Uganda Journal of Agricultural Science (UJAS)
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Farmer assessment of selected shrub species for improved fallow technology in Mukono district
Get PDFFour nitrogen fixing species were planted as short term fallows on poorly yielding soils in Nagojje and Najjembe sub counties of Mukono district. These were Crotalaria gralianiiana, Tepltrosia vogelli, Sesbania sesban and Cajanus cajan. Then a post fallow crop of beans or maize was planted together with a control. Crotalaria and Tephrosia flowered and attained maximum biomass within one season ( six months) while Sesbania and Cajanus flowered after two seasons (twelve months). Post fallow crop yields were high for all fallow species compared to the control. In beans Crotalaria was highest followed by Tephrosia and then Sesbania. In maize Crotalaria and Tephrosia performed equally well and better than Sesbania. Therefore Cotalaria and Tephrosia are promising as shrubs that can be adapted for short term improved fallow in Mukono district
Tree management for improved compatibility with other crops
Get PDFTree spacing, crown and root pruning were investigated on a variety of agro forestry tree species in the Lake Victoria shore region of Uganda with the objective of determining the best management options for improved compatibility with annual crops. Results showed that both Grevillea robusta and casuarina equisetifolia could be intercropped with annual crops at wider intra-row spacings of 3-5 metres without jeopardizing crop production while at the same time enabling the production of marketable poles. Both tree species spaced at 1 m intra-row suppressed grain yield of associated crops after first year. Positive crop responses to crown pruning increased linearly; pollarding encouraging the highest crop yields. In addition to providing household fuel wood; moderate pruning reduced competition for below-ground resources and this increased tree compatibility with annual crops especially during dry conditions. Overall, the management options investigated in this study showed that agro forestry provides significant opportunities in the Plan for Modernization ofAgriculture (PMA) because it offers incentives to farmers to integrate trees into cropland
thereby diversifying the product range and reducing the risk
Improving forage processing for smallholder dairy farmers in Uganda
Get PDFTwo types of improved forage choppers were developed to satisfy the fine chop requirement of materials used for animal feed and improve on labour use efficiency. The two types were set to address the economic differences among farmers, giving a range to choose from depending on ones’ affordability: the motorised one and the manually operated chopper. The choppers have been extensively tested on elephant grass, guatermala, corn stoves and calliandra with both female and male adults, boys and girls operators. The engine speed for the motorised chopper was varied during the tests between low (1000 rpm) and high (1500 rpm). Using the improved choppers on elephant grass, a clean fine chop was obtained with a capacity of between 150 - 480 kg/hr and length of cut between 25 - 45 mm for 65% of sample. For corn stoves, the capacity and length of chop were between 110 to 312 kg/hr and between 25 - 45 mm for 55 % of sample respectively. Guatermala grass registered between 170 - 394 kg/hr and between 25 - 45 mm for 60% of sample while calliandra gave between 130 to 410 kg/hr. Fuel consumption of the motorised chopper was approximately 0.89 - 1.2 It/hr. Comparative tests for the traditional manual chopping with a machete gave 37-101 kg/hr for elephant grass, 45 - 95 kg/hr for maize stoves, 44-112 kg/hr for guatermala and 69-119 kg/hr for calliandra. Besides the lack of uniformity in the length of cut, results show a significant difference in the capacities attainable with the traditional manual chopping with a machete and the improved forage choppers. The cost of the improved forage choppers is off set by the economic gain realised by the increased feed consumption which in turn improves the livelihoods of dairy farmers through the increased milk yields
Adaptation performance of various pasture legume species in Soroti and Lira districts
Get PDFThe experiment was to evaluate the agronomic performance and nutritive value of thirteen introduced forage legume accessions and identify the best forage legumes for overgrazed areas, clay and sandy soils. Four species namely: Chaemocrista rotundifolia (Sirani Wynn), Macroptilium atropurpureum (cv. Aztec), Centrosemapubescens and Stylosanthes scabra (c.v. Sirani) showed high agronomic performance and nutritive value. Chaemochrista rotunfifolia (c.v Wynn) showed good establishment, aggressiveness, high seed production, drought tolerance and is free from pests and diseases. Macroptilium atropurpureum (c.v. Aztec) established easily, is drought tolerant and was a good seed producer. Both Chaemochrista rotundifolia and Macroptilium atropurpureum were high in DM yields and in CP content. Centrosemapubescens establishes easily, was a high seed yielder, drought tolerant, high in DM yield and CP content. Stylosanthes scabra (c.v. Siran) establishes easily, was a good seed yielder, fairly drought resistant and fairly high in CP content. Basing on the overall performance, it is recommended that the four legumes, namely:- Chaemocrista rotundifolia (c.v Wynn), Macroptilium atropurpureum (c.v. Aztec); Centrosema pubescens and Stylosanthes scabra (c.v Siran) be in the first batch for on-farm trials
Response of robusta coffee populations to Fusarium xylarioides infection under screen house condition in Uganda
Get PDFSeedlings of open pollinated seeds of 119 cultivars of robusta coffee (Coffea canephora) from coffee collections at Kituza and 8 progeny lines from wilt “hot spot” areas were inoculated to identify resistance to coffee wilt disease caused by F. xylariodes for effective control of the disease. The plants were inoculated with a field isolate of Fusarium xylarioides at a concentration of 1.3 x 106 spores per ml using root dip method for 12 hours. 15.4% of the seedlings survived first round of infection. The survivor seedlings were re-inoculated and 53% of them survived the second round of infection. The results showed variation in number of survivors between families and revealed presence ofquantitative resistance to the coffee wilt disease among populations of robusta coffee
Serological responses in commercial chicken to a Newcastle Disease I2 thermostable vaccine in Uganda.
No full textA locally- produced Newcastle Disease (NCD) I2 thermostable vaccine of embryo - infective dose (EID. ) of 108.5 per ml. was administered to 100 laboratory chicken in four groups, each of 25 birds, by eye drop method, I2E; in water previously boiled and cooled, WA; same water but freshly medicated with an adequate dose of Levamisole, LE; and using millet grains previously roasted and cooled as vaccine carrier, Ml, A fifth group, LA, also consisting of 25 birds received heat- sensitive Lasota vaccine by eyedrop, as a control group. The immunological responses were monitored by Enzyme - linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) Newcastle disease antibody (Ab) technique on sera samples from 18 randomly selected birds in each group at 3-week intervals for a 3 month period. The overall mean percentage positivities and antibody log10 titres in each group respectively were: I2E, 85.75%, 3.10; WA, 70.2%, 2.91; LE 82.7%, 3.02; M1 87% , 3.17 and LA, 87.25%, 3.29. During the first 3 weeks, there was a significant difference in response between birds given the I2 vaccine by eyedrop and using water alone as did that between birds vaccinated using millet grains and either water alone or medicated with Levamisole. Lasota vaccine produced a significantly higher response than that by the I2 vaccine given either in water alone or medicated with Levamisole. At 3 months, the response to Lasota vaccine was significantly higher than that to the I2 Vaccine given either by eyedrop or millet grains.Throughout the study period, the I2 vaccine did not produce significant differences in response between birds vaccinated using water alone and that medicated with Levamisole. It was concluded that there is a possibility of providing combined treatment in chicken against worms using oral levamisole and vaccination with the I2 NCD thermostable vaccine in drinking water. Millet is potentially a good I2 vaccine carrier. NCD I2 vaccine given by eyedrop is more effective than by use of drinking water
Evaluation of novel diagnostic techniques for contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in Uganda
Get PDFField surveys were conducted in Mbarara, Bugiri and Kamuli districts suspected to have CBPP in order to get blood samples and nasal swabs from infected and non-infected cattle. Cattle were examined clinically for CBPP. Blood samples were taken from the animals for Complement Fixation Test (CFT) and competitive ELISA (cELISA). Nasal swabs or tracheal scrapings from the same suspected cattle were mixed with PBS buffer for extraction of Mycoplasma mycoides DNA. A total of 954 blood samples were collected for preparation of serum samples for CFT and cELISA, and 174 nasal swabs for DNA preparation for subsequent use in PCR. A total of 621 out of 907 serum samples from Mbarara district have been analysed by CFT and cELISA (Tablel). Eleven of 907 serum samples were positive by CFT while 16 were positive by cELISA. The two tests had a concordance of 97.2%, which indicates good agreement in the results of the two tests evaluated
Conservation of fish species diversity in the Victoria and Kyoga lake basins
Get PDFFish species diversity in lakes Victoria and Kyoga has declined and some species, especially of haplochromines and Oreochromis esculentus are believed to be extinct. A survey was carried out in a number of satellite lakes and an inventory made of the existing fish species, their relative abundance and distribution. The lakes studied included the Kyoga minor lakes, Nabugabo lakes, the Koki lakes and L. Wamala. Various habitats within the main lakes Victoria and Kyoga were also surveyed. Various stations along rivers Nile and Sio were also sampled. A total of twenty-one fish taxa were recorded from Kyoga minor lakes as compared to eighteen recorded from Lake Kyoga. Lake Nyaguo had the highest number offish taxa (14), followed by lakes Nakuwa (12), Nawampasa (II), Lemwa (10), Agu (9), Kawi (8), and Gigati (7).The number of haplochromine species was highest in L. Nawampasa (23) followed by lakes Gigati (18), Agu (11), Nyaguo (10), Lemwa (8) and Nakuwa (2). Fourteen fish taxa were recorded from the Nabugabo lakes, the highest number being from L. Nabugabo (13) followed by lakes Kayanja (11) and Kayugi (7). Four haplochromine species were recorded from Nabugabo lakes From Koki lakes eight fish taxa were recorded, Lake Kachera having a higher number of species (8) than L. Mburo (6). A total of 9 fish taxa were recorded from L. Wamala, with only two haplochromine species Overall, twelve fish taxa were recorded from L. Victoria. Twenty-two haplochromine species were recorded from the lake. The habitats with rocky outcrops and macrophyte cover were found to have the highest number of fish taxa. River Sio had a higher number of fish taxa (17) than R. Nile (7). Results show that some of the fish species that have disappeared from lakes Victoria and Kyoga are present in the satellite lakes and rivers surveyed. Inshore areas with aquatic macrophytes and rocky habitats were also found to be important refugia for the endangered fish species. Some of the satellite lakes and the selected habitats within the main lakes should therefore be protected for conservation of fish species diversit
Constraints to the adoption of soil conservation and fertility management techniques in the mt. Elgon areas, Uganda
Get PDFSoil fertility management and soil conservation are viewed as major components of sustaining crop production in the steep slope farming areas. A survey was conducted in eight villages of mountain Elgon areas of Mbale and Kapchorwa district (four from each district). In four of the villages (2 from each district) a detailed household (HH) survey on soil management was conducted. The HHs were divided into three wealth categories (rich, middle and poor) following criteria developed by the farmers themselves. From these categories, 10, 10 and 15 HHs were selected from the rich, middle and poor, respectively, for the survey. In the other four villages focus group discussions were conducted. The results revealed that although Kapchorwa district had smaller HH sizes, it had a higher land pressure than Mbale (0.4 compared to 1 acres of land per HH, respectively), and still had more labour problems. Livestock keeping in Kapchorwa was significantly higher (P<0.05) than in Mbale. Soil fertility was reported to be low in both districts but soil erosion and lack of inputs were significantly more prominent (P<0.05) in Kapchorwa than Mbale. For soil conservation measures, mulching is practiced by the majority of farmers, followed by manure application, terracing and soil bunds. Fertilizer application was only reported in Kapchorwa district. Major sources of information are extension officers and other farmers for Kapchorwa; relatives, NGOs and other farmers for Mbale. The type of information from these sources to most farmers is to do with crop management and general agricultural methods but in most cases this is not adequate. From the survey information gathered it was evident that lack of knowledge, labour and distance of farmers’ fields from the homestead are the major constraints to soil conservation and fertility management. Wealth status may have a role to play, especially in the adoption of soil management techniques that require financial inputs; however, this may not be as significant since some poor farmers with small fields were reported to have had good soil conservation and fertility management measures
Field Management of Bruchids on Beans using selected Phytochemicals, Insecticides and Entomopathogen
Get PDFThe effectiveness of selected synthetic insecticides, phytochemicals and an entomopathogen against pod sucker-, pod borer- and bruchid-damage on beans was determined in the field. Beans were sown at a spacing of 30 cm by 10 between and within rows in 2x4 m-sized plots. Nine treatments, including the controls were evaluated. Phytochemicals included crude extracts of Nicotiana tabacum, Phytolacca dodecandra, Tagetes minuta and Capsicum frutescens and were applied as unitary or cocktail formulations. Synthetic insecticides were Cypermethrin 5% EC and Fenitrothion 50% EC, while Beauveria bassiana was the entomopathogen. The controls were untreated beans. Application of the treatments commenced at pod filling stage, and a spray regime of once a week was maintained for five weeks. Damage due to pod suckers and pod borers were determined. Similarly, to determine the effect of the treatments on bruchid damage harvested beans were processed into 400-g working samples, and each was placed in 500-ml polystyrene bottles and incubated at ambiance until there was no more bruchid emergence in the laboratory. Bruchid load carry-overs from the field into storage were determined at 34 and 41 emerged adults during lsl and 2nd seasons, respectively. Efficacies of the different treatments varied significantly (P<0.05) in reducing pod sucker, pod borer and bruchid damage on beans. Untreated beans were the most damaged. Cypermethrin- treated beans were the least damaged and an 8-10 fold reduction in bruchid infestation was observed. Tobacco was the most effective botanical. The earliest and highest peak of bruchid emergence was in the untreated beans, unlike in the Cypermethrin- and tobacco-treated beans. A positive and significant relationship occurred between pod sucker and borer damage and A. obtectus infestation levels