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.

Under rain-fed conditions, perfumed rice production in Northern Ghana is associated with high paddy cracking during milling. In this study, 4 perfumed rice varieties, 6 staggered planting times, 6 staggered harvesting cycles, and staggered storage duration from harvest to six months of storage were used in a randomized complete block design to identify the best combination of factors that are associated with low cracking in rice production. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three geographically distinct locations serving as replicates. Grain moisture and paddy crackness were determined. The results indicated a mixed factorial interaction for all measured variables. Early planting, early harvesting, and short storage duration reduced paddy cracking compared to late treatments ( P < 0.05 ). For all treatment combinations, milling within two weeks after harvesting was associated with lower cracking as long as the harvesting cycle did not exceed the fourth cycle. After the second month of storage, percentage cracking was high, approaching 90% in most cases.

This trial was conducted to determine maize spacing and weed control effect on the performance of maize/rice intercrop in the Guinea Savanna of Ghana. The study was a 4 x 4 factorial experiment laid out in Randomised Complete Block Design with 3 replications. Four maize spacing’s: 90 x 40 cm, 85 x 40 cm, 80 x 40 cm and 75 x 40 cm and four weed control regimes: weeding at 3 & 6 WAP, weeding at 3, 6 & 9 WAP, weed free and weedy check (no weeding) were used as treatments. Rice was planted at 20 x 20 cm within maize rows, resulting in a 1:2 row arrangement. Data were collected on growth parameters, grain yield, weed biomass and weed species richness. Days to 50% flowering of rice, panicle weight and rice grain yield were significantly enhanced by the interaction effect of maize spacing and weed control. It was evident that, weeding at 3 & 6 WAP and 3, 6 & 9 WAP were best for controlling weeds and resulted in significant influence in almost all of the data taken likewise rice in maize spacing of 85 x 40 cm and 80 x 40 cm. Therefore, to ensure that plant densities are not reduced, farmers are adviced to intercrop maize with rice, using maize spacing of 80 x 40 cm. Similarly, to save time, small-scale farmers are advised to weed only twice at 3 & 6 WAP. However, it was prudent not to suggest any recommendation from the two and three hand weeding’s in interaction with maize spacing, since the results for the interaction appeared not consistent.