Theses & Dissertations Open Access Inheritance of phosphorus use efficiency and resistance to anthracnose in selected sorghum genotypes grown in the acid soils of Western Kenya A. Nyambok The acid soils of western Kenya where most of the sorghum is grown have very low available phosphorus, at 2-5mg P/kg soil compared to the recommended levels of 10-15mg P/ kg soil required for optimal crop productivity. In these soils, sorg… RUF-35837 2014 CC BY 4.0 28 Jan 2016
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Resistance to the African and spotted stem borers in sorghum in Kenya P.W. Muturi Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor, L. Moench) is a key cereal crop to over 500 million people in semi arid tropics. Sorghum production in subsistence farming is low and ranges between 0.5– 0.8 t/ha compared to potential yields of 10 t/ha. Diseases,… RUF-35784 2013 CC BY 4.0 27 Nov 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Quantitative and qualitative prediction of cattle diets and performance by analysis of fecal near infrared spectra in southeastern drylands of Kenya Joseph N. Njoroge RUF-35783 2014 CC BY 4.0 24 Nov 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Ethnopharmacology, phytochemical composition and toxicity of medicinal plants used against livestock helminths in drylands Agnes Sarah Nalule Medicinal plants are important natural resources in drylands for communities on which their livestock and other forms of livelihoods have been sustained based on traditional knowledge. However, lack of scientific basis of their biological … RUF-35775 2011 CC BY 4.0 19 Nov 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Effects of soil physicochemical properties and genetic characteristics on distribution of acacia senegal (L) willd. varieties in the dryland areas of Kenya E.W. Githae Acacia senegal is a dryland multipurpose tree species highly valued for gum Arabic production, agroforestry and desertification control. The aim of this study was to investigate the edaphic and genetic factors that affect distribution of t… RUF-35772 2011 CC BY 4.0 19 Nov 2015
Journal articles Open Access Assessment of shoreline changes in the period 1969-2010 in Watamuarea, Kenya Alemayehu. Fikir · James Kinyanjui. Mwangi · R. Onwonga · V.O. Wasonga Watamu coastlineis a major attraction site for tourist and also a source of income for the local people. However, the shoreline has been changing due to erosion. This study sought to find the trend of shoreline changes, and the factors att… RUF-35769 2014 CC BY 4.0 19 Nov 2015
Journal articles Open Access Assessment of mangrove covers change and Biomass in Mida creek, Kenya Alemayehu. Fikir · P. Kinyanjui · R. Onwonga · V.O. Wasonga This study uses old aerial photographs, current high resolution satellite images and ground truthing to analyze the patterns and dynamics of Mida Creek mangrove forest changes over 41 years from 1969-2010. A non-distractive method was used… RUF-35763 2014 CC BY 4.0 19 Nov 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Improving small holder land productivity through promotion of sustainable soil and water conservation technologies in Machakos District: a case of vegetative macro contour lines M. W. Baaru The study was carried out at Kathekakai settlement scheme, Machakos District to evaluate effects of vegetative macro contour line on soil moisture content and crop performance. In addition, the study also looked at land use and land cover … RUF-35760 2011 CC BY 4.0 19 Nov 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access The impact of climate variability and extreme weather events on gender and household vulnerability to food insecurity V. M. Tasokwa Kakota Climate variability is a challenge to ensuring food security among populations that mainly depend on rain-fed agriculture. It affects rural women and men differently. However, there is inadequate information to link climate variability to … RUF-35758 2011 CC BY 4.0 19 Nov 2015
Journal articles Open Access Tillage effects on selected soil physical properties in a maize-bean intercropping system in Mwala District, Kenya N. Amuri · C.K.K. Gachene · Patrick. Gicheru · Anne Karuma +1 more A field study was carried out to evaluate the effects of tillage practices on soil physical properties in Mwala district, Eastern Kenya, duringthelongrains(LR)andshortrains(SR)of2012/13.Thetreatmentswerediscploughing(DP),discploughingandharr… RUF-35757 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Nov 2015
Journal articles Open Access Soil morphology, physico - chemical properties and Classification of typical soils of Mwala district, Kenya N. Amuri · C.K.K. Gachene · Patrick. Gicheru · A.N. Karuma +2 more A soil profile representative of typical soils of Mwala District, Kenya, was dug to study its morphology, soil physico-chemical characteristics and to classify it using two internationally known soil classification systems. Disturbed and u… RUF-35752 2015 CC BY 4.0 17 Nov 2015
Journal articles Open Access Enhancing soil water content for increased food production in semi-arid areas of Kenya. Results from an on-farm trial in Mwala district, Kenya N. Amuri · C.K.K. Gachene · Patrick. Gicheru · A.N. Karuma +1 more Soil water conservation through tillage is one of the appropriate ways of addressing soil moisture deficit in rainfed agriculture. This study evaluated the effects of tillage practices on soil moisture conservation and crop yields in Mwala… RUF-35741 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Nov 2015
Journal articles Open Access Role of camel milk in pastoral livelihoods in Kenya: contribution to household diet and income Dickson M. Nyariki · V.O. Wasonga · A.M. Yazan Elhadi Pastoral livestock production in Kenya is subject to unpredictable rainfall and drought occurrences. These adverse climatic conditions have led to vulnerable and insecure pastoral livelihoods. Despite the potential to alleviate food insecu… RUF-35701 2015 CC BY 4.0 3 Nov 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access The contribution of camel milk production as a livelihood strategy for building pastoral resilience in the drylands of Kenya A.M. Yazan Elhadi Pastoral production system in Kenya is facing many challenges such as high livestock mortality, high incidence of malnutrition and marginalisation. This has been worsened by the impact of climate variability and change which has rendered m… RUF-35698 2015 CC BY 4.0 3 Nov 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Growth, yield and postharvest qualities of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum M.) as influenced by soil moisture levels and packaging C.I. Sibomana Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum M.) is a fruit vegetable, and like most horticultural commodities is highly perishable. It is often exposed to stresses either imposed by other organisms (biotic) or arising from imbalance of environmental f… RUF-35633 2011 CC BY 4.0 8 Oct 2015
Journal articles Open Access Resistance of tropical maize genotypes to the larger grain borer Y. Beyene · S.N. Mugo · S.W. Munyiri · J.K. Mwololo +4 more Post-harvest losses caused by the larger grain borer (LGB, Prostephanus truncatus) aggravate food insecurity among small-scale farmers. Host plant resistance is a method of LGB control which should be prioritized in order to reduce these l… RUF-35615 2012 CC BY 4.0 7 Oct 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Investigating viability of premium influenced land agro-usage structure for increased phyto-diversity and production of African leafy vegetables S. Munialo Decreasing land holdings among smallholder farmers in Vihiga and Jinja have resulted in intensive land utilization. This has in turn led to low soil fertility level which has resulted in decline in the abundance and distribution of phyto-d… RUF-35527 2013 CC BY 4.0 29 Sep 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Cross-mating and oviposition behaviour between strains of Cotesia sesamiae cameron (Hymenoptera: braconidae) from Kitale, Mombasa and Mount Kenya. Jane Ndegi Mugambi Stemborers cause 50% yield losses in cereal crops including maize, sorghum and sugarcane. In Kenya, stemborers include Busseola fusca, B. phaia, Sesamia calamistis, Eldana saccharina, Chilo orichalcociliellus and C. partellus. Control opti… RUF-35523 2010 CC BY 4.0 29 Sep 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Species abundance, composition and colonization behaviour of Malaria vectors in a semi-arid ecosystem of Baringo District, Kenya Okello Samuel Arum Malaria is one of the public health problems facing people in many parts of Kenya including semi-arid areas. It is caused by an infectious bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes. To effectively implement malaria control program, the knowledge… RUF-35509 2011 CC BY 4.0 29 Sep 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Participatory evaluation of sweet potato varieties response to virus infection in central Kenya P.W. Muturi Sweet potato is an important food and cash crop grown by small holder farmers but its productivity is limited by sweet potato virus disease (SPVD). Farmers' lack of disease free vines and inadequate knowledge on identification and manage… RUF-35490 2008 CC BY 4.0 29 Sep 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Evaluation of sweet potato varieties response to sweet potato virus disease J.K. Mwololo Sweet potato is an important foo, feed and cash crop in Eastern Africa but its productivity is greatly reduced by the sweet potato virus disease (SPVD). Variety based tolerance to SPVD is greatly reduced by the sweet potato virus disease (… RUF-35481 2008 CC BY 4.0 28 Sep 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access An assessment of the impact of land use changes on human-elephant conflict in Laikipia West district, Kenya Mumu Thomas Waithaka 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… RUF-35405 2010 CC BY 4.0 23 Sep 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Analysis of farmers’ adoption of zero grazing and knowledge of cattle reproductive parameters in western Kenya J. Nalunkuuma Besides soil replenishment through manure application , the zero grazing production system also contributes towards smallholders' standards of living and poverty reduction. Its benefits are many and substantial; in western Kenya, the lives… RUF-35374 2013 CC BY 4.0 21 Sep 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Statistical models for yield, pest abundance and disease incidence of tomato Juma William Yabeja Analysis of variance (ANOVA) is one of the general linear models used to nearly unimaginable range of problems in many different disciplines and has been a fundamental method used by plant pathologists and other researchers for analysis of… RUF-35373 2013 CC BY 4.0 21 Sep 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Effects of the increase of supermarkets on vegetable supply systems of small-scale farmers in Kenya Ismail Mohamed Ismail Maryoud Supermarkets are expanding rapidly in Africa and particularly in Kenya. As they consolidate and increase their market share, they may be large enough to exert market power and may have both negative and positive impacts on the suppliers an… RUF-35370 2013 CC BY 4.0 21 Sep 2015
