Working Document Series Open Access Development of a Regional Masters of Science Curriculum in Agro-ecology G. Chemining’wa · M. Kasina · J. Nderitu Agro-ecology is a transdisciplinary, action oriented, participatory approach to moving food systems towards sustainability. It is grounded in the science of ecology (i.e. the science of how nature works) with its system focus. It is also g… RUF-38877 2018 CC BY 4.0 12 Dec 2020
Journal articles Open Access Non-timber forest products and their contribution to households income around Falgore Game Reserve in Kano, Nigeria Judith Syombua Mbau · A. Suleiman · M.S. Suleiman · V.O. Wasonga +1 more In the recent decades, there has been growing interest in the contribution of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) to livelihoods, development, and poverty alleviation among the rural populace. This has been prompted by the fact that communi… RUF-37276 2017 CC BY 4.0 9 Nov 2017
Journal articles Open Access Spatial and temporal analysis of forest cover change in Falgore Game Reserve in Kano, Nigeria Judith Syombua Mbau · M.S. Suleiman · V.O. Wasonga · A. Yazan Elhadi Multi-temporal land-use and land-cover data provides a historical vehicle for determining and evaluating long-term trends in bio-physical landscapes. Land-use and land-cover assessment and mapping is one of the most useful applications of … RUF-37259 2017 CC BY 4.0 8 Nov 2017
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Effect of drip irrigation on the production and economic returns of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) in semi arid areas of Tanzania Athuman Juma Mahinda Field trials were conducted in semi arid area of Dodoma, central Tanzania with the aim of assessing the effect of three drip irrigation watering regimes on the production and economic returns of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). The irrigation tr… RUF-36606 2014 CC BY 4.0 15 Mar 2017
Working Document Series Open Access Growth promotive effects of neem and stinging nettle in indigenous chickens in Kenya L.C. Bebora · M.O. Bwana · P.M. Kitala · P.G. Mbuthia +4 more The study was designed to investigate the role of aqueous suspensions of Neem (Azadirachta indica) and Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) powders fed in drinking water on the growth performance of indigenous chicken. Twelve indigenous chicks … RUF-36350 2016 CC BY 4.0 20 Oct 2016
Working Document Series Open Access Ecological and socio-economic evaluation of dryland agroforestry systems in East Africa A. Egeru · G. Kironchi · M. Nyangito · N.M. Syano +1 more Drylands typically suffer from sustainable land use challenges that have rapidly increased in the recent past. Drylands are face with a number of constraints including, among others, climate variability, natural resources degradation, decl… RUF-36237 2016 CC BY 4.0 18 Oct 2016
Working Document Series Open Access Influence of forage value on the choice of grass species to combat desertification in semi-arid regions of Kenya K.Z. Mganga · N.K.R. Musimba · A.W. Mwang’omb · M.M. Nyangito +1 more Livestock production is the main source of livelihood in the arid and semi-arid lands of Africa. Desertification characterized by vegetation degradation and soil erosion have become major threats to the sustainability of this land-based pr… RUF-36231 2016 CC BY 4.0 18 Oct 2016
Journal articles Open Access Land use and land cover change in the coastal area of Watamu Mida Creek, Kenya Alemayehu. Fikir Watamu Mida creek coastal areas, mainly the shoreline, the mangroves and the general environment have been changing due to the impact of land use change, shoreline erosion, human population pressure and the expansion of tourism sector. Thi… RUF-36027 2016 CC BY 4.0 13 Sep 2016
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 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 Effect of organic and inorganic nitrogen sources on growth, yield and oil content of sunflower grown in highly weathered soils of Morogoro Mwahija Almasi Irika Sunflower contributes about 40% of total national cooking oil requirement in Tanzania, ranking as one of the most important cooking oil with very high nutritional value. However, its production per unit area ranges between 800 and 1100 kg/… RUF-35636 2015 CC BY 4.0 8 Oct 2015
Theses & Dissertations Open Access Participatory evaluation of sweet potato varieties response to virus infection in central Kenya P.W. Muturi Sweet potato is an important food and cash crop grown by small holder farmers but its productivity is limited by sweet potato virus disease (SPVD). Farmers' lack of disease free vines and inadequate knowledge on identification and manage… RUF-35490 2008 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
Working Document Series Open Access The importance of trees and shrubs as livestock feed in the arid and semi arid rangelands of Kenya: Case of Prosopis juliflora in Baringo district S.K. Choge · W.N. Ekaya · R.N. Kinuthia · O.K. Koech +1 more This study was conducted to determine the potential of integrating Prosopis juliflora in drylands livestock production where the tree is abundant and has been reported by the community to be a menace to their livelihoods. Despite these all… RUF-34855 2010 CC BY 4.0 14 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Effects of supplementing mesquit (Prosopis juliflora) seedpod meal on the performance of weaner Galla goats in the drylands of Kenya Wellington Ekaya · R.N. Kinuthia · O.K. Koech · R.G. Wahome A study was conducted to investigate the effect of increasing amounts of Prosopis juliflora seedpod meal on the growth rate of weaner Galla goats. The overall aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of incorporating Prosopis seedpo… RUF-34852 2010 CC BY 4.0 14 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Risk factors and socio-economic effects associated with spread of Peste des petits ruminants in Turkana district, Kenya L.C. Bebora · A. N. Gitau · S.M. Kihu · J.M. Njenga +1 more Peste des petit ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious, infectious and often fatal disease of sheep, goats and small wild ruminants. In Kenya PPR was first suspected in 1992 and confirmed in Turkana District in 2007. Turkana community live… RUF-34838 2010 CC BY 4.0 14 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Enhancing village chicken productivity through parasite management for effective newcastle disease vaccination in Kenya L.C. Bebora · C.O. Gor · N. Maingi · P.G. Mbuthia +1 more Newcastle disease (ND) is documented among the most important diseases of poultry in the world, causing devastating losses in both commercial and village chickens. It is capable of causing mortality rates of up to 100% of the flock and, as… RUF-34715 2010 CC BY 4.0 10 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Regeneration dynamics of woody species in degraded natural forests in western Kenya Wellington Ekaya · J. Kinyamario · J. Otuoma Deforestation has become rampant in many areas in Kenya due to pressure on land resulting from human population increase. Efforts to rehabilitate areas that have been deforested have had little success due to the limited knowledge of veget… RUF-34678 2010 CC BY 4.0 9 Sep 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Enhancing water use efficiency of cassava and sorghum based cropping systems in drylands G. Kironchi · R. Mulebeke · M. M. Tenywa Soil moisture flow characteristics, infiltration and storage in the root zone determine the overall availability and use efficiency of water in crop production. This study is evaluating the effects of cropping systems and tillage managemen… RUF-34646 2010 CC BY 4.0 9 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 Food losses and waste in the context of sustainable food systems J. Ambuko Although accurate estimates of losses and waste in the food system are unavailable, the best evidence to date coming from Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) indicates that approximately 1.3 billion tonnes per year (one-third of the f… RUF-34124 2014 CC BY 4.0 13 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Effect of farming practices on the occurrence of scab of wheat and its management through cultivar resistance C.K. Mutegi · J.W. Muthomi · R.D. Narla · N.K. Njeru +2 more A survey was carried out in Nakuru and Narok Counties at hard dough stage and at harvest. A semi structured questionnaire was used to collect information on wheat production practices. Fusarium head blight incidence and severity in each fa… RUF-34118 2014 CC BY 4.0 13 Aug 2015
Working Document Series Open Access Comparison of quality attributes of mango fruits produced from two contrasting agro-ecological zones of Kenya J. Ambuko · L. Ouma · W.O. Owino · S. Shibairo Mango (Mangifera indica) is a tropical fruit adapted to a wide range of agro-ecological conditions. In Kenya, mango fruits are produced across various agro-ecological zones (AEZs); from sub-humid to semi-arid. The diverse production condit… RUF-34096 2014 CC BY 4.0 13 Aug 2015