Browsing by Author "Joseph Ekwangu"

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Combined Effects of Indigenous Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and NPK Fertilizer on Growth and Yields of Maize and Soil Nutrient Availability
(Sustainability, 2023-01-25) Abdoulaye Fofana Fall; Grace Nakabonge; Joseph Ssekandi; Hassna Founoune-Mboup; Arfang Badji; Abibatou Ndiaye; Malick Ndiaye; Paul Kyakuwa; Otim Godfrey Anyoni; Clovis Kabaseke; Amos Kipkemoi Ronoh; Joseph Ekwangu
The excessive application of mineral fertilizers in maize cultivation leads to progressive soil contamination in the long term and increases the cost of production. An alternative to reduce over- fertilization is to perform a partial replacement with microbes that promote nutrition and growth, such as Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF). A pot experiment which was followed by two field experiments was performed with and without the application of indigenous AMF in combination with five nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium (NPK) fertilization rates (100% NPK = N120P60K60; 75% NPK = N90P45K45; 50% NPK = N60P30K30; 25% NPK = N30P15K15; control = N0P0K0). The objective was to investigate whether the soil application of indigenous mycorrhizal fungi inoculum combined with NPK fertilization can provide higher maize yields and soil-available N, P, and K than chemical fertilization can alone. The greenhouse results showed that the application of AMF with a 50% NPK treatment significantly increased the plant’s growth, root colonization, leaf chlorophyll content, and N, P, and K tissue content. The results from the field conditions showed that there was a highly significant yield after the treatment with AMF + 50% NPK. The study also revealed that mycorrhizal fungi inoculation increased the available soil N and P concentrations when it was combined with a 50% NPK dose. This suggests that the inoculation of fields with AM fungi can reduce the chemical fertilizer application by half, while improving soil chemistry. The results suggested that AMF inoculation can be used in integrated soil fertility management strategies.
Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration in Finger Millet Production in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review of Concepts and Practices
(Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 2023-09-15) Joseph Ekwangu; Susan Tumwebaze Balaba; Twaha Ali Basamba Ateenyi; John Steven Tenywa; Helen Opie; Deborah Lillian Nabirye; Charles Andiku; Owere Lawrence
Soil has the capacity to sequester about 50-66% of the 42-78 Giga tons of carbon lost per year. However, the capacity of the soil to sequester carbon is dependent on soil texture and structure, rainfall, temperature, farming systems, and soil management practices. Management practices to enhance soil carbon sequestration include; cover cropping, nutrient management, woodland regeneration, no-till farming, manure, and sludge application, water conservation, and harvesting, efficient irrigation, and agroforestry, among others. These practices have however been applied in un-integrated manner, this has led to continuous loss of soil carbon; consequently, there has been a decline in crop yield especially cereals due to climate- change, soil degradation, pest, and disease burden, among other factors. Yet an increase in soil carbon by one in a degraded soil could increase cereal yield by up to 40 kg ha-1, for example, increase wheat yield by up to 20-40 kg ha-1 and Maize up to 10-20 kg ha-1 as well as reducing fossil fuel emission by 0.4-1.2 Giga tons of carbon per year. This review paper, therefore, looks at current ways of sequestering carbon and how these approaches can be improved and integrated to enhance soil carbon sequestration in cereal-legume cropping systems. There is a need to increase the production of cereals due to the increasing demand for cereals in sub-Saharan Africa and it is projected that, by 2050, the demand is expected to triple due to global population increase which is expected to outmatch production due to low soil carbon sequestration and soil fertility.
Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration in Finger Millet Production in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review of Concepts and Practices
(Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 2023-09-15) Joseph Ekwangu; Susan Tumwebaze Balaba; Twaha Ali Basamba Ateenyi; John Steven Tenywa; Helen Opie; Deborah Lillian Nabirye; Charles Andiku; Owere Lawrence
Soil has the capacity to sequester about 50-66% of the 42-78 Giga tons of carbon lost per year. However, the capacity of the soil to sequester carbon is dependent on soil texture and structure, rainfall, temperature, farming systems, and soil management practices. Management practices to enhance soil carbon sequestration include; cover cropping, nutrient management, woodland regeneration, no-till farming, manure, and sludge application, water conservation, and harvesting, efficient irrigation, and agroforestry, among others. These practices have however been applied in un-integrated manner, this has led to continuous loss of soil carbon; consequently, there has been a decline in crop yield especially cereals due to climate- change, soil degradation, pest, and disease burden, among other factors. Yet an increase in soil carbon by one in a degraded soil could increase cereal yield by up to 40 kg ha-1, for example, increase wheat yield by up to 20-40 kg ha-1 and Maize up to 10-20 kg ha-1 as well as reducing fossil fuel emission by 0.4-1.2 Giga tons of carbon per year. This review paper, therefore, looks at current ways of sequestering carbon and how these approaches can be improved and integrated to enhance soil carbon sequestration in cereal-legume cropping systems. There is a need to increase the production of cereals due to the increasing demand for cereals in sub-Saharan Africa and it is projected that, by 2050, the demand is expected to triple due to global population increase which is expected to outmatch production due to low soil carbon sequestration and soil fertility.