Experiments conducted in Ghana show that cocoyam exists as mixtures of clones in farmers farms.This work aimed to use RAPD markers to determine the extent of diversity in cocoyam genotypes collected from farms at different locations in the Eastern region of Ghana. The study also investigated whether the genotypes have different adaptation to different farming systems (intercropping with plantain and sole cropping) and tillage methods (mounds and flat). The genotypes were grouped into two main clusters at 0.65 similarity coefficient of variation with accessions Pameng Red 3 and Pramkese 2 being the most diverse. The genotypes began separating at 85% similarity index into three discrete groups. Group I, (Pameng 1, Dwenase 2 and 3) did not separate at 100% similarity index. The other two groups consisted of (Pameng 2, Gyampomani 1, Gyampomani 2, Dwenase 1) and (Pramkesse 1 and Gyampomani 3). The analysis of variance of the growth parameters of the genotypes under the tillage and farming systems revealed significant differences. Generally, genotypes in group II grew better under the farming systems and tillage practices studied whiles Pramkesse 2, which did not cluster with any other genotypes in its major cluster, grew poorly under the two farming systems.

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) seedlings are very sensitive to water stress during the nursery stage and early field establishment. Sawdust, carbonated rice husk, and compost in the following ratios (i) 60: 40: 0 – M1, (ii) 60: 30: 10 – M2, (iii) 60: 20: 20 – M3, (iv) 60: 10: 30 – M4, (v) 60: 0: 40 – M5, and (vi) topsoil – M6 as control were used to investigate the effect of growing media, water stress, and re-watering on the growth, dry matter production, and partitioning of cocoa seedlings. Each combination was subjected to water stress 6 weeks after sowing for a period of 4 weeks, after which they were rewatered. Plant height, stem girth, leaf number and area, and seedling biomass were significantly higher in soilless potting media as compared to topsoil. M4 and M5 significantly recorded the highest total dry weight, plant height, stem girth, leaf number, leaf area, and root volume before imposition of water stress. Following imposition of water stress, cocoa seedlings grown in M4 and M5 showed a recovery that was superior to the other growing media, indicating that higher proportions of compost together with sawdust and carbonated rice husk provide an alternative for growing cocoa seedlings.

The study was conducted to evaluate the field performance of local plantain genotypes; Apem, Oniaba, Apantu (AAB) and FHIA 21 (AAAB) suckers that were raised in containers (polybags) and their corresponding conventional suckers. Half of the containerized and conventional suckers in each plot were mulched with empty fruit bunch (EFB). Survival rate three months after transplanting was higher in containerized (100%) than conventional materials (60%) with or without mulching. Mulching increased the girth at flowering and total leaf area by 8% and 28% respectively, and reduced the number of days to flowering. Mulching also increased yield of plantain and the highest was recorded in FHIA 21. Bunch yield of container raised suckers per hectare was 19% greater than conventional suckers, due to higher survival rate after transplanting. Bunch yield among the genotypes in decreasing order was as follows, FHIA21 (20.7), Oniaba (16.9), Apem (15.9) and Apantu (13.2) tons/ha. Mulching increased the yield components such as, pulp weight, peel weight, finger weight and number of fingers. Genotypic variation in pulp yield was in the following decreasing order Apantu > FHIA 21 > Oniaba > Apem fresh weight. The pulp to peel ratio was in the following decreasing order Apantu > FHIA 21 > Apem > Oniaba. It is concluded that raising plantain suckers in polybags and applying EFB mulch is an improved production technique.

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The medium from which seedlings are transplanted influences seedling growth and survival on the field. The objective of the experiment was to compare how growing media affect the growth and survival of cocoa seedlings under field conditions. The seedlings were raised in both soil and soilless media and were transplanted on the field in June, when they were six months old. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with three different growing media: 1. top soil, 2. sawdust + poultry manure + rice husk biochar (70%:25%:5%), and 3. sawdust + poultry manure + municipal solid waste compost (50%:35%:15%). The cocoa seedlings were transplanted at a spacing of 3 m × 3 m at 12 plants per plot and each plot size measured 45 m × 45 m. Data were collected on plant height, leaf number, stem girth, leaf chlorophyll content, percentage of plants that shed their leaves, and percentage of survival. Results indicated that seedling survival at the onset and end of the dry season was significantly (P < 0.05) higher for seedlings transplanted from soilless media compared to those from the top soil treatment. Irrigation will be necessary to maintain high seedling survival when seedlings are transplanted from the top soil for a well-established plantation.