantes traitées de Biozyme augmentaient le pourcentage de nouaison de fruit, nombre moyen de fruit/plante, poids de fruit, diamètre de fruit, nombre moyen de loges / fruit et nombre de graines/fruits. Appliquant Biozyme T.F. surtout à 500 cc ha-1, résultait en un rendement de fruit considérablement plus élevé. Biozyme T.F. n'a pas touché le pH de fruit. Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science Vol. 40 (1) 2007: pp. 113-11

Heavy metal pollution of vegetable crops irrigated with wastewater 41 Heavy Metal Pollution of Vegetable Crops Irrigated with Wastewater in Accra, Ghana

Heavy metal concentrations in irrigation water (samples =120), soil (samples =144) and edible parts of both exotic and traditional vegetables (samples = 240) irrigated with wastewater from some parts of Accra were studied. The concentrations of heavy metals in mg/l were quantified in wastewater from Accra and groundwater at Mampong as Fe (0.67; 1.00), Mn (0.78; 0.31), Cu (0.06; 0.07), Zn (0.14; 0.13), Pb (0.08; 0.12), Ni (0.06; 0.13), Cr (< 0.006), Cd (< 0.002) and Co (< 0.005), soil Fe (164.38; 162.92), Mn (39.39; 20.09), Cu (7.21; 6.13), Zn (6.03; 7.45), Pb (9.31; 7.63), Ni (5.00; 2.97), Cr (0.51;0.85), Cd (0.07;0.09) and Co (0.73;0.87), and vegetables from Accra and Mampong. The wastewater used for irrigation had the highest concentration (mg/l) of Mn (0.78),  followed by Fe (0.67), Zn (0.14), Pb (0.08), Cu (0.06), Ni (0.06) while Cr, Cd and Co were below detection limits. Fe (164.38; 162.92), Mn (39.39; 20.09), Cu (7.21; 6.13), Pb (9.31; 7.63) and Ni (5.00; 2.97) levels were higher in wastewater irrigated soils than groundwater irrigated soils, respectively. However, average values were all below the FAO/WHO  recommended mean levels in mg/l for wastewater and soil as Fe (5.00; 50,000), Mn (0.20; 2,000), Cu (0.20; 100), Zn (2.00; 300), Pb (5.00; 100), Ni (0.20; 50.00), Cr (0.10;50.00), Cd (0.01;3.00) and Co (0.05;100), respectively. Concentration levels of heavy metals (mg/kg) in vegetables crops analysed from all sites were not elevated except for Pb in cabbage, (10.51), lettuce (10.19), green pepper (9.44), hot pepper (7.61) and ayoyo (9.05) compared to the FAO/WHO maximum recommended limit of 0.30 mg/kg for Pb. Health risk assessments showed that hazard indexes for the crops were below 1 (USEPA), indicating that normal  consumption of vegetables analysed pose no risk from heavy metal toxicities. However, to prevent any chronic health risk and extent of heavy metal contamination, steps must be taken to reduce human activities at the sites. Regular monitoring of heavy metals in the vegetables grown in wastewater irrigated areas is also necessary

Performance of rice under different water regimes and plant nutrient sources

Field experiment was carried out at the Soil and Irrigation Research Centre, University of Ghana, Kpong in 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons to evaluate the effect of different soil water condition and plant nutrient sources on the growth and yield of rice. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replications. Water regime and nutrient source were the main and sub-plot factors, respectively. Water regimes included; continuous flooding (CS), alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and moist soil condition between field capacity and permanent wilting point (MC) while the nutrient fertilizer treatments included no fertilizer (N0), 90 kg N/ha mainly from urea fertilizer (N1), 90 kg N/ha from 12.8 tons of compost (N2) and 45 kg N/ha from urea fertilizer + 45 kg N/ha from 6.4 tons of compost (N3). Results from the study revealed that keeping the soil periodically in aerobic and anaerobic condition through AWD method of water management recorded similar growth and grain yield of rice as with complete submergence of paddy field. Combination of inorganic fertilizer and compost for each to supply 45 kg N/ha under AWD produced the highest rice growth and grain yield. There was a positive and significant correlation between grain yield and growth parameters (plant height, chlorophyll content and above ground biomass accumulation).

Disbudding effects on growth analysis of Celosia (Celosia cristata)

Experiments to investigate the effects of disbudding on growth analysis of two celosia cultivars, ‘Carmine’ and ‘Chief Gold’, were carried out on the field in 2009 and 2010 at the Sinna Garden of Department of Crop Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana. The treatments consisted of disbudding once, disbudding twice, and no disbudding, as control, and were arranged in a 3x2 split plot in a randomized complete block design with four replications in 2009 (experiment 1) and three in 2010 (experiment 2). The two cultivars were harvested weekly during the growing period and separated into the various plant parts and oven-dried for dry weights, using appropriate formulae to calculate the various growth parameters. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyse the data and a correlation coefficient matrix showed relationships among growth parameters. Disbudding resulted in increased leaf area index, leaf area ratio, leaf area duration, relative growth rate, and harvest index, but reduced crop growth rate and net assimilation rate. ‘Chief Gold’ had a higher harvest index than ‘Carmine’. Disbudding plants once gave the best flower head size and weight result. ‘Carmine’ gave the best flower yield and quality results in experiment 1 and ‘Chief Gold’ in experiment 2

Effect of intercropping on the growth and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) moench

ABSTRACT A field study was undertaken to investigate the growth and yield of cucumber and okra grown in an intercropped system. Okra as 1-row or 2-row was intercropped with cucumber. Sole cropping of okra resulted in higher number of fruits plant -1 , yield plant -1 and yield hectare -1 though the differences in these values and 1-row okra intercrop were not significant. Intercropping okra with cucumber resulted in reduced weed infestation, especially of broadleaf weeds. Land equivalent ratio (LER), 2.4 and 2.2 for one row okra and two rows okra intercrop, respectively showed that intercropping was more beneficial than sole cropping

The effects of water stress on the chemical composition of soybean shoot parts at different growth stages and assimilate distribution to the seeds at different nodal positions

The response of soybean [Glycine max (L) Merrill] cv. Akiyoshi to three moisture levels at three growth stages was investigated in a glasshouse experiment. Percent leaf nitrogen was reduced by water deficit at late flowering and early podding but increased after rewatering. This parameter was not affected by water deficit at early flowering. Percent total available carbohydrate in the stem was reduced by water deficit except at late flowering but also increased after rewatering. Plants subjected to water deficit after early podding had higher available carbohydrate in the stem at maturity. Percent oil content was slightly increased in the seeds of plants subjected to water stress at early podding but percent protein was generally reduced by water stress. Total oil and protein yields were reduced by water deficit at all stages of growth. 14C retention was highest in the seeds of the main stem and lowest in those of the secondary branches, seeds at higher nodal positions on the main stem contained more 14C. The amount of 14C in seeds of the primary branches decreased with an increase in nodal position from the main stem. Distribution of 14C assimilates into the seeds of plants subjected to water deficit was reduced at all stages of growth. The resultant decrease in assimilate distribution to seeds will lead to a reduction in yield of soybean grown under conditions of water deficit. JOURNAL OF THE GHANA SCIENCE ASSOCIATION Volume 1 Number 3, July (1999) pp. 66-7