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INFLUENCE OF “ACCESSION” TYPE AND CONSEQUENT “TOPPING” ON PRODUCTIVITY AND PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) FRUIT IN A GHANAIAN OXISOL

2026-05-07T14:22:56Z

Title: INFLUENCE OF “ACCESSION” TYPE AND CONSEQUENT “TOPPING” ON PRODUCTIVITY AND PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) FRUIT IN A GHANAIAN OXISOL Authors: MOHAMMED, K. Abstract: Studies on the influence of “accession” type and consequent “topping” on productivity and proximate composition of okra was conducted at the orchard and Spanish Laboratory Complex, University for Development Studies (UDS), Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Sciences, Department of Horticulture, Tamale, Ghana. There is a significant knowledge gap regarding the impact of “topping” on the proximate composition of okra fruits. Lack of standardized “topping” practice among farmers, coupled with limited data on proximate composition hinders the optimization of okra productivity, hence the study. The study was a two-factor experiment in a Randomized Complete Block Design with five replications. The two factors considered were “accession” type {“Choochoo (C)”; “Jengbunjira” (J); “Maanpielli” (M); “Sheinmana” (S); and “Wuunmana” (W)} and “topping” stages {control, no “topping” (T0); “topping” at apical flower bud emergence (Ta); “topping” at one week after apical flower bud emergence (T1); and “topping” at two weeks after apical flower bud emergence (T2)}. These two factors were combined to make twenty treatment combinations {“Choochoo” not “topped” (CT0), “Choochoo” “topped” at apical flower bud emergence (CTa), “Choochoo” “topped” at one week after apical flower bud emergence (CT1), “Choochoo” “topped” at two weeks after apical flower bud emergence (CT2), “Jangbunjira” not “topped” (JT0), “Jangbunjira” “topped” at apical flower bud emergence (JTa), “Jangbunjira” “topped” at one week after apical flower bud emergence (JT1), “Jangbunjira” “topped” at two weeks after apical flower bud emergence (JT2), “Maanpielli” not “topped” (MT0), “Maanpielli” “topped” at apical flower bud emergence (MTa), “Maanpielli” “topped” at one week after apical flower bud emergence (MT1), “Maanpielli” “topped” at two weeks after apical flower bud emergence (MT2), “Sheinmana” not “topped” (ST0), “Sheinmana” “topped” at apical flower bud emergence (STa), “Sheinmana” “topped” at one week after apical flower bud emergence (ST1), “Sheinmana” “topped” at two weeks after apical flower bud emergence (ST2), “Wuunmana” not “topped” (WT0), “Wuunmana” “topped” at apical flower bud emergence (WTa), “Wuunmana” “topped” at one week after apical flower bud emergence (WT1), “Wuunmana” “topped” at two weeks after apical flower bud emergence (WT2)}. Five healthy plants per treatment were randomly selected and tagged for the study. Choochoo” plants with “topping” at apical flower bud emergence (CTa) recorded a significantly higher number of flower buds and number of flowers. “Choochoo” “topped” at apical flower bud emergence (CTa) plants recorded the highest fresh fruit weight (414.7 g) produced per plant. Fresh fruit girth recorded significant interaction effects, where JTa plants recorded significantly higher fruit girth (36.47 mm). “Sheinmana” “topped” at apical flower bud emergence (STa) plants recorded the highest fruit length (9.12 cm) per plant. There were no interaction effects among the treatment combinations for the percentage moisture content of okra but “Choochoo” “topped” at apical flower bud emergence (CTa) plants recorded the highest (71.88 %) percentage moisture content, the highest percentage crude fat content (0.88 %), and the highest (70.6 %) percentage carbohydrate content. “Jangbunjira” not “topped” (JT0) plants recorded significantly higher percentage dry matter content (26.42 %). The highest (25.93 %) percentage crude protein was recorded by “Maanpielli” “topped” at apical flower bud emergence (MTa), and the highest (9.364 %) percentage crude ash content by “Wuunmana” “topped” at two weeks after apical flower bud emergence (WT2). “Choochoo” “topped” at apical flower bud emergence (CTa) was highly recommended for optimizing productivity with particular reference to the number of fruits and fruit weight critical to the fresh market. For processing goals, “Jangbunjira” “topped” at apical flower bud emergence (JTa) was recommended for optimum fruit girth, and “Sheinmana” “topped” at apical flower bud emergence (STa) for optimizing fruit length. For the determination of proximate composition,“Choochoo” “topped” at apical flower bud emergence (CTa) was prioritised for bulk consumption and enhanced digestion due to its high moisture, fat, and carbohydrate levels. “Jangbunjira” not topped, “Maanpielli” “topped” at apical flower bud emergence (MTa), “Choochoo” “topped” at two weeks after apical flower bud emergence (CT2), and “Wuunmana” “topped” at two weeks after apical flower bud emergence (WT2) enhanced: optimum dry matter content, protein content, and ash content respectively. The study found “topping” at apical flower bud emergence (Ta) a worthy technical agronomic practice for improved productivity and proximate composition in each case of the five “accessions” evaluated. Description: REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE IN HORTICULTURE

EFFECTS OF SEED SOURCE, VARIETY, PACKAGING MATERIALS, STORAGE CONDITIONS AND STORAGE DURATION ON VIABILITY AND PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF CERTIFIED SOYBEAN SEEDS FROM THREE REGIONS IN NORTHERN GHANA

2026-05-07T14:19:19Z

Title: EFFECTS OF SEED SOURCE, VARIETY, PACKAGING MATERIALS, STORAGE CONDITIONS AND STORAGE DURATION ON VIABILITY AND PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF CERTIFIED SOYBEAN SEEDS FROM THREE REGIONS IN NORTHERN GHANA Authors: DOGOR, M. M. K. Abstract: In Ghana, soybean is largely cultivated in the northern sector accounting for about 90% of the soybean produced in the country. Despite the crop's high potential to improve food and economic security, there is very little or insignificant growth in the rate of production of soybean in Ghana. Major factors contributing to the low level of production include poor seed quality and poor storage conditions. To date, there is limited information on the effect of long-term storage of soybean seed on quality, especially regarding seed viability and seedling vigour. This study was conducted to assess the effects of seed source, variety, packaging materials, storage room temperatures and storage durations on three popular certified soybean seed varieties. Three experiments were conducted from April, 2022 to December, 2023. Experiment 1 was a 4 x 3 x 2 factorial arranged in split-split plot design with three replications. The four sources of the seeds were three certified seed companies including Antika (Upper West Region), Heritage (Northern Region), Integrated Water and Agricultural Development (IWAD) (Upper East Region) and the Savana Agricultural Research Institute (Foundation seed) which served as a check. The three varieties evaluated were ‘Afayak’, ‘Favour’, and ‘Jenguma’ and the qualities of these seeds were measured at sampling (zero), and at five (5) and ten (10) months after storage under ambient temperature (zinc roofed room). Experiment 2 was a 5 x 3 factorial arranged in split plot design with three replications. The treatments were five storage conditions (cold room, air-conditioned room, warehouse, thatch house and zinc roofed room) and three storage durations (0, 5 and 10 months) after storage. For experiment 3, the treatments were three varieties (‘Afayak’, ‘Favour’, “Jenguma”), seven packaging materials (Ghana Seed Inspection Division (GSID) branded polypropylene bag, GSID Plastic bag, paper bag, jute bag, jute bags lined with plastic, polypropylene bag and polypropylene bag lined with plastic) and three storage durations (0, 5 and 10 months) arranged in a split split plot design with three replications were used to evaluate treatments. In experiment one, ‘Jenguma’ in the control stored for 10 months maintained the highest number of normal seeds. Similarly, ‘Jenguma’ seed collected from UWR had the highest fat content, while that from UER had the highest ash content at end of the 10 months storage period. ‘Favour’ seeds obtained from UWR and stored for 10 months had the highest germination perectage and protein content. ‘Afayak’ seed sourced from UWR and stored for 10 months exhibited significant increase in the dry matter content, whereas, ‘Jenguma’ seeds from UER showed the highest moisture loss at the end of the 10 month storage period. Principal component analysis shows a strong positive correlation between moisture, protein, normal seeds and germination percent with strong correlation for germination and moisture percentages for seeds obtained from Upper East Region. Although Seed germination deteriorated with storage duration across all sources and varieties, the ‘Favour’ variety exhibited the highest germination percentage irrespective of the sources. Seeds from Upper West Region exhibited best performance in germination for all three varieties after ten months storage. For experiment two, there was a positive correlation between germination and normal seeds (r = 0.669). Cold room, thatch roofed rooms and commercial warehouses significantly preserved seed viability. ‘Favour’ seeds stored in GICS bag for 10 months had the highest normal seeds and germination percent. ‘Jenguma’ seeds stored in (PP) bags for 10 months showed the least decline in fat content. Germination % positively correlated with protein and normal seeds across all soybean varieties. Germination % showed a positive correlation with carbohydrate for the ‘Favour’ variety. For ‘Afayak’ and ‘Jenguma’, germination % was positively correlated with fat and moisture contents. For experiment three, hermetic storage and paper bags proved more effective in maintaining seed viability and vigour compared to other conventional packaging options. The research has therefore demonstrated that, to maintain the viability of certified soybean seeds for longer period, the ‘Favour’ seed variety should be packaged in GICS (hermetic) or paper bags and stored in cold rooms, commercialized seed warehouses or thatch roofed rooms, depending on the availability of these facilities in the soybean growing areas in Ghana. This study suggests that breeders should pay more attention to the fat, carbohydrate and ash traits in breeding for high seed viability and seedling vigour for soybean. Description: REQUIRMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF DOCTOR OF PHYLOSOPHY IN HORTICULTURE

GENDER STEREOTYPES, ADVOCACY AND LIVELIHOOD CHOICES: A CASE STUDY OF FARMERS IN THE UPPER EAST REGION

2026-05-07T14:18:26Z

Title: GENDER STEREOTYPES, ADVOCACY AND LIVELIHOOD CHOICES: A CASE STUDY OF FARMERS IN THE UPPER EAST REGION Authors: ZOOGAH, D. Abstract: Gender stereotypes influence the livelihood choices of agricultural households in many developing countries, such as Ghana. Many gender-sensitive development organizations have recommended the need for advocacy campaigns and sensitizations as a means of addressing gender stereotypes in society. But empirical evidence of how advocacy efforts shape gender stereotypes and livelihood choices are scanty. The study sought to identify the factors driving gender stereotypical attitudes in farm and off-farm livelihood activities and evaluate the effect of stakeholders' participation in advocacy campaigns on those stereotypes. To achieve this objective, econometric approaches involving the ordered logit model as well as the endogenous switching regression models were fitted to both assess the drivers of gender stereotypes as well as the impact of participation in advocacy programmes on these stereotypes. Using primary data collected from 400 respondents from the Talensi and Nabdam districts, the results showed that individual and household-level factors such as age, education, and access to agricultural extension services substantially affect the degree of gender stereotyping. Specifically, the elderly and farmers with more agricultural extension contacts are associated with a reduction in gender stereotype scores, suggesting that exposure to progressive agricultural practices and education may challenge traditional gender roles. The study also showed that participation in advocacy campaign programmes has significant effect on reducing the incidence of gender stereotypes. Participants in advocacy groups demonstrate a notable average treatment effect on their gender stereotype scores compared to non participants. Therefore, interventions should focus on enhancing access to education and advocacy programmes to further dismantle entrenched stereotypes and empower both men and women in their agricultural endeavours. Description: REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY (MPhil) DEGREE IN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS

EVALUATING THE EFFECT OF ROCK PHOSPHATE AND TRIPLE SUPERPHOSPHATE SUBSTITUTION AND OTHER NUTRIENTS ON COWPEA PERFORMANCE IN GHANA’S GUINEA SAVANNA AGROECOLOGY

2026-05-07T14:15:14Z

Title: EVALUATING THE EFFECT OF ROCK PHOSPHATE AND TRIPLE SUPERPHOSPHATE SUBSTITUTION AND OTHER NUTRIENTS ON COWPEA PERFORMANCE IN GHANA’S GUINEA SAVANNA AGROECOLOGY Authors: ATONGI, A. A. Abstract: Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is a crucial legume crop in Ghana, contributing significantly to food security due to its nutritional and economic value. However, productivity is hindered by low soil fertility, mainly phosphorus depletion and insufficient micronutrient use, particularly zinc and boron. The study evaluated cowpea’s response to Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) and its substituted forms for Rock Phosphate (RP) in combination with potassium and micronutrients (Zn and B) in phosphorus- depleted lixisols at Nyankpala and Kokpeng in Northern Ghana. The treatments including three OCP compound fertilizers, were 16 and were laid out using randomized complete block design with 4 replications. The results, indicated significant effects (P < 0.05) of fertilizer treatments on growth parameters measured, chlorophyll content, root characteristics and grain yield. Notably, compound fertilizers with micronutrients NKP (14:18:18) + TE and NPS (14:31:5) + TE improved root length and nutrient uptake efficiency. Optimal grain yields (over 2,500 kg/ha in Nyankpala) were achieved with specific combinations of TSP and RP, particularly in 80% TSP + 20% RP + K + TE and 60% TSP + 40% RP + K + TE treatments. The study also found that 100% RP + K + TE outperformed 100% TSP in grain yield, indicating the efficiency of RP combined with K and the micronutrients. Economic analysis revealed that 100% RP gave a favourable marginal rate of return of 475%. Integrating phosphorus sources with K, Zn, and B can significantly enhance crop growth, improve root development, and increase grain yield in the Guinea Savanna agroecological zone. The study recommends the use of Zn, B, and rock phosphate as a cheaper P source in place of TSP for improved cowpea growth and yield. Further research on the use of rock phosphate should be conducted in Northern Ghana. Description: REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY IN CROP SCIENCE