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A major obstacle to selecting the most appropriate crops and closing the yield gap in many areas of the world is a lack of site-specific soil information. Accurate information on soil properties is critical for identifying soil limitations and the management practices needed to improve crop yields. However, acquiring accurate soil information is often difficult due to the high spatial and temporal variability of soil properties at fine scales and the cost and inaccessibility of laboratory-based soil analyses. With recent advancements in predictive soil mapping, there is a growing expectation that soil map predictions can provide much of the information needed to inform soil management. Yet, it is unclear how accurate current soil map predictions are at scales relevant to management. The main objective of this study was to address this issue by evaluating the site-specific accuracy of regional-to-global soil maps, using Ghana as a test case. Four web-based soil maps of Ghana were evaluated using a dataset of 6514 soil profile descriptions collected on smallholder farms using the LandPKS mobile application. Results from this study revealed that publicly available soil maps in Ghana lack the needed accuracy (i.e., correct identification of soil limitations) to reliably inform soil management decisions at the 1–2 ha scale common to smallholders. Standard measures of map accuracy for soil texture class and rock fragment class predictions showed that all soil maps had similar performance in estimating the correct property class. Overall soil texture class accuracies ranged from 8 %–14 % but could be as high as 38 %–64 % after accounting for uncertainty in the evaluation dataset. Soil rock fragment class accuracies ranged from 26 %–29 %. However, despite these similar overall accuracies, there were substantial differences in soil property predictions among the four maps, highlighting that soil map errors are not uniform between maps. To better understand the functional implications of these soil property differences, we used a modified version of the FAO Global Agro-Ecological Zone (GAEZ) soil suitability modeling framework to derive soil suitability ratings for each soil data source. Using a low-input, rain-fed, maize production scenario, we evaluated the functional accuracy of map-based soil property estimates. This analysis showed that soil map data significantly overestimated crop suitability for over 65 % of study sites, potentially leading to ineffective agronomic investments by farmers, including cash-constrained smallholders.

A major obstacle to selecting the most appropriate crops and closing the yield gap in many areas of the world is a lack of site-specific soil information. Accurate information on soil properties is critical for identifying soil limitations and the management practices needed to improve crop yields. However, acquiring accurate soil information is often difficult due to the high spatial and temporal variability of soil properties at fine scales and the cost and inaccessibility of laboratory-based soil analyses. With recent advancements in predictive soil mapping, there is a growing expectation that soil map predictions can provide much of the information needed to inform soil management. Yet, it is unclear how accurate current soil map predictions are at scales relevant to management. The main objective of this study was to address this issue by evaluating the site-specific accuracy of regional-to-global soil maps, using Ghana as a test case. Four web-based soil maps of Ghana were evaluated using a dataset of 6,514 soil profile descriptions collected on smallholder farms using the LandPKS mobile application. Results from this study revealed that publicly available soil maps in Ghana lack the needed accuracy (i.e., correct identification of soil limitations) to reliably inform soil management decisions at the 1–2 ha scale common to smallholders. Standard measures of map accuracy for soil texture class and rock fragment class showed that all soil maps had similar performance in estimating the correct property class, with overall accuracies ranging from 8–39 % for soil texture classes and 26–33 % for soil rock fragment classes. Furthermore, there were substantial differences in soil property predictions among the four maps, highlighting that soil map errors are not uniform between maps despite their similar overall accuracies. To better understand the functional implications of these soil property differences, we used a modified version of the FAO Global Agro-Ecological Zone (GAEZ) soil suitability modelling framework to derive soil suitability ratings for each soil data source. Using a low-input, rain-fed, maize production scenario, we evaluated the functional accuracy of map-based soil property estimates. This analysis showed that soil map data significantly overestimated crop suitability for over 65 % of study sites, potentially leading to ineffective agronomic investments by farmers, including cash-constrained smallholders.

Low soil fertility is a major problem limiting peri-urban vegetable production in the Kumasi metropolis. This study was conducted to assess the effects of poultry litter biochar (PLB) and NPK fertilizer application on soil chemical properties and the yield of cabbage. Twelve treatments (control, 100% NPK, 50% NPK, 2.5 t ha−1 PLB, 2.5 t ha−1 PLB + 50% NPK, 2.5 t ha−1 PLB + 100% NPK, 5 t ha−1 PLB, 5 t ha−1 PLB + 50% NPK, 5 t ha−1 PLB + 100% NPK, 7.5 t ha−1 PLB, 7.5 t ha−1 PLB + 50% NPK, and 7.5 t ha−1 PLB + 100% NPK) were evaluated under field conditions in a randomized block design with three replications. Combined application of PLB and NPK fertilizer improved the soil chemical properties, growth, and yield of cabbage relative to the control and sole PLB treatments. Application of 5 t ha−1 PLB + 50% NPK increased the soil pH, soil organic carbon, available phosphorus, and cation exchange capacity by 26.6, 41.4, 296, and 78.7%, respectively, relative to the control. Moreover, 5 t ha−1 PLB + 50% NPK increased the cabbage yield by 73% compared with the control. This study concludes that PLB and NPK fertilizers can be applied to improve the soil chemical properties and yield of cabbage.

The ever-increasing human population has resulted in political pressure to increase crop production. Currently, smallholder farmers are expected to be environmentally considerate, adapt to extreme climatic conditions and deal with financial instability. Despite these recent developments, farmers and their farming activities in these rural environs of developing countries need to improve household food and income security on a sustainable basis. A minimum data set selected from extensive data was used to determine indicators for soil sustainability assessment. This method involved expert opinion and statistical data reduction techniques. The results indicated that SOC, MBC, BS, EC, Spo and sand were the most important variables selected as MDS using PC analysis. Forest and Grassland had a high sustainability index (SI) while Savannah woodland, Fallow and Cropland were rated not sustainable (NS). For Cumulative rating using the total dataset (CR-TDS), Forest had a high sustainability index (HS), Savannah woodland and Grassland were sustainable (S) compared to Fallow and Cropland, which were sustainable with high input (SWHI). Also, for cumulative rating using the minimum dataset (CR-MDS), Forest, Savannah woodland and Grassland had high sustainability (SH) indices compared to Fallow and Cropland, which were considered sustainable with high input (SWHI). Sustainability index (SI) and Cumulative rating (CR) using the total dataset (CR-TDS) had a strong correlation (R2 = 0.91, p 2 = 0.44, p 2 = 0.60, p < 0.05). These methods consider that these management goals dictate soil functions affecting the selection of indicators. Using PCA and variance analysis, silt, clay, EC, SOC, MBC and CEC relating to soil texture and fertility were identified as the most influential (sensitive) indicators for soil sustainability assessment. The selected soil attributes can serve as target indicators for soil fertility restoration, erosion control and management in the Nkoranza district. Therefore, a farm-level sustainability index for small-scale and commercial farms is proposed based on readily available data for the Savannah Transition Agro-ecozone of Ghana.

Biochar produced from pyrolysis of organic materials has been found to improve plant growth by improving the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil as well as enhancing the sequestration of carbon dioxide that would release into the atmosphere through the decomposition of organic residues. However, there is scanty information on the methods used to apply biochar in order to optimize the benefits of biochar use for agricultural production. In view of this, a field study was carried out at the experimental field of CSIR – Soil Research Institute, Kumasi, to assess the effect of method of biochar application on the growth, yield and nutrient uptake of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) in a moderately acidic sandy Ferric Acrisol. The experiment was set up using a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The treatments imposed were as follows: control, broadcasting, spot and ring methods of application. The parameters assessed included growth and yield data as well as nitrogen and phosphorus uptake in shoots and grains. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance using Genstat 12th edition. The results showed that the spot and ring methods of application significantly enhanced height, girth, nodule number and dry weight, shoot biomass and grain yield as well as nitrogen and phosphorus contents in shoots and grains when compared with the broadcasting method and control. This study therefore recommends the spot and ring methods of biochar application for adoption in cowpea production for enhanced growth, yield and nitrogen and phosphorus uptake.

This paper attempts to critically review literature on internal audit effectiveness. Some empirical findings were selected for the study. It was revealed that studies concentrated on public sector organizations. Also, internal auditors’ attributes were identified as the key for the measurement of internal audit effectiveness and that the relationship of internal auditors and external auditors, chief audit executives and senior management play a pivotal role in internal audit effectiveness. It is recommended that research in internal audit effectiveness should encapsulate empirical studies in the private sector organizations; comparative analysis of private and public sector organizations; attributes of internal auditors as the core measurement; and the relationship and/or causality of management support and internal audit effectiveness. Additionally, relationship of internal auditors with others including external auditors, chief audit executives and senior management should be emerging areas of research in internal audit effectiveness.

Access to credit is one of the critical areas that are of prime interest to development practitioners, agribusiness entrepreneurs and agricultural economists, mainly access to credit by farmers in order to increase their production and also reduce poverty. This study sought to analyze the determinants of credit access among cocoa farmers in the Asunafo North of the Ahafo Region of Ghana. The multistage sampling procedure was used to collect data from 100 cocoa farmers with the aid of a questionnaire. Sources of credit, factors influencing access to credit, and constraints to credit were analyzed with the aid of descriptive statistics, multiple linear regression, and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance respectively. The results of multiple linear regression revealed that, age, marital status, education, experience, and family size were significant factors that influenced access to credit. The constraints analysis with the aid of Kendall’s coefficient of concordance showed that, high interest rate was highly ranked with a mean score of 1.93 whilst the need for a guarantor was least ranked with a mean score of 7.40. Based on the results, the study recommended that a policy aimed at expanding formal and semi-formal financial institutions credit portfolio to embrace cocoa farmers by finding alternative to collaterals and also reducing the interest rate will improve credit access with a positive externality effect of poverty reduction among cocoa farmers in the study area. JEL Classification: Q14

Soil specific maize response to N and P may provide guidelines for improving nutrient management. Three replicates of N and P fertilizer combinations (N0P0, N0P90, N120P0, and N120P90) were...

Credit Unions play a pivotal role in the Microfinance Industry in Ghana. They are not only deeply rooted in financial intermediation but also provide favorable terms and conditions in financial products and services to their members compared to banks and other financial institutions. Credit Unions provide opportunity for its members to obtain loan facilities at moderate interest rate and better terms and conditions such as flexible repayment terms than those offered by the banks and other financial institutions. The sustainability of Credit Unions has been threatened by the incidence of loan defaults or non-performing loans. The diagnostics of the causes of loan defaults in Credit Unions become paramount toward sound credit risk management practices. The study relied on primary data. Purposive sampling technique was applied to select 244 Credit Union members. Questionnaires were used for data collection and logistic regression model was adopted. The study utilized Statistical Product and Service Solution (SPSS v. 20) and Stata (v.14) as statistical tools for data analysis. The results reveal that education, loan diversion, monitoring, marital status and income are significant factors that influence loan default. There was no evidence of significant relationship between age, sex, household size and loan default. Thus, credit education should be intensified and that effective loan monitoring should be vigorously pursued. Additionally, loan appraisal systems should be robust with the application and development of credit scoring systems that will factor in key variables of loan default.

Empirical studies attest to the assertion that development interventions aimed at people at the grassroots are poverty alleviation oriented. Microfinance has been acclaimed to be effective vehicle for poverty eradication. Since poverty alleviation is rooted in grassroots development, the impact of microfinance on grassroots development cannot be gainsaid. Generally, microfinance is the provision of financial and non-financial services to the poor on sustainable basis. These services of microfinance include microcredit, savings, micro insurance, money transfer services and business advisory services. Equally relevant in this regard is the pivotal role of the SME subsector in grassroots development. This is against the backdrop that at the grass root, the active poor are those who run enterprises known as micro, small and medium enterprises. This research looked at the impact of microfinance on grassroots development using SMEs in Kwabre East District of Ashanti Region in Ghana as the case study. Both theoretical and empirical literatures were reviewed. The study adopted the descriptive type of research and the survey method to collect data from 82 respondents. The survey was done through the administration of structured questionnaires. The sampling techniques used included the non-probability methods of purposive and convenience. Qualitative and quantitative techniques were utilized in the data analysis. The research used the development evaluation framework for impact assessment of projects pioneered by the Inter-American Foundation. It was evidenced that microfinance as a development intervention has some level of impact on grassroots development. The impact is of direct benefits to individual operators of SMEs and their families. These included positive impact on basic needs; knowledge and skills; employment and income; and assets. Other positive effects of microfinance on SMEs relative to grassroots development were self-esteem, creativity and critical reflection. However, findings from the survey are not explicit on the impact of microfinance on strengthening organizations and broader impact on society in relation to local, regional and national as demanded by the Grassroots Development Framework (GDF) of Inter-American Foundation for measurement of impact of development interventions. The researcher there-fore recommends for further studies the effect of microfinance on organizations and society in the areas of organizational capacity and culture, policy environment and community norms. It was also revealed that microcredit remained the dominant feature of microfinance in making significant impact. The hurdle of accessibility to credit by SMEs has not been completely cleared. Over 60% of the respondents posited that microfinance has not increased their business capital and stock levels. The researcher makes far-reaching recommendations for accessibility to credit by SMEs and the strengthening of Microfinance Institutions to enable them resilient in financial intermediation and provision of non-financial services.

Credit Unions play a pivotal role in the Microfinance Industry in Ghana. They are not only deeply rooted in financial intermediation but also provide favorable terms and conditions in financial products and services to their members compared to banks and other financial institutions. The sustainability of Credit Unions has been threatened by the incidence of loan defaults or non-performing loans. The diagnostics of the causes of loan defaults in Credit Unions become paramount toward sound credit risk management practices. The study relied on primary data. Purposive sampling technique was applied to select 244 Credit Union members. Questionnaires were used for data collection and logistic regression model was adopted. The study utilized Statistical Product and Service Solution (SPSS v. 20) and Stata (v.14) as statistical tools for data analysis. The results reveal that education, loan diversion, monitoring, marital status and income are significant factors that influence loan default. Thus, credit education should be intensified and that effective loan monitoring should be vigorously pursued. Additionally, loan appraisal systems should be robust with the application and development of credit scoring systems that will factor in key variables of loan default.

Agroforestry is often proposed as a ‘climate smart’ strategy for allowing agriculture to both adapt to and mitigate climate change and sustainably increase agricultural production. This is because shade trees in agroforests may buffer growing conditions by creating favorable microclimates (climate-change adaptation), and because shade trees can sequester additional carbon from the atmosphere (climate-change mitigation). However, a major challenge for agroforestry is to maximize these potential benefits while minimizing costs to production as a consequence of resource competition between shade trees and the primary crop. While the effects of shade-tree density and canopy cover on the costs and benefits of agroforests are increasingly well understood, the effects of the traits of shade trees on the effectiveness of agroforests have received less attention. Here, we assess how shade trees with different crown architecture influence production, adaptation, and mitigation goals in a major cocoa growing region in Ghana, West Africa. We quantified the effects of shade trees from nine different species across two classes of height-to-crown-base (low vs. elevated canopies) on yield, microclimate, and carbon storage. We show that shade trees with elevated crowns had large positive effects on carbon storage and neutral effects on yield, while shade trees with low crowns had smaller effects on carbon storage and simultaneously caused larger reductions in incoming light, which was associated with lower yield. Trees of both crown classes were equally effective at buffering sub-canopy temperatures and vapor pressure deficit, although trees with low crowns maintained higher relative humidity. Taken together, our results suggest that shade-tree species with elevated crowns improve the effectiveness of cocoa agroforests by providing maximum benefits for climate-change adaptation and mitigation, while minimizing short-term costs to cocoa production.

Background On July 1st on 'Territory Day', the public in the Northern Territory are permitted to purchase and operate consumer fireworks without a licence. Serious permanent injuries from fireworks are well described, leading to their banning in many other jurisdictions. This study describes those seriously injured by fireworks in the Top End of the Northern Territory, with the aim of identifying opportunities for prevention and harm minimization. Methods This is a retrospective audit of all admitted patients with an injury from fireworks at the Royal Darwin Hospital between 2000 and 2015. The variables collected included demographic data and the circumstances around injury (operator versus bystander, alcohol involvement and day of device operation). The consequences such as injuries, operating theatre visits, length of stay and outpatient visits are described. Results Fifty-five patients (including 17 children) suffered 67 injuries over the study period, resulting in 68 operating theatre visits, 322 hospital days and 380 outpatient appointments. Burns, hand and eye injuries predominate. Females (P = 0.000) and children (P = 0.029) were more likely to be injured as bystanders. Injuries on a day other than Territory Day were more likely to have alcohol involvement (P = 0.01), and occur in the operator (P = 0.017). Conclusion Consumer firework usage results in a small number of life altering injuries annually. Previous prevention campaigns focusing on device user safety should be expanded to include the safety of bystanders and children and reduce firework usage outside of the Territory Day.

Agroforestry is often promoted as a sustainable agricultural practice that can ameliorate causes of declining yields, such as soil degradation. However, despite the often-stated potential of agroforestry, quantitative data on the benefits of shade trees are limited to relatively few cropping systems, particularly maize and coffee. Furthermore, agroforests are not cost-free and the benefits of agroforests might not be sufficient to outweigh these costs in all cropping systems or environments. Here we quantify costs and benefits of agroforests for cocoa production in Ghana, West Africa. Specifically, we quantified the ability of shade trees to increase soil carbon stocks and soil fertility (i.e. total soil carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, available phosphorus and potassium, cation exchange capacity, soil aggregation, pH, and foliar nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations), and investigate if these benefits are sufficient to outweigh the negative effects of shade trees on cocoa growth and yields. We measured cocoa yields, soil fertility and carbon-sequestration under individual shade trees, and in 30 × 30 m plots that were distributed along a gradient of shade-tree cover (plot-scale). We found localized positive effects of individual shade trees on soil carbon and nitrogen content, as well as soil aggregation. However, we found no evidence for positive effects of agroforests via improved soil fertility or carbon-sequestration with increasing shade-tree cover at the plot scale, a scale that more closely matches the scale at which agroforests are managed. Cocoa growth was lower under individual shade trees and decreased with increasing shade-tree cover in plots, and cocoa yields also decreased with increasing shade-tree cover. Our results indicate that the benefits of agroforestry for soil fertility and carbon sequestration in cocoa cultivation systems might not be as extensive as believed, and may not be sufficient to compensate for short-term costs to production.

Empirical studies attest to the assertion that development interventions aimed at people at the grassroots are poverty alleviation oriented. Microfinance has been acclaimed to be effective vehicle for poverty eradication. Since poverty alleviation is rooted in grassroots development, the impact of microfinance on grassroots development cannot be gainsaid. Equally relevant in this regard is the pivotal role of the SME subsector in grassroots development. This is against the backdrop that at the grass root, the active poor are those who run enterprises known as micro, small and medium enterprises. This research looked at the impact of microfinance on grassroots development using SMEs in Kwabre East District of Ashanti Region in Ghana as the case study. Both theoretical and empirical literatures were reviewed. The study adopted the descriptive type of research and the survey method to collect data from 82 respondents. The survey was done through the administration of structured questionnaires. The sampling techniques used included the non-probability methods of purposive and convenience. Qualitative and quantitative techniques were utilized in the data analysis. The research used the development evaluation framework for impact assessment of projects pioneered by the Inter- American Foundation. It was evidenced that microfinance as a development intervention has some level of impact on grassroots development. The impact is of direct benefits to individual operators of SMEs and their families. These included positive impact on basic needs; knowledge and skills; employment and income; and assets. Other positive effects of microfinance on SMEs relative to grassroots development were self-esteem, creativity and critical reflection. However, findings from the survey are not explicit on the impact of microfinance on strengthening organizations and broader impact on society in relation to local, regional and national as demanded by the Gras-sroots Development Framework (GDF) of Inter-American Foundation for measurement of impact of development interventions. The researcher therefore recommends for further studies the effect of microfinance on organizations and society in the areas of organizational capacity and culture, policy environment and community norms. It was also revealed that microcredit remained the dominant feature of microfinance in making significant impact. The hurdle of accessibility to credit by SMEs has not been completely cleared. Over 60% of the respondents posited that microfinance has not increased their business capital and stock levels. The researcher makes far-reaching recommendations for accessibility to credit by SMEs and the strengthening of Microfinance Institutions to enable them resilient in financial intermediation and provision of non-financial services.

Research evidence from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in 2011 gives credence to the notion that cashew development would mitigate the impact of climate change on cocoa in 2012. This makes cashew development imperative, however to do so requires access to credit from financial institutions, which ration credits when it comes to lending to the agricultural sector. Research evidence has shown a correlation between agricultural insurance and loan uptake in Malawi and Ghana. However an evaluation of the cashew subsector in the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana with an aim of developing agricultural insurance schemes for cashew crop farmers has not been without constraints. This study sought to investigate the key constraints that would impede the development of agricultural insurance for cashew crop farmers in the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana. Based on a positivist research philosophy, the study employed quantitative techniques. A multistage sampling technique was employed, which involved purposively selecting stakeholders of Ghana Agricultural Insurance Pool (GAIP). A simple random sampling technique was also employed to select 30 pool stakeholders from GAIP. Data were collected by means of structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed by employing descriptive statistics, and the Kendall coefficient of concordance was used in identifying and analyzing the perceived constraints to developing agricultural insurance for the cashew crop farmers in the study area. The result from the survey indicated that high marketing cost; high premiums (making the product unaffordable); lack of agricultural insurance legislation; low availability of data; lack of knowledge about product development; and lack of qualified personnel in the area of agricultural insurance were some of the perceived constraints that would impede the development of agricultural insurance in the study area. Thus a Public Private Partnership approach, as well as research and development, is imperative to overcome the financial, marketing, institutional, technical data, human resources and legal constraints to agricultural insurance and cashew development in the study area.

High fertilizer costs pose a challenge in smallholder farming; optimizing fertilizer recommendations that are affordable to resource-poor farmers could increase crop yield and income. The study aimed to determining the yield and economic effects of N–P–K fertilizer microdosing on maize (Zea mays L.) crops on Gleyic Plinthic Acrisol (GPA) and Plinthic Acrisol (PA) in the semideciduous rainforest zone of Ghana using a split-plot randomized complete block design with three replications. The field trial included two cropping systems (continuous maize cropping [CMC] and cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]–maize rotation [CMR]) as main plots with four treatments (N₀P₀K₀, N₀P₂₀K₂₀, N₀P₄₀K₂₀, and N₂₀P₄₀K₂₀) and the recommended fertilizer rate (N₉₀P₆₀K₆₀) as subplots. Fertilizer treatment effects on maize stover and grain yields were assessed. The microdose treatments increased maize yields by 32 to 99% across cropping systems and soil types. Maize grain yield increase was higher on the GPA than on the PA. The N₉₀P₆₀K₆₀ and N₂₀P₄₀K₂₀ treatments resulted in higher grain and stover yields than the other treatments across cropping systems and soil types. Among the treatments maximum grain yield increases of 76 and 99% were obtained with N₂₀P₄₀K₂₀ on the PA and the GPA, respectively, under CMC. Under CMR, grain yield increased by 46% with N₀P₄₀K₂₀ (PA) and 74% with N₀P₂₀K₂₀ (GPA). The largest net return was obtained with N₂₀P₄₀K₂₀ under CMC across both soil types and with N₀P₂₀K₂₀ (GPA) and N₀P₄₀K₂₀ (PA) under CMR. These fertilizer microdoses can be considered appropriate for increasing maize yield and the income of smallholder farmers.

In an integrated approach to cut-down on inorganic fertilizer use by smallholder farmers for agricultural production through the use of biochar, a split-split plot experimental design with three replications was carried to determine the effect of biochar from three different feedstock (corn cob, rice straw and cocoa pod husk) applied at two different rates of the feedstock (2.5 t ha-l and 5 t/ha) with three application rates of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (N-P-K) as inorganic fertilizer (90-60-60, 45-30-30 and 0-0-0) on maize growth and yield as well as soil chemical properties. The main plots of the experimental design were allocated to the biochar types while the Sub-plot was allocated to the biochar rates. The Sub-sub-plot went for the inorganic fertilizer rates. The maize seeds were sown at spacing of 80cm between rows and 40cm between plants. Three seeds were sown per each stand which was later thinned to two plants two weeks after planting. Urea, Triple superphosphate and Muriate of Potash were used as the sources of inorganic nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N-P-K) respectively. The P and K were applied once two weeks after planting while the N was split applied. One third of the application rate of nitrogen was applied two weeks after planting and the remaining two thirds applied six weeks after planting. Soil samples were collected from 0-20cm depth before planting (one composite sample from the experimental site) and at harvest (from each treatment plot) to evaluate the effect of the different amendments on different soil chemical properties notable N, P, K, CEC, and pH. The quantity of biochar application had pronounced effects on maize grain yields where higher application rates (5 t/ha) showed superior performance to 2.5 t/ha.

Allanblackia parviflora A. Chev. also called vegetable tallow tree provides a variety of non-timber forest products of great importance to rural households including shade, timber, medicine and seed oil but attempts have not been made to improve the tree species and increase its production. Consequently, the species is being threatened due to unsustainable exploitation and poor regeneration and cultivation appears as the only viable option. In order to cultivate the species at meaningful scale, it is necessary to establish the optimum range of environmental factors that influence its propagation and growth. This study was therefore designed to investigate Allanblackia growth parameters and bio-accumulation under different growth media in a greenhouse study. The media were: 1) TS = top soil alone, 2) AB soil = Allanblackia soil alone, 3) TS + H = Top soil alone + humus, 4) AB + TS = Allanblackia soil alone + Top soil alone and 5) SAB = Sterilized Allanblackia soil alone. Each treatment was replicated three times in a complete randomized design. The experiment lasted for 18 months. Results showed that Fe was the micronutrient that accumulated greatest in the plant tissue. Among the treatments, Allanblackia soil showed the highest accumulation of Zn in the plant tissue with the top soil showing the least (7.67 mg&#183kg-l). Humus contributed largely to the bio-accumulation of Cu in the plant tissue. Bio-accumulation of manganese in the plant tissue ranged from 13.30 mg&#183kg-l to 207 mg&#183kg-l suggesting difference in manganese absorption by Allanblackia as influenced by the treatments. The growth parameters of Allanblackia parviflory were impacted differently by the growth media. The result was however controversial since no differences were found between growth of seedlings in sterilized Allanblackia soil and Allanblackia soil.

This study investigates the credit risk in the Microfinance Industry in Ghana using Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in Accra Metropolis as the test case. The study used the loan default rate as a proxy variable to measure credit risk and examined the effect of some explanatory variables on loan default. Primary data was used, and the purposive sampling techniques were adopted to select 90 respondents from 20 Microfinance Institutions out of 43. The multivariate linear regression model was used to analyze the relationship between the dependent and explanatory variables. The results indicated that interest rates have a positive and significant effect on loan default whereas loan maturity period has a negative and significant effect on loan default. Also, Credit Officers' educational level have a negative and significant effect on loan default while having a marketing department has a positive and significant effect on loan default. However, the loan appraisal process, lending gap, and governance quality have no significant effect on loan default. Thus, MFIs should promote sound loan pricing policies in order to charge the appropriate interest rate and adopt loan repayment regimes that boost liquidity. Additionally, Credit Officers should be highly educated, and hence management of MFIs should put in place continuous development programs to upgrade the skills of all personnel in the credit delivery system in relation to best practices in lending.

Food insecurity and declining soil fertility across much of sub-Saharan Africa in recent decades have led to pursuit of alternative nutrient management strategies for both improving crop yields and the restoration of degraded soils. In this respect, a 3-year field based studies involving two sites (Ayuom and Kwadaso) of contrasting soils (Suko and Nzima series) in the semi-deciduous forest zone of Ghana was initiated in year 2003. The treatments involved 5 organic resources of different qualities (in terms of N, lignin and polyphenol) with and without inorganic N application. The organic resources were applied at two application rates; 1.2 t C ha−l year.−l and 4 t C ha−l year.−l in the major season and the residual effect evaluated in the ensuing minor season. Cumulative maize grain yield (3 years) at Ayuom on the Suko series for the major season showed that 1.2 t C ha−l L. leucocephala+120 kg N ha−l proved to be the most effective treatment with yield of almost 18,000 kg ha−l. At Kwadaso on the Nzima series however, 4 t C ha−l Cattle manure+120 kg N ha−l for the minor season was the most effective. At both sites, major season grain yields were generally higher than minor season. Furthermore, between cropping seasons, maize yields were superior on the Suko series than the Nzima series. To improve food security in the semi-deciduous forest zone of Ghana, soil nutrient management to restore soil fertility should take into consideration: soil type, cropping season, organic resource quality and quantity as well as their interaction with inorganic N.

On July 1st on 'Territory Day', the public in the Northern Territory are permitted to purchase and operate consumer fireworks without a licence. Serious permanent injuries from fireworks are well described, leading to their banning in many other jurisdictions. This study describes those seriously injured by fireworks in the Top End of the Northern Territory, with the aim of identifying opportunities for prevention and harm minimization.This is a retrospective audit of all admitted patients with an injury from fireworks at the Royal Darwin Hospital between 2000 and 2015. The variables collected included demographic data and the circumstances around injury (operator versus bystander, alcohol involvement and day of device operation). The consequences such as injuries, operating theatre visits, length of stay and outpatient visits are described.Fifty-five patients (including 17 children) suffered 67 injuries over the study period, resulting in 68 operating theatre visits, 322 hospital days and 380 outpatient appointments. Burns, hand and eye injuries predominate. Females (P = 0.000) and children (P = 0.029) were more likely to be injured as bystanders. Injuries on a day other than Territory Day were more likely to have alcohol involvement (P = 0.01), and occur in the operator (P = 0.017).Consumer firework usage results in a small number of life altering injuries annually. Previous prevention campaigns focusing on device user safety should be expanded to include the safety of bystanders and children and reduce firework usage outside of the Territory Day.

This study examines the effects of Information and Communication Technology on accounting practices in public institutions in Ghana. Data was collected from public institutions in Ghana using a questionnaire. The study revealed positive effects of Information and Communication Technology, such as timely delivery of financial statements, producing error free financial statements and the creation of avenue to access financial information. However, lack of Information Technology expertise, suitability and cost of accounting software and data security were seen as a major challenge to the adoption and use of Information and Communication Technology in public institutions. Though Information and Communication Technology has the potential to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public sector accounting in Ghana, it must be backed by constant employee training and regular software upgrades to meet international accounting standards.

This study examined the influence of organic residue quality and N fertilizer on aggregate-associated soil organic matter (SOM) in maize (Zea mays L.) cropping systems of southern Ghana. Six residue treatments of differing quality [Crotalaria juncea L., Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit, maize stover, sawdust, cattle manure, and a control with no residues added] were applied at 4 Mg C ha -1 yr -1 both with and without fertilizer N additions (120 kg N ha -1 season -1 ). Soils (0-15 cm) were sampled 3 yr after study implementation and wet sieved into four aggregate size classes (8000-2000, 2000-250, 250-53, and 250 μm), microaggregates within macroaggregates (53-250 μm), and macroaggregate-occluded silt and clay (

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified that a ∼1 M region centromeric to the MYC oncogene on chromosome 8q24.21 harbors at least five independent loci associated with prostate cancer risk and additional loci associated with cancers of breast, colon, bladder, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Because GWAS identify genetic markers that may be indirectly associated with disease, fine-mapping based on sequence analysis provides important insights into patterns of linkage disequilibrium (LD) and is critical in defining the optimal variants to nominate for biological follow-up.To catalog variation in individuals of African ancestry, we resequenced a region (250 kb; chr8:128,050, 768–128, 300,801, hg19) containing several prostate cancer susceptibility loci as well as a locus associated with CLL. Our samples included 78 individuals from Ghana and 47 of African-Americans from Johns Hopkins University.After quality control metrics were applied to next-generation sequence data, 1,838 SNPs were identified. Of these, 285 were novel and not yet reported in any public database. Using genotypes derived from sequencing, we refined the LD and recombination hotspots within the region and determined a set of tag SNPs to be used in future fine-mapping studies. Based on LD, we annotated putative risk loci and their surrogates using ENCODE data, which should help guide laboratory studies.In comparison to the 1000 Genome Project data, we have identified additional variants that could be important in establishing priorities for future functional work designed to explain the biological basis of associations between SNPs and both prostate cancer and CLL.

The centromeric region flanking the MYC oncogene on 8q24 harbors at least 5 independent loci associated with prostate cancer as well as additional loci associated with distinct cancers of the breast, colon, bladder, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, all discovered in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). One of the regions has been defined as a 250kb span of 8q24 by linkage disequilibrium (LD) pattern and recombination hotspots (chr8:128050768-128300801, hg19) that contains prostate cancer susceptibility loci rs13254738 and rs16901979, as well as a locus rs2456449 associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Because GWAS identify genetic markers, fine-mapping, based on sequence analysis is necessary to define the optimal variants for biological follow-up. Sequence analysis in distinct populations can provide important insights into the differences in patterns of LD and thus narrow down high interest variants. We have resequenced this region in samples of African ancestry using next-generation technology to comprehensively catalogue variations. Our study sample set included a total of 128 individuals from a population-based study in Ghana. In comparison to the 1000 genome data, we have identified additional variants, which could be important in establishing priorities for future functional work, designed to explain the biological basis of the association signal for both prostate cancer and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2011;20(10 Suppl):B42.