Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science And Technology Research Articles

Software Application Employed in Architectural Design Education: The Case of KNUST

<p>Computer software has come to replace the manual form of designing in both architectural education and practice. The use of drawing boards had been employed in architectural education and practice for a long time. Since the first half of the twentieth century, computer hardware and corresponding software have seen dramatic change and development manufactured and tailored to meet the demand of changing technological and human needs. Architecture has had its fair share since the advent of computers and has seen major milestone changes in its integration into the profession. In the last century, architectural education in Ghana has also witnessed this revolution. From the year 2000 and thereon since Computer Aided Architectural Design (CAAD) was introduced in the Department of Architecture (DOA) in the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) there has been tremendous improvement in the CAAD tools used in architectural design education. There is therefore the need to evaluate the CAAD software used by the students and faculty. This paper looked at the existence and the mode in which CAAD software is applied in the department, the predominant software used by students and the mode of acquisition of the software. The findings proved that CAAD is taught as part of the curriculum in the DOA and has helped improve architectural design education over the years. However, the full potential and benefit of CAAD use has not been realized as a result of challenges faced by students and faculty in teaching, learning and acquisition of software.</p>

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION OF TROPHIES FOR SELECTED SPORTS AND GAMES IN KNUST

Design and production of trophies for games and sports particularly in a form of metal art has been in existence for so many years. Presently they are practiced with much improvement and modern technology as compared to the ancient times where leaves, horns and other objects were used as trophies to award warriors and those who excelled in other sporting disciplines. Trophies are said to be prizes or cups which are given to an individual, a group of people or a nation for performing excellently in any sporting activity such as tennis, football, volley ball, basket ball and horse racing etc. Today, trophies serve so many purposes, such as, a souvenir of remem-brance; as a stool for one to look at and strive for excellence in life as well as financial gains. KNUST does not have its own trophies for the Sports and Games they engage in. This publica-tion seeks to display the design and subsequent production of four trophies for Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to enhance the prestige of its awards and solve some related problems. The technique for production is the lost wax. Metal scraps such as brass and copper were the main materials used for the production. Especially the lost wax technique of production was very efficient and effective in the production of the trophies. Experimental and Descriptive Research methods based on the quantitative and qualitative research approaches were employed. It is recommended that Metalsmiths and other Metal Artists as well as students experiment with other materials and techniques in the production of trophies to bring variety in the field of trophy production.

Delineation of graves using electrical resistivity tomography

A suspected old royal cemetery has been surveyed at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) campus, Kumasi, Ghana using Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) with the objective of detecting graves in order to make informed decisions with regard to the future use of the area. The survey was conducted on a 10,000m2 area. Continuous Vertical Electrical Sounding (CVES) was combined with the roll along technique for 51 profiles with 1m probe separation separated by 2m. Inverted data results indicated wide resistivity variations ranging between 9.34Ωm and 600Ωm in the near surface. Such heterogeneity suggests a disturbance of the soil at this level. Both high (≥600Ωm) and low resistivity (≤74.7Ωm) anomalies, relative to background levels, were identified within the first 4m of the subsurface. These were suspected to be burial tombs because of their rectangular geometries and resistivity contrasts. The results were validated with forward numerical modeling results. The study area is therefore an old cemetery and should be preserved as a cultural heritage site.

Student Spirituality and Academic Performance: A Case Study of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana

Student Spirituality and Academic Performance: A Case Study of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana

Characterization of Beauty Salon Wastewater from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, and Its Surrounding Communities.

Due to the increase in students’ population over the years, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana, and its surrounding communities have seen an increase in the number of beauty salons. The assessment of the quality of salon wastewater has received little attention, as a potential source of environmental and public health hazard, due to the lack of literature on this issue. The main aim of this study is to assess wastewater effluent characteristics in KNUST and its surrounding areas, in relation to its physicochemical and microbial parameters. A total of 48 wastewater samples were collected monthly in 250 L polystyrene bottles, over a two-month period from the KNUST and Ayigya, Ayeduase, and Bomso communities. Standard methods of American Public Health Association (APHA, 19th edition) were employed in the determination of the physicochemical parameters and microbial content of the wastewater samples. The results showed that all the sampling towns had mean chemical oxygen demand (COD; 60.04 ± 1.82 mg/L), biological oxygen demand (BOD; 30.03 ± 9.11 mg/L), dissolved oxygen (DO; 3.00 ± 0.53 mg/L), pH (9.55 ± 0.42), nitrate (5.42 ± 0.36 mg/L), phosphate (23.61 ± 0.16 mg/L), acidity (1.70 ± 0.01 mg/L), alkalinity (70.88 ± 2.59 mg/L), turbidity (20.29 ± 3.86 NTU), electrical conductivity (EC; 1404.89 ± 114.11 μm/S), and total dissolved solids (TDS; 1150.25 ± 262.10 mg/L) in the salon waste. In the case of bacterial levels, pathogenic bacteria such as fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, and Salmonella enterica were absent, while the levels of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa did not pose any health risk. The correlation matrix showed a significant positive correlation between and among pH, alkalinity, TDS, and turbidity (P < 0.05). The results revealed that the wastewater collected from the salon effluents contain pollution indicator parameters such as EC, pH, PO43−, BOD, and turbidity, considerably higher than the tolerance limits recommended by the World Health Organization. The principal component analysis indicated that pH, alkalinity, acidity, COD, PO43−, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, turbidity, TDS, EC, DO, and BOD were the most influential parameters to wastewater variations. Based on these characteristics, a call for a regular and persistent monitoring strategy by the relevant authorities is significant to ensure best practices with respect to the discharge of salon wastewater into the environment.

Sports anaemia and anthropometric evaluation of footballers at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

IntroductionSports anaemia is a physiological activity that occurs amongst footballers and may be due to poor diet, over-training, as well as an increase in plasma volume in endurance training activities. High plasma volume leads to changes in haematological parameters that may impact on endurance of footballers. The objective of the study was to determine the correlation between haematological and an-thropometric indices and their role in sports anaemia in a tropical setting.MethodsVenous blood was taken into EDTA for 12 soccer players of KNUST soccer team before training and after training for the first (W1) and fifth (W5) weeks of training sessions. Complete blood count analysis was done for each blood sample and anthropometric parameters such as height, weight, body mass index, body fat percent and lean body mass were also measured. Cross-tabulations with mean and standard deviation or median and range were computed. Paired t-test & and Mann-Whitney test for parametric and non-parametric data computations were carried out and a p-value ≤ 0.05 was taken to rep-resent significant difference between data groups.ResultsThere was significant reduction in haemoglobin (p = 0.003), haematocrit (p = 0.002), mean cell volume (MCV) (p = 0.034) and red blood cell (RBC) count (p = 0.011) as a result of a significant expansion of plasma volume (p= 0.006). Neutrophil, lymphocyte and eosinophil counts were reduced significantly (p= 0.043, 0.001 and 0.007, respectively) after the training at W5. Lean body mass (LBM) inversely correlated with haemoglobin (r = -0.787, p = 0.002) and haematocrit (r = -0.588, p = 0.044). Body fat percentage (BFP) also negatively correlated with lymphocyte count (r = -0.700, p = 0.011). Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between body mass index (BMI) and plasma volume change after the training programme (r = 0.689, p = 0.013).ConclusionThe results suggest that sports anaemia was induced by an increase in plasma volume that resulted in changes in haematological parameters.

Curriculum relevance and graduate career: a tracer study of Cemba, Cempa and industrial mathematics graduates

The study traced the graduates of CEMBA, CEMPA and MSc. Industrial Mathematics programmes in the distance learning mode at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi from 2010 to 2012. The descriptive survey method was used to assess the large and scattered graduate population. The main instrument used in gathering data was a questionnaire. A face to face interview with employers was also conducted in order to support data from graduate respondents. A total of 450 graduates participated in the study. The SPSS statistical software was used to generate results from the acquired quantitative data. The findings revealed that majority of the graduates in the three programmes were employed in the public sector, and mainly in the field of education. The Graduates found the content of their programme relevant to their career. The results also showed that job performance of graduates improved after their study. Work supervisors rated the graduates very high in terms of job performance indicators such as 'improved work competence' and 'team working ability'. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the Institute of Distance Learning and the Department of Mathematics utilise the findings/result of the study to review their curricula to meet workplace demands.Keywords: IDL-KNUST, graduates, tracer study, job performance, relevance.

Professional Doctoral Scholarship in Ghana

The constantly evolving paradigm of 21st century educational offerings and the growing demand for ‘professional practice’ research degrees have raised concerns about the relevance of the traditional ‘theoretical’ PhD award. To meet this growing demand, and address these concerns, alternative routes to achieving the doctoral award have been developed (such as EngD and DBA). However, many higher education institutions in developing countries have not responded to the new demand. Against this contextual background, this paper reports on a case study of the recently established Centre for Doctoral Training in Business, Enterprise and Professional Studies (CDT-BEPS) at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana. The CDT-BEPS embraces five development stages of professional doctoral training and learning skills sets: business; research; creativity; transferability; and evidential learning. The framework for developing the CDT-BEPS was validated using feedback from an international panel of experts encompassing academics, researchers, students and practitioners. It is argued that the research findings may be useful for other HEIs in developing countries currently exploring alternative routes for doctoral training. It is noted that further research is required to establish strategic collaborative and operational frameworks to support the CDT-BEPS and its long-term sustainability.

Levels, potential sources and human health risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in particulate matter (PM(10)) in Kumasi, Ghana.

Airborne particulate samples were collected on quartz filters to determine the concentrations, sources and health risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in air in Kumasi, Ghana. A total of 32 air samples were collected in Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) campus (pristine site) and city centre (CC). Samples were extracted with 1:2 v/v acetone/hexane mixture prior to GC-MS analyses. The sum of concentrations of 17 PAHs in air ranged from 0.51 to 16 (KNUST) and 19-38 ng/m(3) (CC). The concentration of benzo[a]pyrene, BaP, ranged from below detection limit to 0.08 ng/m(3) (KNUST) and 1.6 to 5.6 ng/m(3) (CC). Chemical mass balance model showed that PAHs in air in Kumasi were mainly from fuel combustion. The total BaP equivalent concentration (BaPeq) in CC was 18 times higher compared to KNUST; based on the European Legislation and Swedish and UK Standards for BaP in air, CC could be classified as highly polluted. Estimated carcinogenicity of PAHs in terms of BaPeq indicated that BaP was the principal PAH contributor in CC (70%). Health risk to adults and children associated with PAH inhalation was assessed by taking into account the lifetime average daily dose and corresponding incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR). The ILCR was within the acceptable range (10(-6) to 10(-4)), indicating low health risk to residents.

The Impact of Computer Aided Architectural Design Tools on Architectural Design Education. The Case of KNUST

Computer Aided Architectural Design (CAAD) tools have been available to the architect in practically useful form for a close to a century. It has evolved from being a complicated simulation tool available to mainframe computers and used exclusively by experts working on special “CAAD projects” to being accessible to any interested individual on a personal computer. CAAD plays a vital role on the profession and academia of architecture in recent years. The aim of this study is to provide a reflective perspective of the current architecture education on CAAD in the Department of Architecture in Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). It compares the method of architecture design education in the department of architecture in KNUST to other methods architecture design education of other universities. It examines the various benefits of incorporating CAAD into the curriculum and looks at the various shortfalls limiting the full exploitation of CAAD into the design curriculum of architecture education also the role CAAD the design process from conceptual to final product is examined. Survey questionnaires were distributed to students in the Department of Architecture and CAAD tutors interviewed to ascertain the level of impact of CAAD in the department. It was realized that the level of integration of CAAD with the design studio is low and transition from traditional drafting methods to the modern methods of using computers in design is not clearly established, thus recommendations were made to rectify the situation.

Plasma Levels of Uric Acid, Urea and Creatinine in Diabetics Who Visit the Clinical Analysis Laboratory (CAn-Lab) at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common metabolic diseases worldwide. This metabolic disorder contributes greatly to the significant proportion of the burden of renal damage and dysfunction. The aim of the study was to investigate the renal function of the diabetic patients who visit the Clinical Analysis Laboratory (CAn-Lab) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana. Demographic data as well as medical history were obtained through the administration of a questionnaire. Anthro-pometric measurements were taken and blood samples were analysed for glucose, uric acid, urea and creatinine. Data collected were analysed using SPSS version 16.0. A total of 34 diabetic patients, aged from 40-77 y were recruited, 22 (64.7%) of them were males with mean age of 57.40 ± 11.8 y (±SD), while 12 (35.3%) were females with mean age of 58.17 ± 7.47 y. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean duration of the disease, as the females had longer duration, 12.50 ± 6.95 y, as compared to 7.32 ± 4.48 y in males (p=0.033). The mean plasma creatinine level in the females was 84.17 ± 54.73 μmol/l. In the diabetic population, there was a positive correlation between age and plasma creatinine level, (r=0.375, p=0.029). In the female diabetics, there was a positive correlation between fasting blood sugar (FBS) and the measured metabolic end products (r>0.5, p<0.05), a positive correlation between body mass index (BMI) and uric acid (r=0.576, p=0.005) and a positive correlation between BMI and FBS (r= 0.625, p= 0.030). Our results on the parameters measured; show that the diabetic population was experiencing mild kidney dysfunction, compared to non-diabetic controls.

Prevalence of &lt;i&gt;Ascaris lumbricoides&lt;/i&gt; among food vendors on a university campus in Ghana

Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) constitute one of the major public health problems in developing countries and are transmitted in poor hygienic conditions. One of the modes of transmission of IPIs is through ingestion of contaminated food. Therefore, the high patronage of food outside the home in recent years, pose a threat to public health safety. In view of this, a study was undertaken to determine the types and prevalence of intestinal parasites among food vendors on the campus of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (K.N.U.S.T.), Kumasi. A total of 140 food vendors from five different food stalls on campus, namely: the University Hall, Africa Hall, Queens Hall, Republic Hall and the Biology Canteen, were examined for the presence of parasite eggs, cysts and larvae using the saline method and the formol-ether concentration technique. Questionnaires were used to collect demographic data from the food vendors. The study revealed significant burden (p&lt;0.05) of gastrointestinal parasitic infections among the food vendors in the study area with seventeen different intestinal parasites, namely: Ascaris lumbricoides (37.1%), Hookworm (17.9%), Entamoeba coli (12.1%), Taenia sp. (11.4%), Fasciola hepatica (11.4%), Giardia duodenalis (10.7%), Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (7.1%), Iodamoeba butschlii (7.1%), Hymenolepis nana (6.4%), Schistosoma mansoni (6.4%), Balantidium coli (5.7%), Schistosoma haematobium (2.9%), Strongyloides stercoralis (2.9%), Fasciolopsis buski (2.1%), Diphylobothrium latum (1.4%), Trichostrongyle (1.4%) and Trichuris trichiura (0.7%). The study revealed majority (78.6%) of the food vendors had IPIs with a high prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides recorded, followed by Hookworm. Trichuris trichiura however, recorded the lowest prevalence. This raises the concern that, there is the need for the implementation of food handling policies and workshops to educate food vendors on the importance of personal and environmental hygiene and also deworming at least once in every three months. Keywords: Food vendors, Intestinal parasites, K.N.U.S.T., Kumasi, Prevalence

Constraints experienced by female students pursuing science and technology-based university programmes in their learning of science in Ghana

This paper is part of a larger study to investigate female students in science and technology-based university (STU) programs in their motivation, perception and constraint in learning science at senior high school and consequently science and technology-based programs at the university level. The conceptual framework is rooted in Steele’s concept of stereotype threat, which is the experience of anxiety or concern in a situation where a person has the potential to confirm a negative stereotype about their social group. The investigation was conducted among 328 final year female students pursuing engineering, medicine, pharmacy and computer science/ICT at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana. The study utilized cross-sectional descriptive survey design. 328 final year female students in the 2008/2009 academic year pursuing engineering, medicine, pharmacy and computer science/ICT formed the sample. A Self-Report Survey Questionnaire on constraints female students experience in their learning of science was designed and administered. This study indicated that female students have to grapple with some challenges such as lack of funding, and the unavailability or expensive nature of some textbooks. One-way between group analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Hotchberg GT2 Post hoc analyses indicated that there were significant differences in constraints among some of the four groups of students. It was concluded that Government and other stakeholders should provide funding, scholarships or bursaries to female students in order to enhance their full participation. These challenges may account in part to the low participation of females in science and technology-based programs.

Quality of Service Evaluation of a Deployed 3G Data Network for a Campus wide e-Learning Platform

Ghana, the increase in the adoption of e-learning methodologies is improving the way teachers and students interact. With the combination of internet, multimedia and network technologies, e-learning is changing typical teaching and learning using its methodologies to improve access to education on many university campuses. A third generation (3G) data network has been deployed on Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) campus with the aim of improving connectivity for students and lecturers to enable them access an implemented e-learning platform anywhere on the university campus. This paper evaluates the Quality of Service (QoS) provided by the 3G cellular data network. It addresses the gap between the technical capabilities and the QoS experienced by students and teachers who use the 3G network to access the platform. The analysis in the paper is based on live data which were collected on the network. An Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology has been used to assess the QoS based on selected Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Keywords-Learning; Quality of service; Network Connectivity; Third

Relationship between Vehicle Manufacturers Recommended Tyre Pressure and Tyre Pressure Used by Vehicle Owners

This paper studies the relationship between the tyre pressures used by drivers and the vehicle manufacturers recommended tyre pressure. First of all, a survey of vehicles on Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) campus was done to ascertain how tyre pressures of these vehicles deviate from the vehicle manufacturers recommended tyre pressures. Then the survey was extended to other four places namely, Kumasi Polytechnic campus, Asafo, Roman Hill and Kejetia bus depots. The survey showed that most of the vehicles tyre pressures deviate from the vehicle manufacturers recommended tyre pressure. Out of 660 vehicles surveyed in these five areas in the Kumasi Metropolis, 96.52% (637) had their tyre pressures deviated from the vehicle manufacturers recommended tyre pressures. That means only 3.48% (23) of these vehicles had their measured tyre pressures conforming to the vehicles manufacturers recommended tyre pressures. Most vehicles in the Kumasi Metropolis have their tyre pressures deviating from the vehicle manufacturers recommended tyre pressures. Strong education should be given to drivers on the need to use the correct tyre pressures.

Policy implications of staff turnover at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Library

This paper examines the staff turnover rates at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Library from January 2001 to December 2009 and how it has impacted on the output of the Library. Data for the study were obtained from official files, personal observation and interviews with selected officials directly involved in the training of new library personnel. It was observed that during the period under review, 70 members of staff left the library due to resignations, retirement and termination of appointment. The rate of turnover was found to be highest among Junior Library Assistants aged between 20 and 30 years as they tended to use the Library as a spring board to improve upon their grades in order to pursue different career paths outside librarianship. Major challenges facing the Library as a result of the high staff turnover include increased workload, poor shelving and institution of night duty schedules. It is necessary that the Library administration examines its employee performance trends to know which category of staff seem at risk of leaving and to institute human resource interventions such as training programmes, job enrichment and reward schemes to improve staff retention.Keywords: Employee turnover, staff retention, motivation, recruitment, library

Examining Policy Guidelines for Distance Education in Dual Mode Public Universities in Ghana

The study reports a case of distance education policy in the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), a dual mode University in Ghana. The interview method was used to obtain information from 21 purposively selected key informants in the University. Policy documents that addressed Distance Education (DE) were reviewed. The study showed that KNUST has identified DE as a policy initiative for meeting institutional goals. The current DE policy focus was on student support services. However, policy areas under Governance/ Administration and Academic/Faculty/Department were yet to be fully developed. The study recommended a systematic review/audit of existing institutional policies to take care of the needs of distance learners. These needs include addressing key issues of facilities and resources in the Regional centers and documenting policies that showcase the benefits of individual and departmental efforts relating to workload to increase interest, satisfaction and participation in the DE programmes by the various Departments. Keywords: Policy guidelines, distance education, dual mode Universities

Factors affecting low ceramics specialization decisions within the KNUST Industrial Art degree programme

Abstract This article looked at the trend of specialization within the four-year Industrial Art degree programme at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana. Specialization decisions during the period 1999–2011 were studied, which confirmed that ceramics receives low specialization after the first-year diagnostic studies. The Social Learning Theory provided the framework for the study to explore factors that influence students of the Industrial Art department in low ceramics majoring as compared to the other disciplines (textiles design and metals product design). Findings showed that there is a significant association between studying ceramics in high school and students’ decision to specialize in ceramics at the university level. The results obtained from the odds ratio (OR) further indicated that if students are taught ceramics in high school, then they are 115.96 times more likely to specialize in the course at the university level. The study also revealed using the logistic regression that the course content satisfaction and other explanatory variables such as age, gender and location influenced decisions. The findings of the study strongly support the idea of background student motivation and the need for teaching that is exploratory, practice focused, problem centred and process oriented to motivate first-year students in majoring in ceramics.

Challenges with Reference Citations among Postgraduate Students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

Referencing or citing sources a writer uses is an important part of academic writing. It allows the writer to acknowledge the ideas or words of others used in his/her work and avoid plagiarism. Referencing also demonstrates that the writer has read relevant background literature and can provide authority for statements made. Proper citation allows others to locate the materials used. The researchers’ experience while working on the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Institutional Repository brought to the fore challenges postgraduate students encounter in citing references in their academic work. These include poor citing of reference works, inconsistencies in reference citation, use of different citation styles in theses submitted to the repository from the same department among others. Questionnaires and interview methods were employed. Five hundred and six questionnaires were distributed representing ten percent of the total population of postgraduate students of KNUST. Information sought in the questionnaire included students’ biographical data, mode of assessment, departmental referencing format, knowledge of reference style formats, students’ confidence in citing references and faculty’s perception about the way students cited references. This paper seeks to identify and discuss some of the challenges KNUST postgraduate students face in their academic writing. The study found out that KNUST postgraduate students have problems in mastering reference style formats because of the variations in citation. Students tend to rely on books, lecturers or librarians for assistance in ensuring the accuracy of citations they use in their work. Students were not able to identify the citation format they used; they could not cite references for books and journal articles with confidence. Among the recommendations made were that, librarians should play a wider role in the arena of academic integrity, faculty and librarians should collaboratein teaching students about reference citation formats used in academia. College librarians should advocate for the standardization on reference styles in their various colleges. Library orientation given by librarians should be replaced with Information Literacy skills to be offered to students in the first and final years.Keywords: Documentation Styles, Citation, Bibliographic, KNUST

Effects of mulching materials on agronomic characteristics, pests of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and their natural enemies population

The trial was to study the effect of different mulching materials on agronomic characteristics, pests and their subsequent effect on the natural enemies of the pests of pepper (Capsicum annuum). A field experiment was conducted at the Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), between December, 2010 and March, 2011. The mulching materials used were (1) straw mulch, (2) plastic mulch and (3) live-mulch of cowpea plant. The experimental field contained fifteen plots using a randomised complete block design in three replications. Parameters measured were pests of Capsicum annuum, some natural enemies of the pests, days to 50% flowering, plant height, plant girth, damage caused and yield assessment which included damaged fruits caused by the pests, number of fruits, fruit weight (in grams), and percentage increase in fruit yield. Plant height was seemingly highest under straw mulched soils. Straw mulch also flowered early as compared to the live-mulch of cowpea and plastic mulch but the margin was narrow. None of the mulches exhibited higher pest suppression ability over the other. However, Straw mulch had apparently larger population of natural enemies than the other treatments. Damaged fruits in the three mulching materials did not differ significantly. Control plot soils had significantly (P<0.05) higher temperatures than the mulched soils. The results indicated that straw mulch enhanced plant height and increased fruit number and percentage yield whilst live-mulch of cowpea and plastic mulch reduced plant height, fruit number and percentage yield. Data generated in this study have shown that cowpea mulch may be more effective in suppressing pest populations of pepper but straw mulch may provide a better refuge for the natural enemies and should be recommended as an integral option for pest management in pepper production. Ad you may be interested in Full-text