Browsing by Author "Obeng Apori, Samuel"

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6

Impacts of COVID 19 Total Confinement on Rural Youth Food Security
(Science Publishing Group, 2021-07-13) Fofana, Abdoulaye Fall; Ssekandi, Joseph; Kipkemoi, Amos Ronoh; Obeng Apori, Samuel; Ndiaye, Abibatou; Wamuyu Mbugua, Beatrice
Uganda is amongst the countries in Africa which have experienced total confinement during the COVID 19 outbreak. The impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic will have disproportionate effects on populations with higher existing vulnerability. Youth consistently experience higher levels of food insecurity than adults and are more likely to be dependent upon informal employment. The present study aimed to understand the impact of COVID 19 total confinement on youth food security in the rural Mpigi District of Uganda. The study targeted rural youths and questions were asked as to whether the COVID 19 pandemic led to food insecurity. Using self-administered questionnaires, data were collected from 380 respondents selected randomly from Nkozi sub-county. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze collected data. Nested binary logistic regressions was used to examine the relationship between food security-sex-education levels. The study established that 75% of youth were classified as food insecure. Female youths were more likely to be food secure than males. The study also revealed that a high level of education significantly contributes to youth food security. This study reinforces the importance of including social determinants of food security, such as sex and level of education in the policies targeting youth food security. Giving food relief, reduce food taxes and allowing the business to open are three of the major recommendations from this study.
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.
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 coffee grounds as a sandy soil amendment and its effect on growth and fruit quality of strawberry
(International Scientific Research and Researchers Association, 2023-11-03) Nababi, Joyce; Murongo, Marius; Obeng Apori, Samuel; Balde, Issa; Ssemakula, Joseph
Coffee grounds are discarded as solid waste in landfills which makes them an environmental hazard since it contains great quantities of caffeine and tannins. The efficiency of coffee grounds use in sandy soils is still scientifically unsupported and still lacks confirmation on its effect on fruit crops. The study aimed at assessing the potential of Coffee grounds (fresh FCG vs. composted CCG) as a sandy soil amendment and its effect on strawberry growth and fruit quality. The experimental design was a two factorial design conducted in a green house in a Randomized Block Design. Treatment ratios were 3kg of sandy soil as constant mixture with 1kg and 2kg of Coffee Grounds (composted and fresh) and control (Co), replicated 16 times for each treatment. The sandy soil nutrient content (N, P, K, Mg and Ca levels) were significantly high (P-value < 0.05) in CCG (2kg) and FCG (2kg) than in the FCG (1kg), CCG (1kg) and control (Co) at post-harvest analysis. Both CCG treatments produced strawberry plants with highest germination percentage and seed vigour indexat 14 days after planting. FCG treatments inhibited plant growth in the first 2 weeks after planting which improved greatly thereafter with no significant difference with the CCG treatments in plant vegetative growth by week 12. CCG (2kg) produced the best significant value for total number of fruits at 86.33 and fruit weight at 7.907. The FCG (2kg) and CCG (2kg) had the highest titratable acidity, soluble sugars and total soluble solids. CCG (2kg) had the highest mean value at 64.61 of ascorbic acid. This study delivered new understanding that experimental treatment of composted coffee grounds in rates of (2kg) gave significantly better results for strawberry in sandy soils compared to the lower rates of (1kg) and the control treatments.
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.
Roles of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on soil fertility and its importance in phytoremediation of polluted soil
(Uganda National Council for Science and Technology & Research Education Network of Uganda, 2021) Fofana Fall, Abdoulaye; Nakabonge, Grace; Ssekandi, Joseph; Founoune, Hassna; Obeng Apori, Samuel; Ndiaye, Abibatou; Badji, Arfang; Ngom, Khady
A single paragraph Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) establish symbiotic relationships with many crops. These soil microbiotas improve the soil fertility through the soil physical, chemical and biological properties. extending the root absorbing area. In return, the symbiont receives plant carbohydrates for the completion of its life cycle. AMF also helps plants to cope with biotic and abiotic stresses such as extreme temperature, heavy metal, diseases, and pathogens. For soil physical properties, the mechanisms used by AMF are the production of a glycoprotein, glomalin, which creates a high quality of soil macro-aggregations. These macro-aggregations control soil erosion, nutrients and organic matter losses. For soil chemical properties, AMF produce acids and an enzyme called phosphatase. This enzyme hydrolyzes the inorganic phosphorus and the rock phosphate (RP) hence making P available in the soil for plant uptake. AMF also are involved in soil nitrogen, carbon and trace element cycling. Regarding the biological component of the soil, AMF influence the composition, diversity and activity of microbial communities in the hydrosphere. They also work in synergy with others soil microorganisms to improve soil fertility, plant growth and resistance against some diseases. In this review, we present the contribution of AMF on soil fertility and importance in polluted soils.