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Abstract Scarcity and cost of topsoil and conventional materials make legume residues a promising alternative for reclaiming land degraded by opencast mining. This study examined plant residues by evaluating the effect of their quality (C:N ratio, lignin, polyphenols) on soil organic carbon (SOC), total soil nitrogen (TN) and crop (maize, cowpea) performance. A 12-month pot experimentation in Kumasi (Ghana) tested leafy residues of Leucaena leucocephala, Gliricidia sepium, Mucuna pruriens, Pueraria phaseoloides, and Panicum maximum (control), applied at four rates (0, 10, 20, 30 t ha⁻¹ dry weight) using a factorial randomized complete block design with four replications. Legumes had higher N content (≈ 3.5% by Leucaena) and higher quality indices (highest PRQI of 4.7 by Gliricidia), but lower lignin content than Panicum. SOC and TN gains were high (≈ 500% SOC and > 800% TN gains by Mucuna and Leucaena, respectively), explained by low initial concentrations of the substrate. Although mineralization was slow, plant quality indicators correlated with SOC and TN. Maize, other than cowpea, responded well to residues, with Leucaena (30 t ha⁻¹) yielding the highest dry matter (≈ 4.2 t ha⁻¹). Legume residues provide a sustainable solution for reclaiming opencast-mined land, showing subsoil improvement potential that requires field trials to validate pot-scale findings.
The fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda, is a polyphagous pest, causing serious economic damage to plant production and consequent social implications in Africa. As FAW is a migratory moth that was first confirmed in western African countries in early 2016, it quickly spread to most African continent. However, no FAW has been found in Morocco so far. In this study, we assessed the migration risk of the FAW to Morocco by applying a trajectory modeling approach to simulate potential flight paths from several locations where the pest is currently established. Our findings indicated that the majority of simulated terminal points originating from the Mauritanian trap site near the Moroccan border were concentrated over the Atlantic Ocean, southern Mauritania, and northern Senegal, with only a few reaching Moroccan territory. The risk of FAW invasion from the south appears low, as the arid desert regions of southern Morocco lack suitable host plants, and the combination of high temperatures and drought stress likely limits the pest’s survival and movement. Therefore, FAW monitoring efforts should be prioritized in areas facing the Canary Islands, where both host plants and favorable climatic conditions exist. Although the primary focus of this study was to assess FAW invasion risk to Morocco, broader wind dynamics across Africa were briefly considered to provide regional context.
Declining soil fertility, land degradation, climate variability, and low maize productivity continue to threaten the sustainability of smallholder maize production and household food security in Ghana. Regenerative agricultural practices (RAPs) have the potential to address these challenges, yet evidence on their adoption remains limited. This study assessed the level of RAP adoption among maize farmers in the Offinso North Municipality of Ghana and identified the factors influencing adoption. A cross-sectional survey design was employed. Primary data were collected from 385 maize farmers selected through a multistage sampling technique using a questionnaire-based survey. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Mann–Whitney U-test, Pearson correlation, point-biserial correlation, and ordinal logistic regression. The results showed that over 70% of the farmers had not reached a high level of adoption of RAPs. Farmers with access to extension services adopted significantly more RAPs than those without access (U = 6,727; p < 0.001). Household size, age, sex, farming experience, labor source, land tenure, maize specialization, and access to extension services significantly influenced the adoption of RAPs. Policy interventions need to focus on improving extension systems, tenure security and labor constraints to promote adoption. These support SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). The study contributes to the literature by advancing an adoption-intensity perspective from a developing country.
Climate change poses a growing threat to smallholder farming in Ghana, where dependence on a limited range of staple crops increases vulnerability to drought, heat stress, and erratic rainfall. Identifying resilient, locally adapted crop options is therefore critical for strengthening climate adaptation and sustaining rural livelihoods. This study examined the contribution of minor crops to climate adaptation and livelihood resilience among smallholder farmers in Ghana. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 750 farming households across 15 communities in the Ashanti, Ahafo, and Western North regions, representing forest and forest-savannah transition agroecological zones. Structured household surveys, focus group discussions, and field crop inventories were used to document crop diversity, livelihood contributions, and farmer perceptions. A total of 43 minor crop species were identified, spanning indigenous vegetables, root & tuber crops, legumes, cereals, and fruit crops, many of which exhibited drought tolerance and high nutritional value. Households cultivating more than 20 minor crop species experienced shorter hunger-gap periods (1.7 months year⁻¹) compared with households cultivating five or fewer species (4.5 months year⁻¹), while household dietary diversity scores increased from 4.0 to 8.6. More than 40% of households reported that minor crops contributed up to 30% of total household income. Farmers also perceived these crops as important for buffering climate-related production risks, conserving agrobiodiversity, and reducing dependence on costly external inputs, highlighting their potential for resilient, sustainable smallholder farming. This study is one of the first multi-regional assessments of minor crops in Ghana, combining household livelihood indicators with farmer perceptions in evaluating resilience and livelihood security for sustainable agriculture.
【Objective】To improve the breeding efficiency of sweet-waxy maize by accurately evaluating parental combining ability and efficiently utilizing heterosis.【Method】Five waxy maize inbred lines were used as female parents, and five double-recessive sweet-waxy inbred lines were used as male parents. Twenty-five hybrid combinations were constructed using the NCⅡ mating design. The general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) of agronomic traits were systematically analyzed, and excellent parents and hybrid combinations were screened based on heritability analysis.【Result】The inbred lines HNM05 (GCA for plant height = 26.45), and YN170 (GCA for ear row number = 0.96) exhibited significant positive GCA effects for key traits and could be utilized as core parents. Hybrid combinations HNM05/YN170 (SCA for plant height = 18.56) and 15YN02-1/YN169 (SCA for ear weight = 28.83) demonstrated significant heterosis, indicating high yield potential. Heritability analysis revealed that traits such as ear length (h2N=66%) and plant height (h2N=59%) had high genetic stability, making them suitable for early-generation selection. In contrast, traits such as single ear weight (h2N=19%) and kernel number per row (h2N=25%) were significantly influenced by environmental factors, requiring advanced-generation screening. The hybrid combination HNM05/YN167, screened in this study and named 'Gantiannuo No. 3', has been approved at the provincial level. This validates the practical value of combining ability analysis.【Conclusion】Combining ability and heritability varied significantly among different traits of sweet-waxy maize. Parental screening should consider both GCA and SCA. Traits with high heritability, such as ear length and plant height, are suitable for early-generation selection, while traits with low heritability, such as single ear weight and kernel number per row, require advanced-generation selection.
