Abstract: Amaranths are African indigenous vegetables (AIVs) that are gaining popularity in several countries around the world due to their nutritional, medicinal and economic values. Insect pests are however a major challenge to optimum production of amaranths. The lepidopteran defoliator moth commonly known as Hawaiian beet webworm/amaranth leaf-webber, Spoladea recurvalis has been reported to be a major pest in amaranth fields, with the potential of causing complete defoliation under seve...
Abstract: Grasses in the genus Brachiaria, commonly known as brachiaria are grown as a fodder crop in sub-Saharan Africa, with some genotypes being used in management of the spotted stemborer Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) through a habitat management strategy. Stemborer is a major insect pest of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) and maize (Zea mays L.) in Africa. However, utilization of brachiaria in cereal-livestock based farming systems in the region faces several bi...
Abstract: Grain legumes are among the key economical crops widely grown in western and eastern Africa as important sources of food and animal fodder. However, the production of grain legumes in Kenya is seriously affected by a complex of insect pests particularly thrips. Yield losses of 20 to 100% have often been reported in some areas. The bean flower thrips (BFT), Megalurothrips sjostedti is considered to be the most important thrips pest of grain legumes. Chemical control is still the mai...
Abstract: Maize is the most widely grown cereal crop worldwide, and is the most important staple crop in sub-Sahara Africa. The spotted stemborer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera:Crambidae) is considered among the most important pests of maize and the damage it causes may result in yield losses of up to 88%. Previous studies showed that plants damaged by herbivores release huge amounts of volatile compounds, known as herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) into the environment, whic...
Abstract: Globally, orange is one of the major fruit crops contributing to nutrition and monetary income. False codling moth (FCM), Thaumatotibia leucotreta, is one of the major constraints of orange production. Before this study, little was known regarding the bioecology of FCM in orange and vegetables in Kenya and Tanzania and the potential use of dry conidia of entomopathogenic fungi for control of T. leucotreta moths has not been tested. There is also no IPM strategy available for FCM in...
Abstract: Tephritid fruit flies are among the most destructive pest species of fruits and vegetables in many regions of the world. Apart from high losses in yield, tephritid fruit fly pests pose great socioeconomic and ecological challenges as well as demand effective measures to curb infestation which can be costly. Among currently used management options are the use of chemical insecticides, behavioral, genetic, cultural and biological approaches. However, no single method or combination o...
Abstract: Information on pesticide residue occurrence in hive products is scanty or lacking yet it is important so as to safeguard human health from effects of pesticides. The aim of the study was to identify and quantify neonicotinoid residues in hive products. The study was undertaken for 6 months between (March-August, 2015) at Kiambu and Nairobi Counties. The objectives of the study were to find out the pesticides used in the cultivation of crops, the frequency of use and the concentrati...
ABSTRACT The research topic was “The impact of human activities on wild-life conservation in Kahuzi Biéga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo. “The main objective of this study was to establish how human activities have affected wildlife conservation in Kahuzi-Biega National ‘ark in the Democratic Republic of Congo “.This study used quantitative method for data collection. It is economical and efficient in data collection. It is used in investigating relationships between...
Farmers in Laikipia West district like many other farmers living in wildlife dispersal areas have continued to suffer huge losses resulting from wildlife menace without adequate compensation. Land use has been changing with time making the area prone to crop destruction by elephants. While it is known that land use change contributes to human -wildlife conflict, it has never been quantified over time for Laikipia West District. The objective of the study was to assess changes in land use...
ABSTRACT The overall objective of this study was to assess the economic impacts of climate change on agriculture in Kenya’s coastal region. To achieve this, specific objectives were used: to assess which impact climate change has on crop net revenue; to evaluate the impact of climate change on livestock net revenue; and to estimate the impact of climate change on combined net revenue. The study was conducted in all the six counties in the coastal Kenya: Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu, Tana Ri...
ABSTRACT Climate change due to anthropogenic induced global warming is one of the greatest and defining challenges of the current and future centuries. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPGC) has unequivocally affirmed it and directly linked it to anthropogenic Green-House Gases (GHGs) emissions from fossil fuel burning and land use changes. Although the impacts of climate change are global, they will be differently felt and distributed among different regions, generations, age ...
ABSTRACT A growing fish demand in Kenya, coupled with Government support from the Government has seen an upsurge in the aquaculture sub-sector. The Government’s Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) has been the main boost to Aquaculture development in the country. Despite the high growth, there is inadequate information on impact of the growth in aquaculture on water quality and livelihoods. The main objective of this study therefore was to establish the quality of water in the fish ponds and...
ABSTRACT Quarrying for limestone is an economic necessity that is not only hazardous to human but also one that invariably has deleterious effect on the environment. Information on the performance of trees species is important as plants are key in the revegetation of exhausted quarries. A comparison of field performance of Acacia xanthophloea, Schinus molle, Casuarina equisetifolia and Grevillea robusta was made in an exhausted limestone quarry, backfilled with limestone mine waste, in a semi...
ABSTRACT Post-harvest fisheries activities have been cited as contributors to environmental degradation. The current sanitary situation in urban fish markets is worrying and present threats to the public health and the surrounding environment. The research aimed to investigate and understand how the fish trader’s activities influence the environmental situation in fish markets. A descriptive survey design was used for the research. The target for the study was the fish traders of Gikomba fi...
ABSTRACT Commercial oil and gas was discovered in Kenya in 2012. Few academic studies have been done on the effects of the mentioned discovery to the environment.The oil and gas resources are expected to transform the economic wellbeing of the locals and the nation at large.However,land degradation, environmental pollution and socio-economic problems have always ensued oil and gas exporation ventures globally.This study aimed at determining the effects of oil and gas exploration on biophysica...