INTRODUCTION In many areas of the United States, soil erosion has become a serious agricultural problem and the State of Iowa is no exception. People attribute this to several causes but increased production of row crops is the principal cause. For example, Moldenhauer and Amemiya (196g) estimated that in the deep loess soils of western Iowa, a corn-corn-soybean rotation without erosion control can result in soil losses as great as 42 tons per acre annually from 9% slopes 300 feet long, or 2...
Abstract This experiments of this Research were conducted to study effect of the gamma irradiation doses on four genotypes of maize (Zea mays L.) (Var-113, Hudiba-1, Hudiba-2 mug45). The maize genotypes were subjected to four doses (50, 100, 150 and 200GY) of gamma irradiation including control. One laboratory and two field experiments were conducted. The laboratory experiment was conducted to study the germination percentage, shoot, root and shoot to root ratios of the germinated seedling. ...
Abstract A field experiment was conducted in winter season 2017/2018, at the experimental farm of the College of Agricultural Studies, Sudan University of Science and Technology (SUST), at Shambat, to study the effect of microdosing fertilization at two different application times on forage barley. A spilt plot arrangement on completely block randomized design (RCBD) was used with three replicates. Sowing time viz. at planting and after 15 days of planting was set as the main plot while the m...
Abstract A field experiment was conducted at the College of Agricultural Studies, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Sudan, Khartoum, during summer 2014 and 2015, to study the effects of sowing date, pollinations and cultivars on seed setting and seed filling of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L).The cultivars were Hysun33 and local .The experiment was factorial experiment with three factors in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. Two cultivars, local (PAN...
ABSTRACT Successful land management for tree crop production requires good knowledge of the soil variation and suitability for specific tree crops. Most of the traditional rubber growing areas in Nigeria have not been evaluated for their suitability and production potential. Characterisation and evaluation of the land for rubber production was therefore conducted. Soils of two rubber producing areas: Iyanomo, Edo State and Akwete, Abia State were characterised and evaluated using local, Unit...
ABSTRACT In an attempt to address the insect pest menace in Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.), a study was conducted to document the major insect pests of Jatropha in Kenya and evaluate the bioactivity of aqueous T. vogelii and L. camara extracts against adult golden flea beetle (GFB). A stratified simple random sampling procedure was used to gather information on the major insect pests of Jatropha in Bondo and Kibwezi districts. In the laboratory and field studies, aqueous crude extracts, at fo...
ABSTRACT Food grain shortage in Kenya is attributed to low rainfall and poor distribution in maize growing areas particularly as well as low soil fertility associated mainly with nitrogen deficiency. Use of irrigation water and nitrogen fertilizer is likely to solve this food security challenge. This study was conducted over two seasons covering 2012 and 2013 with the aim of establishing optimal irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer rates for drought tolerant hybrid maize (Zea mays L.), DK8031,...
ABSTRACT Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is a drought tolerant crop with a potential for industrial uses. Despite increase in demand for sorghum for industrial use, the local supply is low mainly due to to lack of high yielding sorghum genotypes. A number of genotypes with desirable properties for use in baking, malting and brewing have been identified however there is no information on the performance of these varieties in the agro-ecological zones traditionally used for sorghum product...
ABSTRACT Production of maize in Western Kenya is adversely affected by Striga hermonthica, a hemiparastic weed that produces numerous seeds that remain dormant in the soil for even more than 20years. These characteristics coupled with continuous cereal cropping have contributed to the high level of Striga seeds in the soil and the accompanying maize yield losses. Integrating legumes as intercrops is one way of reducing density of S. hermonthica in the soil and improving the livelihood of sub...
ABSTRACT Stem rust (Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici- Pgt) disease is currently one of the major biotic constraints in wheat (Triticum aestivum) production worldwide. Access to diverse sources of genetic resistance is important in building a broad base resistance to stem rust in our commercial wheat varieties. The obejectives of this study were (i) to screen wheat genotypes from diverse origins for both seedling (SPR) and adult plant resistance (APR) to the predominant Ug99 race and its varia...
Soybean [Glycine max (L) Merrill] yields in Kenya range from 445-1200 kg ha -1 against potential yields of 3500 kg ha -1 . The low yields are attributed to soil moisture stress and use of poor agronomic practices. The objectives of the study were to determine effect of soil moisture regimes on CO2 assimilation, growth and yield of selected soybean cultivars; to determine effect of planting density on yield and yield components of soybean and to determine effect of soybean and maize i...
The potential of sorghum to meet food, feed and farm income needs of smallholder farmers in arid areas of Kenya relies on the identification and cultivation of appropriate varieties. Sorghum cultivation for food grain and quality fodder from the same crop is not well established among varieties in Kenya. The fodder– cum–grain yield potential of important varieties required to be identified to enable farmers in semi-arid areas to select appropriate varieties and crop management progra...
The use of mineral and organic fertilizer to produce maize in Malawi is essential to ensure high yields, due to a decline in soil fertility. Smallholder farmers however, apply sub-optimalamounts of inorganic fertilizers to produce maize due to high prices. The objective of the study was to evaluate effect of integrating chicken manure and mineral fertilizer on nitrogen uptake, growth and yield of hybrid maize in Malawi as a low cost measure. Field experiments were done in Lilongwe and Z...
ABSTRACT Efficient breeding and selection of elite tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) clones require sound knowledge and understanding of genetics associated with yield, quality and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. A series of experiments were carried out to elucidate the genetic parameters and map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for agronomic and quality attributes in tea. The combining abilities and heterosis for yield, drought tolerance (DT), and quality traits (percent total p...
ABSTRACT 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] highl...