Theses and Dissertations: Recent submissions

Now showing items 41-60 of 72

    • Site-specific nutrient management advice and agricultural intensification in maize-based systems in Nigeria 

      Oyinbo, O. (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 2019-12)
      Despite the potentially large gains from intensification and agricultural productivity growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), yields of staple crops, such as maize are far below attainable yields. Depletion of soil fertility associated with low and inappropriate use of nutrients play a crucial role in this. Yet, fertilizer use is low in SSA, which partly relates to information constraints. Relaxing such constraints via agricultural extension interventions is expected to produce positive outcomes but ...

    • Assessing the effect of the plant growth promoting fungi Trichoderma asperellum in banana (Musa spp.): evaluation under greenhouse conditions 

      Van den Bergh, A. (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 2019-06)
      Bananas (Musa spp.) are one of the most important crops in the global food crop industry, the second most important fruit crop and an important staple crop around the world. Due to the increased trend in global population, a raise in the intensity in crop productivity is needed. The use of plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPM) could be an alternative to improve the stress-tolerance and productivity of crops, thus, reducing the amount of chemical pesticides and fertilizers needed. Trichoderma ...

    • Soil fertility mapping and development of nutrient management zones in maize-based cropping system of the savanna zone of Nigeria 

      Peter, H. (Bayero University, 2019-07)
      There is a growing need for spatially continuous and quantitative soil information for improved farmers yields and environmental management. This study was aimed at mapping the spatial variability of soil properties with focus on delineating soil nutrient management zones (MZs) in a maize-based cropping system. Farmers’ fertilizer application rates were monitored in relation to the yield obtained. The study was conducted in Ikara, Soba, Doguwa, Bunkure, Faskari, Kankara, Malumfashi, Bakori, Kafur, ...

    • Abundance and diversity of tomato rhizosphere microbes and their effect on bacterial wilt disease 

      Nampamya, D. (Makerere University, 2019-12)
      The use of land for agricultural production is always accompanied with changes in microbial diversity and emergency of new pathogens. Microbial imbalances and unevenness have enhanced multiplication of pathogens and proliferation of many soil borne diseases, which are tedious to control. Biocontrols are promising and environmentally friendly agents against such diseases. However, microbiome composition and land use management have been mentioned as core factors in effectiveness of biocontrols. ...

    • Socio-economic potential of agroforestry as an alternative livelihood strategy for cocoa farmers in Ghana 

      Boadi, S.A. (University of Ghana, 2021-10)
      Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) cultivation in Ghana is dominated by smallholder farming households most of whom derive the greater percentage of their incomes from the crop. Changes in climate in addition to inherent boom-and-bust cycles associated with cash cropping is reducing the yielding capacity of cocoa plots and, by extension, household incomes. Current research suggests that the integration of trees and other crops into cocoa plots has the potential to increase the resilience of these farms to ...

    • Investigation of varietal resistance of some maize genotype against fall army (Spodoptera frugeperda) 

      Adewinle, A.A. (Lead City University, 2021)
      The fall armyworm (FAW) has recently invaded and established itself as a major maize pest in Africa, causing yield losses of up to a third of annual maize production. The current study assessed several elements of resistance to FAW larvae feeding of 48 maize hybrids developed by IITA scientists in the laboratory, screen house, and field. The arrest and feeding of FAW neonate larvae in no-choice and choice trials, the growth of larvae-pupae in laboratory circumstances, and plant damage in a field ...

    • Male fertility and zygotic embryo germination in bananas 

      Luyiga, J. (Makerere University, 2022-04)
      Crop improvement through crossbreeding relies on the generation of new hybrids from seeds. Therefore, seed set and seed germination are key determining factors for a successful breeding program. In banana breeding, both seed set and seed germination are low, especially in triploid and tetraploid bananas. To improve germination, embryos are extracted from seeds and cultured in vitro. Seed set is determined by the quantity and viability of pollen for the male parents, or male fertility, and by the ...

    • Factors influencing the decision of cassava farmers to sell or process roots in selected states of southwest, Nigeria 

      Ajiferuke, O.E. (2022-05)
      Cassava farmers are faced with the decision to either sell or process the roots of the crop. However, the factors affecting this decision are largely unknown. Three hundred and six cassava farmers were interviewed, with the objectives to (i) profile the socio-economic characteristics of farmers (ii) examine the price trend between January, 2019 to August, 2020, (iii) costs and returns of the farmers who sell roots and cassava products, (iv)profile the risks and mitigating strategies used by farmers ...

    • Occurrence, abundance and distribution of nematodes of banana linked to altitude in selected banana production areas with focus on pathogenicity of Pratylenchus goodeyi in Kenya 

      Douglas, N.N. (Kenyatta University, 2022-06)
      Banana (Musa spp.) is a popular fruit crop in Kenya, where it is largely cultivated by smallholder farmers. However, plant pathogens, such as plant parasitic nematodes, have been blamed for the fall in output (PPN). A survey of bananabased subsistence farming systems in Kenya's banana-growing counties was done with the objective to a) assess farmers' awareness regarding PPN, b) explore the variability regarding PPN species associated with banana genotypes in Kenya and if the prevalence and abundance ...

    • Potential use of denitrifying bacteria in reduction of nitrogenous compounds in the effluent discharged into lake Victoria, Kenya 

      Wachira, J.M. (University of Embu, 2022-04)
      Nutrient loading with nitrogen and phosphorus in receiving waters is an increasing concern worldwide. In Lake Victoria basin, the substantial inflow of nutrients has led to intensive eutrophication of the lake. This has negatively affected not only the economic but also aesthetic as well as ecological functions. Nitrogen cycle in the atmosphere is driven by symbiotic and free-living microorganisms, which reduces dinitrogen gas to bioavailable ammonia. Ammonia is oxidized completely by a two-step ...

    • Genetic diversity of cassava (Manihot esculanta crantz) germplasm and effect of environment on resistance to Cassava Brown Streak and Cassava Mosaic Diseases in Burundi 

      Niyonzima, P. (University of Nairobi, 2021)
      Cassava is an important cash crop for many small scale farmers in Burundi. Most small scale farmers use local landraces and though they have farmer preferred traits, their genetic diversity is unknown and marred by phenotypic susceptibility to Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) and Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD). This limits future breeding programs to improve cassava production and resistance to diseases in Burundi. Due to this, disease tolerant genotypes from other countries were introduced to ...

    • Open Data Kit (ODK) in crop farming: an introduction of mobile data collection methods in seed yam tracking in Ibadan, Nigeria 

      Ouma, T.A. (Jomo Kenyatta University Of Agriculture And Technology, 2020)
      The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the importance of applying open-source technologies for mobile-based data collection for real-time tracking of seed yam (Dioscorea rotundata and Dioscorea alata) production. Seed yam data in Nigeria have been predominantly collected using field notebooks in the past, which were subsequently entered into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet or Access database for analysis and reposition. Relevant areas of weakness within the current data systems include time delay ...

    • The economic impact of climate change on farm decisions and food consumption in Ghana 

      Etwire, P.M. (University of Otago, 2018-05)
      Climate change poses a serious threat to the growth of developing countries, especially Ghana where the majority of people derive their livelihoods directly from agriculture and related industries. This thesis sets out to examine the economic impact of climate change on agriculture by modelling climate, household, and farm data from Ghana. The impact is assessed through three connected empirical studies. In our first empirical study, we estimate a multinomial logit (8,700 observations) in order ...

    • Genetic diversity in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] accessions collected from Togo 

      Gbedevi, K.M. (2021-11)
      Cowpea is one of the most widely grown legumes in Togo for its grains and leaves, which are used both as food and feed. Despite its importance in the nutrition and economic life of the people, bulk of the varieties grown in Togo are landraces. Genetic improvement of crops requires the presence of heritable genetic variation. However, there is hardly any information on the extent of variability among cultivated cowpea in Togo. This study was carried out to assess the phenotypic and molecular diversity ...

    • Genetic diversity in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] accessions collected from Togo 

      Gbadevi, K.M. (2021-11)
      Cowpea is one of the most widely grown legumes in Togo for its grains and leaves, which are used both as food and feed. Despite its importance in the nutrition and economic life of the people, bulk of the varieties grown in Togo are landraces. Genetic improvement of crops requires the presence of heritable genetic variation. However, there is hardly any information on the extent of variability among cultivated cowpea in Togo. This study was carried out to assess the phenotypic and molecular diversity ...

    • Genetic diversity of Striga hermonthica (Del.) benth. weeds from Nigeria and Kenya, and the genetic responses of selected hist maize lines 

      Unachukwu, N. (University of Ibadan, 2019-12)
      Striga hermonthica (SH) is a parasitic weed that attacks and significantly reduces the yield of maize in Africa. The genetic interactions responsible for resistance or susceptibility of hosts to the parasite and the genetic differentiation that exists between and within SH populations are not fully known. This study investigated the genetic diversity of SH populations in the largest maize producers in Sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya and Nigeria) and; the genetic responses of a susceptible (5057) and a ...

    • Genetic analysis of extra-early yellow and orange quality protein maize (Zea mays L.) inbread lines under low nitrogen and Striga stresses 

      Abu, P. (University of Ghana, 2019-12)
      Low soil nitrogen (low-N) and Striga hermonthica (Del.) are major constrains hampering maize production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Developing extra-early quality protein maize (QPM)-provitamin A hybrids that combine low-N tolerance with Striga resistance is crucial for addressing the food security and undernourishment challenges in SSA. The objectives of this study were to i) assess the genetic diversity among a group of extra-early yellow QPM and orange QPM-provitamin A maize inbred lines, ii) ...

    • Digitalization of smallholder value chain lending partnerships: an interplay of trust and inclusion 

      Agyekumhene, C. (Wageningen University and Research Center, 2021)

    • Contribution a la gestion agroecologique de Maruca vitrata Fab. et d'autres insectes ravageurs majeurs de la culture du niebe (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) dans les regions de Zinder et Maradi au Niger 

      Abdoulaye Zakari, O. (Universite Dan Dicko Dankoulodo De Maradi, 2020)
      Au Niger, le niébé (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) est une culture alimentaire importante mais son rendement est bas en raison de plusieurs contraintes biotiques et abiotiques. L’objectif de cette thèse est d’améliorer le rendement du niébé par la mise en place d’une stratégie écologique de lutte contre les principaux insectes ravageurs de la culture. Les activités suivantes ont été conduites : une enquête de base dans 19 villages des régions de Maradi et Zinder pour identifier les principales ...

    • Innovation intermediation in a digital age: broadening extension service delivery in Ghana 

      Munthali, N. (Wageningen University and Research Center, 2020)
      Classical extension focuses on linear transfer of technology. Globally, and in Ghana particularly, we have seen attempts to address the linearity of classical extension with the shift to broader extension service delivery approaches. From an innovation systems perspective innovation intermediation is suggested for extension organisations to function more effectively and respond to wider agricultural system constraints. This involves three broad facilitation roles which are demand articulation, ...