Working Document Series Open Access Conservation Agriculture effects on earthworm populations in Western Kenya and Eastern Uganda soils D. Ashilenje · W. N’getich · J. Norton · U. Norton +7 more Conventional cultivation in Western Kenya and Eastern Uganda over the years has resulted into decline in soil quality and food crop production. Studying soil biodiversity under Conservation Agriculture production systems (CAPS) will help u… RUF-34089 2014 CC BY 4.0 13 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Role of agronomic practices on the occurrence of Fusarium head blight of wheat C. Mutegi · J. Muthomi · R. Narla · O. Okumu +1 more Fusarium head blight is a disease of small grain cereals that reduces yield and causes mycotoxin contamination. The role of agronomic practices on the occurrence of wheat agronomic practices was studied. In the experiment, a survey to dete… RUF-34088 2014 CC BY 4.0 13 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Effects of phosphorus deficiency on secondary metabolites and African nightshade distribution in Kisii, Siaya and Kakamega counties, Kenya J. P. Gweyi Onyango · W. Musila · P. Nawiri · J. Ogembo Oyaro African indigenous vegetables form an integral part of the Kenyan diets, among the most commonly consumed being the African nightshade. These vegetables contain important phenolics that have medicinal values and good health attributes. The… RUF-34074 2014 CC BY 4.0 13 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Effect of organic and inorganic sources of nitrogen on growth, seed yield and oil content of sunflower grown in highly weathered soils in Morogoro - Tanzania G. Chemining’wa · J. Kinama · I.A. Mwahija · A. Nyambilila Sunflower contributes about 40% of total national cooking oil requirement, ranking as one of the most important cooking oil with very high nutritional value in Tanzania. However, its production per unit area ranges between 800 to 1100 kg/h… RUF-34044 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 Selection for short day adaptation in vegetable runner bean in Kenya P. M. Kimani · M. M. Mulanya Runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus L.) offers considerable potential as a high value vegetable and grain crop for domestic and export markets in eastern Africa. However, production and utilisation of vegetable runner beans in Kenya is severe… RUF-34006 2014 CC BY 4.0 12 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Ramifications of variations in quality of pasture seed lots marketed in Uasin Gishu, Kenya L. Gohole · W. Motanya · R. Muasya · J. Ochuodho The low levels of germination, varied vigour and long periods required to attain required stand establishment in pasture fields compromises the expected quality standards of marketed seed. This study was carried out to explore the effects … RUF-33991 2014 CC BY 4.0 12 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Minjingu phosphate rock extractability by white lupin and chickpea in Njoro and Kiambu sub-counties, Kenya J.J. Lelei · R. O. Onwonga · J.P. Ouma Declining phosphorus (P) fertility is a major production constraint in Kiambu and Njoro subCounties of Kenya. Use of Minjingu phosphate rock (MPR) to rebuild soil capital P is limited by its insolubility in water. Field experiments were co… RUF-33952 2014 CC BY 4.0 11 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Mutation breeding in irish potatoes M. Kinyua · O. Kiplagat · F. K. Kiunga The cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) originated from the Andean region of South America. Kenyan farmers started potato cultivation in 1920 and entered the export market in 1923. However, while average potato yields in North America… RUF-33950 2014 CC BY 4.0 11 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 Application of mutation techniques to determine the optimum sensitivity dose for sorghum E. Chepkoech · S. Kimno Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is the fifth most important cereal crop of the world and serves as a major staple food and fodder resource, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. This crop has a big potential to be grown and cultivated owi… RUF-33946 2014 CC BY 4.0 11 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Selection for pod quality, pod yield and disease resistance in climbing snap beans J. J. Cheptoo · P. M. Kimani · R.D. Narla Although climbing snap bean have the potential of increasing productivity and competitiveness in domestic and export markets, suitable varieties with market demanded pod quality characteristics and preferred agronomic traits are not availa… RUF-33885 2014 CC BY 4.0 11 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Pod quality, pod yield and disease resistance of new bush snap bean lines in Kenya J. J. Cheptoo · P. M. Kimani · R.D. Narla This study was conducted at Mwea and Embu where twenty F6.7 lines selected from 31 bulk populations were evaluated for reaction to diseases, pod quality and pod yield in onfarm trials during the 2013 long rain and short rain seasons. Disea… RUF-33881 2014 CC BY 4.0 11 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Diversity assessment of cassava mutants, hybrids and landraces using morphological markers E. E. Arunga · M. Chelulei · E. Chepkoech · S. Kimno +2 more Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is a very important crop in terms of adaptability to various micro-environments, flexibility in management, returns, and multiple uses as food and in various industries. Knowledge of levels of genetic variation … RUF-33871 2014 CC BY 4.0 11 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Effects of different planting methods on performance of New Rice for Africa (NERICA) in Kerio Valley and Marigat, Kenya E. O. Auma · W. K. Bii · L. Ngode The New Rice for Africa (NERICA) which was developed to solve the food crisis has been adopted by farmers in Kenya. Attempts have been made to choose methods of planting for NERICA production but their effectiveness has not been well under… RUF-33833 2014 CC BY 4.0 10 Aug 2015
Tenders, Procurement, and Expressions of Interest Open Access Country level study on the status of the higher agricultural education sector in Kenya The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) invites suitably qualified individuals to undertake an assessment of higher education systems, with specific emphasis on the agricultural sector with view of id… RUF-33736 2015 CC BY 4.0 24 Jun 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Assessing the Potential of Camel Milk as a Livelihood Option in the Face of Climatic and Environmental Changes in Drylands of Kenya D.M. Nyariki · V.O. Wasonga · A.M. Yazan Elhadi In drylands of Kenya, the adverse effects of climate variability and change has directly weakened the pastoral production system and made it less effective as a livelihood option. This has med most pastoral household food insecure. However… RUF-32642 2012 CC BY 4.0 17 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Inheritance of Phosphorus use Efficiency and Resistance to Anthracnose in Selected Sorghum Genotypes Grown in the Acid Soils of Western Kenya S. Gudu · A. Nyambok · P. Okori The acid soils of Western Kenya where most of the sorghum is grown have very low available phosphorus, and thus cannot support optimal sorghum productivity. In addition, foliar anthracnose (Colletotrichum sublineolum L.) also reduces sorgh… RUF-32546 2012 CC BY 4.0 17 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Performance of Selected Grain Sorghum Genotypes for Improved Food Security and Livelihoods S. Kyamanywa · M. Mgonja · P.W. Muturi · P. Rubaihayo +1 more Sorghum is a useful cereal crop cultivated by numerous resource poor farmers in semi arid regions. The crop is indigenous thus well adapted to various environments in Kenya. Sorghum performs better than other cereal staples particularly ma… RUF-32542 2012 CC BY 4.0 17 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Improving Maize-Beans Yields Through Improved Soil Moisture Storage using Trapezoidal Bunds and Manure in Machakos County-Eastern Kenya B.O. Danga · B.E. Mochoge · G.S. Openda The tremendous increase in population in Kenya has created the need for faster rate of increase in food production. However, more than 80% of Kenya lies in the arid and semi arid lands (ASALs). To mitigate food shortages in such areas, the… RUF-31997 2012 CC BY 4.0 13 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Enhancing Farmers’ Adaptation to Climate Change by Integrating Traditional and Conventional Drought Prediction and Preparedness Techniques in Kenyan Central Highlands M.W. Mucheru-Muna · W.E. Mugi Climate change has been recognised as the most complex and challenging environmental problem facing crop production among most small holder farms today. Drought, a condition that has a negative impact on crop productivity is an indicator o… RUF-31934 2012 CC BY 4.0 13 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Determinants of Adoption of Butternut Squash (Cucurbita moschata) Farming among Small-holders in Suba District, Kenya H.N. Isaboke · P. Mshenga · B.K. Mutai · M. Saidi Butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata) is an emerging economic crop in Kenya with ready market and high nutritional value. Despite this, its adoption as a major cash crop in Suba District has remained low. The aim of the study was to invest… RUF-31915 2012 CC BY 4.0 12 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Determinants of Adoption and Utilisation of Integrated Soil Fertility Management by Small Holders in Central Kenya S.W. Kimaru · F.S. Mairura · M.W. Mucheru-Muna · D.N. Mugendi +1 more Per capita food production in Africa has been declining over the last two decades, contrary to global trends due to soil fertility decline. The study sought to determine factors that influence adoption and utilization of integrated soil fe… RUF-31824 2012 CC BY 4.0 8 May 2014
Working Document Series Open Access Food Poverty among Pastoral Communities in Dryland Kenya D.M. Nyariki · V.O. Wasonga · A. Yazan Elhadi The dryland area of Kenya has the highest poverty incidence compared to other areas in the country; this is why poverty reduction has been a key government policy goal especially in these areas. These regions are predominantly inhabited by… RUF-31637 2012 CC BY 4.0 13 Nov 2013
Working Document Series Open Access Unravelling the Potential of Sweet Sorghum for Sugar Production in Kenya G. Abayo · M. Dida · P. Okori · C. Olweny Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench is an important food and increasingly industrial crop and serves as a source for starch and sugars for biofuel production world wide and especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor … RUF-31575 2012 CC BY 4.0 8 Oct 2013
