Cowpea is well adapted to environmental conditions that affect crop production such as drought, high temperatures and other biotic stresses compared with other crops. Notwithstanding, growth and development of many cowpea cultivars are affected by drought and high temperatures, especially during floral development. This is because cowpea cultivars tend to have narrow range of adaptation as cultivars developed for one zone usually are not very productive in other zones. A study on the yield and growth performance of seven cowpea varieties was conducted during the 2012 major and minor rainy seasons at the CSIR-Crops Research Institute, Kwadaso-Kumasi, Ghana to compare the performance of the seasonal variation on each variety. These improved varieties Nhyira, Tona, Asetenapa, Asomdwe, Hewale, Videza and IT 89KD374-57 were evaluated using a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. The results showed that varieties Hewale, Videza and Nhyira gave higher seed yields, whereas IT 89KD374-57 and Asetenapa had lower seed yields. Nhyira and Hewale gave comparatively better seed yields under both conditions. Hewale was the highest seed-yielding genotype under both major and minor raining season. Cowpea production could be a profitable agribusiness for cowpea growers in Ghana considering the higher returns in terms of grain yield obtained in both seasons. Key words: Cowpea, agronomic performance, improved varieties.

A considerable proportion of applied nutrients are adsorbed by the calcite surface of calcareous soils, making them unavailable to plants. A combination of organic amendments and fertilizers can improve nutrient retention and mineralization, and also reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A two-years field experiment was undertaken to investigate the impacts of inorganic fertilizer, biochar and silicon on nutrient uptake, growth, yield and post-harvest soil chemistry in calcareous soil using rice (Oryza sativa L.) as a test crop. The implication of each treatment on methane emissions was also investigated. The combination of NPK, biochar and silicon significantly improved rice growth, yield, P and Si uptake; and post-harvest soil nutrition. Biochar increased soil organic carbon content between 4.2 and 108.5% across the years. An increase from 2.4 to 6.1% was observed in the inorganic fertilizer treatments, 11.4–12.0% for the biochar treatments and 2.5–19.0% for ½NPK + biochar from 2020 to 2021. Maximum grain yield was achieved with the treatment ½NPK + biochar + 100 kg Si ha^− 1 which was comparable to NPK + 100 kg Si ha^− 1. Also, the combination of ½NPK + biochar + 50 kg Si reduced CH₄ emissions and produced a comparable yield to NPK + 50 kg Si in both years. While further research is required to explore the effects of the length of time biochar is applied on reducing CH₄ emissions, this study suggests a basis for predicting the impact of biochar on the management of CH₄ emissions in calcareous soils.

The present study addresses Ghana’s heavy dependence on rice imports, which currently make up over 40% of the nation’s domestic consumption with declining soil fertility. The use of organic and chemical fertilizers to improve soil fertility has had an unintended consequence like the production of methane (CH₄) gas. This study investigates the potential of biochar, a promising solution for reducing emissions and enhancing crop yields when combined with silicon (Si). This research assessed the effect of these soil amendments on rice yield and methane emissions within degraded rice fields. The main treatments were recommended fertilizer dose (RDF), a biochar compost (BIOCOM) application, and a combination of 50% RDF with 50% BIOCOM. Within these treatments, Si was introduced at varying levels: 0, 100, and 200 kg Si ha⁻¹. The results indicate that the application of RDF resulted in significant improvements in rice growth, Si uptake, phosphorus (P) uptake, and ultimately, grain yield. RDF produced remarkable yield increments, surpassing BIOCOM by 59.7% in 2020 and 56.6% in 2021. Additionally, the introduction of 100 kg Si ha⁻¹ led to an average 15.6% increase in grain yield across both growing seasons and displayed a positive correlation with P uptake. BIOCOM and its blend with NPK improved residual P and K contents. BIOCOM reduced CH₄ emissions by 46% in 2020 and 44% in 2021 when compared to RDF. This study does not only hold valuable implications for sustainable agricultural practices but also make a substantial contribution to addressing key concerns, including food security, soil fertility preservation, and the reduction of CH₄ gas emissions in rice production.

A decline in productivity and environmental quality often results from multiple, simultaneous degradation processes, exacerbated by reduced soil fertility and the indiscriminate disposal of agricultural residues. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of rice husk biochar, soyabean crop residue biochar, and coconut shell biochar applied alone or in combination with chemical fertilizer on the growth and yield of soyabean. The approach forms part of soil amendment and management practices that utilizes biochar derived from agricultural residues to promote sustainable soyabean production and enhance the resilience of smallholder farmers to climate change. The findings revealed that integrating biochar with NPK fertilizer significantly improved soybean growth and yield. Among the treatments, coconut shell biochar + NPK produced the highest yield (3.10 t/ha), followed by NPK alone (2.41 t/ha), while Rice Husk Biochar alone recorded the lowest yield (1.10 t/ha). The analysis further showed that biochar applied alone resulted in lower chlorophyll content (28.98 SPAD) and a reduced number of pods per plant (58.50) compared to NPK alone, which recorded chlorophyll content of 41.47 SPAD and 106 pods per plant. These results underscore the role of biochar as a slow-release nutrient source that performs optimally when combined with mineral fertilizers. Overall, the combined application of biochar and NPK markedly enhanced plant nutrient uptake and improved soil chemical properties, underscoring its potential for sustainable soil management and increased soyabean productivity.

A study was carried out to identify species used as fodder by small ruminant farmers in the selected villages in the Komendaâ€Edinaâ€Eguafoâ€Abrem district of the Central Region of Ghana. Livestock farmers in fifteen communities were interviewed using questionnaires to obtain information on the personal background and livestock feeding and management practices. The main aim of the study was first to identify existing browse species and to determine problems associated with the use of those existing browse species. Some problems identified include harboring of insects, causing of abortion as well as causing bloat. The survey showed that Ficus exasperata, Ficus umbellate, Baphia nitida, Griffonia simplifolia, Antiaris africana, Terminalia catappa, Grewia carprinifolia, Pethecellobium dulceand Leucaena leucocephala were the main browse species that were used in the district to feed small ruminants. Other feedstuffs that were used in feeding animals such as Aspillia africana and Manihot esulentus tops (leaves and peels) were also identified. The level of browse usage showed that Ficus exasperata had the highest value of 66.7% and Terminalia catappa had the lowest value of 13.3%. Farmers in the district preferred Ficus exasperata which they perceived to promote the best production response in livestock. Various reasons were assigned for the selection of a particular browse plant. Farmers in the district may have to be helped to cultivate browse plant in order to sustain the availability and usage of browse for livestock feeding due to the rateof destruction of browse (shrubs and trees) resulting from urbanization, use of stem of shrubs and trees for fuelwood and other livelihood activities and desertification arising from human related activities.