April 2020

Occurrence, distribution and severity of finger millet blast caused by Magnaporthe oryzae in Kenya

Finger millet is a food crop that provides nutritional security and is climatically resilient for farming and agricultural diversification. However, its quality and yield remain low due to biotic and abiotic factors, the greatest of which is blast disease caused by Magnaporthe oryzae. We surveyed the occurrence, distribution and severity of finger millet blast in five counties, namely, Busia, Bungoma, Kisii,...

Author(s): Margaret Odeph, Wycliffe Wanjala Luasi, Agnes Kavoo, Cecilia Mweu, Matthew Ngugi, Fredah Maina, Naomi Nzilani and Wilton Mwema Mbinda  

April 2020

Wild blackberry (Rubus spp.) differ in duration to reproductive phase under conventional production in Kenya

The purpose of this study was to determine the duration from planting to reproductive phase, of wild blackberry (Rubus spp.) collected from the wild.It was carried out at the Horticulture Research and Teaching Farm, Egerton University, Njoro, Kenya. The experimental layout wasa randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated three times; treatment was four wild blackberry species and one cultivated cultivar. The days...

Author(s): Kenneth Omondi Ouma, Robert Morwani Gesimba and Joseph Ngwela Wolukau

April 2020

Effects of chemical fertilizer types and rates on tuber yield and quality of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) at Assosa, Western Ethiopia

Potato tuber yield and quality is constrained by a number of biotic and abiotic factors, among which low soil fertility is the prime one. Thus, the objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of chemical fertilizer types and rates on tuber yield and quality of potato at Assosa, Western Ethiopia. The treatments consisted of control, three rates of NP combinations (55 kg N and 45 kg P2O5, 110 kg N and 90 kg P2O5,...

Author(s): Desta Bekele, Girma Abera and Amsalu Gobena  

April 2020

Genetic divergence analyses of lowland rice genotypes in North Western Ethiopia

Information on the nature and magnitude of genetic variability is one of the prerequisites for a successful breeding program in selecting genotypes with desirable characters. To estimate the level of genetic divergence of lowland rice genotypes, a field experiment was conducted using thirty-six genotypes during 2017 main cropping season. The experiment was laid out 6x6 simple lattice design. Analyses of variances showed...

Author(s): Alamir Ayenew, Tiegist Dejene and Fisseha Worede