Peanut forms a major component of the predominantly cereal-based farming systems in Northern Ghana. However, yields are low, prompting the need to evaluate the effects of phosphorus (PR) and rhizobium inoculant (IR) rates on growth, nodulation, and yield of peanut varieties. On-station and on-farm experiments were conducted to determine the interaction effects of three P rates (0, 30, and 60 kg P2O5/ha), three IR rates (0, 3, and 6 g/kg seed), and two peanut varieties [Chinese and Nkatie Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI)] on growth, nodulation, and yield of peanut on Haplic Lixisols of Northern Ghana. Both experiments were conducted using a split-split plot design replicated three times for the on-station experiment and on six farmer's fields (on-farm experiment). In both experiments, combined application of 60 kg P2O5/ha and IR at 6 g/kg seed increased pod number in the Nkatie SARI and Chinese varieties compared to their control counterparts. PR × V interaction influenced growth, effective nodule number, and podding capacity with 60 kg P2O5/ha combined with Nkatie SARI to produce significantly higher values. The interaction of IR × V improved pod number, nodule number, and harvest index, such that inoculant at 6 g/kg seed combined with Nkatie SARI gave the best performance. PR × IR also had a significant interactive influence on peanut grain yield. Higher grain yields were recorded from 60 kg P2O5/ha in combination with 6 g/kg seed of rhizobium inoculant. Therefore, these results suggest that the use of P fertilizer at 60 kg/ha and rhizobium inoculant at 6 g/kg seed increase peanut productivity on Haplic Lixisols in Northern Ghana. However, it was prudent not to suggest any recommendations from the P rates in interaction with IR, since the result between the on-station and on-farm experiments appeared not consistent.

The adoption of some attributes of the system of rice intensification (SRI) like water control and planting distance may help improve the productivity of rice. The aim of this study was to use water supply and plant density, components of SRI, to improve rice yield and reduce water use. The study was conducted at Golinga irrigation scheme. Continuous and Intermittent flooding served as main plots in a split-plot design. Four plant spacing, 20 x 20, 25 x 25, 30 x 30 and 40 x 40 cm, were used as subplot treatments. Water control and planting distance interaction significantly (P=0.001) influenced plant height where intermittent flooding promoted taller plants in narrow and wider planting distance (20 x 20 cm and 40 x 40 cm). Days to 50% flowering lengthened with increasing planting distance. Tiller and reproductive tiller number per plant were influenced by only planting distance (P=0.001) and the numbers increased with increasing planting distance. Dry root weight was significantly influenced by both water control (P=0.001) and planting distance (P=0.001). Intermittent flooding induced better root development. (0.678 kg/hill) than continuously flooding (0.598 kg/hill). Root development also improved with increasing planting distance, from 0.37-0.90 kg/hill. Panicle number per unit area, paddy grain yield and straw weight were significantly influenced (P=0.001) by planting distance with 25 x 25 cm giving the best performance. Paddy yield of 5.2 ton/ha at a planting distance of 25 x 25 cm was above the national average and within the potential yield of the variety.  It can be concluded that intermittent and continuous flooding gave a similar performance. Increasing plant spacing helps to improve individual hill performance but beyond 25 x 25 cm planting distance, the benefits at the individual hill performance are offset by reduced plant density.