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International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology

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Articles 181 - 210 of 429

Full-Text Articles in Agricultural Science

Caterpillar-Induced Plant Volatiles Attract Conspecific And Heterospecific Adults For Oviposition Within A Community Of Lepidopteran Stemborers On Maize Plant, Bonoukpoè Mawuko Sokame, Eric Siaw Ntiri, Peter Ahuya, Baldwyn Torto, Bruno Pierre Le Ru, Dora Chao Kilalo, Gerald Juma, Paul André Calatayud Jun 2019

Caterpillar-Induced Plant Volatiles Attract Conspecific And Heterospecific Adults For Oviposition Within A Community Of Lepidopteran Stemborers On Maize Plant, Bonoukpoè Mawuko Sokame, Eric Siaw Ntiri, Peter Ahuya, Baldwyn Torto, Bruno Pierre Le Ru, Dora Chao Kilalo, Gerald Juma, Paul André Calatayud

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Olfactory cues may influence host plant preferences for oviposition of female moths within a community of stemborers that utilise the same resource. This study aimed to evaluate plant preferences for oviposition of gravid females of noctuid stemborers, Busseola fusca and Sesamia calamistis, and the crambid Chilo partellus for uninfested maize plants and plants infested by conspecific or heterospecific larvae. The involvement of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by uninfested and maize plants infested by conspecific or heterospecific larvae on moth orientation was studied in Y-tube olfactometer assays and in the field. All gravid female moths significantly preferred VOCs emitted by …

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Modelling Appropriate Use Of Trypanocides To Restrict Wide-Spread Multi-Drug Resistance During Chemotherapy Of Animal African Trypanosomiasis, Ibrahim I. Wangwe, Sarah A. Wamwenje, Caroline Mirieri, Nicodemus M. Masila, Lillian Wambua, Benard W. Kulohoma May 2019

Modelling Appropriate Use Of Trypanocides To Restrict Wide-Spread Multi-Drug Resistance During Chemotherapy Of Animal African Trypanosomiasis, Ibrahim I. Wangwe, Sarah A. Wamwenje, Caroline Mirieri, Nicodemus M. Masila, Lillian Wambua, Benard W. Kulohoma

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Trypanocide resistance remains a huge challenge in the management of animal African trypanosomiasis. Paucity of data on the prevalence of multi-drug resistant trypanosomes has greatly hindered optimal veterinary management practices. We use mathematical model predictions to highlight appropriate drug regimens that impede trypanocide resistance development in cattle. We demonstrate that using drugs in decreasing resistance order results in a negligible increase in number of cattle with resistant infection, in contrast to a more pronounced increase from trypanocide use in increasing resistance order. We demonstrate that the lowest levels of trypanocide resistance are achieved with combination therapy. We also show that …

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Nitrogen Release And Synchrony In Organic And Conventional Farming Systems Of The Central Highlands Of Kenya, Martha W. Musyoka, Noah Adamtey, Else K. Bünemann, Anne W. Muriuki, Edward N. Karanja, Monica Mucheru-Muna, Komi K.M. Fiaboe, Georg Cadisch Apr 2019

Nitrogen Release And Synchrony In Organic And Conventional Farming Systems Of The Central Highlands Of Kenya, Martha W. Musyoka, Noah Adamtey, Else K. Bünemann, Anne W. Muriuki, Edward N. Karanja, Monica Mucheru-Muna, Komi K.M. Fiaboe, Georg Cadisch

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To match Nitrogen (N) supply to crop N demand, it is essential to understand N release and uptake patterns in different farming systems and crops. To assesses the dynamics of N released in organic and conventional systems and potential synchrony and asynchrony in crop N uptake, a study was conducted over three cropping seasons (potato, maize and leafy vegetables) at two sites in the Central Highlands of Kenya. Mineral-N release and synchrony were monitored in conventional and organic systems at high (recommended N, P, pesticides and irrigation) and low input (low N, P, pesticide use and rainfed) systems. Mineral-N release …

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Learning From The Soil's Memory: Tailoring Of Fertilizer Application Based On Past Manure Applications Increases Fertilizer Use Efficiency And Crop Productivity On Kenyan Smallholder Farms, Samuel Njoroge, Antonius G.T. Schut, Ken E. Giller, Shamie Zingore Apr 2019

Learning From The Soil's Memory: Tailoring Of Fertilizer Application Based On Past Manure Applications Increases Fertilizer Use Efficiency And Crop Productivity On Kenyan Smallholder Farms, Samuel Njoroge, Antonius G.T. Schut, Ken E. Giller, Shamie Zingore

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The large uncertainty in yield response to fertilizer application within smallholder cropping systems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) limits efforts aimed at intensifying crop production based on increased fertilizer application. We assessed the key field-scale cause of variability in maize (Zea mays) grain yield response to fertilizer nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in the Sidindi area of Western Kenya based on past manure application, distance from the homestead, and clay and silt contents. We used data from nutrient omission trials conducted on 23 farms over seven consecutive cropping seasons covering the period 2013–2016, without changing treatments or plot location. …

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Manipulating Natural Enemy Behavior To Improve Biological Control: Attractants And Repellents Of A Weaver Ant, Anais Chailleux, Aurélien Stirnemann, Jimmy Leyes, Emilie Deletre Mar 2019

Manipulating Natural Enemy Behavior To Improve Biological Control: Attractants And Repellents Of A Weaver Ant, Anais Chailleux, Aurélien Stirnemann, Jimmy Leyes, Emilie Deletre

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Farmers may not want certain natural enemies of insect pests to be present in their fields all year round, due to the detrimental effects they might have on themselves or on their crop. We explored the potential for manipulating the behavior of the African weaver ant, Oecophylla longinoda, which may bite humans while being a major natural enemy against the invasive fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, in Africa. Our aim was to find repellents that might help to protect farmers when working in the fields, while also coming up with ways of increasing weaver ant populations, by finding carbohydrate sources from …

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Reduction Of Initial Occurrence Of Rice Blast (Pyricularia Oryzae) Inocula On Seeds By Microbial And Hot Water Seed Treatments, Ibrahim Hashim, Delphine Mamiro, Robert B. Mabagala, Tadele Tefera Feb 2019

Reduction Of Initial Occurrence Of Rice Blast (Pyricularia Oryzae) Inocula On Seeds By Microbial And Hot Water Seed Treatments, Ibrahim Hashim, Delphine Mamiro, Robert B. Mabagala, Tadele Tefera

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Rice blast disease resulting from infected rice seed can be avoided by using treated seeds. Seed treatment using chemical fungicide has many limitations such as development of resistance to pathogens, damage to the natural environment and the health of farmers and consumers. Such limitations have raised the need for alternative non-chemical seed treatment methods such as antagonist microbial agents and hot water. Laboratory and the screen house experiments were carried out with the aim of evaluating the efficacy of Trichoderma asperellum, Bacillus subtilis and hot water (50°C/15 min) seed treatments against rice blast disease inocula on rice seeds. The results …

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More Than "Push" And "Pull"? Plant-Soil Feedbacks Of Maize Companion Cropping Increase Chemical Plant Defenses Against Herbivores, Daniel M. Mutyambai, Ethan Bass, Tim Luttermoser, Katja Poveda, Charles A.O. Midega, Zeyaur R. Khan, André Kessler Jan 2019

More Than "Push" And "Pull"? Plant-Soil Feedbacks Of Maize Companion Cropping Increase Chemical Plant Defenses Against Herbivores, Daniel M. Mutyambai, Ethan Bass, Tim Luttermoser, Katja Poveda, Charles A.O. Midega, Zeyaur R. Khan, André Kessler

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Plants can alter nutritional availability, structure, and chemistry of the soil they grow in. These soil changes can positively or negatively influence the growth and metabolism of other plants that co-occur or grow later in the conditioned soil. Plant-soil feedbacks could affect community interactions and dynamics but also be applied in sustainable agriculture to promote plant growth and resistance to pests. In this study, we use a maize companion cropping system, commonly known as "push-pull," as a model to investigate soil-mediated effects of functional biodiversity, on maize plant growth, and resistance against insect herbivores. We grew maize in soils collected …

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Cassava Farming Practices And Their Agricultural And Environmental Impacts: A Systematic Map Protocol, Gorm E. Shackelford, Neal R. Haddaway, Hope O. Usieta, Pieter Pypers, Silviu O. Petrovan, William J. Sutherland Dec 2018

Cassava Farming Practices And Their Agricultural And Environmental Impacts: A Systematic Map Protocol, Gorm E. Shackelford, Neal R. Haddaway, Hope O. Usieta, Pieter Pypers, Silviu O. Petrovan, William J. Sutherland

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Background: Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is a staple crop that is important for food security in the tropics. However, cassava farming can have severe environmental impacts, such as habitat destruction and soil degradation, if it is not carefully managed. Therefore, a wide range of agricultural and environmental outcomes should be considered when cassava farming practices are recommended as "good agricultural practices". We propose a systematic map of research on cassava farming practices and their impacts on yield, quality, profitability, soil, water, wildlife, pathogens, pests, weeds, and other agricultural and environmental outcomes. This map will improve our knowledge of the multifunctionality of …

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Evaluation Of Biorational Insecticides And Dna Barcoding As Tools To Improve Insect Pest Management In Lablab Bean (Lablab Purpureus) In Bangladesh, Margaret R. Douglas, Jan Chang, Kohinoor Begum, Sevgan Subramanian, John F. Tooker, Syed Nurul Alam, Srinivasan Ramasamy Dec 2018

Evaluation Of Biorational Insecticides And Dna Barcoding As Tools To Improve Insect Pest Management In Lablab Bean (Lablab Purpureus) In Bangladesh, Margaret R. Douglas, Jan Chang, Kohinoor Begum, Sevgan Subramanian, John F. Tooker, Syed Nurul Alam, Srinivasan Ramasamy

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Lablab bean (Lablab purpureus) is a popular vegetable crop in Bangladesh, but farmers growing this crop experience significant losses to insect pests despite heavy reliance on conventional insecticides. We conducted field studies to improve pest management in lablab bean by testing biorational insecticides as alternatives to conventional insecticides for the control of pod borers (Maruca vitrata) and aphids (Aphis craccivora), and characterizing flower-inhabiting thrips as an emerging pest in this crop. In field experiments, spinosad was the most promising biorational we tested, suppressing pod-boring caterpillars more effectively than thiamethoxam or quinalphos. In contrast, azadirachtin (neem) did not significantly suppress any …

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Quantitative And Quality Losses Caused By Rodents In On-Farm Stored Maize: A Case Study In The Low Land Tropical Zone Of Kenya, Kukom Edoh Ognakossan, Christopher M. Mutungi, Tobias O. Otieno, Hippolyte D. Affognon, Daniel N. Sila, Willis O. Owino Dec 2018

Quantitative And Quality Losses Caused By Rodents In On-Farm Stored Maize: A Case Study In The Low Land Tropical Zone Of Kenya, Kukom Edoh Ognakossan, Christopher M. Mutungi, Tobias O. Otieno, Hippolyte D. Affognon, Daniel N. Sila, Willis O. Owino

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Rodents are one of the major storage pests in on-farm maize storage in the tropics. However, information on actual magnitude of weight and quality losses caused by rodents in maize stores and species of rodent associated with the losses is scarce and if available would help to improve maize postharvest management. Maize stores of small-scale farmers in the lowland tropical zone of Kenya were monitored for actual weight losses caused by rodents and rodent trapping was conducted to determine species and estimate population of the rodents associated with the losses. Moulds and total aflatoxin contamination and nutritional value of rodent-damaged …

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Response Of Common Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) To Nitrogen, Phosphorus And Rhizobia Inoculation Across Variable Soils In Zimbabwe, Vongai Chekanai, Regis Chikowo, Bernard Vanlauwe Nov 2018

Response Of Common Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) To Nitrogen, Phosphorus And Rhizobia Inoculation Across Variable Soils In Zimbabwe, Vongai Chekanai, Regis Chikowo, Bernard Vanlauwe

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Common bean is an important crop with potential to curb malnutrition in poor Sub-Saharan African populations. Yields of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are, however poor, limited by low soil phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N) and poor biological N2-fixation. On-farm experiments were carried out to study the effect of N, P and rhizobia inoculation on common bean yield and yield components during the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 cropping seasons in Eastern Zimbabwe. Experiments were conducted on five farmers’ fields located in two agroecologies; three fields were considered to be degraded with soil organic carbon (SOC) < 4 g kg−1 and available P < 6 mg kg−1, while the two non–degraded sites had SOC > 7 g kg−1 and available P > 15 …

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Sustainably Improving Kenya's Coffee Production Needs More Participation Of Younger Farmers With Diversified Income, Lydia W.I. Wairegi, Mica Bennett, Generose Nziguheba, Ashiraf Mawanda, Carlos De Los Rios, Edidah Ampaire, Laurence Jassogne, Pamela Pali, David Mukasa, Piet J.A. Van Asten Oct 2018

Sustainably Improving Kenya's Coffee Production Needs More Participation Of Younger Farmers With Diversified Income, Lydia W.I. Wairegi, Mica Bennett, Generose Nziguheba, Ashiraf Mawanda, Carlos De Los Rios, Edidah Ampaire, Laurence Jassogne, Pamela Pali, David Mukasa, Piet J.A. Van Asten

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Kenya's Arabica coffee is highly rated in the world and is a major source of income for over half a million smallholder farmers. Production has declined by 50% over the past 25 years despite efforts by initiatives. This study tries to unravel what drives coffee production in Kenya. Data were collected on six cooperatives through household interviews and discussions with farmers, cooperative officials, and key informants. Yields ranged from ten to 3889 kg/ha/year, averaged 474 kg/ha/year and were positively correlated with intensity of crop management (r = 0.09, P < 0.05). Coffee represented about 25–50% of total household income. The oldest farmers (average 63 years) were poorer, had less diversified income sources and managed coffee less intensively than younger farmers. Intensity of management differed among cooperatives and was positively correlated with trust in the cooperative (r = 0.209, P < 0.001). Households that received credit from marketers were 30% more likely to use fertilizers than other households. We show that the yield gap can be closed by existing practices, and intensification is influenced by household characteristics and services received. We conclude that increasing the participation of young farmers in coffee production and creating an enabling environment for intensification can have a positive and sustainable effect on national production.

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Push–Pull Farming System In Kenya: Implications For Economic And Social Welfare, Menale Kassie, Jesper Stage, Gracious Diiro, Beatrice Muriithi, Geoffrey Muricho, Samuel T. Ledermann, Jimmy Pittchar, Charles Midega, Kahn Zeyaur Sep 2018

Push–Pull Farming System In Kenya: Implications For Economic And Social Welfare, Menale Kassie, Jesper Stage, Gracious Diiro, Beatrice Muriithi, Geoffrey Muricho, Samuel T. Ledermann, Jimmy Pittchar, Charles Midega, Kahn Zeyaur

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This study examines the farm-level economic benefits and aggregate welfare impacts of adopting push–pull technology (PPT)—an innovative, integrated pest and soil-fertility management strategy—with a set of household- and plot-level data collected in western Kenya. The evaluation is based on a combination of econometric and economic surplus analysis. Treatment effect estimates are used to assess the technology-induced shift in the maize supply curve, which is then used as an input to the economic surplus analysis. Finally, the aggregate poverty impact is computed using the economic surplus estimates. We observe that the adoption of PPT led to significant increases in maize yield …

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Effects Of Flower Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) On Nutritional Quality Of Banana (Zingiberales: Musaceae) Buds, Deyi Yu, Peng Huang, Yong Chen, Yongwen Lin, Komivi Senyo Akutse, Yanyang Lan, Hui Wei Aug 2018

Effects Of Flower Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) On Nutritional Quality Of Banana (Zingiberales: Musaceae) Buds, Deyi Yu, Peng Huang, Yong Chen, Yongwen Lin, Komivi Senyo Akutse, Yanyang Lan, Hui Wei

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The abundance of banana flower thrips (Thrips hawaiiensis Morgan) in a banana (Musa acuminata Colla "Williams" cultivar) plantation was investigated using yellow sticky traps (29.70 cm × 21.00 cm) in 2015. Banana flower thrips occurred throughout the year with monthly variation, and the maximum occurrence was observed in October and November during the bud burst (73.80 ± 6.32 adults/trap) and young fruit (70.06 ± 5.69 adults/trap) periods. The damage rates were as follows: interior flowers >3rd-layer flowers > 2nd-layer flowers > 1st-layer flowers > young fruits. This result indicates that thrips migrated to lower bracts, young fruits, and other flower buds as bracts …

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Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus Induces Changes In Host Plant Volatiles That Attract Vector Thrips Species, Nelson L. Mwando, Amanuel Tamiru, Johnson O. Nyasani, Meshack A.O. Obonyo, John C. Caulfield, Toby J.A. Bruce, Sevgan Subramanian Aug 2018

Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus Induces Changes In Host Plant Volatiles That Attract Vector Thrips Species, Nelson L. Mwando, Amanuel Tamiru, Johnson O. Nyasani, Meshack A.O. Obonyo, John C. Caulfield, Toby J.A. Bruce, Sevgan Subramanian

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Maize lethal necrosis is one of the most devastating diseases of maize causing yield losses reaching up to 90% in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease is caused by a combination of maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) and any one of cereal viruses in the Potyviridae group such as sugarcane mosaic virus. MCMV has been reported to be transmitted mainly by maize thrips (Frankliniella williamsi) and onion thrips (Thrips tabaci). To better understand the role of thrips vectors in the epidemiology of the disease, we investigated behavioral responses of F. williamsi and T. tabaci, to volatiles collected from maize seedlings infected with …

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Genotypic Response Of Brachiaria (Urochloa Spp.) To Spider Mite (Oligonychus Trichardti) (Acari: Tetranychidae) And Adaptability To Different Environments, Duncan Cheruiyot, Charles A.O. Midega, Edward A. Ueckermann, Johnnie Van Den Berg, John A. Pickett, Zeyaur R. Khan Aug 2018

Genotypic Response Of Brachiaria (Urochloa Spp.) To Spider Mite (Oligonychus Trichardti) (Acari: Tetranychidae) And Adaptability To Different Environments, Duncan Cheruiyot, Charles A.O. Midega, Edward A. Ueckermann, Johnnie Van Den Berg, John A. Pickett, Zeyaur R. Khan

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Grasses in the genus Urochloa, commonly known as brachiaria, are grown as forage crops in sub-Saharan Africa, with some genotypes being used in management of insect pests. However, spider mite, Oligonychus trichardti Meyer (Acari: Tetranychidae), has recently been reported as its major pest in the region. We evaluated 18 brachiaria genotypes to identify sources of resistance to O. trichardti, and to determine their adaptability to different environments in western Kenya. Response to artificial infestation with O. trichardti was evaluated under controlled conditions in a screenhouse while adaptability to different environments and field resistance to mites was evaluated in three locations …

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Integrated Soil Fertility Management Sequences For Reducing Climate Risk In Smallholder Crop Production Systems In Southern Africa, Hatirarami Nezomba, Florence Mtambanengwe, Jairos Rurinda, Paul Mapfumo Jul 2018

Integrated Soil Fertility Management Sequences For Reducing Climate Risk In Smallholder Crop Production Systems In Southern Africa, Hatirarami Nezomba, Florence Mtambanengwe, Jairos Rurinda, Paul Mapfumo

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Climate change, increased climate variability and poor soil fertility are major bio-physical constraints to cropping on smallholder farms in southern Africa. We used the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM) to assess maize yield response to integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) rotational sequences of low-quality organic resources, nitrogen-fixing green manure and grain legumes, and mineral fertilizers under baseline (1960–2005) and projected (2040–2069) climates. APSIM was also employed to evaluate the response of maize yield to the ISFM sequences under a combination of a changing climate, and typical sowing dates and mineral fertilizer application rates for smallholder households of varying resource endowment. …

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Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata L. Walp) Hosts Several Widespread Bradyrhizobial Root Nodule Symbionts Across Contrasting Agro-Ecological Production Areas In Kenya, Samuel Mathu Ndungu, Monika M. Messmer, Dominik Ziegler, Hannes A. Gamper, Éva Mészáros, Moses Thuita, Bernard Vanlauwe, Emmanuel Frossard, Cécile Thonar Jul 2018

Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata L. Walp) Hosts Several Widespread Bradyrhizobial Root Nodule Symbionts Across Contrasting Agro-Ecological Production Areas In Kenya, Samuel Mathu Ndungu, Monika M. Messmer, Dominik Ziegler, Hannes A. Gamper, Éva Mészáros, Moses Thuita, Bernard Vanlauwe, Emmanuel Frossard, Cécile Thonar

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Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) is an important African food legume suitable for dry regions. It is the main legume in two contrasting agro-ecological regions of Kenya as an important component of crop rotations because of its relative tolerance to unpredictable drought events. This study was carried out in an effort to establish a collection of bacterial root nodule symbionts and determine their relationship to physicochemical soil parameters as well as any geographical distributional patterns. Bradyrhizobium spp. were found to be widespread in this study and several different types could be identified at each site. Unique but rare symbionts were …

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Sustainable Intensification Through Rotations With Grain Legumes In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review, A. C. Franke, G. J. Van Den Brand, B. Vanlauwe, K. E. Giller Jul 2018

Sustainable Intensification Through Rotations With Grain Legumes In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review, A. C. Franke, G. J. Van Den Brand, B. Vanlauwe, K. E. Giller

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We conducted a systematic review of literature on the residual effects of grain legumes in cereal-based systems of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to quantify the magnitude and variability of rotational effects, to explore the importance of environmental and management factors in determining variability and to evaluate the evidence of the different mechanisms that explain rotational effects. We retrieved 44 unique publications providing 199 observations comparing continuous cereal performance with that of a grain legume-cereal rotation. The overall mean yield increase of 0.49 t grain ha−1, equal to an increase of 41% of the continuous cereal yield, is highly significant, but the …

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Women’S Empowerment In Agriculture And Agricultural Productivity: Evidence From Rural Maize Farmer Households In Western Kenya, Gracious M. Diiro, Greg Seymour, Menale Kassie, Geoffrey Muricho, Beatrice Wambui Muriithi May 2018

Women’S Empowerment In Agriculture And Agricultural Productivity: Evidence From Rural Maize Farmer Households In Western Kenya, Gracious M. Diiro, Greg Seymour, Menale Kassie, Geoffrey Muricho, Beatrice Wambui Muriithi

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This paper documents a positive relationship between maize productivity in western Kenya and women’s empowerment in agriculture, measured using indicators derived from the abbreviated version of the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index. Applying a cross-sectional instrumental-variable regression method to a data set of 707 maize farm households from western Kenya, we find that women’s empowerment in agriculture significantly increases maize productivity. Although all indicators of women’s empowerment significantly increase productivity, there is no significant association between the women’s workload (amount of time spent working) and maize productivity. Furthermore, the results show heter-ogenous effects with respect to women’s empowerment on maize …

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Effect Of Trichoderma Spp. And Purpureocillium Lilacinum On Meloidogyne Javanica In Commercial Pineapple Production In Kenya, Agnes W. Kiriga, Solveig Haukeland, George M. Kariuki, Danny L. Coyne, Nikolai V. Beek Apr 2018

Effect Of Trichoderma Spp. And Purpureocillium Lilacinum On Meloidogyne Javanica In Commercial Pineapple Production In Kenya, Agnes W. Kiriga, Solveig Haukeland, George M. Kariuki, Danny L. Coyne, Nikolai V. Beek

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Plant-parasitic nematodes, in particular Meloidogyne species, cause significant yield reduction in commercial pineapple, Ananas comosus, worldwide. The efficacy of three Trichoderma isolates (Trichoderma asperellum M2RT4, T. atroviride F5S21, Trichoderma sp. MK4) and two isolates of Purpureocillium lilacinum (KLF2 and MR2) were evaluated against Meloidogyne javanica, using rooted pineapple crowns in a pot experiment under greenhouse conditions. All the three Trichoderma isolates successfully colonized pineapple root endophytically. The application of two isolates of Trichoderma (T. asperellum M2RT4 and Trichoderma sp. MK4) and the two isolates of P. lilacinum significantly reduced nematode egg and egg mass production reducing root galling damage by …

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A Climate-Adapted Push-Pull System Effectively Controls Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera Frugiperda (J E Smith), In Maize In East Africa, Charles A.O. Midega, Jimmy O. Pittchar, John A. Pickett, Girma W. Hailu, Zeyaur R. Khan Mar 2018

A Climate-Adapted Push-Pull System Effectively Controls Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera Frugiperda (J E Smith), In Maize In East Africa, Charles A.O. Midega, Jimmy O. Pittchar, John A. Pickett, Girma W. Hailu, Zeyaur R. Khan

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Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J E Smith), an economically important pest native to tropical and sub-tropical America has recently invaded Africa, causing substantial damage to maize and other crops. We evaluated functionality of a companion cropping system, ‘climate-adapted push-pull’, developed for control of cereal stemborers in drier agro-ecologies, as an added tool for the management of fall armyworm. The technology comprises intercropping maize with drought-tolerant greenleaf desmodium, Desmodium intortum (Mill.) Urb., and planting Brachiaria cv Mulato II as a border crop around this intercrop. Protection to maize is provided by semiochemicals that are emitted by the intercrop that repel (push) …

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Reducing Losses But Failing To Sequester Carbon In Soils – The Case Of Conservation Agriculture And Integrated Soil Fertility Management In The Humid Tropical Agro-Ecosystem Of Western Kenya, Rolf Sommer, Birthe Katharina Paul, John Mukalama, Job Kihara Feb 2018

Reducing Losses But Failing To Sequester Carbon In Soils – The Case Of Conservation Agriculture And Integrated Soil Fertility Management In The Humid Tropical Agro-Ecosystem Of Western Kenya, Rolf Sommer, Birthe Katharina Paul, John Mukalama, Job Kihara

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Agriculture is a global contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, causing climate change. Soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration is seen as a pathway to climate change mitigation. But, long-term data on the actual contribution of tropical soils to SOC sequestration are largely absent. To contribute to filling this knowledge gap, we measured SOC in the top 15 cm over 12 years in two agronomic long-term trials in Western Kenya. These trials include various levels – from absence to full adoption – of two widely promoted sustainable agricultural management practices: Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM; i.e. improved varieties, mineral fertilizer and organic …

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Impact Of Improved Maize Adoption On Household Food Security Of Maize Producing Smallholder Farmers In Ethiopia, Moti Jaleta, Menale Kassie, Paswel Marenya, Chilot Yirga, Olaf Erenstein Feb 2018

Impact Of Improved Maize Adoption On Household Food Security Of Maize Producing Smallholder Farmers In Ethiopia, Moti Jaleta, Menale Kassie, Paswel Marenya, Chilot Yirga, Olaf Erenstein

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In recent years, maize has gained prominence as an important staple crop in Ethiopia second only to teff in terms of acreage. Most of this is grown by semi-subsistence farm households whose livelihoods are tied to crop production and some livestock keeping. Therefore, an important policy question concerns the impact that the reported maize revolution has had on household food security. This paper answers that question by examining the empirical regularities that explain the adoption of improved maize varieties (IMVs) and how this has impacted household food security in a sample of 2327 maize producing households in 39 districts of …

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Relationship Between New Farming Practices And Chemical Use And The Consumption Of Giant Cricket (Brachytrupes Membranaceus Drury, 1770), F. O. Miantsia, F. Meutchieye, S. Niassy Jan 2018

Relationship Between New Farming Practices And Chemical Use And The Consumption Of Giant Cricket (Brachytrupes Membranaceus Drury, 1770), F. O. Miantsia, F. Meutchieye, S. Niassy

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The current work is aimed at generating information on giant crickets and the impact of commonly used pesticides on the natural population of these crickets. Data was collected based on interviews and complemented with field observations. Out of 319 respondents surveyed, 290 were aware of the use of the giant cricket as a food source, and 161 were active consumers. Regarding the availability of the giant cricket, respondents reported that the crickets' populations were diminishing because of farming practices. About 219 persons reported that commonly used herbicides harm giant crickets at different stages. This could be attributed to the scarcity …

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Lepidopteran Stem Borer Species Abundance And Associated Damages On Irrigated Kilombero Low Land Rice Ecosystem In Tanzania, Bonaventure January, Gration M. Rwegasira, Tadele Tefera Jan 2018

Lepidopteran Stem Borer Species Abundance And Associated Damages On Irrigated Kilombero Low Land Rice Ecosystem In Tanzania, Bonaventure January, Gration M. Rwegasira, Tadele Tefera

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Background: Rice stem borers are among the most biotic stresses of economic importance in agriculture. Little was known about stem borer problem in Tanzania prior to this study. Understanding stem borer abundance and damages would help to design appropriate stem borer integrated pest management strategy in rice. This study was aimed at investigating rice stem borer’s species abundance and their associated damages in irrigated lowland rice ecosystem in Kilombero Tanzania. Materials and Methods: Field survey study on rice stem borer abundance and incidences were conducted in farmer’s fields on selected rice varieties at varied growth stages in Kilombero district under …

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Push-Pull Farming System Controls Fall Armyworm: Lessons From Africa, Zeyaur R. Khan, Jimmy O. Pittchar, Charles A.O. Midega, John A. Pickett Jan 2018

Push-Pull Farming System Controls Fall Armyworm: Lessons From Africa, Zeyaur R. Khan, Jimmy O. Pittchar, Charles A.O. Midega, John A. Pickett

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Fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda invaded Africa, with the first detections being reported in Central and Western Africa in early 2016, and now affects at least 40 countries in Africa, causing up to total crop loss amounting to over $6.2 billion p.a. FAW is an invasive polyphagous pest that causes damage to economically important crops and has recently been reported in the Indian sub-continent. Effective control of FAW through use of synthetic chemical pesticides and genetically modified crops such as Bt maize faces challenges including improper use, unaffordability by smallholder farmers and development of resistance by the pest. Additionally, dispersal …

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An Assessment Of Effectiveness Of Participatory Video And Drama In Enhancing Learning Of “Climate-Smart” Push-Pull Technology: A Case Study Of Butere And Vihiga Farmers In Western Kenya, Wakesho George, Pittchar Jimmy, Midega Charles, Khan Zeyaur Jan 2018

An Assessment Of Effectiveness Of Participatory Video And Drama In Enhancing Learning Of “Climate-Smart” Push-Pull Technology: A Case Study Of Butere And Vihiga Farmers In Western Kenya, Wakesho George, Pittchar Jimmy, Midega Charles, Khan Zeyaur

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This study assessed the effectiveness of participatory video and drama in enhancing learning of climate-smart pushpull technology in western Kenya. A total of 80 farmers who had no knowledge of push pull technology were exposed to participatory drama and video that had been developed by farmers who are adopting push pull technology. Validated questionnaires were used for data collection where sampled non push pull farmers were interviewed before and after exposure to push pull knowledge using participatory video and drama. Data obtained was analyzed using chi square at 0.05 confidence level set a priori and also presented using frequency tables, …

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Farmers’ Perception And Control Practices Against The Invasive Red Spider Mite (Tetranychus Evansi Baker & Pritchard) In Benin, G. Y. Azandémè-Hounmalon, H. D. Affognon, F. Assogba-Komlan, M. Tamò, K. K.M. Fiaboe, S. Kreiter, T. Martin Jan 2018

Farmers’ Perception And Control Practices Against The Invasive Red Spider Mite (Tetranychus Evansi Baker & Pritchard) In Benin, G. Y. Azandémè-Hounmalon, H. D. Affognon, F. Assogba-Komlan, M. Tamò, K. K.M. Fiaboe, S. Kreiter, T. Martin

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Tetranychus evansi (Acari: Tetranychidae), is an important pest of solanaceous plants in Benin where it damages tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.; Solanaceae), African eggplant (S. macrocarpon L.; Solanaceae), purple amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.; Amaranthaceae). The objective of the present study was to evaluate the intensity of T. evansi damage and impact of farmers’ control practices in Benin. Two surveys were conducted between 2013 and 2016. The first survey revealed Tetranychus evansi as the only mite, causing production losses of 65% for African eggplant, 56% for tomato and 25% for purple amaranth. To protect the infested crops, growers sprayed various synthetic pesticides …

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Welwitschianalol A And B, Two Cyclohexene Derivatives And Other Insecticidal Constituents Of Caesalpinia Welwitschiana (Oliv.) Brenan, Flaure Rosette Ehawa Essoung, Brice Mittérant Mba'ning, Wilber Lwande, Silvère Augustin Ngouela, Etienne Tsamo, Sumesh Chander Chhabra, Ahmed Hassanali, Russell John Cox Dec 2017

Welwitschianalol A And B, Two Cyclohexene Derivatives And Other Insecticidal Constituents Of Caesalpinia Welwitschiana (Oliv.) Brenan, Flaure Rosette Ehawa Essoung, Brice Mittérant Mba'ning, Wilber Lwande, Silvère Augustin Ngouela, Etienne Tsamo, Sumesh Chander Chhabra, Ahmed Hassanali, Russell John Cox

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Crude methanol extract of the leaves of Caesalpinia welwitschiana was found to possess moderate larvicidal activity against second-instar larvae of Tuta absoluta Meyrick. Bioassay-guided fractionation of this extract led to the isolation of two oxygenated cyclohexene derivatives, welwitschianalol A (1, (1α,2β)-2-acetoxy-1-hydroxy-1- benzoyloxymethylcyclohex-5-ene) and B (2, (1α,2β)-2- benzoyloxy −1-cinnamoyloxymethyl-1-hydroxycyclohex-5-ene), together with eight known compounds, comprising bonducellin, dipteryxic acid, 3′-hydroxygenkwarin, afzelin, quercitrin, myricitrin, methyl gallate and gallic acid. The structures of the unknown compounds as well as those of the known ones were elucidated based on their MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectra, and in the case of known compounds, by comparison …

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