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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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Effect of method of terracing on some physical and chemical properties of soils of Mgeta, Morogoro, Tanzania
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 1992) Kisanga, Danielson Ramoz
A field experiment was conducted on cultivated sandy clay loam Chromic Cambisols at Mgeta on the slopes of Uluguru mountains. The objectives were to study the effects of terracing methods on some soil physical and chemical properties and to relate the results to crop performance observed in the field. The main treatments consisted of bench and ladder terraces. The subtreatments were three positions on the slope, and five 10 cm interval soil depth sections. The physical properties assessed were particle size analysis, bulk and particle densities and available water capacity. The assessed chemical properties included pH, CEC, exchangeable cations, carbon, organic total nitrogen, and available phosphorus. There available were significant water capacity, increases in exchangeable clay, silt, calcium and magnesium contents and a decreasing trend in very coarse sand particles along the slope under ladder terraces. In the bench terraces, bulk density increased slightly while total porosity decreased significantly along the slope. Most of the soil physical and chemical properties from the bench terraces were significantly different along the slope, but lacked a defined trend, Exchangeable cations, total nitrogen, and organic carbon for the two main treatments showed a decreasing trend from surface to the bottom of the soil profile. Other soil physical and chemical properties lacked defined trends with depth. The causes of the observed trends in the bench and ladder terraces are respectively attributed to the mechanical movement of soil and gradual but continuous transportation of fine soil materials by water down the slope. The variations in soil physical and chemical properties within and between the two treatments were attributed to the nature of the soils and methods used in the construction of the terraces. Variations in the studied soil properties account for the observed crop performance. In order to improve crop performance and maintain a sustainable crop production at Mgeta, several soil management and conservation measures are proposed.
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The effects of chronic diseases including HIV/AIDS on agricultural commercialization in lower Moshi irrigation scheme
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2008) Kikari, Mwanaisha Salim
This study determined the effects of chronic diseases including HIV/AIDS on agricultural commercialization in Lower Moshi Irrigation Scheme. Specifically the study identified and characterized the extent of chronic diseases burden, determined the extent of agricultural commercialisation and compared the extent of commercialisation at varying extents of diseases burden among farming households. A cross sectional design was employed and data were collected through questionnaire, focus group discussions and observations. The population consisted of farming households in all the four villages of the scheme. The sample consisted of 80 rice farming households; 40 with and 40 without a chronically ill person. Data were processed and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences computer software (SPSS). A high burden of chronic diseases existed in the study area. Almost half of the key productive members of households, particularly wives/husbands were chronically ill for more than one year. In all aspects of agricultural commercialization considered (i.e. number of inputs used, productivity and product utilization), agricultural commercialization was significantly lower (p<0.001) in the affected households than unaffected households. Use of inputs and productivity were reduced and larger proportions were utilized for food while smaller proportions were sold. Disease burden was considered in terms of who was sick, duration of the sickness, type of diseases, degree of sickness and who was the care taker. The extent of agricultural commercialization at varying extents of disease burden did not show significant difference in all aspects except for productivity. Surprisingly, productivity was significantly higher (p<0.01) when the care taker was either wife or husband (household heads), than when the care taker was another relative in the household. However, this observation requires further investigation. The study recommended for education on control of diseases with particular attention on HIV/AIDS, use labour saving technologies and provision of soft loans.
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Sustainability of HIMA project agricultural technologies in Iringa district, Tanzania
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2014) Kiyeyeu, Yoakim Temelagos
Sustainability of Agricultural technologies in Iringa Rural has been questionable inspite of the introduction of several agricutural projects to conserve environment in Tanzania. This study aimed to assess the sustainability of HIMA project agricultural technologies in Iringa where: existence, performance, socio-economic and institutional factors that contributed to sustainability of agricultural technologies was studied. Cross sectional research design was used, Purposive sampling of 4 villages was done, 30 respondents in each village were randomly selected, 120 total respondents were interviewed. Results showed existence of technologies but some were poorly performed due to different socio-economic factors. Logistic regression and general linear model identified education level, Occupation, and Household size were statistically significant thus significaintly influenced factors on existence of agricultural technologies in the study area. The findings show that most respondents employed in agriculture are aware that key issues on agricultural policies are well addressed but implementation of By-laws are weak. However, some benefited with available financial institutions including SACCOS and trainings during agriculture shows. It was concluded that, most technologies still exist inspite of some performing poorly due to high management cost, incompatibility, financial constraints, inadequate extension for monitoring and evaluation and weak By-laws implementation. It was recommended that, the District should improve efficiency of extension services, farmers partcipation, trainings, seminars, certificates for better parformance as incentives to farmers, Financial empowerment to farmers to be important factors to consider during project introduction and implementation stage for technologies sustainability.
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Effects of HIV/AIDS on food security in Kilolo district, Iringa, Tanzania
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2010) Kawanga, Eriko Helasta
This study examined impact of HIV/AIDS on household food security in Kilolo District. Specifically, the study identified socio-economic problems associated with HIV/AIDS and food security; determined the differences in bahaviour with regard to food security between the affected and non-affected households and ascertained the existence of known linkages between HIV/AIDS and households food insecurity in Kilolo District. Data were collected through interviews using structured questionnaires for households and checklist for key informants. Purposive sampling technique was used to obtain 154 households (77 affected and 77 non-affected) and 10 key informants. Findings have ascertained the main linkages of HIV/AIDS and households food security by comparing the affected and non-affected households in the following: more burden of dependants among affected (72.7%) compared to non-affected (51.9%); Lack of agricultural knowledge (66.2% compared to 46.7%); Not using improved agricultural inputs (64.5% compared to 37.3%); Produce no crop (14.3% compared to 2.6%); Decreased land cultivated (48.1% compared to 11.7%); Shifted from mixed farming to single crop (36.1% compared to 5.3%). Others are: bigger proportion has higher category of expenditure on treatment (53.2% compared to 32.4%); fewer do invest on agriculture and education (19.5% compared to 50.7%). Greater proportion reported greatest category of time lost for caring the sick (32.5% compared to 7.8%, of non-affected); also more children pulled out of school for caring the sick family members (15.6% compared to only 1.3% of non-affected). Other socio-economic problems that affect the HIV affected households more than the non-affected include; increased number of orphans, child labour, selling of household’s assets, and failure to participate in community activities. It is recommended that efforts should be made to provide labour saving technologies, appropriate knowledge on agriculture, income generating activities and access to credits to the affected households.
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Assessment of residual effects of long term use of NPK: b formulation on tobacco yeld and quality in Tabora region
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2011) Gido, Mapunda Hugo
The assessment of residual effect of long term use of NPK plus B formulation on tobacco yield and quality involved soil sampling from four districts; Urambo, Uyui, Tabora and Sikonge. There were two experiments each one with six treatments: pot experiment at ARI Tumbi had three replications while field experiment at Ntalikwa village had four replications. Data collected were; leaf length, green and dry weights grade index and nutrients concentration in plant leaves. The results showed that; total nitrogen was very low (0.03 to 0.18%). Phosphorus was low to medium (5.62 to 60.83 mg/kg soil). Exchangeable potassium was, low to very high (0.06 to 0.81), exchangeable calcium was very low to high (0.01 to 4.4). The cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the soils was low; 6.4 to medium 23.33 me/100 g soil. Tobacco grown in Isenga soils (sandy soils) and Kikungu soils (Alfisols) had good performance in T2 (40.5 mg N kg’1 ) while Tobacco grown in Mbuga soils (Vertisols) had good performance in T3 (recommended rate 300 mg N kg'1, 238 mg P kg'1, 598 mg K kg'1 and 3 mg B kg'1 soil). The increase in rates of NPK+B and CAN, Mg, Zn caused death of tobacco in treatments 4, 5 and 6 possibly due to B toxicity. In the field experiment the current formulation, T3 (NPK + B (10:18:24 +0.1 and 5 g CAN) produced below treatment 4, 5, and 6. Dry weight yield and quality increased in treatments with higher rates of NPK+ B formulation with Zn and Mg than the current recommendation. The highest yield was from T6 (2488.12 kg ha’1). Residual nutrients T1 yielded 1411.89 kg ha’1 of dry leaf of tobacco. In general, low residual nutrients in Tabora soils need new formulations which include Mg and Zn to improve yield and quality of tobacco.