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Browsing by Author "Naab, Jesse B."

Now showing 1 - 12 of 12
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    Carbon enhancing management systems (CEMS): Estimation of soil carbon sequestration potential in small-holder farming systems in Northern Ghana
    Naab, Jesse B.; Koo, J.; Traore, P. C. S.; Adiku, S. G. K.; Jones, J. W.; Boote, K. J. (Gainesville, FL: University of Florida, 2008)
    This bulletin explores the results of a study which measured the carbon sequestration potential for soils under different management options in Northern Ghana. Using simulation modeling, these researchers determined that soil organic carbon accumulation can be enhanced if farmers incorporate residue retention and fertilizer application practices and incorporate no-till practices into their crop management strategy. This study implies that exploring different soil management techniques in farming systems could help mitigate global climate change by promoting carbon retention in soil.
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    Conservation agricultural practices in West Africa
    Prasad, P. V. Vara; Naab, Jesse B.; Doumbia, M. D.; Dalton, T. D. (Blacksburg, VA: SANREM CRSP, 2011)
    The poster provides an overview of the research conducted by the SANREM CRSP's Long-Term Research Activity 8. This research team hopes to assess conservation agriculture practices and identify practices suitable to the conditions present in the West African region in order to facilitate an increase in productivity and economic returns to smallholder farmers with rainfed agricultural operations.
  • Conservation agricultural practices in West Africa: Challenges and opportunities
    Prasad, P. V. Vara; Naab, Jesse B.; Doumbia, M. D.; Dalton, T. D. (2011)
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    Conservation Agriculture Improves Soil Quality, Crop Yield, and Incomes of Smallholder Farmers in North Western Ghana
    Naab, Jesse B.; Mahama, George Y.; Yahaya, Iddrisu; Prasad, P. V. Vara (Frontiers Media, 2017-06-21)
    Conservation agriculture (CA) practices are being widely promoted in many areas in sub-Saharan Africa to recuperate degraded soils and improve ecosystem services. This study examined the effects of three tillage practices [conventional moldboard plowing (CT), hand hoeing (MT) and no-tillage (NT)], and three cropping systems (continuous maize, soybean–maize annual rotation, and soybean/maize intercropping) on soil quality, crop productivity, and profitability in researcher and farmer managed on-farm trials from 2010 to 2013 in northwestern Ghana. In the researcher managed mother trial, the CA practices of NT, residue retention and crop rotation/intercropping maintained higher soil organic carbon, and total soil N compared to conventional tillage practices after 4 years. Soil bulk density was higher under NT than under CT soils in the researcher managed mother trails or farmers managed baby trials after 4 years. In the researcher managed mother trial, there was no significant difference between tillage systems or cropping systems in maize or soybean yields in the first three seasons. In the fourth season, crop rotation had the greatest impact on maize yields with CT maize following soybean increasing yields by 41 and 49% compared to MT and NT maize, respectively. In the farmers’ managed trials, maize yield ranged from 520 to 2700 kg ha-1 and 300 to 2000 kg ha-1 for CT and NT, respectively, reflecting differences in experience of farmers with NT. Averaged across farmers, CT cropping systems increased maize and soybean yield ranging from 23 to 39% compared with NT cropping systems. Partial budget analysis showed that the cost of producing maize or soybean is 20–29% cheaper with NT systems and gives higher returns to labor compared to CT practice. Benefit-to-cost ratios also show that NT cropping systems are more profitable than CT systems. We conclude that with time, implementation of CA practices involving NT, crop rotation, intercropping of maize and soybean along with crop residue retention presents a win–win scenario due to improved crop yield, increased economic return, and trends of increasing soil fertility. The biggest challenge, however, remains with producing enough biomass and retaining same on the field.
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    Descriptive report on cropping systems in Upper West Region, Ghana
    Yahaya, Iddrisu; Hashim, Ibrahim; Naab, Jesse B.; Dalton, Timothy J. (Blacksburg, VA: Office of International Research, Education, and Development, Virginia Tech, 2011-04)
    The challenges one faces in trying to increase improving ecosystem services, improve yields and increase farm level profitability in West African countries largely revolve around the environmental and economic constraints. Improving ecosystem services with a focus on maintaining soil quantity, quality and moisture in West Africa will require the adoption of conservation agricultural practices (CAPS) such as legumes to fix nitrogen, a focus on reduced tillage and practices that maintain as much residue in the system as possible and integrated nutrient, water and pest management practices.
  • Effects of soil and water management practices on crop productivity in West Africa
    Naab, Jesse B.; Prasad, P. V. Vara; Doumbia, M. D.; Seyni, S.; Traore, H.; Barro, A. (2012)
    Several soil and water managment practices were tested under on-station and on-farm conditions in four different countries in West Africa (Ghana, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali). Some of the soil and water management practices include - minimum tillage, contour ridging, tied ridging, use of stone ridges and grass bunds, application of microdose fertilizer along with compost, application of phosphorus fertilizer, intercropping systems and crop rotations to minimize soil erosion, harvest rainwater and increase soil fertility and crop productivity. Our results showed that use of these practices significanly increased productivity of several crops such as sorghum, millet, maize, peanut, cowpea and soybean. Grain yield of cereal and legume crops were similar under minimum tillage and conventional tillage practices in northern Ghana. Use of contour ridging increased sorghum grain yield by >25% in Mali. Tied ridges increase grain yield of sorghum and millet by >100% in Niger. Use of stone rows and grass stripes increased grain yield of improved sorghum genotypes by >20% in Burkina Faso. Use of mechanized zai and compost increased millet yield by >50% in Burkina Faso. Application of phosphorus fertilizer increased grain yield of sorghum, millet, and soybean in Niger and Ghana. Use of conservation practices such as minimum tillage, cereal-legume crop rotations and intercropping systems showed yield benefits from 5 to 30% in Ghana and Mali. Overall, these result suggest that there are opportunities to improve productivity of cereal and legume crops in West Africa through using sustainable intensive soil, water and crop management practices.
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    Improving crop productivity of smallholder farmers through conservation agricultural practices; key findings from Ghana and Mali
    Prasad, P. V. Vara; Naab, Jesse B.; Kanton, R. L.; Doumbia, M. (2014)
    This PowerPoint summarizes the research and training activities of SANREM’s regional project in Ghana and Mali. The top six findings from each country are reported and described with detailed data. These research results discuss tied ridges, minimal tillage, fertilizer application, crop rotations, phosphorous nutrition, gentoypes, contour ridging and crop residues.
  • Improving soil quality and crop productivity through conservation agriculture in Mali, West Africa
    Kone, M.; Doumbia, Mamadou D.; Traoré, S. H.; Samake, O.; Prasad, P. V. Vara; Dalton, Timothy J.; Naab, Jesse B. (2012)
    Declines in crop yields (21% for sorghum and millet) and soil fertility (29% for C) have made conservation (CA) a significant management option for selected cropping systems of Mali. Baseline assessments and rapid rural appraisals have indicated that the classical CA components need to be modified, not only to remove permanent soil cover, but also to include capturing rainwater. The improved conservation agriculture production systems (CAPS) account for 40 to 70% running off rainwater and feeding cover crops and crop residues to cattle, which is a key component of local production systems.
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    Influence of conservation agricultural practices on maize and soybean yield in Upper West region of Ghana
    Naab, Jesse B.; Prasad, P. V. Vara (Blacksburg, VA: SANREM CRSP, 2011)
    Sustainable intensification of conservation agricultural practices can improve crop productivity and soil health. These practices will help farmers to adapt their crop production systems to future changing climates and minimize carbon and water foot print. Objectives of this research were to evaluate influence of tillage practices (conventional, minimum tillage and no tillage), fertilizer management, and soil and water harvesting techniques on grain yield of maize and soybean in different cropping systems under on-farm conditions in upper west region of Ghana. (Author's Abstract)
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    Knowledge of households, cropping systems, perceptions on conservation agricultural practices in Upper West region of Ghana
    Yahaya, Iddrisu; Hashim, Ibrahim; Naab, Jesse B.; Prasad, P. V. Vara; Dalton, Timothy J. (Blacksburg, VA: SANREM CRSP, 2011)
    This poster describes the recent findings of the SANREM CRSP's Long-Term Research Activity 8 in the Upper West region of Ghana. This research team interviewed 358 farmers in 12 communities of 3 districts in Ghana in order to collect baseline socioeconomic data as well as to estimate farmer knowledge and perceptions regarding conservation agriculture. In addition to revealing crop productivity and marketing data, research results indicated that farmers were aware of the importance of soil conservation and expressed interest in learning more about conservation agriculture practices and integrated pest management.
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    Opportunities for sustainable intensification of agricultural practices to improve crop productivity of small holding farmers in West Africa
    Prasad, P. V. Vara; Naab, Jesse B.; Doumbia, Mamadou; Dalton, Timothy (Blacksburg, VA: SANREM CRSP, 2011)
    This presentation provides an overview of the research efforts of the SANREM CRSP's Long-Term Research Activity 8: Improving soil quality and crop productivity through CAPS in West Africa. It outlines the present production constraints on agriculture in West Africa, the potential role of Conservation Agriculture practices, and the research and results of the current program incorporating Conservation Agriculture practices in order to augment economic returns and productivity to rain-fed smallholders while improving soil quality and natural resource use efficiency.
  • Perceptions and performance of conservation agriculture practices in northwestern Ghana
    Dalton, Timothy J.; Yahaya, Iddrisu; Naab, Jesse B. (2014)
    Conservation agriculture (CA) has been introduced to Ghana as a means to mitigate erosion while increasing yields, yet adoption remains low. This paper seeks to determine whether farmer knowledge or farm economics limits adoption of CA. To do so, the researchers compared knowledge evolution of farmers that attended a farmer field school, and those that did not. A baseline survey to evaluate farmer perception and knowledge of CA was conducted before implementation of the farmer field school project. Farmers could choose to participate in farmer field schools and on-farm adaptation studies. After two years, a second survey was conducted to compare the evolution of CA knowledge and perceptions of participating and non-participating farmers. Partial on-farm budgets were developed with participating farmers to compare the roles of economics and knowledge in influencing adoption. The authors conclude that farmer training and farmer-to-farmer communication are effective for CA knowledge diffusion.