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Assessing the efficacy of wild basil (Ocimum americanum L. (Walp)) in the management of cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus maculatus)
No full textAbstractCowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) belongs to the family Fabaceae and is one of the pulses that suffer postharvest losses greatly. The major insect that attacks stored cowpea seed in Kenya is the cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus maculatus). The insect can damage 100% of stored cowpea seeds causing weight loss of up to 60%. Although insecticides are widely available, they have high potential risks to users and also pollute the environment. In drier areas of Kenya where the pest is common, small-scale farmers use botanicals with varying levels of success. This study sought to assess the effectiveness of a locally available botanical, Ocimum americanum, in the management of the cowpea weevil. Different plant parts of O. americanum, the leaves, flowers and whole mature young plants were dried and ground into powder. From each plant part, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 and 8.0 g were used to determine their effectiveness against the weevil in stored cowpea seed. Two controls were used, that is, no protectant and Actellic super dust. For each treatment, 10 g of cowpea seeds were placed in plastic vials containing ten pairs (male and female) cowpea weevil adults. The experiments were laid out in a completely randomized design at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Nairobi, Entomology Laboratory. Lowest post-harvest weight loss (3.0 g) of cowpea seed and highest mortality (92.5%) of cowpea weevil was recorded when 8 g of leaf powder were used. Since wild basil is a common weed in drier parts of Kenya such as Mbeere, Tharaka-Nithi, Kitui, Makueni and Mwingi, it can be utilized in these areas as a cheap control bioinsecticide for cowpea weevil
Effect of pre-harvest application of Chitosan and Silicon on growth, Lycopene content and shelf-life of tomato
No full textAbstract on application of Chitosan and Silicon on growth, Lycopene content and
shelf-life of tomatoMaize productivity in Kenya has reduced by 4.3 per cent, partly attributed to Fall Army Worm (FAW) infestation with yield losses of up to 37 % of the annual maize production over three years. Innovators have developed practices that manage FAW infestation and increase maize yield. Knowledge of these interventions is not available to all farmers and thus not applied. This occasioned for an investigation into the knowledge management and effectiveness of FAW control practices in maize producing regions of Kenya. This study conducted structured interviews with key informants and households in Kilungu, Makueni County. It sampled 387 respondents with a 95% confidence level and applied multi stage sampling. Statistical analysis using STATA found a significant influence of education and total income on the selection and adoption of FAW management practice. Handpicking recorded p values of 0.033 and 0.013 respectively. Analysis of adopted FAW management practices against maize output showed a significant effect from handpicking, use of pesticides, detergents and/or soil with p values of 0.099, 0.049, 0.025 and 0.075 respectively. Fellow farmers and workshops as sources showed a significant influence on maize output with p values of 0.012 and 0 respectively
A Model for Adoption of Virtual Computing, Bridging With the Critical System Architecture Construct (A Case of Kisii University, Kenya): CCE Virtualization Model
No full textVirtual ComputingThis study aimed at developing a model forthe adoption of virtual computing to determine the viability of application delivery in a virtualized computer environment for Kisii University and its environs. In order to achieve this, the study assessedthe roleofsystem architectureon theadoptionofa virtualized application delivery in Kisii University.The study used a descriptive study approach targeting ICT staff at different levels anddepartments. Purposive sampling was used to select participants that are involved in day to day interaction with the ERP System and other computing resources. A survey was carried outon the 43 ICTstaff membersand questionnaires administered to collect information and the data was analysed using descriptive statistics.The analysed data was summarized and the findings were reported. Data was presented in form of tables and graphs. The study revealed that; system architecture playsa key role in the implementation and adoption of Virtual Computing.Therefore, the layer of the virtualizedsystem should be treated as critical and vulnerable as the x86-based system architecture so as to give more attention to implementing security frameworks, stabilization procedures and robust recovery plans. This is becausethis vulnerable and critical system architecture is prone to security flaws, memory leakages and severe instabilities. Therefore,forminga basis for the successful implementation of a virtualized application delivery system. The study recommended that Kisii University administrationshouldhave confidenceinnewtechnologieslikevirtual application delivery for easy application delivery, sharing and data storage
Determination of the effect of fermentation on the rate of plant nutrient release from plant tissues.
No full textAbstractThe use of fermented plant extracts (FPE) as a top dress in crop production is a natural process
that can provide plant nutrients and suppress diseases. However, there is scanty information on
the use of plant extracts and the bulky of it is not documented. This study aimed at determining
the effectiveness of fermentation in extracting plant nutrients from plant tissues for use as top
dress in crop production. Materials from Lantana (Lantana camara, L), stinging nettle (Urtica
dioica L) and Tithonia (Tithonia diversifolia, G), common plants that are locally available in
most agricultural areas were investigated. A complete randomized design (CRD) was used to set
up the experiments in the laboratory. Tender shoots and leaves of these plants were fermented in
water and the levels of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (NPK) contained were measured at
intervals of 1, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 days. The concentration of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) yeasts
and the pH were also determined at each interval. Standard foliar feeds (Agro-Feed and Power
Booster) commonly used by farmers were used as control. The results demonstrated that Lantana
and stinging nettle were not significantly different in the percentage of N released. Phosphorous
was highest in stinging nettle at 5.26%, Tithonia had 5.12% while Lantana had the lowest at
4.48%. However, potassium was highest in Tithonia at 4.38%, stinging nettle had 3.64%, while
Lantana had the lowest at 3.63%. There were also high significant differences in concentration of
lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Yeast and pH at p<0.05. The findings of the study showed that
nutrients can be extracted from plant materials by fermentation although in less quantities as
compared to commercial foliar feeds
INFLUENCE OF INTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE PRACTICES ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KIENI EAST AND WEST SUBCOUNTIES IN NYERI COUNTY
Get PDFStudents Academic PerformanceQuality assurance in education is increasingly gaining latitude as evidenced in educational literature and current practices. Apart from ensuring compliance with learners’ requirements, educational policy makers are continually designing and producing tools and models that promote professionalism to check performance that promote quality in schools in a rationalized customer satisfaction manner. This systematic review of education has the ultimate goal of maintaining and improving quality and efficiency. This study evaluated the influences of internal quality assurance practices on students’ academic performance in secondary schools in Kieni East and West Sub-Counties of Kenya. This study was guided by the following objectives: to establish the influence of examining teachers’ professional documents on students’ academic performance; to evaluate the influence of monitoring teaching and learning resources on students’ academic performance; to assess the influence of internal quality assurance feedback on students’ academic performance and to determine the influence of monitoring syllabus coverage on students’ academic performance. The study was guided by Principles of Scientific Management Theory advanced by Fredrick Taylor. The study had a target population of 1004 respondents comprising 56 principals, 944 teachers and four Sub County Quality Assurance Officers. Thirty percent of total population was considered which yielded a sample of 17 principals and 283 teachers. Purposive sampling was used to select four quality assurance officers and school principals while teachers were selected through stratified and simple random. Data was collected using survey questionnaires and interview schedules. Validity of the research instruments was done by seeking expert review from university supervisors. The instruments were piloted for reliability in two secondary schools in neighboring Nyeri Central Sub-county using Test - Retest Method. Both sets of items were correlated using Crobanchs Alpha. A coefficient of ρ>.70 was found in all items and considered reliable. Quantitative data was analyzed by use of both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Qualitative data was subjected to content analysis where responses were categorized into common themes related to the objectives of the study. Results obtained showed M>2 in all items of the independent variables meaning that professional documents were rarely examined, instructional resources and syllabus coverage rarely monitored, and feedback rarely given. Relationship among variables described using Pearson correlation coefficients showed high statistical significance (2-tailed), in which all variables indicated significant correlation coefficient p< 0.05 implying a high correlation of quality assurance mechanism in school and its influence on learners’ performance. Qualitative data revealed gaps in quality assurance practices. The study is significant as it provides a theoretical and empirical contribution to the existing literature on internal quality assurance practices in schools’ context. It offers practical recommendations on enhanced responsiveness to continued quality provision for which policy makers and education stakeholders yearn for. The study recommends on building capacity of educational leaders through continuous training to make them more effective in carrying out the quality assurance practices
Influence of internal quality assurance practices on students’ academic performance in public secondary schools in Kieni East and Kieni West Sub counties, Nyeri County, Kenya
Get PDFPostgraduate Students thesis PowerPoint Presentation
A Gold Nanoparticle-Based Colorimetric Probe for Detection of Gibberellic Acid Exuded by Ralstonia solanacearum Pathogen in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)
Get PDFWe report a simple colorimetric probe based on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for detecting Ralstonia solanacearum. The AuNPs were synthesized through reduction with citrate ion and characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The freshly synthesized AuNPs were brick red due to an intense surface plasmon absorption band at 520 nm. Upon interaction with synthetic gibberellic acid (GA3), a bathochromic shift occurred in the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak of AuNPs to higher wavelengths. The 'eye-ball' limit of detection was 0.2 ppm. This shift was accompanied by a change in the color of the AuNPs from brick red to purple. Soil samples were collected from the rhizosphere of tomato plants, exhibiting bacterial wilt symptoms and pure cultures of Ralstonia solanacearum isolated using a modified Kelman’s TZC medium. Gibberellins (GA) were extracted from the culture of R. solanacearum using ethyl acetate and characterized using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). AuNP solution aggregation was induced by GA-mediated R. solanacearum. A color change from brick red to purple was also observed. The results illustrated the use of both SPR wavelength-shift sensing and visual color change to detect molecules of biological relevanc
Farmers' Preference for Onion Varieties and Implications of Knowledge of Iris Yellow Spot Disease in Kenya
Get PDFThrip transmitted Iris yellow spot disease (IYSD) is an economically important viral disease, affecting bulb onions worldwide. Recommended IYSD resistant varieties are not commonly grown in countries like Kenya, yet inappropriate disease control measures are applied upon disease occurrence in the fields. This is presumably due to lack of knowledge on the disease and/or recommended varieties do not match farmers’ preferred traits. The objective of this study was to assess farmers’ knowledge of
IYSD and their criteria for selecting onion varieties for/against IYSD in Kenya. A study was conducted with 360 respondents across three onion growing agro-ecological zones (AEZ) in Kenya, during 2019- 2020. Farmers’ fields were assessed for IYSD incidence and severity. All farmers acknowledged the existence of IYSD based on diseased plants in the field. However, majority of the farmers (95.6%) were not aware of the cause of the disease. Onion thrips and IYSD susceptible red onion varieties were the most preferred (77.9%) by farmers. Preference for these varieties was based on their high yielding capacity, early maturity, strong pungency, marketability and long shelf life. Most farmers (59.8%) relied on fungicides to control IYSD, though ineffectively. Lack of appropriate management strategies for IYSD was due to lack of knowledge on the disease diagnosis, epidemiology as well as cultivation of IYSD susceptible red varieties
Enhancing Tripartite Symbiosis between Soybean, Bradyrhizobia and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungiunder Contrasting Farm Management Practices in Tharaka-Nithi County-Kenya
No full textENHANCING TRIPARTITE SYMBIOSIS BETWEEN SOYBEAN, BRADYRHIZOBIA AND ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGIOrganic farming is gaining popularity as agronomically and environmentally sound
soil management strategy with the potential to enhance soil microbial diversity and
fertility, environmental quality and sustainable crop production. However, the role
of bradyrhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in organic farming
systems is poorly understood. Field experiments were carried out to evaluate the
effects of organic farming and bradyrhizobia inoculation on soybean nodulation,
AMF root colonization, growth, production and yield quality. Greenhouse and
laboratory experiments sought to determine the effects of bradyrhizobia and/or AMF
inoculation and dual inoculation in promoting root colonization and nodulation,
determine soil mycorrhizal inoculum potential (MIP), evaluate the abundance and
effectiveness of native bradyrhizobia and determine the morphological and genetic
diversity of native bradyrhizobia isolates under different farm management
practices. Field experimental treatments included native bradyrhizobia, commercial
Bradyrhizobiun japonicum, a mixture of native and commercial Bradyrhizobium
japonicum and control. Promiscuous soybeans varieties SB 19 and SC squire as well
as non-promiscuous Gazelle were used as test plants. All field experiments were
carried out in split-split plot design. In the greenhouse, AMF and bradyrhizobia were
inoculated and dual inoculated on SC squire soybeans. The AMF inoculants used
were Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus irregularis while bacteria involved
commercial bradyrhizobia and native bradyrhizobia. Greenhouse experiments were
set out using completely randomized design. The native bradyrhizobia were isolated
and characterized. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from nodule isolates was extracted
using Gene Jet DNA extraction kit. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting 16S
rDNA gene was carried out using universal primers P5-R and P3-F. Polymerase
chain reaction product purification and sequencing was carried out in MacrogenNetherlands. Sequencing was done using the same primers. Non molecular data
obtained was analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Means that were
significantly different at p< 0.05 were separated using Tukey’s HSD test. Field
experiment results demonstrated significant improvement of soybean nodule dry
weight (NDW), shoot dry weight (SDW) and seed dry weight (SEDW) due to
inoculation. Bradyrhizobia inoculation increased soybean seed yields by between
29-59% of its potential yield. Remarkably, organic farming significantly (p=0.001)
out-performed conventional systems in SDW, NDW, SEDW and AMF root
colonization. Moreover, seed nutrient significantly differed in organic and
conventional farming where, seed nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic
carbon were higher in organic farming. Soybean varieties differed significantly on
SDW, NDW and SEDW, where SC squire performed better compared to SB 19 and
Gazelle. Greenhouse results showed bradyrhizobia and AMF dual inoculation
significantly enhanced AMF root colonization, NDW and SDW compared with
individual bradyrhizobia, AMF or control. Moreover, organic farming significantly
(p=0.001) increased SDW, NDW and AMF root colonization compared to
conventional farming. Organic farming had a significant effect (p = 0.001) on soil
MIP. Based on molecular analysis, isolates were bradyrhizobia and matched with
Bradyrhizobium japonicum among other species. There was little or no genetic
differentiation of isolates with the highest molecular variation (91.12%) within the
populations and 8.88 % among populations. The results demonstrate the importance
of organic farming and dual inoculation in sustainable crop production. The highly
potential native bradyrhizobia isolates (GRPc and GRPk) and exotic AMF should be
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popularized and commercially ultilized by farmers to alleviate declining soil fertility
and increase food production with minimum expenses