http://197.159.135.214/jspui/handle/123456789/1 A research article reports the results of original research, assesses its contribution to the body of knowledge in a given area, and is published in a peer-reviewed scholarly journal. Research publications through published and on-going articles/researches are captured in this community Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:33:35 GMT 2026-04-23T13:33:35Z http://197.159.135.214/jspui/handle/123456789/1152 Coarse Scale Remote Sensing and GIS Evaluation of Rainfall and Anthropogenic Land Use Changes on Soil Erosion in Nasarawa State, Nigeria, West Africa Bissadu, Kossi Dodzi; Koglo, Yawovi Sena; Johnson, Dode Bendu; Akpoti, Komlavi In this study, impacts of rainfall and land use changes on soil erosion in Nasarawa State, Nigeria in changing climate, were investigated by applying remote sensing techniques, Geographical Information System (GIS) and the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). Results revealed that, changes in rainfall intensity and land cover types are the core drivers of soil erosion in Nasarawa State over 30-year (1985–2014) periods. Besides, erosion rates and magnitude were more affected by changes in soil cover than changes in rainfall amount. Therefore, agroecology agricultural systems (e.g. soil mulching, minimum tillage, agroforestry, rotational cropping systems, use of mechanical and biological anti erosive measures) could be the most efficient way of combatting soil erosion concerns while scaling-up rainfed agriculture adaptation. A Publication submitted to the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Climate Change and Land Use Fri, 01 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT http://197.159.135.214/jspui/handle/123456789/1152 2017-12-01T00:00:00Z http://197.159.135.214/jspui/handle/123456789/1150 Effects of land use and climate on the diversity and population structure in natural stands of Detarium microcarpum Guill. & Perr. (Fabaceae) in Burkina Faso (West Africa) Taonda, Adama; Zerbo, Issouf; N’Guessan, Anny Estelle; Charles, Innocent; Traore, Emmanuel; Kassi, Justin N.’Dja; Thiombiano, Adjima Detarium microcarpum Guill. & Perr. is a multipurpose species, providing many ecosystem services. However, in its geographical range, its multiple uses represent a major challenge to the sustainable management and conservation of its resources. This study aimed to determine the effect of climatic zones, land uses, and their interaction on the natural stands of D. microcarpum. Inventories were conducted in 165 plots in two climatic zones and land use types in Burkina Faso. Hill diversity indices were used to determine the effects of climatic zones, land uses, and their interaction on D. microcarpum stand diversity. Generalized linear models were used to assess the effect of the abiotic and biotic factors on the species’ structural parameters. Land uses and climatic zones significantly affected D. microcarpum stand diversity and structure. The lowest stand diversity was recorded in the unprotected areas. The similarity in woody species composition between land uses and climatic zones was low, indicating high beta diversity. The generalized linear model showed that rainfall, temperature, habitat heterospecific density, and habitatspecific richness significantly influenced the structural parameters of the D. microcarpum population. The diameter classes’ distribution revealed unstable populations for the adult stratum, independent of climatic zones and land use types, except for the protected area in the Sudanian zone. The height class distribution of the juvenile stratum highlighted the instability regeneration of D. microcarpum populations. This study highlighted the instability of D. microcarpum populations and the specific effects of biotic and abiotic variables on the species’ structural parameters. Thus, the findings suggest urgent conservation measures to ensure sustainable utilisation and management of the species. A Publication submitted to the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Climate Change and Land Use Mon, 18 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://197.159.135.214/jspui/handle/123456789/1150 2024-03-18T00:00:00Z http://197.159.135.214/jspui/handle/123456789/1149 Development and optimization of rice husk composite briquettes as a sustainable cooking energy solution in Nigeria Yunusaa, S.U.; Mensah, E.; Preko, K.; Narra, S.; Saleh, A.; Sanfo, S.; Dembele, F. The processing of biomass into fuel briquettes is one of the sustainable measures widely advocated for curtailing deforestation and meeting the energy needs of about 3 billion people living in energy poverty. Improving the efficiency and durability of the briquettes is essential for their effectiveness as an energy source. This paper explores the production, evaluation, and optimization of rice husk briquettes using response surface metho dology (RSM). The process variables considered are binder type and ratio, particle size, and dwell time, while the responses are relaxed density and compressive strength. The experiment was designed using Box Behnken design (BBD). Briquettes were produced in a low-pressure (4.5 MPa) hydraulic piston press utilizing 2 novel biomass binders (sweet potato peel and locust bean pulp) and cassava starch. In addition to the optimized responses, the briquettes were characterized for quality and thermal performance. The results range from 0.196 g/cm3 to 0.306 g/cm3 for relaxed density and from 20 kN/m2 to 410 kN/m2 for compressive strength. Under optimal conditions, 15% binder content, 0.5 min dwell time, and 1 mm particle size could yield briquettes with a relaxed density of 0.30 g/cm3 and a transformed compressive strength of 0.032 m0.5 s kg−0.5, equivalent to 918 kN/m2. The model’s predictions were validated through confirmatory experiments, with the differences between the predicted and actual values being statistically insignificant at a 95% confidence interval. These findings suggest that rice husk briquettes with an optimal quality for domestic use can be efficiently produced under low sure, offering a viable solution for energy sustainability and environmental conservation. A Publication submitted to the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Climate Change and Land Use Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://197.159.135.214/jspui/handle/123456789/1149 2025-06-25T00:00:00Z http://197.159.135.214/jspui/handle/123456789/1148 Optimizing selected quality metrics of rice husk briquettes: a response surface methodology approach Yunusa, S. U.; Mensah, E.; Preko, K.; Narra, S.; Saleh, A.; Dalha, I. B.; Abdulsalam, M. Rice husk is among the most generated biomass residues in developing countries. If this abundant resource is effectively valorized into fuel briquettes, the rate of deforestation and energy deficit in the region would be substantially reduced. In this paper, a process-based modeling was employed to optimize the quality metrics of briquettes made from rice husk as a measure of improving its efficiency and sustainability as an energy source. Two novel bio-binders (locust bean pulp and sweet potato peel) were assessed alongside cassava starch using a low-pressure technique. The experiment was designed using Box Behnken Design (BBD) in Design Expert 13 and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed in optimizing the process metrics and response variables. A confirmatory test was employed to validate the optimal conditions. From the experimental results obtained, the compressed density is between 0.495 and 0.691 g/cm3, while the impact resistance is between 12.5 and 100%. The optimum process metrics predicted by the model are a 15% binder ratio, 1.1-mm-particle size rice husk, 0.5-min dwell time, and cassava starch binder. The optimal predicted responses are 0.689 g/cm3 compressed density and 109.6% impact resistance. The differences between the experimented and predicted values were statistically insignificant at a 95% confidence interval. Thus, the study affirms that under the above optimum conditions, rice husk briquettes suitable for domestic application can be sustainably produced. The above findings can serve as a reference in future studies and applications involving briquette production. A Publication submitted to the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Climate Change and Land Use Sat, 29 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://197.159.135.214/jspui/handle/123456789/1148 2024-06-29T00:00:00Z