Ghana journal of agricultural science最新文献

{"title":"Soil nematode population studies of some selected plantation crops and uncultivated coastal thicket","authors":"C. Marshall, Y. Opoku-asiama","doi":"10.4314/GJAS.V42I1-2.60652","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/GJAS.V42I1-2.60652","url":null,"abstract":"The study was conducted on citrus, plantain and pineapple plantations on the Teaching and Research Farm of the School of Agriculture, University of Cape Coast. The survey also covered undisturbed coastal thicket near the site of the study. The aim of the survey was to identify types and population levels of plant parasitic nematodes in soils of the different plantation crops and to find out whether the populations and nematode species differed from those in soils of undisturbed vegetation. The investigations were carried out from April to July 1993. Nematodes were extracted from 100 ml soil samples by an improvised Baerman’s Tray technique and the mean recorded. Nematode counts were determined from 1ml aliquots repeated tree times. Three genera, namely Rotylenchulus, Meloidogyne and Pratylenchus as endo-parasites, Tylenchus (semi-endoparasitic) and eight ecto-parasitics forms which included Xiphimena, a known virus vector, were identified. Meloidogyne, Pratylenchus, Helicotylenchus and Tylenchus occurred in all the plots studied. Hemicyclophora and Xiphimena were the least genera and occurred in low numbers. Plantain supported the greatest number of genera and also the highest nematode populations. There were positive correlations between crop types, soil pH, soil moisture and nematode numbers. Similarly, significant differences were observed between means of initial nematodes numbers at the beginning and end of the season.","PeriodicalId":174273,"journal":{"name":"Ghana journal of agricultural science","volume":"38 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128987636","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":"Willingness to pay for fresh milk and associated marketing services","authors":"G. Ameleke","doi":"10.4314/GJAS.V42I1-2.60654","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/GJAS.V42I1-2.60654","url":null,"abstract":"The study assesses willingness to pay for fresh milk and associated services among some potential consumers (students on the University of Ghana Campus) in Accra, Ghana. Students were sampled using multi-stage stratified random sampling procedure. In the first stage, one hall was selected from two categories of halls - rent paying and non-rent paying halls. In the second stage, respondents were sampled randomly from each of the two halls. The double bounded contingent valuation method was used to analyse willingness to pay. The results show that while price does not significantly influence willingness to pay, one’s perception of fresh milk consumption as a health risk, and income status significantly influence willingness to pay. The estimated marginal effects also reveal that a unit increase in the perception of fresh milk consumption as a health risk precipitates a 14 per cent decrease in willingness to pay for fresh milk brought to the local market, and 11 per cent increase in the willingness to pay for milk delivered to the doorstep. Consumers in the more endowed income group have a 32 per cent more willingness to pay for fresh milk brought to the local market or delivered at the doorstep. The results provide empirical basis for market strategy formation in the peri-urban milk marketing.","PeriodicalId":174273,"journal":{"name":"Ghana journal of agricultural science","volume":"9 Suppl 1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124404088","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":"Insecticide use pattern on tomatoes produced at Yonso community in the Sekyere West District of Ashanti Region, Ghana","authors":"O. Danquah, A. K. Ekor, S. Asuming-brempong","doi":"10.4314/GJAS.V42I1-2.60644","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/GJAS.V42I1-2.60644","url":null,"abstract":"The study investigated the farming practices of tomato growers that might lead to insecticidal contamination of tomato fruits produced. An interview guide was used to collect data from 100 tomato growers, selected using the snowball non-probability sampling technique, at Yonso in the Sekyere West District of the Ashanti Region. The data were collected on the type of insecticide used, the rate of insecticide used in the spray mixture, the sources of insecticides, and the waiting period allowed after last insecticide application and harvest. The chi-square test was used to establish whether there was any relationship between education and insecticide usage. The study showed that more males (82%) than females (18%) were into tomato cultivation, and that about 58 per cent of the respondents, who had attained secondary/technical level of education, used the recommended insecticides (Karate, Diazinon, and Sumithion) to produce tomatoes. Such insecticides are known to be less persistent on the fruit and, thus, could degrade easily. However, 42 per cent of them used insecticides not recommended for vegetables. These included Polytrine, Delphos, Thiodan, Thionex, Cypercal, Dursban, and Fastac. The non-recommended insecticides were the persistent ones that did not degrade easily and, thus, might leave residues on the crops harvested. The farmers applied the insecticides when they detected pests (52%), when the appearance of the plant changed (20%), when infestation was more pronounced (18%), and during transplant (10%). However, most respondents who used the recommended insecticides (69%) did not use the recommended dosage in the spray mixture, and some did not abide by the pre-harvest intervals. However, this study did not determine the rate of breakdown of the insecticides. The study also showed that respondents relied on information on the choice and usage of insecticides from sources, such as agro-chemical sellers (44%), fellow farmers (35%) and personal discretion (8%), other than from extension officers (13%) who were the experts in the field.","PeriodicalId":174273,"journal":{"name":"Ghana journal of agricultural science","volume":"4 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133491257","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":"Fufu flour processing in Ghana: costs, returns and institutional support expected to encourage young entrepreneurs","authors":"I. Egyir, B. Yeboah","doi":"10.4314/gjas.v42i1-2.60655","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/gjas.v42i1-2.60655","url":null,"abstract":"The introduction of \"fufu\" flour is an innovative business venture that young entrepreneurs should explore. However, the level of costs and returns as well as institutional support to sustain the industry is not well understood. This study was conducted to determine the profitability of \"fufu\" flour and the strength of the institutional framework. The criteria of Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and Benefit-Cost Ratio (B-CR) were used for the investment analysis at 20 per cent discount rate. The results showed that the IRR was 57 per cent, and the NPV and BCR were positive. As the project appraisal indices show worthiness, it can be concluded that \"fufu\" flour processing is economically feasible. A fairly developed institutional framework already exists (policy, regulatory agencies, and input and output markets); this enabling environment needs to be strengthened.","PeriodicalId":174273,"journal":{"name":"Ghana journal of agricultural science","volume":"20 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122293273","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 three diets formulated from local agroindustrial by-products for production of Oreochromis niloticus in earthen ponds","authors":"F. Attipoe, F. Nelson, E. Abban","doi":"10.4314/GJAS.V42I1-2.60658","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/GJAS.V42I1-2.60658","url":null,"abstract":"Three diets were evaluated for growth, production and economic performance of the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, after a culture period of 160 days at the Aquaculture Research and Development Centre (ARDEC), Akosombo, Ghana. Locally available agro-industrial by-products were used to compound the diets. Wheat bran and rice bran were used as energy sources while fish meal and groundnut bran were used as protein sources. The crude protein level of the control diet and the test diets were 9 and 15 per cent, respectively. Results from the feeding trials showed that diet F1 performed best in most of the growth and feed utilization parameters tested (mean daily growth rate and mean net weight gain). However, there was no significant difference between the performance of diets F1 and F3 (P > 0.05). The control diet F2 was the most economical with respect to profit index and economy of weight gain. It cost ¢1041.00 to produce 1 kg of fish on diet F2, while the same weight of fish costs ¢2013.00 to be produced on diet F3. Considering the overall performance of the three diets in terms of feed utilization and production economics, diet F1 (wheat bran and groundnut bran) was the most cost-effective practical diet. It is recommended to fish farmers for cultivation of Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings (90-100 g) to a marketable size of about 220 g in 5 months.","PeriodicalId":174273,"journal":{"name":"Ghana journal of agricultural science","volume":"76 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121580411","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 and cultural functions of goats in Niger Delta of Nigeria: implication for education of farmers.","authors":"C. Ikeoji","doi":"10.4314/GJAS.V42I1-2.60646","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/GJAS.V42I1-2.60646","url":null,"abstract":"Data on the socio-economic profiles of goat keepers were collected by structured interviews from 67 respondents who were involved in keeping goats. Oral interviews were used to collect information from Christian pastors, priests, and idol worshippers on their accepted use of goats for worship. Further information on limitations of goat keeping and cultural functions of goats were collected by oral and structured interviews from the respondents. Results showed that goat keeping was not popular in the study area because the people did not cherish goat meat; they see goats as destructive, dirty, and often associated with witchcraft. Forty-six percent of the respondents practised free range, and 18 per cent confined their goats. Goats were, however, found to be widely used during burial ceremonies, marriages, sacrifices, and atonement for certain wrongdoings. Most goat keepers were in the age range of 30 to 49 (73%); while 58 per cent of them were literate, and 42% did not have formal education. Farmers in the study area need education on the diverse use of goat meat and other products to create awareness on the place of goats in meeting the nutritional needs of people in the area.","PeriodicalId":174273,"journal":{"name":"Ghana journal of agricultural science","volume":"106 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122427703","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":"Participatory epidemiology as an innovative approach in animal health systems research.","authors":"Paa Kobina Turkson","doi":"10.4314/GJAS.V42I1-2.60648","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/GJAS.V42I1-2.60648","url":null,"abstract":"This paper provides information on a recent innovative approach in animal health research termed “participatory epidemiology”. It seeks to present participatory epidemiology as a tool for research in Ghana, and presents some case studies of the use of participatory epidemiology in Ghana and elsewhere.","PeriodicalId":174273,"journal":{"name":"Ghana journal of agricultural science","volume":"276 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130832114","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":"An epidemiological study of recent outbreaks of gumboro disease in Ghana","authors":"H. Otsyina, A. Osei-Somuah, J. Amakye-Anim, K. Aning","doi":"10.4314/GJAS.V42I1-2.60653","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/GJAS.V42I1-2.60653","url":null,"abstract":"A study to assess the epidemiological factors responsible for the recent outbreaks of infectious bursal disease (IBD) in Accra and Kumasi, between October and December 2002 and January to April 2003, was conducted. Case report records at Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories were examined for IBD cases. Farm investigations were carried out using a combination of questionnaire and interviews to obtain information on the disease situation on farms, where the outbreaks had occurred. The highest occurrence of the disease was recorded between March and April 2003, with Accra showing the highest number of cases in March, coinciding with the Easter season. Day-old chicks imported into the country succumbed more easily to the disease than those produced locally. There was an association between IBD and the chicken type that was significant (P < 0.05) in cockerels and layers. Chickens vaccinated twice were more likely to be protected from the disease than those not vaccinated or vaccinated only once. The prevalence of the disease was also influenced by the age of the chickens with a rise in susceptibility with age from 3 weeks to 6 weeks old. The results of the study indicate that the factors studied, namely source of day old chicks, bird type, vaccination history, and age of chicks at the time of outbreak influenced outbreaks of IBD and are likely to contribute to the endemicity of infectious bursal disease in the poultry producing areas of Ghana. It is recommended that stringent biosecurity measures be observed on poultry farms to control the disease in the country.","PeriodicalId":174273,"journal":{"name":"Ghana journal of agricultural science","volume":"59 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"117318696","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":"Effect of seed yam weight on growth and tuber yield of white yam ( D. rotundata Poir)","authors":"S. Akparobi, L. Okonmah","doi":"10.4314/GJAS.V42I1-2.60634","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/GJAS.V42I1-2.60634","url":null,"abstract":"The effect of different weights of seed yam (250, 300 and 350 g) on growth and tuber yield of white yam were evaluated. The results showed significant differences (P 0.05) between seed yam weight of 300 and 350 g, but they were significantly higher than seed yam weight of 250 g for vine number, and basal diameter and leaf number. The results on yield parameters showed that tuber number, length and fresh weight increased. The results showed that there were no significant differences (P","PeriodicalId":174273,"journal":{"name":"Ghana journal of agricultural science","volume":"23 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129004691","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":"Causes of differences in seed quality among cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) cultivars.","authors":"E. Asiedu, P. Akowuah-Adusei, B. Asafo-Adjei, H. Adu-Dapaah, O. Danquah","doi":"10.4314/gjas.v42i1-2.60656","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/gjas.v42i1-2.60656","url":null,"abstract":"Three cowpea cultivars differing in seed coat colour, IT83S-818 (white, black-eye), TVX 2724-01F (brown) and IT82D-32 (dark brown), were aged using the controlled deterioration method (20% seed moisture content and incubated at 40 oC) for 0, 1, 2 and 4 days. Time to 50 per cent germination (t50) and final germination percentage were determined to assess the vigour differences that exist among these cultivars. In unaged seeds, the white cultivar germinated quicker than the pigmented cultivars as a result of the characteristically higher rate of water uptake, which enhanced rapid hydration of the embryonic cells for quicker germination. When ageing progressed, however, the white cultivar germinated more slowly with a lower final germination percentage since the embryonic cells possibly became weaker and leaky leading to reduced vigour and eventually, loss of germinability. In contrast, the pigmented cultivars germinated more slowly before seeds were aged due to their slower rates of water uptake; germination became quicker as ageing progressed due to increasing softening of the seed coats. Thus, the pigmented cultivars showed decreases in the time to 50 per cent germination during ageing. They, however, retained high germination percentages throughout the ageing period, which is an indication of high vigour. These three cultivars, together with two other unpigmented cultivars, IT81D-1137 (white) and TVX 3236 (cream and brown) were subsequently examined for the incidence of disease pathogens. It was observed that the unpigmented cultivars had higher levels of the importasnt seed pathogens such as Fusarium species and Aspergillus flavus which cause reduction in germination. These seeds also showed susceptibility to mechanical damage caused by hand-beating of dry pods in sacs. These differences in behaviour between the two groups of cowpea cultivars, pigmented and unpigmented, were attributed to differences in tannin and lignin contents in their seed coats.","PeriodicalId":174273,"journal":{"name":"Ghana journal of agricultural science","volume":"63 ","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133356990","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}