ABSTRACT Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an economically important edible oilseed legume in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Smallholder farmers, who account for 75% of producers, depend on it for food and income. However the yields are far below the world averages. Groundnut rosette disease (GRD) is a major constraint of groundnuts in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) causing up to 100% yield losses. The disease is caused by two synergistic viruses; groundnut rosette assistor virus (GRAV, genus Luteoviru...
ABSTRACT This study is focused on the assessment of the effects of deforestation on springs found in Nuu and Mutaitho hills in Kitui County. Deforestation is manifested by clearing of dry land forests on a massive scale. Springs in Nuu and Mutaitho hills originate from groundwater aquifers and are essentially formed on hillsides and valley bottoms that intersect groundwater flow at or below the local water table. The main objective of the study was to determine the main causes of decline in s...
ABSTRACT Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important crops grown in Zimbabwe owing to its nutritional and economic benefits. However, its production is often adversely affected by soilborne fungal pathogens such as Spongospora subterranea f.sp subterranea, the causal agent of powdery scab on potato tubers and the vector of Potato Mop Top Virus. The fungal pathogen forms root galls on roots and lesions on tubers. Brassica crops incorporated in crop rotations or applied as gree...
ABSTRACT Intercropping is a cultural technique which gives crops a competitive advantage on weeds therefore contributes to weed management. There is need to choose the plant population which results in weed suppression whilst not negatively affecting the component crops yield. The experiment was set in a Randomised Complete Block Design with 5 treatments which are sole maize crop, maize-butternut intercrops at butternut densities of (30%, 40% and 50% of maize population which is 11110, 1388...
Abstract Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important crop in Zimbabwe due to its nutritional and economic worth. The upgrading of its status to a strategic food crop by the government in 2012 has created the need for research to increase production, increase germplasm and diversify staple food crops. A study to investigate the yield potential of new Irish potato varieties was carried out at the Scientific Industrial Research and Development Centre between June and November 2015. Aim ...
ABSTRACT Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to model the impacts of land cover changes on stream flow regime in the Thiba River basin a sub-catchment of Tana River Basin covering a surface area of 1648 km2 in central region of Kenya. The basin is characterized by intensive agricultural activities including the largest rice irrigation scheme in Kenya. A study was undertaken to test the capability of the model in predicting stream flow response under changing land use conditions in ...
Abstract Sore shin aused by Rhizoctonia solani is responsible for remarkable economic losses of up to 10% in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) seedlings grown in float beds, thereby becoming important production limiting factor of tobacco crop. Sore shin is responsible for wiry stem formation, stem lesions, root rots, root discolouration and damping off of tobacco seedlings. Tobacco production in Zimbabwe contributes about 9% GDP and is form of employment to more than 90 000 people in the country....
ABSTRACT The horticultural sub-sector in Kenya contributes immensely to the country’s development agenda. Particularly, vegetables are crucial in poverty alleviation with tomato production ranking among the most vibrant enterprises. The crop creates employment and is a source of income for smallholders in rural areas. Despite its potential, tomato production faces major challenges including unreliable markets, low adoption of modern production systems and production inefficiencies. This has...
ABSTRACT Teacher motivation is very important as it directly affects the students’ performance. The performance of agriculture teachers in Imenti South District has been low compared to other districts. This has been characterized by a decline in the agriculture subject results. This might have been contributed by inadequate teacher motivation. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between selected motivational factors and the performance of secondary school agricultur...
ABSTRACT During the period after the adoption of a floating exchange rate regime in Kenya, there has been substantial volatility produced by the regime. In spite of the considerable foreign exchange contribution of Kenya’s French beans subsector to the economy, the effects of exchange rate volatility on it remains unclear. This study evaluated the effects of exchange rate volatility on Kenya’s French bean exports to major markets in the European Union. Monthly secondary data for the perio...
ABSTRACT Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is an important food crop consumed throughout Africa. However, sweet potato yields are greatly reduced by pests including plant parasitic nematodes. Management of nematodes in sweet potato fields in Kenya has mainly been through the use of nematicides and crop rotation which have limitations. The use of resistant sweet potato cultivars along with other low-cost organic amendments is the most economical, effective, and environmentally safe method of m...
ABSTRACT Access to market plays a vital role in poverty alleviation among smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Agricultural markets provide income generating opportunities for farmers in rural areas hence improving their livelihoods. Avocado fruit has a high demand in both local and export markets due to its nutritional value and industrial use. However, smallholder avocado farmers have not benefited from this increased demand. The purpose of the study was to assess the effects of trans...
ABSTRACT Continuous land cultivation without adequate soil nutrients replenishment causes soil fertility decline leading to reduced crop productivity. Significant research on external fertility inputs application rates and type have been carried out under researcher designed and managed conditions in Kenya. But little research on the same has been carried out to evaluate their performances under on-farm smallholder farmers’ conditions. Hence, the study evaluated the decomposition rates (goa...
ABSTRACT The coffee subsector in Kenya has been characterized by low and declining productivity at farm levels. Over the years, coffee research in Kenya has developed technologies that are aimed at increasing the productivity and improving the quality of coffee produced. Despite many agronomic recommendations, coffee productivity has not increased with increase in acreage. This may be attributed to the interaction between the recommendations and prevailing socioeconomic factors experienced by...
ABSTRACT Mango (Mangifera indicia L.) is one of the most suitable fruit crops in arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya. Its production in Machakos County has generally been fluctuating over the past few years, such that there is no consensus whether the production is increasing or decreasing. In addition, there is a paucity of knowledge about the quantity of mangoes supplied by small-scale farmers. Upon harvest, the mango fruit is highly perishable, therefore farmers have taken up farm-level valu...