Uganda Journal of Agricultural Science (UJAS)
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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 I jra and :\1asindi districts to determine farmers ' practices of harvesting, drying,processing, ~toragc an<i protection of homc-save<i bean seclis. Two parishes from two sub-counties in each district wereselected as study sites. Farmers' bean seed source; seeli preparation and μ!anting practices; 5eed harvesting techniques;St.'Cd primary processing, storage auu protection methods were inves<igatell. Representative seed samples were ootainedfrom farmers in March and in August 1999, the months procee<.ling the first and second planting seasons r espLo.ctively,and were tested for quality in the h1bonito ry. The results showed the predominant reliance on home-saved seeds assource of planting materials hy farmers. Seeds were salvaged from grains. only al the time of planting. The quality offarmcrs' home-saved seeds was 1)oor and this was compensated for panting using a high seed rate. The main cons1raintto bean seed quality was wet weather during harve~ting, urying and threshing, H hich promoted retention of high sc{'dmoisture c1mtent, seed invasion hy microflora aud infes ~ation by hruchids. These factors advers ely affected thegermination capacity of seeds. Improved grain drying, processing, storage and protection technologies that arc "seedfriendly" arc recommenricd for application on home-saved seeds
Chemical and n utrient composition of tomato varieties gr own in Uganda
Get PDFThe study determ ined the physico-chemical and nu trien t compositio n of five major varieties of tomato (l ycopersiconesculantum) grown in l iga rulll. Bush, Money-maker, Maglope, Heinz and I talia tomato variet ies were purchased at the redr ipe sl:age of matu r i(y frorn Nakasero market, Ka mpala and their pH, total soluble solids, total titra table acidity, proximatecomposition, vita min (A and C) and minera l (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, manga nese, copper andphosphorus) contents were determined. There w:is a sign ifican t difference for the physico-chemical, macro and mic ronutrients (P = O.OS) of the tomato var ieties except for the carbohydrate content. Bush variety had a high total soluble solidsconient and pH value indicating that it i~ good for processing of tomato sauce and ketchup. The nutrient composition of thetomato varieties in terms of pro tein, fa t , miricrnls, fibre and vitamins v ar ied a lot such that there was no single varietyidentified as having the highest levels of all these nutr ients. This st udy revealed that some tomato varieties .grown inUganda are more impor t:rnt than others in terms of phy.~ ico-chem i cal composition, individual nutrients and overallutilisation. This could l>e a hasis for selection of these varieties for imp rovement by the breeders
Livestock manures and compost production and use in Uganda
Get PDFAgricultural research in Uganda started around 1898. However, research on manures came into light after 19-03 whencommercial cotton varieties were introduced in the country. It was after the cotton introductions that declining soilfertility was considered a serious problem. Under the Uganda conditions, the use of artificial fertilisers was ha~pered bytheir high cost attributed to heavy freight charges due to geographical position. Secondly, cotton was grown entirely by thepeasant farmer who was extremely unlikely to adopt use of ai\y form of mineral fertilisers. At that time research in the useof locally available materials become important. This paper reviews work that has been conducted on the production anduse of livestock manures and composts in soil fertility and productivity improvement in Uganda. Farmyard manureproduction and use, and related composts are emphasised
Cysticercus cellulosae in pigs slaughtered in and around Kampala city
Get PDFCysticercus cel/u/o~·ae is the larval form of Tae11ia solium, the pig tape worm. Humans become infected by eating raw orundercooked pork containing the c.ysts of C. ce/111/usae. When ingested, the cysts spread to other body tissues includingsubcutaneous and musculature. If located in the brain and the eye they may give rise to epilepsy and loss of vision,respectivel
On-farm tree planting and tree diversity in the Kigezi Highlands and Mabira Buffer Zones
Get PDFA study was conducted on 105 farms around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP), Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (MGNP), Echuya and Mabira forest reserves between February and June 2000 to assess on farm tree planting and tree diversity. Group discussions and interviews were used to collect information on the following: farming history and land tenure, method of land acquisition, agricultural crops grown, tree species planted and those growing naturally, uses of trees and constraints to tree planting. On-farm survey was conducted to collect information on land size, tree diversity and management and the proportion of land under tree cover. The average land holding is 4.04 ha around BINP, MGNP and Echuya forest reserve and 13.63 ha around Mabira forest reserve. Land is bought or inherited in fragmented form. Less than 10% of the farms are under tree cover and 71% of the trees planted around BINP, MGNP and Echuya forest reserve are indigenous, whilst 31% are indigenous around Mabira forest reserve. The average number of tree species per farm around BINP was 11.43, MGNP 7.06, Echuya forest reserve 6.93 and Mabira forest reserve 10.26. It is concluded that farmers are willing to plant trees on their farms but the constraints to tree planting are lack of planting stock, small land sizes, poor extension service and farmers* perception that agricultural crops cannot be integrated with trees on the same piece of land
Gray leaf spot disease in Uganda
Get PDFTwo studies were carried out to assess the status of gray leaf spot (GLS) disease of maize in Uganda. Results from three surveys of 1994,1995 and 1996 conducted in 21 districts showed that GLS was widespread with high incidence and severity of 94% and 3.8 respectively. In importance it was ranking high followed by maize streak virus and turcicum leaf blight. Separation of individual pathogens from overall leaf area infection using backward regression showed that GLS accounted for over 60% of the leaf area infection. Work on varietal evaluation showed significant differences in reaction with three varieties; SC 627, SC 625 and SC Expt 2 showing high levels of resistance while H 622, SC 621 and PAN 6193 severely got affected
A century of banana research and development in Uganda, 1898-1998
Get PDFUganda has a long tradition ofcultivating the banana, an important food and cash crop in the country. The crop is believed to have to arrived in the Great Lakes Region around 500 AD but major expansion across Uganda occurred in the last 100 years. During this time, the major production constraints that emerged in other banana growing areas around the Globe finally found their way into Uganda in 1989 when the government of Uganda was overwhelmed by an outcry that the bananas were in great danger. This paper outlines efforts to address banana research programme. The paper highlights baseline banana production and utilization practices and notes soil fertility decline as the only major constraint by 1902. It also notes earliest records of the key pests and diseases of banana as; 1918 for the banana weevil, 1952 for Fusarium wilt, 1963 for Radopholus Similis (nematode), 1989 for black sigatoka and 1996 for banana streak virus. Arrival of weevil, fusarium wilt and R. Similis has been attributed to importation of new germplasm into the country during the colonial administration. A strategy to address the constraints is described. This involves integrating technologies that prevent a build up of pests and prevent soil degradation in areas of western Uganda where black sigatoka is not a problem. In central Uganda where bananas have severely declined because of the pests and disease, the strategy provides for integration of host pant resistance with practices that improve soil fertility. On- going studies based on this strategy are highlighted
Inventory of agricultural biotechnology research capacity in Uganda
Get PDFStrengthening research capacity in agricultural biotechnology is seen as a necessary and worthwhile investment to efficiently addressing the concerns of farmers and the agribusiness sector. In order to identify the intervention points for building biotechnology capacity, a survey was conducted among the laboratories involved in agricultural biotechnology research. This paper presents the major findings of the survey. The existing institutional capacity in the country, current research activities as well as the available infrastructure, human and financial resources are described. Fourteen laboratories were included in the survey, 12 are in public sector institutions whereas one each is found in an international organisation and the private (non profit) sector. The equipment and infrastructure vary widely, with a substantial number of laboratories considered to be deficient. Due to low staffing, many operate below capacity. Biotechnology research is predominantly funded by international donors. This arises concerns regarding the sustainability of funding and the commitment of the government. Contrary to observations made in other African countries, the available resources in Uganda do not seem to be spread over a too wide range of target crops. But resources may be spread too thinly over the physical infrastructure. There is a much higher percentage of livestock biotechnology research in Uganda than in other commodities
A case report of Histotnonas infection in chicken from Pallisa District in Uganda
Get PDFA case of Histomonas infection was noted in chicken during disease investigation of suspected New castle disease out break in Pallisa District. Lesions were observed in the liver and caeca. Histomonas parasites were demonstrated in a microscope slide preparation of the ceacal contents stained in Giemsa.lt is being documented as a first reported case of Histomonas infection in a chicken in Uganda
Assessing tropical moist forest conditions: the case of Mengo Forests
Get PDFA total of fourteen forests under government (nature conservation and exploitation), private and communal institutional arrangements used by different local groups living in eight settlements were studied to determine the effect of tree harvesting on the forest conditions. The fieldwork was conducted according to the guidelines of the IFRI research programme. There were significant differences in the occurrence of human consumptive disturbances among forests and institutional arrangements. The distribution of disturbances were also significantly different between twoyiistances (within 30 km and between 30-80 km) from Kampala. However, the regression analysis indicated no significant functional relationship between the distances and the forest variables tested. At both sapling and tree stages, there were significant differences for species richness, the Shannon index, the Simpson index, basal area, and height between forests, as well as institutional arrangements