Working Document Series Open Access Climate variability and Tillage practices: Effect on soil moisture, carbon dynamics and crop productivity in semi arid Zimbabwe J. Keter · J. M. Kinama · R. Moyo · I. Nyagumbo +1 more To improve on low yields of rainfed agriculture which are a result of soil degradation, low fertility and low moisture levels in semi-arid areas and increased climatic variability due to climate change, conservation agriculture (CA) is bei… RUF-34505 2010 CC BY 4.0 25 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Genetic inheritance studies and early generation marker selection in maize breeding for drought tolerance C. Magorokosho · X. Mhike · P. Okori It has been estimated that approximately US $10 billion of primary food production is lost annually because of drought. Interventions like irrigation are options the majority of the smallholder farmers in sub Saharan Africa cannot afford. … RUF-34476 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 Yield response of different local and hybrid rice varieties to different ponding depths of water N. I. Kihupi · E. Mabvuto Nyirenda · A.K.P.R. Tarimo The combined increase in demand for food and scarcity of water worldwide necessitates saving water and increasing its productivity. This study determined varietal performance of four paddy cultivars - TXD306, TXD220, TXD88 and SUPA in term… RUF-34440 2010 CC BY 4.0 21 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Linkages between crop residues, termite prevalence, crop lodging and subsequent crop yield under conservation agriculture in Zimbabwe E. F. Mutsamba · I. Nyagumbo Farmers believe that addition of residues to fields in conservation agriculture (CA) attract termites hence increase lodging, although they are beliefs that termites prefer feeding on dry matter and leave the crop. This study carried out i… RUF-34415 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Effect of temperature on maize sensitivity to acetochlor J. Allemann · P. Mphundi This greenhouse study determined the effect of temperature on the herbicide acetochlor. The herbicide was applied a day after planting at the rates of 0.74, 1.47, 2.94 and 5.85 kg ha-1. Plants were kept at three temperature: supra-optimal … RUF-34413 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 The effects of water stress on yield and water productivity of two newly released wheat varieties H. Sirelkhatim Ahmed · A. Amel Ali This experiment was conducted under Gezira condition,Wad Medani, latitude 14º 242 N, longitude 33º 292 E and with an elevation of 405 m above the sea level, during season (2008/2009). A split plot design with four replications and nine irr… RUF-34350 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Diversity and colonization of permanent and semi-permanent breeding habitats by Anopheles mosquitoes in a semi-arid ecosystem of Baringo district in Kenya S.O. Arum · E.D. Kokwaro · F. Mulwa Diversity, occurrence and utilization of mosquito breeding habitats is an essential component of vector ecology and important in designing and implementation of vector management programs. A one year larval survey was conducted to determin… RUF-34341 2010 CC BY 4.0 20 Aug 2015
Policy Briefs Open Access Research briefs for the Fourth Graduate Research Grants Call RUF-34334 2015 CC BY 4.0 19 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Harnessing agricultural science for the people: Are African Universities doing enough? S. Mpepereki Agricultural research in many African universities has been project-based and piece-meal, failing to focus on understanding the socio-cultural context of African agricultural systems and their interaction with the physical environment, and… RUF-34315 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access The giant tiger prawn for sustainable livelihoods of fishers in the Niger Delta region, Nigeria A. I. Hart · P. Isubikalu · G. W. Komi The Giant Tiger Prawn (Penaeus monodon) is the largest marine shrimp that has lived in the Niger Delta coastal waters since 1999. Its marketability and high income as compared to the indigenous shrimp species has attracted a growing number… RUF-34248 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Seasonal rainfall variability, drought characterisation and efficacy of interpolation techniques: Case of Kenya’s central highlands M. Oscar Kisaka · F.S. Mairura · M. Mucheru-Muna · D.N. Mugendi +2 more Drier parts Eastern Kenya, endure persistent crop failure and declining agricultural productivity which have been attributed, in part, to high temperatures, prolonged dry-spells and particularly erratic rainfall. Understanding spatial-temp… RUF-34241 2014 CC BY 4.0 17 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Assessing transitory poverty among pastoralists of northern kenya using the stages of progress method W. Kogi-Makau · L. MacOpiyo · J.T. Njoka · W. P. Watete Assessment of poverty among pastoral households using conventional methods may at times give an inaccurate picture of pastoral poverty. Pastoral areas generally fare very poorly in terms of common standard indicators and are thus likely to… RUF-34201 2014 CC BY 4.0 14 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Stabilisation of silt clay soil using molasses for small dam embankment construction as inner zone T. Christiane · M. Ernest · A. N. Gitau · E. F. Mwanga The Agriculture sector contributes 45% of Tanzania’s GDP and about 30% of its export earnings, while employing over 80% of the nation’s work-force. Despite of its importance, agriculture is very much affected by inadequacy, seasonality and… RUF-34161 2014 CC BY 4.0 13 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Structures of starch hydrolysates by luminal amylases: What is the impact of African starch sources on type 2 diabetes management? K.M. Komeine Nantanga The major source of energy to humans is starch. The digestion of starch in monogastric animals, including humans starts in the mouth. It may continue in the stomach. Pancreatic amylase further digests starch as the food moves through the s… RUF-34153 2014 CC BY 4.0 13 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Soil nitrate and nitrite in different soil profiles of Peri-Urban and horticultural farm soils of Gaborone as indicators of nitrogen leaching. T. Mpuisang · T. Mubyana-John · N. Pabalinga · F. Pule-Meulenberg Soil nitrite (NO2-) and nitrate (NO3-) along the soil profile can be used as indicators of nitrogen loss by leaching. Preliminary studies have shown that excess usage of fertiliser is common amongst farmers who were aiming to increase crop… RUF-34098 2014 CC BY 4.0 13 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Heavy metal distribution in soils of some urban and peri-urban horticultural farms in Botswana J. Agbenin · T. Mpuisang · T. Mubyana-John · L. C. Obuseng +1 more Despite the fact that there is high usage of agrochemicals and use of urban waste water for irrigation, the concentration of potentially toxic metals in urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) farms has not been widely investigated in Botsw… RUF-34051 2014 CC BY 4.0 12 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Farming characteristics in urban districts of Nairobi county - Kenya A.W. Kihurani · P.W. Masinde · J.B. Mukundi · J. N. Njenga Urban farming practitioners face challenges like lack of quality irrigation water, poorly decomposed manure, diverse inputs of unknown sources, unhealthy farm environment and abject poverty. All these contribute to production of unsafe foo… RUF-34041 2014 CC BY 4.0 12 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access The use of rice and fish polyculture in rice fields to improve rice yields hence food security in Bunyala - Kenya F.W. Kariuki · A.N Leguuto Rice is an important food crop in Kenya’s drive to attain food security. However, its productivity remains low against an overall increase in national demand due to overdependence on rice monoculture leading to decline in soil fertility re… RUF-34024 2014 CC BY 4.0 12 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Does long-term low-rate organic and inorganic nitrogen management guarantee maize yield under semi-arid conditions of eastern Kenya? M. Oscar Kisaka · F.S. Mairura · M.W. Mucheru-Muna · D.N. Mugendi +2 more Drier parts of Embu County endure high atmospheric heat, prolonged dry spells, declining soil fertility and erratic rainfall. Integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) technologies have been developed, and tested, with standardized appli… RUF-33948 2014 CC BY 4.0 11 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Developing ecological management strategies for virus diseases of tomato in Uganda S. Ahabwe · H. Jurua · J. Karungi · M.K.N. Ochwo-Ssemakula +1 more Tomato (Lycoperscum esculentum) is one of the priority crops considered to drive development and food security in Uganda. However, severe levels of viral diseases have been found to constrain productivity in Uganda: A survey found mean inc… RUF-33944 2014 CC BY 4.0 11 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Sampling scheme for mapping variability of soil hydraulic properties in an agricultural area in Tanzania D. J. Brus · J. Kaingo · B. P. Mbilinyi · S.D. Tumbo Management of water in cropping systems necessitates a characterisation of spatial variability of soil hydraulic properties (SHP) (water retention and hydraulic conductivity). Digital soil mapping (DSM) provides a toolset of statistical me… RUF-33939 2014 CC BY 4.0 11 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Efficiency and profitability of water saving technologies on irrigated rice in South-Kivu province, DR Congo A. Katusabe Amoding · M.G.J. Majaliwa · I. Muhindo · B. Nkuba +1 more Water scarcity is reducing both irrigated areas and irrigated rice yield in the South-Kivu province, DR Congo, leading to increased poverty and food insecurity, at both provincial and national level. This situation is likely to be worsened… RUF-33923 2014 CC BY 4.0 11 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access The dissonance between concept and practice: The WATERCAP project as an example of a partial paradigm shift towards system innovation N. Faltmann · L. Haller · Probst. Lorenz · M. Wurzinger Approaches related to system innovation, including participatory action and monitoring have become mainstream in planning and implementing development projects. It is far from clear, however, what different stakeholders mean when they comm… RUF-33904 2014 CC BY 4.0 11 Aug 2015
