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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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Influence of quality attributes on the markert value of sweet potatoes tubers and processed cassava
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2001) Ndunguru, Abriel T.
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz} roots and sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L) Lam) tubers are important staple food crops in several areas of Tanzania. Studies were conducted in Mwanza and Dar es Salaam markets in order to assess the factors that influence the quality and market value relationship of fresh sweet potato tubers and processed cassava roots. Consumers and traders in Mwanza preferred sweet potato tubers which are wholesome and free from infestation. White processed cassava root products were preferred by traders and consumers in Mwanza. Valuation assessment made on sweet potatoes showed that, broken, cut and weevil infested tubers sold were at 12.1, 14.2 and 36.6 percent discount respectively. Average valuation discount of processed cassava roots were 10 to 15 for yellow, 20 to 25 for greenish and 35 to 40 percent for dark product. Causes of losses in quality of sweet potato tubers were due to operations related to handling and transportation. Occurrence of broken tubers, skinning injury and cuts increased significantly with handling and transportation (P < 0.001). The largest loss in quality occurred between the lakeshore and the port at Mwanza when sacks were loaded and unloaded from the ship and handled at the port.
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Perceptions of smallholders on the effectiveness of female and male agriculture and livestock extension field officers based on the akap sequence: a case study of Mvomero district
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2007) Pangani, Martina Domician
This study was conducted in villages of Mvomcro District to investigate the perceptions of smallholders on the effectiveness of female and male Agricultural and increasing farmers' adoption and increasing farmers' productivity (AKAP) sequence of a crop (i.e. maize). The survey population comprised of farmers who grew crops and kept livestock. Data was collected in thirteen purposively selected villages. which were supervised by female agricultural and livestock extension field officers (FALEFOs) and thirteen randomly selected villages that were supervised by male agricultural and livestock extension field officers (MALEFOs). This was a cross- sectional study in which data was collected at one point in time from a selected sample of respondents. A simple random sample of 156 respondents was used and data was mainly collected using a questionnaire. The study results showed that respondents who agreed that MALEFOs gave them information based on AKAP sequence were higher compared to those supervised by FALEFOs. This implied that FALEFOs. The difference could be that FALEFOs performed other societal duties such as reproduction, production, and household chores in their homes. Also the findings showed that sex of the farmer had a significant effect on the way FALEFOs study found that female farmers who were supervised by FALEFOs had relatively higher levels of awareness, knowledge, adoption and productivity. Compared to MALEFOs were more effective in giving information to smallholders than Livestock Extension Field Officers (ALEFOs) in making farmers aware of and MALEFOs gave information to smallholders base on AKAP sequence. The technology/practices, increasing their knowledge on a tcchnqlogy/practiccs. those supervised by MALEFOs. However, the study found that MALEFOs gave information on the maize-related technologies/practices equally to both female and male respondents. This study recommends that countries' extension systems especially those in developing countries should encourage more FALEFOs since they have proven to be able to work with female farmers who mostly shoulder the agricultural responsibility of the country. Barriers, which limit FALEFOs to work in rural areas, should be removed. Also this study recommends that all lead Ministries should increase incentives to its ALEFOs.
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Effect of gliricidia sepium green manure placement on solubility of minjingu rock phosphate, growth and yield of maize at SUA farm, Morogoro, Tanzania
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2000) Kimaro, Anthony Anderson
This study was carried out at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) Farm, Morogoro, Tanzania to assess the effect of Gliricidia sepiutn green manure (GM) placement method on solubility of Minjingu rock phosphate (MRP), growth and yield of maize. The study involved pot and field factorial experiments with treatments arranged in a complete randomized block design in three replications. For the pot experiment, the experimental factors were G. septum. GM placement method (5 t ha’1) at three levels (i.e. No GM, Incorporation and Mulching) and P- fertilizer application rates at seven levels (i.e. 0, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 150 mg P kg soil’1 as MRP and 50 mg P as TSP). Air dried soil (2 kg) was filled in each of the 63 pots representing the 21 treatment combinations. The various treatments were then incubated at 70% field capacity (FC) at ambient temperature for three months. Within this period soil sub samples were collected at two weeks intervals for available phosphorus (AVP) deter mination in the laboratory. For the field experiment, the experimental factors remained the same as for the pot experiment except that the P-fertilizer application rates were 0, 10, 20, 40, 80 kg P ha’1 as MRP and 30 kg P ha’1 as TSP. Soil samples were collected at two weeks intervals for the determination of AVP in the laboratory. Additionally, maize height (m) at tasseling stage was recorded and maize samples were collected for the determination of P and N in the leaf, grain and stover. Grain and stover yields were also determined at maturity. The results indicated that GM placement method significantly improved AVP in both pot and field experiments, with the highest AVP obtained by the incorporation treatment. In most of the sampling dates AVP values for incorporation and mulching treatments were not significantly different in both the pot and field experiments. The AVP increased with increase in MRP application rates for both experiments and for all sampling dates. Except for stover N, GM placement method significantly increased concentration and content of P and N in maize leaf. For the incorporation treatment, the values were leaf concentra- tion (0.2005% P; 2.298% N) and leaf content (5.835mg P; 66.19 mg N). The corresponding values for the mulching treatment were leaf concentration (0.1908% P; 2.252% N) and leaf content (5.426 mg P; 63.43 mg N). Similarly, P and N uptake were significantly increased by GM placement method. The uptake values for incorporation treatment were as follows: grain (6.22 kg ha"1 P;37.82 kg ha"1 N), stover (2.18 kg ha"1 P; 10.98kg ha"1). Whereas corresponding values for the mulching treatment were grain (5.40 kg ha"1 P; 33.77 kg ha"1 N), and stover (1.76 kg ha"1 P; 9.59kg ha"1). Total P and N and maize height as affected by GM placement method followed a pattern similar to that of P and N for grain and stover. Maize yield was (2.07 kg ha"1 grain; 2.57 kg ha"1 stover) for control, (2.60 kg ha"1 grain; 3.33 kg ha'1 stover) for incorporation and (2.34 kg ha"1 grain; 2.98 kg ha"1 stover) for mulching. P and N uptake by maize significantly increased with increase in MRP application rate. However, at higher rates (i.e. 40, 80 kg P ha"1 as MRP), the increase of maize leaf P and P uptake was not significant. Generally, most of the parameters studied showed a linear and quadratic relationship with MRP application rates. Furthermore, the interactions between GM placement method and MRP application rates for most of the parameters studied were not significant. Based on the results of this study, it was concluded that incorporation and mulching of GM has the potential to improve solubility as well as growth and yield of maize. However, adoption of the practice may be limited because of the labour required in cutting, transporting and incorporating the GM into the soil. Getting a source that will provide sufficient amount of GM to cater for the needs of most of small holder farmers at the appropriate time may also be a problem. Furthermore, GM in this study was used as a source of N for maize and this is merely transferring nutrients within the farm and not actually redressing the nutrient depletion in the soil, therefore it may not be sustainable in the long run.
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The influence of agro-dealers on farmers’ use of agricultural inputs in Kilombero District
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2014) Johannes, Richard
Agro-dealers, the retail distributors of agricultural inputs such as seeds, equipment, pesticides, and fertilizers have an important role in raising agricultural productivity of rural households. This study examines the influence of agro-dealers on farmers’ use of improved agricultural inputs. Specifically, the study aimed at; identifying methods used by agro-dealers in stimulating agricultural input use among farmers, examining the effectiveness of agro-dealers in service provision to farmers in the study area and determining factors influencing farmers’ use of inputs in Kilombero District. The study adopted cross-sectional research design whereby data were collected from 100 randomly selected respondents from Ifakara, Kiberege and Kisawasawa villages using a structured questionnaire. The villages were purposively selected. In addition, in-depth interviews were also conducted with agro-dealers to determine how they were influencing households’ use of improved inputs. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS whereby descriptive statistics were determined. A logistic regression model was also used to determine factors influencing farm households’ use of improved agricultural inputs. Results show that, provision of credit by agro-dealers, the number of agro-dealers and provision of extension services by the same had a likelihood of influencing a household’s purchase and use of improved inputs. The time required to reach the agro-shop also influenced use of inputs (fertilizer). Based on these findings, it is suggested that for effective uptake of technology by farmers, agro-dealers need to be well equipped with knowledge of the agricultural inputs they sell to farm households as well as having entrepreneurial skills that may increase their sales and raise uptake of technologies to farmers
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Isolation, enumeration and evaluation of antimicrobial potential of streptomyces isolated from some acid and alkaline soils of Tanzania
(Sokoine Univerisity of Agriculture, 2000) Mvungi, Mussa Faraji
The study reported herein was conducted to enumerate and evaluate the antimicrobial potential of Streptomyces from acid and alkaline soils. The soils were sampled from Morogoro, Coast and Iringa regions in Tanzania. Streptomyces were enumerated us ing starch-casein agar. Colour of aerial mycelium and morphology of spore chains were determined. The isolates were evaluated for tolerance to pH changes and as sessed for antibiosis against selected plant pathogenic bacteria. There were signifi cant (P=0.05) differences in populations of Streptomyces in soils of different pH lev- respectively) and were highest at pH 7.2, with a population of 5.4. Regressions analy sis revealed that only % clay was significantly (0.05) correlated with Streptomyces populations. The regression of Streptomyces on all soil pH values was not significant in the entire range. However, the relationship was significant (P=0.05) when Strep tomyces populations were regressed on pH levels ranging from 4.5 to 7.2. The Strep tomyces isolates displayed the following morphologies of spore chains: flexuous (60.9%), straight (12.4%), open spirals (13.3%), closed spirals (2.86%), open loops (7.62%), hooks (1.9%) and monoverticillate (0.95%). The colours of mature colonies of Streptomyces isolates were white (20%), gray (58.1%), pink (1.9%), red (1.9%), yellow (1.9%) and cream (16.2%). All isolates from acidic soils (pH 4.5 and 5.95) were able to proliferate at high pH up to 7.8 while those from alkalinity conditions (pH 7.85, 8.2 and 10.0) could not do well when tested on the acidic side (pH 4.5 and 5.95). els. The populations were lowest at pH 4.5 and at pH 10 (log io values of 3.2 and 3.5, About 84% of the strains produced antibiotics against Ciavibacter michiganensis sub sp michiganensis, Xanlhotnonas phaseoli, X. vascatoria, X. oryzae pv oryzae and Acidovorax avenae. Six isolates (about 16.2% of all isolates) did not produce antibio sis against any of the tested plant pathogens. Xanthamonas phaseolicoli var fuscoris was not inhibited by any of the isolates. The Acidovorax avenae was inhibited by the least number of isolates, mainly those from acidic soils.