© 2026 KNUST Research Atlas. All rights reserved.

Back to Search
Profile photo of Akwasi Adutwum Abunyewa

Akwasi Adutwum Abunyewa

Agroforestry

View Official KNUST Profile

About

I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Agroforestry with considerable teaching and research experience at home and abroad. I have worked in interdisciplinary teams with universities and resaerch institutions both in Ghana and other parts of the world. I have been involved and led international projects with collaboration with Scientists from IITA Nigeria, IRRI, Philippine, University of Wales, Bangor among others. Research funding has been from both National and International sources such as Government of Ghana, DANIDA, USAID, CGIAR, World Bank, IFAD, and DAAD.My research interests have focused on soil fertility and improving nutrient use efficiency and crop productivity. In particular, I have conducted research on integrated soil fertility management using biochar, compost, animal manure, biomas from multipurpose trees and shrubs. I monitored organic matter decomposition and mineralization from various organic sources under tropical condition. I have also done lot of work on fertilizer rate especially nitrogen and phosphorus in both upland and lowland soils. In recent years I have been involved in climate change effects on crop productivity. I have studied reclamation of degraded mined out lands using various multipurpose trees and shrubs over number of years. Soil and crop management practices that could lead to nutrient use efficiency, reduction in GHG, crop resilience and adaptation to climate change and improved biodiversity has been center my investigations.I have designed and supervised a number of research projects meant to contribute to knowledge, train Graduate and Undergraduate students in field and laboratory experimentation, data collection and analysis of scientific data, data interpretation and results write up. Since 2017, five (5) PhD and four (4) MPhil students have graduated under my supervision and have supervised and graduated 29 BSc students since 2018

Research Summary

(inferred from publications by AI)

The researcher's work is centered on Cocoa (<i>Theobroma cacao</i>) and Sweet Potato (Guaana) agronomy in Ghana, focusing on integrating innovative technologies such as biochar to enhance soil fertility and crop productivity. Their research spans various domains including climate-smart agriculture, soil chemistry, plant-microbe interactions, and sustainable practices that leverage natural elements like fallows and rubber plants for agroecological management. The researcher's work highlights the importance of cocoa production in Africa, particularly in agroforestry systems, where both technological advancements and sustainable practices are crucial for combating climate change and improving soil health.

Research Themes

All Papers

The role of shade trees in influencing farmers’ adoption of cocoa agroforestry systems: Insight from semi-deciduous rain forest agroecological zone of Ghana(2020)
Atmospheric nitrogen fixation by gliricidia trees (Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp.) intercropped with cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.)(2018)
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and potassium fertilizer as plant biostimulants and alternative research for enhancing plants adaptation to drought stress: Opportunities for enhancing drought tolerance in cocoa (<i>Theobroma cacao L.)</i>(2021)
Carbon storage in cocoa growing systems across different agroecological zones in Ghana(2021)
Carbon Sequestration Potential and Marketable Carbon Value of Smallholder Agroforestry Parklands Across Climatic Zones of Burkina Faso: Current Status and Way Forward for REDD+ Implementation(2020)
New aboveground biomass and nitrogen yield in different ages of gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium Jacq.) trees under different pruning intensities in moist semi-deciduous forest zone of Ghana(2019)
Toward Sustainable Cocoa ( <i>Theobroma Cacao</i> L) Production: The Role of Potassium Fertilizer in Cocoa Seedlings Drought Recovery and Survival(2022)
Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions through shade systems and climate-smart soil fertility interventions in cocoa landscapes in the Semi-deciduous ecological zone of Ghana(2024)
Augmentation of mineral fertilizer with organic nutrient sources to improve soil quality and nutrient use efficiency in cocoa landscape in Ghana(2025)
Hydrological and Physical Changes of Soils Under Cocoa Plantations of Different Ages During the Dry Season in the Transition Zone of Ghana(2013)
Uptake of nitrogen by cocoa (<i>Theobroma cocoa</i>L.) trees derived from soil decomposition of gliricidia (<i>Gliricidia sepium</i>Jacq.) shoots(2018)
Synergic effect of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and potassium fertilizer improves biomass-related characteristics of cocoa seedlings to enhance their drought resilience and field survival(2023)
Tracing the nitrogen flow between <i>Gliricidia</i> and cocoa trees in intercropping system using the <sup>15</sup>N natural abundant method(2019)
Synergic effect of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and potassium fertilizer improves biomass-related characteristics of cocoa seedlings to enhance their drought resilience and field survival(2023)
Nurturing with Nature: The Efficacy of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Microbe for Cocoa Sector Environmental Management in Ghana(2024)
Nurturing with nature: the efficacy of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi microbe for cocoa sector environmental management(2025)
A comprehensive review of the effects of biochar on soil physicochemical properties and crop productivity(2022)
Effect of Biochar Type and Rate of Application on Maize Yield Indices and Water Use Efficiency on an Ultisol in Ghana(2016)
Biochar and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer effects on maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) nitrogen use and yield in moist semi-deciduous forest zone of Ghana(2019)
Inorganic nitrogen fertilizer, biochar particle size and rate of application on lettuce ( <i>Lactuca sativa</i> L.) nitrogen use and yield(2022)
Variability of soil physicochemical properties under different land use types in the Guinea savanna zone of northern <i>Ghana</i>(2022)
Rubber and plantain intercropping: Effects of different planting densities on soil characteristics(2019)
Improved fallow with pigeon pea for soil fertility improvement and to increase maize production in a smallholder crop–livestock farming system in the subhumid zone of Ghana(2005)
Improved legume fallows: Influence on nitrogen and microbial dynamics, and maize (<i>Zea mays</i>L) grain yield in sub-humid zone of West Africa(2020)
Assessing the Impact of Illegal Small-Scale Mining (Galamsey) on Cocoa Farming and Farmer Livelihood: A Case Study in the Amansie West District of Ghana(2022)
Effect of multipurpose trees and shrubs on degraded mined‐out soil in a semi‐deciduous forest zone of West Africa(2018)
Response of Maize to Magnesium and Zinc Application in the Semi Arid Zone of West Africa(2003)
Skip‐Row and Plant Population Effects on Sorghum Grain Yield(2010)
Grain sorghum water use with skip-row configuration in the Central Great Plains of the USA(2011)
Floristic composition of agroforestry parklands in the semi-arid zone of Ghana: A special focus on Faidherbia albida (Delile) A. Chev(2022)
Trade-off of Tree Conservation and Crop Production on Agroforestry Parklands in Burkina Faso(2019)
Abundance, richness and use of medicinal plants under different land uses in the Guinea Savanna zone of Northern Ghana(2022)
Effect of landuse on floristic composition and diversity of medicinal plants in the Guinea Savanna zone of Ghana(2022)
Floristic Composition of Agroforestry Parklands in the Semi-Arid Zone of Ghana: A Special Focus on Faidherbia Albida (Delile) a. Chev(2022)
Climate Smart Agriculture: Threshold Number of Trees in Agroforestry Parkland for Better Land Management to Climate Adaptation and Mitigation in West Africa Burkina Faso(2022)
Changes in soil fertility and <i>Striga hermonthica</i> prevalence associated with legume and cereal cultivation in the Sudan savannah zone of Ghana(2003)
Integrated Manure and Fertilizer Use, Maize Production and Sustainable Soil Fertility in Sub Humid Zone of West Africa(2007)
Land Use Land Cover Dynamics and Farmland Intensity Analysis at Ouahigouya Municipality of Burkina Faso, West Africa(2020)
Grain sorghum nitrogen use as affected by planting practice and nitrogen rate(2017)
EFFECT OF RICE HUSK BIOCHAR ON NITROGEN UPTAKE AND GRAIN YIELD OF MAIZE IN THE GUINEA SAVANNA ZONE OF GHANA(2018)
Fertilizer phosphorus fractions and their available to maize on different landforms on a vertisol in the coastal Savanna zone of Ghana(2009)
Efficient Utilization of Water and Nitrogen Resources for Grain Sorghum under Rainfed Conditions(2008)
Dissolution of rock phosphate in animal manure soil amendment and lettuce growth(2016)
Phosphorus release dynamics under phosphate rock and ammonium sulphate in soil amendment(2017)
Plantain-Tree Rubber Intercropping Systems Improved Productivity in the Tropical Humid Zone of Ghana, West Africa(2021)
Antibiotic Use in Animal Production: Environmental Concerns(2009)
ASSESSING THE EFFICIENCY OF MORINGA OLEIFERA LEAF MEAL ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKEN(2022)
Maize and Cassava Based Systems: Implications of Continuous Cropping on Chemical Properties of a Ferric Acrisol/dystic Fluvisol(2017)
Logistic analysis of factors and perception of smallholder rubber farmers to intercrop: a case study involving rubber and plantain intercropping system in Ghana(2019)
Effects of Boiled Water Pre-Sowing Treatment on the Germination and Early Growth Performance of Faidherbia albida in Three Ecological Zones of Ghana(2019)
Disaster Risk Profile Analysis for Better Decision on Climate Financing Instrument in Mauritania(2023)
EFFECTS OF REFORESTATION ON DEGRADED SOILS IN THE MOIST SEMI DECIDUOUS ZONE OF WEST AFRICA(2016)
Effect of Landuse on Floristic Composition and Diversity of Medicinal Plants in the Guinea Savanna Zone of Ghana(2022)
Soil data(2022)
Agricultural Utilization of Biochar: A Review of Production Technologies(2025)
Farmers’ perceptions and acceptability of Biochar as a soil amendment in the Tolon district of Ghana(2025)

Collaboration Network

04f48dc0-32d9-4b6a-87b6-00f43725b4b0
Research Collaboration Map
Collaboration Frequency
Less
More

About This Profile

This profile is generated from publicly available publication metadata and is intended for research discovery purposes. Themes, summaries, and trajectories are inferred computationally and may not capture the full scope of the lecturer's work. For authoritative information, please refer to the official KNUST profile.