Working Document Series Open Access Determining appropriate mode and rate of applying lime to improve maize production in acid soils of north Kakamega and Siaya districts, Kenya J.K. Kiplagat · J.R. Okalebo · C.O. Othieno Increasing soil acidity is a major cause of low soil fertility in western Kenya where about 57,670 hectares is acidic. While liming can increase soil pH, the most appropriate method of application needs to be determined. This study aimed a… RUF-34599 2010 CC BY 4.0 8 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Studies on the etiology, epidemiology and management of dieback disease of passion fruit in Kenya R. Gathu · N. Kori · J. Mbaka · M. Mwangi +1 more Passion fruit (Passiflora spp.) is an important cash crop in Kenya. In the recent past, diseases have increasingly reduced its production with yield losses ranging from 50 – 100%. Dieback is a recently emerged disease that is highly virule… RUF-34598 2010 CC BY 4.0 8 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Biological N2 fixation of three Acacia senegal varieties in the drylands of Kenya using 15N natural abundance method E.W. Githae A study is on-going in Kenya to identify Acacia senegal varieties with high symbiotic biological N2 fixation capacity. Balanites aegyptica, a non-legume species, has been included for comparison. Variety senegal has so far shown the highes… RUF-34584 2010 CC BY 4.0 8 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Studies into slow rusting resistance among selected wheat lines F.M. Nzuve · D. Singh · G. Tusiime Wheat is an important staple crop in East Africa whose consumption outweighs its production partly due to the emergence of a virulent strain of Puccinia graminis fsp tritici, strain ug99 that cause stem rust disease. A study was carried ou… RUF-34573 2010 CC BY 4.0 7 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Biotic constraints to banana production in Eastern and Central Provinces of Kenya R. Gathu · J. Mbaka · R. Muasya · Maina Mwangi +1 more Banana is an important crop whose production faces major challenges, especially pests and diseases. A banana pests survey was carried out in Eastern and Central Provinces of Kenya. Results showed Fusarium wilt as the most widespread diseas… RUF-34571 2010 CC BY 4.0 7 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Participatory development, testing and validation of concepts and technologies for site-specific detection and control of plant parasitic nematodes infecting tomatoes in Mwea, Kenya J.K. Birgen · V. Gathaara · F.W. Kariuki · G.M. Kariuki Tomato production in Kenya has been a lucrative business for smallholder farmers who cannot afford huge capital to invest in other cash crops. It is a major source of household incomes and has created employment that has resulted in improv… RUF-34557 2010 CC BY 4.0 4 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access The link between seasonal climatic variability and poverty: A case study of pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in Baringo District, Kenya D.M. Nyariki · V.O. Wasonga · A.M. Yazan Elhadi Poverty remains rampant in the dry districts of Kenya so that it has now become an important item on Kenya’s development agenda. The dry districts of Kenya receive low amounts of rainfall, which is also erratic. These regions are predomina… RUF-34545 2010 CC BY 4.0 27 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Modelling the potential impact of climate change on sorghum and cowpea production in semi-arid areas of Kenya using the agricultural production systems simulator (APSIM) J.M. Githinji · G. Kironchi · J. P. Mbuvi · R.N. Onwonga Managing crop production risks associated with inter-annual climate variability and climate change has received insignificant attention in the semi-arid areas of Kenya. Against this backdrop, the potential impact of climate change on sorgh… RUF-34537 2010 CC BY 4.0 25 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access The implications of climate change on economic and food security in Kenya A. Edriss · J. Mangisoni · J. Mbogo · I. Musebe This study, covering six provinces in Kenya, aims at establishing impact of climate change on food security and Kenya’s economy as a whole. Both primary and secondary data will be collected and analyzed using approaches such as the translo… RUF-34510 2010 CC BY 4.0 25 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Assessing effectiveness of macropropagation technology to produce healthy seedlings of banana varieties with high market demand in Eastern and Central provinces, Kenya R. Gathu · N. Kori · J. Mbaka · R. Muasya +2 more Banana is an important food and cash crop in Kenya. However, its cultivation is hindered by scarcity of seedlings, pests and diseases, among other factors. Naturally regenerated seedlings which most farmers rely on are likely to carry pest… RUF-34508 2010 CC BY 4.0 25 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Genetic diversity for resistance to larger grain borer in maize hybrids and open pollinated varieties in Kenya S. Mugo · S.W. Munyiri · J.K. Mwololo · P. Okori +1 more Modern maize varieties and hybrids possess improved agronomic performance and tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses. However, breeding for the traits that contribute to resistance to post harvest pests have not been given due attention.… RUF-34498 2010 CC BY 4.0 25 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Biotic constraints to passion fruit production in central and eastern provinces of Kenya R. Gathu · N. Kori · J. Mbaka · Maina Mwangi +1 more Passion fruit is an important crop in Kenya for income generation. However, passion fruit production faces major challenges due to pests and diseases that have led to yield losses of 50-100%. To support development of effective integrated … RUF-34463 2010 CC BY 4.0 21 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Analysis of oil quality and content from different Kenyan land races of Croton megalocarpus E. Kenya · J. Onchieku · E. Onyango Aroko The increasing industrialization and motorization of the world has led to a steep rise in demand of petroleum-based fuels. Today, fossil fuels constitute 80% of the primary energy consumed in the world, of which 58% alone is consumed by th… RUF-34449 2010 CC BY 4.0 21 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Variability in carotenoid content among introduced yellow-fleshed cassava clones R. Edema · J. W. Kamau · P. W. Njenga Cassava is important in semi-arid Kenya. However, the crop is low in micronutrients including beta-carotene. A total of 129 high beta-carotene cassava clones from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) were established … RUF-34434 2010 CC BY 4.0 21 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Effect of varying Desmodium and maize harvesting regimes on their yields and growth attributes within the “Push- Pull” intercropping systems in Western Kenya Z. Khan · M. N. Koech · J.R. Okalebo · C.O. Othieno +3 more This study tested the hypothesis that inclusion of Desmodium spp. into maize cropping system under the push-pull technology enhanced crop growth and yield. Field trials were conducted in Siaya and Busia districts of western Kenya with the … RUF-34388 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Fumigant toxicity of five essential oil constituents against major stored-product insect pests of food grains P.K Bett · A.L. Deng · E. A.W. Kamau · S.T Kariuki +5 more Insect pests attacking stored food grains cause substantial losses that undermine food security in sub-Sahara Africa. Subsistence farmers predominantly use traditional plant-based products to protect their grains in storage. In an attempt … RUF-34387 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Response of sorghum genotypes to indigenous and exotic stem borers in Kenya P. Gibson · S. Kyamanywa · M. Mgonja · P.W. Muturi +1 more Field trials are being conduced in Kenya to identify sources of resistance, especially multiple resistance to Buseola fusca and Chilo partellus, two devastating pests of maize in sub-Saharan Africa. Genotypes ICSB 464, ICSB 467, Macia, IES… RUF-34367 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Collection and documentation of Papaya germplasm in Kenya. G. O. Asudi · E. M. Ateka · A. B. Nyende · F. K. Ombwara +2 more Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is one of the major fruit crops of Kenya and the tropics in general. It shows considerable phenotypic variation in morphological and horticultural traits that can be utilized in genetic improvement. The objective … RUF-34358 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Diversity and colonization of permanent and semi-permanent breeding habitats by Anopheles mosquitoes in a semi-arid ecosystem of Baringo district in Kenya S.O. Arum · E.D. Kokwaro · F. Mulwa Diversity, occurrence and utilization of mosquito breeding habitats is an essential component of vector ecology and important in designing and implementation of vector management programs. A one year larval survey was conducted to determin… RUF-34341 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access A study to assess agricultural E-resource use and its impacts within the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture consortium F. Njogu · D. Onyango Electronic resources (E-resources) enable students, lecturers, librarians and researchers, to conduct multiple searches, print citations and full text and access publications remotely through hyperlinks to related content. These processes … RUF-34330 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Modeling potential impact of climate change on sorghum and cowpea performance under different tillage and cropping systems in semi-arid areas of Kenya T. Kirina Kitinya · R.N. Onwonga Field trials were carried out at Kambi ya Mawe location in Eastern Kenya during the long rains (LRS) of 2010 and short rains (SRS) of 2010/2011, to evaluate effect of tillage and cropping system on performance of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L… RUF-34272 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Assessment of trends in crop type and land cover change using GIS in Yatta sub-county, Kenya G. N. Karuku · V. M. Kathumo · B. A. Liavoga · R.N. Onwonga +2 more Assessment of the distribution and dynamics of vegetation using remote sensing techniques and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) have proven to be efficient tools in monitoring agricultural activities as they provide methods for analys… RUF-34258 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Seasonal rainfall variability, drought characterisation and efficacy of interpolation techniques: Case of Kenya’s central highlands M. Oscar Kisaka · F.S. Mairura · M. Mucheru-Muna · D.N. Mugendi +2 more Drier parts Eastern Kenya, endure persistent crop failure and declining agricultural productivity which have been attributed, in part, to high temperatures, prolonged dry-spells and particularly erratic rainfall. Understanding spatial-temp… RUF-34241 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Physico-chemical properties and antioxidant potential of syrup derived from ‘Madhura’ sweet sorghum grown in different locations in Kenya E. M. Makori · Hunja Murage · Mwanjala Mwasaru · N. O. Ojijo +3 more Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench) represents an analogous crop to sugarcane with similar accumulation of sugars in its juicy stems but with a higher agronomic stability to temperature fluctuations, less water requirement and bette… RUF-34211 2014 CC BY 4.0 14 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Assessing transitory poverty among pastoralists of northern kenya using the stages of progress method W. Kogi-Makau · L. MacOpiyo · J.T. Njoka · W. P. Watete Assessment of poverty among pastoral households using conventional methods may at times give an inaccurate picture of pastoral poverty. Pastoral areas generally fare very poorly in terms of common standard indicators and are thus likely to… RUF-34201 2014 CC BY 4.0 14 Aug 2015
