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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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- The Agroforesty Community is a collaborative network dedicated to advancing sustainable land-use practices that integrate trees, crops, and livestock. It serves as a platform for knowledge exchange, research dissemination, and practical innovations in Agroforestry. By fostering connections among researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and local communities, the Agroforestry Community promotes environmental conservation, enhanced agricultural productivity, and resilient livelihoods.
Recent Submissions
Response of maize and rice to applied zinc in some benchmark soils of Morogoro rural district
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 1992) Shelukindo, Bashiru Hassan
A study was undertaken to evaluate the response of maize and rice to Morogoro District. applied Zn in benchmark soils of Thirteen bulk soil samples were collected from the benchmark sites. Zinc from these soils was extracted with four commonly used namely 0.005M DTPA (pH 7.3), EDTA-(NH4)2CO3 HC1, and 0.05N HC1 + 0.25N H2SO4. Response of maize and rice Zn extractants (pH 8.6), 0. IN in these assessed in two glasshouse experiments. viz: soils was Three rates of Zn 0, 2.5 or 5 mg/kg soil were applied. These treatments received recommended levels of N, P and K. Field experiments were also conducted sites, two for rice and nine for maize. At eleven Zinc rates of 0, 5, 10 or 15 kg Zn/ha applied together with were recommended rates of N, P and K.. Zinc application significantly increased dry matter yield of plants. Of the four extractants tested, DTPA was found most suitable for assessing available Zn ppm. in the soils. The critical level for this extractant was 1.95 edta-(nh4)2co3 came second. The other two did not give significant correlations with plant uptake. Critical level of Zn for maize in these soils were established at 1.95, 1.3, (NH4)2CO3), 3.0 and 0.1 0.5 ppm by 0.005M DTPA, IM EDTA N HC1 and 0.05 HC1 + 0.25 N H2SO4, respectively. The critical Zn level in maize shoots was estimated to be 17 ppm. On the basis of the critical level established out of 43 samples analyses to gauge the Zn status 65% of these soils tested levels. Were deficient and 35% had adequate Zn Field experiments with rice confirmed the need for Zn application in Dakawa 2 where grain yield increased by 653% after Zn supplementation. A rate of 10 kg Zn/ha is tentatively recommended for use in this soil. Field experiments with maize gave inconclusive results because of moisture stress which dominated prior to the tasselling stage. Therefore additional experiments are recommended.
Evaluation of iron oxide impregnated filter paper method for predicting available phosphorus in selected paddy soils of Tanzania
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 1999) Shekiffu, Catherine Yohana
Experiments were conducted to evaluate the suitability of iron oxide impregnated filter paper (Pi) method for predicting available phosphorus in selected paddy soils of Tanzania. Two versions of the Pi method, namely; directly embedding Pi strips in moist soil or flooded soil (designated as PiPe) and shaking Pi strips with soil suspensions in the laboratory (designated as Pi-P) were evaluated. These methods were compared with Bray-I and Olsen methods which arc used routinely for assessing available P in Tanzania. Ten soil samples from selected rice growing areas were used for a pot experiment and one of those sites was used for a field experiment. The studies included laboratory analyses to characterise the selected experimental soils and assess the levels of P and its availability to rice in the selected soils. Pot and field experiments were conducted to assess the effect of flooding on P availability and the response of rice (Oryza saliva L) variety Super to P application. In addition, these parameters were related to extractable P by the methods evaluated under aerobic and anacrobic/flooded conditions. Good correlations were found between extractable P by pairs of the extracting procedures tested with the correlation between Pi-P from air dry soils and PiPe from Pi strips directly embedded in moist soils designated as PiPem (r = 0.98**) being among the highest. The same correlation coefficient was also obtained between Pi-Pf (P extracted from soil sample after flooding) and PiPef (P extracted by Pi strips directly imbedded into flooded soils). Olsen P and Bray-I P gave an r value of 0.99 (P < 0.01). Phosphorus application significantly increased dry matter yield in six soils out of ten tested under glasshouse conditions. Rice response to P was best correlated to Pi-Pf (r = 0.76**) followed by PiPef (r = 0.71*). Correlation between the two variables for the rest of the P tests were nonsignificant. The Pi-Pf and rice growth data were used to estimate the critical P concentration in soils and gave a critical level of 22 mg P /kg. A field experiment conducted on one site of the soils which responded to P in the glasshouse study confirmed the need for P fertilizer on this soil and also indicated the Pi-Pf data to be well correlated with grain yield. It is recommended that Pi-Pf be one of the tests for assessing P availability in paddy soils in Tanzania and that PiPef be evaluated further since it was a close second in all the parameters measured.
Performance of soil moisture balance computer simulation models in predicting soil moisture balance under different tillage methods in semi-arid areas of Morogoro, Tanzania
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 1999) Phiri, Chikondi
Soil moisture balance computer simulation models play a very important role in providing scientists with a tool able to rapidly calculate the magnitude of various processes affecting the field water balance on any soil under any given climatic and vegetation conditions. This study evaluates the performance of three soil water balance computer simulation models on different soil water conservation tillage plots. The three models are: SWAM (Soil Water Availability Model), a sub-model of PARCH (Bradley and Crout, 1994), PATHSMM (PARCHED THIRST soil moisture model), a sub-model of PARCHED-THIRST (Young and Gowing. 1996) and BUDGET (Raes, 1996) a sub-model of IRSIS (Irrigation Scheduling Information System) (Raes et al., 1988). Experiments were conducted at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) farm, Morogoro, Tanzania, on a sandy clay soil. Maize crop (zea mays L) was planted for two consecutive rainy seasons namely; short rainy season and long rainy season. The soil tillage treatments were: flat cultivation (FC), zero tillage (ZT), staggered ridges (SR) contour ridges (CR) and tied-ridges (TR). All the models used in the study had better soil moisture balance simulations on the flat cultivation (FC) treatment than other treatments. However, the models tended to overpredict the soil moisture content. The performance of the PATHSMM model was very remarkable on all the tillage treatments over the two rainy seasons. There was good correlation between simulated and actual soil moisture content. Correlation coefficients ranged between 0.64 - 0.95 for PATHSMM simulations. From the study it is recommended that:
(a) The BUDGET model be improved by incorporating tillage, macropore flow and crusting factors in it.
(b) The PATHSMM model be tested on other soil types and treatments. The model needs to develop a wide base in terms of tillage options.
(c) All the three models should develop the ability to simulate soil profile moisture changes due to changes in soil bulk density.
(d) More research needs to be done to assess the models’ performance under very dry conditions.
Population dynamics of the multimammate rat (mastomys natalensis) and makundi’s brush fur rat (lophuromys makundii) and their implications in disease persistence in Mbulu District, Tanzania
(Springer Nature Link, 2024-03-06) Kessy, Stella T.; Sabuni, Christopher; Massawe, Apia W.; Makundi, Rhodes; Rija, Alfan A.
Understanding host population dynamics in connection to disease persistence is important for determining the epizootic risks present in plague foci. We used a capture-mark-recapture method to investigate the population dynamics of Mastomys natalensis and Lophuromys makundii in an active plague focus, in Mbulu District, Tanzania. We hypothesized higher abundance in plague-persistent locality and between habits and seasons. We found distinct patterns of abundance in M. natalensis between farm and forest habitats. The abundance was significantly higher in farms in plague persistent than non-plague persistent areas. The dry season showed a significant increase of abundance compared to the long rain season and the short rain season. A significant increase in breeding females was observed in farms in plague persistent than non-plague persistent localities while farms showed a significant decrease compared to forests. Dry season was associated with an increase in breeding females compared to the long rain season and the short rain season. Furthermore, the abundance of L. makundii showed a significant increase in forest in plague persistent than non-plague persistent localities. The abundance increased significantly during the dry season and long rain season compared to the short rain season. The proportion of breeding females was significantly higher in forests in plague persistent than non-plague persistent localities. The breeding females significantly increased during the dry and the short rain season than the long rain season. These findings contribute to our understanding of the ecological factors shaping the population dynamics of these species and their potential roles in plague persistence.
Isolation and identification of listeria species along the milk value chain in one region of Tanzania
(Tanzania Livestock Research Institute, 2016) Hyera, Emil; Msalya, George; Karimuribo, Esron D.; Kurwijila, Lusato R.; Alonso, Silvia; Roesel, Kristina; Grace, Delia
Introduction
The genus Listeria contains gram positive, non-spore forming, catalase-positive,
oxidase-negative and facultative anaerobic bacteria. Two species are pathogenic
of which L. monocytogenes represents the only pathogen of public and
veterinary health significance and L. ivanovii is usually restricted to causing
disease in ruminants. L. monocytogenes causes large outbreaks of Listeriosis in
humans, with a mortality rate of 9 – 44%. Most cases are foodborne related and
consumption of unpasteurised milk and dairy products is the major means of
zoonotic transmission. Currently, there is no information in available literature
on the presence of Listeria along the milk value chain in Tanzania. In this study,
the awareness of milk contamination was evaluated, total plate count (TPC) was
quantified and isolation of Listeria species was attempted along the milk value
chain in two districts of Tanga region in Tanzania.
Methods
Study sites included five villages in Handeni district and five villages in Lushoto
district. In total, 114 respondents were interviewed on awareness and
strategies for solving the problem of milk contamination. Then, raw milk
samples were aseptically collected from each of the 114 respondents for
laboratory analyses using the standard ISO procedures for food microbial
analyses — Horizontal methods. Four tests i.e. haemolysis on a sheep blood
agar, CAMP, oxidase and Listeria test kit were carried out to confirm the
presence of L. monocytogenes and other Listeria spp. in test samples against
control cultures. Data were analysed for descriptive statistics and Chi-square
using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0. TPC values
were analysed against independent variables using the General Linear Models
(GLM) procedures of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) version 9.1 for
Windows.
Survey showed poor hygienic practices by the majority of
actors. Most of the farmers were skipping most of the
important safe hand milking steps. Few (11.8%) households
were keeping cattle in well-designed and clean shelters. Only,
12.9% of households and 11.1% of restaurateurs were using
Aluminium vessels/stainless steel containers for milk handling.
Furthermore, very few cooling facilities were observed along
the milk value chain as presented in Table 2.
Results
About 90 percent of all raw milk samples processed showed TPC above
standard acceptable in the Eastern Africa countries (EAC) of 2.0x10 5 CFU/ml
(Grade 2). Also, there was more contamination in milk samples obtained from
the household farms than those which were collected from the milk suppliers
and in the extensive farming system than in the intensive system (P < 0.05).
Three Listeria species namely L. innocua (11.4%), L. ivanovii (1.7%) and L.
monocytogenes (42.1%) were identified. L. monocytogenes were isolated and
identified as the common contaminants in milk along the value chain in the
study region (Table 1).
Conclusion
Poor bacteriological quality of milk indicates poor animal
husbandry practices and poor milk handling practices. Presence
of L. monocytogenes in milk provides evidence on the microbial
status of milk in the Tanzanian milk value chain and insights into
the magnitude and public awareness on the health risks
associated with consumption of raw milk. To ensure milk safety,
the awareness of actors must be improved through training on
animal husbandry practices and public education on general
hygienic practices in milk. Also, Sector policies, organizational
structures and support services must be well concentrated to
stimulate dairy development.