Working Document Series Open Access Assessing farmers’ knowledge in the evaluation of soil quality M. Karuhanga · K. Senkosi · J.S. Tenywa Farmers across Uganda have developed their own indicators of soil quality but their mechanisms, reliability and sensitivity have not yet been examined. Therefore, this research is intended to address these gaps. Specific objectives include… RUF-35117 2010 CC BY 4.0 16 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Upscaling the use of efficient and affordable soil fertility replenishment practices for small holder farmers of western Kenya B. Amar · M. A. Bekunda · A. K. Koech · M. N. Koech +4 more The study assessed the agronomic effectiveness of fertilizer use recommendations in western Kenya on maize yields. The treatments included: FURP – 75kg N/ha CAN and 26kgP/ha DAP; 2) FURP – 75kg N/ha CAN and 26kgP/ha DAP plus lime (2t/ha); … RUF-35093 2010 CC BY 4.0 16 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Effects of agricultural commercial products (microbial and non microbial) in relation to maize and soybean yields in western Kenya M. Mburu · J.R. Okalebo · C.O. Othieno This study was undertaken to assess the effect of different inoculants on nodule formation and legume yield. On farm experiments were carried out in Bungoma district of western Kenya with treatments arranged in RCBD design with single repl… RUF-35080 2010 CC BY 4.0 16 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Evaluating the benefits of action learning processes in driving integrated soil fertility management benefits among smallholder farming communities in Zimbabwe R. Chikowo · P. Mapfumo · T.C. Mashavave · F. Mtambanengwe +1 more The widespread fragmented adoption of improved soil fertility management options among smallholder farmers can partly be attributed to poor diffusion of acquired knowledge. Using participatory action research approaches, a study was conduc… RUF-35077 2010 CC BY 4.0 16 Sep 2015
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 Farmer perceptions and knowledge on soil quality indicators and their use in soil fertility monitoring M. Karuhanga · S. Kiconco · J. K. Tumuhairwe Assessing soil quality is important so as to learn about the effects of management practices on soil function, create awareness and education, and provides a basis for evaluation of alternative practices. Soil quality often cannot be direc… RUF-35054 2010 CC BY 4.0 15 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Integrating indigenous and scientific soil quality indicators for improved crop production F. Bagoora · M. B. Karuhanga · M. M. Tenywa · J. S. Tumuhairwe Research has improved understanding of technical indicators of soil quality (TISQ) and their assessment criteria. Yet knowledge on farmer-perceived indicators of soil quality remains limited. The study intends to establish and validate ind… RUF-35046 2010 CC BY 4.0 15 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Translating integrated soil fertility management knowledge into livelihood benefits through farmer learning and participatory action in Zimbabwe R. Chikowo · T. Gwandu · P. Mapfumo · F. Mtambanengwe Smallholder agriculture production is constrained by poor technology adoption often linked to lack information dissemination strategies, among other factors. This study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of participatory information mana… RUF-35042 2015 CC BY 4.0 15 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Soil properties effects and management of organic residues to improve C sequestration, reduce N losses and improve crop yields B.O. Danga · Z. Getenga · B. Mochoge · J. Mugwe Rates of decomposition of organic materials in soil determine the amount of carbon (C) which is mineralized and released as CO2 versus the amount of C that is retained in various forms in the soil. Decomposition rates also greatly influenc… RUF-35037 2010 CC BY 4.0 15 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Technology adoption by smallholder farmers: Lessons from the soyabean research/promotion program in Zimbabwe S. Mpepereki Agricultural research programs in universities in sub-Saharan Africa generate technologies few of which are adopted by the smallholder farmers. A technology that demands significant additional inputs be they financial or physical is less l… RUF-34943 2010 CC BY 4.0 14 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access An analysis of productivity and technical efficiency of conservation agriculture in Malawi: A case of Nkhotakota district K. Droppelmann · Abdi-Khalil Edriss · B. Kakhobwe · H.R. Mloza-Banda +1 more Maize productivity, measured as the amount of output for a given input set, is lower than it could be in Malawi due to poor access to agricultural inputs and environmental depletion especially declining soil fertility. Malawi is promoting … RUF-34914 2010 CC BY 4.0 14 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Experiences in the ‘One health approach’: Situational analysis of preparedness for Epi-Zoonotic emergencies in six Eastern Africa countries W. Bazeyo · G. Burnham · J. Keyyu · J. Kiguli +9 more This paper reports on a situation analysis that assessed the capacity for response to zoonotic emergencies in 6 countries, namely Uganda, Kenya, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Tanzania. Most of the countries did not have policies for prepa… RUF-34908 2010 CC BY 4.0 14 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access An analysis of technical efficiency of mixed intercropping agroforestry technology: A case of Zomba district in Malawi Abdi-Khalil Edriss · B. Kakhobwe · M.B. Kwapata · J. H. Mangisoni +1 more The study was conducted in Zomba district in Malawi, in 2005/ 2006 cropping season with the main objective of assessing technical efficiency (TE) of mixed intercropping (MI) agroforestry technology. Study population consisted of 101 farmer… RUF-34906 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 Policy implications for wide scale adoption of sustainable land management technologies in eastern Uganda M. Barungi · Abdi-Khalil Edriss · D. Ng’ong’ola · M. Waithaka This study, to be conducted in the highlands of eastern Uganda, will document existing local policies and incentive systems in relation to sustainable land use management. Various techniques, including questionnaire surveys, group discussi… RUF-34827 2010 CC BY 4.0 14 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Spatial and temporal distribution of fallow land and its utilisation in southeast Zimbabwe E. Manzungu · L. Mtali Since the attainment of national independence in 1980 land distribution has dominated if not defined the agrarian debate in Zimbabwe. However, evidence of increasing hectarage of fallow land in communal lands, where 70% of the population r… RUF-34748 2010 CC BY 4.0 10 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Effect of different types of organic fertilizers on growth, quality and yield of tomatoes in sandy soil M. I. Khalid Hamden This study was conducted in Bara locality during the period 2009-2010 to assess the impact of using different types of organic fertilizers on tomato yield growing in a sandy soil. Five treatments were compared, i.e., compost, fresh chicken… RUF-34738 2010 CC BY 4.0 10 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Effect of fecal manure from cattle fed Calliandra, Gliricidia and Luecaena browse/maize silages on soil productivity F. B. Bareeba · H. Kato · E. N. Sabiiti Browses have tannins and lignin which bind protein N and fiber and could subsequently affect release of manure nutrients in the soil when fed to animals. In this experiment, which was a pot experiment, cattle fecal manure from browse/maize… RUF-34733 2010 CC BY 4.0 10 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Growth and physiological changes of tomato as influenced by soil moisture levels J.N. Aguyoh · C. Imana · A. Opiyo Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), as in most fruit vegetables, is often exposed to stresses either imposed by other organisms (biotic) or arising from imbalance of environmental factors (abiotic). Water management is a key factor tha… RUF-34720 2010 CC BY 4.0 10 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Effect of nitrogen and phosphorous rates and sources on grain and forage yield of maize in river Nile State A. Abd Elrahman · Ezeldeen Ahmed The study was conducted at two locations, namely, Hudeiba Research Station Farm (moderately fertile soil) and Matera (poor soil) in River Nile State for two seasons between 20082010. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect… RUF-34716 2010 CC BY 4.0 10 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Adapting soybean varieties to soil fertility variability for increased productivity in smallholder systems of Uganda P. Ebanyat · G. Elepu · P. Tukamuhabwa Biophysical conditions; climate and soil types underpin the suitability for growing of different crops at larger scales such as the agroecological regions while at the lower scales, crop production is governed by soil fertility status and … RUF-34712 2010 CC BY 4.0 10 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Integrated soil fertility management in South Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo B.J. Bashagaluke · R.D Birindwa · L.N. Cizungu · M.J. Walangululu This paper describes a collaborative research involving South Kivu province in Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi to disseminate resilient agro-ecosystem packages. Modifying crop arrangement by planting legumes within and bet… RUF-34705 2010 CC BY 4.0 10 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Effect of soil copper accumulation on proliferation and survival of rhizobia G.P. Msumali · H. Tindwa Two strains of the fast-growing bean rhizobia- PV1 and PV2 and two others of the slow-growing cowpea and soybean bradyrhizobia- CP1 and GM8 respectively, were used to test their in vitro proliferation and in vivo survival. Known amounts of… RUF-34704 2010 CC BY 4.0 10 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Effects of lime and phosphorus fertilizer on maize performance in acid soils of western Kenya J.R. Okalebo · V.S. Omenyo · C.O. Othieno Western Kenya continues to experience food insecurity due to increasing soil acidity and consequent phosphorus deficiencies with 0.9 million hectares of land having pH < 5.5. Liming is one of the interventions recommended to ameliorate … RUF-34675 2010 CC BY 4.0 9 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Strengthening researcher-extension-farmer participation in soil fertility restoration for sustainable crop production in western Kenya E. Adipala · B. Amar · L. Didier · S.O. Gudu +14 more Food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) results mainly from common and prolonged droughts, fertility depleted soils, poor economies and insignificant researcher-extension-farmer contacts to demonstrate technologies. The soils are predo… RUF-34673 2010 CC BY 4.0 9 Sep 2015
