Working Document Series Open Access Soil survey information for sustainable agriculture in Ikwuano local Government area Abia State South East Nigeria G.E. Akinbola · B.O. Nuga A semi-detailed soil survey of the land of Ikwuano Local Government Area Abia State South East Nigeria was undertaken. The soils were sampled with the aid of soil auger to identify major soil types and their morphological properties (e.g. … RUF-34655 2010 CC BY 4.0 9 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Translating integrated soil fertility management empirical knowledge into action through participatory learning and marketing with farmers in Zimbabwe R. Chikowo · D. Dhliwayo · P. Mapfumo · F. Mtambanengwe +1 more In this paper we report on findings from a co-learning experience we undertook with smallholder farmers in two areas in Zimbabwe aimed at developing their capacity to apply integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) options to improve foo… RUF-34639 2010 CC BY 4.0 8 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Study of heavy metal contamination along roadside soils of Botswana G.K. Gaboutloeloe · A.S. Likuku · B.E. Mochoge This study examined presence of heavy metals (aluminium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese, nickel and zinc) along Botswana roads. These metals are toxic to human and animals. The mean values of these metals were below toxic range, ind… RUF-34637 2010 CC BY 4.0 8 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Improving soil nutrients and water management to increase crop yield for enhanced livelihoods of small scale farmers in semi-arid eastern Kenya B.O. Danga · K.B. Mmolawa Food insecurity in Kenya is on the increase unless appropriate measures are taken. This is because nearly 80% of the land is arid to semi-arid and therefore not favorable for crop production using the current methods of production. The iss… RUF-34636 2010 CC BY 4.0 8 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 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 Tomato curl stunt virus management strategies for all year round tomato production in Mozambique C. Ecole · B. Francisco · A. Mondjana · B. Nhaulaho +1 more Tomato is the most popular vegetable in the home garden all over the World as well as in Mozambique. Tomato production in Mozambique has been recently affected by Tomato curl stunt virus (ToCSV) disease, a devastating viral disease that is… RUF-34569 2010 CC BY 4.0 7 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Sediments and nutrients hotspot areas dynamics in selected micro-catchments of the Lake Tanganyika basin in Democratic Republic of Congo E. Azanga · F. Kansiime · J.G.M. Majaliwa This study aims at mapping changes in landuse in the Lake Tanganyika micro-catchments in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It also aimed at assessing the level of pollution of L. Tanganyika resulting from offloaded material and nutrients f… RUF-34566 2010 CC BY 4.0 7 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Evaluation of the soil fertility status in relation to crop nutritive quality in the selected physiographic units of Mbeya Region, Tanzania N. Amuri · J.M. Anthony · L. Mhoro · B.M. Msanya +1 more This study is assessing soil fertility status in Mbeya region of Tanzania in terms of adequacy for crop growth and crop nutrient status in terms of human nutrition. It will examine levels of macro and micronutrient. The study has just been… RUF-34565 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 reaction of maize genotypes to maize streak virus disease in central Uganda B. Bua · B. M. Chelimo Documented evidence indicates that maize is production is constrained by a number of a biotic and biotic stresses including Maize streak virus disease (MSVD). Therefore, a study was conducted to assess the reaction of 3 maize genotypes to … RUF-34550 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 Impact of landuse change on soil carbon stocks and livelihoods of communities on Mt. Elgon region, Uganda S. Balaba Tumwebaze · M. Buyinza · C. M. Nantumbwe · M. M. Tenywa There is inadequate knowledge on the form of soil organic carbon (SOC) pools and fluxes that are affected by land use change. Hence, there is a need to understand how soil organic carbon is affected by land use change and how these impacts… RUF-34544 2010 CC BY 4.0 26 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 Pastoral adaptation strategies to climate change in selected areas of the cattle corridor of Uganda P. Isubikalu · J.G.M. Majaliwa · H. Makuma-Massa · P. Mukwaya +1 more Pastoralists’ communities have been able to cope in various ways to climate change stresses. However, little is known of these coping practices. This study examined the major climatic stresses in the past three decades amongst agro-pastora… RUF-34495 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 Climate change impacts to agriculture in Uganda’s semi arid areas, farmers’ means of adaptation: An application of cross-section data V. Ekiyar · C. Jumbe · J. Mangisoni · D. Mkwambisi The most climate change prone communities in Uganda are those living in semi arid areas of Karamoja and parts of Teso where droughts have been most frequent and most prolonged. In Karamoja alone, during the last decade more than 10 severe … RUF-34475 2010 CC BY 4.0 21 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Participatory analysis of growing season: A key for understanding and copping drought risk in northern Ethiopia A. Araya Berhe Prolonged drought is one of the most serious climatic hazards affecting agricultural production and those most at risk are those countries currently vulnerable to climate variability. Barley is one of the economical and staple food crops g… RUF-34469 2010 CC BY 4.0 21 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Characterization of root development in a segregating diploid banana population as a searching basis for resistance to Radopholus similis M. Inamahoro · J. Lorenzen · H. Talwana Plant parasitic nematodes are recognised as the most serious pests of bananas wherever they are grown. Nematodes feed, multiply and migrate inside banana roots causing necrotic and reduced root systems. Genetic resistance to nematodes prov… RUF-34444 2010 CC BY 4.0 21 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Agronomic performance of potato population B3C2 genotypes in southwestern Uganda P. Gibson · R. Kakuhenzire · T. Ndacyayisenga · G. Tusiime Thirteen potato genotypes known as population B3C2 were evaluated for yield and resistance to late blight. Assessment of late blight severity started at the onset of the disease symptoms; disease severity rating was based on visual symptom… RUF-34431 2010 CC BY 4.0 21 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Factors influencing pesticide use among cocoa farmers in Ondo State, Nigeria Akeem Abiade. Tijani Cocoa production in Nigeria is constrained by insect pests and diseases. The brown cocoa mirid (Sahlbergella singularis), the swollen shoot virus transmitted by mealy bugs and the black pod disease (Phytophthora palmivora and P. megakarya)… RUF-34393 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Analysis of multipurpose uses and management of Zizphus spina-christi (L.) desf. in semi-arid Ethiopia: Implications for food security Feyssa Debela Hunde · J.T. Njoka · M.M. Nyangito · Asfaw Zemede Quantitative ethnobotanical study of Ziziphus spina-christi was undertaken in six areas of east Shewa, Ethiopia. Both structured questionnaire and focus-group interviews were conducted with about 200 households. Arable land cultivation, an… RUF-34380 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
