Ghana journal of agricultural science最新文献

{"title":"Adoption behaviour of dairy farmers in relation to green fodder cultivation in a cooperative farming system","authors":"R. Ghosh, A. Goswami, A. Mazumdar","doi":"10.4314/GJAS.V41I2.48794","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/GJAS.V41I2.48794","url":null,"abstract":"This study was carried out at purposively selected Gaighata and Bagdah blocks of the North-24-Parganas District, West Bengal, India. From each of the purposively selected two blocks, 25 per cent of the villagelevel- milk cooperative societies were selected randomly. Thus, 10 village-level milk cooperative societies (25%) from Gaighata Block and 20 (25.64%) from Bagdah Block were randomly selected. From each of the selected milk cooperative societies, four dairy farmers were randomly selected, out of which both Member Cooperative Society (MCS) and Non-member Cooperative Society (NMCS) were two. Thus, 60 MCS and 60 NMCS (total of 120 respondents) were selected, which constituted the sample of this study. The direct face-to-face interview method with structured schedule was followed for data collection. The study showed that adoption of green fodder cultivation was highly correlated with all the socio-psychological variables in MCS and NMCS. It also showed that all the communication variables had significant correlation with adoption of green fodder cultivation in MCS and NMCS, excepting personal cosmopolite and personal localite in MCS. Among socio-economic variables, age had significant negative correlation with adoption of green fodder cultivation in MCS. On Path analysis, knowledge about green fodder feeding in MCS, concentrate feeding, and deworming in NMCS came out to be the key variables that directly and indirectly influenced the adoption of green fodder cultivation.","PeriodicalId":174273,"journal":{"name":"Ghana journal of agricultural science","volume":"37 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131170485","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness of three different storage structures and curing process for the storage of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) in Ghana","authors":"C. Tortoe, M. Obodai, W. Amoa-Awua, C. Oduro‐Yeboah, K. Vowotor","doi":"10.4314/GJAS.V41I2.48799","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/GJAS.V41I2.48799","url":null,"abstract":"Three different storage structures and two curing processes for the storage of sweet potato ( Ipomoea batatas ) were studied at the CSIR-Food Research Institute, Accra. Sweet potato roots initially cured under warm (30-35 °C) and very humid (90-95% relative humidity) conditions for 7 and 14 days were stored in local (traditional), pit, and clamp storage structures for 84 days. After 0-84 days of storage, the roots were sampled and physically assessed into wholesome, sprouted, fungalinfected, and insect and rodent-damaged. The decrease in percentage wholesome roots corresponded to an increase in percentage fungal-infected roots from 0 to 84 days of storage in all the three different storage structures. Clamp storage structure recorded the highest percentage wholesome roots (20.0%) compared to pit (16.3%) and local (0%) after 84 days of storage when roots were cured for 7 days. However, for 14 days cured roots stored for 84 days, local storage structure recorded the highest percentage wholesome roots (20%), pit (0%), and clamp (10%). Higher percentages of fungal-infected sweet potato roots were recorded from roots cured for 14 days. Percentage sprouted roots was higher in clamp, followed by pit and local storage structures. Sprouting was delayed for sweet potato roots that were cured for 14 days in all the storage structures. Percentage damage of sweet potato roots by insect and rodent was lower in all the three storage structures compared to the fungalinfected sweet potato roots.","PeriodicalId":174273,"journal":{"name":"Ghana journal of agricultural science","volume":"37 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130303443","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vermicompost as a fertilizer for urban and peri-urban farms: perceptions of farmers in Accra, Ghana","authors":"Nana-Osei K. Mainoo, S. Barrington, J. Whalen","doi":"10.4314/GJAS.V41I2.48798","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/GJAS.V41I2.48798","url":null,"abstract":"Vermicompost is considered a valuable organic fertilizer in many tropical regions, but has rarely been used in sub-Saharan Africa. A study in Accra, Ghana, assessed urban and peri-urban (UP) farmers’ fertilizer and pesticide use, knowledge of earthworms, fertilizer performance criteria, and attitudes toward vermicompost as a fertilizer. Twenty-six farmers involved in irrigated vegetable farming and three subsistence farmers were interviewed. Farmers were aware that earthworm activity was associated with soil fertility, and some associated insecticide applications to reduced earthworm populations. Farmers used the greenness of leaves, crop emergence, stand and yield as indicators of fertilizer performance. Farmers resisted making statements about vermicompost before testing it, and advised that its fertilizer value be tested during the dry season. Farmers involved in irrigated vegetable farming had insufficient space and time for on-farm vermicomposting, while subsistence farmers lacked a reliable access to water necessary for on-farm vermicomposting; but both types of farmers were interested in adopting vermicompost if it improved crop performance. Such lack of farm resources suggest that a commercial facility would be best suited to produce vermicompost from organic waste, which would then be sold to farmers.","PeriodicalId":174273,"journal":{"name":"Ghana journal of agricultural science","volume":"37 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123433882","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of mineral status in feed resources and effects of supplementation to farm animals in northern Ghana","authors":"N. Karbo, A. Addo-Kwafo, J. Bruce","doi":"10.4314/GJAS.V41I2.48791","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/GJAS.V41I2.48791","url":null,"abstract":"A survey was conducted on the mineral concentration of available feed resources at three locations in the northern Guinea Savannah Zone between 1992 and 1997. The feeds were categorized into cereal crop residues, legume crop residues, grass forages, legume forages, and legume browse and agro-industrial by-products. Experiments carried out involved balanced groups (age, sex and breed) of sheep using some of such forages and with or without access to commercial mineral licks. The animals were monitored for any changes in their live weight performance. Dry matter (DM) intake by sheep of supplementary fed rice straw was also determined. Average concentration of calcium (Ca) in the feed samples surveyed was highest in the browse forages (1.21%) and legume forages (1.13%). The lowest was recorded for the agroindustrial by-product (0.20%). However, phosphorus (P) was highest (1.6%) in the browse forages compared to that recorded in the cereal crop residues (0.06%). Copper (Cu) levels of 2.57, 7.1, and 7.6 mg kg-1 DM were observed for cereal forages, legume crop residues, legume forages and browse forages, respectively. The cereal crop residues contained 40.7 mg kg-1 of zinc (Zn) compared to 24.33 mg kg-1 in the browse forages. Manganese (Mn) concentration was 97.5, 143.3, 163.7, 231.4, 271.2, and 314.4 mg kg-1 DM for agro-industrial by-products, browse forages, grass forages, legume crop residues, forage legumes, and cereal crop residues in that order. Sheep exposed to commercial mineral lick consumed 4.7-8.0 g head-1 day-1. However, total supplementary rice straw intake was 7.0 per cent lower in animals on mineral lick. Sheep in the study generally consumed 13.5 per cent more of straw in the dry season (November-February) compared to the wet season (July -October). Sheep on natural grazing in the dry season and supplemented with rice straw with or without mineral lick gained 65.5 and 63.7 g head-1 day-1, respectively. A significantly (P< 0.001) lower daily gain of 26.7 g head-1 was recorded for sheep grazing natural pasture without any form of supplementation.","PeriodicalId":174273,"journal":{"name":"Ghana journal of agricultural science","volume":"56 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123402093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Screening cassava genotypes in two agroecological zones of Nigeria using tuberous root poundability","authors":"S. Akparobi","doi":"10.4314/GJAS.V41I2.48789","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/GJAS.V41I2.48789","url":null,"abstract":"Twelve cassava genotypes were evaluated in two agroecological zones (Ibadan: 25 ± 5 oC and Jos: 14 ± 5 oC) to determine the tuberous root poundability at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after planting (MAP). The results showed that there were no significant differences (P<0.05) in tuberous root poundability between the two locations and years throughout the sampling periods. Also, genotypic differences (P<0.05) were not observed among the cassava genotypes for tuberous root poundability either across or within locations. Isunikankiyan, TME I, TMS 50395 and TMS 30572 produced the lowest values for tuberous root poundability of 1.2, 1.3, 1.2 and 1.4 for 3, 6, 9 and 12 MAP, respectively. Genotypic differences (P<0.05) were observed among the tested genotypes for total dry tuberous root yield per hectare. The highest tuberous root yields per hectare were produced by TMS 30572, TMS 50395, TMS 91934 and TME 1. The results of this study suggest that TME 1, TMS 50395 and TMS 30572 were poundable and also had high tuberous dry root matter. It is recommended that these varieties be made available for farmers in farm testing and also be used for further breeding programmes for incorporation of the poundability characteristics.","PeriodicalId":174273,"journal":{"name":"Ghana journal of agricultural science","volume":"167 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125881751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Socio-economic analysis of rice production in Ghana: Agenda for policy study","authors":"N. Obirih-Opareh","doi":"10.4314/GJAS.V41I2.48796","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/GJAS.V41I2.48796","url":null,"abstract":"This paper analyses some factors that adversely affect rice production in Ghana as a whole and at some irrigation projects in particular, and measures put in place to address them. The paper is based mainly on a field survey conducted at the Dawhenya Irrigation Project (DIP) between 2004 and 2007 as part of a policy study on irrigation agriculture in Ghana. The methodology used involved administering questionnaires to farmers and officials at the DIP, group discussions, and a feedback workshop with the farmers. The findings showed that the local rice industry had suffered from, among others, high cost of inputs and production constraints at the pump-type irrigation projects (PTIPs); particularly the high electricity tariffs that had resulted in closure of some irrigation schemes, including those at Dawhenya and Weija, difficulties in accessing credit, use of pooryielding seed varieties, inappropriate agronomic practices, limited mechanisation, poor processing methods, and poor marketing strategies. Policy interventions should address these challenges to enable the local rice industry produce enough food to feed the country and for export.","PeriodicalId":174273,"journal":{"name":"Ghana journal of agricultural science","volume":"389 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124744832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Measurement of crude protein requirement of cockerel finishers by two empirical methods","authors":"R. Salami","doi":"10.4314/GJAS.V41I2.48800","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/GJAS.V41I2.48800","url":null,"abstract":"Two empirical methods, namely the orthodox or traditional and diet dilution technique, were used to measure the responses of 96 14-week-old Black Olympian cockerel finishers to graded dietary crude protein (CP) levels of 16, 18, 20 and 22 per cent on airdry basis in a 6-week trial. The diets were isocaloric (ca 2600 kcal kg-1 metabolisable energy). Both methods indicated that weight gains, feed conversion ratio, and protein efficiency ratio were optimized by diets containing 18 per cent CP level at minimal cost of feed per unit gain. The results, thus, confirm that both methods are equally good in predicting the CP requirements of finishing cockerels.","PeriodicalId":174273,"journal":{"name":"Ghana journal of agricultural science","volume":"111 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124132173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Yield performance of four cauliflower (Brassica oleraceae L.) varieties under open field conditions in Seychelles","authors":"M. Ijoyah, H. Rakotomavo","doi":"10.4314/GJAS.V41I2.48797","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/GJAS.V41I2.48797","url":null,"abstract":"A field experiment was used, from March to September 2005 and 2006, to evaluate the yield performance of three cauliflower ( Brassica oleraceae L.) varieties, ‘Amazing’, ‘Clima’ and ‘Rami’, against the commonly grown variety ‘Tropical Extra Early’ under open field conditions at the Vegetable Evaluation and Research Station Farm at Anse Boileau, Seychelles. The experiment consisted of four treatments laid out in a randomized complete block design with five replications. The results showed that while ‘Tropical Extra Early’ was the earliest to mature, the highest curd length and curd width were produced by ‘Rami’. Similarly, ‘Rami’ produced the largest curd circumference, largest curd weight, and best yield. ‘Rami’ significantly improved yield at P = 0.05 by 32.2 and 30.0 per cent in 2005 and 2006 respectively, compared to that recorded for the regular variety ‘Tropical Extra Early’. ‘Rami’ could, therefore, be considered as a potential replacement for the common variety ‘Tropical Extra Early’.","PeriodicalId":174273,"journal":{"name":"Ghana journal of agricultural science","volume":"12 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"117061177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Field evaluation of neem seed extract for the control of major pests of cowpea in Northern Ghana","authors":"B. K. Badii, S. Asante, J. Ayertey","doi":"10.4314/GJAS.V41I2.48795","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/GJAS.V41I2.48795","url":null,"abstract":"Field studies were conducted at the Experimental Farm of the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), Nyankpala, northern Ghana, during the 2006 cropping season to evaluate the effect of aqueous neem ( Azadirachta indica A. Juss) seed extract at 5, 10, 15 and 20 per cent on Aphis craccivora Koch., Megalurothrips sjostedti Tryb., Maruca vitrata Fab., and a complex of pod and seed-sucking bugs of cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata L. Walpers), as well as their effect on the grain and fodder yields of the crop. The results showed that the incidence and abundance of all the target insect pests were significantly affected by the neem extract treatments. Cowpea grain yield was significantly higher in all the neem-treated plots than in the control. The 15 per cent neem seed extract treatment proved as effective as that of the 20 per cent in increasing the grain yield of the cowpea crop. However, none of the neem treatments was as effective as the synthetic insecticide (Karate) in cowpea grain yield. However, grain quality for the 15 and 20 per cent treatments was similar to that for the Karate treatment. Cowpea fodder yield was found to decrease with increasing concentration of the neem extract. Benefit-cost analysis for the grain and fodder yields showed that the 15 and 5 per cent neem extract treatments, respectively, had the best benefit-cost ratios. Therefore, the 15 per cent neem seed extract is recommended for use in controlling the major field insect pests of cowpea for maximum grain yield in the Guinea savanna agroecological zone of Ghana. However, for situations in which the grower is strapped for cash or neem seeds are inadequate, the 5 or 10 per cent extract may be used. The 5 per cent neem seed extract is recommended for dual-purpose cowpea cultivars for maximum returns on grain and fodder yield.","PeriodicalId":174273,"journal":{"name":"Ghana journal of agricultural science","volume":"122 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131471458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Agronomic potential of “Dodzi”, an extra early-maturing maize cultivar","authors":"P. Sallah, K. Obeng-antwi, S. Twumasi-Afriyie, E. Asiedu, K. Boa-Amponsem, K. Ahenkora, A. Agyemang","doi":"10.4314/GJAS.V41I2.48801","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/GJAS.V41I2.48801","url":null,"abstract":"Production of short-cycle crop varieties reduces the risk of crop loss due to terminal droughts and ensures early harvest to fill the hunger gap. Two experiments were used to determine the yield potentials of elite extra-early (75- 80 days) maturing maize ( Zea mays L.) varieties to recommend the best extra-early variety for commercial production and use in Ghana. In the first experiment, two extra-early and eight early (90-95 days) maize varieties were evaluated in replicated field trials at 10 research stations in 1995 and 1996. In the second experiment, the two extra-early varieties, one recommended early variety, and the farmers’ check variety were evaluated at 38 and 28 farm sites in 1995 and 1996, respectively. Mean grain yields across the 10 on-station sites in 2 years were 3.5, 4.1, 4.6, and 3.4 t ha-1 for NAES EE W-SR (extraearly), NAES Pool 16 DT (extra-early), Dorke SR (early), and the farmers’ check variety, respectively. Mean yields of the four varieties across 66 farm sites in both years were 3.2, 3.4, 3.4, and 3.6 t ha-1, respectively. NAES EE W-SR was the earliest of all the varieties tested and the farmers’ variety was latest. Food preference tests showed that NAES EE W-SR was comparable to the farmers’ check variety in suitability for local dish preparations. The National Variety Release Committee subsequently approved and released NAES EE W-SR under the local name “Dodzi”. “Dodzi” is recommended for early planting and harvesting throughout Ghana.","PeriodicalId":174273,"journal":{"name":"Ghana journal of agricultural science","volume":"16 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116893055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}