Low soil phosphorus levels in savanna soils of Ghana limit cowpea response to inoculation. A two-year experiment was carried out on 2 soil types of the Guinea and Sudan savanna zones of Ghana based on the hypothesis that Bradyrhizobia inoculant (BR3267) in combination with phosphorus and potassium fertilizer will significantly increase cowpea root nodulation, growth and yield. The study aimed to determine the effect of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer on cowpea response to Bradyrhizobia inoculant. The treatments were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design, replicated four times. The plot size was 8 × 3 m, with the sowing distance of 60 × 20 cm. The treatment comprises of commercial Bradyrhizobia inoculant, phosphorus (0, 30, 40 kg P2O5 ha−1) and potassium (0, 10, 20, 30 K2O ha−1). Application of Bradyrhizobia inoculant with 30 kg P2O5 ha−1 and 20 kg K2O ha−1 gave the highest grain yield (1.68 and 1.86 tons ha−1) at both soils which did not differ from the yield obtained from BR-40-30 kg ha−1 P2O5 and K2O ha−1 on the Ferric Lixisol and BR-40-20 kg ha−1 P2O5 and K2O on the Ferric Luvisol. The same treatment also gave the highest nodule number and nodule dry weight. The results of this study have shown that the application of Bradyrhizobia inoculant followed by P and K fertilizer was effective for cowpea growth in field conditions.

Appropriate waste management options are major concerns in the developing world. Current methods include incineration in the open and accumulation of wastes in designated places where they constitute nuisance to the environment. Apart from air pollution from the incinerators, leachates from decomposed wastes are either washed off where they serve as source of pollutants to the adjourning streams and rivers or contaminate groundwater through deep percolation. We present viable options for managing agricultural wastes in this chapter. The options presented are so simple and sustainable such that it can be managed by individuals. Hence, they are independent of the government bureaucratic bottlenecks that have been the bane of the previous government interventions. If embraced, it will also serve as sources of income for the concerned household, hence enhance their livelihood.

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This study presents the effects of environmental pollution on the quality of domestic roof-harvested rainwater (DRHRW) using fuzzy comprehensive assessment (FCA). Seven metals (Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn, Fe, Ca, and Mg) and six water-quality parameters (Acidity, PO4 (3-), SO4 (2-), NO3 (-) , Cl(-), and pH) were investigated in DRHRW sampled from 12 sampling points each from Ibadan (residential) and Lagos (industrial) environments, Nigeria. The results of these parameters were formulated into membership function fuzzy matrices based on four contamination classifications of high, marginal, low, and poor qualities using regulatory limits as criteria. The products membership function matrices and weight matrices generated indices that classified the degree of anthropogenic activity impact on the sites. Results of FCA classified the DRHRW from residential environment as between high and marginal quality, whereas DRHRW from industrial environment is classified between marginal and low quality. Lead and Cd were major contaminants of concern found in these harvested water.

We present a modelling concept for evaluating the impacts of anthropogenic activities suspected to be from gas flaring on the quality of the atmosphere using domestic roof-harvested rainwater (DRHRW) as indicator. We analysed seven metals (Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn, Fe, Ca, and Mg) and six water quality parameters (acidity, PO, SO, NO Cl, and pH). These were used as input parameters in 12 sampling points from gas-flaring environments (Port Harcourt, Nigeria) using Ibadan as reference. We formulated the results of these input parameters into membership function fuzzy matrices based on four degrees of impact: extremely high, high, medium, and low, using regulatory limits as criteria. We generated indices that classified the degree of anthropogenic activity impact on the sites from the product membership function matrices and weight matrices, with investigated (gas-flaring) environment as between medium and high impact compared to those from reference (residential) environment that was classified as between low and medium impact. Major contaminants of concern found in the harvested rainwater were Pb and Cd. There is also the urgent need to stop gas-flaring activities in Port Harcourt area in particular and Niger Delta region of Nigeria in general, so as to minimise the untold health hazard that people living in the area are currently faced with. The fuzzy methodology presented has also indicated that the water cannot safely support potable uses and should not be consumed without purification due to the impact of anthropogenic activities in the area but may be useful for other domestic purposes.