Food Crops
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Item 4.6. Entomology report: Sorghum and millet(1973) Ovennan. J. L.; EAAFRO/USAID/ARS/USDA/Serer, UgandaThe entomological investigation of the US/ AID, ARS Major Cereals Project in Africa started at Serere, Uganda, in January, 1967. In the past, emphasis was placed on developing sorghum resistance to the sorghum shoot fly, Atherigona varia, and the stalk-borer, Chilo partellus. Investigations have been initiated to develop sorghum resistance to the maize stalk borer, Busseola fusca.Item Advisory Soil or Plant Analysis and Fertilizer Use I-Comparison of Soil Analysis is Methods(1968) Robinson, J.B.D; Semb, GOne hundred and twenty-four topsoil samples representing 16 different soil types, of which seven had pH values greater than 7.0, have been analysed for extractable phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium by four different methods. The degree of correlation between the methods is presented together with linear regression equations. Within the range of soil type and analytical data encountered it is possible to convert direct analytical values into predicted values by alternative methods of analysis. Extractable phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium values are predictable for acid/-neutral soils, but it would be more reliable to use separate calibration data or more suitable analytical methods for alkaline pH soils. The larger proportion of phosphorus results in these samples were in the lower half of the full range encountered and the prediction equations are duly biased.Item Advisory Soil or Plant Analysis and Fertilizer Use Part IV-Evaluation of Plant Analysis with Maize Yield Data(1969) Robinson, J. B. D.Maize fertilizer trials carried out over two seasons in Western Tanzania were sampled for the purpose of carrying out leaf analysis. This paper presents and discusses relationships between maize leaf nitrogen or phosphorus figures, maize yield and maize yield responses to two rates of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers. The practical uses of the leaf analysis technique in this area are indicated.Item African ArmywormSpodoptera Exempta (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Wind Convergence in the Kenya Rift Valley, May 1970(1979) Margaret, J. H1970 the most important end of season outbreaks of African armyworm in Kenya were near Nakuru in the Rift Valley; much of the oviposition was inferred to have taken place in the first half of May. The seasons highest catch of Spodoptera exempta in the local light trap ,occurred on 9/ 10th May, coincident with a synoptic-scale weather disturbance which lay almost stationary over the area during 8-lOth May; detailed observations on the wind fields were made on two ,of those days by a specially instrumented aircraft. It was estimated that large numbers of moths were being produced at the time only at places distant from Nakuru, but all upwind from there while this convergent wind system was present. Later in the month further laying occurred in Nakuru area, again coincident with increased light trap catches and the persistence of convergent winds which would have held moths emerging locally trapped in the area. The wind fields are described and their effect on the contemporary S. exempta moths which produced the Rift Valley infestations discussed. It is considered that the persistence of wind convergence in the area led to the laying occurring there.Item Agriculture in Ethiopia(1943) Joyce, V.F.It was suggested that experiments be carried out with cinchona (for quinine salts), curraway seed (carum copicum; amhara HECC) for extraction of thymol, derris root, stramonium a universal weed in Africa, khat (catha edulis) and areca nut; cariander, ginger (grow wild), numeg, pepper etc. Kosso tree (Hagenia anthelmintica) should be explored. At Amani Institute in Tangazika these plants could be studied with tea, rubber and cotton.Item Altitude and Entries in the Environmental Responses of 1976 77 Eastern African Maize Variety Trial(1978) Mukuru, Z.; Darrah, L. L.Seed for the 1976-77 Eastern African Maize (Zea mays L.) Variety Trial (EAMVT) was distributed to over 100 sites in eastern Africa, the Middle East, the Cameroon, Nigeria, and Mexico. Twenty-seven sites returned data acceptable for inclusion in this summary. These sites 'were located in Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, ,Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. A few sites were discarded after analysis because of unacceptably high coefficients of variation, indicating that results of those sites were not reliable.Item Altitude And Environmental Responses Of entries in the 1970-71east African Maize Variety Trial(1974) Darrah, L.L; Penny, L.HSeveral countries in Eastern Africa now have established maize (Zea mays L.) research programmes, which are producing improved breeding populations and commercial varieties and hybrids. Regional trials have been used to evaluate nationally developed maize varieties in different environments. Ranges of wide adaptation have been found for Kenya's Hybrid 632 and the Rhodesian hybrid SR52, now produced commercially in Zambia [5].Eberhart, Penny, and Harrison [2] found current commercial varieties were adapted, in the appropriate altitude zone, throughout Eastern Africa. Harrison [5] gives length of the growing season, disease prevalence, and altitude as the primary factors determining the potential of an environment for a particular variety.Item Altitude and Environmental Responses of Entries in the 1974-75 Eastern African Maize Variety Trial(1976) Darrah, L. L.The 1974-75 Eastern African Maize Variety Trial (EAMVT) was conducted at 48 sites in East Africa, Somalia, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi, Zambia, Zaire, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia. Twenty-four entries were, contributed from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and the East African Community. These represented commercial varieties and hybrids, experimental hybrids, and breeding populations from national and regional maize programmes.Item Analysis of Farmers' Preferences in Choice and Adoption of Maize and Bean Varieties in Kenya(2012) Odendo, M.; Ouma, J.; Menale, K.Maize and common beans are the backbone of food security in Kenya. However, production of the two crops has not kept pace with demand. Although farmers grow several varieties of maize and common beans, the attributes of the varieties that influence farmers' preferences and adoption are not clearly known. The objective of this study was to determine attributes of maize and bean varieties that influence farmers' choices and adoption of varieties. Data were collected from a random sample of 613 respondents from four Counties in Kenya using a structured questionnaire and analysed by descriptive statistics and hedonic pricing model. Results show that farmers used several criteria in choosing the maize and bean varieties they grew. Hedonic pricing analysis indicates that price of beans was mainly determined by bean grain colour and geographical location of the household. The identified attributes are important to the farmers in making their production and marketing decisions and for researchers to focus breeding research to attributes the farmers prefer.Item Annotated List Of Insect Associated With The Sweet Potato(1958) Walter, M.M.Anoplocnemis curvipes Let. & Bev.Nymphs and adults of this insect feed by sucking juices from the growing points. Damage not serious. Frequently seen. Nezara viridula L.- Nymphs and adults feed on growing points. Not often observed :the damage not noticed.Item The Apparent Behaviour of Maize and Sorghum Stomata During and After Drought(1959) Glover, J.; East African Agriculture and Forestry ResearchMaize stomata are shown to be markedly affected by severe drought lasting about a week or more, in that they do not recover their apparent pattern of normal behavior after the water supply to the plant is restored, although the leaves regain their turgidity and seem normal. On the other hand, sorghum stomata recover well from severe drought lasting 14 days and their recovery follows fairly closely behind the restoration of turgidity to the leaves. It is suggested that this difference in ability of stomata to recover from severe drought in some measure accounts for the superiority of sorghum as a grain crop in dry regions. Severe drought in maize is shown to be less damaging to the young plant than to the old, because the stomata of the unopened leaves behave normally when unfolded after the drought is broken.Item An appraisal of some intercropping methods in terms of grain yield, response to applied Phosphorus and Monetary return from maize and cowpeas(1976) Sudi, Y. A.; Mongi, H. O.; Uriyo, A. P.; Singh, B. R.; University of Dar el salam, TanzaniaInter cropping methods had a significant effect on the yield of cowpeas but not of maize. Applied P affected the yield of mono-or intercropped maize significantly but not of inter cropped cowpeas. At any P rate, the yield of maize was the highest and that of cowpeas the lowest in the relay inter cropping. However, the alternate row inter cropping proved the most economical as h gave 34 percent higher monetary return than the mono-cropped maize. The same hill inter cropping gave an increase of 29 per cent in monetary return over the mono cropping and may be of convenience to farmers because it saves time and labour. Soil inorganic N content increased appreciably under inter cropping conditions; its magnitude was significantly affected by applied P.Item Aseptic Culture of Soybean and Peanut Embryonic Axes to Improve Phytosanitation of Plant Introductions(1975) Braverman, S.W. ; East African Plant Quarantine Station, East African Agriculture and Forestry Research Organization, P.O. Box 30148, Nairobi, KenyaIn Aug. 1972-Nov. 1973, seeds of 2 cultivars of soyabean and 11 of groundnut contaminated with fungi and bacteria were grown by placing embryonic axes on artificial media. Of the 4 media tested, Knop agar was the most successful, but about 25% of the plantlets failed to survive transplanting to sand/peat/soil mixture. All plants initiated from embryonic axes showed negative indexing for viruses against several routine indicator plants and were grown to maturity when seeds were disease-free. It is suggested that this technique will make previously unacceptable soyabean cultivars available for crop improvement programmes in E. Africa.Item Aspects of the Life Cycle and Behaviour Of Cosmopoutes Sordid Us Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).(1994) Robert, B.; Morris, W.O.The life cycle of the banana weevil borer.Cosmopolites sordidus Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) was evaluated under laboratory and screen house conditions. Choice chamber tests were also conducted to assess the comparative responses of weevils to banana tissues and extracts and light and moisture conditions. Developmental period ofthe weevil averaged 56.4 days (range 53 - 63) in thelaboratory and 67.1 days (range 63 - 72) in the screen house. Larval duration was significantly (PSG.05) longer than previously recorded, being 40.5 and 50.5 days in the laboratory and in the screen house respectively. The big difference in larval duration indicated the possibility of the occurrence of a distinct biotype of the weevil in this region. Higher temperatures in the laboratory also prolonged egg and larval development and caused higher mortality of all stages. Four times more weevils were attracted by rhizome pieces compared to pseudostem tissues and inclusion of rhizome extracts enhanced attraction to pseudostem pieces. Negative phototaxis was the most important behavioural response of C. sordidus and over-rode attraction to rhizome tissue or moisture. When pseudostem traps set in the morning were covered with black polythene sheets or trash almost as many weevil adults were trapped during the day as at night This result suggested that in heavily mulched or poorly pnmed banana crops. C. sordidus was active during the day and so caused greater damage.Item Assessment of Infection and/or Contamination of Rosecoco Glp-2 Bean Seed by Pseudomonas Syringae Pv. in Kenya(1995) Mwang'ombe, A.W.; Otieno, S.O.; Shankar, M.Detection of contaminant and Infectious P syrigae pv. phaseouola was carried out using the dilution plate method 111 bean seed samples collected from farmers in Kisii, Nyeri and Meru Districts, Kenya Certified commercial and disease-free bean samples were Included In the study. The confirmatory tests of the pathogen Identity used In the experiments were fluorescein production, oxidase activity, arginine dihydrolase activity, arginine production, gelatin Liquefaction, nitrate reductase activity, phaseolotoxin production bioassay and pathogenicity.Item Assessments Of On farm Haricot Bean Varieties Fro The Producers and Cosumers perespective(1990) Getahun, D.By Assessing the farming system in bean-producing area, to identify the important characteristics of beans, the importance of and uses of beans, and farmers' bean husbandry practices.Item The availability of Potassium in some Kenya Soils.(1974) Muchena, F.N.The availability of potassium in eleven soil types from various parts of Kenya was tested in a greenhouse experiment. The soils were cropped with sorghum in pots of two different sizes. The concentration and yield of potassium in the above ground 'portions of the sorghum plants were measured after the plants were harvested. The plants were grown for 8 weeks. The intensity of potassium supply (available K) in the soils was measured by the use of four different methods. The K uptake by the sorghum plants was very significantly related (PItem Bacterial Blight of Peas(1951/1952) Wallace, G. B.; Maud, M. W; Department of Agriculture Tanganyika TerritoryA destructive bacterial disease of field pea and sweet pea has appeared recently in the Northern Province of Tanganyika Territory The identity of the bacteria concerned is not yet certain, but it is considered advisable to bring the disease to the notice of farmers,gardeners and others without delay. Material has been sent for identification to Dr. W. J.Dowson at the Botany School, Cambridge, and he has kindly undertaken investigation of the organisms present. His conclusions are awaited and will be communicated in a subsequent number of this Journal.Item Bacterial Wilt of Potatoes in Kenya(1964) Robinson, R. A.The potato crop in Kenya is of great potential importance, but is currently confined to about 50,000 acres due to heavy disease losses both in the field and the store. The Type lIPs. solanacearum is so damaging on potatoes that soils contaminated with it are unfit for potato cultivation. The amount of soil contamination is increasing exponentially due to the repeated sowing of diseased seed tubers, and the entire crop is jeopardized. Evidence is presented to indicate that the pathogen is not indigenous in Kenya soils. Possible control measures are limited to (a) the use of disease-free seed tubers and (b) the development of resistant varieties. However, the disease is now so widespread that the former is of limited value; unless resistant varieties can be found, potato cultivation in Kenya is likely to decline to insignificance.Item The Balance of Nutrition with Particular Reference to the Level of Supply of Nitrogen and Phosphorus(1953) Glover, J.As part of the overall programme of research directed towards an understanding of fertilizer needs of crop plants in East Africa a study of the nutrition of maize in sand culture has been made. The purpose of the work was to study growth and yield in relation to changes in the proportion and concentration of the major nutrients, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and if possible to relate the results to the field behaviour of the crop in fertilizer trials conducted by another section of this organization. Simultaneously studies of the uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus were also undertaken. These latter are discussed in the second paper of this series.
