Journal and Journal Articles: Recent submissions

Now showing items 181-200 of 5157

    • Modelling the impacts of diverse cover crops on soil water and nitrogen and cash crop yields in a sub-tropical dryland 

      Garba, I.I.; Bell, L.W.; Chapman, S.C.; deVoil, P.; Kamara, A.; Williams, A. (2023-10-01)
      Understanding the implications of replacing fallows with cover crops on plant-available water (PAW) and soil mineral nitrogen (N) and their carry-over effects on subsequent cash crops is critical for understanding their potential for ecological intensification in water-limited environments. We modelled the impacts of different cover crop functional types over historical climate to predict how climate variability influences soil water and N acquisition and subsequent availability to a maize crop ...

    • Analysis of population structure and genetic diversity in a Southern African soybean collection based on single nucleotide polymorphism markers 

      Tsindi, A.; Eleblu, J.S.Y.; Gasura, E.; Mushoriwa, H.; Tongoona, P.; Danquah, E.; Mwadzingeni, L.; Zikhali, M.; Ziramba, E.; Mabuyaye, G.; Derera, J. (2023)
      Soybean is an emerging strategic crop for nutrition, food security, and livestock feed in Africa, but improvement of its productivity is hampered by low genetic diversity. There is need for broadening the tropical germplasm base through incorporation and introgression of temperate germplasm in Southern Africa breeding programs. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the population structure and molecular diversity among 180 temperate and 30 tropical soybean accessions using single ...

    • Combining manure with mineral N fertilizer maintains maize yields: evidence from four long-term experiments in Kenya 

      Laub, M.; Corbeels, M.; Ndungu, S.M.; Mucheru-Muna, M.; Mugendi, D.; Necpalova, M.; Van de Broek, M.; Waswa, W.; Vanlauwe, B.; Six, J. (2023-02-01)
      Context Crop productivity in sub-Saharan Africa cannot be substantially improved without simultaneously addressing short-term crop nutrient demand and long-term soil fertility. Integrated soil fertility management tackles both by the combined application of mineral fertilizers and organic resource inputs but few studies examined its‘ long-term effectiveness. Objective To address this knowledge gap, this study analysed maize yield trends in four long-term (31–37 cropping seasons) field experiments ...

    • Performance evaluation of available strains of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed commercial and locally-made feeds in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 

      Yossa, R.; Basiita, R.K.; Namegabe, J.M.; Trinh, T.Q.; Matempa, D.; Manzwanzi, P.; Bwamayama, L.; Cole, S.M.; Matungulu, P.; Dontsop-Nguezet, P.; Vanlauwe, B.; Ndavi, M.; Benzie, J. (2023)
      The performance of two strains of Nile tilapia (the Nyakabera and Lake Kivu) fed a commercial feed or either a fishmeal-based or a fishmeal-free feed formulated using local ingredients was evaluated for 99 days in Bukavu, eastern highlands of the DR Congo (Experiment 1). Strain × feed interaction was significant (p < 0.05) for final body weight (FBW) and condition factor (CF). Growth of both strains was best with the commercial feed. Fish-meal free formulated feed resulted in similar or better ...

    • Reduction of P fertilizer requirement using lime and Mucuna on high P-sorption soils of NW Cameroon. 

      Yamoah, C.F.; Ngueguim, M.; Ngong, C.; Dias, D.K.W. (1996)
      Soil acidity and high phosphorus (P) fixation are real problems in the Highlands of Central and Eastern Africa. Phosphatic fertilizers are imported and costly for the average farmer. We used lime and Mucuna green manure to reduce fertilizer P requirement of traditional food crops in NW Camcroon. Lime and phosphorus significantly improved stand count, root and stem weights as well as yields of maize (Zea mays L.), bean (Phaseolus spp.), and Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in three consecutive ...

    • Fertility characterization of soils at six research sites in NW Cameroon 

      Yamoah, C.F.; Ngueguim, M.; Ngong, C.; Osiname, O.A.; Tambi, E. (1995-01)
      Fertility capability of surface (0–20 cm) soils was evaluated at six sites in the North-West Cameroon highlands. Two main soil groups, designated as Classes A and B, were identified based on elevation. The Class A soils from low elevations (600–1178 m) had higher Ca, Mg, K, pH, sorbed less P and were lower in organic carbon and sesquioxides than the highland (> 1200 m) soils. Soil acidity (Al saturation > 30%) and high P sorption appeared to be the most limiting factors to crop production especially ...

    • Connecting data for consumer preferences, food quality, and breeding in support of market-oriented breeding of root, tuber, and banana crops 

      Arnaud, E.; Menda, N.; Tran, T.; Asiimwe, A.; Kanaabi, M.; Meghar, K.; Forsythe, L.; Kawuki, R.; Ellebrock, B.; Kayondo, S.I.; Agbona, A.; Zhang, X.; Mendes, T.; Laporte, M.A.; Nakitto, M.; Ssali, R.T.; Asfaw, A.; Uwimana, B.; Ogbete, C.; Makunde, G.; Maraval, I.; Mueller, L.; Bouniol, A.; Fauvelle, E.; Dufour, D. (2023)
      The 5-year project ‘Breeding roots, tubers and banana products for end user preferences’ (RTBfoods) focused on collecting consumers' preferences on 12 food products to guide breeding programmes. It involved multidisciplinary teams from Africa, Latin America, and Europe. Diverse data types were generated on preferred qualities of users (farmers, family and entrepreneurial processors, traders or retailers, and consumers). Country-based target product profiles were produced with a comprehensive market ...

    • Implication of blanket NPK application on nutrient balance of maize based on soil and tissue diagnosis approaches in the savannas of northern Nigeria 

      Aliyu, K.T.; Kamara, A.; Huising, J.E.; Adam, A.M.; Shehu, B.M.; Jibrin, J.M. (2023)
      Improper nutrient management reduces the yield and affects the nutrient status of crops. This study aimed to diagnose the nutrients limitation in maize. A three-year multi-location (348 sites) nutrient experiments were conducted in randomized block design to analyse nutrients limitation for maize production under conventional fertilizer recommendation system in Nigeria using DRIS, and to identify soil factors that influence DRIS indices using random forest model. DRIS indices for nutrients were ...

    • Do soil and water conservation practices influence crop productivity and household welfare? Evidence from rural Nigeria 

      Ogunniyi, A.I.; Omotayo, A.O.; Olagunju, K.O.; Motunrayo, O.; Awotide, B.A.; Mavrotas, G.; Aremu, A.O. (2023-04)
      One of the most serious challenges threatening agricultural sustainability in Nigeria is land degradation. Although this issue has received little attention, soil and water conservation practices have been identified as a possible pathway out of the potential problems posed by land degradation. Therefore, the central research question that this paper tries to address is the following: Do adoption of soil and water conservation (SWC) practices affect crop productivity and household welfare? This ...

    • Prediction of functional characteristics of gari (cassava flakes) using near-infrared reflectance spectrometry 

      Adesokan, M.; Alamu, E.O.; Fawole, S.; Maziya-Dixon, B. (2023-05-10)
      Gari is a creamy, granular flour obtained from roasting fermented cassava mash. Its preparation involves several unit operations, including fermentation, which is essential in gari production. Fermentation brings about specific biochemical changes in cassava starch due to the actions of lactic acid bacteria. Consequently, it gives rise to organic acids and a significant reduction in the pH. Consumer preferences for gari are influenced by these changes and impact specific functional characteristics, ...

    • Elite cassava clones (Manihot esculenta) grown in Zambia: effects of drying techniques on their chemical, functional, and pasting properties. 

      Alamu, E.O.; Manda, N.; Ntawuruhunga, P.; Abass, A.; Maziya-Dixon, B. (2023)
      Introduction: Cassava (Manihot esculanta) is becoming an important crop in most developing countries, especially Zambia. However, cassava roots deteriorate quickly after harvest, producing flour or chips of sub-optimal quality. Hence the evaluation of processing procedures to extend the product’s shelf-life cannot be overemphasized. This study investigated the effects of different drying methods on the chemical, functional and pasting properties of selected advanced cassava clones grown in Zambia. ...

    • Genetic mapping, candidate gene identification and marker validation for host plant resistance to the race 4 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense using Musa acuminata ssp. malaccensis 

      Chen, A.; Sun, J.; Viljoen, A.; Mostert, D.; Xie, Y.; Mangila, L.; Bothma, S.; Lyons, R.; Hřibová, E.; Christelova, P.; Uwimana, B.; Amah, D.; Pearce, S.C.; Chen, N.; Batley, J.; Edwards, D.; Doležel, J.; Crisp, P.; Brown, A.; Martin, G.; Yahiaoui, N.; D'Hont, A.; Coin, L.; Swennen, R.; Aitken, E.A.B. (2023-06)
      Fusarium wilt of banana is a devastating disease that has decimated banana production worldwide. Host resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cubense (Foc), the causal agent of this disease, is genetically dissected in this study using two Musa acuminata ssp. Malaccensis segregating populations, segregating for Foc Tropical (TR4) and Subtropical (STR4) race 4 resistance. Marker loci and trait association using 11 SNP-based PCR markers allowed the candidate region to be delimited to a 12.9 cM genetic ...

    • A report of meloidogyne arenaria parasitizing plantain (Musa spp., AAB) in Nigeria 

      Olajide, E.; Kolombia, Y.A.; Amah, D.; Agogbua, J.U.; Coyne, D.; Swennen, R.; Cortada, L.; Bert, W. (2023-06-06)
      Extensive root galling observed on plantain (Musa spp., AAB) in Nigeria was analysed using Nad5 mitochondrial DNA sequences and the causal agent identified as Meloidogyne arenaria. Following the inoculation of population cultured, Koch’s postulates was fulfilled and the same symptoms observed. This provides the first molecular confirmation of M. arenaria causing such damage to plantain and highlighting its potential as a threat to the crop. Root knot nematodes are known to affect banana and plantain ...

    • Managing soil organic carbon in tropical agroecosystems: evidence from four long-term experiments in Kenya 

      Laub, M.; Corbeels, M.; Couedel, A.; Ndungu, S.M.; Mucheru-Muna, M.; Mugendi, D.; Necpalova, M.; Waswa, W.; Van de Broek, M.; Vanlauwe, B.; Six, J. (2023-06-05)
      In sub-Saharan Africa, maize is one of the most important staple crops, but long-term maize cropping with low external inputs has been associated with the loss of soil fertility. While adding high-quality organic resources combined with mineral fertilizer has been proposed to counteract this fertility loss, the long-term effectiveness and interactions with site properties still require more understanding. This study used repeated measurements over time to assess the effect of different quantities ...

    • Increased mineral fertilizer use on maize can improve both household food security and regional food production in East Africa 

      Falconnier, G.N.; Leroux, L.; Beillouin, D.; Corbeels, M.; Hijmans, R.J.; Bonilla-Cedrez, C.; van Wijk, M.; Descheemaeker, K.; Zingore, S.; Affholder, F.; Lopez-Ridaura, S.; Malezieux, E.; Makowski, D.; Rurinda, J.; van Ittersum, M.K.; Vanlauwe, B.; Giller, K.; Lammoglia, S.K.; Waha, K. (2023-02)
      CONTEXT Despite recent improvements in living standards, a substantial proportion of farm households in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is food insecure, and increasing crop productivity could help address this problem. OBJECTIVE We estimated the effect of increasing maize yields with mineral fertilizer on household food security and on regional and national maize supply in two East African countries - Uganda and Tanzania. METHODS We estimated maize yield response to nitrogen (N) fertilization ...

    • Maturity class and P effects on soya bean grain yield in the moist Savanna of west Africa 

      Ogoke, I.; Carsky, R.; Togun, A.; Dashiell, K. (2003-12)
      Field trials were replicated at four sites in the moist savanna ecological zone of West Africa to study the effect of maturity class and phosphorus (P) rate on grain yield and total protein yield (TPY) of some new soya bean varieties. Grain yield and TPY averaged 1.43 Mg ha−1 and 587 kg ha−1, respectively. Without P application grain yield and TPY were not significantly different among the varieties. In addition, at zero P treatment, grain yield and TPY were not significantly different among three ...

    • Consistency, variability, and predictability of on-farm nutrient responses in four grain legumes across east and west Africa 

      van Heerwaarden, J.; Ronner, E.; Baijukya, F.; Adjei-Nsiah, S.; Ebanyat, P.; Kamai, N.; Wolde-Meskel, E.; Vanlauwe, B.; Giller, K. (2023-08)
      Grain legumes are key components of sustainable production systems in sub-Saharan Africa, but wide-spread nutrient deficiencies severely restrict yields. Whereas legumes can meet a large part of their nitrogen (N) requirement through symbiosis with N2-fixing bacteria, elements such as phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and secondary and micronutrients may still be limiting and require supplementation. Responses to P are generally strong but variable, while evidence for other nutrients tends to show ...

    • The role of inter-specific competition for water in maize-legume intercropping systems in northern Tanzania 

      Mugi-Ngenga, E.; Bastiaans, L.; Anten, N.P.R.; Zingore, S.; Baijukya, F.; Giller, K. (2023-04)
      CONTEXT Maize-legume intercropping is common in sub-Saharan Africa. Effects of legumes on the companion maize crop are determined principally by choice of legume species and relative introduction time. Performance of intercrops is optimized when legumes' planting is timed such that their peak growth phase occurs after maize harvest, with legumes utilizing the residual soil moisture. OBJECTIVE We sought to understand the role of inter-specific competition for water in maize-pigeonpea and maize-lablab ...

    • Soil mineralogical and nutrient characteristics of forest islands and surrounding ecosystem types in West Africa suggest anthropogenic soil improvement 

      Mesele, S.A.; Melenya, C.; Bougma, A.; Azeez, J.; Ajiboye, G.A.; Dubbin, W.; Logah, V.; Compaore, H.; Veenendaal, E.M.; Lloyd, J. (2023-05-12)
      Aims Ecosystem changes in the mesic savannas of West Africa are resulting in the formation of patches of ‘forest islands’ around local communities in an otherwise open savanna landscape. There have been conflicting reports on the origin of these forest islands with a very limited understanding of their biogeochemistry. This study evaluated the soil mineralogical and chemical characteristics of forest islands and their surrounding ecosystems comprising croplands and open savannas in Burkina Faso, ...

    • Feed gap analysis of dual-purpose chicken production in Tanzania: feed quantity and quality limited production 

      Wilson, W.C .; Slingerland, M.; Baijukya, F.; Giller, K.; Oosting, S.J. (2023-05)