Effects of elevated carbon dioxide and climate change on biomass and nutritive value of Kyasuwa (Cenchrus pedicellatus Trin.)

Atmospheric carbon dioxide enrichment enhances plant growth and development and may alter the nutritive value of grasses. The objective of this study was to evaluate growth, biomass partitioning and nutritive value of Kyasuwa under combinations of atmospheric CO2 concentrations, watering and fertilization treatments. Plants were grown in two greenhouse chambers; with ambient (aCO2; 400 ppm) and elevated CO2 (eCO2; 950 ppm), two watering and three fertilization regimes. Elevated CO2 reduced stomatal conductance by 40%, root to shoot ratio by 8%, leaf to stem ratio (L:S) by 3%, protein content by 14% and Acid Detergent Lignin (ADL) by 23% with no significant changes in total biomass and C/N ratio however, slight increases in leaf area (2%) and Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) by 4%. Higher fertilization resulted in increased biomass parameters only in well-watered plants while; a lower C/N ratio was recorded with higher fertilization. The L:S ratio was decreased with fertilization while ADL was increased at higher fertilization in well-watered plants. Interactive effects were recorded for ADF content and shoot height. Future eCO2 will be unfavorable to Kyasuwa growth and biomass production making them less competitive with a reduced nutritive value in drought prone and infertile soils

African Journal of Agricultural

Mapping and tree species diversity of the forest savanna mosaic in the Ashanti region, Ghan

International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation

Regeneration potential and stand structure of a proposed plantation site in the transition zone of Ghan

WOODY SPECIES RICHNESS AND ABUNDANCE IN A TROPICAL SAVANNA OF NORTHERN GHANA

Volume: 6Start Page: 131End Page: 14

Patterns of green space change and fragmentation in a rapidly expanding city of northern Ghana, West Africa

Green spaces such as forests, grasslands, and croplands (including gardens) can be found in urban environments. Although they benefit human and animal well-being, they have become threatened due to rapid urban growth and unplanned development. Yet, little attention has been given to studying the dynamics of urban green spaces in sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, we examined the dynamics of land use and land cover (LULC) change and fragmentation (especially, green spaces) within the second fastest urbanising city in Ghana, Tamale. In particular, we focused our analyses on its urban core (∼5 km radius around the city centre) due to its relevance to urban economy and society. Landsat data was used to estimate fragmentation metrics of past and future LULC changes in the study area from 1990 to 2052. We found clear patterns of green space decline and fragmentation within the urban core: i.e., green spaces became patchy over time and the pattern was expected to continue in the future. Additionally, we found the built-up class benefited from the decline of green spaces with the latter being significantly negatively correlated with human population size. Our investigation reveals that protected forests and tree plantations contributed to a significant proportion of available green spaces in the urban core. However, these areas were becoming increasingly threatened by forest reserve downsizing, indiscriminate activities (e.g., logging and encroachment), and sale of public lands to private developers, practices commonly associated with population growth. Hence, the enforcement of relevant local legislations (e.g., the 2016 Land Use and Spatial Planning Act [Act 925]) coupled with the integration of urban initiatives and policies that encourage green spaces are needed to ensure the sustainability of urban ecosystems for the well-being of humans and the environment

An analysis of illegal mining on the Offin shelterbelt forest reserve, Ghana: Implications on community livelihood

Mining in tropical countries contributes significantly to the global minerals supplies but unregulated mining activities in reserved forests is associated with destruction, loss of habitats and loss of biodiversity. This study determined the area of the Offin shelterbelt forest reserve, Ghana, degraded through illegal mining (galamsey) and the impacts on the livelihoods of fringe communities. Thirty-two (32) coordinates were recorded around the peripheries of disturbed site in the reserve using hand-held Global Positioning System and were then imported into a geodatabase in ArcGIS which was used to estimate the area degraded. Data was obtained from 60 purposively sampled respondents from two communities fringing the reserve and 10 key informant interviews. Increased income (13%), employment opportunities (6.7%) and increased market activities (2%) were some benefits of the illegal mining activities identified by the respondents. Eight respondents associated their employment with of the advent of illegal mining activities out which 6 (70%) were engaged directly in mining activities, while 2 (30%) were into trading. The miners earned cash income range of US $2.9–22.9 daily. Within 5 years, illegal mining had degraded 2.5 km2 (4.4$ 6424.1) involved in flushing out and the subsequent return of such miners poses a threat to sustainable forest management and requires a more holistic approach in tackling such a problem