Rongo University Repository
Not a member yet
176 research outputs found
Sort by
Enhancing Maize Grain Yield in Acid Soils of Western Kenya Using Aluminium Tolerant Germplasm
Get PDFAbstract: Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the world’s most important cereals and is a staple food for many people in developing
countries. However, in acid soils (pH < 5.5), its productivity is limited by aluminium (Al) toxicity, besides other factors. The
objectives of this study were to: develop Al tolerant maize inbred lines for a maize breeding program in Kenya, develop single cross
hybrids (SCHs) from some of the tolerant inbred lines and determine Al tolerance levels of the SCHs. One hundred and seventy five
inbreds and 49 SCHs were developed and screened in nutrient culture containing 0 or 222 μM using Relative Net Root Growth
(RNRG), hematoxylin staining (HS) and under Al saturated field conditions (44%-45.6%) at Sega and Chepkoilel. Seedling root
growth was inhibited in 95% of the inbreds. F1 hybrids obtained from inbreds varying in Al tolerance, exhibited tolerance equal to or
greater than that of the more tolerant parent indicating a positive transgressive inheritance to Al toxicity. Fifty eight percent of the F1
SCHs were heterotic for tolerance to Al toxicity. Al tolerance estimated by RNRG was well correlated to that of HS (r2 = 0.88, P <
0.005) but minimally correlated with the field estimates (r2 = 0.24-0.35), implying that RNRG can predict field selection under Al
toxic soils by between 24% and 35%. Plant breeders should therefore employ both approaches in selecting cultivars under Al stress.
This study has developed and identified Al tolerant inbreds and SCHs for use in the acid soils of Kenya and similar regions
Assessment of the Impact of Urban Runoff from Migori Town on the Concentration Levels of Selected Heavy Metals in Migori River, Kenya
Get PDFWater pollution and decreasing water quality is a major threat to water resources in urban set ups in the developing world. The key culprits include; agricultural runoff, untreated industrial and domestic wastewater, storm water and urban runoff. Migori is a rapidly growing city in Kenya with various land uses including crop and animal farming, industries, municipal markets, and commercial and residential set ups. The large volumes of urban runoffs generated in the town and its environs wash large pollutant loads into Migori River which is the main source of water in the region. This study investigated the effect of urban runoff from Migori town and its environs on the water quality of Migori River in terms of selected heavy metals. Water samples were collected from six established sampling stations along the river for six months (in wet and dry seasons). The water quality
values were summarized as mean ± SE. Results indicated continued adverse impacts on the water quality of Migori River by urban runoffs. Water quality impairment in the river increased downstream – towards the town. Lead and nickel concentration levels are way above the WHO recommended guidelines for surface waters. Thus the river water poses serious risks to humans, animals and aquatic life. There is need for public awareness regarding the pollution problems and the consequences arising thereof in Migori River. There is also need for a study cataloguing the different chemicals used by different factories within Migori town. This will hopefully
establish the definite sources of the heavy metals and nutrients and control their concentrations before they become too high and harmful to the ecosyste
Comparison of soil phosphorous extraction by Olsen and double acid methods in acid soils of Western Kenya
Get PDFhosphorous is an essential nutrient in plants required for root establishment. In the soil, it is
applied as DAP, TSP or phosphate rocks. In acid soils, aluminium and iron are dominant and tend
to “fix” phosphorous, making it unavailable for plant uptake. Phosphorous deficiencies are
monitored through soil chemical analysis. There are many methods for the extraction of available
forms; however the choice is dependent on several factors among them soil pH. Forty soil samples
were collected from three different acid soils in Western Kenya. The samples were air dried, sieved
under 2.0 mm sieve and stored in sample bags for subsequent analysis. Phosphorous extraction of
was carried out using a basic extractant (Olsen bicarbonate method) and acid extractant (double
acid method). The extracts were measured colorimetricaly by the ascorbic acid method at 880 nm
wavelength. The methods were compared in terms of extracting efficiency, correlations and soil
critical levels. The soils had a pH range of between 4.5 – 6.1; phosphorous, 1.66 – 55.37 mg P/ kg
by Olsen method and 3.01 – 158.17 mg P /kg by double acid method. The methods were linearly
correlated (r = 0.95), however, double acid extracted more phosphorous than Olsen by a factor of
2.67
Effects of zero rating value added tax on government revenue in Namibia A partial equilibrium analysis
Get PDFPurpose – The Government of Namibia has traditionally used fiscal (especially tax) policy as an instrument for annual budget formulation. Marginal tax rates for profits and various income brackets have been changed back and forth in response to changes in economic conditions. However, to date, no attempt has been made to evaluate the effectiveness of these reforms in achieving the broad national economic goals, in general, and the potential effects on government revenue in the short, medium and long-run periods, in particular. The purpose of this paper is to fill this information gap by analysing the implicationof the 2008 zero-rating of value added tax (VAT) on basic commodities for aggregate demand and government revenue.
Design/methodology/approach – The study uses an analytical framework based on economic
theory which posits that in an open economy, which trades with the rest of the world, aggregate demand for goods and services is made up of consumption demand, investment demand,
government demand and net exports and that real sector equilibrium is attained when aggregate
supply of goods and services is equal to aggregate demand for goods and services.
Findings – Using the Namibia Household Income and Expenditure Survey results, the annual loss
in government revenue attributable to this policy is,ceteris paribus, estimated to be N276.3 million per annum. In the
medium-to-long-run, national income will have increased by N85.7 million, compensating for just over one quarter of the estimated loss in government revenue
of N310.4 million per year, which
represents the annual increase in the disposable income of all households. And with a marginal
propensity to consume out of disposable income of 0.89, total expenditure by households on goods
and services will increase by N$276.3 million per year
Chasing international language: genesis of language curriculum in Kenya
Get PDFThis paper draws attention to the cross-linguistic problems that have made minority languages lose their prominence and allow stronger languages to dominate in international linguistic space and in education.Schools and universitiescrave stronger languages for medium of instruction in the classroomin developing countries again dictates of science and technology have influenced the use of a stronger language for global use. The paper therefore investigates the states of early use of language (English) in Kenyan schools and its relationship with other vernacular languages in the country. It also identifies reasons why English became so prominent than other languages spoken in Kenya.
KEYWORDS:Global Worlds, Curriculum, Society, Bootstrapping, Language, Syntactic-semantic Interface
Mulei et al 2014_An Ethnobotanical Study of wetland vegetation
No full textEthnobotanical knowledge associated with wetland plants
in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya, was assessed and docu-
mented. Data on the uses of plants, their local names, and
parts used were collected through semi-structured inter-
views. Fifty wild plant species distributed across 45 gen-
era and 23 families were cited as having traditional uses
in the area. Of these, 26 were used as fodder, 14 as medi-
cine, 12 as firewood, 9 as food, and 11 for construction.
Some, like Cyperus papyrus L. and Acacia seyal Delile,
had multiple uses. Thirty-one plants (62%) of the total re-
corded were herbs, 13 (26%) shrubs, 3 (6%) trees, and 3
(6%) climbers. Various plant parts were used for different
purposes. Medicinal plants were useful in treating a total
of 19 ailments and had various methods of preparation
article1400775075_Too et al_African Journal of Agricultural Research
No full textSorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. (Moench) is an important food security crop in sub-Saharan Africa. Its
production on acid soils is constrained by aluminium (Al) stress, which primarily interferes with root
growth. Sorghum cultivation is widespread in Kenya, but there is limited knowledge on response of the
Kenyan sorghum cultivars to aluminium stress. The aim of the study was to identify and
morphologically characterise aluminium tolerant sorghum accessions. The root growth of three
hundred and eighty nine sorghum accessions from local or international sources was assessed under
148 μM Al in soaked paper towels, and 99 of these were selected and further tested in solution. Ten
selected accessions were grown out in the field, on un-limed (0 t/ha) or limed (4 t/ha) acid (pH 4.3) soils
with high (27%) Al saturation, and their growth and grain yield was assessed. Although the Al stress
significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced root growth in most of the accessions, there were ten accessions;
MCSRP5, MCSR 124, MCSR106, ICSR110, Real60, IS41764, MCSR15, IESV93042-SW, MCSRM45 and
MCSRM79f, that retained relatively high root growth and were classified as tolerant. The stress
significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced seedling root and shoot dry matter in the Al-sensitive accessions. Plant
growth and yield on un-limed soil was very poor, and liming increased grain yield by an average 35%.
Most of Kenya sorghums were sensitive to Al stress, but a few tolerant accessions were identified that
could be used for further breeding for improved grain yield in high aluminium soils
The efficacy of retirement plans and flexible scheduling in improving the quality of service delivery among civil servants in Nandi south Kenya
Get PDFABSTRACT
Retirement plans and flexible scheduling guides most organizations and is part of most complaints of citizen’s
due to poor service in government counties such complaints was reflected during the year 2002 Constitutional
Referendum in Kenya which in part called for an overhaul of the civil service structure through various Civil
Service Reform Programmes and major reshuffles. This paper highlighted therefore the effects of these variables
in service delivery within Civil Service offices in Kenya: A case of Nandi south. Stratified random sampling
techniques were used to select 350 employees of Nandi south. Data collected through the use of questionnaires
was analyzed using both descriptive and regression statistics. Descriptive findings revealed that there was low
level of retirement plan services to the employees of Nandi south. Nevertheless, high levels of Flexible
Scheduling services among employees were observed an indicator that retirement plans in the Workplace had
significant effect on Service Delivery.
Keywords: Services Delivery, Workplace, Retirement Plans and Flexible Schedulin
