Your search found 6 records
1 Buerkert, A.; Marschner, B.; Steiner, C.; Schlecht, E.; Wichern, M.; Schareika, N.; Lowenstein, W.; Drescher, A. W.; Glaser, R.; Kranjac-Berisavljevic, G.; Gnankambary, Z.; Drechsel, Pay; Jean-Pascal Lompo, D. 2015. UrbanFoodplus – African-German Partnership to enhance resource use efficiency in urban and peri-urban agriculture for improved food security inWest African cities [Abstract only] In Tielkes, E. (Ed.). Management of land use systems for enhanced food security: conflicts, controversies and resolutions. Book of abstracts. International Research on Food Security, Natural Resource Management and Rural Development, Tropentag 2015, Berlin, Germany, 16-18 September 2015. Witzenhausen, Germany: German Institute for Agriculture in the Tropics and Subtropics. pp.350-351.
Urban agriculture ; Periurban agriculture ; Irrigation ; Food security ; Nutrients ; International cooperation ; Partnerships ; Resource evaluation ; Farmers ; Soil fertility ; Organic fertilizers ; Inorganic fertilizers / West Africa / Burkina Faso / Ghana / Mali / Cameroon / Ouagadougou / Tamale / Bamako / Bamenda
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047212)
(0.09 MB)
Food security in West Africa not only depends on productivity increases in marginal rural areas, but also on enhanced use of intensively farmed agricultural “niche” lands such as the urban and peri-urban spaces. They are characterised by easy market access and input availability which allows self-reinforcing processes of agricultural intensification. However, too little is known about resource use efficiencies, matter flows and negative externalities in these systems. Starting from general assessments (status quo analyses), the African-German UrbanFoodPlus (UFP) network develops and tests site-specific, farmer-tailored innovations. These directly address the above mentioned knowledge gaps in the fourWest African cities of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), Tamale (Ghana), Bamako (Mali), and Bamenda (Cameroon). At all locations farmers attempt to cope with increasing land pressure by cultivating along electrical power lines, on public property, and on undeveloped private land.
2 Woldetsadik, D.; Drechsel, Pay; Keraita, B.; Marschner, B.; Itanna, F.; Gebrekidan, H. 2016. Effects of biochar and alkaline amendments on cadmium immobilization, selected nutrient and cadmium concentrations of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in two contrasting soils. SpringerPlus, 5:1-16. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40064-016-2019-6]
Alkalinity ; Cadmium ; Immobilization ; Nutrients ; Cadmium ; Leaf vegetables ; Lettuces ; Soil sampling ; pH ; Faecal coliforms ; Nitrates ; Carbon ; Heavy metals ; Waste treatment
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047506)
(0.85 MB)
To assess the efficiency of seven treatments including biochars produced from dried faecal matter and manures as stabilizing agents of cadmium (Cd)-spiked soils, lettuce was grown in glasshouse on two contrasting soils. The soils used were moderately fertile silty loam and less fertile sandy loam and the applied treatments were 7 % w/w. The reduction of bioavailable Cd (ammonium nitrate extractable) and its phytoavailability for lettuce were used as assessment criteria in the evaluation of stabilization performance of each treatment. Moreover, the agronomic values of the treatments were also investigated. Ammonium nitrate extraction results indicated that faecal matter biochar, cow manure biochar and lime significantly reduced bioavailable Cd by 84–87, 65–68 and 82–91 %, respectively, as compared to the spiked controls. Unpredictably, coffee husk biochar induced significant increment of Cd in NH4NO3 extracts. The immobilization potential of faecal matter biochar and lime were superior than the other treatments. However, lime and egg shell promoted statistically lower yield and P, K and Zn concentrations response of lettuce plants compared to the biochar treatments. The lowest Cd and highest P tissue concentrations of lettuce plants were induced by faecal matter and cow manure biochar treatments in both soils. Additionally, the greatest Cd phytoavailability reduction for lettuce was induced by poultry litter and cow manure biochars in the silty loam soil. Our results indicate that faecal matter and animal manure biochars have shown great potential to promote Cd immobilization and lettuce growth response in heavily contaminated agricultural fields.
3 Woldetsadik, D.; Drechsel, Pay; Marschner, B.; Itanna, F.; Gebrekidan, H. 2017. Effect of biochar derived from faecal matter on yield and nutrient content of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in two contrasting soils. Environmental Systems Research, 6(1):1-12. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40068-017-0082-9]
Waste management ; Faecal sludge ; Nutrients ; Septic tanks ; Nitrogen fertilizers ; Lettuces ; Soil amendments ; Soil fertility ; Biochar ; Composting ; Residues ; Yields
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047945)
http://environmentalsystemsresearch.springeropen.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s40068-017-0082-9?site=environmentalsystemsresearch.springeropen.com
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H047945.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H047945.pdf
(1.05 MB)
Background: Faecal matter biochar offers an interesting value proposition where the pyrolysis process guaranties a 100% pathogen elimination, as well as significant reduction in transport and storage weight and volume. Therefore, to evaluate the effect of (1) biochar produced from dried faecal matter from household based septic tanks, and (2) N fertilizer, as well as their interaction on yield and nutrient status of lettuce (Lactuca sativa), lettuce was grown over two growing cycles under glasshouse on two contrasting soils amended once at the start with factorial combination of faecal matter biochar at four rates (0, 10, 20 and 30 t ha-1) with 0, 25 and 50 kg N ha-1 in randomized complete block design. Results: For both soils, maximum fresh yields were recorded with biochar and combined application of biochar with N treatments. However, the greatest biochar addition effects (with or without N) with regard to relative yield were seen in less fertile sandy loam soil. We have also observed that faecal matter biochar application resulted in noticeable positive residual effects on lettuce yield and tissue nutrient concentrations in the 2nd growing cycle. For both soils, most nutrients analyzed (N, P, K, Mg, Cu and Zn) were within or marginally above optimum ranges for lettuce under biochar amendment. Conclusions: The application of faecal matter biochar enhances yield and tissue nutrient concentrations of lettuce in two contrasting soils, suggesting that faecal matter biochar could be used as an effective fertilizer for lettuce production at least for two growing cycles. Moreover, the conversion of the faecal matter feedstock into charred product may offer additional waste management benefit as it offers an additional (microbiologically safe) product compared to the more common co-composting.
4 Grau, Felix; Drechsel, Nikita; Haering, V.; Trautz, D.; Weerakkody, W. J. S. K.; Drechsel, Pay; Marschner, B.; Dissanayake, D. M. P. S.; Sinnathamby, V. 2017. Impact of fecal sludge and municipal solid waste co-compost on crop growth of Raphanus Sativus L. and Capsicum Anuum L. under stress conditions. Resources, 6(3):1-12. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/resources6030026]
Faecal sludge ; Urban wastes ; Solid wastes ; Composting ; Crop improvement ; Raphanus sativus ; Capsicum annuum ; Stress conditions ; Agricultural practices ; Resource recovery ; Organic matter ; Waste management ; Waste treatment ; Inorganic fertilizers ; Drought ; Nutrients ; Cost benefit analysis / Sri Lanka
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048191)
(1.15 MB)
Co-composted dewatered faecal sludge (FS) with organic fractions of municipal solid waste (MSW) has a high potential to be used as an agricultural resource in Sri Lanka. In addition to options for cost recovery in waste management, closing the nutrient and carbon cycles between urban and rural areas, substitution of mineral fertilizers, reduced pollution. and the restoration of degraded arable land are possible with important benefits. Up to now little is known about the usage of FS-MSW as fertilizer and it needs to be studied in order to achieve a better understanding and generate application recommendations. The aim of these experiments has been to evaluate the possibility of substituting mineral fertilization. Two field experiments were conducted on sandy loam to assess the effects of MSW compost and FS-MSW co-compost, its pelletized forms, and mineral-enriched FS-MSW on crop growth. As a short-term crop Raphanus sativus “Beeralu rabu” (radish) was studied for 50 days in a randomized complete block design (RCDB). Results show that, under drought conditions, FS-MSW co-compost increased the yield significantly, while MSW and FS-MSW compost enabled the highest survival rate of the plants. Similarly, the second field trial with a long-term crop, Capsicum anuum “CA-8” (capsicum), was planted as RCBD, using the same treatments, for a cultivation period of 120 days. Results display that during a drought followed by water saturated soil conditions co-compost treatments achieved comparable yields and increased the survival rate significantly compared to the control, fertilized with urea, triple super phosphate, and muriate of potash. Cost-benefit analysis (CBA) revealed that pelletizing decreased the monetary benefits if only fertilizer value is considered. It can be concluded that, under drought and water stress, co-compost ensures comparable yields and enables more resistance, but might not be economical viable as a one-crop fertilizer. These findings need to be validated with further trials under different climate regimes and soils.
5 Akoto-Danso, E. K.; Manka'abusi, D.; Steiner, C.; Werner, S.; Haering, V.; Lompo, D. J.-P.; Nyarko, G.; Marschner, B.; Drechsel, Pay; Buerkert, A. 2019. Nutrient flows and balances in intensively managed vegetable production of two West African cities. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 182(2):229-243. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.201800339]
Wastewater irrigation ; Vegetable growing ; Nutrient balance ; Nutrient use efficiency ; Biochar ; Horticulture ; Leaching ; Volatilization ; Nitrogen fertilizers ; Phosphorus ; Potassium ; Soil fertility ; Irrigation water ; Emission ; Crop production / West Africa / Ghana / Burkina Faso / Tamale / Ouagadougou
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049077)
This study reports and analyzes nutrient balances in experimental vegetable production systems of the two West African cities of Tamale (Ghana) and Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) over a twoyear period comprising thirteen and eleven crops, respectively. Nutrient-use efficiency was also calculated. In Tamale and Ouagadougou, up to 2% (8 and 80 kg N ha–1) of annually applied fertilizer nitrogen were leached. While biochar application or wastewater irrigation on fertilized plots did not influence N leaching in both cities, P and K leaching, as determined with ion-absorbing resin cartridges, were reduced on biochar-amended plots in Tamale. Annual nutrient balances amounted to +362 kg N ha–1, +217 kg P ha–1, and –125 kg K ha–1 in Tamale, while Ouagadougou had balances of up to +692 kg N ha–1, +166 kg P ha–1, and –175 kg K ha–1 y–1. Under farmers’ practice of fertilization, agronomic nutrient-use efficiencies were generally higher in Tamale than in Ouagadougou, but declined in both cities during the last season. This was the result of the higher nutrient inputs in Ouagadougou compared to Tamale and relatively lower outputs. The high N and P surpluses and K deficits call for adjustments in local fertilization practices to enhance nutrient-use efficiency and prevent risks of eutrophication.
6 Asirifi, I.; Kaetzl, K.; Werner, S.; Saba, C. K. S.; Abagale, F. K.; Amoah, Philip; Marschner, B.. 2021. Pathogen and heavy metal contamination in urban agroecosystems of northern Ghana: influence of biochar application and wastewater irrigation. Journal of Environmental Quality, 50(5):1097-1109. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.20260]
Pathogens ; Heavy metals ; Contamination ; Urban agriculture ; Agroecosystems ; Wastewater irrigation ; Helminth eggs ; Faecal coliforms ; Escherichia coli ; Vegetables ; Biochar / Ghana
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050674)
https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jeq2.20260
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050674.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050674.pdf
(0.97 MB) (993 KB)
The benefit of biochar as a soil fertility enhancer is well known and has been broadly investigated. Equally, many tropical and subtropical countries use wastewater for irrigation in urban agriculture. To assess the related health risks, we determined pathogen and heavy metal fate associated with biochar application and wastewater irrigation in the urban agriculture of northern Ghana. Rice (Oryza L.) husk biochar (20 t ha-1), N–P–K 15–15–15 fertilizer (212.5 kg ha-1), and their combinations were evaluated in a field-based experiment. Untreated wastewater and tap water served as irrigation water. Red amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.) was used as a test crop and was grown in wet (WS) and dry (DS) cropping seasons. Irrigation water, soil, and vegetables were analyzed for heavy metals, Escherichia coli, fecal coliform, helminth eggs, and Salmonella spp. Unlike the pathogens, analyzed heavy metals from irrigation water and soil were below the FAO/WHO permissible standard for agricultural activities. Wastewater irrigation caused E. coli concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 0.6 (WS) and from 0.7 to 0.8 (DS) log10 colony forming units per gram fresh weight (CFU gFW-1) on vegetables and from 1.7 to 2.1 (WS) and from 0.6 to 1.0 (DS) log10CFU per gram dry weight (gDW-1) in soil. Average log10CFU gFW-1 rates of 6.19 and 3.44 fecal coliform were found on vegetables, whereas in soil, 4.26 and 4.58 log10CFU gDW-1 were observed in WS and DS, respectively. Helminth egg populations were high in wastewater and were transferred to the crops and soil. Biochar did not affect bacteria contamination. Pathogen contamination on vegetables and in soil were directly linked to the irrigation water, with minimal or no difference observed from biochar application.
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