Working Document Series Open Access Influence of soil fertility management on Striga seed bank dynamics and grain yield of sorghum in semi arid areas G. Chemining’wa · A. Kudra · R.N. Onwonga · K.P. Sibuga The parasitic weed Striga poses a serious threat to cereal production in sub-Saharan Africa. Infestation usually results in significant yield losses, quite often over 70%. Many control options have been reported but, the effect of soil fer… RUF-35067 2010 CC BY 4.0 16 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Estimation of consumer preferences for cowpea in Uganda T.S. Hyuha · J. Mundua · B. Tayebwa This study conducted in eastern Uganda, assessed consumer and market vendors preferances for different cowpea varieties grown in Uganda. Both consumers and market vendors prefered large white seeded grains. The study recommends adding valu… RUF-34983 2010 CC BY 4.0 15 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Developing appropriate feeding and breeding strategies for improved smallholder pig production D. Mutetikka · M. Nabasirye · H. Nakimbugwe The project aims to improve pig productivity on smallholder pig farms in Uganda through maximizing nutrient utilization from local cereal grains, and increasing access to improved breeding material through enhanced use of artificial insemi… RUF-34930 2010 CC BY 4.0 14 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Uncovering the potential of resource-poor farmers through increased access to improved agricultural technologies: The Malawi model N. Khaki · A. Sefasi Malawi has faced consistent incidences of hunger, malnutrition and poverty. These have been attributed in part to frequent droughts. In addition, privatization policies forced the country to put the burden of keeping food reserves and prov… RUF-34920 2010 CC BY 4.0 14 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Analysing legume market chains to enhance livelihoods and environmental systems within maize-based farming systems in Malawi V. Kabambe · A. Kabuli · P. Mapfumo This paper analyzes the marketing of legumes in Malawi with special focus on the seed supply chain, the actors, activities, and the business environment that the commodity goes through as it moves from producers to buyers and consumers. Th… RUF-34894 2010 CC BY 4.0 14 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access The impact of responding to the actual constraints expressed by farmers’ experience from the Malawian inputs subsidy initiative S. J. Carr Rather than continue with the promotion of an agricultural strategy developed independently of the smallholder community the Government of Malawi has responded to the urgent demand from farmers for access to fertiliser to counteract the so… RUF-34843 2010 CC BY 4.0 14 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Influence of seed bed preparation on morphometric characteristics of Eragrostis superba, Cenchrus ciliaris and Enteropogon macrostachyus in southeastern drylands of Kenya W.N. Ekaya · D.M. Nyariki · F. E. O. Omondi This study compared over a 6-month period effects of tractorploughing and hand-clearing seedbed preparation on morphometric characteristics of three arid and semi-arid grass species, namely; Eragrostis superba Peyr, Cenchrus ciliaris L and… RUF-34755 2010 CC BY 4.0 10 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Evaluation of physiological and morphological traits conferring drought tolerance in cowpea D. Lungu · K. Simango A field study was carried at Gwebi VTC to determine relationships among the morpho-physiological traits associated with drought tolerance in cowpea. Fifteen genotypes were planted in RCBD with three replications under two moisture environm… RUF-34685 2010 CC BY 4.0 9 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Regeneration dynamics of woody species in degraded natural forests in western Kenya Wellington Ekaya · J. Kinyamario · J. Otuoma Deforestation has become rampant in many areas in Kenya due to pressure on land resulting from human population increase. Efforts to rehabilitate areas that have been deforested have had little success due to the limited knowledge of veget… RUF-34678 2010 CC BY 4.0 9 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Analysis of drought tolerance in selected upland rice genotypes in Uganda Y. Baguma · J. Lamo · B.S. Namazzi · P. Okori Breeding for drought tolerance requires a clear understanding of the mode of gene action for this trait. To understand the action of drought tolerance genes in upland rice varieties in Uganda, a study was carried out to establish the gener… RUF-34652 2010 CC BY 4.0 9 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access The effect of super phosphate and planting density on mini-tuber production from true potato seed T. A. Mtaita · M. Mutetwa · M. D. Shoko Improving tuber seed quality and availability is institutionally complex in the tropics and sub-tropics. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of superphosphate and plant density on mini-tuber production from true pota… RUF-34649 2010 CC BY 4.0 9 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Constraints of rehabilitating degraded semi-arid lands of Kenya using indigenous perennial grasses W.N. Ekaya · K.Z. Mganga · W.M. Muiru · N.K.R. Musimba +3 more Land degradation which among others include loss of vegetation is rampant in Kenya, destroying both the fragile arid and semiarid lands and the non-arid areas. Efforts to rehabilitate semiarid areas by re-vegetation has often failed. This … RUF-34628 2010 CC BY 4.0 8 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Farmers’ perceptions on maize ear rots and the prospects for breeding farmer preferred varieties in Uganda G. Asea · P. Gibson · P. Okori · L. Tembo Maize ear rots are a major constraint to maize production globally, and yield loses of up to 70% have been reported in Uganda. Developing varieties resistant to ear rots is a practical strategy that provides better insurance for the small … RUF-34586 2010 CC BY 4.0 8 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Effects of tied ridges for rainwater harvesting on maize yields in Swaziland O. T. Edje · E.M. Ossom This study assessed options for use of tied-ridges for on-farm water harvesting in Swaziland. Results showed that farmers in sandy and loamy soils need different sizes of ridges, 4 m and 2 m, respectively. RUF-34582 2010 CC BY 4.0 8 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Genetics of resistance to bacterial leaf blight in rice germplasm in Uganda G. Asea · P. Gibson · J. Lamo · P.J. Mudingotto +3 more Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae is one of the most serious diseases of rice worldwide. The disease causes significant losses mostly in lowland rice. This study is investigating the mode of gene action of… RUF-34489 2010 CC BY 4.0 25 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 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 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 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 Participatory management of Striga in cereal-based cropping systems in eastern Uganda J. Bisikwa · I. Kapting · M. B. Karuhanga · M. Otim +2 more Striga hermonthica is a parasitic weed that infects cereal crops often causing 30-100% crop losses on farmers’ fields. Past research has developed several effective Striga control strategies, most of which have not been adopted by farmers,… RUF-34365 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Effects of chicken and cattle manure on wheat production and soil properties in the high terrace and Karu soils in River Nile State in the Sudan Hassan Khalid Ali · Ali Alkhazin Ali Yousif This study was conducted at Hudeiba Research farm on karu and high terrace soils for two consecutive seasons (2008/09 and 2009/10). Organic manures are traditionally used for supplying plant nutrients. Eight different fertilizer combinatio… RUF-34343 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Building Research Capacity: The case of Burundi M. Inamahoro This manuscript narrates the contribution of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) to strengthening research capacity of the National Agriculture Research Institute (ISABU). Burundi is among the thr… RUF-34238 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Vegetative growth of Lablab purpureus and Canavalia ensiformis under differing P fertiliser applications in Namibia M. G. Appollis · L. Kaholongo · A. Kahumba · E. Lutaaya +1 more The level of N fixation from effectively nodulated legumes depends on the growth rate of the legume and upon soil conditions. The main objective of this study was to compare the vegetative growth of Lablab purpureus and Canavalia ensiformi… RUF-34148 2014 CC BY 4.0 13 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Effect of organic and inorganic sources of nitrogen on growth, seed yield and oil content of sunflower grown in highly weathered soils in Morogoro - Tanzania G. Chemining’wa · J. Kinama · I.A. Mwahija · A. Nyambilila Sunflower contributes about 40% of total national cooking oil requirement, ranking as one of the most important cooking oil with very high nutritional value in Tanzania. However, its production per unit area ranges between 800 to 1100 kg/h… RUF-34044 2014 CC BY 4.0 12 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Role of Universities in development of improved crop varieties, seed production, dissemination and impacts: Case studies of dry, canning, snap and runner beans, pigeonpea and onions P. M. Kimani Mandates of universities in east, central and southern Africa have considerably changed from their traditional teaching and research roles, to greater active involvement in the development agenda of their countries, a phenomenon referred t… RUF-34029 2014 CC BY 4.0 12 Aug 2015
