Browsing by Author "Ajayi, Ayodele E."

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    Effects of charcoal production on maize yield, chemical properties and texture of soil
    (Biology and Fertility of soils (Springer-Verlag), 2004-03) Oguntunde, Philip G.; Fosu, Matthias; Ajayi, Ayodele E.; Van de Giesen, Nick
    The effects of charcoal production on soil textural and chemical properties were investigated in Ejura, Ghana. The aim was to study the effects of heating and charcoal residue on maize yield, soil texture and soil chemical properties. Composite samples were taken from the 0–10 cm layer of soil at charcoal-making sites and from adjacent fields (control). Twelve sites were randomly selected for the study across the range of the Kotokosu watershed. Maize was planted in four selected locations on charcoal site soils (CSS) and adjacent field soils (AFS) to assess the impact of charcoal production on crop yield. There was a significant increase in soil pH, base saturation, electrical conductivity, exchangeable Ca, Mg, K, Na and available P in the soil at the kiln sites as compared to the adjacent soils. A relative change of up to 329% was observed in K while organic C and total N decreased by 9.8% and 12.8%, respectively. Organic C and total N were highly correlated ( P <0.01) and both parameters significantly ( P <0.05) depended on clay minerals in the soils. Soil texture was also modified with a significantly higher sand content and lower clay fraction in the CSS. The grain and biomass yield of maize increased by 91% and 44%, respectively, on CSS as compared to AFS. Further research to ascertain the longterm effects of charcoal production on the soil environment and the fertility of tropical soils is needed. Keywords Charcoal production · Soil heating · Soil fertility · Maize yield · Ghana
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    Effects of charcoal production on soil physical properties in Ghana
    (WILEY‐VCH Verlag, 2008-08) Oguntunde, Philip G.; Abiodun, Babatunde J.; Ajayi, Ayodele E.; Van De Giesen, Nick
    Charcoal production, widespread in Ghana like in other W African countries, is a major driver of land-cover change. Effects of charcoal production on soil physical, including hydrological, properties, were studied in the forest–savannah transition zone of Ghana. Core and composite samples from 12 randomly selected sites across the width of Kotokosu watershed were taken from 0–10 cm layer at charcoal-site soils and adjacent field soils (control). These were used to determine saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), bulk density, total porosity, soil texture, and color. Infiltration rates, surface albedo, and soil-surface temperature were also measured on both sites. The results showed that the saturated hydraulic conductivity of soils under charcoal kilns increased significantly (p < 0.01) from 6.1 ± 2.0 cm h–1 to 11.4 ± 5.0 cm h–1, resulting to a relative increase of 88%. Soil color became darkened under charcoal kilns with hue, value, and chroma decreasing by 8%, 20%, and 20%, respectively. Bulk density on charcoal-site soils reduced by 9% compared to adjacent field soils. Total porosity increased from 45.7% on adjacent field soils to 50.6% on earth kilns. Surface albedo reduced by 37% on charcoal-site soils while soil-surface temperature increased up to 4°C on average. Higher infiltration rates were measured on charcoal-site soils, which suggest a possible decrease in overland flow and less erosion on those kiln sites. Keywords: charcoal production / soil physical properties / Ksat / infiltration rates / reflection coefficient / watershed hydrology