Uganda Journal of Agricultural Science (UJAS)
Not a member yet
415 research outputs found
Sort by
Soil erosion and pollution loading from agricultural land in Bukoora sub-catchment
Get PDFHigh enrichment of eroded material in terms of fine particles and nutrients content is a result of the selective character of the erosion processes. The consequences are both on-site and off site and the concentration of fine particles and organic matter of eroded materials in w ater bodies leads to considerable pollution loads. The correlation between soil and nutrient exports agricultural land and suspended solid and nutrient loads in rivers of Bukoora sub-catchment in the Lake Victoria basin was determined. Soil and nutrient losses were measured from instrumented runoff plots. Thirteen instrumented runoff plots were established on banana, coffee, rangelands and annual crops. The distribution of different land-use types was mapped using 1: 120000 map and field transects. The coverage of the different land-use types was 10.5% (annuals); 17.1% (banana); 7.6% (coffee); 16%(banana-coffee); 11.8% (banana-annuals); 24%(rangelands), 1.9% (fallow); 3.2% (coffee-annuals); 7.5% (forest); and 0.4 % (bare land). Seasonal sediment, total available P, and total nitrogen export from agricultural land showed a very strong to moderate linear relationship with the corresponding parameter load at three hydrological stations. A similar pattern was observed between sediment export and total P and total N load. Generally, loadings from all the two micro-catchments were not highly correlated to the corresponding export parameters and sediment export from agricultural land compared to loads within the two micro-catchments. The pattern of correlation coefficient indicate that a lumped seasonal precipitation is not enough to model the export of sediment and associated loads in the two micro-catchments. Excessive nutrient losses by water erosion is a major soil degradation driving force leading to decreased production per unit area and hence increasing poverty
A survey of Campylobacter species in broiler chicken sold in Kampala markets, Uganda
Get PDFThe survey was conducted to establish the presence and extent of contamination of Campylobacter species in broiler chicken sold in Kampala. One hundred (100) samples of market broiler chickens were randomly collected from supermarkets, local markets, butcheries, and a poultry-processing plant in and around Kampala. Presence of Campylobacter species in the samples was determined using direct plating technique onto Campylobacter selective media containing Cefoperazone. Campylobacter species were isolated from 89 of 100 samples (89%) of which 11% were from birds collected from supermarkets, 18% from local markets, 20% from butcheries and 40% from a processing plant.
There is therefore need for intervention measures to reduce these levels of contamination in order to protect the public against campylobacterosis. These would include among others, education of the public and institution of good manufacturing practices in processing plants
Varietal development for varied stakeholders needs in the liberalized cotton industry of Uganda
Get PDFDuring the period 1994-2001 four cotton varieties BPA 95, BPA 97, BPA 99, and BPA 2000 have been developed. This rapid out-turn has been catalyzed by a number of factors. The liberalization of the cotton industry in 1994 enabled privatization of local marketing, processing and export of lint. The private operators came up with demands for particular characteristics required for running the industry profitably. The immediate response by scientists was the recommendation for adoption of BPA types for all production areas beginning 1997. The breeders turned to the early generation testing (EGT) technique for reducing the time for developing a new variety. Another strategy was fast multiplication of varieties for quick exploitation of the new attributes by the stakeholders. In the new varieties boil weights have risen from <5.00 g to >6.0 g and ginning out turn (GOT) from 34% to 39% in varieties BPA 89 and BPA 2000 respectively. Farmers’ yields of over 3,000 kg ha-1 have been recorded under good management. The varieties have strong fibres (30g/tex -1), with staple lengths at ≥ 30mm and micronaire values at 3.5 - 4.0 giving strong yarns of about 2,000 correlated linear strength product (CLSP). The above attributes arising from research have contributed to increased national production from 2,160 to 26,000 MT of lint between 1988 and 2000. Between 1995 and 1999 Uganda earned US S 82 million from lint exports and 2.5 million Ugandans now depend on cotton for source of income
Effects of cotton inter-cropping systems on establishment and biological control efficacy of the Lepisiota spp predator ant on major insect pests
Get PDFStudies were conducted along Otwal-Amuria transect and at Serere Agricultural and Animal Production Research Institute (SAARI) to establish choice and preference, host association and ecological conditions necessary for establishment and biological insect pest management by the predatory ants Lepisiota spp on major cotton insect pests. Survey results showed that this particular species of ants was only present in Otwal subcounty in Apac district, Aromo and Ogur sub-counties in Lira district numbering 128.3, 70.9 and 68.8 ants per trap catch respectively. The survey showed that the ants prefer particular environmental conditions for their survival and insect pest management effectiveness. This restricted occurrence could also be a result of restrictions on the use of agricultural chemicals like insecticides in the study areas through Lango Organic Promotion. Inter-cropping results showed that ant response to artificial food bait was highest in plots with sole cotton, sorghum, hibiscus and maize inter-crops. Ant trap catches were negatively correlated with aphid infestation level. This indicated that for good early establishment, rapid population build-up and
effectiveness a food bait for aphids like legumes should be inter-cropped with cotton. No-choice tests showed that these ants feed on all stages of bollworms, Lygus and Stainer bugs with a preference to younger stages. Choice tests showed that the ants preferred bollworms. Yield results showed that although pest management by these predators were good on legume inter-crops, the low yields realized from cowpea, maize and sorghum inter-crops were mostly due to their suppressive effects on cotton
Biological control of the cypress aphid in Mafuga, Kabale district
Get PDFThe population of the cypress aphid, Cinara cupressi and the level of tree damage by the aphid before and after the release of a Host specific parasitoid, Pauesia juniperorum were monitored in Mafuga, Kabale district from 1995 - 2000. Observations were also made on the presence of parasitized mummies after parasitoid release to determine parasitoid establishment, and on the presence of any local natural enemies. Results showed that aphid population had two peaks, namely from August to September and January to mid February. Peak aphid population coincided with the dry seasons. During the first month after parasitoid release, parasitized mummies were recovered from the release cages. However, subsequent samplings between 1995 and 1998 did not recover any mummies in the cypress plantation until March 1999, thus indicating that the parasitoid had established. Surveys and samplings in surrounding cypress plantations revealed that the parasitoid had dispersed up to more than 20 km from the release site. The percentage parasitism of 8.1% is high enough, and combined with the rate of dispersal, the parasitoid should control the aphid and reduce aphid damage to trees. Results also indicate that tree damage levels dropped from damage Category 3 (26 - 60% crown damage) in 1995 - 1997 to category 2 (11 - 25% crown damage) in 1998 - 1999. Tree damage for the year 2000 was also in category 2 but tending more to category 1 (0 -10% crown damage). A number of indigenous natural enemies were recovered but they are not effective because they are general feeders
A study on the management and quality of farmers’ home-saved bean seeds in Lira and Masindi Districts
Get PDFA baseline study was conducted in Lira and Masindi districts to determine farmers’ practices of harvesting, processing, storage and protection of home-saved bean seeds. Two parishes from two counties in each district were selected as sampling sites. Farmers’ seed source; seed preparation and planting practices; bean harvest and harvesting techniques; primary processing, storage and seed protection methods were investigated. Representative seed samples were obtained from farmers in March and in August 1999, the months preceding the first and second planting seasons, for quality analysis in the laboratory. The blotter method was used to determine seed health status. The results showed the predominant reliance on home- saved seeds as source of planting materials by farmers. Seeds were salvaged from grains, only at the time of planting. The quality of farmers’ home-saved seeds was poor and this was compensated for during planting by high seeding rate. The main constraint to bean storage were bruchids and they adversely affected the germination capacity of seeds. Improved grain processing, storage and protection technologies that are “seed friendly” have been recommended for application on home-saved seeds
The potential dairy farm circumstances impacting on tick and tick-borne diseases control in Mbale and sironko districts, Uganda
Get PDFA cross-sectional study was conducted in smallholder dairy farms in Mbale and Sironko districts, Uganda to understand the farmer's circumstances under 4 grazing management systems and 3 agro-ecological zones (AEZs), as a basis for planning a longitudinal study. A three-stage stratified sampling methodology was performed at district, farm and animal levels. A structured and closed questionnaire was administered in a total of 102 farms that were randomly selected. The major animal health problems on the selected farms were evaluated. The study identified about 10 major farm level management practices or risk factors that could impact on tick and tick-borne diseases and their control. These are the Age; sex and breed of animals; tasks and responsibilities of household members; source of water, distance and frequency of watering; major dry season feeding strategies; access to professional service; farmers’s knowledge of the problems caused by ticks and tick-borne diseases; interactions between animals; measures to control ticks and tick-borne diseases, methods and frequencies of application; categories of animals treated with acaricides; and access to professional service. The profile of these risk factors in different grazing systems and AEZs were assessed and the possible reasons for the unsustainability of tick and tick-borne disease control strategies are discussed. The impact of these risk factors on the productivity of cattle and household income will be determined during the longitudinal study. Consequently, appropriate intervention measures will be developed to alleviatethese constraints
Delivering on the promise: Impact of NARO and its technologies on agriculture in Uganda
Get PDFNARO was established in 1992 to undertake and promote research in all aspects of crops, fisheries, forestry and livestock, and to ensure the dissemination and application of research results. The total investment into the organization by the end of FY 2000/01 amounted to Uganda Sh. 78.51 billion. The returns to this investment, in this short period of time, are striking. NARO has produced several new high yielding varieties of crops being grown on 10-50% of the area under crop. The adoption of new varieties has meant increased production ensuring steadier food supplies, prevention of starvation and malnutrition, and for many producers a surplus for market. In addition to new varieties, new and improved farming techniques, pest and disease management practices, and other aspects of agricultural technology have had clear positive impact. Notable techniques include nontraditional ways of growing crops, biological control of the noxious water hyacinth, containment of the cassava mosaic pandemic and advances made on control of the coffee wilt disease. In the area of improving the efficiency of agricultural research, the organization has trained staff to have the highest concentration of the most highly qualified professional agriculturalists and also appropriately deployed available resources to have the highest per capita investment per scientist in Uganda
The status of cotton wilt diseases in the seed multiplication areas in Uganda
Get PDFA survey was carried out during the 1999/2000 cotton season in the seed multiplication areas to investigate the status of cotton wilts there. The initial cotton seed multiplication was carried in isolated areas referred to as segregated areas (Segs. 1). These were selected in Pallisa, Kamuli, Apac, Kasese, Lira and Soroti districts. It was found out that Fusarium wilt incidence was highest in Pallisa followed by Kamuli districts with 64.4% and 43.5% of the fields surveyed having Fusarium wilt. However the disease was not very severe, with most of the infested fields having small patches of less than 2% plants affected. The rest of the Segs. 1 areas had isolated incidences of wilts which was identified as Verticillium wilt. In Pallisa and Kamuli Fusarium wilt was found in predominantly sandy loam soils which also had high root knot nematode infestation. In view of the findings the paper discusses and proposes some key research areas in regard to the wilts problem
Tolerance and resistance of maize hybrids to maize streak virus in Uganda
Get PDFMaize streak virus disease is the most important disease of maize in Uganda. On susceptible varieties, yield losses of 90% have been observed. Many of the varieties private seed companies brought into the country claiming to be resistant to the disease have succumbed. It is therefore, mandatory to screenfor MSV resistance in local and introduced maize varieties. A study was initiated to ascertain the resistance levels of the hybrids from private seed companies for their consideration of release in Uganda. Results obtained showed that out of 20 hybrids evaluated, two were resistant, fourteen tolerant and four susceptible. However, most hybrids with high incidence had high severity scores and this was positively correlated (r=0.66). Some hybrids like PAN 33 despite being resistant to MSV had other shortcomings like susceptibility to gray leaf spot and ear rots. These constraints are likely to affect its utilization in Uganda as is the case with SC 625 which failed to be released because of its susceptibility to ear rots