In large areas of sub-Saharan Africa crop production must cope with low soil fertility. To increase soil fertility, the application of biochar (charred biomass) has been suggested. In urban areas, untreated waste water is widely used for irrigation because it is a nutrient-rich year-round water source. Uncertainty exists regarding the interactions between soil properties, biochar, waste water and fertilization over time. The aims of this study were to determine these interactions in two typical sandy, soil organic carbon (SOC) and nutrient depleted soils under urban vegetable production in Tamale (Ghana) and Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) over two years. The addition of biochar at 2 kg m−2 made from rice husks and corn cobs initially doubled SOC stocks but SOC losses of 35% occurred thereafter. Both biochar types had no effect on soil pH, phosphorous availability and effective cation exchange capacity (CEC) but rice husk biochar retained nitrogen (N). Irrigation with domestic waste water increased soil pH and exchangeable sodium over time. Inorganic fertilization alone acidified soils, increased available phosphorous and decreased base saturation. Organic fertilization increased SOC, N and CEC. The results from both locations demonstrate that the effects of biochar and waste water were less pronounced than reported elsewhere.
Urban agriculture is characterized by fast rotation of cropping cycles and high inputs and outputs on relatively small areas of land. Depletion of soil organic carbon and low nutrient use efficiency are severe agricultural constraints in the sandy soils of West Africa. We hypothesized that such an intensive system would provide ideal preconditions for the use of biochar, that biochar would enhance yields in urban horticulture, and that farmers would be able to produce biochar for on-farm use in Tamale, Ghana. Therefore, we studied the opportunities and challenges of biochar using a semi-participatory research approach. Working with 12 participant farmers, we defined research questions which were relevant to their livelihoods and collected qualitative and observational data, which determined the selection of variables to measure quantitatively. Different quality parameters such as leaf color and stiffness of lettuce were important to farmers and marketers when assessing the agronomic benefits of biochar. By adding biochar to their normal agricultural practice farmers were able to increase lettuce yields by 93%. This remarkable increase might be partially caused by farmers' improved management of biochar plots: they concentrated their resources where they expected to yield the largest returns. Using a simple top-lit updraft gasifier, a special chimney for rice husk carbonization, it was relatively simple for farmers to produce biochar in the field, with an efficiency of 15-33%. These stoves' payback times were between 1 and 2 months. Yet, rather than the efficiency of the carbonization technology, often emphasized in biochar research, the availability of feedstock and labor considerations determine the technology selected by farmers for biochar production. This is a novel approach to considering the economic realities of farmers in a semi-participatory appraisal where farmers both produce and apply biochar. This is crucial in order to understand and identify meaningful and economically viable uses of biochar.
Background There is paucity of information on antibiotics utilization amongst farmers, factors associated with administration of antibiotics and farmers' knowledge of the effects of antibiotics on the soil ecosystem in Ghana. Methods A cross sectional quantitative survey across three coastal regions of Ghana was undertaken amongst poultry and livestock farmers. Six hundred respondents were selected from five districts each across the three regions. Pretested and structured questionnaire were used to collect data through face to face interview. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Factors associated with antibiotic administration were determined using binary multiple logistic regression at p � 0.05. Results Out of the 600 farmers, 95% administered antibiotics and 84% bought antibiotics over-thecounter without prescription. Approximately 9% of antibiotic administration was carried out by veterinary officers, and the remaining, 91% based on farmer's experience. Approximately 93% had access to antibiotics without any difficulty. Withdrawal period was always observed by only 16% of farmers. Majority (74%) of farmers never had education on antibiotics and none of the farmers screened manure for the antibiotic residuals. Years of farming, income status, level of education of farmers, type of animal kept, access to extension services, registration with farmers' association, employing veterinary services, location of farm, system of production, education on antibiotics and access to antibiotics positively and significantly predicted the administration of antibiotics by farmers. Majority of farmers had inadequate knowledge of the effects of antibiotics on soil ecosystem with mean score ranging between 2.87±0.60 and 2.98 ± 0.7 on a scale of 5.0.
The effect of biochar alone or co-applied with triple superphosphate on rhizosphere soil characteristics, nodule formation, phytoconstituents and antioxidant property of cowpea ( Vigna uguiculata ) is yet to be adequately examined in sub Saharan Africa. A field experiment was conducted where cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata ) was grown in a tropical sandy loam soil amended with biochar at 1.5 t ha −1 and 2.5 t ha −1 solely or together with inorganic phosphate fertilizer (Triple superphosphate), applied at a rate of 60 kg P ha −1 . At 50% flowering, changes in selected rhizosphere soil properties (pH, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, soil organic carbon, cation exchange capacity), nodule count, phytochemicals (phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins) and antioxidant property of cowpea roots and leaves were determined by standard laboratory procedures. Differences between means of the measured parameters were established using ANOVA, and relationships among the parameters were explored using Pearson correlation (p < 0.05). Addition of biochar solely or in combination with TSP significantly (p < 0.05) increased soil pH, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, soil organic carbon, cation exchange capacity and root nodule count. Flavonoids, phenols, alkaloids, saponin, tannin contents and antioxidant activity in the roots and leaves were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the amended soils compared with the unamended soil. Similarly, soil flavonoids, phenols, alkaloids and antioxidant activity were significantly higher in amended soils compared with control. Significant, positive inter and intra correlation with varying strength was found between soil properties, nodule number and phytoconstituents. This is an indication that biochar can be co-applied with triple superphosphate to sustain soil fertility, improve nodulation and enhance concentrations of phytoconstituents in soil, cowpea roots and leaves.
No abstract
Due to roots’ physical and physiological roles in crop productivity, interest in root system architecture (RSA) and plasticity in responses to abiotic stresses is growing. Sorghum is significant for the food security of millions of people. Phosphorus deficiency is an important limitation of sorghum productivity. There is little information on the RSA-based responses of sorghum to variations in external P supply ([P] ext ). This study evaluated the phenotypic plasticity and RSA responses to a range of [P] ext in 2 sorghum genotypes. The results showed that both genotypes responded to [P] ext but with significant variations in about 80% of the RSA traits analyzed. Aboveground biomass and most RSA traits increased with increasing [P] ext . Plasticity was both genotype- and trait-dependent. For most RSA traits, the white sorghum genotype showed significantly higher plasticity than the red genotype, with the former having about 28.4% higher total plasticity than the former. RSA traits, such as convex area, surface area, total root length, and length diameter ranges, showed sizeable genetic variability. Root biomass had a high degree of plasticity, but root number and angle traits were the leading contributors to variation. The results suggested 2 root trait spectra: root exploration and developmental spectrum, and there was an indication of potential trade-offs among groups of root traits. It is concluded that RSA traits in sorghum contribute to variability and plasticity in response to [P] ext . Given that there might be trade-offs among sorghum root traits, it would be instructive to determine the fundamental constraints underlying these trade-offs.
Objectives: The low fertility of highly weathered soils has been a major problem for resource-constrained smallholder farmers. In central Uganda, smallholder farmers have been collecting termite mound soils anywhere around the termite mound to improve their soil fertility. However, no studies have been conducted on which sections of the termite mounds consist of high soil nutrients. This study was conducted to assess selected major soil essential plant nutrients of soils collected from the top of the mound (TPMS), and the basal part of the mound (BPMS). The surrounding soil samples were collected from five, fifteen, and thirty meters away from the mound (TMSS1, TMSS2, and TMSS3 respectively), covering ten termite mounds in five different maize fields in central Uganda. Results: TPMS and BPMS had significant (P-value < 0.05) higher N, P, K, OC, Ca and Mg levels than TMSS1, TMSS2, and TMSS3. However, OC levels in BPMS was higher than TPMS. On the whole, termite mounds are beneficial as a source for essential plant nutrients. It will be best if smallholder farmers could collect the termite mound soils from the top and the basal part of the mound to improve the fertility of their soil.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.