Working Document Series Open Access Development of aluminium toxicity tolerance system for sorghum in agro ecological region three of Zambia S. Chikuta The overall objective of this study was to characterize selected sorghum varieties for Aluminium (Al) tolerance. The specific objectives were to determine performance of selected sorghum varieties grown in Al prone environments, identify r… RUF-34568 2010 CC BY 4.0 7 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Prevalence of bean anthracnose in Zambia and diversity of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum in Southern Africa P. Kachapulula · M. Mwala · P. Okori Prevalence of bean anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum lindemuthianum was assessed in four agro-ecologies in Zambia. Subsequently, fungal isolates were tested for race specifically involving race differentials and DNA analysis using Simp… RUF-34555 2010 CC BY 4.0 4 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access The impact of climate variability and extreme weather events on gender: Gender vulnerabilities and adaptation strategies for improved household food security in Malawi W. Kogi-Makau · D. Mkwambisi · D.M. Nyariki · V. M. Tasokwa Kakota The challenge to achieving household food security is a combination of biological, physical, and social factors. However, social factors, gender in particular, have received a cursory attention in adaptation studies. This study argues that… RUF-34540 2010 CC BY 4.0 26 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Climate variability and Tillage practices: Effect on soil moisture, carbon dynamics and crop productivity in semi arid Zimbabwe J. Keter · J. M. Kinama · R. Moyo · I. Nyagumbo +1 more To improve on low yields of rainfed agriculture which are a result of soil degradation, low fertility and low moisture levels in semi-arid areas and increased climatic variability due to climate change, conservation agriculture (CA) is bei… RUF-34505 2010 CC BY 4.0 25 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Combining ability analysis of quality protein maize (QPM) and non-PM inbred lines for kernel quality and some agronomic characteristics D. Lungu · J. MacRobert · C. Mutimaamba The biggest population in Zimbabwe depend on maize as a source of carbohydrates, yet it is deficient in protein and therefore makes the population prone to protein malnutrition. Quality Protein Maize (QPM) has double the amount of lysine a… RUF-34497 2010 CC BY 4.0 25 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Vulnerability to drought, adaptation and coping strategies among agro-pastoral communities in Botswana Kabo Mogotsi · M.M. Nyangito · D.M. Nyariki With the increased threat of climate change effects on the African continent, this study was carried out to document the coping mechanisms against the rampant droughts by the agropastoral communities in Botswana. The study was carried out … RUF-34479 2010 CC BY 4.0 25 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Genetic inheritance studies and early generation marker selection in maize breeding for drought tolerance C. Magorokosho · X. Mhike · P. Okori It has been estimated that approximately US $10 billion of primary food production is lost annually because of drought. Interventions like irrigation are options the majority of the smallholder farmers in sub Saharan Africa cannot afford. … RUF-34476 2010 CC BY 4.0 21 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Sustainable crop production using hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) to enrich soil fertility and conserve soil moisture for maize cropping in smallholder farming systems in Zimbabwe D. Chinamo · F Mapanda · M. Munyati · G. Nyamadzawo +2 more Crop production in smallholder farming systems of Zimbabwe is limited by low inherent soil fertility, particularly N and P and available soil moisture. One of the major agricultural challenges in developing countries is the development of … RUF-34466 2010 CC BY 4.0 21 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access An evaluation of the effect of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) on soil fertility of sandy soils in central Zimbabwe F Mapanda · A. Tumbure · M. Wuta Crop production in smallholder farming systems of Zimbabwe is limited by low inherent soil fertility, particularly N and P and available soil moisture. The use of efficient N fixing legumes is one way that can sustain soil fertility and co… RUF-34460 2010 CC BY 4.0 21 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Introgressing resistance to Fusarium root rot in selected farmer preferred Andean bean genotypes from Meso-American line and mapping of associated resistance quantitative trait loci K. Kamfwa · C. Mukankusi · M. Mwala · P. Okori Two populations of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) from K20 x MLB-49-89A and K132 x MLB-49-89A were assessed for resistance to Fusarium solani f.sp. phaseoli. Additionally, 35 SSR markers were screened for polymorphisism in the parents. The res… RUF-34455 2010 CC BY 4.0 21 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Association of seed coat colour with germination of three wild mustard species with agronomic potential A. T. Modi · J.O. Ochuodho Seed dormancy and germination present significant challenges when wild species are domesticated for cultivation and economic exploitation. Wild plant species are generally characterized by dormant seeds with variable germination widely spr… RUF-34442 2010 CC BY 4.0 21 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Ethno-botanical and morphological characterisation of cocoyams (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott and Xanthosoma sagittifolum L. Schott) germplasm in Malawi I. R. M. Benesi · F. P. Chipungu · L. Herselman · M. T. Labschagne +1 more Cocoyam accessions of Malawi were characterised using ethnobotany and morphological characters. Thirty above ground qualitative characters were evaluated. The cultivars were identified mainly based on the predominant leaf base and petiole … RUF-34424 2010 CC BY 4.0 21 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Linkages between crop residues, termite prevalence, crop lodging and subsequent crop yield under conservation agriculture in Zimbabwe E. F. Mutsamba · I. Nyagumbo Farmers believe that addition of residues to fields in conservation agriculture (CA) attract termites hence increase lodging, although they are beliefs that termites prefer feeding on dry matter and leave the crop. This study carried out i… RUF-34415 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Effect of temperature on maize sensitivity to acetochlor J. Allemann · P. Mphundi This greenhouse study determined the effect of temperature on the herbicide acetochlor. The herbicide was applied a day after planting at the rates of 0.74, 1.47, 2.94 and 5.85 kg ha-1. Plants were kept at three temperature: supra-optimal … RUF-34413 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access The effect of timing of earthing up on the performance of four Bambara groundnut landrace cultivars in the Mutasa District of Manicaland Province in Zimbabwe Z.A. Chiteka · S. Mhungu An experiment was carried out at two sites to investigate the effect of timing of earthing up on the yield of four landrace cultivars of Bambara groundut (Vigna subterranean [L.] Verdc.) cultivars in Zimbabwe during the 2006/2007 season. T… RUF-34411 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Combining ability among interspecific (G. hirsutum x G. barbadense) and mutation derived lines of cotton in fiber quality and agronomic traits N. Bbebe · D.M Lungu · B.M. Siamasonta Zambia’s cotton has had a very good reputation on the international market for a long time. In order to maintain this reputation, the cotton Development Trust of Zambia continues to evaluate germplasm for suitable parents. In this study, t… RUF-34409 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Influence of temperature on yield of carrots J. Allemann · G. M. Engelbrecht · N. A. Manosa This study evaluated the influence of temperature on yield and retinol content of two carrot cultivars. Both cultivars yielded higher at lower (10 °C) than higher temperature (18 °C), but retinol content was higher at 18 °C. RUF-34399 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Nutrient content of vegetable amaranth (Amaranths cruentus L.) at different harvesting stages N. D. Makobo · T. A. Mtaita · M. D. Shoko Data on the nutritional content of conventional vegetables can be reasonably associated with a specific stage of plant development, but information about the age of plant development to define harvest maturity for wild or indigenous leafy … RUF-34394 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Potential of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) to improve soil physical properties of sandy soils in central Zimbabwe D. Chinamo · F Mapanda · G. Nyamadzawo · M. Wuta Most farmers in the smallholder areas practice conventional tillage which results in soil loss of between 10-34 t ha-1 yr-1. Tillage also results in breakdown of macroaggregates into smaller aggregates as well as primary particles. Close p… RUF-34374 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Assessment of groundnut yield loss due to the groundnut leaf miner, Aproaerema modicella infestation in Mozambique M. Botao · D. Cugala · L. Santos · A. Sidumo +1 more The groundnut leaf miner, Aproaerema modicella Deventer (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is an invasive alien Asian species in Mozambique. A. modicella was reported for the first time in 1998 in Uganda. In Mozambique, Groundnut leaf miner was f… RUF-34364 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Distribution and potential invasion of Opuntia spp. on selected Namibian sites L.R. Brown · P.J. Du Preez · I.U. Kavirindi The distribution, density and size attributes of an alien invasive species, Opuntia spp., were assessed on each of north, west, south and eastern communal and commercial farming sites in Namibia. A chemical control trial on this species wa… RUF-34363 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Assessment of the fruit fly, Batrocera invadens, pest status and the establishment of the parasitoid, Fopius arisanus in Mozambique G. Albano · D. Cugala · L. Santos Asian fruit flies in the genus Bactrocera (Diptera: Tephritidae) are regarded as some of the most destructive pests of fruits and vegetables worldwide and rank high on quarantine lists worldwide. Losses result from direct feeding damage, d… RUF-34342 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Human resource capacity in conservation and use of plant genetic resources in the SADC region: A review M.P. Munyenyembe · L.L. Qhobela This review presents the main achievements made by the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) – Plant Genetic Resources Centre (SPGRC) in training and building capacity in conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources s… RUF-34322 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Creating an innovation platform for research impact: Lessons from the smallholder soyabean program in Zimbabwe S. Mpepereki This paper outlines the establishment of a broad innovation platform on to which more players were invited in efforts to meet the demands of participating farmers. We share this experience to encourage others to undertake impact-oriented p… RUF-34316 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Harnessing agricultural science for the people: Are African Universities doing enough? S. Mpepereki Agricultural research in many African universities has been project-based and piece-meal, failing to focus on understanding the socio-cultural context of African agricultural systems and their interaction with the physical environment, and… RUF-34315 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
