About

Dr. Yvonne O. Kugblenu Darrah is a Research Fellow (Agronomist/Crop Physiologist) at the University of Ghana - Soil and Irrigation Research Centre (SIREC), Kpong. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Master of Philosophy in Agriculture and Doctor of Philosophy in Crop Science from the University of Ghana. She followed this with post-doctoral research on the Green, Cohesive, Water, Energy from Biomass, Soil, Organics and Crops Project (WEBSOC) before joining University of Ghana. Her research work focuses on crop physiology in relation to abiotic stresses. Specifically evaluating, understanding and optimizing food crops’ physiological and reproductive adaptation to abiotic stresses (primarily low nutrient stress, drought stress, high temperatures stress)

Education

• Doctor of Philosophy in Crop Science, the University of Ghana (2011-2013)
• Master of Philosophy in Agriculture, the University of Ghana (2008-2010)
• Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, the University of Ghana (2002-2006)

Research Areas

• Agronomy 
• High temperature stress 
• Low nutrient stress 
• Vegetable Production 
• Legume Production 

Publications

A. Refereed Articles

A.1. Journal Articles:

• Kugblenu Darrah, Y.O, Ofori B., Puozaa D.K. 2023. Growth and Yield Performance of Maize Hybrids on the Vertic Soils of Accra Plains. West African Journal of Applied Ecology.Vol.32(2),56-68 
• Honger J.O., Lomotey, T., Kugblenu Darrah Y., Bedu I and Amankwa N. Y. 2022. Characterization and in-vitro Control of Curvularia lunata, the Causal Agent of Brown. Agricultural and Food Science Journal of Ghana, 15:1526-1542 
• Kugblenu Darrah, Y.O, and Ofori B. 2021. Pollen, Fruit Yield and Fruit Quality Performance of Heat Tolerant Varieties to sustain production in West Africa. Science Development   Journal, CBAS. Vol 5 (No2) 
• Yakubu, A., Danso, E.O., Arthur, E., Kugblenu Darrah, Y.O., Sabi, E.B., Abenney-Mickson, S., Ofori, K., Andersen, M.N. 2020. Rice straw biochar and irrigation effect on yield and water productivity of okra. Agronomy Journal. 112(4).    https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20230
• Danso, E.O., Yakubu, A., Kugblenu Darrah, Y.O., Arthur, E., Manevski, K., Sabi, E.B., Abenney-Mickson, S., Ofori, K., Plauborg, F., Andersen, M.N. 2019. Impact of rice biochar and irrigation on maize yield intercepted radiation and water productivity in tropical sandy loam, Field Crops Research. 243 (2019) 107628. doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2019.107628
• Obour P.B., Danso, E.O., Yakubu, A., Abenney-Mickson, S., Sabi, E.B., Kugblenu Darrah, Y., Arthur, E. 2019. Water Retention, air exchange and pore structure characteristics after 3 years of rice straw biochar application to Acrisol. doi: 10.2136/sssaj2019.07.0230
• Danso, E.O, Atta-Darkwa, T. Plauborg, F., Sabi, E.B., Kugblenu Darrah, Y.O., Abenney-Mickson, S., Andersen, M.N. 2018. Development of a low-cost solar powered water supply system for smallscale drip irrigation farms in Sub Saharan Africa: dosing tank and bell siphon perspective. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, 144 (7): 15018003.
• Kugblenu, Y.O., Kumaga, F. K., Ofori, K. and Adu-Gyamfi, J.J. 2014. Evaluation of cowpea genotypes for phosphorus use efficiency, Journal of Agricultural and Crop Research, 2: 202-210 
• Oppong Danso, E., Abenney-Mickson, S., Sabi, E.B., Plauborg, F., Abekoe, M.K., Kugblenu, Y.O., Jensen, C. R., Andersen, M.N. 2014. Effect of different fertilization and irrigation methods on nitrogen uptake, intercepted radiation and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentem L.) grown in the Keta sand Spit of Southeast Ghana. Agricultural Water Management. Vol.147, pp.34-42 
• Kugblenu, Y.O., Oppong Danso, E., Ofori, K., Andersen, M.N., Abenney-Mickson, S., Sabi, E.B., Plauborg, F., Abekoe, M.K., Jørgensen, S. T., Jensen, C. R., Ofosu-Anim, J. 2013. Screening tomato genotypes for adaptation to high temperature in West Africa, Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B-Soil and Plant Science 63: 6, 516-522 

B.2. Edited Conference Proceedings:

1. Darrah Kugblenu Y.O., Ofori B. 2018. Screening for pollen traits in heat tolerant tomato Conference paper. Conference paper. CBAS SDP conference.  Accra Ghana
2. Ahmed F. Arthur E., Kugblenu Y.O., Andersen M.N. 2015. Effect of biochar on dry season shallot yield in the Keta Sand Spit of Ghana. Conference paper. Biochar-contribution to sustainable Agriculture. International Biochar symposium. Potsdam, Germany.
3. Kugblenu, Y.O., Oppong Danso, E., Ofori, K., Andersen, M.N., Abenney-Mickson, S., Sabi, E.B., Plauborg, F., Abekoe, M.K., Jørgensen, S. T., Jensen, C. R., Ofosu-Anim, J. 2012. Heat tolerance in field grown tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum mill.) under semi- arid conditions of West Africa. Proc. XIIth IS on the Processing Tomato Eds.: M. Cámara et al. Acta Hort. 971, ISHS 2013

B.3. Other conference/workshop/seminar proceedings:

• Cowpea Value Chain Development in Ghana. The West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), University of Ghana November 26 – 29, 2019
• Maize Value Chain Development in Ghana. The West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), November 30 – December 3, 2019
• Kugblenu, Y.O., Oppong Danso, E., Ofori, K., Andersen, M.N., Abenney-Mickson, S., Sabi, E.B., Plauborg, F., Abekoe, M.K., Jørgensen, S. T., Jensen, C. R., Ofosu-Anim, J. 2012. Heat tolerance in field grown tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum mill.) under semi- arid conditions of West Africa.Oral presentation at: 10th World Processing Tomato Congress and 12th Tomato 

Processing Symposium, Joint COFCO and ISHS Programme, Beijing, China.  9-11 June, 2012.

• 3rd Technical Meeting on Selection and Evaluation of Food (Cereal and Legume) Crop Genotypes Tolerant to Low Nitrogen and Phosphorus Soils through the Use of Isotopic Nuclear-Related Techniques, Joint FAO/IAEA Programme, Maputo, Mozambique 
• 4th Technical Meeting on Selection and Evaluation of Food (Cereal and Legume) Crop Genotypes Tolerant to Low Nitrogen and Phosphorus Soils through the Use of Isotopic Nuclear-Related Techniques, Joint FAO/IAEA Programme, Vienna, Austria

C. Poster Presentations:

• Kugblenu, Y.O., Oppong Danso, E., Ofori, K., Andersen, M.N., Abenney-Mickson, S., Sabi, E.B., Plauborg, F., Abekoe, M.K., Jørgensen, S. T., Jensen, C. R., Ofosu-Anim, J. (2012). High temperature induced floral abortion in tomato is dependent on both temperature and duration of exposure. Poster presentation. 10th World Processing Tomato Congress and 12th Tomato Processing Symposium, Joint COFCO and ISHS Programme, Beijing, China.  9-11 June, 2012
• Kugblenu, Y.O., Oppong Danso, E., Ofori, K., Andersen, M.N., Abenney-Mickson, S., Sabi, E.B., Plauborg, F., Abekoe, M.K., Jørgensen, S. T., Jensen, C. R., Ofosu-Anim, J. (2012). High tempertures affect fruiting and yield of tomato genotypes. 10th World Processing Tomato Congress and 12th Tomato Processing Symposium, Joint COFCO and ISHS Programme, Beijing, China.  9-11 June, 2012

D. Technical Reports/Papers:

• Akotsen-Mensah, C., Fening, K.O., Darrah Kugblenu, Y. O. and Ativor, I. N. (2018). A manual for commercial okra production in Ghana. GhanaVeg Project, Accra, 23pp
• Kumaga, F.K. Ofori, K. Adiku, S.K. Kugblenu, Y.O. Asante, W. Seidu, H. Adu-Gyamfi, J.J. 2013. Evaluation of Soybean and Cowpea Genotypes for Phosphorus Use Efficiency, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)-TECDOC—1721, 45:7,151-171, RN:45017172 https://inis.iaea.org/search/search.aspx?orig_q=RN:45017172

Extension Activities

• Farmers Field Day. Effect of different formulations and rates of NPK application on growth and yield of onion at the Lower Manya Krobo District.  Soil and Irrigation Research Centre, Kpong and Somanya (50 farmers, extension workers and academics from the University of Ghana). An OCP and CSIR- SARI project.  9 November 2020 
• Farmers Field Day. Evaluation of new WACCI maize hybrid varieties for growth and yield on vertisols at the Lower Manya Krobo District.  Soil and Irrigation Research Centre, Kpong and Somanya (100 farmers, extension workers and academics from the University of Ghana).  WACCI project. 2 October 2019 
• Farmers Field Day. Pest Management of Okra for Export. A manual for commercial okra production in Ghana. GhanaVeg Project. (100 farmers, exporters and MoFA extension agents. November 2017 

Networking

• Member of Ghana Institute of Horticulturists (GhIH)
• Member of Ecological Organic Agriculture Platform Ghana (EOAP-G)