Moringa oleifera Lam. (MO) is a small size multipurpose tree of approximately 5 to 10 m in height which is cultivated all over the world. The study was conducted in the Guinea Savanna and the semideciduous forest zones of Ghana in December 2011 to compare the nutrient levels of MO leaves from the two agro-ecological zones. Leaf samples were collected from three randomly selected districts in each ecological zone for proximate and chemical analysis of some macro and micro nutrient. The results show no significant difference in crude protein and carbohydrate levels of MO leaves from the two ecological zones, however MO leaves from the semi-deciduous forest zone recorded a slightly higher mean crude protein value of 26.54% than the Guinea savanna value of 25.65%. MO leaves from the semi-deciduous forest and the Guinea Savanna recorded mean calcium values of 1880 and 1474.33 mg per 100 g of leaf powder, respectively. The comparison of mean values of potassium and iron of MO leaves showed no significant difference between MO leaves from the two ecological zones. The research concluded that agro ecological zonation had no significant effect on the levels of most nutrients in MO leaves.

This study tested the effect of four improved fallow legumes; Leucaena leucophala, Cajanus cajan, Albizia lebbeck and Moringa oleifera (for 1 and 2 year period) on soil nitrogen, microbial dynamics and maize grain yield in the sub-humid zone of Ghana. The study was conducted at the University for Development Studies experimental station, at latitude 9° 25ꞌ N, longitude 0° 58 ꞌ W and at 183 m asl. The layout of the experiment was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The pattern of decomposition for years 1 and 2 was similar, however, weight loss showed a decreasing pattern with sampling time. At 48 days, Cajanus lost 27% of its initial weight compared to Leucaena and Albizia (54%) and Moringa (94%). Albizia plots had the highest total microbial load, with bacteria being the dominant soil microorganism in all treatments. Maize yield was higher in the second year and in Albizia plot (1.72 kg/ha) while the control recorded the least yield (0.89 kg/ha) in the second year. We established that biomass amended plots improved soil N, microbial biomass and maize yield compared to control plots in both years 1 and 2. Microbial biomass and N mineralised were indicators of improved soil fertility and correlated positively with maize yield in the biomass amended plots. In conclusion, we recommend Albizia biomass as a good source of manure after 2 years of establishment under sub-humid condition.

Heavy forest machinery used in skidding has the capacity to influence the physical properties of soils. These may possibly lead to an upsurge in soil disruption and compaction of the soil surface decreases forest soil fertilities. This study assesses the effects of skidding on some soil physical properties such as the soil bulk density and porosity in the Nkrankwanta off-forest reserve in Ghana. The treatments comprised of four traffic intensity levels (1, 5, 10, and 15 passes) of the Mercedes Benz skidder (MB) Trac 1800 and a slope of two levels (less than 20 % and greater than 20 %) in a completely randomized block design. In addition, porosity and soil bulk density were assessed at varied distances from the MB Trac 1800. Soil bulk density results showed increasing trends with traffic frequency. Soil bulk density measured in the undisturbed area was 0.64 g cm-3 and 0.56 g cm-3 at slopes of less than 20% and greater than 20%, respectively. On the skid trail, soil bulk density significantly increased with traffic frequency (p<0.05). However soil porosity declined. Soil porosity estimated in uninterrupted area was 59.10 % and 57.40 % at < 20% and > 20% slope, respectively. Soil porosity was significantly influenced via different skidder passes (p<0.05). The soil physical properties were not influenced by the steepness of the slope however acted together in the number of passes to influence soil porosity. The impacts of the skidder on soil physical properties were significantly apparent at distances of 2 m to each sideway of the skidding trail. In conclusion, distinct responsiveness ought to be considered throughout the operations of skidding to curtail unfriendly influences on soil physical properties in ground-base skidding.

Seed size variation has implications for the success of seedling establishment, but the underlying mechanisms are yet to be fully explored in many species, including Khaya senegalensis. Moreover, seed size is measured in different ways (for example, mass or length), but the extent to which these different ways of measurement differ in predicting seedling growth parameters is unknown. In this study, how well seed mass and seed length predict seed food reserves was tested. Then, pot experiments were conducted to determine which of the two measures of seed size was a better predictor of seedling size and root biomass allocation. Also, effects of seed size variation and its relation to sowing depth on seedling parameters were investigated. Results showed that both seed mass and seed length significantly predicted the amount of seed food reserves, but seed mass explained a greater percentage of the variability in seed reserves than seed length (64.1% versus 19.3%) and as a result, seed mass also better predicted seedling size. However, both seed mass and seed length poorly predicted root length and root biomass allocation. Also, it was found that at all the tested sowing depths in this study, larger seeds produced larger and taller seedlings, but a combination of large seeds with 0 cm sowing depth yielded the largest and tallest seedlings. Root length decreased with sowing depth, regardless of seed size. Root mass fraction of seedlings from small seeds decreased with sowing depth, while those from large seeds were unaffected. It is recommended that to produce larger seedlings with a greater allocation to root biomass, large seeds in combination with superficial sowing depth should be used when nursing K. senegalensis seeds.