Working Document Series Open Access Spatial Dynamic of the Mabalane Mopane Ecosystem Degradation and its Association with Wildfires in southern Mozambique: What Implications for Biodiversity and people’s Livelihoods Romana Rombe Bandeira · Inocência Muzime · Amadeu Ossene · Cláudio dos Santos Quenhe +1 more The study focused on the Mopane woodlands, a forest ecosystem in Mozambiques from which the rural poor extract various forest and non forests products. The size of the ecosystem has been reduced over the years due to extensive agriculture … RUF-32737 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Gender Roles in Soil Fertility and Water Management for Maize (Zea mays L.) Production in Urban Agriculture: A Case for Harare, Zimbabwe J. Nyamangara · B. Nyamasoka · P. Nyamugafata A survey of 205 farmers in Harare and Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe was conducted to characterise soil fertility and water management practices used by urban farmers to produce maize and to determine the influence of gender on their use. Results s… RUF-32731 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Effects of FarmYard Manure and Mineral Fertilisers on Maize Yield and Soil Properties in two Districts of Southern Rwanda B.E. Mochoge · I. Munyabarenzi · L. Nabahungu Agriculture in Rwanda is characterised by low productivity due to decline in soil fertility. This is mainly attributed to the mining of nutrients due to continuous cropping without external addition of adequate nutrients coupled with small… RUF-32726 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Improving Water Storage in Soils to Enhance Nutrient use Efficiency and Crop Yields for Enhanced Livelihoods of Small Scale Farmers in Semi-arid eastern Kenya B.O. Danda · C. Kibunja · G. Kironchi · B.E. Mochoge The current food situation in Kenya is alarming so that food is extremely expensive for the larger Kenyan population. This is largely due to the frequent droughts in the country and especially because more than 80% of the land is arid to s… RUF-32711 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access An Assessment of the Processes and Pathways to Achieve Innovation in Conservation Agriculture in Malawi: A Case of Machinga Agricultural Development Division D. Kambewa · J. Kamoto · C. Mloza-Banda · H.R. Mloza-Banda +1 more A study was carried out in Machinga Agricultural Development Division, located in the Southern Region of Malawi to assess the institutional arrangements for implementation of conservation agriculture (CA). Social network analysis was used … RUF-32706 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Characterisation of Vermiculites from the Neoproterozoic Mozambique Belt of Tanzania for Agricultural Applications S. Hillier · E.M.M. Marwa · A.A. Meharg · C.M. Rice The study assessed the mineral phases and properties of five Tanzanian vermiculites in response to the temperature used to expand them with respect to their potential suitability for agricultural applications. One sample from Palabora Mine… RUF-32700 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Spatial and Temporal Distribution and Utilisation of Fallow Land in South Central Zimbabwe E. Manzungu · L. Mtali The purpose of this study was to assess the spatial and temporal distribution of fallow land between 1984 and 2010 in Zimbabwe’s communal areas and its utilisation. Chivi district, which is located in south central Zimbabwe, was used as a … RUF-32695 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Factors Influencing Levels of Knowledge in Soil Fertility Management in the Central Highlands of Kenya J.M. Macharia · M.W. Mucheru-Muna · D.N. Mugendi · J.N. Mugwe Soil nutrient depletion is one of the major biophysical constraints affecting agricultural production in Sub Saharan Africa. Despite past research developing soil fertility management options, few of the recommendations from this research … RUF-32692 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Mineralogy of Africa’s Soils as a predictor of Soil Fertility M.N. Kamau · B. Mochoge · K.D. Shepherd Soil mineralogy is essential to understanding many facets of land use and a key determinant of all soil functional properties that are expensive or time-consuming to measure, and can solve specific agricultural and environmental problems. … RUF-32683 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Improving Rainwater use Efficiency in Teff for Enhancing Adaptation to Climate Variability and Climate Change in the Northern Ethiopia Alemie Araya · Gebresamuel Girmay · S. Habtu · Meles Kiros +1 more The main limitation in stabilising food security in Ethiopia is the dependency of the farming system on erratic rainfall. The production of teff, an Ethiopian staple food crop adapted to rainfed farming, has been affected by water stress w… RUF-32667 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Factors Influencing Farmers’ Adoption of Information for Mangrove Forests Conservation in Democratic Republic of Congo F.P. Banga · R.S. Lumbuenamo · G.O. Obati This study evaluated information flow within rural communities in the Moanda territory, Democratic Republic of Congo with an aim of aiding improved management and conservation of mangrove forests along the Atlantic coast. In this study, so… RUF-32647 2012 CC BY 4.0 17 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Assessing the Potential of Camel Milk as a Livelihood Option in the Face of Climatic and Environmental Changes in Drylands of Kenya D.M. Nyariki · V.O. Wasonga · A.M. Yazan Elhadi In drylands of Kenya, the adverse effects of climate variability and change has directly weakened the pastoral production system and made it less effective as a livelihood option. This has med most pastoral household food insecure. However… RUF-32642 2012 CC BY 4.0 17 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Production Performance and Contribution of Dairy Goats to Income of Small Scale Farmers: A Case of Babati and Kongwa Districts in Tanzania S.W. Chenyambuga · Mary Jackson · D.M. Komwihangilo · E.E. Ndemanisho This study was carried out in Babati and Kongwa districts in Tanzania to determine the lactation performance, reproduction performance, profitability and contribution of dairy goats to household income of small scale farmers. The data were… RUF-32638 2012 CC BY 4.0 17 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Evaluation of Locally Available Feed Resources for Dairy Goat Feeding in Kongwa District, Tanzania S.W. Chenyambuga · T. Damas Msaki · D.M. Komwihangilo An experiment was conducted to assess the effects of three concentrate diets made from locally available feed resources on milk production and growth rates of dairy goats kept by small-scale farmers in Kongwa district. The concentrate diet… RUF-32632 2012 CC BY 4.0 17 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Comparison of the Egg Characteristics of Different Sudanese Indigenous Chicken Types Mohammed Kheir Abdelrahman · Dafaalla Mohammed Mekki · Hassan Hussein Musa · Jin-yu Wang +1 more Three local types of Sudanese indigenous fowls, large Baladi (LB), Bare-neck (BN) and Betwil (BT) were characterised for maturity live weight and egg characteristics. The BN average live weight (1547.2±274.5 gm) was heavier than either LB … RUF-32627 2012 CC BY 4.0 17 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Development of Management Practices for Sustainable Improvement of Dairy Goat Productivity in Tanzania S.W. Chenyambuga · T. Damas Msaki · Mary Jackson · D.M. Komwihangilo +1 more This study was carried out to evaluate the performance of dairy goats introduced in rural areas of Babati and Kongwa districts, Tanzania. In addition, the study was aimed at developing good quality and cheap supplementary feed rations base… RUF-32621 2012 CC BY 4.0 17 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Policy Strategies Interventions and the way forward for Sesame Crop: A Case Study of Kordofan Region, Sudan Musa Ali · Sheikh Dekha · Ali Shawgi Kordofan region is one of the most important traditional producers of sesame in Sudan. This study analysed the sesame crop value chain of Kordofan region from producers to processors in terms of material flows, information flows and relati… RUF-32607 2012 CC BY 4.0 17 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Determinants of Smallholder Farmers’ Participation in the Potato Market in Kabale and Mbale A. Kasharu · E. Katungi · J. Mugisha · C. Sebatta This study was done in Kabale and Mbale districts of Uganda for the two potato growing seasons of 2011/2012. It sought to determine factors that hinder smallholder farmers’ level of participation in the potato market in addition to those t… RUF-32603 2012 CC BY 4.0 17 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access School Gardens for Improved Quality of Primary Education and Community Food Security in Soroti District, Uganda S. Apolot · P. Okaje · J.A. Olaja School gardening was practiced in Uganda over 30 years ago. Perceptions about school gardening were however varied, with many people looking it negatively. It is however known to have positive attributes including transferring practical ag… RUF-32589 2012 CC BY 4.0 17 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Potential of School Gardening as a Laboratory for Developing Life Skills in Agriculture: The case of Universal Primary Education Schools in Kamuli and Soroti Districts, Uganda S. Apolot · P. Kibwika · B.F. Kyazze · Dorcas Elizabeth Loga School curricula in Africa emphasise competitive academic subjects and prioritize terminal examinations over practical skills. Although it has been argued that schools can serve as platforms for reaching rural communities with farming inno… RUF-32585 2012 CC BY 4.0 17 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Changes in Farming Practices in the Lake Kivu Basin M.W. Adidja · S. Bashwira · F. Kansiime · J.G.M. Majaliwa +1 more Provinces of eastern D.R. Congo are going through a period of political instability which has impacted negatively on the way smallholder farmers manage natural resources. This has contributed to increased degradation of Lake Kivu water and… RUF-32580 2012 CC BY 4.0 17 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Adapting Selected Grafting Techniques to Propagation of Vitellaria Paradoxa ssp. Nilotica (the Shea Butter Tree) in Uganda M. Malinga · D. Obua · C.A. Okia · J.B.L. Okullo This preliminary study is being carried out in Adwari Sub County, Otuke District (Northern Uganda). The aim of the study is to adapt an appropriate grafting technique for propagating Vitellaria paradoxa in Uganda. Two grafting techniques (… RUF-32552 2012 CC BY 4.0 17 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Inheritance of Phosphorus use Efficiency and Resistance to Anthracnose in Selected Sorghum Genotypes Grown in the Acid Soils of Western Kenya S. Gudu · A. Nyambok · P. Okori The acid soils of Western Kenya where most of the sorghum is grown have very low available phosphorus, and thus cannot support optimal sorghum productivity. In addition, foliar anthracnose (Colletotrichum sublineolum L.) also reduces sorgh… RUF-32546 2012 CC BY 4.0 17 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Performance of Selected Grain Sorghum Genotypes for Improved Food Security and Livelihoods S. Kyamanywa · M. Mgonja · P.W. Muturi · P. Rubaihayo +1 more Sorghum is a useful cereal crop cultivated by numerous resource poor farmers in semi arid regions. The crop is indigenous thus well adapted to various environments in Kenya. Sorghum performs better than other cereal staples particularly ma… RUF-32542 2012 CC BY 4.0 17 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Effect of Crude Extracts of Viscum Verrocosum Treatment on Nematode Parasite Faecal Egg Count in Female Tswana Goats V. Bonang · J.B. Machete · O.R. Madibela · T. Moncho +1 more The present study was carried out at Notwane Farm of Botswana College of Agriculture with local Tswana goats. Goats graze and browse on a mixture of Acacia savanna with broadleaved middle layer trees with no or little supplementation. Infe… RUF-32447 2012 CC BY 4.0 16 May 2014
