MSUIR Collection:

Effects of pine bark amended with goat manure as tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L) seedlings growing media using the float system

Madziwa, Munyaradzi — Thu, 01 May 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Effects of pine bark amended with goat manure as tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L) seedlings growing media using the float system Authors: Madziwa, Munyaradzi Abstract: Pine bark is locally available in Zimbabwe and is widely in vegetable seedling production. However, it lacks essential nutrients for seedling growth. Goat manure was used to supplement nutrients when pine bark is used as growing media. The main object of the study was to determine the effect of pine bark amended with goat manure on tomato seedling emergence and seedling quality parameter which were stem diameter and stem length. The study was carried out at the Tobacco Research Board which is located 15 kilometers East of Harare at an altitude of latitude 170 55' S and longitude 310 08' E. The experiment was laid out in a 3 X 3 Factorial in a Completely Randomized Design with three replicates. The experiment had nine treatments with three different growing media which were un-amended pine bark, pine bark amended with goat manure and pine bark amended with Calcium carbonate (CaCO3). It also had three fertilizer rates which were 0 ppm, 75 ppm and 150 ppm float fertilizer. Results from this study showed that the different media and fertilizer combinations had a significant effect (P<0.05) on seedling emergence, stem diameter and stem length. From the results pine bark amended with goat manure significantly increase seedling emergence, stem diameter and stem length compared to un-amended pine bark and pine bark amended with CaCO3. A combination of pine bark amended with goat manure and 75 ppm float fertilizer had a significantly high emergence percentage, stem length and stem diameter compared to other media and fertilizer combinations.

Effects of intercropping maize (zea mays) with butternuts (cucurbita moschata) at varying butternut population levels on maize growth, yield and weed supression

Muperi, Serita — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Effects of intercropping maize (zea mays) with butternuts (cucurbita moschata) at varying butternut population levels on maize growth, yield and weed supression Authors: Muperi, Serita Abstract: Intercropping is a cultural technique which gives crops a competitive advantage on weeds therefore contributes to weed management. There is need to choose the plant population which results in weed suppression whilst not negatively affecting the component crops yield. The experiment was set in a Randomised Complete Block Design with 5 treatments which are sole maize crop, maize-butternut intercrops at butternut densities of (30%, 40% and 50% of maize population which is 11110, 13889 and 18518plants/ha respectively) and sole butternut crop. Data on maize plant height, maize grain yield, weed density and biomass were measured and Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) calculated using yields of maize and butternut. It was found that there was no significant difference on maize plant height and weed density. However, there was significant (P<0.05) differences on maize grain yield, (P<0.05) on weed biomass and (P<0.05) on LER. Intercropping maize-butternut at different population levels results in different effect on maize grain yield, weed biomass and LER. Maize grain yield first increases with increase in butternut population density from 11110 plants/ha to 13889 plants/ha and then decreases as population continues to increase from 13889 plants/ha to 18518 plants/ha. Weed biomass decreases as butternut population density increases from 11110 plants/ha to 18518 plants/ha. LER values decreases as butternut population density increases from 11110 plants/ha to 18518 plants/ha. Intercropping maize and butternuts at 13889 plants/ha produce higher maize grain yield than the other intercrops and was similar to sole maize yield, have low weed biomass and also have higher LER. I recommend farmers to intercrop maize-butternut at 13889 plants/ha which produces high yield, have higher impact on weed suppression and have higher land productivity. Further research should be carried out on different crop geometry which can reduce effect of competition between crops.

An investigation into root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne javanica) control in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) using four Kutsaga seeds varieties, monitoring the population seasonal dynamics

Chitambira, Leeroy — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Title: An investigation into root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne javanica) control in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) using four Kutsaga seeds varieties, monitoring the population seasonal dynamics Authors: Chitambira, Leeroy Abstract: Use of Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) resistant varieties in plant parasitic nematode management programs has been increasing in developing countries including Zimbabwe. Resistant varieties provide both economic and sustainable benefits for smallholder farmers who dominate the tobacco industry in Zimbabwe and produce their tobacco under continuous cultivation. A field trial was conducted at the Tobacco Research Board (TRB) during the 2014-2015 growing season to evaluate the effects of varietal resistance on Meloidogyne javanica galling index and populations. Four Kutsaga seed varieties, KRK 26, T70, T75 and KM10 were grown on land that was continuously cultivated with susceptible variety (KM10) for 3 seasons. Treatments were laid in a split plot design in four blocks. The untreated controls were fumigated crops with ethylene dibromide. Soil sampling from plots with tobacco varieties was done and bioassays were conducted using Tomato (Solunum lycopersicum L.) to determine the number of egg masses produced. Significant differences were observed across all results. Results on egg masses indicated that KRK 26, T70 and T75 managed to produce egg masses index less than 2 at P<0.01. Destructive sampling was done and results showed significant differences at P<0.01 on which T70 and T75 had a gall ratting less than 2 while KRK 26 had a gall rating above 2. Fresh leaf weights obtained from destructive sampled plants indicated that T70 and T75 had higher cumulative weight gain during the season. Varietal yield functions (total and saleable) were observed and results showed that T75 followed by T75 produced higher yield at P<0.01. Final root galling index was assessed and results highlighted that T70 and T75 had a gall rating less than 2. Both T70 and T75 exhibited resistant characteristics on meloidogyne javanica and produced a better crop than KRK26.

The influence of varying gamma irradiation doses on the growth and yield of selected cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Walp) genotypes.

Nahemi, Herman — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Title: The influence of varying gamma irradiation doses on the growth and yield of selected cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Walp) genotypes. Authors: Nahemi, Herman Abstract: Cowpea is an annual legume which is commonly referred to as southern pea or lubia it is one of the vital nourishment legumes and a valuable part of the old harvesting schemes in the semi-arid tropics. A field study was conducted at Omahenene Research Station, Northern Namibia to examine the influence of varying gamma irradiation doses on the growth and yield of cowpea (V. unguiculata L. Walp) genotypes. The experiment was done under rain fed conditions from January to April 2015. The experiment was conducted with two cowpea genotypes (Bira and Shindimba) treated with varying gamma irradiation doses of 200. 450. 600 and 0 Gy which served as a control. The data analysis was done using GenStat version 14. Data on pod length, seed yield and dry biomass of cowpea was collected. The outcomes demonstrated that increasing varying gamma irradiation doses significantly (P<0.05) improves the growth and yield of cowpea genotypes. Pod length, dry biomass and seed yield started to increase at 0 Gy and the highest pod length, dry biomass and seed yield was observed at 450 Gy in Bira and at 200 Gy in Shindimba. While 600 Gy resulted in a decreased pod length, dry biomass as well as seed yield in both cowpea genotypes. Increasing the dose level up to 450 Gy is advisable and resulted to be the optimum dose for Bira while 200 Gy was observed to be the optimum dose in Shindimba. Increasing the dose levels to 600 Gy is not advisable for cowpea production with respect to Bira and Shindimba in the experimental area. Though further investigation with the same experiment should be conducted in different regions of the country to put the recommendation on a strong basis. Depending on the crop of choice, farmers are ought to use Bira 450 Gy or Shindimba 200 Gy in order to achieve high seed yield.