CSIR-Crops Research Institute Research for Development Resource and Crop Management/ Socio- economic Division No of Research Scientist - 12 No of Technicians - 18 National service personnel- 7 Field Staff - 25 Administrator - 1 C O U N C I L F O R S C I E N T I F I C A N D I N D U S T R I A L R E S E A R C H G H A N A CSIR IN-HOUSE REVIEW AND RESEARCH PLANNING- 2012

Research activities for the past year Supplementary irrigation at CSIR-CRI Effect of leaf harvesting on growth and cormel yield of cocoyam Effect of different tillage practices on nutrient uptake, growth and yield of cocoyam Participatory varietal selection of drought tolerant open pollinated and hybrid maize varieties Promotion of Drought Tolerant maize varieties in Ghana Yara fertilizer trials on maize and tomatoes Evaluation of cowpea lines (Global Crop Diversity Trust)

Sedentarization of yam AUSAID CORAF/WECARD Sustainable Intensification of Integrated Crop Small ruminant Production system Effect of shield spray of herbicide on yield in cassava- maize intercrop Testing of jab planter on-farm Socio-economic studies on cassava, sweetpotato, yam maize

Challenges Funding support to facilitate research work in the Division especially of young scientists in the who were employed recently

PERFORMANCE OF 16 COWPEA GENOTYPES AT AKOMADAN IN THE FOREST-SAVANNAH AGROECOLOGY OF GHANA RESEARCH TEAM Dr. Joseph Nketiah Berchie: Agronomist/Crop Physiologist Mr. Sylvester Addy:Agronomist/Crop Physiologist Dr. James AsibuoLegume Breeder Dr. Stephen AmoahMolecular Biologist Dr. Ken FeningEntomologist Mr. NyarkoPathologist Mrs Adlaide AgyemangBiometrician

Importance of cowpea Cowpea is an important tropical grain legume. It is a cheap source of protein Cowpea plays a very important role in sustaining soil fertility by adding atmospheric nitrogen and organic matter to the soil It can fix up to 240 kg N/ha to the soil and leaves about kg/ha at harvest for succeeding crops, Hossain (1993) Dual-purpose cowpea plays an important role by producing grains as well as fodder for livestock As a cover crop it is efficient in suppressing weeds

OBJECTIVE OF STUDY The objective of the study was to evaluate the grain and fodder yields of 16 cowpea genotypes in the forest-savannah agroecology of Ghana

Materials and Methods 16 cowpea genotypes were evaluated in Akomadan in the forest- savannah transition agroecology of Ghana. Treatments were randomised in a 4 x 4 lattice design with three replications Seeds were sown at three seeds per hill on the 14 th of September, 2011at a spacing of 60 cm x 20 cm. Seedlings were thinned to two seedlings/hill two weeks after sowing giving a plant population of 166,666 plants/ha.

Planting materials TreatmentGenotypeSeed colour T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 T9 T10 T11 T12 T13 T14 T15 T16 11 (9) – 8 1 (11) (2) (9) - 3 Nhyira 11 (9) (1) (1) (9) (9) (9) (2) (8) (1)-1 Waakye Uganda White with black eye White with tan brown Cream with tan brown White with black eye Cream with tan brown Cream with brown colour Cream with brown White with black Cream with black Cream with tan brown White with tan brown Cream with tan brown Red with cream colour Cream with brown colour

Pest/weed control: Pre-flowering insects were controlled with PAWA (30 ml in 15 litres of water) and post- flowering insects with Dimethoate at 90 ml in 15 litres of water. Monitoring spraying was done. Weeds were controlled as and when necessary.

DATA TAKEN Days to canopy cover Days to 50 % emergence Days to 50 % flowering Days to maturity Plant population at harvest 100 pod weight 100 seed weight Haulm weight kg/ha Pod yield kg/ha Seed yield kg/ha Pests and disease score

Data Analysis Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the SAS (9.1) statistical package with subsequent mean separation using LSD at 5 % level of significance.

RESULTS

Plate 1: Cowpea plants podding on the field, Akomadan

Days to canopy closure and 50% flowering as affected by cowpea genotypes TreatmentDays to canopy closureDays to 50 % flowering I1 (9) -8 I (11) (2) (9) - 3 Nhyira 11 (9) (1) (1) (9) - 2 I1 (9) (9) (2) (8) (1) -1 Waakye Uganda LSD (0.05) CV (%)

TABLE 2: Days to maturity, number of seeds in 100 pods, 100 pod weight and 100 seed weight as affected by cowpea genotypes Treatment: Genotypes Days to maturity No of seeds in 100 pods 100 pod weight (g) 100 seed weight (g) I1 (9) -8 I (11) (2) (9) - 3 Nhyira 11 (9) (1) (1) (9) - 2 I1 (9) (9) (2) (8) (1) -1 Waakye Uganda LSD (0.05) CV (%)

Plate 2a (L) Differences in maturity group showing on the field and 2b (R ) Some members of the research team on a monitoring tour

Table 3: Plant stand at harvest, pod weight/plant, pod yield/ha, seed weight/plant and seed yield/ha of cowpea genotypes GenotypePlt std at harvest, 6m 2 Pod wt/plt (g) Pod yield (kg/ha) Seed yld/plt (g) Seed yield (kg/ha) I1 (9) -8 I (11) (2) (9) - 3 Nhyira 11 (9) (1) (1) (9) - 2 I1 (9) (9) (2) (8) (1) -1 Waakye Uganda LSD (0.05) CV (%)

Table 4: Pod, seed, haulm and biological yields and seed harvest index as affected by cowpea genotypes GenotypePod yield (kg/ha) Seed yld. (Kg/ha) Hlm yld (kg/ha) Biological yld (kg/ha Seed harvest index I1 (9) -8 I (11) (2) (9) - 3 Nhyira 11 (9) (1) (1) (9) - 2 I1 (9) (9) (2) (8) (1) -1 Waakye Uganda LSD (0.05) CV (%)

CONCLUSION Genotype 11(9)-3 was identified as an early maturing genotype Seed size classes fell between small to medium for the genotypes tested Plant stand at harvest affected pod and seed yields Nhyira, Waakye, and Uganda produced more haulm yield and can be considered for dual purpose grain and fodder production

Sponsors: Global Crop Diversity Trust

MAIZE PERFORMANCE AS AFFECTED BY FERTILIZER TYPES AND RATE OF APPLICATION Research Team: Dr. Henry Asumadu: Agronomist/Crop Physiologist Dr. Joseph Nketiah Berchie: Agronomist/Crop Physiologist Mrs Patricia Acheampong: Socio-economist

Introduction New fertilizer formulations introduced in Ghana have been tested on targeted crops to confirm their efficacy before they are recommended to farmers. Yara Ghana Limited and CSIR-Crops Research Institute signed an MOU in which CSIR-CRI was to test the efficacy of some new fertilizer products on the yield performance of maize variety Obatanpa

Study Objective The objective of the study was to identify the effect of different fertilizer types and rates of application on the yield of maize variety Obatanpa

Materials and Methods Experimental design was a Randomised Complete Block Design with three replications. The experiment was conducted in the major rainfall season in Akomadan in the Forest- Savanah Transition of Ghana and Kwadaso in the Forest agroecology. Plants were sown at 80 cm x 40 cm at 6 rows by 5m long.

Materials and Methods (Cont) Materials and Methods (Cont) Maize variety Obantanpa was used for the study. Eight fertilizer treatments were used for the study. The treatments were as follows: (250 kg/ha) at planting and SOA (250 kg/ha) 4 WAP (250 kg/ha) at planting and SULFAN (250 kg/ha) at 4 WAP (250 kg/ha) at planting and Urea (125 kg/ha) at 4 WAP 4. Actyva (125 kg/ha) at planting and Actyva (250 kg/ha) at 4 WAP 5. Actyva (125 kg/ha) at planting and at 2 WAP (125 kg/ha) and 4 WAP (125 kg/ha). 6. Actyva (125 kg/ha) at planting and at 2 WAP (125 kg/ha) and 4 WAP (250 kg/ha).

7 Actyva (125 kg/ha) at planting and Winner (125 kg/ha) at 2 WAP and Actyva (250 kg/ha) at 4 WAP. 8 No fertilizer application. Note: Actyva: 23:10:5 + 2MgO +3S +0.3Zn: (N-NO 3 : 10%, N-NH 4 : 13%) Sulphan: 24 % N, 6% S (12NO 3, 12 NH 4 ) Winner: 15:9: MgO + 3S Z B Mn

Data taken Recommended agronomic practices were employed throughout the experiment. Developmental and reproductive attributes were measured and analyzed. Final grain yield was taken from the two middle rows.

Table 1: Chemical properties of soil at 0-15 and cm horizons at Kwadaso and Akomadan. LocationSoil Horizon (cm) P H (H 2 O) Total N (%) Organic matter (%) P (ppm)K (ppm) Kwadaso Akomadan

Table 2: Plant density and grain yield of major season maize (Obatanpa) at Kwadaso and Akumadan as affected by fertilizer treatment TreatmentKwadasoAkomadanAcross Locations Plants/m 2 Yield (kg/ha) Plants/m 2 Yield (kg/ha) Plants/m 2 Yield (kg/ha) Mean LSD (p=0.05)

Plate 3: Field performance of Obatanpa as affected by fertilizer treatment (Kwadaso)

Field performance of Obatanpa as affected by fertilizer treatment (Akomadan)

Days to 50% silking (DFS) and plant height as affected by fertilizer type and rate at Kwadaso and Akomadan TreatmentKwadasoAkomadanAcross Locations DFSPlant height (cm) DFSPlant height (cm) DFSPlant height (cm) Mean LSD (p=0.05)

Conclusion The newly tested fertilizer types gave equally or higher maize yields than the recommended existing fertilizer types. The experiment however, needs to be repeated to confirm this observation A comparative cost-benefit analysis will help the farmer to take an economic decision on the use of the different fertilizer types fertilizer.

Activities for 2012 Repeat the YARA fertilizer trial at Fumesua and Ejura. Work on AUSAID, CORAF/WECARD SIIC-SR Project Undertake a cropping system study comparing the productivity of bambara groundnut- maize intercrop with maize-cowpea and maize groundnut intercrops. Work on the yield of cassava progenies as affected by fertilization of mother plants.

Acknowledgement I wish to acknowledge all the team members especially the field staff at Kwadaso, Fumesua and Akomadan and Management for enabling us undertake these studies. Yara Gh Ltd and Global Trust for funding the studies

Publications J.N. Berchie, M.Opoku, H. Adu-Dapaah, A.Agyemang, J.Sarkodie-Addo, E.Asare, J. Addo and H.Akuffo (2012) Evaluation of five bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L) Verdc.) landraces to heat and drought stress at Tono- Navrongo, Upper East Region of Ghana. African Journal of Agricultural Research 7 (2) H.K. Adu-Dapaah, S.N.T.T. Addy, J.N. Berchie and J.Y. Asibuo (2011) Current efforts in bambara groundnut breeding in Ghana. Proc. XXVIII th IHC-III rd IS on Plant Genetic Resources Lisbon-Portugal (Ed: K.E. Hummer) Acta Hort. 918, ISHS 2011 pp J. N. Berchie, H.A. Dapaah, A. Agyemang, E. Asare, J. Sarkodie Addo, S. Addy, J. Addo and E. Blankson (2012) Effect of Sowing Date on the Performance of Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) Landraces in the Transition and Forest Agro-ecologies of Ghana. Paper presented at the 2 nd International Symposium on Underutilised Plant Species, Kuala-Lumpur, Malaysia 27 th June- 1 st July, (Accepted for Publication in Acta Horticulturae ID:23)

Publication Berchie J.N. Gaudin A.C,M, Razaida M.N., Adu-Dapaah, H and Sarkodie-Addo, J. (2011) Evaluation of 13 bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L) Verdc.) landraces to drought stress at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Abstract accepted for Poster presentation, 2 nd International Symposium on underutilised plant species, Crops for the future, Kuala-Lumpur, Malaysia, 27 th June-1 st July 2011.

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