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Sokoine University of Agriculture  Institutional Repository (SUA IR). This repository was built and is maintained by the university library  (Sokoine National Agricultural Library-SNAL) , in order to collect, preserve and disseminate scholarly output generated by University research community (staff and students) members.

This repository hosts a variety of openly accessible materials including: scholarly articles and books, theses and dissertations, conference proceedings and technical reports. For assistance about depositing your research output in the repository click here. SUA IR Policy  click here or any queries contact us at snal@sua.ac.tz.

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Recent Submissions

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Agricultural production, natural hazards and risks: an analysis of coping mechanisms and the potential of crop insurance
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2004) Akyoo, Adam Meshack
The study examined natural hazard risks, coping mechanisms and potential for crop insurance on bean farmers in Arumeru district, Arusha region. Objectives were to determine natural hazard risk sources and available coping mechanisms, assess riskiness of various natural hazards, potential of crop insurance and determine factors influencing its preference. Data collection was through formal surveys to 116 farmers and 8 insurance companies, supplemented by informal interviews with various experts from the Directorate of Insurance, National Insurance Company, agricultural officers at the Ministry of Agriculture, Dar es salaam and extension officers at Kwa Ugoro, Malula/Kolila and Kikatiti villages. Qualitative analytical techniques included descriptive methods such as cross tabulations, means, percentages, frequencies, standard deviations and risk analysis using a structured questionnaire. Quantitative methods included Gross Margin (GM) analysis, Pearson Chi square (X2), one way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Regression analysis. Natural hazards were found to be location specific and their riskiness was significantly different (different levels) across villages. Coping mechanisms were found to be imperfectly effective in managing natural hazard risks signifying a need for a risk transfer device, like crop insurance. Crop insurance was favoured by 76.7 percent of the respondents and ranked second in preference as a risk management method. Pests and diseases were the riskiest followed by drought. Positive margins were recorded to 72.4 percent of the respondents. Ability to meet insurance costs was thus high. Farmers’ preference for crop insurance was confirmed and, unexpectedly, wealth status was the only significant factor that influenced it positively. Insurers were however sceptical about its feasibility. Pilot crop insurance scheme as a precursor to a full-fledged scheme in future and' further market research studies to establish more potential for crop insurance are recommended. Agricultural schools and colleges are urged to include crop insurance in their curricular to stimulate its awareness.
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Evaluation of quality protein maize synthetic germplasm for drought tolerance
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2008) Bilaro, Atugonza Luta
Twenty one Open Pollinated Quality Protein Maize genotypes were evaluated fbr drought tolerance under three conditions of moisture regimes i.e. pre flowering stress, flowering moisture stress and optimal moisture to identify genotypes that maintained high yield under drought and well watered conditions. The experiment was conducted at Ilonga research station during rain free period of August to November, 2006, and Selian Arusha during rain season of 2006/07. Yield differences between moisture regimes were significantly (p < 0.001) different. Optimal moisture regime had the highest mean grain yield (1.49t/ha) followed by flowering stress (1.15t/ha) while pre flowering stress had the least mean grain yield (0.9t/ha). Correlation studies revealed that grain yield was related to number of days to anthesis, number of ears per plant, plant height, ear height, and leaf senescence. Of these, plant height, ear height, and number of ears per plant were consistently positively correlated with grain yield in all moisture regimes. Days to anthesis had varying correlations with grain yield depending on moisture conditions. Based on index values, entries 1 (EEQPMOPV-l-EA-#), 6 (EEQPM-13-EA半),10 (EEQPM- 34-EA-#), 13(EEQPM-45-EA-#), 14(EEQPM-49-EA-#), 19(POOL15QPM-SR-#-#) and 21 (Local check 1) performed better in most traits associated with drought. Grain yield, numbers of ears per plant, days to anthesis and leaf senescence were important selection criteria under drought but only grain yield and leaf senescence were important under both stress and optimal moisture conditions. Nine entries had above average yield and out of these only 3 i.e. 13(EEQPM-45-EA-#), 19 (POOL15QPM- SR-#-#) and 21 (Local Check 1) had stable performance across moisture regimes. Stable and high yielding genotypes should be evaluated under field conditions in the target environments so that farmers can select suitable genotypes to be proposed for release. Molecular characterization should be carried out to ascertain the degree of diversity available among the entries identified as best in different moisture regimes.
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The effect of seed factors and the duration seed remains in soil before the onset of rains on establishment of maize and sorghum
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 1997) Tarimo,Bartholomew Donat
A study was undertaken to: (a) assess the seed quality in commercial and farmers planting seed,(b) extent of seed ageing in storage and (c)investigate the monitor the effect of length of time seed remain in soil before onset of rains on establishment of maize (Zea mays (L) and sorghum (Sorghum bi color (L). Seed of three cultivars of maize (Staha, TMV-1, and Kito) and one sorghum cultivar(Tegemeo) were from bought Tanzania Seed Company (TANSEED), Morogoro branchz and from farmers around Morogoro Municipality. The bought seed was stored alongside TANSEED and farmer's seed. Initially, seed samples from each lot and each farmerz were taken to the laboratory for refrigeration to minimize ageing and hence to serve as control. Acquired seed was initially subjected to a germination test to assess its quality as a planting material.Germination test were conducted in a sandbox set at a matric suction of IkPa. The study on the effect of length of time seeds remain in soil before the onset of rains on establishment was conducted both in glasshouse and in the field using high,medium and low vigour seeds.High vigour seeds were the fresh / imaged seed samples from the seed lots.Medium and low vigour seeds were obtained by artificial ageing of fresh seed for 2 and 3 days respectively.Planting, both in the glasshouse and in the field was done at an interval of 3 days z that is 0 r 3, 6, 9, 121 15 days.Watering was on the 15th day with an equivalent of 20mm of rainfall. Seeds from TANSEED had ranging from 93 to 100%, initial germination percentage (maize) and 92 to 96% (sorghum)・Seeds from farmers had gemination percentage varying from 64 to 99% (maize) and 8 to 65% (sorghum)・seeds from TANSEED had relatively capacity than those from farmers. Higher germination Seeds from farmers had high initial seed moisture content (SMC) seed. Overall sorghum than commercial Sorghum had higher SMC than maize irrespective of the source ・Initial SMC was about 10 and 11% for maize and sorghum respectively.At the end of the studyz SMC had increased to an average of 12 and 14% for maize and sorghum respectively. Time to 50% germination (T50) increased with storage time for seeds obtained from TANSEED. maize cv St aha lot A were 2.2,T50 values (in days) for (initially) , 2.4 one month) and 2.7 after two months)・(after Seeds from farmers showed no consistent trend.In both field and glasshouse emerged earlier than maize seeds.studies,sorghum seeds Sorghum seeds started emerging 3 days after watering whereas for maize emergence started on the 4th day.The length of time seed remained in the soil(dry planting)had no effect on percentage emergence in the glasshouse experiment. Under field conditions percentage emergence decreased with the length of time seed remained in soil before watering.High vigour maize seeds had relatively higher proportion of seeds categories.which emerged than Insorghum,medium and low vigour the other two vigour seeds performed better in terms of emergence than high vigour seeds.The average shoot length for maize 10 days after watering varied from 157mm to 238mm and 90.7mm to 248mm for the glasshouse and field experiments respectively.Sorghum seedlings grown in the glasshouse had mean shoot lengths varying from 121mm to 172mm and the mean values recorded in the field varied from 63mm to 101mm.
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Control of nitrogen mineralization from decomposing Gliricidia septum leaves to optimize nitrogen uptake by maize crop
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 1997) Baptiste, Nduwayezu Jean
Decomposition (mass loss) and Mineralization studies were Kitete Village z conducted at Kilosa District,Tanzania during the 1995/96 cropping season. The aim was to control rates the of decomposition Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) and Walp.Release nitrogen from leaves through widening their C/N ratios using Sawdust. Litter bags containing a fixed amount of Gliricidia leaves (150g/bag) and variable amounts of Sawdust (0, 25, 50, 75,100% of fixed Gliricidia) were used in the decomposition experiment. Different Gliricidia leaf rates (1.5, 1.15, 0.76 and 0.38 kg dry leaves/plot or 60 z 45, 30 and 15 kg respectively) N/ha and various Gliricidia and Sawdust mixtures containing a fixed amount of Gliricidia leaves (1.5 kg/plot) and variable amounts of Sawdust were used in the mineralization experiment conducted within a maize farm. The decomposition and mineralization studies revealed that, treatments with Gliricidia alone had significantly (P=0.002) higher mass loss percentage and nitrogen release but decreased with increasing C/N ratio Sawdust mixtures. in Gliricidia- Rates of mass loss were influenced by­ placement depth. Most of the nitrogen from the Gliricidia alone treatments was released within six weeks.In the mineralization experiment nitrate nitrogen was found to dominate the mineral nitrogen ranging from 67 to 81 percent. The nitrogen uptake by maize plantsz maize height increment and maize crop yields were significantly higher in plots with correspondingly higher C/N ratios with a positive correlation between nitrogen uptake and maize growth (r= 0.762) and maize yield (r= 0.858). A 3-8 weeks period is a critical period of high nutrients demand by the maize crop in the study­ area ・ It wasz therefore, concluded that the Gliricidia (1.5 kg) -Sawdust (1.0 and 1.25 kg) mixtures or 21:1 and 23:1 C/N ratios should be adopted in the study­ area for effective control of the rates of decomposition and nitrogen release and hence availability of nitrogen for crop growth and yield.
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Assessment of in-situ rainwater harvesting techniques for improving smallholder maize production in semi arid areas of Morogoro, Tanzania
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2003) Bwana,Thomas Nestory
A study was conducted at Morogoro, Tanzania during long rains ('Masika') to evaluate the effect of in~situ rainwater harvesting (RWH) techniques in improving maize yield. Three commonly used techniques, ridging after planting (RA), ridging before planting (RJB), and tied ridging (TR) were tested against a no tillage practice locally known as "kuberega" (K) on an Oxic Paleustalf soil with maize (Zea maize L.) variety TMV1 as the test crop. Daily rainfall was recorded and the total rainfall received during the 2001/02 growing season was 562 mm with a series of dry spells. Moisture content at 0-15 and 15-30 cm depth was measured twice weekly. Significantly (p<0.05) higher soil moisture variation and lower moisture content were noted in treatment K than in the other treatments. Treatments RB and TR had lower moisture variations and higher moisture content throughout the season. Grain yield, biomass, plant height, bulk density, infiltration rates (on the ridge and in the furrow), runoff and soil loss were also measured. Significant differences were observed among the treatments (p<0.05) in runoff, soil loss, on ridge infiltration, grain yield, and biomass. The maize yield ranged between 2.97 Mg/ha and 3.89 Mg/ha for treatments K and RB, respectively. The runoff loss was highest for K and least for TR. Treatments K and RA did not differ significantly from each other but differed significantly from RB and TR (p<0.05). Soil loss had a similar trend as that of runoff. More runoff loss was recorded early than late in the season. On ridge infiltration was not significantly different for treatments TR, RA, and RB but was significantly higher than the control (K) at (p<0.05). On furrow infiltration, however, had a reverse order with K having higher rates. Bulk density in both depths (0-15 and higher bulk density. The results show that ridges are effective in-situ rainwater harvesting technique that conserves water and soil and improves productivity.However, ridging after planting is inferior to both ridging before planting and tied ridging.15-30 cm) was not statistically different (p<0.05), however treatment K had slightl