Octa Journal of Environmental Research International Peer-Reviewed Journal
Oct. Jour. Env. Res. Vol. 1(1):48-51
Available online http://www.sciencebeingjournal.com January - March, 2013
Octa Journal of Environmental Research
ISSN: 2321-3655
Research Article ADOPTABLE TECHNIQUE(S) FOR MANAGING GHANAIAN SALINE SOILS
Akwasi Asamoaha, Charles Antwi-Boasiakoa, Kwasi Frimpong-Mensahc and Dohan Mariam Somac a,b,cFaculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Sci. & Tech. Kumasi, Ghana
dInstitut de l’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles, Ouagaduoguo, Burkina Faso
*Corresponding author’s Email: asamoah38@yahoo.com
Received: 15th Feb 2013 Revised: 5th March 2013 Accepted: 12th March 2013
Abstract: Salinization of Ghanaian soils is on the rise. Organic matter application has not proved an effective and feasible technique for curbing this rise. Hence this paper seeks to review techniques that Ghana is using to manage its saline soils and further recommend a feasible, cost effective and beneficial technique for exhaustive research and possible adoption in the future. Halophytes appear to be the most feasible, cost effective and beneficial technique which could be adopted for the effective management of Ghanaian saline soils. But where halophytes are exotic, care must be taken to avoid competition with native species and allow preservation of agro-biodiversity.
Keywords: Halophytes, Organic matter, Salinity, Salinization,
Postal Address: P. O Box 2770, Kumasi, Ghana Phone: 00233-244605483
INTRODUCTION
Ghana’s agriculture goes as far back as the 10th century when the first settlers from the old Mali Empire made entry (Stride and Ifeke, 1971) and now accounts for 33% of GDP (CIA World Fact book, 2011). Ghana with a total area of 23.8 million ha has only 13.6 million ha of arable land which is mostly rain-fed (Adiku et al., 1997) of which only 5.3 million ha is cultivated to produce sufficient food even at an annual population growth rate of 2.6% (FAO, 2000). With a growth in GDP of 5.2% in 2004 to 11.9% in 2008, agriculture’s contribution to GDP is also expected to grow with it. Increased agriculture contribution cannot be realized without a conscious effort to grow crops year round. Year-round agricultural production is only achievable through increased irrigation. Nonetheless, irrigation is normally the major cause of salinization of soils (Rietz and Haynes, 2003). The more irrigation extends the more salinity of soils significantly alters (González-Núñez et al., 2004 and Siadat, 1998). Therefore, it does not come as a surprise that from 1989 (Szabolcs in Choukr-Allah, 2004) to 2000 (FAO in Geressu and Gezaghegne, 2008), there has been an increase in the expanse of Ghanaian saline soils from 318,000ha to 790,000ha. This indicates that the techniques that Ghana is using for managing its saline soils are not very effective. Thus, the need to survey technique(s) that Ghana is using widely to manage its saline soils. Hence this paper seeks to survey technique(s) that Ghana is using widely to manage its saline soils and further recommend a most feasible, cost effective and beneficial technique for exploration and possible adoption in the future.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Asamoah et al 2013, Adoptable Technique(S) for Managing Ghanaian Saline Soils
Oct. Jour. Env. Res. Vol 1(1): 48-51
49
Saline Areas of Ghana: Majority of Ghana’s saline soils occurs within the Coastal Savanna Agro-Ecological Zone of the southeastern corner. In this zone lies the coastal scrub, savannah and mangrove swamp of the Lower Volta Basin in the Greater Accra and Volta Regions within Accra-Ho-Keta Plains. Soils in these areas are highly salty, intolerable to crops, hydromorphic, heavy textured and poor in nutrients. Impenetrable sodium-saturated pan occurs in some of these soils (Agawtaw series) on the uplands. With only 760 mm of unreliable annual rainfall and high potential evapo-transpiration, there is a high water-salt imbalance in the Plains (FAO, 2000).
Natural Sources of Salinity in Ghanaian Soils: Salinity of Ghanaian soils basically originates from the seas, native rocks or artesian waters. On the coasts of Ghana, the process of evaporation could bring saline ground water from shallow water tables to the surface by capillary movement, leading to strong soil salinization. High and constant temperatures, low relative humidity and constant high wind velocity of the Plains are important factors in promoting upward salt movement into the exploitable volume of soils. Soils have become saline mostly because of seawater intrusion and inundation on low-lying tidal flats and flood Plains or from soils sprays blown overland from lagoons. Weathering of native rocks containing sodium minerals such as feldspars and amphiboles produces soluble sodium salts of carbonates, bicarbonates, sulfates, silicates and chlorides (FAO, 2000 and Aubert, 1983).
Characteristics of Ghanaian Saline Soils: 200,000ha and 118,000ha of Ghana’s soils are Solonchaks and Alkaline respectively (Szabolcs, 1989) while 70, 000 ha and 600, 000 ha are Arenosols and Solonetzs respectively (FAO, 2000). Solonchaks (marine-originating) show decreasing salinity with depth; extend steadily outwards from sea and may show a weakly developed salt crust or a horizon of pseudo-sand (very fine aggregate of saline-alkali clay) five to six centimeters thick on the surface.
Solonchaks have cations of sodium or calcium-magnesium complex in combination with anions of chlorine or sulfur (Aubert, 1983).
Plate 1: A map of particularly saline areas of Ghana.
Techniques in Use for Managing Saline Soils in Ghana: To identify technique(s) that Ghana is using to manage its saline soils, questionnaires were administered to one hundred rain-fed co-operatives-belonging small-scale multiple-crop local farmers from Anloga, Keta, Adina and Adidome (plate 1) along the coast in June 2008.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Other W manage crops; le grown fie 2004). Techniq Ghana, soils mu immense timber, p saline so at delive 1985; O 2004). CONCL Though not been readily a has bee would b effective site and adoption (aggress essentia REFERE AAdiku, S se G Aronson, U Aubert, G
B
Asa
F
Widely-Used
d by drainag eaching & dr eld crops and
ques Adopta
an alternativ ust be one th e use for fod pulp and fibr oils to seque ering all of th O'Leary, 1988
USION
organic mat n successful available. How en done worl
e the most e manageme d farmer-spe n, care shou
sive colonize al to maintena
ENCES S. G. K., Day eason rainfa Ghana.Agricult J. (1989). HA Universityof Ari
G. (1983). Ma Bondy, France
amoah et al 201
igure 1: Tec
Universal T
ge canals and rainage; anti
d halophytes
able for Ma
ve technique at meet the der, forage, re besides re ester a good
he above ben 8; Malcolm a
tter applicatio lly used to c wever, based dwide on th feasible, cos nt of Ghanai ecific researc uld be taken ers) which c ance of
agro-yananda, P. W ll characteris tural and Fore
ALOPH a Dat izona, Tuscon ap of Salty S . O.R.S.T.O.M
13, Adoptable T
Oct. Jour. chnique(s) U
Techniques
d field draina -saline chem s
(González-anaging Sal
most likely t broad needs fuel, orname ealizing the u
amount of ca nefits and ev and Pol, 198
on for the ma curb the risin
d on the nee e use of hal st effective a
an saline so ch to inform
n where hal cannot be m -biodiversity.
W. A., Rose, C stics and sim
st Meteorolog ta Base of Sa n, Arizona, US Soils of Africa
M. Fonds Docu
Technique(S) fo
Env. Res. Vol
50
Used in Ghan
for Managi
age systems; mical applicat Núñez et al.,
line Soils in
to be adopte s of its develo entals and lan ultimate bene arbon. World ven more un 86; Le Houér
anagement o ng salinizatio eds of Ghana lophytes for and beneficia
ils. Nonethel the kind of lophytes are atched by n
C. W.and Dow mulation of gy.Vol 86. DOI alt Tolerant Pl SA.
.Office de la umentaire. No
or Managing Gh
l 1(1): 48-51 na to manag
ing Saline S
; draining and tion; improve , 2004, Qure
n Ghana: A ed by Ghana oping econom ndscaping, e efit of an effe dwide, haloph nder highly st rou, 1979, 1
of saline soil on of soils b aian industrie
managing sa al technique less, there is f halophyte(s e exotic so native specie
wuona, G. N. the daily ra I: 10.1016/S01 lants of the W
Recherche S o. 3884. Cote B
hanaian Saline
ge saline soi
Soils: Worldw d planting; th ement in gen shi et al., 20
As agriculture for the man my. Ghana’s ssential oils, ective techni hytes have p tressing salt 985 and 198
s is widely u because orga es and the e aline soils, it which could s the need fo
s), native or as to not in es whose co
N. (1997). An ainfall in tw 168-1923(96)0 World. Office o
Scientifique et B
Soils
ils
wide, saline he use of sal notypes of c 07 and Chou
e is the ma nagement of industries w gums, resin ique for man proved to be conditions ( 86 and Chou
used in Ghan anic residues xtent of rese t appears ha d be adopte or exhaustive r exotic, to a
ntroduce co ontinued exis
n analysis of t wo savanna
02414-8 of arid land st
Technique O soils are lt-tolerant ommonly ukr-Allah, instay of its saline would find s, mulch, naging its excellent Aronson, ukr-Allah,
Central ht Choukr-A M H FAO. (20 C co Fosu, M. C González A M Lawson, K E Le Houér in P Le Houér R Le Houé R Malcolm, A O'Leary, T C Qureshi, S In Rietz, D A Runge-M D re G Siadat, ht Stride, G P Szabolcs
Asa
Int ttp://www.theo Allah, R. (19 Méditerranéenn Hassan II Agad
000). Global CountrySpecific ountry=ghana , Kuhne R. F. Cover Crops an
z-Núñez, L.M. Affected Soils Mexico, pp. 85-I.Y.D., Hayat Kidney Bean, Ecological Labo
rou, H.N.(1979 n the Arid and Plant Resource rou, H.N.(198 Revegetation R
rou, H.N.1986 Revegetation R
C.V. and J.E Australia 27:59 J.W.(1988).
immerman an Colorado, pp 7
A. S., Qadir, Salt-Prone Lan
nstitute. 30p. ( .N. and Hay Activity.Soil Bio Metzger A, (19 Diehl L (eds) F esearch for th Germany.
H. (1998). ttp://www.unu G.T. and Ifeka Publishing Com s, I. (1989).Sa
amoah et al 201
telligence odora.com/wfb 997).The Pot nes, Sér.A /n dìr, Morocco
Network on c Salinity a
and P.L.G. V nd KP Fertiliza , Tóth, T. and in Cuba.Vol -102 tsu, M. and N
Soybean and oratory, Unive 9). Ressource d Semi-Arid Z es, ICASALS, 85). Salt-Toler
Research 6. Salt Tolera Research 5: 31 E. Pol. (1986).G
9-63.
Saline Enviro nd R.G. Vara 73
M., Heydari, nd and Wate (IWMI Working ynes, R.J. (20
ology and Bioc 993).Farm Ho Farm househo e developmen
Iranian Ag .edu/env/work a, C. (1971). mpany. 1000-1
lt-Affected So
13, Adoptable T
Oct. Jour. Agen bcurrent/ghan tential of Sa 031, 1997 Sé
Integrated S Issues– Gh
Vlek. (2004). I ation. Journal d García, D.
20.Numero 0
Nioh, I. (2004) d AlfafaUnder ersity of Ghana es and Potenti
ones of North Texas Tech. ant Plants of
ant Plant of E 19-341. Grazing and m
onments and ady (ed), Arid
N., Turral, H. er Resources g Paper 125)
003).Effects chemistry – El ousehold Syst old systems in nt of improved
griculture and kshops/iran-1/
Peoples a 1800.
ils. CRP Press
Technique(S) fo
Env. Res. Vol
51
ncy
a/ghana_econ alt-Tolerant P éminaires Méd Soil Managem ana: FAO. mproving Yiel of Agronomy. (2004). Integr 40- Universid
).Effects of C r Salt Stress. a, Legon ial of the Nativ h Afìica. In: J. Univ., Lubboc Economic Va
Economic valu
management
Halophytic C d Lands, Tod
and Javadi, A in Iran.Colom
of Irrigation-I lsevier.DOI:10 tems in North n Northern Gh d crop produc
d Salinity. /02-Siadat%20
nd Empires o
s, Boca Raton
or Managing Gh
l 1(1): 48-51 World nomy.html Plants for U diterranéens.
ment for Sust http://www.fa
ld in the Guine . 3 (2): 115-12 rated Managem dad Juarez Au
ompost Applic West African
ve Flora for Fo .R. Goodin an ck, TX, pp. 3 8 alue in the Me
ue in the Med
of saltl and sh
Crops, In E.E. day and Tom
A. (2007).A R mbo, Sri Lan
nduced Salin 0.1016/S0038 hern Ghana.p hana – a cas ction systems.
Soil & Wa 0Paper.doc of West Afric
n, F.I hanaian Saline Factbo Utilization of Institut Agro tainable Use ao.org/ag/agl/ ea Savannah 21. ISSN 1680 ment for the S utonoma de T
cation on Gro Journal of A
odder and Sow nd D.K. North 84-40
editerranean B
diterranean B
hrubs. Journal
. Whitehead, morrow, West
Review of Man ka: Internatio
nity and Sod 8-0717(03)001 pp 31–170in: se study in far Verlag Josef
ater Researc
ca: West Afri Soils
ook,
Saline Wate onomique et V
of Salt-affec /agll/spush/de
Zone with Le 0-8207. Sustainable Us
Tabasco, Villa
owth and Nod Applied Ecolo
wn Pastures P ington (eds).
Basin. Reclam
Basin. Reclam
l of Agriculture
C.F. Hutchin t view Press,
nagement Stra onal WaterMa
icity on Soil 25-1 Runge-Metzg rming systems f Margraf, Wei
ch Institute
ca in history
(2011).
er.Options Vétérinaire
cted Soils.
grad.asp?
eguminous
se of Salt-ahermosa, dulation of ogy.Vol. 5. Production Arid Land mation and mation and e Western nson, B.N. , Boulder, ategies for nagement Microbial
ger A and s oriented ikersheim,
of Iran.
