Indexing

Abstract:Growing crops in an arid area or in a dry year should not automatically lead to absence of harvest because agriculture has many options for the mitigation of rainfall inadequacy, irrigation being one of such options. However, irrigation requires some adjustments when water is limited. This study investigated the performance of maize in dry areas under regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) in combination with soil water conservation measures. The study was carried out at Marimanti in Tharaka Nithi county and Isiolo in Isiolo county. Deficit irrigation except during the exponential growth stage (DIE) and deficit irrigation except during the reproductive (DIR) stage were compared to full irrigation (FI) and deficit irrigation throughout (DI). Ridging was compared to flatbed. The experimental design was RCBD replicated three times. Growth parameters used were plant height to flag leaf and plant diameter while yield indicators were stand count, productive plants per plot, ear size, above ground biomass, grain yield, and harvest index. The data was summarized in MS ACCESS and SPSS version 24 was used for F-test at 5% level of significance and for post-hoc tests where necessary. FI gave the highest diameter (2.206 cm) and plant height (148.02 cm to the flag leaf) and the highest grain yields (3019 kg/ha) but DIR gave the highest harvest index (0.4665) while DIE had the highest water productivity (0.5082kg/m3). Ridging and its interaction with regulated deficit irrigation had a significant effect on various yield indicators and on water productivity. The study concluded that regulated deficit irrigation increases water productivity when combined with ridging and DIE was recommended as a viable practice when water for irrigation is limited.
Keywords:Kenya, limited water for irrigation, maize, regulated deficit irrigation, ridging.
Title: Effect of Regulated Deficit Irrigation and Ridging on the Performance of Maize (Zea mays L.) in Kenya
Author: David M. Mushimiyimana, Prof. Peter A. Kamau, Dr. John M. Muchiri
ISSN 2349-7823
International Journal of Recent Research in Life Sciences (IJRRLS)
Paper Publications

Abstract:The importance of bananas cannot be underestimated worldwide. The specific objectives included determining ’ socio-economic, environmental and policy factors affecting adoption of tissue culture (Tc) bananas in Kalawa, Thaana and Kithimani clusters using176 respondents randomly selected. The data collected was analyzed using the SPSS version 17. The study found that adoption of Tc bananas was the following: The major socio-economic factors affecting adoption of Tc bananas were: gender (p=0.0150); education (p=0.0380); total land size (p=0.0110); farmer’s experience (p=0.0168); Tc bananas knowledge (p=0.0100) and Tc bananas market (p=0.0030). Environmental factors mentioned as important factors included: availability of a fence by 64 percent; soil and water conservation measures (92 percent); use of borehole water for irrigation by 22 percent of the respondents. Policy factors were: source of Tc planting materials by 32 percent indicating Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization as the main source; access to either public or private extension services by 35 percent of the respondents; Tc multiplication by government or stakeholders within the clusters by 77 percent; awareness and acquisition of credit services for farm activities from the financial services by 64 percent. Recommendations from the study included: improvement and access to extension services; ways of availing Tc bananas plantlets closer to farmers ; policy to reduce the effect of wild life on Tc bananas ; farmers’ education and general capacity building on Tc banana growing; and  irrigation for Tc banana growing.

Keywords:Tc Banana, Adoption, Food Security.
Title: Factors Affecting Adoption of Tissue Culture Bananas in the Semi-Arid Areas of Lower Eastern Region of Kenya
Author: Charles Ndungu Thuo, Dr. Simon Nguluu, Dr. Patrick Kisangau
ISSN 2349-7823
International Journal of Recent Research in Life Sciences (IJRRLS)
Paper Publications