Agriculture Commons^™

Soil Water Use Efficiency Under Integrated Soil Management Practices In The Drylands Of Kenya, Nathan O. Oduor, Monicah Mucheru-Muna, Jayne Njeri Mugwe, Isaya Sijali, George Nyabuga, Daniel Njiru Mugendi

Graduate School of Media and Communications

Soil moisture scarcity and soil fertility decline in the drylands contribute to declining crop productivity. The possible synergistic effects of integrating soil & water conservation, and soil fertility management practices on soil moisture, and hence water use efficiency (WUE) in the drylands of Tharaka-Nithi County in Kenya was assessed. The experiment was laid in a three by three split plot arrangement, with four replications, for four cropping seasons. Minimum tillagewith mulch, tied ridges, and conventional tillage formed the main plot factors. The sub-plot factors included animal manure plus fertilizer at 120, 60, and 30 N kg ha−1. There was significant …

Smallholder Views On Chinese Agricultural Investments In Mozambique And Tanzania In The Context Of Vggts, Rebecca Pointer, Emmanuel Sulle, Clemente Ntauazi

East Africa Institute

Based on a case study in each country, this study documents the views of Mozambican and Tanzanian smallholders regarding Chinese agricultural investments and the extent to which investors abide by their legitimate land tenure rights as defined by the Voluntary Guidelines for the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Forests and Fisheries in the Context of National Food Security (VGGTs). The VGGTs offer guidelines to government on how to protect the land tenure of rural communities when land is being acquired for large-scale land investments. The study also assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on smallholders. Due to COVID-19, …

Inventory Of Novel Approaches To Seed Quality Assurance Mechanisms For Vegetatively Propagated Crops (Vpcs) In Seven African Countries, Emanuel Sulle, Rebecca Pointer, Lava Kumar, Magreth Mc Ewan

East Africa Institute

This paper provides an inventory of novel approaches to and mechanisms for quality assurance of the seeds of vegetatively produced crops (VPCs). It explores to what extent seven African countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia) are decentralising and integrating VPC seed systems, in terms of regulations governing the sector, methods of seed production, and methods of seed inspection and certification. It consolidates existing data and presents new data on decentralised seed quality assurance (SQA) approaches for VPCs in these seven selected countries. It makes relevant information readily available for policy dialogue on appropriate and inclusive SQA approaches, …

Nutrient And Organic Carbon Losses By Erosion, And Their Economic And Environmental Implications In The Drylands Of Kenya, Nathan O. Oduor, Monicah Mucheru-Muna, Jayne N. Mugwe, Isaya Sijali, George Nyabuga, Daniel N. Mugendi

Graduate School of Media and Communications

Erosion causes soil nutrients and financial losses, and negatively impacts the environment. We sought to assess the effects of integrated soil fertility and soil & water management practices on nutrient losses, their equivalent economic losses, and environmental disturbance in the drylands of Tharaka-Nithi County. An experiment was set in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Six treatments implemented included manure + fertilizer + tied ridging under 120 kg ha−1 and 30 kg ha−1 nitrogen (N) application rate, manure + fertilizer + minimum tillage with crop residue mulch under 120 N kg ha−1 and 30 N kg ha−1, Managing …

Prokinetic And Laxative Effects Of The Crude Methanolic Extract Of Viola Betonicifolia Whole Plant In Rodents, Naveed Muhammad, Najeeb Rehman,, Haroon Khan, Muhammad Saeed, Anwar Gilani

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Abstract Background: The present study was aimed to provide ethnopharmacological basis for the medicinal use of Viola betonicifolia whole plant in indigestion and constipation. Methods: Mice were used in in-vivo prokinetic and laxative studies while in-vitro experiments were conducted on isolated tissues of rabbit and guinea-pig gut preparations suspended in a tissue bath to measure isotonic contractions. Results: The crude methanolic extract of Viola betonicifolia (VBME) showed partially atropine-sensitive prokinetic (50 and 100 mg/kg) and laxative (30 and 100 mg/kg) activities in mice. When tested in isolated rabbit jejunum and guinea-pig ileum, VBME caused dose-dependent contractions at 0.01-0.3 mg/mL and …

Weather Info For All – Towards An Agriculture And Climate Advisory Service, David P. Rogers, Alex Awiti

East Africa Institute

The goal of this report is to build on the Svenska PostkodStiftelsen supported study of the weather and climate information needs of small-scale farming and fishing communities (Awiti et al. 2012) to increase support for the development of agriculture and climate advisory systems and services for farmers.

The Svenska PostkodStiftelsen study has been used to highlight the need for community engagement in the creation of effective climate services for farmers. The findings were shared with the World Bank, the Global facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and other development partners including the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Group …