Browsing by Author "Gacheru, J."
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Item Fertilizer Effects on Panicle Characteristics, Grain Weight and Yield of Upland Rice in Lowlands of Taita Taveta, Kenya(International Journal of Plant & Soil Science, 2022-07-11) Milela, R.M.; Kambura, A.K.; Maghenda, M.; Gacheru, J.; Maghanga, J.; Kimani, J.; Mcharo, M.; Taita Taveta University ; Taita Taveta County Government, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation ; Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research OrganizationThis study was done at Mlughi Agricultural demonstration farm in Bura, Taita Taveta County-Kenya to test upland rice varietal performance and di-ammonium fertilizer effects on panicle characteristics and yield parameter. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used with seven upland rice varieties and three fertilizer levels. The treatments were replicated thrice to give a total of 63 treatment combinations or plots. The experiment was carried out for two seasons (short rains from October to December 2018 and long rains from March to May 2019). The upland rice varieties included 17KH09010014B, 17KH09010093B, AT 058, China Hybrid, NERICA 1, NERICA 4, and NERICA 10. The fertilizer treatments were di-ammonium phosphate fertilizer (DAP), farm yard manure (FYM), and a control of no fertilizer. Topdressing was done at the flowering stage with NPK fertilizer. Data collected included plant height, number of leaves, tiller number, panicle length, spikelets count per panicle, grain yield ha-1 and weight of 1000 grains. The data were subjected to multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) using R version 3.6.1 program and Tukey’s HSD test, p ≤ 0.05 was used to separate the significant means. The results showed that there was significant influence (p = 0.0001) of overall seasonal, treatment and variety on the yield of rice grains in tonnes per hectare. The 2018 season had the lowest tonnage compared to the 2019 season. Crops under the control treatment yielded the least tonnage per hectare while the DAP treated fields yielded the highest in both seasons. NERICA 4 was the highest yielding variety while AT 058 was the least yielding among the treatments in both seasons. It was therefore concluded that the application of DAP and FYM significantly increased rice productivity. Farmers are therefore encouraged to carry out soil fertility testing occasionally and to plant NERICA varieties.Item The Effect of Integrated Soil Fertility Management Practices on Bell Pepper Under Controlled Environmental Conditions(East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal, 2023) Morit, C.H.; Mkandawire, F.L.; Moracha, O.H.; Kimani, S.K.; Njeru, P.N.M.; Sijali, I.; Gacheru, J.; University of Eastern Africa Baraton ; Food Crops Research Centre (FCRC) - KALROContinuous soil cultivation in tropical countries has resulted in depletion of nutrients that are essential for plant growth and development. Beside, adverse use of inorganic fertilizers has had implicating effects on availability of organic carbon, nutrients imbalance and deficiency, this over time has reduced production in horticultural crops. A study was conducted on bell pepper in a greenhouse to determine its response to different soil fertility management practices recorded by changes in plant height, number of fruits and weight, and crop yield. The experiment was set up at Nandi County. The treatments were laid out in randomized complete block design with four treatments; farmer Practice (25 t/ha organic manure), organic manure (50 t/ha), combined inorganic fertilizer (125 kg/ha 23:23:0 planting and 62.5 kg/ha 17:17:17 topdress) and organic manure (25 t/ha), and inorganic fertilizer (23:23:0) 250 kg/ha planting and 125 kg/ha 17:17:17 topdress. The results indicate that the treatments under organic manure recorded higher growth seen in the number of mean branches for organic manure -11.83, combined inorganic fertilizer -10.50, Farmer Practice -8.67, inorganic fertilizer -6.83 and plant height means for farmer Practice -53.8cm, organic manure -66.2cm, combined inorganic fertilizer -58.0cm, and inorganic fertilizer -44.2 cm. Yield was highest for the combined interaction of inorganic fertilizer and organic manure as seen on average number of fruits per plant for farmer Practice -24 fruits, organic manure -26 fruits, combined inorganic fertilizer -29 fruits and inorganic fertilizer -17 fruits and weight of fruits for farmer Practice -8.261, organic manure -9.083, combined inorganic fertilizer -9.611, inorganic fertilizer -6.539 kg). The results indicate that there is need to combine inorganic fertilizer and well decomposed organic manure for maximum yield of bell pepper. This should be done under greenhouse and other technologies where climatic conditions are controlled.
