Speaker
Description
Changing climatic conditions and agricultural practices are major concerns for agriculturalists across the globe because these conditions impact soil quality, which in turn influences the nutritional quality of crops grown. This study therefore examines how climate trends and farming practices influence soil quality in the Bono East Region of Ghana. Using a cross-sectional design, questionnaires were administered to farmers in the study area to collect information on their agricultural practices. Data on rainfall and temperature were collected from the Ghana Meteorological Office spanning 20 years. Soil samples were purposively collected for quality analysis, using 15 cm depth soil augers. The results show key soil quality parameters such as pH, averagely at 6.7, Electrical conductivity (EC) at 197 μS/cm, organic matter at 1.9% and NH4 at 11.5 mg/kg for both districts. The heavy metal concentrations were well below permissible limits and showed a range of 0.34 – 0.86 mg/L, 0.14 – 0.20 mg/L and 0.02 – 0.04 mg/L for Chromium (Cr), Lead (Pb), and Arsenic (As), respectively. Mercury (Hg) and Cadmium (Cd) were below detection limit. Temperature increased significantly in both districts (Techiman: R² = 0.50, p – value = 0.001; Kintampo: R² = 0.58, p – value < 0.001), while rainfall was erratic. In Kintampo, rainfall correlated strongly with soil pH (r = 0.72). In Techiman, significant correlations were found between rainfall and cation exchange capacity (r = 0.74), calcium (r = 0.71), calcium carbonate (r = 0.71), and ammonium (r = 0.65). The evidence adduced in this study showed that the Bono-East Region currently offer a strong foundation for agricultural production, but this potential is threatened by low organic matter, spatial nutrient variability and rising temperatures. Heavy metal contamination is not yet a major concern, but continued monitoring is warranted to prevent future risks.