Modeling Land-use Change in the Volta Basin of Ghana
Modeling Land-use Change in the Volta Basin of Ghana

Author: Ademola K. Braimoh

Publisher: Cuvillier Verlag

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 170

ISBN-13: 3865370446

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Land change studies in a 5,400km2 area within the Volta Basin of Ghana were carried out using satellite image and socio-economic analyses. The dominant change process was conversion of natural vegetation to cropland at an annual rate of 5%. Reversible land change trajectories involving accumulation of woody biomass indicate a certain level of rainfall-induced ecosystem resilience. Linear and logistic regressions identified agricultural land suitability, distance from main market and localities, child-dependency ratio and population density as the main drivers of change. Policy measures that would relieve human pressure on vegetation resources, guarantee food supply and promote commercialization of agriculture are suggested.

The Volta River Basin
The Volta River Basin

Author: Timothy O. Williams

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2016-09-19

Total Pages: 376

ISBN-13: 131747953X

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The Volta River Basin (VRB) is an important transboundary basin in West Africa that covers approximately 410,000 square kilometres across six countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali and Togo. Its natural resources sustain the livelihoods of its population and contribute to economic development. This book provides a comprehensive, interdisciplinary review and assessment of the issues and challenges faced. The authors provide a science-based assessment of current and future scenarios of water availability, the demands of key sectors, including agriculture and hydropower, and the environment under changing demographic, economic, social and climatic conditions. They also identify solutions and strategies that will allow available water resources to be sustainably used to improve agricultural productivity, food security and economic growth in the VRB. Overall, the work examines from a multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder perspective the solutions and strategies to improve the use of water and other natural resources in the VRB to achieve enhanced food security, livelihoods and economic growth.

Surface Runoff and Infiltration Processes in the Volta Basin, West Africa
Surface Runoff and Infiltration Processes in the Volta Basin, West Africa

Author: Ayodele Ebenezer Ajayi

Publisher: Cuvillier Verlag

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 157

ISBN-13: 3865370977

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"The study presents the analyses of field observations and simulation experiments with an event-based, two-dimensional hydrodynamic model. The model summarized the interactions between temporally dynamic rainfall, infiltration process and surface runoff in a catchment with varied soil physio-hydraulic properties, surface-roughtness, slope-lengths and vegetation structure. Both observation and simulation results indicate that the observation scale affects runoff coefficient and runoff discharge per unit area. The effect of scale is a result of spatial variability in infiltration opportunities, which vary with the slop length and distribution of saturated conductivity, leading to different trasmission losses potential during runoff routing downslope. The magnitude of the difference is influenced by surface and vegetated microtopography, which determine the flow rate"--Back cover.

Impacts of Global Change on the Hydrological Cycle in West and Northwest Africa
Impacts of Global Change on the Hydrological Cycle in West and Northwest Africa

Author: Peter Speth

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2010-08-12

Total Pages: 692

ISBN-13: 3642129579

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Africa is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In particular shortage of fresh water is expected to be the dominant water problem for West and Northwest Africa of the 21th century. In order to solve present and projected future problems concerning fresh water supply, a highly interdisciplinary approach is used in the book. Strategies are offered for a sustainable and future-oriented water management. Based on different scenarios, a range of management options is suggested with the aid of Information Systems and Spatial Decision Support Systems for two river catchments in Northwest and West Africa: the wadi Drâa in south-eastern Morocco and the Ouémé basin in Benin. The selected catchments are representative in the sense: "what can be learnt from these catchments for other similar catchments?

Soil Characterization and Modeling of Spatial Distribution of Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity at Two Sites in the Volta Basin of Ghana
Soil Characterization and Modeling of Spatial Distribution of Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity at Two Sites in the Volta Basin of Ghana

Author: Wilson Agyei Agyare

Publisher: Cuvillier Verlag

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 211

ISBN-13: 3865371000

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One of the key parameters in hydrological and climate change modeling is a good estimation of the soil hydrauic properties in the region of interest. This study investigates the spatial distribution and variability of soil physical properties, with emphasis on saturated hydraulic conductivity at two pilot sites in the Volta Basin of Ghana. It focuses on the potential of pedotransfer functions (PTFs) and artificial neural network (ANN) approach for estimating saturated hydraulic conductivity. Saturated hydraulic conductivity was observed to be highly spatially variable; however, it can be estimated using selected PTFs and ANN for soils in the Volta Basin based on soil parameters that can readily be obtained from detailed soil maps--From cover.

Management of Bombus Atratus Bumblebees to Pollinate Lulo (Solanum Quitoense L), a Native Fruit from the Andes of Colombia
Management of Bombus Atratus Bumblebees to Pollinate Lulo (Solanum Quitoense L), a Native Fruit from the Andes of Colombia

Author: Maria Teresa Almanza Fandiño

Publisher: Cuvillier Verlag

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 131

ISBN-13: 3867271879

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Solanum quitoense (Lulo) from the northern Andes is a fruit with an attractive taste. It has a high export potential but its production is hampered by insufficient pollination. Studies on the reproductive system of Lulo revealed that, due to their poricidal anthers, the flowers need pollinators for self- and cross-pollination. Pollination by native bumblebees significantly increases fruit set and quality. Experiments show that colonies of Bombus atratus can be reared in captivity and used in Lulo fields for providing increased pollination services. Modeling based on data on colony development reveal larva/workers ratio and the supply of pollen as main parameters for improving the rearing method.