Blackberry is a crop of great economic potential but it has not been exploited commercially in Kenya. Breeding and commercial production of blackberry requires rapid propagation which is not possible through the traditional seed and vegetative techniques. This study aimed at developing an efficient protocol for rapid multiplication of blackberry (Rubus sp). The study comprised of seven separate experiments to establish the best sterilization protocol, explant size, source of explants, callus ...
Global warming has led to intensity of extreme events that affect agricultural production worldwide, and sub-Sahara Africa in particular, where economies are highly dependent on agriculture and adoption of modern technology is low. Kenyan agriculture is vulnerable to climate-induced risks and uncertainty manifested in low crop yields. Although potato is a food security and cash crop for many smallholder farmers in Mauche Ward of Nakuru County, its production is affected by variability in rain...
Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) is an important disease causing losses of up to 70% in the most susceptible cultivars. Its effects include: reduced root quality due to pitting, root constriction and necrosis, and reduced number and weight of tuberous roots. To contribute to CBSD management, a study was conducted to: (i) Screen East African cassava landraces and F1 populations for CBSD resistance; (ii) Analyse symptom expression and virus accumulation in CBSV graft inoculated cassava varie...
Potato is a strategic commodity with the potential to improve food and nutrition security and to generate income in Rwanda. Despite its potential, potato intensification remains low, translating into low yield. The low yield is occasioned mainly by the decline in soil fertility. In addition, farmers adapt a blanket fertilizer recommendation rate which is not sensitive to the actual crop needs. Field experiments were conducted in Birunga, Mudende [L1] and Buberuka, Rwerere [L2] highlands Agro-...
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an economically and nutritionally important crop in Rwanda. However, its production is threatened by the invasive tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta Meyrick) since 2015. Options for integrated pest management (IPM) for its control under Rwandan conditions have not been developed. The main objective of this study was to contribute to enhanced tomato productivity and fruit quality in Rwanda through evaluation of entomopathogens and plant extracts as options for...
Adverse soil moisture deficit as a result of high ambient temperatures and high velocity June winds at critical stages of maize growth had been singled out as the most important factor limiting maize yield in Coastal Kenya during long rain season. This study was carried out to study the effect of foliar applied kaolin and coir dust mulch on evapotranspiration and yield of Pwani hybrid 4 maize. A 2x2x4x3 split-split plot design experiment, replicated thrice was set at Pwani University Farm, in...
There is potential in Kenya to utilize forage sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L) Lam) cultivars as livestock feed. There are many cultivars of forage sweet potato in Kenya whose feeding values have not been evaluated. The objectives of the current study were: 1) evaluate forage sweet potato cultivars for crude protein (CP) yield and digestibility at different harvesting ages, 2) evaluate their conservation potential as silage or hay and 3) determine sheep growth performance and goat milk yield...
Abstract: Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is one of the most important legume crops in the tropics of Latin America, Asia, and Africa including Ethiopia as a cheap source of protein. Information on the genetic variability and the interrelationship between yield and yield related traits are important for developing high-yielding crop varieties with valuable yield attributes. The current study was carried out with two sets of experiments, i.e un-inoculated and inoculated with one rhizobial...
Abstract: Finger millet is an important cereal crop with high genetic potential in Ethiopia. However, its production was challenged due to limited genetic information and availability of high- yielding and adaptable varieties. The main objectives of this study were to assess the genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, and associations among yield and yield related traits including the direct and indirect effects of yield-related traits on grain yield. Sixty four finger millet acc...
Abstract: Sorghum is one of the most important cereal crops grown in the world for human consumption, animal feed and bio-energy. Biotic and abiotic stresses are the most dominant constraints for the production and productivity of the crop. The study was conducted with the objectives of estimating water use efficiency, drought tolerance and grain yield of sorghum genotypes under stress condition. The trials were conducted using 64 sorghum genotypes using Latin square design with two replicat...
Abstract: In West Hararghe, wheat is produced on thousands of hectares, but the productivity is much lower than the average of national and regional states due to moisture stress resulting from xv erratic rainfall. Developing varieties in the area is one of the measures to improve the production and productivity of wheat. This pre-breeding research was conducted to assess the genetic variability in bread wheat genotypes and determine the association among traits. Sixty-four genotypes includi...
Abstract Smallholder farmers often bundle different sustainable agricultural intensification (SAI) practices to boost crop yield and address soil fertility challenges. However, there is a dearth of empirical studies that investigate farmers’ adoption of SAI bundles and their subsequent impacts. Using data from a three-wave panel survey of smallholder maize-legume producers in Kenya, we examine the adoption and payoffs from 10 SAI practices clustered into five dominant groups. We use a rand...
Abstract Climate change manifestations and population pressure are some of the most critical challenges that affect agricultural productivity. Integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) technologies are among the agricultural innovations that have been developed to address declining crop productivity. These technologies have been promoted across diverse areas including marginal agro- ecological zones. Despite the nobility and versatility of ISFM technologies, their adoption is still low par...
Abstract: Sorghum is an important cereal crop grown primarily in arid and semi-arid climates with a wide range of adaptability to various agro-ecological conditions of Ethiopia. However, the limited availability of improved varieties and the low production potential of landraces have constrained sorghum production in Ethiopia and a little information is available on combining ability, heterosis, and gene action for locally adapted sorghum landraces. Therefore, the research was undertaken to ...
Abstract The factors affecting farm-level output of mangoes among small-scale farmers in Mwala Sub-County, Kenya were examined. The first stage of regression analysis resulted that family and hired labour, amount of pesticides and manure had positively significant affected on mango farm-level output. The results on the second stage of the factor affecting mango output was household size, farming income, area allocated to mango farming (farm size), amount of credit, and extension contacts whi...