School of Science and Technology
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Welcome to School of Sciences and Technology collection.This collection contains Journal articles published by faculty affiliated to the school.
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Item Effect of spacing and number of plants per hill on growth and yield of Sc duma 43 in the coastal lowlands(International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development, 2021-09) Ochami, Fredrick; Mushimiyimana, David; Mugambi, MwaoriaMaize (zea mays L) is an important cereal grain globally as feed, and food for human and livestock respectively, rated third after wheat and rice in terms of production. The per capita consumption is 103 kg per person annually in Kenya, at the coastal lowlands it is rated first ahead of cassava and sweet potatoes. Maize is a rich source of carbohydrates, proteins, fats and minerals for the inhabitants of sub-Saharan Africa. Maize production at coast is constrained by inadequate knowledge of agronomic practices such as spacing plants per hill, crop management, limited arable land and choice of suitable cultivar choice and climate change. This study was conducted at Sugar Research Institute farm, Kikambala sub-county, Kilifi County between May and November 2015 cropping season, to evaluate the effect of four inter row spacing S1 (60 cm), S2 (70 cm), S3 (80 cm) and S4 (90 cm) and the number of plants per hill of 1, 2 and 4 as a second factor tested for effect on the growth and yields of the hybrid maize variety SC DUMA 43. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a split – plot arrangement was used with 3 replicates. The parameters investigated were plant height, stem diameter, cob length, weight of 1000 seeds, and grain yields per hectare. The data was summarized in MS Excel and analyzed using SPSS version 20 for ANOVA and LSD. Spacing and interaction between spacing and number of plants per hill did not show a significant effect on plant height, plant diameter and cob length. However, an inter – row spacing of 70 cm gave a significantly lower mean weight of 1000 seeds (312.48 g) against a highest mean value of 342.60 g for 80 cm which was however, not significantly different from the means obtained with 60 and 90 cm. The number of plants per hill significantly affected all growth and yield parameters with the highest grain yield recorded for 2 plants per hill (6543 kgha-1) against a lowest mean value of 4575.4 kgha-1 obtained with 4 plants per hill. Stem diameter, cob length, weight of 1000 seeds decreased significantly as the number of plants per hill increased. Based on the findings of this study, it was concluded that for higher grain yields with the variety SC DUMA 43, planting should be done at 2 plants per hill and a spacing 80 × 30 cm.Item The effect of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers on the growth and yield of yellow grams (Vigna radiata L.)(International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development., 2020-06) Kona, Risper Sarah Ondieki; Mushimiyimana, David; Kamau, Peter AYellow gram is a cheap source of protein often grown by small scale farmers in Kenya; it is well adapted to even in areas that receive less optimal rainfall and matures in less than 120 days. Yellow gram crop is widely grown and a cheap source of protein for inhabitants in Kisii region; its productivity continues to decline despite the continued use of nitrogenous and phosphate fertilizers. Previous research done has shown that yellow grams do not respond well to nitrogen and phosphorus unless the soils are deficient in these nutrients. Consequently, the growth and yield of Yellow gram depends on fertilizer requirements among other factors such as climate and agronomic practices. This research was done to determine optimal levels of potassium and phosphorus inorganic fertilizers application to realize maximum yields of yellow gram production in the region. A Randomized complete block design (RCBD) experiment consisting of three replicates was carried out in Magwagwa area of Kisii County between September to December, 2018. This experiment was carried out on red volcanic soils having 0.12% N, 15 ppm P205 and 56 ppm K2O. The treatments were: three levels of potassium fertilizer (K0: No potassium (control); K1:20 kg K/ha; and K2:30 kg K/ha) and the second factor was three levels of phosphorus (P0: No phosphorus (control); P1: 20 kg P/ha; and P2: 30 kg P/ha). The effect(s) of the treatment combinations on stem height (in cm), branch number per plant, pod number per plant, pod length (in cm), number of seeds per pod, 100-seed weight, and grain yield per hectare were evaluated. The data collected was subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using SPSS 21.0 tool to determine the effect of different treatments. Significant differences in results of the treatments were separated using the Least Square Differences (LSD). Results revealed that different levels of K and P fertilizer application significantly (p<0.05) influenced the growth and yield of Yellow grams. The maximum plant height (94.8 cm), branch number (12/plant), number of pods (98/plant), seed number (10 seeds/pod), length of pod (10 cm), 100-seed weight (29.78 g) and grain yield (4414 kg/ha) were recorded from plots that received 30 kg/ha K2O and 30 kg/ha P2O5, while the control recorded the lowest results. The 30 kg P2O5/ha and 30 kg K2O/ha fertilizer levels enhance yields immensely and were directly proportional to branch density, pod formation and pod length.Item Effects of Intercropping Cowpeas with Maize and Phosphorous Levels on Growth and Yields of Cowpeas in Meru County, Kenya(Journal of Agriculture, 2020-10) Omundi, Joshua Marube; Mushimiyimana, David; Mugambi, MwaoriaCowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is a legume that is grown for various uses Humans consume it as grain or leaf vegetable and as fodder by livestock. It has high nutritive value and high palatability. It is widely produced in sub-Saharan Africa as a source of income. It is drought tolerant and can suitably be used as an intercrop in an intercropping system. The low yield of cowpea among smallholder farmers due to declining soil fertility has increased the need for site specific fertilizer recommendation. Land fragmentation and reduced arable land makes intercropping of cereals and legumes inevitable. A field experiment was conducted at Kianjai ward in Tigania West Sub County of Meru County during the March –May rain season of 2015 to investigate the effects of intercropping cowpeas with maize and four different levels of phosphorous on growth and yields of cowpeas. The treatments were sole cowpeas, sole maize, sole cowpeas planted with (0 kg/ha, 25 kg/ha, 50 kg/ha and 75 kg/ha SSP) and cowpeas intercropped with maize at (0 kg/ha, 25 kg/ha, 50 kg/ha and 75 kg /ha SSP). The design of the experiment was a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replicates. The results show that with mean plant heights of 41.56 cm, 42.43 cm, 43.00 cm and 45.03 cm respectively for 0, 25, 50 and 75 kg/ha of SSP, plant height at maturity were significantly affected by both fertilizer levels and cropping system (p<0.05). The number of pods and cowpeas grain yields were significantly also significantly affected (p<0.05). Sole cowpeas recorded the tallest plants, highest number of pods. The mean grain yields for 0, 25, 50 and 75 kg/ha of SSP were 400 kg, 496.88 kg, 593 kg and 699.88 kg respectively with 75 kg/ha. All the Land Equivalent Ratios for intercropping system were greater than one (LER>1) thus showing that intercropping was beneficial. Intercropping cowpeas and maize at 75 kg/ha phosphorous gave the highest Land Equivalent Ratio. It is recommended that in a cowpeas-maize intercropping system application of 75 kg/ha should be adopted. More work should be done to determine effects of intercropping cowpeas with cereal crops other than maize.Item Effects of Water Conservation Methods and Cropping Systems on the Growth and Yield of Maize and Beans(International Journal of Recent Research in Interdisciplinary Sciences (IJRRIS), 2020-07) Kuru, Kennedy; Mushimiyimana, David; Njoka, EllisMaize and beans form a significant part of the diet for thousands of households in Uganda and neighbouring countries, but the yields of these crops have been greatly affected by erratic rains and prolonged droughts. Irrigation schemes are often prohibitively expensive for small-scale farmers in Uganda and elsewhere. Low-cost water conservation practices such as double digging and mulching and effective cropping systems have the potential to enhance the production and yield of maize and beans under variable rainfall conditions without requiring capital input from farmers. This article reports on investigating the effect of double digging, mulching and intercropping systems on the growth and yields of maize and beans in Wairaka, Jinja District, Uganda. Using a randomized complete block design with three replications of the treatments, we collected data on the plant growth and yield parameters. The results showed that the growth of maize and beans were found to be higher in double digging, intercropping, and mulching. Double digging increased maize and beans plant heights by 0.91% and 20.78% respectively over single digging. Similarly, the cob length, total maize yields, seeds per pod, and total bean yields by 4.79%, 0.57%, 39.39%, 3.01% was enhanced double digging, respectively. Inter-cropping of maize and beans increased the maize plant height, cob length and total maize yield by 0.54%, 5.52%, and 2.43% respectively over maize monocrop while the bean plant height, seeds per pod and the total were increased by 4.33%, 22.86%, and 3.26% respectively over bean monocrop. Mulch significantly affected the growth and yields of both maize and beans. The mean increase in maize plant height was 1.36% and 0.29%, and bean plant height was 12.76%, and 7.06% in the case of dry banana leaves and dry grass, as compared to the control (no mulch). The mean cob length difference and total maize yields were 4.96%, 2.90% and 1.57% 0.93% while the seeds per pod and total bean yields were 25% and 12.5% and 5.00% and 3.68% in the case of dry banana leaves and dry grass, respectively, over the control (no mulch). The low-cost methods we investigated, mainly double digging, dry banana leaves mulches, and maize-bean intercrop, are promising in ensuring yields against erratic rainfall and drought and can be recommended to farmers.