Forest-savannah Transition Zone Research Articles

Introducing home based skin-to-skin care for low birth weight newborns: a pilot approach to education and counseling in Ghana.

Skin-to-skin contact (STSC) for low birth weight newborns in community settings may greatly improve survival, especially where access to health facilities is limited. Community STSC has been implemented in large-scale trials in Asia and is recommended by WHO and UNICEF. In countries where the practice is entirely new, such as Ghana, STSC may need special educational approaches. The dual aims of this study were to understand the acceptance and barriers to STSC in an African community setting and to use in-depth formative research to contribute to the success of a behavior-based health intervention. A rapid qualitative study with an intentionally small sample. Kintampo, Ghana, a predominately rural, agrarian area in the center of the country with diverse ethnic groups in a forest-savannah transition zone. Key informants were consulted through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions to develop the pilot. Five mothers participated in pilot instruction (four refused), which included counseling and used a trials-of-improved-practices methodology; data from group discussion with traditional birth attendants were also included. It was difficult to overcome barriers to the practice (post partum pain, fear of harming the umbilicus), and less intractable barriers (traditional carrying practices, fear of causing harm, lack of back support, time constraints, breast feeding issues) were reported. Some study participants tried STSC but none did it continuously. As promotion of STSC could be vital for improving newborn survival in low resource settings, tackling perceived barriers may be an important way to increase acceptability of this practice.

Water use pattern and canopy processes of cashew trees during a drying period in West Africagoo

Water flux in a young, 4-year old, cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) plantation was studied over a dry season, from November 2001 to March 2002, in the forest-savannah transition zone of Ghana, West Africa. The temperature-difference method was used over this five-month period to quantify the diurnal and day-to-day whole-tree sap flow (Qt) and hence the canopy scale transpiration (Ec). Measured allometric data were used to convert sap flow to canopy transpiration, while the observed meteorological variables were used to derive canopy scale conductance (gc) by inverting the Penman-Monteith equation. Sap flow varied between 9 and 22 kg day -1 and was on average Qt = 14 kg day -1 for the entire period. Tree sap flow was closely dependent on solar radiation and less dependent on air vapour deficit. Using no time shift, sap flow was fitted to a simple equation that showed its parabolic response to global radiation. The estimated average diurnal pattern of gc ranged from 0.1 to 2.2 mm s -1 while aerodynamic conductance (ga) ranged from 21.9 to 49.3 mm s -1 . This result is expected to be of value in the analysis of atmospheric control of canopy transpiration in orchards in West Africa.

Willingness to adopt the vine multiplication technique in seed yam production in the forest savanna transition agro-ecological zone, Ghana

Yam is a vital crop in Ghana both at the domestic and export markets. It contributes about 17% of agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) and plays a key role in household food security with more than 2 million tons harvested each year. However, the inadequacy of planting materials is a major constraint in yam production. The cost of planting materials alone constitutes about 50% of total cost of production. The newly developed technique of propagating yam through vine cuttings (vine multiplication technique) has been introduced by Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI) and its partners to farmers. To assess the willingness of farmers to adopt the vine technology, a study was conducted in the forest-savannah transition zone of Ghana in 2010 involving a total of 375 yam farmers (324 males and 51 females). The study used the probit model to assess framers’ willingness to adopt the vine technique. The results show that age, farm size, experience, yield, cost of adoption, ease of adoption, visits to a demonstration field and the expectation of obtaining more seed yams influenced farmers’ willingness to adopt the vine technique. It is recommended that the technology should be promoted targeting younger experienced farmers with larger farm sizes and higher yields Key words: Ghana, probit model, vine technique, willingness to adopt, Yam.

Opportunities of and constraints in integrating small livestock species into the farming systems of the forest-savannah zone of Cameroon

The rearing of small livestock species, particularly sheep, goats and pigs by resource-limited African farm-families remains an option for short term financial buffer and easiest means of accessing protein of animal origin. Like elsewhere in West and Central Africa, particularly in the forest-savannah transition zone of Cameroon, prominent breeds of small livestock species are the Fulbe (Peulh) sheep, West African Dwarf goats, and Bakossi or local pigs. Flock sizes are usually small, ranging between 3 and 51 for sheep; 3 and 20 for goats, and 4 and 25 for pigs. In the forest-savannah zone of Cameroon where this study was undertaken, water is usually available as reported by about 83% of the farm-families, though the management system is generally extensive as reported by 72% ofthe farm-families. Appropriate housing for small livestock species is also problematic across the agro-ecological zone as reported by nearly 68% of the farm-families. Under these management systems, mortality rates of as high as 40%, 41% and 30% for sheep, goats and pigs, respectively, are not uncommon. Similarly, reproductive performance and genetic variation, fitness and adaptability are limited by inbreeding, poor veterinary care and the absence of strategic supplementation. Putting together these plethora of constraints, the unexploited opportunities within the zone and related experiences elsewhere within sudano-sahelian and humid forest zones of Cameroon, this paper highlights a number of options for improving and/or integrating small livestock species into low inputs and subsistence-oriented farming systems of the forest-savannah zone of Cameroon.Key words: Small livestock species, constraints, opportunities, Cameroon

Residual effect of leguminous crops and inorganic fertilizer on soil properties and maize grain yield

Soil management practices that utilize organic matter have great potential to increase productivity in sub-Saharan Africa. Field studies were carried out between September 1995 and August 1998 to determine the effects of three leguminous crop species: velvet bean ( Mucuna pruriens var. utilis ), groundnut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) and cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp), and inorganic fertilizer on the soil properties and succeeding maize grain yield when grown in rotation on a sandy soil classified as Haplic Lixisol in the forest-savannah transition zone of Ghana. The legumes were established in the minor seasons and maize in all the plots in the major cropping seasons. A 2 × 3 factorial design laid out in a randomized complete block was used. The main plots consisted of three leguminous crop residues and the sub-plots of two fertilizer levels (0 and 45 kg N ha −1 , 19 kg P ha −1 , 19 kg K ha −1 ). The control consisted of maize following maize with the recommended fertilizer rate (90 kg N ha −1 , 37 kg P ha −1 , 37 kg K ha −1 ). On average the Mucuna plots added 4.0 t ha −1 of crop residue to the soil in a season and cowpea 1.0 t ha −1 . The preceding crops had little effect on the soil properties. Leaf area index, total dry matter and maize grain yields were significantly affected by fertilizer. The best maize grain yield (6787 kg ha −1 ) was recorded in the first year on Mucuna plots with half the recommended rate of fertilizer. The cropping sequence with Mucuna residue was the most efficient. The gap in maize grain yield between the fertilized and unfertilized treatments widened each successive year. The interaction between organic matter and fertilizer may have been limited due to the surface application of the organic residue.

Effects of charcoal production on soil physical properties in Ghana

AbstractCharcoal production, widespread in Ghana like in other W African countries, is a major driver of land‐cover change. Effects of charcoal production on soil physical, including hydrological, properties, were studied in the forest–savannah transition zone of Ghana. Core and composite samples from 12 randomly selected sites across the width of Kotokosu watershed were taken from 0–10 cm layer at charcoal‐site soils and adjacent field soils (control). These were used to determine saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), bulk density, total porosity, soil texture, and color. Infiltration rates, surface albedo, and soil‐surface temperature were also measured on both sites.The results showed that the saturated hydraulic conductivity of soils under charcoal kilns increased significantly (p < 0.01) from 6.1 ± 2.0 cm h–1 to 11.4 ± 5.0 cm h–1, resulting to a relative increase of 88%. Soil color became darkened under charcoal kilns with hue, value, and chroma decreasing by 8%, 20%, and 20%, respectively. Bulk density on charcoal‐site soils reduced by 9% compared to adjacent field soils. Total porosity increased from 45.7% on adjacent field soils to 50.6% on earth kilns. Surface albedo reduced by 37% on charcoal‐site soils while soil‐surface temperature increased up to 4°C on average. Higher infiltration rates were measured on charcoal‐site soils, which suggest a possible decrease in overland flow and less erosion on those kiln sites.

Potentials of <i>Calliandra calothyrsus</i> Meissner for Improving Soil Fertility and Maize Performance in the Forest Savannah Transition Zone of Cameroon

Farmers identified low fertility as a major problem affecting crop yield in Mbam Division, a forest-savannah transitional zone of Centre Cameroon. An experiment was therefore carried out in farmers\' fields in Kiki village for four consecutive years in order to investigate the effect of Calliandra calothyrsus planted fallow on soil fertility and maize yield improvement, as compared to natural fallow. The experimental design for each year was a randomised complete block with two fallow treatments (planted and natural) and nine replications (farms). In the first year, Calliandra calothyrsus fallows were established in nine farmers\' plots and plant growth was monitored for 12 months. From the second year, Calliandra trees were pruned each year in the first cropping season and maize (Zea mays L.) was grown between the Calliandra rows. Composite soil samples were collected from 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil depths at the beginning and at the end of the experiment, and were analysed for chemical properties. Cluster analysis (CA) was applied to the soil data to evaluate the comparability of the nine experiment farms. Analysis of variance and means separations (Tukey\'s method) were used to evaluate the effects of treatments on soil and maize yield. CA grouped the experimental farms into two different soil series named series 1 (n=6) and series 2 (n=3), differentiated mostly by the organic matter and exchangeable cation contents. After 12 months of Calliandra growth on the two soil series, average tree height was 2.07 m and diameter at breast height 1.7 cm; but, with a relatively low biomass production (0.92 t.ha -1 leaf and 1.6 t.ha -1 wood biomass). The natural fallow produced less total biomass than planted fallow (1.3 t.ha -1 herbaceous biomass). Despite this low biomass production, Calliandra treatments significantly (p Keywords : Biomass production, Calliandra growth, maize yield, planted fallow, soil chemical properties. Nigerian Journal of Soil and Environmental Research Vol. 7 2007: pp. 33-44

Effect of Mucuna Fallow on Succeeding Maize Nutrition and Yield in Farmer-managed On-farm Trials

ABSTRACT On 18 farmer-managed fields in the Forest-Savannah Transitional zone of Ghana, the response of unfertilized maize was investigated as influenced by either a previous short season natural fallow or Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC var. utilis (Wright) Burck. Comparative vector diagnosis of three weeks old seedlings revealed that N was limiting maize growth. The previous Mucuna fallow was at least partly able to compensate N while there was a dilution of all the other macronutrients due to an increased uptake in the Mucuna system. Maize yields were on average 51% higher after Mucuna fallow with 2850 kg ha−1 compared with 1880 kg ha−1 after natural fallow, but the variability between farmers' fields was high. Adaptability analysis revealed that the slash-and-mulch leguminous fallow system was most effective at locations of high productivity while the yield difference to the slash-and-burn natural fallow system was small in farming environments with low productivity. It was concluded that M. pruriens var. utilis fallow is not a suitable technology to reclaim degraded land or to restore soil fertility if growth-limiting factors are not eliminated. Low available P levels and later maize planting significantly reduced the yield difference and hence the risk for M. pruriens to be outperformed by the natural fallow system increased up to 41% with lower values of plant available P and later maize planting. Besides individual yield components such as cob number and cob seed weight, plant population at final harvest accounted for 58% of the variation in yield. Nutrient use efficiency improved significantly for all macronutrients except P but the harvest index was significantly lower at 0.40 after Mucuna fallow compared with 0.43 after natural fallow. N supplied by the Mucuna fallow supported a better growth of the succeeding maize crop but only in the beginning of the cropping season. When the yield level a farmer usually experiences with his common practice on a specific field was applied to the regression models of the adaptability analysis it was possible to make site- specific yield predictions for the M. pruriens system. It was concluded that the application of the adaptability analysis and individual risk assessments might serve as valuable tools to give more site-specific recommendations to farmers instead of blanket messages for entire regions.

The dynamics of horticultural export value chains on the livelihood of small farm households in Southern Ghana

Policy makers in developing countries have been concerned with the economic and political risks associated with heavy dependence on few specialized raw materials as main sources of government revenue and foreign exchange. Development partners and donor agencies have equally extolled the need for these countries to diversify their export base as a poverty reduction strategy. As a result, several African countries have tended to focus on non-traditional agricultural exports (NTEs) which reflect their comparative advantage and for many countries the export of horticultural crops has been favoured. This study focuses on a household survey undertaken in the forest and coastal savannah transition zones of Ghana, where the farming system has undergone a remarkable transition from an established system of food crop farming for sale to urban consumers to an intensive production of fruits and vegetable crops for export to European consumers. Econometric analysis shows that though export horticulture has a positive impact on the wellbeing of the majority of households, the chronically poor households are structurally impeded from seizing the available opportunities due to poor resource endowment and liquidity constraints.

Effect of Mucuna Fallow on Weed Dry Matter and Composition in Succeeding Maize

ABSTRACT Weeding requires a major proportion of labour in farming of smallholders in Africa. Any technology that can effectively reduce the weeding requirement increases the productivity of the household. Studies were conducted on farmers' fields in the Sunyani District (2°8' to 2°31′W latitude, 7°7' to 7°36' N longitude), located in the Forest-Savannah Transitional Zone of Ghana in 1999 and 2000 to assess the impact of two different slash-and-mulch Mucuna fallow systems on weed dry matter (DM), weed density and frequency in succeeding maize compared with the prevailing slash-and-burn natural fallow system. Late maturing Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC var. utilis (Wright) Burck reduced weed DM by 58% in 1999 and 68% in 2000. The system with the local early maturing Mucuna variety did not reduce weed DM significantly. On the whole, 58 weed species from 27 families were identified. The most dominant species were Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King & Robinson, Centrosema pubescens Benth., Euphorbia heterophylla Linn, and Mucuna spp. volunteer seedlings. The M. pruriens system reduced eight persistent weeds (frequency of occurence < 20%) both in frequency and average density compared with the short season natural fallow treatment. In contrast, only two persistent weed species were affected in the same way by the system with the local Mucuna variety, while six persistent weeds increased in frequency of occurence and seedling density. Poaceae species were negatively affected by the Mucuna systems. While in the natural fallow treatment Poaceae comprised 27.8% of all species identified, their proportions were reduced to 23.1% and 21.7% after fallow with the local Mucuna variety and M. pruriens, respectively. The greater weed suppressing effect of M. pruriens is considered to be a result of its longer life span than the early maturing local variety.

Comparative morphophysiological and yield characteristics of musa genomes in Nigeria

Thirty-six (36) Musa genotypes comprising tetraploid hybrids and triploid land races belonging to AAA, AAB, and ABB Musa genomes were evaluated in three agro-ecologies following a South-North rainfall and Vegetation gradients in Nigeria. Plants were grown as sole crops at Onne (High rainforest zone), Ibadan (forest-savannah transition zone) and Abuja (Southern guinea savannah zone) plus an additional experiment grown in alley cropping system at Onne. Phenological and yield traits were measured for two crop cycles. The results revealed that crop cycle did not yield traits were measure for two crop cycles. The results revealed that crop cycle did not significantly influenced height of the tallest sucker at harvest of the paint crop, black sigatoka disease responses and the fruit weight. All phonological and yield traits were significantly (P Bio-Research Vol. 3(1) 2005: 45-55

Above-ground biomass, nutrients, and persistence of an early and a late maturing Mucuna variety in the Forest–Savannah Transitional Zone of Ghana

Abstract Many farmers in West Africa have adopted the herbaceous legume, Mucuna pruriens, as a fallow species to control weeds and to increase soil fertility on crop lands. This paper presents the biomass, nutrient content, and persistence results of farmer managed trials with late maturing M. pruriens var. utilis (L.) D.C. and an early maturing unclassified Mucuna cultivar relative to a short season natural fallow (control). From August until December 1998 and from June 1999 until March 2000, research was conducted at different farm locations in the Forest–Savannah Transitional Zone and in the Guinea Savannah Zone of Ghana. The following parameters were evaluated: (1) accumulation of above-ground Mucuna biomass during the short rainy season; (2) atmospheric N2 fixation during the same period; (3) Mucuna seed yield components; (4) persistence of above-ground Mucuna and natural fallow biomass throughout the dry season; (5) nutrient concentration and nutrient accumulation of Mucuna and natural fallow at the beginning and the end of the dry season; and (6) percentage ground cover by various biomass components throughout the dry season. During the first 2 months of establishment, M. pruriens grew slowly, producing 163 kg ha−1 above-ground biomass after 30 days and 1472 kg ha−1 after 60 days, but produced 4003 kg dry matter ha−1 after 90 days. Atmospheric nitrogen (N2) fixed by late maturing M. pruriens was estimated at 107.7 kg ha−1 but only 46.1 kg ha−1 for the early maturing Mucuna cultivar. The estimated amount of N2 fixed was significantly correlated with the amount of Mucuna biomass produced with R2 = 0.75 for the early maturing cultivar and R2 = 0.69 for M. pruriens. The nutrient uptake of macronutrients other than N in the Mucuna fallow did not differ significantly from that of the natural fallow treatment for either cultivar. Following a linear regression model, total above-ground biomass on M. pruriens plots declined by 503 kg ha−1 every 4 weeks from November until March, while the biomass on plots planted with the early maturing Mucuna cultivar declined by 911 kg ha−1. While ground coverage (including weeds and crop residues) on fields planted with M. pruriens was still 89.7% at the end of the dry season, coverage on fields planted with the early maturing Mucuna variety averaged only 72%. It was concluded that late maturing Mucuna varieties planted as a relay intercrop in maize (Zea mays) in June can be more easily integrated into existing farming systems than early maturing ones planted in August/September because Mucuna planting does not compete with other farming activities but can be combined with the second weeding of maize. Moreover, it is suggested that the major advantage of a Mucuna fallow is based on the option of not having to burn vegetation in preparation for the next cropping season. The few emerging weeds can be easily slashed as compared to a natural fallow which produces large amounts of lignified plant material. Therefore, this slash-and-mulch technology leads to reduced nutrient losses.

Land tenure and differential soil fertility management practices among native and migrant farmers in Wenchi, Ghana: implications for interdisciplinary action research

In the past, farmers in the forest-savannah transitional agro-ecological zone of Ghana relied on the bush fallow system for maintaining the productivity of their farmland. However, in recent years population growth-induced pressure on land has increased and farmers have developed various other strategies for improving the productivity of their farmlands. Such strategies have been identified in the context of an interdisciplinary action research project and include rotations with cassava ( Manihot esculenta), pigeon pea ( Cajanus cajan) and cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata). Using a social science model for understanding technical farming practices, this article explains the differential adoption of these locally developed soil fertility management strategies. It transpires that native and migrant communities are captured in a social dilemma situation, which has negative consequences for soil fertility in that promising innovations are not utilized optimally. Based on this research experience, this article concludes with a discussion of the implications for co-operation between natural and social scientists in the context of interactive action research. It is argued, amongst other things, that the essence of such co-operation lies in the critical questioning and influencing of each other's key assumptions and disciplinary research agendas.

EFFECTS OF MUCUNA (&lt;i&gt;MUCUNA UTILIS&lt;/i&gt; L.) RESIDUE INCORPORATION AND NITROGEN LEVELS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF UPLAND RICE (&lt;i&gt;ORYZA SATIVA&lt;/i&gt; L.)

The field experiment was conducted at two locations: University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB) and Olowo-Papa (OP) in Ogun state both in Forest-savannah transition zone of Nigeria to investigate the response of three upland rice cultivars (O.sativa) to mucuna residue incorporation and Nitrogen (N) fertilizer and the effects of residues incorporation on the soil chemical properties. The experiment was split plot in randomized complete block design in which mucuna constituted the main plot (factor A) i.e.non-mucna and mucuna plot and factorial combination of N fertilizer rates (factor B) and rice varieties (factor C) as subplot factors. Mucuna residue incorporation improved soil chemical properties such as Nitrogen (N), Potassium (K), Organic Matter (OM), Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) and Acidity (pH) at both locations. Rice plant treated with mucuna residue alone gave higher grain yield than control (no residue) at OP while there was no significant difference at UNAAB. Fertilizer equivalent of the green manure used was estimated to be 30kgN /ha at OP. Grain yield response of the rice varieties to N-fertilizer were linear and curvilinear at OP and UNAAB, respectively. The yield of the two improved varieties (ITA150 and ITA257) were significantly higher than OFADA variety at both locations. Mucuna residue from the dry season fallow appeared to improve soil chemical properties as well as grain yield. [Niger Agric. J. 34 (2003): 49-57]

Yield stability of cassava, maize, soya bean and cowpea intercrops

The yield stability of intercropping systems is important in developing cropping systems that produce economic yields over a wide range of environments. Field studies were conducted during the 1997/98 and 1998/99 growing seasons at three locations in the forest and forest–savannah transition zones of Ghana to determine yield, land use efficiency and yield stability of cassava (Manihot esculenta), maize (Zea mays), soya bean (Glycine max) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) intercrop systems. The cropping systems consisted of a factorial combination of two cassava varieties: ‘Gblemoduade’ (an improved, highly branched variety) and ‘Ankra’ (a local variety with fewer branches) and three spatial arrangements. Cowpea rows were planted in the minor season into cassava as a successive crop to maize and soya bean after their harvest in the major season. Intercropping significantly reduced grain or tuber yield of maize, cassava ‘Gblemoduade’ and cassava ‘Ankra’ by 23–70%, 16–49% and 24–64%, respectively. Maize yield decreased with increased number of soya bean rows. ‘Gblemoduade’ outyielded ‘Ankra’ by more than 100% under both intercrop and sole crop. The yield of soya bean increased with increased number of soya bean rows, but did not differ in response to the cassava variety. However, cowpea yield was higher when intercropped with ‘Ankra’ than with ‘Gblemoduade’. The intercrops had higher land use ratios (LER=1·27–2·83) and were more stable than the sole crops. Intercrops involving ‘Ankra’ had higher LER (2·14–2·18) than systems with ‘Gblemoduade’ (LER=1·83–1·99), but their yield stabilities were similar.

Are Peasants Risk‐Averse Decision Makers?

Les AA. se proposent d'evaluer l'approche qui explique le conservatisme culturel de la petite agriculture de subsistance par la rationalite d'une analyse cout-benefice effectuee par les paysans, ou les individus prennent des decisions en fonction d'un comportement d'aversion au risque en raison de leur situation economique incertaine et precaire. A cet effet, ils combinent des recherches de terrain comparatives experimentales avec des recherches ethnographique economiques dans deux groupes de petites exploitations agricoles, les Mapuche du Chili et les Sangu de Tanzanie. Ces experimentations, malgre des lacunes methodologiques, mettent en doute les approches theoriques standards. Concues afin de mesurer les preferences pour le risque directement, elles montrent que les Mapuche et les Sangu expriment une preference pour le risque dans leurs prises de decisions - suggerant que de facon generale les agriculteurs de subsistance n'agissent pas en fonction d'une aversion envers le risque. D'autre part, la preference pour le risque semble s'expliquer essentiellement en fonction du groupe culturel. En conclusion, les AA. esquissent brievement une alternative theorique au modele standard.

Structural Adjustment and Economic Efficiency of Rice Farmers in Northern Ghana

Structural Adjustment and Economic Efficiency of Rice Farmers in Northern Ghana