CSIR – CROPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE IN-HOUSE REVIEW AND RESEARCH PLANING ( 2012 ) SETH O. EKYEM HORTICULTURE IMPROVEMENT DIVISION

PROJECT TITLE FIELD EVALUATION OF SOME TOMATO LINES FOR KEEPING AND PROCESSING

RESEARCH TEAM Seth O. Ekyem (Agronomist) – Leader K. Offei Bonsu (Crop Breeder) Collaborator: Monney –MOFA/HDU FUNDING MOFA

GOAL TO EVALUATE OF SOME TOMATO LINES FOR KEEPING AND PROCESSING

OBJECTIVES Determine growth and yield of 8 tomato lines Determine keeping qualities of 8 tomato lines Determine processing qualities of 8 tomato lines

EXPECTED OUTCOMES Growth and yield of 8 tomato lines determined Keeping qualities of 8 tomato lines determined Processing qualities of 8 tomato lines determined Date of start: Oct Date of completion: Feb. 2012

JUSTIFICATION In Ghana, there is seasonal glut of tomato every year. Postharvest losses for tomato is very high As a result, farmers are losing heavily There is all-year round market for tomato Our tomato has low keeping and processing qualities Therefore the search for high yielding tomato with high keeping and processing qualities is imperative

MATERIALS AND METHODS Location: Nkawie TREATMENTS:- Treatment 1: Jaquar F1 Treatment 2: Nadira F1 Treatment 3: Lindo F1 Treatment 4: Farmer local (control 1) Treatment 5: WVCT 5 Treatment 6: WVCT 16 Treatment 7: WVCT 18 Treatment 8: Pectofick (control 2)

MATERIALS AND METHODS Design: RCBD. 4 Rep. Crop spacing: (0.7m x 0.3m) Plot size: 3m x 3.6m Weed, pest and disease mgt as and when necessary.

Results: (Tab.1). Performance of the 8 tomato lines TRTPLT STANDTRTFRT NOTRTFRT WT (KG) TRTBRIX a a83.16 a63.75 a a ab42.80 a33.25 b a bc21.42 b13.00 b ab cd11.13 b73.00 b ab de50.97 bc83.00 b ab de30.87 bc42.87 b ab de60.72 bc22.25 c b e70.36 c51.59 d CV% LSD (0.05)

Discussion Plant Stand: Statistically, all the seedlings of the 8 lines did establish well Fruit No: The 2 controls (Farmer local and Pectofick) did very well but statistically were not different from Lindo F1. Statistically, WVCT 18 was the least in performance. These 2 are high yielding lines that need improvement. Fruit Wt: The 2 controls (Farmer local and Pectofick) did very well but statistically were not different one from the other. Again, WVCT 18 was the least in performance. These 2 are high yielding lines that need improvement. Brix: Statistically, WVCT 16 had the highest in terms soluble solids with Nadira F1 and WVCT 5 trailing from behind. WVCT 16 may have a better processing quality than the rest

Conclusion and Recommendations The 2 controls and WVCT 16 are promising lines that could be improved upon for processing

PROJECT TITLE GROWTH AND YIELD RESPONSES OF OKRA TO: (I) TILLAGE, (II) DEPTH OF SEED PLACEMENT AND (III) DEPTH OF FERTILIZER PLACEMENT

RESEARCH TEAM Seth O. Ekyem (Leader) - CRI K. Offei Bonsu - CRI F. Tetteh - SRI S.H.M. Aikins - KNUST Source of funding: GOG

BACKGROUND Okra is cultivated throughout Ghana The size of an average farm rarely exceed 2 ha and yields are low Thorough land preparation promotes good seed emergence and good root development Tillage improves soil texture, thus improves aeration and water use efficiency, Suppresses initial weed infestation to provide a better seedling growth environment

BACKGROUND Precise seed placement gives the crop a better access to moisture, heat air and nutrients. This improves seed germination and emergence Cost of seeds (especially hybrids) are very high Precise fertilizer placement gives the crop a better access to it but the weeds do not. This allows the crop to be more competitive with weeds. Cost of fertilizers are very high

OBJECTIVES To determine the Growth and yield responses of Okra to tillage. To determine the Growth and yield responses of Okra depth of seed placement. To determine the Growth and yield responses of Okra to depth of fertilizer placement.

MATERIAL AND METHODS (I): Tillage -Zero tillage -Plough only -Plough and harrow -Harrow only (II): Seed placement depth -20, 40, 60 and 80mm (III): Fert. Placement depth -0, 20, 40, 60 and 80mm Data collection: Growth and yield parameters

PROJECT TITLE EFFECT OF DURATION OF WEED COMPETITION ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF OKRA.

RESEARCH TEAM Seth O. Ekyem (Leader) - CRI G. Bolfrey-Arku - CRI K. Offei Bonsu – CRI Source of funding: GOG

BACKGROUND Okra is cultivated throughout Ghana The size of an average farm rarely exceed 2 ha and yields are low Limiting factor to small farm size and low productivity is weed management Weeds reduce yields through competition for growth factors Weeds interfere with harvest and harbour pest and diseases The crop is very sensitive to early weed competition

OBJECTIVES To determine the growth response to weed competition To determine the yield response to weed competition

MATERIAL AND METHODS Completely weed free Weed infested first 2 weeks Weed infested first 4 weeks Weed infested first 6 weeks Weed infested first 8 weeks Weed infested first 10 weeks Weed free first 2 weeks Weed free first 4 weeks Weed free first 6 weeks Weed free first 8 weeks Weed free first 10 weeks Completely weed infested

MATERIAL AND METHODS Crop and weed data would be taken

LIMING EFFECT ON THE GROWTH, YIELD AND SHELF LIFE OF TOMATO GROWN IN ACID SOILS OF AKOMADAN

RESEARCH TEAM Seth O. Ekyem (Leader) - CRI K. Offei Bonsu - CRI J. K. Addo - CRI I. Nuhu - SRI Source of funding: GOG

BACKGROUND Akomadan is major tomato growing area in Ghana Yields of tomato grown in and around Akomadan have dropped by about 40% The economy of Akomadan and surrounding tomato growing areas is in tomato money Their soils have become very acidic ( ), leading to poor growth and low yields This is as a result of continuous use of ammonium (NH 4 +) and urea[CO(NH 2 ) 2 ] based fertilizers

BACKGROUND Very acid soils could lead to problems like : *Aluminium toxicity to plant roots *Manganese toxicity to plants *Calcium & magnesium deficiency *Molybdenum deficiency in legumes *P tied up by Fe and Al *Poor bacterial growth *Reduced nitrogen transformations Therefore, the need to correct the soil acidity

GOAL TO IMPROVE THE SOIL HEALTH OF AKOMADAN SOILS

OBJECTIVES TO REDUCE THE ACID LEVELS OF THE AKOMADAN SOILS

MATERIAL AND METHODS TREATMENTS: TRT 1: ABSOLUTE ZERO TRT 2: NORMAL FARMER PRACT TRT 3: 0.5 TONS LIME/HA + FERT TRT 4: 1.0 TONS LIME/HA + FERT TRT 5: 2.0 TONS LIME/HA + FERT TRT 6: 6.0 TONS POULTRY MANURE DATA ON SOIL, GROWTH, YIELD AND KEEPING QUALITIES WOULD BE TAKEN