Journal and Journal Articles: Recent submissions

Now showing items 921-940 of 5157

    • Agronomic gain: definition, approach, and application 

      Saito, K.; Six, J.; Komatsu, S.; Snapp, S.; Rosenstock, T.S.; Arouna, A.; Cole, S.M.; Taulya, G.; Vanlauwe, B. (2021-08)
      Meeting future global staple crop demand requires continual productivity improvement. Many performance indicators have been proposed to track and measure the increase in productivity while minimizing environmental degradation. However, their use has lagged behind theory, and has not been uniform across crops in different geographies. The consequence is an uneven understanding of opportunities for sustainable intensification. Simple but robust key performance indicators (KPIs) are needed to standardize ...

    • Genetic variability and population structure of Ethiopian Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) germplasm assessed through phenotypic traits and simple sequence repeats markers 

      Teklu, D.H.; Shimelis, H.; Abebe, A.T.; Mashilo, J.; Zhang, X.; Zhang, Y.; Dossa, K.; Shayanowako, A.I.T. (2021)
      Ethiopia is one of the centers of genetic diversity of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). The sesame genetic resources present in the country should be explored for local, regional, and international genetic improvement programs to design high-performing and market-preferred varieties. This study’s objective was to determine the extent of genetic variation among 100 diverse cultivated sesame germplasm collections of Ethiopia using phenotypic traits and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to select ...

    • Push-pull strategy combined with net houses for controlling cowpea insect pests and enhancing crop yields 

      Diabate, S.; Martin, T.; Murungi, L.K.; Fiaboe, K.K.; Wesonga, J.; Kimani, J.M.; Deletre, E. (2021-03)
      Net houses can be used in tropical environments to protect crops such as cowpea against large insect pests, thereby avoiding pesticide treatments while sustainably mitigating the effects of climate change. We investigated a push-pull strategy to prevent small insect pest outbreaks in a net house. The push component consisted of two stimulus plants, i.e. Cymbopogon citratus and Tagetes minuta, and the pull stimuli consisted of visual cues from blue and yellow sticky traps. Field experiments were ...

    • Genetic diversity and structure of Musa balbisiana populations in Vietnam and its implications for the conservation of banana crop wild relatives 

      Mertens, A.; Bawin, Y.; Abeele, S.V.; Kallow, S.; Vu, D.T.; Le, L.T.; Vu, T.D.; Swennen, R.; Vandelook, F.; Panis, B.; Janssens, S. (2021)
      Crop wild relatives (CWR) are an indispensable source of alleles to improve desired traits in related crops. While knowledge on the genetic diversity of CWR can facilitate breeding and conservation strategies, it has poorly been assessed. Cultivated bananas are a major part of the diet and income of hundreds of millions of people and can be considered as one of the most important fruits worldwide. Here, we assessed the genetic diversity and structure of Musa balbisiana, an important CWR of plantains, ...

    • Differences in seasons and rice varieties provide opportunities for improving nitrogen use efficiency and management in irrigated rice in Kenya 

      Gweyi-Onyango, J.; Ntinyari, W.; Egesa, A.O.; Mose, R.; Njinju, S.; Giweta, M.; Masso, C. (2021-06-25)
      Apart from nitrogen (N) rates, N use efficiency (NUE) (yield N/total input N) is affected by seasons, crop developmental stages, and varieties. Knowledge of how these factors affect NUE in rice production in Kenya is limited. Therefore, field experiments were conducted with 'low rates' of N (simulating farmers' practices) of 0, 26, 52 and 78 kg N ha−1 with five varieties (MWUR1, MWUR4, IRAT109, NERICA4 and NERICA10) and higher rates of N (125, 175, and 225 kg N ha−1) simulating researchers' doses ...

    • Trade-offs and synergies associated with maize leaf stripping within crop-livestock systems in northern Ghana 

      Komarek, A.M.; Rahman, N.A.; Bandyopadhyay, A.; Kizito, F.; Koo, J.; Addah, W. (2021)
      CONTEXT The accessibility and availability of forages is a common concern in crop-livestock systems in West Africa; however, options to increase forage production may entail trade-offs within the farm system that can be challenging to quantify explicitly. OBJECTIVE This study examined how maize (Zea mays L.) leaf stripping affected maize and sheep productivity and associated labour requirements, and farm system trade-offs and synergies in four communities in the Northern Region of Ghana. METHODS ...

    • Genetic diversity and population structure analysis of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterrenea L) landraces using DArT SNP markers 

      Uba, C.U.; Oselebe, H.O.; Abebe, A.T.; Abtew, W.G. (2021)
      Understanding the genetic structure and diversity of crops facilitates progress in plant breeding. A collection of 270 bambara groundnut (Vigna subterrenea L) landraces sourced from different geographical regions (Nigeria/Cameroon, West, Central, Southern and East Africa) and unknown origin (sourced from United Kingdom) was used to assess genetic diversity, relationship and population structure using DArT SNP markers. The major allele frequency ranged from 0.57 for unknown origin to 0.91 for West ...

    • Life history, uses, trade and management of Diospyros crassiflora Hiern, the ebony tree of the central African forests: a state of knowledge 

      Deblauwe, V. (2021)
      The Central African forest ebony, Diospyros crassiflora Hiern, is a small tree native to the moist forests of the Congo Basin. Its appealing black heartwood was one of the first products to be exported from the Gulf of Guinea in the 17th century and is today one of the main sources of ebony globally. Like for other ebony species, its commercial exploitation raises serious questions about the long-term sustainability of its trade and the viability of its populations, but the dots are yet to be ...

    • Can black soldier fly larvae-Desmodium intortum based diets enhance the performance of Cobb500(R) broiler chickens and smallholder farmers' profit in Kenya? 

      Mutisya, M.M.; Agbodzavu, K.M.; Kinyuru, J.; Tanga, C.M.; Gicheha, M.; Hailu, G.; Salifu, D.; Khan, Z.; Niassy, S. (2021-02)
      This study aimed to evaluate the performance of broiler chickens fed on 3 black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) (Hermetia illucens) and Greenleaf desmodium (Desmodium intortum)-based meals. We evaluated growth performance, carcass quality, and profitability under various commercial pathways (doorstep, retail, whole, and assorted). Desmodium and BSFL powders were formulated into 3 ratios: T1 25:75, T2 50:50, and T3 75:25. A commercial feed was used as a control. One hundred and twenty mixed-sex 1-day-old ...

    • Sources of resistance to Pseudocercospora fijiensis, the cause of black Sigatoka in banana 

      Kimunye, J.; Were, E.; Swennen, R.; Viljoen, A.; Mahuku, G. (2021)
      Black Sigatoka, caused by Pseudocercospora fijiensis, is one of the most devastating diseases of banana. In commercial banana-growing systems, black Sigatoka is primarily managed by fungicides. This mode of disease management is not feasible for resource-limited smallholder farmers. Therefore, bananas resistant to P. fijiensis provide a practical solution for managing the disease, especially under smallholder farming systems. Most banana and plantain hybrids with resistance to P. fijiensis were ...

    • Morphological characterization and genotypic identity of African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa Hochst ex. A. Rich. Harms) germplasm from diverse ecological zones 

      Shitta, N.S.; Abtew, W.G.; Ndlovu, N.; Oselebe, H.O.; Edemodu, A.C.; Abebe, A.T. (2021)
      African yam bean (AYB) is an affordable protein source capable of diversifying the food base in sub-Saharan Africa. However, research efforts made towards the crop's improvement and in expanding production are limited. This study characterized 169 AYB accessions at Jimma, Ethiopia, using 31 phenotypic characters. The analysis of variance revealed highly significant (P < 0.01) differences for days to 50% flowering, days to first flowering, leaf area, number of seeds per pod, pod length, seed ...

    • Changes in nutritional, texture, rancidity and microbiological properties of composite biscuits produced from breadfruit and wheat flours enriched with edible fish meal 

      Adeola, A.A.; Bakare, H.A.; Bamgbose, O.; Obadina, A.O.; Afolabi, W.A.; Adegunwa, M.; Akerele, R.A.; Otesile, I.; Alamu, E.O. (2021)
      The use of indigenous crops in the preparation of nutritious snacks such as biscuits has been reported as a means of alleviating the perennial problem of malnutrition among Nigerians, especially children. However, storage has been recognised as a factor affecting the attributes of these biscuits. This study investigated the quality changes of biscuit produced from fish meal enriched-composite flour of breadfruit and wheat. Freshly harvested seedless variety of breadfruit, matured catfish, wheat ...

    • Genome-wide association studies for sex determination and cross-compatibility in water yam (Dioscorea alata L.) 

      Mondo, J.; Agre, A.P.; Asiedu, R.; Akoroda, M.; Asfaw, A. (2021)
      Yam (Dioscorea spp.) species are predominantly dioecious, with male and female flowers borne on separate individuals. Cross-pollination is, therefore, essential for gene flow among and within yam species to achieve breeding objectives. Understanding genetic mechanisms underlying sex determination and cross-compatibility is crucial for planning a successful hybridization program. This study used the genome-wide association study (GWAS) approach for identifying genomic regions linked to sex and ...

    • Rural schools as effective hubs for agricultural technology dissemination: experimental evidence from Tanzania and Uganda 

      Kpaka, H.M.; Assfaw Wossen, T.; Stein, D.; Mtunda, K.; Laizer, L.; Feleke, S.; Manyong, V. (2021)
      Increasing agricultural productivity by promoting high-yielding and micronutrient-rich crop varieties has the potential to reduce poverty and malnutrition. However, getting these technologies into the hands of smallholders remains a challenge. This paper presents results from a randomised field experiment that uses rural primary schools as dissemination hubs for improved orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) vines and nutrition information in rural Tanzania and Uganda. Two years after the initial ...

    • Seed set patterns in east African highland cooking bananas are dependent on weather before, during and after pollination 

      Waniale, A.; Swennen, R.; Mukasa, S.; Tugume, A.K.; Kubiriba, J.; Tushemereirwe, W.K.; Batte, M.; Brown, A.; Tumuhimbise, R. (2021)
      Seed set in banana is influenced by weather, yet the key weather attributes and the critical period of influence are unknown. We therefore investigated the influence of weather during floral development for a better perspective of seed set increase. Three East African highland cooking bananas (EAHBs) were pollinated with pollen fertile wild banana ‘Calcutta 4′. At full maturity, bunches were harvested, ripened, and seeds extracted from fruit pulp. Pearson’s correlation analysis was then conducted ...

    • Wet coffee processing discharges affecting quality of river water at Kayanza ecological zone, Burundi 

      Bisekwa, E.; Njogu, P.M.; Kufa-Obso, T. (2021-06)
      Wet coffee processing leads to the generation of large volumes of wastewater, whose discharge to the environment leads to pollution of freshwater bodies. Kayanza is a major coffee growing area in Burundi with more than 40 wet coffee processing factories (WCPF) that discharge effluents directly to receiving water bodies without treatment. This study was carried out to assess the effect of coffee wastewater on the physicochemical properties of receiving waterbodies in Kayanza coffee growing ecological ...

    • The feasibility of using pulsed-vacuum in stimulating calcium-alginate hydrogel balls 

      Jinnoros, J.; Innawong, B.; Udomkun, P.; Parakulsuksatid, P.; Silva, J.L. (2021-07-01)
      The effect of the pulsed-vacuum stimulation (PVS) on the external gelation process of calcium-alginate (Ca-Alg) hydrogel balls was studied. The process was conducted at four different working pressures (8, 35, 61, and 101 kPa) for three pulsed-vacuum cycles (one cycle consisted of three repetitions of 10 min of depressurization and 10 min of vacuum liberation). The diffusion coefficients (D) of calcium cations (Ca2+) gradually reduced over time and were significantly pronounced (p < 0.05) at the ...

    • Upper canopy tree crown architecture and its implications for shade in cocoa agroforestry systems in the western region of Ghana 

      Asante, W.A.; Ahoma, G.; Gyampoh, B.; Kyereh, B.; Asare, R. (2021-09)
      everal studies have been conducted on shaded cocoa systems, but few of these have examined species-specific crown architecture of upper canopy trees and its influence on shade provision in cocoa agroforestry systems. In view of the fact that cocoa agroforestry is a recommended practice to drive cocoa production onto a climate-smart pathway, and given the role of upper canopy trees in the moderation of shade and light to the cocoa system, there is the need to understand the dynamics of upper canopy ...

    • Natural enemies of fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in different agro-ecologies 

      Abang, A.; Nanga, S.N.; Fotso Kuate, A.; Kouebou, C.; Suh, C.; Masso, C.; Saethre, M.G.; Fiaboe, K. (2021)
      Fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) and southern armyworm (SAW) Spodoptera eridania (Stoll) have become major threats to crops in Africa since 2016. African governments adopted emergency actions around chemical insecticides, with limited efforts to assess the richness or roles of indigenous natural enemies. Field surveys and laboratory studies were conducted to identify and assess the performance of parasitoids associated with spodopterans in Cameroon. FAW was the most abundant ...

    • Bioecology of fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), its management and potential patterns of seasonal spread in Africa 

      Niassy, S.; Agbodzavu, K.M.; Kimathi, E.K.; Mutune, B.; Abdel-Rahman, E.M.; Salifu, D.; Hailu, G.; Belayneh, Y.T.; Felege, E.; Tonnang, H.; Ekesi, S.; Subramanian, S. (2021)
      Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) has rapidly spread in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and has emerged as a major pest of maize and sorghum in the continent. For effective monitoring and a better understanding of the bioecology and management of this pest, a Community-based Fall Armyworm Monitoring, Forecasting, Early Warning and Management (CBFAMFEW) initiative was implemented in six eastern African countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi). Over 650 Community ...