1. 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

2. 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)

3. 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

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

5. 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

6. 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 60-70 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

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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 11 (2) - 3 11 (9) - 3 Nhyira 11 (9) - 6 25 (1) - 2 21 (1) - 2 11- (9) -2 11- (9) -4 11 (9) - 5 11 (2) - 1 11 (8) - 1 11 (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

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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.

13. RESULTS

14. Plate 1: Cowpea plants podding on the field, Akomadan

15. 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 11 (2) -3 11 (9) - 3 Nhyira 11 (9) -6 25 (1) -2 21 (1) - 2 11 (9) - 2 I1 (9) - 4 11 (9) - 5 11 (2) - 1 11 (8) -1 11 (1) -1 Waakye Uganda LSD (0.05) CV (%) 35.7 40.3 39.7 40.7 35.7 40.3 35.7 37.7 40.3 41.0 38.0 37.7 40.7 35.2 41.0 1.33 2.1 42.3 43.0 42.0 43.0 39.3 39.6 40.3 43.7 43.0 43.3 44.3 45.3 45.0 0.83 1.2

16. 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 11 (2) -3 11 (9) - 3 Nhyira 11 (9) -6 25 (1) -2 21 (1) - 2 11 (9) - 2 I1 (9) - 4 11 (9) - 5 11 (2) - 1 11 (8) -1 11 (1) -1 Waakye Uganda LSD (0.05) CV (%) 61.7 64.0 65.0 57.3 65.3 65.0 59.0 61.0 66.0 65.0 64.0 64.7 65.0 66.3 2.72 2.6 731.7 837.3 828.3 840.3 829.0 861.7 937.0 958.7 792.3 719.0 760.7 885.7 837.0 869.3 1283.7 1057.0 239.68 16.4 150.7 149.7 157.3 152.3 156.3 166.3 178.7 187.3 149.7 167.3 153.7 165.7 154.7 184.3 237.3 175.0 33.43 11.9 16.3 13.7 15.0 14.0 11.7 15.0 14.3 15.0 16.0 15.0 14.0 16.7 13.0 12.7 2.46 7.4

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

18. 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 11 (2) -3 11 (9) - 3 Nhyira 11 (9) -6 25 (1) -2 21 (1) - 2 11 (9) - 2 I1 (9) - 4 11 (9) - 5 11 (2) - 1 11 (8) -1 11 (1) -1 Waakye Uganda LSD (0.05) CV (%) 99.7 109.7 102.7 115.0 112.0 105.7 99.0 92.7 99.7 91.7 108.0 89.0 82.3 16.1 9.6 12.4 11.1 14.1 14.0 14.5 15.1 21.1 11.5 16.1 15.2 16.7 13.8 17.5 15.1 14.7 16.7 8.03 30.0 2129.5 1979.4 2139.2 2411.2 2081.9 2253.6 1990.7 1908.5 2200.4 2342.6 2340.9 1987.9 2258.7 2401.0 2359.6 1840.5 356.8 11.3 9.0 8.7 10.0 10.9 9.9 11.1 10.4 8.6 12.1 10.2 12.5 10.2 12.9 10.6 9.9 12.9 3.7 19.9 1442.7 1290.3 1393.4 1652.9 1387.2 1539.6 1379.3 1318.1 1481.3 1515.8 1564.6 1349.8 1488.6 1594.0 1548.7 1281.2 265.2 11.0

19. 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 11 (2) -3 11 (9) - 3 Nhyira 11 (9) -6 25 (1) -2 21 (1) - 2 11 (9) - 2 I1 (9) - 4 11 (9) - 5 11 (2) - 1 11 (8) -1 11 (1) -1 Waakye Uganda LSD (0.05) CV (%) 2129.5 1849.4 2139.2 2411.2 2081.9 2253.6 1990.7 1908.5 2200.4 2342.6 2340.9 1987.9 2258.7 2401.0 2359.6 1840.5 356.8 11.3 1442.7 1211.3 1393.4 1652.9 1387.2 1539.6 1379.3 1318.1 1481.3 1515.8 1564.6 1349.8 1488.6 1594.0 1548.7 1281.2 265.2 11.0 933.3 783.5 983.5 933.5 1583.6 1066.8 1233.6 1066.9 1150.2 1050.2 1233.6 1000.2 1166.9 1066.9 1366.9 1750.3 410.10 19.4 3062.8 2632.9 3122.7 3344.7 3665.5 3320.4 3224.3 2975.4 3350.6 3392.8 3574.2 2987.9 3425.6 3467.9 3726.5 3590.8 1070.4 16.1 0.47 0.46 0.44 0.49 0.37 0.46 0.42 0.44 0.45 0.44 0.45 0.43 0.45 0.41 0.35 0.26 20.1

20. 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

21. Sponsors: Global Crop Diversity Trust

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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.

26. 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: 1. 15-15-15 (250 kg/ha) at planting and SOA (250 kg/ha) 4 WAP. 2. 15-15-15 (250 kg/ha) at planting and SULFAN (250 kg/ha) at 4 WAP 3. 15-15-15 (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).

27. 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: 15:9:20 + 1.8 MgO + 3S + 0.02 Z + 0.15 B + 0.02Mn

28. 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.

29. Table 1: Chemical properties of soil at 0-15 and 15-30 cm horizons at Kwadaso and Akomadan. LocationSoil Horizon (cm) P H (H 2 O) Total N (%) Organic matter (%) P (ppm)K (ppm) Kwadaso Akomadan 0-15 5-30 0-15 15-30 5.66 5.28 5.78 5.68 0.14 0.11 0.13 0.07 2.40 2.11 2.31 1.33 19.77 13.39 20.57 1.99 143.96 93.74 120.73 80.76

30. 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) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Mean LSD (p=0.05) 5.12 5.00 5.04 5.20 4.83 4.58 4.45 4.12 4.80 0.34 3013 3377 3434 3453 2921 3650 3689 2284 3228 1134 5.42 5.25 5.58 5.46 5.00 5.67 5.42 5.08 5.36 0.30 4532 4851 4972 5168 5632 5872 6098 2111 4954 510 5.27 5.12 5.31 5.33 4.92 5.12 4.94 4.60 5.08 0.72 3772 4114 4203 4311 4277 4761 4894 2397 4091 938

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

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

33. 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) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Mean LSD (p=0.05) 61 58 60 61 58 60 66 60 1.74 232 240 230 224 230 242 239 204 230 8.06 59 58 59 62 59 0.24 219 234 228 226 232 236 228 159 220 7.82 60 58 59 58 59 64 60 3.24 226 237 229 225 231 239 234 181 225 18.22

34. 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.

35. 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.

36. 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

37. 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) 250-256 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 389-395. 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, 2011. (Accepted for Publication in Acta Horticulturae ID:23)

38. 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.

39. THANK YOU