Information seeking behaviour of faculty: The case of the College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

The article sought to find the information seeking behaviour of faculty members of the College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. The survey method was employed. Questionnaire instrument was used to collect data on method of selectinginformation, type of information sought, purpose for seeking information, types of tools used and problems involved in seeking information. Seventy out of 110 responded. A little over half of the respondents sought information through reviewing articles; close to the same proportionconsulted the Internet; about four out of five of the respondents sought information for doing research work; and over three out of five sought information for preparing lecture notes. Majority of the respondents consulted textbooks for information while half consulted periodicals;and almost all the respondents used Google search engine to access information on the Internet. Sciencedirect and Ebscohost were the most used online journals. The commonest problems faced by respondents were unavailability of information, abstract instead of full-text documentsand very old textbooks in the library. Involvement of faculty members in the selection of textbooks and purchase of full-text documents by the library on behalf of faculty members among others were recommended to address these problems

Groundwater Vulnerability Assessment of the Tarkwa Mining Area Using SINTACS Approach and GIS

Groundwater vulnerability assessment to delineate areas that are susceptible to contamination from mining and anthropogenic activities has become an important element for resource management and landuse planning. In view of the extensive mining in the Tarkwa area, quality of groundwater has become an important issue. This study estimates aquifer vulnerability by applying the SINTACS model which uses seven environmental parameters to evaluate aquifer vulnerability and geographical information system (GIS) in the Tarkwa mining area. Sensitivity analysis has also been carried out to evaluate the relative importance of the model parameters for aquifer vulnerability. The SINTACS model results show that the intrusive rocks within the Tarkwaian and the Birimian rocks are dominated by very high vulnerability classes while the Banket Series is characterised by high vulnerability class. The Huni Sandstones have moderately high vulnerability. In addition, the Kawere Group and the Tarkwa Phyllites displayed medium vulnerability. Analysis from the variogram model shows that all parameters used in the SINTACS model have a strong spatial structure. From statistical analysis, depth to water parameter inflicted the highest impact on the vulnerability of the aquifer followed by effective infiltration, vadose zone media, soil media, aquifer media, topography and hydraulic conductivity in the order of decreasing impact. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the aquifer media, hydraulic characteristics and topography cause large variation in vulnerability index. Depth to water and effective infiltration were found to be more effective in assessing aquifer vulnerability. Keywords: Groundwater, Vulnerability, Tarkwa, SINTACS, GI

Mining and Metal Pollution: Assessment of Water Quality in the Tarkwa Mining Area

The quality of water in mining communities is uncertain since metals associated with acid mine drainage are known to saturate these waters. Previous studies in Tarkwa, an area noted for gold and manganese extraction, have reported large concentrations of aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, manganese and mercury in water samples. This research aimed at investigating the chemistry of groundwater with special focus on the contamination status of trace elements. It also compared levels of metal concentration with those that were determined in previous research works, to identify changes that might have occurred. Thirty-eight water samples from boreholes, hand-dug wells and streams, within the Tarkwa area were obtained and analysed. Results show that 90 % of water in the area is acidic and Eh was determined to be positive, depicting oxidizing conditions. Mean groundwater temperature was 28.9 ºC. Thirty-two samples had either temperature or pH values falling outside the range recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Thirty samples had at least one metal concentration exceeding the WHO guideline values. Among the list of elements that exceeded the guideline, arsenic, manganese, nitrate, nitrite and iron were the most predominant. The dominant ions in the samples were sodium and bicarbonate. High concentrations of Fe and SO42- in some parts of the study area point to the influence of acid mine drainage (AMD). Comparisons of results of metal concentrations with findings from previous research in the area showed a reduction in concentration. Hydrochemical modelling with PhreeqC attributed this reduction to sorption processes. Comparison of levels of metal concentration in the different water supply facilities (borehole, hand-dug well and stream) showed no significant variations. Keywords: Water Quality, Drinking Water, Hydrochemical Modelling, Heavy Metal

The physiological responses of cacao to the environment and the implications for climate change resilience. A review

Cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) is a tropical perennial crop which is of great economic importance to the confectionary industry and to the economies of many countries of the humid tropics where it is grown. Some recent studies have suggested climate change could severely impact cacao production in West Africa. It is essential to incorporate our understanding of the physiology and genetic variation within cacao germplasm when discussing the implications of climate change on cacao productivity and developing strategies for climate resilience in cacao production. Here we review the current research on the physiological responses of cacao to various climate factors. Our main findings are 1) water limitation causes significant yield reduction in cacao but genotypic variation in sensitivity is evident, 2) in the field cacao experiences higher temperatures than is often reported in the literature, 3) the complexity of the cacao/ shade tree interaction can lead to contradictory results, 4) elevated CO2 may alleviate some negative effects of climate change 5) implementation of mitigation strategies can help reduce environmental stress, 6) significant gaps in the research need addressing to accelerate the development of climate resilience. Harnessing the significant genetic variation apparent within cacao germplasm is essential to develop modern varieties capable of high yields in non-optimal conditions. Mitigation strategies will also be essential but to use shading to best effect shade tree selection is crucial to avoid resource competition. Cacao is often described as being sensitive to climate change but genetic variation, adaptive responses, appropriate mitigation strategies and interactive climate effects should all be considered when predicting the future of cacao production. Incorporating these physiological responses to various environmental conditions and developing a deeper understanding of the processes underlying these responses will help to accelerate the development of a more resource use efficient tree ensuring sustainable production into the future

Sustaining soil productivity 1

Sustaining soil productivity in intensive African agriculture is the proceedings of the seminar organized by CTA and held in Ghana in November 1993. Fifty-nine scientists from African and European institutions assembled at the seminar to exchange ideas and experiences on how to ameliorate the affects of intensive agricultural practices which have resulted in low crop yields, build-up of pests and diseases and the dramatic lowering of soil productivity. Sustaining soil productivity in intensive African agriculture edited by Y Ahenkorah E Owasu-Bennoah G Dowuana 1995 123pp ISBN 92 9081 138 2 available from CTA Alternative financing volume 2: bibliographic cards, indexes and addresses 1995 299pp ISBN 2 XS368 006 X available from CTA (See Soore 62 p9 for details of volume 1)Sustaining soil productivity in intensive African agricultur

Health Information Behaviour of Graduate Students on the Internet: Sources, Trust and Reliability of Information

The study sought to investigate the health information behaviour of graduate students on the internet. A quantitative method using a cross-sectional survey was used to solicit information from 256 graduate students studying courses related to health in the Arts, Social, and applied Sciences. The results showed that most of the respondents preferred the Internet because it is timely, fast and provides information from different sources simultaneously. The type(s) of health information mostly sought for were general information on healthy lifestyle, specific disease or treatment, side effects of medications, new development in the medical field among others. Majority (90.9 %) of the respondents trusted the health information on the Internet but most (56.6 %) did not verify the information obtained online with medical practitioners although they had some forms of concern. The findings offer health practitioners knowledge about university students’ health information seeking behaviour on the Internet in relation to other sources of health information

Fertilizer phosphorus fractions and their available to maize on different landforms on a vertisol in the coastal Savanna zone of Ghana

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Infiltration and sorptivity studies on some landform technologies for managing Vertisols

Infiltration and sorptivity were studied under four different Vertisol management technologies on the Accra Plains of Ghana. The technologies were the cambered bed, the Ethiopian bed, the ridge, and the flat bed. The initial values of both cumulative infiltration and infiltration rate were highest in the cambered bed. This was followed by the ridge, the Ethiopian bed, and the flat bed in that decreasing order. The terminal infiltration rates were quite similar for all the landforms and were about 0.05 m/s. Field-measured sorptivity followed the order: cambered bed>ridge>Ethiopian bed>flat bed. The results of the study on sorptivity were used to predict the relative time-to-incipient ponding of the various landform technologies. It was deduced that the cambered bed would take the longest time, and the flat bed the shortest time to get ponded. The time-to-incipient ponding of the ridge and Ethiopian bed were intermediate. The study showed that the cambered bed would be the best technology for agricultural productivity on the Vertisol in the wet season, while the flat bed is the least desirable, with the ridge and the Ethiopian bed being intermediaries. Etudes sur l'infiltration et l'absorptivité de quelques technologies de forme de terrain pour l'exploitation de vertisols RésuméL' infiltration et l'absorptivité étaient étudiées sous quatre différentes technologies d' exploitation de vertisols sur les plaines d' Accra du Ghana. Les technologies étaient (1) la couche cambrée (2) la couche éthiopienne (3) la crête et (4) le plateau. Les valeurs initiales de l'infiltration cummulative et de la vitesse d' infiltration à la fois étaient trouvées d' être les plus élevées dans les couches cambrées. Ceci était suivi par la crête, la couche éthiopienne et le plateau dans cet ordre décroissant. Les vitesses finales d' infiltration étaient tout à fait semblables pour tout les formes de terrain et étaient approximativement 0.05 m/s. L' absorptiviti évaluée sur le terrain suivait l'ordre: la couche cambrée > la crête > la couche éthiopienne > le plateau. Les résultats de l'étude sur l'absorptivité se sont servi à prédire le temps relatif de blocage naissant de différentes technologies de forme de terrain. Il était déduit que la couche cambrée prendra le plus long temps et le plateau prendra le plus court temps d' être bloqué. Le temps de blocage naissant de la crête et de la couche éthiopienne étaient intermédiaires. L' étude montrait que la couche cambrée pourrait être la meilleure technologie pour la productivité agricole sur le vertisol pendant la saison humide, alors que le plateau est le moins désirable avec la crête et la couche éthiopienne étant les intermédiaires. Ghana Jnl agric. Sci. Vol.33(2) 2004: 147-15