Theses & Dissertations Open Access Ethnopharmacology, phytochemical composition and toxicity of medicinal plants used against livestock helminths in drylands Agnes Sarah Nalule Medicinal plants are important natural resources in drylands for communities on which their livestock and other forms of livelihoods have been sustained based on traditional knowledge. However, lack of scientific basis of their biological … RUF-35775 2011 CC BY 4.0 19 Nov 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Influence of soil fertility management on striga reproduction and grain yield of sorghum in semiarid areas of Tanzania A. Kudra Influence of soil fertility management on Striga reproduction and sorghum grain yield in semiarid areas of Tanzania. PhD thesis, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nairobi. Witchweed (Striga), a root parasite, has become a major biologi… RUF-35773 2011 CC BY 4.0 19 Nov 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Effects of soil physicochemical properties and genetic characteristics on distribution of acacia senegal (L) willd. varieties in the dryland areas of Kenya E.W. Githae Acacia senegal is a dryland multipurpose tree species highly valued for gum Arabic production, agroforestry and desertification control. The aim of this study was to investigate the edaphic and genetic factors that affect distribution of t… RUF-35772 2011 CC BY 4.0 19 Nov 2015
Journal articles Open Access Assessment of shoreline changes in the period 1969-2010 in Watamuarea, Kenya Alemayehu. Fikir · James Kinyanjui. Mwangi · R. Onwonga · V.O. Wasonga Watamu coastlineis a major attraction site for tourist and also a source of income for the local people. However, the shoreline has been changing due to erosion. This study sought to find the trend of shoreline changes, and the factors att… RUF-35769 2014 CC BY 4.0 19 Nov 2015
Journal articles Open Access Assessment of mangrove covers change and Biomass in Mida creek, Kenya Alemayehu. Fikir · P. Kinyanjui · R. Onwonga · V.O. Wasonga This study uses old aerial photographs, current high resolution satellite images and ground truthing to analyze the patterns and dynamics of Mida Creek mangrove forest changes over 41 years from 1969-2010. A non-distractive method was used… RUF-35763 2014 CC BY 4.0 19 Nov 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Improving small holder land productivity through promotion of sustainable soil and water conservation technologies in Machakos District: a case of vegetative macro contour lines M. W. Baaru The study was carried out at Kathekakai settlement scheme, Machakos District to evaluate effects of vegetative macro contour line on soil moisture content and crop performance. In addition, the study also looked at land use and land cover … RUF-35760 2011 CC BY 4.0 19 Nov 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access The impact of climate variability and extreme weather events on gender and household vulnerability to food insecurity V. M. Tasokwa Kakota Climate variability is a challenge to ensuring food security among populations that mainly depend on rain-fed agriculture. It affects rural women and men differently. However, there is inadequate information to link climate variability to … RUF-35758 2011 CC BY 4.0 19 Nov 2015
Multimedia Open Access RUFORUM:Training science leaders for Africa - Featuring Dr. Abigael Otinga The video features Dr. Abigael Otinga, a soil scientist from University of Eldoret telling her academic story right from primary school. she narrates the desire and dreams she once had in achieving a higher education and with making her d… RUF-35680 2015 CC BY 4.0 28 Oct 2015
Journal articles Open Access Novel source of sorghum tolerance to the African stem borer, Busseola fusca C. T. Hash · S. Kyamanywa · M. Mgonja · P.W. Muturi +2 more Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is an important cereal food crop in semi-arid tropics, but its productivity is curtailed mainly by insect pests and diseases. The African stem borer, Busseola fusca Fuller (Lepidopteran: Noctuidae), is among the m… RUF-35621 2012 CC BY 4.0 7 Oct 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Cross-mating and oviposition behaviour between strains of Cotesia sesamiae cameron (Hymenoptera: braconidae) from Kitale, Mombasa and Mount Kenya. Jane Ndegi Mugambi Stemborers cause 50% yield losses in cereal crops including maize, sorghum and sugarcane. In Kenya, stemborers include Busseola fusca, B. phaia, Sesamia calamistis, Eldana saccharina, Chilo orichalcociliellus and C. partellus. Control opti… RUF-35523 2010 CC BY 4.0 29 Sep 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Species abundance, composition and colonization behaviour of Malaria vectors in a semi-arid ecosystem of Baringo District, Kenya Okello Samuel Arum Malaria is one of the public health problems facing people in many parts of Kenya including semi-arid areas. It is caused by an infectious bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes. To effectively implement malaria control program, the knowledge… RUF-35509 2011 CC BY 4.0 29 Sep 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Evaluation of sweet potato varieties response to sweet potato virus disease J.K. Mwololo Sweet potato is an important foo, feed and cash crop in Eastern Africa but its productivity is greatly reduced by the sweet potato virus disease (SPVD). Variety based tolerance to SPVD is greatly reduced by the sweet potato virus disease (… RUF-35481 2008 CC BY 4.0 28 Sep 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access An assessment of the impact of land use changes on human-elephant conflict in Laikipia West district, Kenya Mumu Thomas Waithaka Farmers in Laikipia West district like many other farmers living in wildlife dispersal areas have continued to suffer huge losses resulting from wildlife menace without adequate compensation. Land use has been changing with time making the… RUF-35405 2010 CC BY 4.0 23 Sep 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Evaluation of rainwater harvesting techniques in Yatta district, Kenya Ibrahim Ahmed Ibrahim Abdelfadeel Climate change and/or variability are expected to affect water availability as well as the techniques of water harvesting. The main objective of this study was to investigate factors affecting adoption of rainwater harvesting techniques in… RUF-35369 2012 CC BY 4.0 21 Sep 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Principal Component and Multiple Correspondence Analyses in Dimensionality Reduction: A Study on Aflatoxin Contamination of Peanuts in Kenya Henry Henry Mokua Momanyi In a study about the factors that contributed to the risk of aflatoxin contamination of peanuts in the Peanut CRSP project in Kenya, contingency table analysis (Pearson’s chi-square) was used to analyze a large mixed data set from a survey… RUF-35363 2013 CC BY 4.0 21 Sep 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Profit efficiency of dairy farmers in Kenya: a case study of smallholder farmers in the rift valley and central province Leone Iga Mawa Kenya‟s dairy industry is among the best in the Sub-Sahara Africa. The dairy industry is an important source of household livelihood among the smallholder families. There is immense pressure on land due to the increasing population. The re… RUF-35328 2013 CC BY 4.0 21 Sep 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Use of data quality assessment to evaluate the level of HIV data completeness in Ministry of Health facilities: a case study of Eastern province-Kenya Kirimi Peter Mutugi Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome data feedback and decision making is enhanced by data quality assessments which are done using well designed tools and methods. HIV data quality is useful in HIV pr… RUF-35325 2013 CC BY 4.0 21 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Development of plant nutrient efficient use sorghum varieties to support livelihood strategies of East African farmers S. Gudu · P. Okori Seventy five percent of the over 100 million people in Eastern and Central Africa region live in marginal areas and are dependent on agriculture. Agricultural productivity in those areas is mainly low resource based and suffer especially f… RUF-35233 2010 CC BY 4.0 17 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Genetic diversity in maize landraces for resistance to Chilo partellus in Kenya P. Gibson · S.N. Mugo · S.W. Munyiri · J.K. Mwololo +2 more Yield losses in maize associated with stem borer damage is estimated at 13% annually in Kenya. New sources of resistance to stem borers are needed to develop germplasm for the diverse maize growing ecologies. This study was conducted to es… RUF-35223 2010 CC BY 4.0 17 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Population increase and socio-economic changes in a pastoral society: The case of the Turkana, Kakuma division, Kenya W.N. Ekaya · M. Okoti We studied the impact of settlement on socio-economic patterns and environment quality among the Turkana pastoral communities in Kenya. We used open-ended and close-ended questionnaire and focus group discussion. The majority of the people… RUF-35172 2010 CC BY 4.0 16 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Information access and preference for delivery pathways by peri-urban and rural smallholder dairy farmers in Central Kenya J. Matofari · D.K. Mbugua · M. Ngigi This study investigated access to information and preferences in delivery pathways for smallholder dairy farmers in two divisions in Central Kenya. The study used a cross-sectional survey design using systematic sampling procedure where 34… RUF-35169 2010 CC BY 4.0 16 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Evaluation of constraints in use of electronic agricultural information resources at selected institutions of Higher Learning in Kenya N.J. Kamar · G. Owour · M. Tabu This study aims at identifying the constraints in use of agricultural electronic resources in academic institutions and their contributions to development in agriculture. Limited access to agricultural e-resources has led to poor research … RUF-35156 2010 CC BY 4.0 16 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Improving soil hydrological properties of denuded semi-arid rangeland in southeastern Kenya using reseeding technology W.N. Ekaya · K.Z. Mganga · N.K.R. Musimba · A. W. Mwang’ombe +2 more A study was conducted to establish the contribution of Eragrostis superba, Enteropogon macrostachyus and Cenchrus ciliaris in improving soil hydrological properties in semi-arid Kenya. Kamphorst rainfall simulator was used on bare ground a… RUF-35085 2010 CC BY 4.0 16 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Effects of women’s access to business credit on gender relations in rural households: A case of Uasin Gishu district, Kenya R. Karega · P. Tangut The effects of women’s access to business credit on gender relations in rural households in Kenya was studied. The study covered Uasin Gishu District of Kenya. The primary respondents were women entrepreneurs, beneficiaries of a micro fina… RUF-35012 2010 CC BY 4.0 15 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Livelihood diversification and enhanced food security through agro-pastoralism: Socio-cultural and other challenges among Maasai pastoralists of Narok North district of Kenya N. J. Kathuri · J. G. Mwangi · A. O. Nkurumwa The Maasai of Narok North District Kenya have started adopting agro-pastoralism as a livelihood diversification strategy. This study sought to determine the socio-cultural challenges faced in agro-pastoralism and the relationships between … RUF-34994 2010 CC BY 4.0 15 Sep 2015
