Leaf area index (LAI) plays an important role in radiation capture, crop growth and yield formation. However, there is limited quantitative data on the influence of poultry manure (PM) and NPK fertilizer rate (NPK) on LAI, as estimated directly. Using a split-plot design with three replications, a field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of three PM rate (0, 2 and 4 t/ha) as main plot and three NPK rate (0:0:0, 60:30:30 and 120:60:60 kg N P2O5 K2O/ha) as sub plot, on LAI and maize grain yield. The maize was planted at a density of 106,666 plants/ha; two rows on a ridge, one plant per stand at 75 × 25 cm. Linear regression was used to establish predictive equations among correlated variables and to describe the degree of associations. The application of PM in maize increased (p < 0.05) number of leaves/plant (NL) at 8 and 10 weeks after sowing maize (WASM). NL, leaf area constant at 6 and 10 WASM, leaf area (LA) and LAI were significantly affected by NPK. LAI correlated positively with NL, LA and grain yield. The coefficient of determination between actual and estimated LA was in the range of 0.85-0.97. The PM × NPK interaction was significant on maize grain yield. The results suggest that small-scale maize farmers faced with challenges in obtaining and transporting large quantities of poultry manure can use 2 t PM/ha with either 60:30:30 kg N P2O5 K2O/ha or 120:60:60 kg N P2O5 K2O/ha to increase grain yield of maize.
Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) contributes significantly to Ghana’s GDP and has made Ghana a recognized leader in the cocoa industry. However, there are myriad problems associated with Ghana’s cocoa bean quality. One such problems stems from farmers paying less attention to the required postharvest activities (fermentation and drying) which contributes significantly to bean quality losses. This study investigated the effect of the duration of the traditional heap fermentation period and different drying methods: solar biomass hybrid dryer (SBHD) and traditional sun drying method (TSDM) on the bean quality of two cocoa varieties (hybrid cocoa and Amazonia). Quality attributes of cocoa beans such as pH, moisture content, fat content, crude protein, free fatty acids, phenolic contents, colour, and bean size were examined. The statgraphics statistical tool was used to analyse data and the least significant difference (LSD) was used to compare treatment means. Purple beans incidence was observed to be lower in hybrid with a value of 21.90% in the solar biomass hybrid dryer after 5 days of fermentation. Hybrid recorded the highest flavonoid value of 6069.74 mg QE/g DW in the traditional sun drying after 7 days of fermentation. Hybrid as well recorded the highest total phenolic value of 711.44 mg GAE/g DW in the solar biomass hybrid dryer under 5 days of fermentation. Results also indicated that using the solar biomass hybrid dryer resulted in the best moisture content removal and was very efficient compared with the traditional sun drying method in ensuring high-quality beans per international market standards. Cocoa beans dried under SBHD had the overall highest purity and were of better quality compared to those dried directly in the sun. There were no significant differences ( p ≤ 0.24 ) in percentage purity among the cocoa samples studied.
The study investigated the contributions of an alternative incarceration system for the rehabilitation of offenders to promote socio-economic development in Nsawam medium-security prisons. An interpretivist worldview was adopted to answer the question regarding the relationship between variables, thus making this an inductive study. A qualitative approach was followed in the study, which is in line with the selected philosophical perspective. Interviews were used to gather data from the prison officers. In the quest to reduce the potential for researcher bias and ensure the exactness of the data gathered during the interview, there was the need to conduct member checking using the sampling ratio proposed by Cochran (1963: p. 75) to arrive at variability p = 0.5 (maximum variability) and with the desire of 95% confidence level and ±5% precision. Hence, this study was based on a sample population of 20
Groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) is a major source of dietary protein, cultivated for both human and animal consumption. However, in West Africa, the yields are low, renewing the interest to evaluate groundnut response to P fertilizer (P) and rhizobium inoculant (IR) application. A study was conducted on the experimental field of the University for Development Studies, Nyankpala in the Northern region of Ghana to evaluate the interactive effect of three P rates (0, 30 and 60 kg P 2 O 5 /ha) and three IR rates (0, 3 and 6 g/kg seed) on groundnut yield and to assess the economic viability of these technologies to farmers. The study was conducted using a 3 × 3 factorial laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Nodule count and pod number per plant were significantly affected by P fertilizer rates (PR) and rhizobium inoculant rates (IR) interaction. The effects of PR and IR significantly increased grain yield of groundnut, with 60 kg P 2 O 5 /ha and 6g inoculant/kg seed recording the highest grain yield of 2708.3 and 2376.6 kg/ha respectively. Correlation analysis suggested that major determinants of groundnut grain yield were nodule count, effective nodule count, pod number and pod weight. Gross benefits were higher in treatment with P fertilizer and/or inoculant application. Estimated B/C ratios also indicated that, compared to the control, all the treatments are attractive. Therefore, cultivating groundnut by using P fertilizer and/or inoculant may provide the most economically viable and low-risk options for increasing groundnut yield in northern Ghana.
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