Newsletters Open Access The RUFORUM Monthly Newsletter, July 2014 - RUFORUM Small Competitive Grants; GRGs – Graduate Research Grants Ekwamu Adipala RUF-33261 2014 CC BY 4.0 1 Jul 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Productivity and Phosphorus Use Efficiencies of Soybean Genotypes on Fields of Differing Soil Fertility in Two Agroecological zones of Uganda P. Ebanyat · J. Ssekamwa · P. Tukamuhabwa On- farm trials were conducted in the Northern moist farmlands (NMF) and South and Eastern Lake Kyoga basin (SELKB) agro-ecological zones of Uganda for two seasons of 2011 to determine the yield response of soybean genotypes to phosphorus … RUF-33180 2012 CC BY 4.0 22 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Chemical Properties of Travertine from Different Sources in Rwanda with Regards to Their Calcium Oxide and Magnesium Oxide Contents E. Marwa · F.X. Naramabuye · E Semu · N.S. Sirikare This study was conducted in the districts of Rusizi, Korongi and Musanze districts, Rwanda in areas where travertine is found. The objective of the study was to characterize the chemical compositions of travertine for use in amending soil … RUF-33176 2012 CC BY 4.0 22 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Response of maize and soybean crops to inorganic fertilisers in Western Kenya A.K. Kipkoech · P.O. Mongare · A.O. Nekesa · J.O. Ochuodho +2 more Fertiliser performance trials involving three Farmer Associations (FAs) were set-up starting 2011 long rains to assess the output potential of five commercially available fertilisers, namely Calcium Ammonium Nitrate-CAN, Triple Super Phosp… RUF-32967 2012 CC BY 4.0 20 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Effect of Integrated Water and Nutrient Management Technologies on Soil Profile Moisture Content and Grain Water Productivity in Zimbabwe L. Mhaka · I. Nyagumbo · P. Nyamugafata This paper reports results of an on-farm experiment done to quantify soil moisture storage, water and water productivity of maize and soybean as affected by tillage and fertility management systems during 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 cropping s… RUF-32954 2012 CC BY 4.0 20 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access On Farm Evaluation of Legumes Biomass for the Management of Striga in Iringa District, Tanzania D.M. Mabula · J.J. Msaky · K.P. Sibuga A mother-baby trial using farmers’ groups was set up to evaluate the effect of legumes biomass in the management of Striga in Iringa district, Tanzania. A randomised complete block design was used in the experimental lay-out. Two maize gen… RUF-32939 2012 CC BY 4.0 20 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access The effect of gypsum and NPK fertiliser on groundnut performance in Western Tanzania F.M. Bagarama · Z.P. Matata · E. Shenkalwa This study was carried out to determine the effect of amending soil with gypsum rich material on the performance of groundnuts (Arachis hypogea L.) grown in low fertile sandy textured soil in the miombo woodland ecosystem, western Tanzania… RUF-32893 2012 CC BY 4.0 20 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Contribution of Agroforestry to Natural Resources Management, Food Security and Climate Change Mitigation: Experiences from Tabora Region, Western Tanzania B.M. Gama · A. Kitalyi · P. Matata · G.I. Nyadzi +1 more Food insecurity, natural resources degradation and climate change are among the most critical challenges facing Tanzania and indeed, the developing world today. There is decreasing agricultural productivity as a result of increasing land d… RUF-32889 2012 CC BY 4.0 20 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Combined Effect of Selected Technologies on Growth, Survival and Water quality of Improved Strain of Oreochromis Shiranus in Earthen Ponds of Dowa District, Malawi L. Jere · J. Kang’ombe · E.W. Kaunda · P.M. Longwe +2 more The study to evaluate the combined effect of feed, feeding trays and clear plastic pond sheeting technique on the growth, survival and water quality of the improved strain of Oreochromis shiranus was conducted in Dowa District, Malawi, fro… RUF-32827 2012 CC BY 4.0 19 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Speargrass as a Soil Fertility Indicator along a Deforestation Chronosquence A.K. Amoding · M. Karuhanga-Beraho · S. Kiconco · K. Senkosi +1 more This study estimated the time taken for speargrass (Imperata cylindrica) to occur on arable fields along a deforestation chronosquence; established the effect of burning on soil properties and determined the reliability of speargrass as a … RUF-32750 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 Translating Integrated Soil Fertility Management Empirical Knowledge into Action through Participatory Learning and Marketing Agricultural Produce in Zimbabwe R. Chikowo · D. Dhliwayo · P. Mapfumo · F. Mtambanengwe +2 more The study sought to identify suitable mechanisms for transferring the available knowledge on concepts and principles of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) technologies to smallholder farmers and agricultural service providers in Z… RUF-32722 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 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 Effectiveness of White Lupin (Lupinus albus) and Chickpea (Cicer arietinum ) in Enhancing Phosphorus Release from Rock Phosphate J.J. Lelei · R.N. Onwonga · J.P. Ouma Smallholder farming systems are characterised by application of suboptimal rates or non utilisation of inorganic fertilisers due to their exorbitant prices vis-à-vis low financial return from crops. Minjingu rock phosphate (MPR) would be a… RUF-32687 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 Influence of Legume Biomass on Soil Fertility Status and Maize Performance in Striga Infested Soils of Iringa, Tanzania R. Hepelwa · J.J. Msaky · K.P. Sibuga Striga asiatica is one of the most severe biological constraints to cereal production in low soil fertility areas, reducing maize and sorghum yield by 10-100%. The use of inorganic nitrogen fertilisers counteracts the effect of this parasi… RUF-32675 2012 CC BY 4.0 18 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Determinants of Land Management Practices in the Agricultural Highlands of Uganda: A Case of Kabale Highlands in Western Uganda S. Alobo · J. Mugisha The study investigated land management decisions in the agricultural highland area of Kabale district in South Western Uganda. Data were analysed using multivariate regression techniques.Results showed that demographic characteristics such… RUF-32323 CC BY 4.0 16 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Factors Influencing Access to Integrated Soil Fertility Management Information and Knowledge and its Uptake Among Smallholder Farmers in Zimbabwe R. Chikowo · T. Gwandu · P. Mapfumo · T.C. Mashavave +2 more Lack of access to information and knowledge generated through formal research has been identified as a major drawback to adoption of agricultural technologies among smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. This study evaluated how farmers acquire,… RUF-32277 2012 CC BY 4.0 16 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Pigeon pea-Groundnut Intercrop Maize Rotation Cropping System: A Tool for Improving Maize Production in Malawi J. Mrema · J.J. Msaky · A.T. Phiri · G.Y.K. Phiri A two year study to investigate how to optimally utilize applied mineral nutrients by maize grown in rotation with pigeon peagroundnut intercrop is under way at Chitedze Agricultural Research Station (S 130 59’ 23.2", E0330 38’ 36.8"). An … RUF-32227 2012 CC BY 4.0 14 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Temperature-dependent Egg development rates and Hatching period of Chambo, Oreochromis Karongae (Pisces: Cichlidae) D. Kassam · J.S. Likongwe · J.S. Valeta A study was conducted to assess the effect of temperature on egg development in an attempt to improve hatching success and fry production in Oreochromis karongae. Temperaturedependent development rates and hatching period for fertilized eg… RUF-32216 2012 CC BY 4.0 14 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Potential Role of Cereal-Legume Intercropping Systems in Integrated Soil Fertility Management in Small holder Farming Systems of Sub-Saharan Africa J.M.M. Matusso · M.W. Mucheru-Muna · J.N. Mugwe The sub-Saharan Africa’s population is growing exponentially and it has to fulfill its food and nutrition requirement. An attractive strategy for increasing productivity and labour utilization per unit area of available land is to intensif… RUF-32039 2012 CC BY 4.0 13 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Legume Biomass Transfer For Enhancing Productivity of Maize in Striga Infested Farmlands: The Case of Iringa District, Tanzania M. Aloyce · R. Hepelwa · G. Malima · J.J. Msaky +2 more The projects’ major aim was to increase maize productivity in Striga infested soils in Iringa district in Southern Tanzania. Two villages (Mangalali and Kiwere) in which maize is a major crop and in which Striga asiatica is a major prob… RUF-32017 2012 CC BY 4.0 13 May 2014
