Journal and Journal Articles: Recent submissions

Now showing items 1241-1260 of 5271

    • Insects as feed: gendered knowledge attitudes and practices among poultry and pond fish farmers in Kenya 

      Waithanji, E.; Affognon, D.H.; King’ori, S.; Diiro, G.; Nakimbugwe, D.; Fiaboe, K.K. (2019)
      This qualitative study on knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) among poultry and pond fish farmers from Kisii, Nakuru and Kirinyaga counties in Kenya was conducted to establish insect for feed interventions likely to reduce the cost of feeds in these enterprises and benefit women and men equitably. Data were collected through sex and enterprise type disaggregated focus group discussions with farmers. Poultry farming was more established than fish farming in all three counties. Women were more ...

    • Examining the sustainability and development challenge in agricultural-forest frontiers of the Amazon Basin through the eyes of locals 

      Blanco-Gutiérrez, I.; Manners, R.; Varela-Ortega, C.; Tarquis, A.; Martorano, L.G.; Toledo, M. (2020)
      The Amazon basin is the world’s largest rainforest and the most biologically diverse place on Earth. Despite the critical importance of this region, Amazon forests continue inexorably to be degraded and deforested for various reasons, mainly a consequence of agricultural expansion. The development of novel policy strategies that provide balanced solutions, associating economic growth and environmental protection, is still challenging, largely because the perspective of those most affected- local ...

    • Interactive effects of altitude, microclimate and shading system on coffee leaf rust 

      Liebig, T.; Ribeyre, F.; Läderach, P.; Poehling, H.M.; van Asten, P.; Avelino, J. (2019)
      Shade effects on coffee diseases are ambiguous because they vary depending on the season and environment. Using Coffee Leaf Rust (CLR) as an example, we demonstrate relationships between the environment and shading systems and their effects on disease intensity. We characterized seasonal variations in microclimate and CLR incidence across different altitudes and shading systems, and integrated effects between the environment, shading systems, microclimate and CLR into a piecewise structural equation ...

    • An integrated molecular and conventional breeding scheme for enhancing genetic gain in maize in Africa 

      Gedil, M.; Menkir, A. (2019)
      Maize production in West and Central Africa (WCA) is constrained by a wide range of interacting stresses that keep productivity below potential yields. Among the many problems afflicting maize production in WCA, drought, foliar diseases, and parasitic weeds are the most critical. Several decades of efforts devoted to the genetic improvement of maize have resulted in remarkable genetic gain, leading to increased yields of maize on farmers’ fields. The revolution unfolding in the areas of genomics, ...

    • Lowland rice yield and profit response to fertilizer application in Rwanda 

      Nabahungu, N.L.; Cyamweshi, A.R.; Kayumba, J.; Kokou, K.; Mukuralinda, A.; Cirhuza, J.M.; Wortmann, C.S. (2019-12-10)
      Rice (Oryza sativa ) production in Rwanda increased by 70% while yield ha−1 decreased during the past decade. Yield has biotic and abiotic constraints including inadequate nutrient supply. Yield response functions for N, P, and K were determined in eight marshlands grouped into four clusters. Additional treatment allowed for the diagnosis of response to Mg–S–Zn–B (MgSZnB). Rice grain yield with no fertilizer applied was 2.27 Mg ha−1. Mean yield increases were 2.35, 1.53, and 1.71 Mg ha−1 with N, ...

    • Termites (Blattodea: Termitidae) diversity and assemblages in different yam fields habitats in central Benin 

      Loko, Y.L.E.; Orobiyi, A.; Toffa, J.; Agre, P.; Tamo, M.; Roisin, Y. (2019)
      Termites are known to cause significant economic losses in yam fields. Therefore, assessing diversity and abundance of termites in yam fields is critical for their control. In this study, we compared the specific richness, abundance, and diversity of functional groups of termite pests in upland and lowland yam fields, across 15 villages using the standardized belt transect method. The specific termite diversity encountered in yam fields was compared with that of the Agoua classified forest. In ...

    • Managing phosphate rock to improve nutrient uptake, phosphorus use efficiency, and carrot yields 

      Mwangi, E.; Ngamau, C.; Wesonga, J.M.; Karanja, E.; Musyoka, M.W.; Matheri, F.; Fiaboe, K.; Bautze, D.; Adamtey, N. (2020-04-08)
      The objectives of this study were to assess (a) the efficiency of lemon and pineapple juices and the concentration and time needed to release more than 50% of available phosphorus from phosphate rock (PR), and (b) the effect of different types of PR management on carrot yields, nutrient uptake, and phosphorus use efficiency. Field trials were set up at two sites with humic andosols and orthic acrisols over two seasons in Kenya. In a randomized complete block design, replicated three times, the ...

    • Variations in yield gaps of smallholder cocoa systems and the main determining factors along a climate gradient in Ghana 

      Abdulai, I.; Hoffmann, M.P.; Jassogne, L.; Asare, R.; Graefe, S.; Tao, H.H.; Muilerman, S.; Vaast, P.; van Asten, P.; Laderach, P.; Rötter, R.P. (2020)
      Improving management practices of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) cultivation especially under future climate change requires knowledge of yield gaps and their determining factors. In this study, we assessed yield gaps and their determining factors through multiple regression modelling in smallholder cocoa agroforestry systems in Ghana along a climatic gradient. The studied zones referred to as dry, mid and wet with annual rainfall of 1200, 1200–1400 and 1400–2000 mm respectively, represent established ...

    • Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) for food security: an evaluation of end-user traits of improved varieties in Swaziland 

      Gondwe, T.; Alamu, E.O.; Mdziniso, P.; Maziya-Dixon, B. (2019)
      Improved varieties have agronomic advantages over local varieties,but not much attention has been given to understand the nutritional content of the improved cowpea varieties released in Swaziland. This study investigated the physical and nutritional properties of improved cowpea varieties released in Swaziland. Five improved varieties (IT-04K-321-2, IT-97K-390-2, IT-18, IT-16, and IT-99K-494-6) and one local variety (Mtilane, as check) were analyzed for physical and chemical properties. The results ...

    • Studies on estimation of heterosis for striga resistance in maize test crosses in Mali 

      Sangare, S.; Menkir, A.; Ofori, K.; Gracen, V. (2019)
      Heterosis for yield, secondary traits and Striga resistance was estimated in maize test crosses generated from fifteen inbred lines and three testers using line by tester analysis. Hybrids, testcrosses and parents were evaluated for two years at Agricultural Research Institute, Sotuba and Sanankoroba, to identify combinations expressing high hybrid vigor in Mali under Striga- infested and Striga-free conditions. Under Striga-free condition TZISTR106/TZISTR1230, TZISTR106/TZISTR1223 and TZISTR1033/ ...

    • Reducing child undernutrition through dietary diversification, reduced aflatoxin exposure, and improved hygiene practices: the immediate impacts in central Tanzania 

      Anitha, S.; Muzanila, Y.; Tsusaka, T.W.; Kachulu, L.; Kumwenda, N.; Musoke, M.; Swai, E.; Shija, J.; Siambi, M.; Monyo, E.S.; Bekunda, N.A.; Okori, P. (2019)
      The study aimed to quantify the immediate effects of dietary diversification, food safety, and hygiene interventions on child undernutrition in four rural villages in Kongwa district of central Tanzania. One hundred mothers with their children of less than 24 months old were recruited for this study. The difference-in-difference (DID) method was used to assess the effects of intensive intervention through a learning-by-doing process on the topic of aflatoxin free diversified food utilization and ...

    • Welfare impacts of climate-smart agriculture in Ghana: does row planting and drought-tolerant maize varieties matter? 

      Martey, E.; Etwire, P.M.; Abdoulaye, T. (2020-06)
      This study provides new evidence of the impact of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) – row planting and drought-tolerant maize varieties - on farm and welfare outcomes by estimating a multinomial endogenous switching regression model that corrects for selection bias and farmer heterogeneity in CSA choice. Application of our model to panel observations of 438 households in Ghana show that adoption of CSA increases both yield and intensity of maize commercialization but negatively affect own consumption. ...

    • Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) for food security: an evaluation of end-user traits of improved varieties in Swaziland 

      Gondwe, T.; Alamu, E.O.; Mdziniso, P.; Maziya-Dixon, B. (2019)
      Improved varieties have agronomic advantages over local varieties,but not much attention has been given to understand the nutritional content of the improved cowpea varieties released in Swaziland. This study investigated the physical and nutritional properties of improved cowpea varieties released in Swaziland. Five improved varieties (IT-04K-321-2, IT-97K-390-2, IT-18, IT-16, and IT-99K-494-6) and one local variety (Mtilane, as check) were analyzed for physical and chemical properties. The results ...

    • Participation or legitimisation? Assessment of quality of participation in farmer learning video production in central Uganda 

      Tamubula, I.B.; Sseguya, H.; Mirro, R.; Okry, F. (2019)
      Purpose: This study assessed the quality of participation in farmer learning video (FLV) production by examining opportunities for actors’ participation and the extent of incorporation of their interests. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative case study research design was used through focus group discussions and interviews held with 5 key informants and 19 farmers involved in the production of 2 videos. We used the quality of participation analytical framework for analysis. Findings: Actors ...

    • Monitoring Aspergillus flavus genotypes in a multi-genotype aflatoxin biocontrol product with quantitative pyrosequencing 

      Shenge, K.C.; Adhikari, B.N.; Akande, A.; Callicott, K.A.; Atehnkeng, J.; Ortega-Beltran, A.; Kumar, P.L.; Bandyopadhyay, R.; Cotty, P.J. (2019)
      Aflatoxins pose significant food security and public health risks, decrease productivity and profitability of animal industries, and hamper trade. To minimize aflatoxin contamination in several crops, a biocontrol technology based on atoxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus is commercially used in the United States and some African countries. Significant efforts are underway to popularize the use of biocontrol in Africa by various means including incentives. The purpose of this study was to develop ...

    • Micro-livestock in smallholder farming systems: the role, challenges and opportunities for cavies in South Kivu, eastern DR Congo 

      Klapwijk, C.J.; Schut, M.; van Asten, P.J.; Vanlauwe, B.; Giller, K.E.; Descheemaeker, K. (2020)
      Livestock play multiple roles for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Mixed crop-livestock systems are common in South Kivu, eastern DR Congo, but herd sizes are small and numbers of large livestock (i.e. cattle) have declined, due to high population density, recent conflicts and extreme poverty. Over half of the farmers keep cavies, a type of micro-livestock fitting the circumstances of smallholders and a valuable asset especially for the poorest households. To characterize cavy husbandry ...

    • Chromosome painting facilitates anchoring reference genome sequence to chromosomes in situ and integrated karyotyping in banana (Musa spp.) 

      Šimoníková, D.; Němečková, A.; Karafiátová, M.; Uwimana, B.; Swennen, R.; Doležel, J.; Hřibová, E. (2019)
      Oligo painting FISH was established to identify all chromosomes in banana (Musa spp.) and to anchor pseudomolecules of reference genome sequence of Musa acuminata spp. malaccensis “DH Pahang” to individual chromosomes in situ. A total of 19 chromosome/chromosome-arm specific oligo painting probes were developed and were shown to be suitable for molecular cytogenetic studies in genus Musa. For the first time, molecular karyotypes of diploid M. acuminata spp. malaccensis (A genome), M. balbisiana ...

    • Host plants and edaphic factors influence the distribution and diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungal fruiting bodies within rainforests from Tshopo, Democratic Republic of the Congo 

      Kamalebo, H.M.; Wa Malale, H.N.S.; Ndabaga, C.M.; Nabahungu, L.N.; Degreef, J.; De KeseL, A. (2019)
      Ectomycorrhizal fungi constitute an important component of forest ecosystems that enhances plant nutrition and resistance against stresses. Diversity of ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi is, however, affected by host plant diversity and soil heterogeneity. This study provides information about the influence of host plants and soil resources on the diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungal fruiting bodies from rainforests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Based on the presence of fungal fruiting bodies, ...

    • "Ground-truthing" efficacy of biological control for aflatoxin mitigation in farmers' fields in Nigeria: from field trials to commercial usage, a 10-year study 

      Bandyopadhyay, R.; Atehnkeng, J.; Ortega-Beltran, A.; Akande, A.; Falade, T.; Cotty, P.J. (2019)
      In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), diverse fungi belonging to Aspergillus section Flavi frequently contaminate staple crops with aflatoxins. Aflatoxins negatively impact health, income, trade, food security, and development sectors. Aspergillus flavus is the most common causal agent of contamination. However, certain A. flavus genotypes do not produce aflatoxins (i.e., are atoxigenic). An aflatoxin biocontrol technology employing atoxigenic genotypes to limit crop contamination was developed in the ...

    • Genetic correlation, genome-wide association and genomic prediction of portable NIRS predicted carotenoids in cassava roots 

      Ikeogu, U.N.; Akdemir, D.; Wolfe, M.D.; Okeke, U.G.; Amaefula, C.; Jannink, J.L.; Egesi, C.N. (2019)
      Random forests (RF) was used to correlate spectral responses to known wet chemistry carotenoid concentrations including total carotenoid content (TCC), all-trans β-carotene (ATBC), violaxanthin (VIO), lutein (LUT), 15-cis beta-carotene (15CBC), 13-cis beta-carotene (13CBC), alpha-carotene (AC), 9-cis beta-carotene (9CBC), and phytoene (PHY) from laboratory analysis of 173 cassava root samples in Columbia. The cross-validated correlations between the actual and estimated carotenoid values using RF ...