Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science

Peri-urban lettuce production in the Kumasi metropolis: diseases and farmers’ management strategies

E. ABU, C. KWOSEH, E. MOSES — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), an annual leafy herb belonging to the family Compositae, is one of the most popular salad crops, and occupies the largest production area among salad crops in the world. Often times, its production is hindered by diseases particularly, leaf blight diseases, referred to by farmers as “dot disease”. The study was carried out in four major lettuce growing communities (KNUST, Boadi, Gyinyase and University of Education, Winneba-Kumasi campus) and comprised a survey where questionnaires were administered to catalogue diseases associated with peri-urban vegetables production, management strategies employed by the farmers and laboratory experiment for isolation and identification of pathogens associated with the diseases. Leaf blight, leaf spot and powdery mildew were the major diseases mentioned by the farmers. Samples of leaf blight disease of lettuce were collected from each community for isolation of causative organisms. Pathogenicity test was done by inoculating young potted lettuce plants and detached leaves with actively growing pure cultures of the isolates. After six days, it was observed that all the isolates except A. niger and A. flavus caused symptoms of the disease on the leaves. However, Lesions produced by Curvularia lunata resembled field symptoms of leaf blight. The survey also revealed challenges like unidentified bacterium causing leaf lesions, downy mildew, and damping-off diseases. Recommendations include developing seed treatment strategies, addressing reasons for youth disinterest, and conducting further studies on isolated bacteria. Enhancing peri-urban vegetable production is crucial for economic stability, food security, and environmental sustainability.

Baseline Survey and Promotion of Grain-Producing Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) Crop among Ghanaian Vegetable Growers

B. DARFOUR, A.S. APPIAH, J. NUNOO — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Cultivated amaranth species can be used as a leafy vegetable, grain, forage and ornamentals. The objective of this study was to obtain baseline information on vegetable production in Ghana, with an emphasis on grain-producing amaranth. The survey was administered in three major vegetable production fields in Accra, Ghana. The questions were structured, 55 respondents were purposefully selected and interviewed, and the data were represented in pie or bar charts. Male farmers exceeded their female counterparts, and each farmer cultivated about one acre. Cultivation was all year round and irrigation was applied predominantly using stream water. At
least 82% of the farmers may change currently cultivated vegetables if there were alternatives with increased demand. About 61% had ever cultivated leafy amaranth and 58% were willing to restart cultivation. Amaranth farmers were challenged in the field mostly by pests (44%) and insects (26%) infestations, and diseases (23%). None of the farmers was aware of the edibility of amaranth seeds/grains while at least 81% had an interest in cultivating grain amaranth based on increased consumer demand. Importantly, the interest of respondents to cultivate grainproducing amaranth can help achieve SDG goals 1 to 3 of No poverty, Zero hunger, Good health and well-being.

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance pattern of Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin Resistance Staphylococcus aureus isolated from waste bin handles in the Tamale Metropolis and Tolon District

I. YEBOAH, S.W. KPORDZE, C.K.S. SABA — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

There has been an increased incidence of Staphylococcus aureus colonization on several fomites with implicated transmission and infection. S. aureus was predisposed to developing antibiotic resistance due to the rise in antimicrobial overuse and genetic mutation, which contributes to formation of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). MRSA is known to cause several illnesses
in hospitals, and infection in the community. This study aims to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA on waste bin handles in the Tamale metropolis and Tolon district, Ghana. Hundred (100) swabs samples were taken from the handles of waste bins at Homes and streets in the Tamale metropolis and Tolon. Swab samples
were inoculated and isolated on Baird Parker agar at 37°C for 24-48 hours, and further confirmed using Staph aureus plus latex agglutination assay. Disk diffusion method was employed for the antibiotic susceptibility testing using EUCAST guidelines. Isolates resistant to oxacillin were classified as Community Acquired Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA). Fifty-six (56%) of samples were contaminated with S. aureus, of which 41% were MRSA isolates. Fifty (50%) of isolates were classified as Methicillin Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). The percentage of S. aureus resistant to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, erythromycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and streptomycin were 29, 38, 57, 68, 62, and 80% respectively. Waste bin handles serve as habitat for multidrug resistant S. aureus. This may lead to a high rate of CA-MRSA infection. Further study should be done to determine the prevalence of other pathogenic bacteria on waste bin handles.

Response of oil palm (Elaesis guineensis Jacq.) nursery seedling to NPK and Urea based gel liquid fertilizers in oil palm belt in Nigeria

F. EKHATOR, C.O. OKEKE, V.O. ADURAMIGBA-MODUPE, C.E. IKUENOBE — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Raising vigorous oil palm nursery seedlings for field planting is contingent upon good fertility management. Following this, two separate experiments which consisted of liquid NPK gel fertilizer and Urea based gel liquid fertilizer were conducted in a randomized complete block design in four replicates to determine the response of nursery seedlings to gel liquid fertilizers. The experiments consisted of five treatments each namely (a) zero application (control), (b) 0.2L ha-1 (c) 0.5L ha-1 (d) 1.0 L ha-1 and (e) 1.5 Lha-1of the products. Treatments were applied bimonthly after transplanting until the seedlings were 8 months old. Basal application of NPKMg fertilizer was done at 3, and 5 months after transplanting. Observation on seedling growth was taken 9 months after transplanting of pre-nursery seedlings. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and means compared using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% level of probability. The results showed that palm height (79cm), girth (18cm), leaf number (12.57) and leaf area (0.64 m2) respectively were highest at 1.5 L ha-1 of NPK gel fertilizer. Consequently, in Urea based gel liquid fertilizer palm height (74.2cm), girth (18.20cm), leaf number (12.33), and leaf area (0.673m2) respectively were also highest in plot treated with 1.5 L ha-1. Leaf nutrient of nitrogen, and phosphorus were adequate for seedlings productivity only in NPK gel fertilizer and leaf nutrient content of Nitrogen, phosphorus and magnesium were sufficient for seedlings productivity in Urea liquid-based fertilizer. This result concluded that both fertilizers produced good seedlings at 1.5 L ha-1.

The effect of 20-week pullet weight on full-sexual maturity characteristics in a parent-stock layer strain

O.M.A. JESUYON — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The body weight of 20-week-old pullets (PW20) could be managed to influence desired performance at full sexual maturity (FSM) in layers. This was examined in Bovan Nera (BN) parent stock using 22 batches of average of 3896 birds per batch at 20 weeks, raised from year 1999 to 2008. Data were collected on fourteen performance and hatching traits. The GLM, means procedure, Pearson’s correlation for association study, Multiple linear regression (MLR) for relationship analysis and Tukey’s HSD procedure for mean separation (α=0.05) of SAS/STAT (2013) were employed in a completely randomized design (CRD). PW20 had direct effect (p < 0.05) on weight gain from 21 weeks to full maturity (WTF), age at full maturity (AFM) and egg weight at full maturity (EWF). The 20-week low body weight of 1500-1600g had positive effect on compensatory WTF, increased AFM and EWF, produced an auto-correlation with AFM, fertility of eggs set (FES), hatchability of eggs set (HES) and day-old pullet chicks (DPC) hatched at full maturity (PDC, r = 0.906 – 0.959, p = 0.05). The medium body weight (1601-1700g) positively associated with AFM (r = 0.594, p = 0.05), with birds in the weight group attaining full maturity at the earliest age of 199 days. The high body weight (1701-1800g) class produced the highest egg weight (60.20 g), was positively correlated with hen day egg production (HDF, r = 0.998; p =0.05) and negatively associated with WTF and PFM (r > - 0.974, p = 0.05) due to the feed restriction leading to reduced weight gain to full maturity. The medium weight produced earliest AFM and high positive associations with fertility, hatchability and day-old pullets hatched at full sexual maturity. For optimum performance, the PW20 medium weight of 1601 – 1700 g/bird is recommended to breeders and producers.

Elemental contents of Gliricidia-Megathyrsus mixtures

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The role of minerals in animal production, especially ruminants cannot be overemphasized because the imbalance of minerals associated with forages and feeds could lead to such animals not performing to the desired levels or exhibiting defects. This study evaluated the mineral elements and ratios of some of the macro-elements of Gliricidia sepium and Megathyrsus maximus</i? and their proportional mixtures. The experiment was a completely randomized design with five (5) proportions as treatments; 100% G. sepium (100G); 75% G. sepium + 25% M. maximus (75G:25M); 50% G. sepium + 50% M. maximus (50 G:50M); 25% G. sepium + 75% M. maximus (25G:75M) and 100% M. maximus (100M). The mineral contents of the mixtures of Gliricidia and Megathyrsus were determined and the ratios (Ca:P, K:P, N:P, K:Mg, K:(Ca+Mg) were estimated. The effect of proportion was significant (P < 0.05) on all the mineral elements and their ratios. The 100% G. sepium<i/i> had the highest concentration of Ca, Mg, Na and N as well as the highest ratios of Ca:P and N:P. Megathyrsus maximus was noted to have the highest amount of K as well as K:Mg and K:(Ca+Mg) ratios. The highest concentration of P was recorded for 75% G. sepium + 25% M. maximus. The estimated ranking of the tetany prevention potential of the mixtures were 100M > 25 G:75M > 50 G:50M > 75G:25M > 100G. The forages and the mixtures had sufficient amounts of both macro and micro-elements that could meet requirements of different classes of ruminants.

Perception of negative externalities emanating from oil and gas exploitation in Nigeria

I.G. UKPONG, Z.B. OWUTUAMOR, D.I. AGOM — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigated the perceived negative externalities emanating from oil and gas exploitation in Nigeria. This study is based on the sampling of 446 respondents from 15 rural communities in the oil producing areas of Southern Nigeria. The ordered probit regression analysis was used to estimate the statistical model that describes the relationship between socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents and their perception of the negative impact of oil and gas resource extraction; on selected natural resource variables such as land, air quality, forest resources and water resources. The descriptive results suggest that people in areas; where natural resources are extracted are exposed to ‘very high impact’ of resource exploitation. This is indicated by the result of the respondents’ ranking of negative impacts of oil and gas extraction on natural resources as; such as land (64.3%), air quality (35.9%), forest (58.7%) and water (59.9%). The model estimates suggest that; in particular, rural farmers and fishermen are most likely to be the most vulnerable groups and perhaps mostly affected by the implications of the resource exploitation. Thus, the study recommends that all stakeholders in the oil and gas industry should play their part towards ensuring mitigation of the resource use impacts in oil producing areas. This would particularly benefit farmers and fishermen in rural communities and coastal areas where resource exploitation mostly takes place. The government should show greater commitment towards ensuring strict compliance of firms towards adhering to standard environmental protection policies and best practice in the oil and gas industry.

Extension workers’ perception of the Farmer Field School and Training and Visit system for transfer of agricultural technologies to farmers in South-west Nigeria

A. OYEGBAMI — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The study investigated the perception of agricultural extension personnel (AEP) towards Farmer Field School (FFS) and Training and Visit (T&V) system for the transfer of agricultural technologies to farmers in Southwest Nigeria. A two-stage sampling technique was used to select extension personnel form Agricultural Development Program (ADP). The first stage involves a random selection of three States from the six States in Southwest Nigeria namely; Lagos, Ogun and Oyo state ADPs, according to proportion. The second stage involved the purposive selection of 40% of AEP from each State making 153 AEP. Primary data were collected via the use of structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistical tools such as frequency counts, percentage and mean rank was used to analyse the data while inferential statistical tool such as chi-square was used to test the hypothesis. Results show that AEP had a mean age of 44.64 years, had spent more than 15 years (x̅ = 15.37) in service and one AEP cover almost 2,000 (x̅ = 1,901.19) households. On condition of service, AEP were not satisfied with the way their salaries were paid (x̅ = 1.49) and lack sufficient access to mobility (x̅ = 1.29). Although, AEP had both positively and negative perception towards FFS and T&V, the major problems identified were low extension-farmer ratio (x̅ = 2.18; x̅ = 1.78), non-conduciveness of training venues (x̅ = 2.94; x̅ = 1.93), to mention a few. Education was significantly (χ2 = 32.066, P = 0.006) related to perception for FFS. It is recommended that the government at both state and local government level employ more AEP to close the gap of low extension-farmer ratio and also provide them with incentives to make them more efficient. A combination of extension systems can be used by AEP to transfer agricultural technologies to farmers to increase agricultural production and income.

Profit Efficiency of Integrated Crop-Livestock Production Systems in the Transitional belt of Ghana

I. O. AMEYAW, C.A. WONGNAA, R. AIDOO, B.O. ASANTE* — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This paper is to evaluate the profitability of the integrated crop-livestock production system with
the sole crop and sole livestock systems to guide investment decisions of smallholder integrated
crop-livestock farmers in Ghana. Using data from 200 integrated crop-livestock farmers, 100
sole crop farmers and 100 sole livestock farmers in Ejura-Sekyedumase and Atebubu-Amantin
districts; descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis and the translog stochastic profit frontier
model with inefficiency effects were used to examine the profit efficiency of the three production
systems. The empirical results reveal that even though farmers under the three systems are
generally profit efficient, those under the integrated crop-livestock system are more profit
efficient. Whereas farmer’s age has a significant negative effect on profit efficiency, non-farm
income improves profit efficiency significantly. The integrated crop-livestock production system
is therefore recommended for young farmers in the transitional zone of Ghana to improve their
competitiveness in agricultural production for increased income and livelihoods.