July 2017

Mitigating droughts effects on tropical agriculture systems: The role of improved soil management practices in regulating soil moisture, temperature and carbon losses

Climate change is unequivocal and its threat on rain fed agriculture in the tropics is a fact. Changes in temperature, sparse and irregular rainfall, runoff patterns entail droughts extremes, excess evapotranspiration and loss of soil moisture. These items drive soil degradation, crop production, distribution, and supply of food, and subsequently food riot and social stability. Therefore, it urges to develop and improve...

Author(s): Yawovi Séna Koglo, Aishatu Abdulkadiri, Kossi Dodzi Bissadu and Abel Kokouvi Akamah

July 2017

Assessment of anthropogenic influence on the level of selected heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) in soil

The study aimed at assessing potential influence of anthropogenic activities on the level of selected toxic heavy metals in soil in Tsumeb Township, Namibia. This was with a view of evaluating possible implications on human health and across the food chain. Soil samples were randomly collected from stratified areas and taken to the laboratory for pre-treatment and analysis. Soil metallic contents were extracted using...

Author(s): Kavehanika Hange and Omotayo Rafiu Awofolu

July 2017

Soil respiration from paddy field in relation to incorporated cover crop biomass composition

Winter cover crops are cultivated during cold fallow season in temperate countries for green manure and animal feed. Literature on incorporated biomass composition in relation to soil respiration like CH4-C and CO2-C is not available. Therefore, soil respiration as affected by variable biomass composition was determined from paddy soil. Soil respiration rate (1280-1341 kg ha-1) was significant when 197 and 204 day-old...

Author(s): Md. Mozammel Haque, Jatish Chandra Biswas, Akter M, and Pil Joo Kim,