56 research outputs found
An evaluation of the responses of some tea clones to environment in Kenya
No full textAn experiment set up at four sites in Kericho, Kenya was used to investigate
Genotype x Environment interactions of four tea clones of commercial and scientific
interest.
Small differences in environment resulted in large variations in dry matter production
and yield between sites and clones. The largest dry matter was from clone TNI 4/3
(291 ha'1) but it had low yield (2.11 ha'1/ 1). By contrast, the largest yield was from
clone S15/10 (3.81 h a 'V 1), which gave the smallest dry matter ( I S th a 1). These
contrasting responses in dry matter and yield were analysed in terms of the interception
of solar radiation, radiation use efficiency, partition of dry matter and components of
yield. The differences in clonal dry matter production were attributed to site to site
variability in solar radiation and temperature which affected the rates of ground cover
development and the solar radiation interception. The differences in yield were attributed
mainly to differences in air temperature and saturation deficits of the air between the
sites which affected the shoot replacement cycles through rates of shoot extension and
development.
Differences in measured and derived environmental variables between the sites were
found. Incident solar radiation differed between the sites by up to 2.4M Jm 2 d 1.
Differences in mean air and soil temperatures between the extreme sites were 2.5 °C and
3 °C respectfully. A lapse rate of 6.1 “Ckm*1 for mean air temperature was found.
Annual rainfall amounts also differed between the sites by up to 700 mm. There were no
differences in wind speeds, but there were large differences were in saturation deficits
(0.5 kPa) and évapotranspiration (1 mm d*1).
During the course of the experiment light interception ranged from less than 5% at
planting to more than 80% in April 1994. Radiation use efficiencies for dry matter
ranged from 0.30 to 0.45 g MT1 in the clones studied and appeared conservative with
respect to temperature across the sites.
Clone TNI4/3 had the lowest base temperature for shoot extension (6.1 °C), while
clone BB35 had the highest (10.4 °C). The base temperatures for shoot extension were
1.3 to 2.9 °C higher than those for development, hence the differences in shoot lengths
between sites. Shoot replacement cycle ranged from 57 days to 110 days between the
sites and was the main determinant of yield.
Abstract
Silsoe College
WK Ng’etich
PhD. 1995
CranfisM,m
The dry matter content of shoots varied between sites and seasons and ranged from
18% to 33%. Mean shoot dry mass was inversely proportional to temperature, ranging
from 6 to 12% difference between extreme sites.
Loss in yield due to water stress during the dry seasons ranged from 14 to 20%
across the sites. Yield losses due to ‘hut sites’ ranged from 10 to 50%, while that from
hail damage accounted for up to 20% of annual yields.
These results are discussed in the light of other work in Kericho and southern
Tanzania. The thesis concludes by considering the implication of the results for the tea
industry
Working Alliance Predicts Symptomatic Improvement in Public Hospital-Delivered Psychotherapy in Nairobi, Kenya
No full textObjective: Although patient-therapist collaboration (working alliance) has been studied extensively in Europe and America, it is unknown to what extent the importance of working alliance for psychotherapy outcome generalizes to lower-and middle-income countries. Additionally, there is a need for more studies on the alliance using methods that are robust to confounders of its effect on outcome. Method: In this study, 345 outpatients seeking care at the 2 public psychiatric hospitals in Nairobi, Kenya, filled out the Session Alliance Inventory (SAI) and the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure (CORE-OM) during each session. The effect of alliance on next-session psychological distress was modeled using the random intercept cross-lagged panel model, which estimates a cross-lagged panel model on within- and between-subjects disaggregated data. Results: Changes in the working alliance from session to session significantly predicted change in psychological distress by the next session, with an increase of 1 point of the SAI in a given session resulting in a decrease of 1.27 points on the CORE-OM by the next session (SE = 60, 95% confidence interval [-2.44, -.10]). This finding represents a medium-sized standardized regression coefficient of between.16 and.21. Results were generally robust to sensitivity tests for stationarity, missing data assumptions, and measurement error. Conclusion: Results affirm cross-cultural stability of the session-by-session reciprocal effects model of alliance and psychological distress-symptoms as seen in a Kenyan psychiatric outpatient sample, using the latest developments in cross-lagged panel modeling. A limitation of the study is its naturalistic design and lack of control over several variables.Funding Agencies|Sormland County Council [1R24TW008889]; [DLL-514111]; [DLL-569981]</p
Nutrient Dynamics in Eucalyptus Plantations of Different Ages before and during Intercropping
No full textThe study characterized and monitored changes in soil nutrients under different ages (1.5, 3, 6, 12, 20 and 40 years) of Eucalyptus grandis tree plantations and its tissues (litter and fresh leaves) before and during intercropping. Soil sampling for characterizing tree plantations was at; 0-20 cm, 20-40 cm, 40-60 cm, 60-80 cm, 80-100 cm depths while for monitoring nutrient changes during cropping was at 0-20 cm, 20-40 cm depths in crop plots. The planted crops under the trees were Irish potatoes where no fertilizer was applied. Radial cluster sampling in RCBD was used in plantations. Litter and fresh leaves were sampled from trees of ages 1.5, 3, 6, 12, 20 and 40 years. From the results; Eucalyptus tree age significantly affected nutrient concentrations in the understory soils i.e. available phosphorus, pH, calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron. In addition, the age of Eucalyptus influenced the concentrations of nutrients in canopy litter and its leaves i.e. total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total calcium, total potassium, total manganese and total iron. Potassium, magnesium, manganese and organic carbon levels were high in soil, litter and leaves. Crop cultivation under Eucalyptus trees reduced total nitrogen, potassium and calcium in the soil while available phosphorus, pH, magnesium and manganese increased. Soil carbon was unchanged. From this study, soil nutrient dynamics under Eucalyptus trees permits successful crop growing especially with the correct species of crop and tree spacing. However, phosphorus deficiency and possibility of manganese toxicity were the possible limitations to successful crop production under the trees
Perspectives and concerns of clients at primary health care facilities involved in evaluation of a national mental health training programme for primary care in Kenya
No full textImproving adherence to ante-retroviral treatment for people with harmful alcohol use in Kariobangi, Kenya through participatory research and action
No full textAbstract Background Harmful alcohol use has been linked to the spread of HIV in Kenya. It also adversely affects those on antiretroviral (ARV) treatment through poor compliance. This study using participatory research and action (PRA) methods sought to understand factors related to alcohol abuse and non-adherence and to formulate appropriate interventions in a sample of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) who were also abusing alcohol, at Kariobangi in Nairobi, Kenya. Methods Entry into the community was gained through previous PRA work in that community and PLWHA were recruited through snowballing. Working together with the community members, the researchers explored the participants’ understanding of alcohol use problem, its effects on compliance to ARV treatment and discussed possible action areas through PRA techniques that included focus group and market place discussions; visual aids such as spider diagrams, community mapping and ranking. Follow-up meetings were held to discuss the progress. Results By the final meeting, 67 PLWHA and 19 community members had been recruited. Through discussions, misconceptions regarding alcohol use were identified. It emerged that alcohol abuse was poorly recognised among both the community and health workers. Screening for alcohol use was not routinely done and protocols for managing alcohol related disorders were not available at the local health centres providing ARVs. The study participants identified improving communication, psychoeducation and screening for alcohol use as possible action areas. Poverty was identified as a major problem but the interventions to mitigate this were not easy to implement. Conclusion We propose that PRA could be useful in improving communication between the health workers and the clients attending primary health care (PHC) facilities and can be applied to strengthen involvement of support groups and community health workers in follow up and counselling. Integrating these features into primary health care (PHC) would be important not only to PLWHA but also to other diseases in the PHC setting . Longer term follow up is needed to determine the sustained impact of the interventions. Problems encountered in the PRA work included great expectations at all levels fostered by handouts from other donors and cognitive impairment that interfered with constructive engagement in some of the PLWHA.</p
Perception of Farmers’ on Soil Fertility Problems and Replenishment Technologies in the North Rift Region of Kenya
No full textThis paper investigates the farmers’ perception on soil fertility replenishment technologies in the North Rift Region of Kenya. A survey was conducted in Trans Nzoia and Uasin Gishu counties of the North Rift Region of Kenya. A total of 108 respondents were interviewed. A two stage random sampling technique was employed in the study. In the first stage, farmer groups growing maize as the main crop were selected. The second stage involved the selection of farmers who were practicing cereal banking for ease of marketing of their produce. A survey and field demonstration plots were adopted. On-farm demonstration were carried out and used to ascertain the farmers’ perception towards the technologies. A structured questionnaire was administered to them to elicit information on their perception on soil fertility replenishment technologies (SFRT). Descriptive statistics and the multiple regression analysis was done using a Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results revealed that farmers perceived that technologies could be used to address the declining soil fertility. The inputs were affordable available, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MOALF) was effective in disseminating the technologies and that the technologies could work on any farm at mean score of 3.5, 4.1, 4.0, 3.4 and 4.6 out of 5.0 respectively. Farmers in Trans Nzoia county identified lack of capital (70.4%) compared to Uasin Gishu (39.9%) as the greatest challenge in the adoption of SFRT technologies. Credit schemes that offer loans with low interest rates should be established to enable farmers have access to credit
Perception of Farmers’ on Soil Fertility Problems and Replenishment Technologies in the North Rift Region of Kenya
No full textThis paper investigates the farmers’ perception on soil fertility replenishment technologies in the North Rift Region of Kenya. A survey was conducted in Trans Nzoia and Uasin Gishu counties of the North Rift Region of Kenya. A total of 108 respondents were interviewed. A two stage random sampling technique was employed in the study. In the first stage, farmer groups growing maize as the main crop were selected. The second stage involved the selection of farmers who were practicing cereal banking for ease of marketing of their produce. A survey and field demonstration plots were adopted. On-farm demonstration were carried out and used to ascertain the farmers’ perception towards the technologies. A structured questionnaire was administered to them to elicit information on their perception on soil fertility replenishment technologies (SFRT). Descriptive statistics and the multiple regression analysis was done using a Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results revealed that farmers perceived that technologies could be used to address the declining soil fertility. The inputs were affordable available, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MOALF) was effective in disseminating the technologies and that the technologies could work on any farm at mean score of 3.5, 4.1, 4.0, 3.4 and 4.6 out of 5.0 respectively. Farmers in Trans Nzoia county identified lack of capital (70.4%) compared to Uasin Gishu (39.9%) as the greatest challenge in the adoption of SFRT technologies. Credit schemes that offer loans with low interest rates should be established to enable farmers have access to credit
Socio-Demographic Factors Associated with Alcohol Abuse among Egerton University Students in Njoro-Kenya
No full textThe main objective of higher institutions of learning in Kenya is to provide education and growth experiences for its students but alcohol abuse has continued to be a problem in the university campuses that is slowing down their progress and the Kenya vision 2030 that envisages a healthy population free from the impact of alcohol abuse through the reduction of the prevalence and the impact of alcohol abuse disorders in order to attain the highest possible level of physical, social and mental health. Despite the growing problems of global alcohol abuse, accurate information on the prevalence of alcohol abuse among university students in Kenya is still inadequate. The study therefore aimed to determine the socio-demographic factors associated to alcohol abuse among the Egerton University students. This was a cross sectional study among 355 students of Egerton university Njoro campus. Stratified random sampling was utilized to select the study sample and a questionnaire was used to collect the data. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data with an aid of SPSS version 18.0. Data presentation was done using frequency tables, charts and in narratives. The study was cleared by the Kenyatta National Hospital and the University of Nairobi ethics board. The study found significant association between the prevalence of alcohol abuse and the year of study, marital status, family's economic status and the living arrangements (with whom). There was no significant association between the prevalence of alcohol abuse and age, programme of study undertaken and place of residence. It was concluded that alcohol is associated with year of study, marital status, family economic status and living arrangement. Based on the findings of this study, there is need to detect, strengthen various policies and programmes and accordingly make changes to address the factors that contribute to socio-demographic factors associated with alcohol abuse in the institutions of higher learning in Kenyan. The findings of the study will help Commission of University Education (CUE) to better understand the current situation and accordingly make changes to address the factors that contribute to alcohol abuse in these institutions. Keywords: Alcohol, Prevalence, Alcohol abuse, Socio-demographic factors
The Epidemiology of Addiction in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Synthesis of Reports, Reviews, and Original Articles
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