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Three experiments were conducted in a plastic greenhouse at the Sinna Garden of the Crop Science Department of the University of Ghana, Legon, Accra to investigate into pre-sowing treatment (water treatment, growth regulator, and sulphuric acid scarification and water soaking) effects on seed germination and seedling growth of Bauhinia rufescens from October to December, 2011 and January to April, 2012, respectively. The experimental design used was complete randomized design. There were 4 treatments in experiment 1, 7 in experiment 2 and 6 in experiment 3. Each experiment was replicated five (5) times. The results showed that Bauhinia rufescens seeds soaked in hot water at 65 0 C for 60 minutes gave the highest mean germination rate, tallest plant height and highest number of leaves per plant at 49 days after soaking. It also had the widest stem diameter, highest fresh shoot and root weight, highest fresh root and dry root weight and number of roots per seedling. Seeds soaked in 500 ppm Gibberelic acid(GA3) produced the highest number of leaves per plant and tallest plants at 49 DAS. Seeds soaked in 750 ppm GA3 had the highest number of leaves per plant at 49 DAS and highest fresh shoot weight. Seeds soaked in 1000 ppm Promalin differed significantly from 500 ppm GA3 and the control in germination percentage. Seeds soaked in 1000 ppm Promalin differed significantly from 500 ppm GA3 and the control in germination percentage. Acid scarified seeds for 60 minutes plus soaking in tap water for 24 hours differed significantly from the seeds treated withother growth regulator rates plus 24 hours soaking in germination percentage. Acid scarified seeds for 45 minutes plus soaking in tap water for 24 hours had the tallest plant and highest number of leaves per plant at 49 DAS, widest stem diameter, highest fresh shoot and root weight and dry shoot weight. Soaking seeds in hot water at 65 0 C for 60 minutes and/or in acid (H2SO4) for 45 minutes plus soaking in tap water for 24 hours is recommended as pre-sowing treatment for Bauhinia rufescens for maximum mean germination rate and vigorous vegetative growth of seedlings.

Nutritional quality of most high valued crops including carrot can be influenced by soil management practices. A field study to evaluate soil management improvement effect on nutritional quality of carrot was carried out in two contrasting cropping seasons of two rainfall regimes ranging from 600 mm to 800 mm in 2016 and 2017 at Mampong in the Forest-Savannah transition zone of Ghana. Three rates of soil amendments using biochar rates of 0, 5 and 10 tons/ha and five rates of inorganic fertilizers (NPK 15:15:15 at 200 kg/ha; P&K 50:50 at 50 kg/ha; P&K 50:100 at 50 kg/ha; Liquid Fertilizer at 1 L: 200 L Water/ha; and the control were applied using 3x5 factorial in RCBD. The combined analysis for the different treatments showed that NPK at 200 kg/ha+10 ton/ha biochar gave the highest protein content while Liquid fertilizer+5 ton/ha biochar gave the highest beta-carotene and total carotenoid contents in carrot root during the minor cropping season of 2016. However, during the major copping season of 2017, a combination of liquid fertilizer +10 ton/ha biochar gave the highest protein content whilst NPK at 200 kg/ha +5 ton/ha biochar gave the Asante et al.; AJSSPN, 5(2): 1-14, 2019; Article no.AJSSPN.51790 2 highest carotenoid content for the carrot. Nutritional contents such as carbohydrate, beta-carotene and total carotenoids were boosted by soil amendments. This indicates that both biochar and inorganic fertilizers have varying effects on the nutritional qualities of carrot. Original Research Article

Corms of eighteen (18) genotypes comprising twelve (12) introduced and six (6) local genotypes were studied for their nutrient quality to provide information on their nutrient characteristics for a holistic development of the crop. The crop is known for its edible corms and leaves. Corms are boiled before eating and take a short time to cook as their carbohydrate structure is not complex. The leaves are eaten as vegetables. The crops were planted at Nobewam in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality in the Ashanti Region of Ghana using the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The biochemical or nutritional analysis was done at Crop and Soil Sciences laboratory at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). Data were collected on the chemical and mineral compositions of the genotypes (corms). Variations were observed in both chemical and mineral characteristics. Carbohydrate content of the genotypes ranged from 62% to 76%; protein ranged from 13% to 25%; fibre ranged from 1% to 2%; calcium ranged from 0.29% to 0.72% and iron content ranged from 0.18 mg/100 g to 1.18 mg/100 g. Significant differences P<0.05 were observed in both chemical and mineral traits, indicating a higher degree of variability in the genotypes. Significant P<0.01 and positive correlations were observed between protein and energy levels; magnesium and iron; magnesium and calcium; and potassium and ash. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed that the first component (PC1) accounted for 96% of variation. Some genotypes including; BL/SM/10, BL/SM/132, KA/019, SAO/020, BL/SM/151, BL/SM/80, BL/SM/116, BL/SM/16, and KA/035 possess desirable nutrient levels such as protein, fibre, carbohydrate, and iron which could be exploited for further development of taro in Ghana.

Two field studies to evaluate the effect of biochar and fertilizer application rates on soil and on the growth and yield of carrot (Daucus carota) were carried out in 2016 and 2017 at Mampong-Ashanti in the forest-savannah transitional zone of Ghana. Three rates of biochar - 0, 5 and 10 tons ha-1 and five rates of inorganic fertilizers - NPK 15:15:15 at 200 kg ha-1; P&K 50:50 at 50 kg ha-1; P&K 50:100 at 50 kg ha-1; Liquid Fertilizer at 1 L: 200 L water ha-1; and the control - were applied using 3×5 factorial arranged in a randomized complete block design with 3 replicates. The analysis showed significant (P<0.01) interaction of fertilizer × biochar on bulk density, soil porosity, soil pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen and organic matter producing both positive and negative correlations between the soil variables and on total yield, partitioning coefficient and net assimilation rate. The significant two-way interactions and correlation results underscored the need to define expected production outcomes to inform which soil management system is needed to promote sustainable agriculture as different fertilizer and biochar rates affect growth and yield parameters differently.

The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the influence of organic and inorganic fertilizers on growth and yield of two onion varieties in the transitional zone of Ghana. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with 3 replications. Two varieties [Bawku Red and Red Creole] were laid as main plots and fertilizer rates [10 t/ha Cow dung, 10 t/ha Poultry manure, 300 kg/ha NPK, 5 t/ha PM + 150 kg/ha NPK, 5 t/ha CD + 150 kg/ha NPK) and control (without amendment)] were assigned to sub-plots. The two field experiments were conducted in 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons at the research field of the College of Agriculture Education, University of Education Winneba, Mampong campus. The result showed that Bawku Red planted on 5 t/ha PM + 150 kg/ha NPK produced (P=.05) higher number of leaves per plant and shoot fresh and dry weight than the control during the 2016 cropping season. Red Creole planted on 10 t/ha PM had higher number of leaves per plant, taller plants and higher marketable bulb yield than the control during the 2016 cropping season. In both 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons, Bawku Red and Red Creole planted on 5 t/ha PM + 150 kg/ha NPK produced (P=.05) higher total bulb yield than the control. For maximum vegetative growth and yield in onion production, preferably Bawku red, sole poultry manure (10 t/ha) and/or in combination with NPK (5 t/ha PM+150 kg/ha NPK) is recommended.

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