Abstract/Overview Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) seeds were scarified with an 18 N H2S04 solution, then primed for one week at 10De in PEG- 6000, NaCl or natural sea water. Germination tests were carried out at 30De, which is normally inhibitory for spinach seed germination. The germination rate of scarified seeds was higher than the untreated ones. Four successive use of the acid solution did not reduce its scarifying potential; the most suitable soaking time depended on seed size. When ...
Abstract/Overview Indigenous vegetables form a key component of farming systems in most communities in Africa including Kenya. Its increased awareness and utilization has been attributed to its reported superior nutritional quality, medicinal value and ecological adaptability to existing weather conditions. Utilization of these vegetables among low, middle and high income earners in Kenya has improved tremendously and this calls for high quality vegetables to maintain confidence. Improved...
Abstract/Overview The wild-type Solanumu villosum is an important leafy vegetable in Kenya, which however is low-yielding mainly due to the early flowering and prolific fruiting. Two new genotypes of S. villosum, T-5 and octoploid with different flowering and fruiting characteristics from the wild-type have been developed. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate leaf yield, plant height and iron content of the genotypes under varying nitrogen levels. The experiments were laid out as ...
Abstract/Overview Tuberose sold on the domestic market fetches very low prices during the low export season. Value addition to the crop would make its production more sustainable. A study was carried out to identify the constituent chemical compounds of tuberose fragrance grown in high altitude regions (Meru, 2068m asl and Tigoni, 1850m asl) and low altitude regions (Sagana, 1214m asl and Juja, 1350m asl) in Kenya. The volatiles were trapped between 5.30pm to 9.00pm from fully-opened inta...
Abstract/Overview African nightshades ( Solanum nigrum- related species) are some of the most widely consumed traditional leafy herbs and vegetables, particularly in Africa and South-East Asia. The leaves contain high levels of vitamins (especially A, B and C), mineral fibres (such as iron, calcium and phosphorus), carbohydrates and proteins. They also contain phenolics and alkaloids, such as nicotine, quinine, cocaine, and morphine, which are known for their medicinal attributes. With th...
Abstract/Overview The study focused on a value chain analysis geared towards identifying the various, processes, inputs and major players in the mango value chain system. Data was collected from the main actors in the mango value chain at different segments including input suppliers, producers, traders and consumers using a structured questionnaire. The sampling method employed included stratification of respondents on the basis of functional roles of the various actors followed by a Sequ...
Abstract/Overview Anthocyanins are a group of plant pigments responsible for colors ranging from red to violet and blue. Anthocyanins are pigments that accumulate in the vacuoles of plant epidermal cells. Chroma and hue are dependent on conditions inside and outside the vacuoles. Also conditions within the vacuole that facilitate formation of complexes with several metal ions. The aim of this study was to examine changes in accumulation of anthocyanins and the resultant colour in tuberose...
Abstract/Overview frican nightshades ( Solanum section Solanum ) are an important source of daily nutrients and income for small-scale farmers in sub- Saharan Africa and are a delicacy for urban inhabitants. The section is one of the most ubiquitous, largest and most diverse sp ecies groups of the genus Solanum , with more than 30 reported species. Complete profiling of the species in this section has been hampered by several morphological, cytological and taxonomic complexities. There is...
Abstract/Overview The perception of African nightshades ( Solanum section Solanum ) as “healthy” foods, supported by documentation of their high nutri- tional and medicinal benefits, has led to a sudden and steady upsurge in their consumption, demand and monetary value in Africa and most parts of South-East Asia. However, due to very low leaf yields, production of these vegetables remains on small-scales, re sulting in acute shortages and escalating prices, especially in urban areas. ...
Abstract/Overview This article looks at spatial variations and the relationship between land degradation and agricultural land use intensity in Nyakach District, Kenya. The main objective was to determine spatial variations and the relationship between land degradation and agricultural land use intensity in forested areas, hill slopes and river banks. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) was used to identify various land uses which acted as indicators of land degradation and agricultural land us...
Abstract/Overview We characterised the physiological mechanisms of tolerance in two beanvarieties (Phaseolus vulgaris L. viz. French Bean cv. Amy and Rosecoco(GLP2» differing in Al tolerance of the varietal level. Root elongation atvarying levels of Al over time clearly showed the Al tolerance superiority of Rosecoco over French bean. Aluminium uptake was much higher in French bean, in both root apex and 2 mm region of the root apex. The root cationexchange capacity of the AI-sensitive F...
Abstract/Overview Lactation curves are a graphical representation of the milk production profile of a doe from par- turition to drying up. Their shape provides information about the productivity of the doe and of- fers a means of explaining features of the milk production patterns of each animal. A total of 2732 daily morning milk records from 610 does of the Kenyan Alpine dairy goats’ genetic groups (50% Alpine, 75% Alpine, 87.5% Alpine and > 87.5% Alpine) and local goats (0% Alpine) k...
Abstract/Overview This paper highlights the narrative of Africa rising. It indicates that indeed Africa as well as Agriculture are rising. Since 2000, Sub-Saharan Gross Domestic Product has been growing at an average rate of 5% per annum. Agriculture has been growing at an average rate of 3.5% p.a, well above the 2.7% population growth. Evidence shows that this Economic and Agricultural growth have lead to improvements in the lives of the African people. Real income per person has increas...
Abstract/Overview The black soldier fly has become an important insect in bioconversion activity. However sustainable use of the insect is now dependent on the development of efficient artificial rearing systems. The concern however is on the scarcity of information on Black Soldier Fly rearing in general and on specific aspects of the production chain in particular such as use of baiting attractants for adult oviposition. The current study compared baiting efficiency of different attract...
Abstract/Overview Most smallholder farmers who account for more than 70% of the maize produced in Kenya are perpetually food insecure and stuck below poverty level. Sustained maize yield increase largely depends on long term adoption of modern farming technology. However, despite the high yields associated with modern maize technology promotion during and shortly after implementation phase of many projects, sustainability of the technologies still remains a challenge for smallholder maize...