Growth and Fruit Yield of Okro as Influenced by Genotypes and Mulch in the Guinea Savannah Conditions of Ghana

The experiment was carried out to assess the suitability of different mulch materials in enhancing the growth and fruit yield of okro. Ten okro genotypes were evaluated in a split plot design with 3 replications. Three treatments of mulch (black plastic, grass, and no mulch) represented the main plots with the genotypes as the subplots. The result indicated significant (P<0.05) genotypic variability among the genotypes for all parameters except plant girth. However, genotype and mulch interaction was not significant. The genotype Sasilon had the tallest plants (82.6 cm) and the highest fruit yield under all mulch conditions while Koni had the widest fruits (34.1 mm) with TZ SMN 10-3 having the longest fruits (16.11 cm). Number of fruits per plant ranged from 30 to 11 with an average of 21. Mulching significantly (P<0.05) influenced all parameters except fruit width and mean fruit weight. Plastic mulched plots had the greatest heights while no mulching had the least. The highest average yield was obtained under plastic mulch (3.49 t/ha) which was 4.2% higher than grass (3.34 t/ha) and 11% higher than no mulch (3.11 t/ha). The study has shown that mulching with black plastic or grass ensures vigorous growth and improves the fruit yield of okro

CCAFS midline synthesis – Ghana. Assessment of changes at household, village and organization levels since the 2011 CCAFS baseline surveys

In 2011, CCAFS carried out baseline surveys (household survey, a village study and an organizational survey) in 21 research sites across 17 countries within its five focus regions, using standardized baseline tools in each site. Seven years after the implementation of the baseline studies, the CCAFS program carried out surveys again in Lawra-Jirapa, Ghana as a test case to help determine whether a midline assessment in other sites would be worth the substantial investment that will be needed. The objective of the CCAFS midline surveys was to assess what kinds of changes have occurred and whether these changes are helping the households and villages adapt to and mitigate climate change. It also provided information at the village level about some basic indicators of natural resource utilization, organizational landscapes, information networks for weather and agricultural information, as well as mitigation baseline information, which can be compared across sites and monitored over time. The same tools were used with a few improvements to ensure comparability with the data collected in 2011. This info note provides a synthesis of the changes at the household, village and organizational levels emphasizing major indicators that have changed

CCAFS midline synthesis report - Ghana (GH0108)

In 2011, CCAFS carried out baseline surveys (household survey, a village study and an organizational survey) in 21 research sites across 17 countries within its five focus regions, using standardized baseline tools in each site. Seven years after the implementation of the baseline studies, the CCAFS program carried out surveys again in Lawra-Jirapa, Ghana as a test case to help determine whether a midline assessment in other sites would be worth the substantial investment that will be needed. The objective of the CCAFS midline surveys was to assess what kinds of changes have occurred and whether these changes are helping the households and villages adapt to and mitigate climate change. It also provided information at the village level about some basic indicators of natural resource utilization, organizational landscapes, information networks for weather and agricultural information, as well as mitigation baseline information, which can be compared across sites and monitored over time. The same tools were used with a few improvements to ensure comparability with the data collected in 2011

Analysis of genotype by environment interaction for grain yield of intermediate maturing drought tolerant top-cross maize hybrids under rain-fed conditions ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Abstract: Maize plays a crucial role in combating food insecurity in Ghana due to its high yield potential and wide adaptability. Thirty five intermediate maturing maize hybrids were evaluated at eight locations in Ghana for two years (i) to determine grain yield performance, stability and adatability, (ii) to determine the representativeness and discriminating ability of the test locations and (iii) identify core testing sites for selection of superior maize hybrids. Genotype, environment and genotype × environment interactions were significant (p &lt; 0.01) for grain yield and most other traits measured. Grain yield of the hybrids ranged from 3.3 to 4.7 t ha −1 for in the present study. The GGE biplot analysis identified genotype M1326-17 as the most stable and high yielding hybrid followed by M1326-14 and M1326-4. Test locations were divided into three groups; Ejura and Damongo constituting the firs

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&lt;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

An assessment of mobile phone‑based dissemination of weather and market information in the Upper West Region of Ghana

Abstract Background The rapid growth of mobile phones in Ghana has opened up the possibility of delivering timely and useful weather and market information to farmers at costs lower than traditional agricultural extension services. In this paper, we assess the usefulness, constraints, and factors likely to influence farmers’ decisions to patronize mobile phone-based weather and market information. Methods We rely on primary data from 310 farmers in the Upper West Region, an understudied part of Ghana. We subject the data to three types of analysis. First, we model farmers’ decision to patronize mobile phone-based weather and market information by estimating a binary logit model. Second, we use descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing to analyse the level of usefulness of mobile phone-based weather and market information. We disaggregate the analysis by sex, income status, and age group. Finally, we use qualitative analysis to summarize the constraints associated with the utilization of mobile phone-based weather and market information. Results We find that contact with agricultural extension agents and farmer-to-farmer extension services significantly influences farmers’ decision to patronize mobile phone-based weather and market information. Regardless of sex, income status, and age group, farmers generally rate mobile phone-based weather and market information as very useful. We identify inexact information, complex text messages, information that are too costly to implement, and poor infrastructure as the constraints to the utilization of mobile phone-based weather and market information. Conclusion In order to improve the utilization of mobile phone-based weather and market information, disseminators of mobile phone-based information such as Esoko should constantly update and provide client-specific information. Improvements in mobile phone networks and related services will enhance the utilization of mobile phone-based weather and market information

Tillage and fertilizer effect on maize and soybean yields in the Guinea savanna zone of Ghana

Abstract Background The most limiting factors for sustainable maize production in smallholder farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa, especially the savanna agro-ecological zone, are erratic rainfall pattern and low soil fertility. Methods Research was conducted with smallholder farmers in 2013 and 2014 in two communities in the Upper West Region of Ghana to evaluate the effects of NPK mineral fertilizer (64–38–38 kg ha−1 N–P2O5–K2O, respectively) on growth and yield of maize at Bompari, and 375 kg ha−1 of YaraLegume™ fertilizer (0–18–13 NPK + 3 CaO + 2 MgO + 4 S) on growth and yield of soybean at Doggoh, under no-tillage (using pre-plant application of glyphosate) and conventional tillage (using hand hoe). Results Mean grain yields of both maize and soybean were higher in 2014 than 2013. In both years, no-tillage and conventional tillage had similar effect on soybean plant height, pods per plant and aboveground dry matter production. Averaging over fertilizer treatment, grain yield of no-tillage soybean was 51% higher when compared with tilled soybean in 2014 only. Mean grain yield of no-tillage maize was 68% higher than that of tilled maize in 2013 only. Regardless of tillage method, fertilizer application significantly increased maize and soybean grain yields. Application of fertilizer to soybean resulted in 59% (193 kg ha−1) and 54% (474 kg ha−1) increase in grain yields in 2013 and 2014, respectively, over no fertilizer treatment. Mean grain yield of maize was 140 and 252% higher with fertilizer treatment in 2013 and 2014, respectively. No-till system showed cost savings due to reduced labour mainly for weed control. Conclusion The results of these studies showed that no-tillage with fertilizer, whether for maize or soybean, generally resulted in the highest grain yields. No-tillage also gave the highest economic returns. Farmers can get better returns to the money invested in herbicide for producing maize and soybean under no-till than with their traditional practice even on degraded savanna soils with low levels of plant available nutrients

2017- CSA Monitoring: Lawra-Jirapa Climate-Smart Village (Ghana)

his dataset contains the files produced in the pilot implementation of the “Integrated Monitoring Framework for Climate-Smart Agriculture” in the Lawra-Jirapa Climate Smart Village (Uganda) in October 2017. This dataset contains the files produced in the implementation of the “Integrated Monitoring Framework for Climate-Smart Agriculture” in the Hoima Climate Smart Village (Uganda) in October 2018. This monitoring framework developed by CCAFS is meant to be deployed annually across the global network of Climate-Smart Villages to gather field-based evidence by tracking the progress on:Adoption of CSA practices and technologies, as well as access to climate information services and Their related impacts at household level and farm levehis framework proposes standard Descriptive Indicators to track changes in: 5 enabling dimensions that might affect adoption patterns, a set of 5 CORE indicators at Household level to assess perceived effects of CSA practices on Food Security, Productivity, Income and Climate vulnerability and 4 CORE indicators on Gender aspects (Participation in decision making, Participation in implementation, Access/control over Resources and work time). At farm level, 7 CORE indicators are suggested to determine farms’ CSA performance, as well as synergies and trade-offs among the three pillars. This integrated framework is associated with a cost-effective data collection App (Geofarmer) that allowed capturing information in almost real time.The survey questionnaire is structured around different thematic modules (Demographic, Livelihoods, Food Security, Climate events, Climate Services, CSA practices, Financial Services) connected to standard CSA metrics and the specific indicators.The framework responds to three main research questions: Within each CSV community, who adopts which CSA technologies and practices and what are their motivations, enabling/constraining factors? What are the gender-disaggregated perceived effects of CSA options on farmers’ livelihood (agricultural production, income, food security, food diversity and adaptive capacity) and on key gender dimensions (participation in decision-making, participation in CSA implementation and dis-adoption, control and access over resources and labour)? How does CSA perform at farm level, and what synergies and trade-offs exist (whole farm model analysis)