Browsing by Author "Hanyabui, Emmanuel"

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Effect of linear view approach of weed management in agro-ecosystem: A review
(Academic Journals, 2020-12-18) Muli, K. Gideon; Apori, O. Samuel; Ssekandi, Joseph; Murongo, Marius; Hanyabui, Emmanuel
Weeds are considered a pest that is detrimental to human interest. Weeds compete with cultivated and desirable plants for space, soil nutrient, and sunlight and soil moisture thereby reducing crop productivity. Weeds also serve as a host for pests and pathogens that cause plant diseases. Weeds typically produce large numbers of seeds, assisting their spread, and rapidly invade disturbed sites. Seeds spread into natural and disturbed environments, via wind, waterways, people, vehicles, machinery, birds and other animals. To prevent the effect of weeds on crop productivity, farmers mostly use a linear approach for weed management. The linear view approach aims at eradicating weeds without concern about the environment. This paper reviews the effects of the linear view approach of weed management in the agro-ecosystem. A review using forty-one articles reveals that herbicides application, bush burning and soil tillage are the most often used linear view approach for controlling weeds in the farm ecosystem. The paper highlights the contribution of these weed control methods to climate change through loss of biodiversity, pollution of water bodies, soil degradation, deterioration of fruit quality and release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
Evaluation of Soil Fertility Status in Oil Palm Plantations in the Western Region of Ghana
(AIMS Press, 2020-11-20) Apori, Samuel Obeng; Adams, Sadick; Hanyabui, Emmanuel; Mohammed, Musah; Murongo, Marius; Kwasi Acheampong, Mark
Oil palm is regarded as one of the tree crops that utilize a high amount of soil nutrients for optimum growth and development. Farmers in the western region of Ghana have complained immensely of small fruit bunch of their oil palm, but in oil palm plantation, nutrient management is the key to higher fruit bunch of crops hence this study was carried out to evaluate the fertility status of selected oil palm plantations in the Mpohor district in the Western Region of Ghana. Two farming communities namely Odumase and Edum Banso were selected for soil sampling. Farmers in the Odumase community have been applying fertilizer and organic manure while farmers in Edum Banso hardly do. Soil samples from Odumase (A) and Edum Banso (B) showed mean pH values of 5.45 and 5.03, respectively. Odumase (A) recorded high nitrogen, phosphorus and Potassium content of 0.07%, 7.69 mg kg-1 and 0.4 cmol kg -1 , respectively exceeding the critical nutrient (NPK) content for the oil palm tree. Soil samples from Edum Banso (B) recorded N, P and K contents below the critical nutrient (NPK) content for oil palm tree. The nutrient availability index indicated a low nutrient availability of TN, OM, P and Mg for soil samples from Edum Banso (B). Therefore proper nutrient management approaches such as the application of inorganic fertilizer should be adopted especially for nutrients that are deficient and low from Edum Banso (B).
Implementation of COVID-19 Control Measures: Effect on Fertilizer Supply and Soil Fertility in Africa
(Academic Journals, 2021-07) Hanyabui, Emmanuel; Apori, Samuel Obeng; Akaba, Selorm; Ssekandi, Joseph
The unexpected outbreak of novel COVID-19 in late 2019 and continual spread across the world has disrupted the agricultural value chain. The World Health Organization (WHO) prescribed border closure, lockdown, social distancing, wearing a mask, and handwashing to combat the pandemic. These control measures, especially the closure of borders, have affected the importation and supply of fertilizer for crop production. The current study presents potential expectations for the adverse effects of coronavirus pandemic on fertilizer supply and application, soil fertility, and crop yield. The study indicates that the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has made the delivery of fertilizers to farmers very difficult. Hence, the application of fertilizer on time by farmers was problematic. It was also discovered that the COVID-19 control measure enforced can delay crop planting on time and the use of optimum quality and quantity of fertilizer. Therefore, crop yield will be affected and the quantity of crop produced will be reduced.
Moringa Oleifera Seeds as a Low-cost Biosorbent for Removing Heavy Metals from Waste Water
(University PIM, Banja Luka, 2020-05) Obeng Apori, Samuel; Atiah, Kofi; Hanyabui, Emmanuel; Byalebeka, John
Heavy metals are considered to be one of the major contaminants of water in recent years due to their non-biodegradable property; hence making them toxic and bioaccumulate to living organisms. Conventional methods such us chemical precipitation, physical treatment through ion exchangeare used for removing heavy metal ions from water. These methods are expensive and attributed to incomplete metals removal and high cost of treatment. In recent years, researchers have found alternative low cost and effective method for remova lof toxic metals through biosorption process using biologicalmaterials. Moringa oleifera seeds is oneof the biological materials which has effective adsorption capacity for removal of heavy metals from water and wastewater.In this article, the seeds of Moringa oleifera seeds as a low-cost biosorbent for removal of heavy metals is presented.Moringa oleifera seeds is inexpensive material that contains amino acids. The amino acid is a major constituent of the functional groups that aids in greater ability of heavy metals removal through metal ion exchange or complexation, which is mainly affected by pH, biosorbent dosage, and contact time. Moringa oleifera seeds residues have a greater capacity to absorb heavy metals in a single solution compared to multi ion solution.
Phosphorus Sorption in Tropical Soils
(AIMS Press, 2020-09) Hanyabui, Emmanuel; Obeng Apori, Samuel; Agyei Frimpong, Kwame; Atiah, Kofi; Abindaw, Thomas; Ali, Muhammed; Yeboah Asiamah, Joshua; Byalebeka, John
Phosphorus is an important primary nutrient required by plants in large quantities. The various forms of P that plants can take up are the primary monobasic phosphate ion (H2PO4−), secondary dibasic phosphate ion (HPO42−) and phosphate ion (PO43−). In tropical soils, phosphorus adsorption is a major process that controls its availability to crops.Soils with low phosphorus adsorption capacity are often unable to supply adequate phosphorus to the growing crops thereby affecting their yields.This paper reviews the phosphorus adsorption phenomenon in a tropical soil. The review showed that Langmuir isotherm, Freundlich isotherm, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) isotherm, Dubinin-Radushkevich, and Temkin isotherm are the mostly used isotherms models for describing phosphorus adsorption. From the review, soil acidity and alkalinity,soil temperature and the electrical potential of clay surface are the main factors influencing phosphorus adsorption. Also, precipitation was discovered to be the main mechanism of P adsorption in tropical soils.Fertilization practices such as the addition of organic manure, crop residues, rock phosphate, water-soluble P fertilizers and incorporation of phosphorus solubilizing organism are highly recommended to increase P solubility and availability in highly weathered soil.
The Potential of Biodiversity Utilization and Sustainable Development in Ghana
(Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Clarion, Pennsylvania, 2020) Asiamah, Joshua Yeboah; Kyei, Foster; Obeng Apori, Samuel; Agbeko, Rosemary; Hanyabui, Emmanuel; Danquah, Andrews; Balde, Issa
The search for sustainable economic growth and development in Ghana commenced in 1957 when the country gained independence. After the first president, Kwame Nkrumah was overthrown in 1966, the nation witnessed a significant setback in terms of development which affected all aspects of the society including utilization of biodiversity and its sustainable development. Sustainable development is a kind of development that helps to meet the present’s needs without preventing the ability of future generations to meet their needs. The biodiversity in Ghana is very rich. It plays a significant role in ecosystem services and functions by providing food materials, medicine and industrial raw materials. This paper seeks to review the potential utilization of Ghana’s biodiversity and its sustainable development. In this paper, a broad literature search was conducted to identify relevant articles that correspond to the main topic. The results indicate that Ghana has rich biodiversity and it is the potential heritage and valuable asset for the country’s ecological integrity and economic reformation, if only it is managed properly. The country’s biodiversity also underpins ecosystem resilience which plays a critical role by reducing disaster risks and peace-building strategies. It was found that the forests, wetlands and mangroves which form part of the biodiversity help to reduce the impact of floods, drought and tsunamis. For successful sustainable development of Ghana’s biodiversity, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should collaborate with main stakeholder agencies that are more concerned about biodiversity. In other to achieve sustainable utilization, resourcing research institutions and universities to join the regional tray of biotechnology studies should be of great interest to the government and policymakers.
Potential of Termite Mounds and its Surrounding Soils as Soil Amendments in Smallholder Farms in Central Uganda
(BMC Research Notes, 2020) Obeng Apori, Samuel; Murongo, Marius; Hanyabui, Emmanuel; Atiah, Kofi; Byalebeka, John
The low fertility of highly weathered soils has been a major problem for resource-constrained small-holder farmers. In central Uganda, smallholder farmers have been collecting termite mound soils anywhere around the termite mound to improve their soil fertility. However, no studies have been conducted on which sections of the termite mounds consist of high soil nutrients. This study was conducted to assess selected major soil essential plant nutrients of soils collected from the top of the mound (TPMS), and the basal part of the mound (BPMS). The surrounding soil samples were collected from five, fifteen, and thirty meters away from the mound (TMSS1, TMSS2, and TMSS3 respectively), covering ten termite mounds in five different maize fields in central Uganda.Results:TPMS and BPMS had significant (P-value < 0.05) higher N, P, K, OC, Ca and Mg levels than TMSS1, TMSS2, and TMSS3. However, OC levels in BPMS was higher than TPMS. On the whole, termite mounds are beneficial as a source for essential plant nutrients. It will be best if smallholder farmers could collect the termite mound soils from the top and the basal part of the mound to improve the fertility of their soil.
Role of Military Termites (Pseudocanthotermes militaris) in Improving Soil Productivity in Tropical Agroecosystems
(Annual Research & Review in Biology, 2020-06) Apori, Samuel Obeng; Murongo, Marius Flarian; Hanyabui, Emmanuel; Muli, Gideon Kalii; Wamuyu, Beatrice
Termites are insects classified at the taxonomic rank of infrared Isoptera. They are soil animals since they spend some part of their life cycle in the soil; together with their association with the soil, they have several effects on soil properties[1]. Termites are among the macrofauna that influence soil physical, chemical and biological properties. They are more active in the semi-arid and arid areas (this is missing in the general topic)[2]. According to [3], termites account for 40 to 60% of the total soil macrofauna biomass in many tropical ecosystems.Their estimated biomass in African savannas is estimated to be between 70 to 110kg/ha [3]. Several studies have shown that termites are able mechanically to chew up plant material with their mandibles and grind it with their gizzard, thereby increasing the surface area accessible to soil microorganisms. However, some termite species are essential in maintaining long-term soil productivity and also in restoring barren soils[4]. Termite accumulate and deposit particles from various soil depths in mounds so that the amount of organic carbon, clay and nutrients, pH and microbial communities is higher in termite mounds than in adjacent termite-free soils[5]. Termites contribute to the regeneration of crusted soils by creating voids on the sealed surface, resulting in increased potential for infiltration, and ultimately enhanced water quality[6]. Hence this review seeks to find out the contribution of termites through their physical, chemical and biological influence on soil and how it enhances soil productivity.