Octa Journal of Environmental Research January - March, 2013 International peer-reviewed journal Oct. Jour. Env. Res. Vol. 1(1):48-51 Available online http://www.sciencebeingjournal.com Octa Journal of Environmental Research Research Article ADOPTABLE TECHNIQUE(S) FOR MANAGING GHANAIAN SALINE SOILS Akwasi Asamoah a , Charles Antwi-Boasiako a , Kwasi Frimpong-Mensah c and Dohan Mariam Soma c a,b,c Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Sci. & Tech. Kumasi, Ghana d Institut de l’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles, Ouagaduoguo, Burkina Faso *Corresponding author’s Email: asamoah38@yahoo.com Received: 15 th Feb 2013 Revised: 5 th March 2013 Accepted: 12 th 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 10 th 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 Description of Ghana: Ghana is located on West Africa's Gulf of Guinea only a few degrees north of the Equator within latitude 5 degrees, 36 minutes north and longitude 0 degrees, 10 minutes east. Half of it lies less than 152 meters above sea level with the highest point being 883 meters. Its 537-kilometer coastline is mostly a low, sandy shore backed by plains & scrub and intersected by several rivers and streams. Its eastern coastal belt is warm and comparatively dry; the southwest corner, hot and humid; and the north, hot and dry. Southern Ghana experiences two distinct rainy seasons in May/June and August/September while northern Ghana experiences one distinct rainy season which starts April/May and ends September/October. In January and February, a dry northeasterly wind (the Harmattan) blows into Ghana. Ghana’s annual rainfall averages < 750 to > 2000 mm. Its temperature varies slightly annually and daily with minimum temperature around 23°C (Runge-Metzger, 1993).