Africa RISING theses and dissertations

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The effect of intercropping of maize with pigeonpea on grain yield and pigeonpea fuelwood supply in Kongwa District, Tanzania
(Report, 2017-10-15) Jonas, Elvis Fahamu
Knowledge on extent to which alternate cropping arrangements may affect yields of both maize and pigeonpeas and fuelwood production from pigeonpeas is important for maximization of outputs. Field experiments were conducted during the 2015 and 2016 periods in Mlali and Chitego Villages, Kongwa District, Dodoma, Tanzania, to assess the effect of intercropping arrangements on the grain yields of maize and pigeonpeas and pigeonpeas fuelwood supply in semi-arid environments. The intercropping arrangements tested were various ratios of maize and pigeonpeas: 1MM: 1PP, 1MM: 2PP, and 2MM: 1PP row proportions, and in their monocultures. Maize grain yields at 1MM: 1PP ratio for the two seasons averaged 0.7 t/ha for Mlali and 1.41 t/ha for Chitego. The increase was 39% higher (27-57%) than mean yield at pure maize (maize monoculture). Maize yield at Chitego during the 2015 (2.49 t/ha) and 2016 (2.89 t/ha) growing season were 62% and 56% higher than the corresponding yields at Mlali. The LER during the 2015 season was highest at 1MM: 2PP ratio in Mlali (1.32) and at 2MM: 1PP ratio in Chitego (1.56). On the other hand LER at 1:1 ratio was intermediate during the 2015 season but the highest (1. 46 and 1. 53) during the 2016 cropping season. Although intercropping reduced yields of sole crops, LER at 1:1 in the 2016 season suggests that in a good year, farmers will benefit more by adopting the alternate intercropping partner. These results suggest that the 1MM: 1MM ratio could be adopted for wider use by farmers in the two sites. Overall the LER results affirm that farmers diversifying crop production by intercropping will benefit more even in seasons of uncertain crop production like the 2015 season. It is recommended that farmers who wish to grow maize and pigeon pea should grow them in association with maize by adopting the alternate intercropping partner 1MM: 1PP cropping arrangements as it provide more benefit.
Effect of Gliricidia sepium on resource use efficiency and maize grain yield: Statistical analysis
(Thesis, 2021-05) Graef, Hannah Arwen
Human nutrition is challenged by declining resources such as fertile soils and climate change effects. Thus, sustainable, resource use-efficient agricultural practices adapted to these challenges are essential to also allow food production in future – especially in vulnerable rural Tanzania in Africa. Agroforestry, intercropping with nitrogen-fixing trees (e. g. gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.))), has great potential to meet these challenges. Designed experiments within science play an important role in generating new knowledge, aiding in the development of sustainable agriculture. However, the structural components of an experiment need to be treated adequately in the analysis. This thesis studies the analysis of a randomised complete block split-split-plot design. The hypotheses of this thesis were that maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield is (I) higher under ambient rainfall compared to drought, (II) increased by fertilization and (III) increased by intercropping with gliricidia. Also, (IV) gliricidia effects were expected to replace chemical fertilization effects. The data analysis of different statistical approaches using R software is discussed critically. An experiment was conducted in randomized complete block split-split-plot design to assess effects on maize grain yield in semi-arid Tanzania. Main-plot factor were maize intercropping treatments with gliricidia and/ or pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.)), split-plot factor was fertilizer treatment (control and nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers) and split-split-plot factor was shelter treatment (ambient and drought). The original dataset was unbalanced containing a missing value. Two additional balanced datasets were created using multiple imputation by chained equations and either PMM (predictive mean matching) or additionally its more recommended extension of DADS (distance-aided donor selection). On these datasets, different methods of model calculation were used: Multi-stratum ANOVA (analysis of variance) versus LMM (linear mixed model), fixed versus random block effect and Satterthwaite versus Kenward-Roger approximation for degrees of freedom. The multi-stratum ANOVA created with the unbalanced dataset was difficult to interpret. Using either balanced dataset, LMMs (linear mixed models) with fixed block effects with REML (restricted maximum likelihood) using Kenward-Roger or Satterthwaite approximation of freedom led to similar results as from multi-stratum ANOVA. External impact on one main-plot of the experiment caused problems due to supressing estimated negative block variances if LMMs were used. This led to partially different results than the multi-stratum ANOVA. Defining the block as fixed instead of random factor eliminated these issues leading to similar results as from multi-stratum ANOVA. If the estimated negative variance was suppressed by the model (random block effect) leading to a complicated covariance structure or the dataset was unbalanced, results with Kenward-Roger approximation were slightly different than with Satterthwaite approximation. In contrast, if the estimated negative variance was excluded (fixed block effect), both approximations led to the same result. The LMM formulation using ML (maximum likelihood) led to different results, probably also due to supressing an estimated negative variance, and was considered inappropriate. Before model simplification, all model assumptions were met though difficult to interpret due to the low sample size. However, after model simplification of the balanced dataset from PMM, the assumption of normal distribution of the LMMs was rejected. Of the LMMs, only the residual residues could be extracted using R packages. The results showed that fertilizer increased yield, confirming the IInd Hypothesis. Unexpectedly, drought increased yield rejecting the Ist hypothesis. Even though this might have been due to waterlogging, experimental errors cannot be ruled out. Both effects were agriculturally very relevant (increases by 100 % and 50 %, respectively). The IIIrd and IVth hypotheses were also rejected, as intercropping did not show any effect and there was no interaction with fertilizer treatment. In conclusion, under these circumstances, gliricidia effects could not replace fertilizer effects, not improving resource use in terms of nutrients. Further research on agricultural methods improving resource use efficiency is needed. Unbalanced datasets with estimated zero block variance are recommended to be analysed in the unbalanced version using a LMM with REML and Kenward-Roger’s approximation and defining the block as fixed factor. Dataset occurrences such as estimated negative variances emphasize the need for interaction in science to publish statistically correct papers.
Phosphorus use effiiency and productivity of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (l.) millsp.) and soybean (glycine max (l.) merrill) on smallholder farms in different agro-ecological zones of central Malawi
(Thesis, 2016-07) Mzumara, Edward
Low soil fertility especially nitrogen (N) is one of the major constraints to increased maize productivity on smallholder farms in Malawi. Integration of grain legumes in maize based systems is one of the strategies to improve soil fertility and yields as legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium bacteria. A study was conducted in the 2013/2014 growing season in Linthipe and Golomoti Extension Planning Areas (EPAs) in Dedza District, and Nsipe EPA in Ntcheu District. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the grain yields and biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) of the sole and intercropped pigeonpea and soybean under two levels of inorganic P fertilizer (0 and 14 kg P ha-1) and to determine the Phosphorus use efficiency (PUE). BNF was assessed using the N difference method. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Soils were sandy clay loams, loamy sand and sandy loams to sandy clay loams for Linthipe, Golomoti and Nsipe respectively. Soil pH was moderately acidic to acidic, pH 4.9 to 5.8 in the three sites. Available soil P (Mehlich-3) averaged 44, 84 and 39mg kg-1; and the mean soil organic matter (OM) were 2.55, 1.63 and 2.39% for Linthipe, Golomoti and Nsipe EPAs, respectively. Soybean grain yields were not affected by cropping system. However, intercropping significantly reduced pigeonpea grain yield by 47%. Similarly, BNF of soybean was not affected by cropping system while that of pigeonpea was reduced by 41% on per crop basis, with intercropping. Overall, intercropping of pigeonpea and soybean was efficient in resource utilization than sole cropping with land equivalent ratio (LER) of 1.44. On area basis, total BNF of the soybean+pigeonpea intercrop system was 90 kg ha-1 which was 67 and 38% higher than the BNF of the sole crops of soybean and pigeonpea, respectively. Site and P fertilizer interaction effects were significant on grain yield and N fixed by soybean. P fertilization increased grain yields of both the sole and intercropped soybean in the mid altitude areas of Linthipe, p=0.002 and Nsipe, p=0.037. Similarly, P fertilizer increased BNF in both sole and intercropped stands of soybean in Linthipe, p=0.039 and Nsipe, p=0.002 over unfertilized. However, P fertilization had no significant effect on soybean grain yields and BNF in the low altitude area, Golomoti. Pigeonpea grain yields and BNF were not affected by P fertilizer at Nsipe and Golomoti EPAs. The PUE values for soybean were 56.9, 25.7 and 41.6 for Linthipe, Golomoti and Nsipe EPAs, respectively and those for pigeonpea were 20.1 and 23 for Golomoti and Nsipe EPAs, respectively. The overall PUE of the soybean + pigeonpea intercrop was 38 and 75% higher than sole cropping of soybean and pigeonpea, respectively. This study showed that intercropping of soybean with pigeonpea and application of inorganic P in mid altitude areas, offer good option for increasing grain yields of the legumes and improves soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation that consequently lower smallholder farmers‘ cost of production.
Farm level analysis of smallholder farmers implementing Sustainable Intensification technologies in Malawi
(Thesis, 2022-05) Cossu, Alessandra
Agricultural systems in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) are highly under pressure as they are required to meet the demand of food without further damage the natural resources. At the same time, smallholder farmers that have to deal with space and resource constraints are asked to increase their agricultural productivity in circumstances where often inputs are difficult or expensive to obtain. Many programs were started in the last decade in SSA with the aim of promoting new agricultural approaches and technologies for smallholder farmers and Sustainable Intensification (SI) is believed to be among the possible solution for agricultural development in such countries. This thesis focused on assessing the farm level performances of different farmer groups (mother, baby and control farms) that were included in a Participatory Action Research (PAR) from Africa RISING project in Malawi. The assessment of performances focused on 10 indicators and included the 5 domains identified by the Sustainable Intensification Assessment Framework (SIAF) : productivity, environmental, economic, human and social. The main objective was to identify significant differences in performances by comparing the results of such indicators by Extension Planning Areas (EPAs) and by farmer group. The EPAs considered for this study were characterized by different bio-physical conditions that cause different productivity potentials in the experimented areas. These differences were at the base of the hypothesis that EPAs were expected to perform differently, especially when considering the productivity indicators. The results showed that the EPA of Linthipe which was identified as the one with the highest potential outperformed other EPAs for maize yields (5132 kg/ha), crop revenues (711 kMWK/year) and the labor (830,4 hours/h/year). The Pareto ranking also confirmed that this EPA counted 3 out of the 7 farmers that found the best compromise among the 10 indicators that were considered for this analysis. On the other hand, the second hypothesis that supposed that mother farmers were expected to outperform the other farmer group due to the higher interaction with researchers and the higher implementation of SI technologies was not confirmed. Although this group of farmers resulted in having a higher implementation/awareness ratio, no indicators showed higher statistical difference when compared to other farmer groups. This analysis also highlighted what previous studies already acknowledged: smallholder farmers are highly heterogeneous in their farm characteristics and endowments and if such variables are considered together with the local bio-physical conditions then it becomes clear that such technologies must be adapted to specific agroecological zones by supporting farmers in their decision process.
Effect of seed generation, rhizobia inoculation and plant density on productivity and seed quality of soybean [Glycine max (l.) Merril] and groundnut [Arachis hypogea (l.)] In Dedza and Machinga districts of Malawi
(Thesis, 2021-11) Kalumba, Jester
Two on-farm, researcher designed-farmer managed trials were arranged in split-plot in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with seed generation as main plot factor while inoculation and plant density were subplot factors for soybean and groundnut trials, respectively, in Dedza and Machinga districts in the 2017/2018 season. Following the field trials, Screen house experiments were conducted at Bunda College, Crop and Soil Sciences Students research farm to evaluate the effect of mother environment on seed quality of soybean and groundnut. This study was laid out in a completely randomised design (CRD). The overall objective of these trials was to investigate effects of seed generation, inoculation, plant density and mother environment on soybean and groundnut productivity and seed quality. In Machinga, response to inoculation for BNF and grain yield of soybean was 67 % (p=0.002) and 27 % (p=0.016) higher in recycled than certified seed, respectively. In Dedza inoculation of soybean significantly increased BNF by 74 % (p=0.004) and grain yield by 21 % (p=0.029), while planting certified soybean increased grain yield by 18 % (p=0.031). In Dedza, planting recycled seed significantly increased BNF by 21.4 % (p=0.011) and grain yield by 24.2 % (p=0.041) while planting groundnut in twin rows increased BNF by 38.5 % (p=0.004) and grain yield by 145.8 % (p<0.001), respectively. In Machinga, planting groundnut in twin rows increased BNF by 32.5 % (p=0.025) and grain yield by 87 % (p<0.001). Because of poor germination for certified groundnut seed, a covariate analysis controlling for plant density revealed that use of certified seed increased BNF and yield of groundnut (p<0.001). Results of screen house experiments showed that mother environment significantly affected seed quality for both soybean and groundnut indicating that seed production site is an important element for production of quality seed.
Effects of gender roles on legume production, utilization and complementary feeding in Dedza and Ntcheu districts of Malawi
(Thesis, 2018-03) Mulenga, Haswel
Child undernutrition remains one of the health challenge among rural farming households in Malawi particularly during the first two years of life. Appropriate complementary feeding practice is essential for proper growth and development of infant and young children. To effectively promote child nutrition, it is important to understand the effect of gender roles, access to and control of resources on child feeding practices. A research study was conducted in Dedza and Ntcheu with legume farming households with children aged 6-23 months who were part of the Africa RISING ‗mother trial‘ or ‗baby trials‘ for two seasons (2014/2015 to 2015/2016). The key objective of the research was to understand and assess the effect of gender roles on infant and young child feeding practices. The research targeted 291 households with children 6-23 months. Eight focus group discussions (FGDs) for in-depth qualitative data were conducted to understand the social, economic and cultural aspects of gender roles in infant and young child feeding. Two 24-hour recalls and food frequency questionnaire were used to collect data on infant and young child feeding practices while women empowerment in agriculture index (WEAI) and Harvard analysis framework were used to collect data on gender roles, activity profile, access and control over resources at household level. A high proportion of children (76.3%) from legume growing households where women had control over resources were provided with a diversified diet compared with only 23.7% of children where men had control over household resources. In addition control over use of income by women had a positive association with regards to minimum meal frequency (P < 0.05) and minimum acceptable diets (P < 0.05) among the children. Involvement of women in partial processing, budgeting and marketing, increased dietary intake of their children as it ensured availability of legumes for a long time. Children from households where women were actively involved in partial processing and budgeting received a diversified diet. Women farmers were more knowledgeable about legumes and played an important role in seed selection, storage and processing; however, the findings indicate that men would appropriate the crop if access to profitable markets is improved, which signals an opportunity to increase women‘s income by involving them in market information. It was also found that the practice of individuals selling small quantities, frequent price fluctuations, and the tendency for vendors and buyers to offer low prices to farmers (especially women) acted as a disincentive to expanding production of the legume as a means of improving child nutrition. In conclusion, efforts to scale multipurpose legumes to improve the food security, nutrition, and poverty situations of poor households in Malawi must consider intra-household dynamics and gender relations that give men the privilege to control income from legume sales and shape whether or not expansion in legume production could contribute to improved child nuturition within the household. Empowering women economically was essential for harvesting the potential food security and poverty reduction benefits of legume expansion and commercialization.
Soil erosion and sediment yield analysis in semi-arid Tanzania (case study of Kongwa District)
(Thesis, 2022-07-15) Mbaga, D.A.
Soil erosion is a most devastating geological hazard and it is a severe problem in central Tanzania especially in the semi-arid regions, and the resultant sediment yield creates threats to sustainable agriculture and ecosystems. But the execution of different mitigation initiatives and policies used to adopt conservation practises in agricultural lands are unsuccessful or in effective due to the lack of spatial information on soil erosion areas. This study attempts to analyze soil erosion prone areas and sediment yield in the Kongwa district using GIS and remote sensing technique. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was used to estimate potential soil losses and sediment yield by utilizing rainfall, soil, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI) and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) datasets. The results obtained demonstrate high soil erosion prone areas in the southern part of the Kongwa district, with the average annual soil loss equal to 66.24ton/ha/year and sediment yield of about 13.58 ton/ha per year. Generally, soil erosion prone areas have been idenified and sediment yield have been generated to support decision making processes regarding development of soil erosion control and adaptive measures for sustainable environment conservation measures. Based on the results obtained it is recommended that the sensitivity analysis of RUSLE model parameters should be carried out.
Healthy soils, healthy plants, healthy humans: A holistic exploration of sustainable intensification effects on farming systems in Malawi
(Thesis, 2021-09) Mathews, M.
Smallholder farmers in Malawi are faced with resource and space constraints, low soil fertility, and vulnerability to climatic shocks. This has led to poor nutritional standing of farmers and their households, and very little ability to break through experienced feedback loops that keep them locked in a state of food and resource insecurity. The connection between soil-land and the human-health axis is only recently gaining momentum, however promising programs focused on sustainable intensification (SI) have begun to be implemented in sub-Saharan Africa to address root causes that lead to multi-dimensional poverty. Approaches such as SI, aim to provide farmers with low-cost accessible technologies that have the potential to optimize spatial resource allocation, increase production, and harness natural processes to mend degraded soils. As there are many SI technologies the scope of this research was to understand the holistic effect that incorporating biologically nitrogen fixing legumes within crop configurations can have on a farm system. Specifically by looking at the differences in space allocated to legume intercropping in the form of legume-legume, maize-legume, and doubled-up legume rotations (DLR). Due to the complex and dynamic nature of farming systems, one change in management may lead to spillover effects throughout the entire farming system. Therefore it was essential that a systems approach was used to analyze not just lower scale processes within the soil, but also higher-level analysis at the household and farm level. To do this, the application of an innovative bio-economic model, FarmDESIGN was employed, which allows for the integration of data at multiple levels. A case study approach was taken between two treatment groups (a mother and baby farm) in Central Malawi, with an additional exploration component carried out to understand potential opportunities, tradeoffs, and synergies that exploratory farm configurations could generate. In the case study analysis of the two treatments, a clear trade off was seen between farms that adopt more space for cash crops, and those that adopt more space for legume-intercropping. With a greater area dedicated to cash crops associated with increased financial standing, but less improvement in soil organic matter and dietary energy yield. While the farm with more space allocated to legume intercropping, was associated with increased levels of environmental and nutritional standing, evidenced by the indicators of increased soil organic matter, and increased dietary energy yield. In exploratory runs the results show when optimizing holistic objectives of nutrition, economic, environment, and social standing the model allocates increased space to legume intercropping configurations. For the mother farm this was seen in increased area to DLR and for the baby farm, legume-maize area. It can be concluded from this that a farms holistic standing increases the more area there is dedicated to legume intercrops.
Assessment of feed resources for ruminant production in northern region of Ghana
(Thesis, 2021-09-15) Wachiebene, S.K.
An evaluation of crop residue utilization in smallholder crop-livestock systems was investigated in two different experiments. The first experiment determined grain and haulms yields of groundnut, and growth performance of Djallonké sheep fed groundnut haulms, cultivated at three different inter-row plant spacings of 30x15cm2, 45x15cm2, 60x15cm2 and 75x15cm2. The experiment was arranged as a randomized complete block design. A total of 60 Djallonké sheep were divided into 12 groups and replicated 3 times. In the second experiment, grain and stover yields, and nutritional quality. In the second experiment, grain, stover yields nutritional quality of leaf stripping of different varieties of maize at different physiological stages of maturity was assessed in in a 3 × 3 factorial treatment arrangement. The three maize varieties (Obatanpa, Omankwa and Abontem) and physiological stage (silking and tasselling) were arranged in a split plot design with four replications. In experiment I, plant spacing significantly (P<0.05) influenced grain and fodder yields with haulm and grain yields decreasing with increasing inter-row plant spacing. Plant spacing also affected feed intake (P<0.001), final weight (P=0.008), weight gain (P=0.010) and ADG (P=0.010). Sheep fed haulm obtained from 30x15cm2, inter-row spacing had lower feed intake compared to 45x15cm2 and 75x15cm2. However, the growth performance (final weight, weight gain and ADG) of sheep fed haulms obtained from 30 x15cm2 were superior (P<0.05) to those fed haulms from 45 x15cm2, 60 x15cm2 and 75 x15cm2 plant spacing. In the second experiment, interaction of leaf stripping and maize maturity-type was not significant on grain, stover, and fodder yields. Similarly, leaf stripping did not have any effect on (P>0.05) grain, stover, and feed yields. Moreover, leaf stripping by maize-maturity type’s interaction and its main effects had no significant effect on crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, metabolizable energy, and in vitro organic matter digestibility The study recommends that crop-livestock farmers are encouraged to cultivate groundnut at a spacing of 30x15cm to obtain the highest results with regards to fodder yield, grain yield and growth performance of sheep. Moreover, farmers adopt the technology of leaf stripping to solve the perennial feed challenges encountered during the rainy season.
Farm performance evaluation: Holistic impact assessment of project promoted sustainable intensification innovations at farm-level in Tanzania
(Thesis, 2021-09-15) Massop, E.
Smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa are characterized by low inputs and consequently low productivity. They are mostly self-sufficient but struggle to meet their own nutritional demand. With a fast-growing population there are even more mouths to feed, but agricultural production is threatened by the consequences of climate change. Sustainable intensification is considered a solution for this complex situation, and the Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation is one of several projects promoting sustainable intensification. This thesis provides a holistic assessment of the project in Tanzania, based on a household survey which included 579 households in Babati, Kilolo, Kongwa and Mbozi districts. The aim was to identify whether farms with a better sustainable intensification performance had more innovations implemented and which combinations of innovations could contribute to this performance. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis was used to identify combinations of innovations, and based on the Sustainable Intensification Assessment Framework several indicators were used to assess performances per cluster. Positive Deviant analysis, based on Pareto-optimality and above average performances for selected indicators, was used to identify farms that performed extraordinarily better. Ten innovation clusters were identified, and the farms in five clusters that used more innovations also had a better performance. A large majority of farms in the better performing clusters made more use of fertilizers, compared with lower performing clusters. There were 52 farms identified as Positive Deviants, and these farms made more use of innovations which were not widely represented in the innovation clusters. The majority of the farms was found in well performing clusters, however the most of these well performing farms and the Positive Deviant farms still used considerable amounts of pesticides, which conflicts with sustainable intensification and thus requires attention for future improvements.
Assessment of land degradation in semi-arid Tanzania: Using remote sensing to inform the Sustainable Development Goal 15.3
(Thesis, 2020-06-22) Reith, J.A.
Monitoring land degradation (LD) to inform the sustainable development goal (SDG) 15.3.1 (\proportion of land that is degraded over total land area") is key to ensure a more sustainable future. At the moment, there are only default medium-resolution datasets available to assess LD in Tanzania. They do not reflect local characteristics and cannot help to target exposed areas spatially. Therefore, this thesis adapts local datasets in interplay with high-resolution imagery to find out how much land is degraded in the semi-arid districts of Kiteto and Kongwa (KK). This approach follows the recommended practice by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). It incorporates freely available datasets like Landsat and uses open-source software in interplay with cloud-computing. Human-induced LD was assessed using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) correcting it for precipitation variability with the Rain Use Efficiency (RUE). Based on Mann-Kendall's tau and using the mean NDVI per growing season, evidence suggests that 18.9% of the study area degraded, while further 14.9% showed early signs of decline. The land cover map by the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resource for Development (RCMRD) spans the years 2000-2018. It showed that in 9.3% of the area there was land cover change and in 7.8% degradation could be found. Forests lost a quarter of their initial size and grasslands decreased by 9.5 %, while croplands increased by over 30 %. Lastly, soil organic carbon (SOC) declined in 8.6% of the study area. A total of 2.6 million tons SOC was lost, most of it in grass- and forestlands. In total, 16.4% of the area in KK districts is degraded for the LDN baseline period. The LD rose to 27.7% for the first monitoring period in 2019. Thus, the regional baseline for the SDG 15.3.1 indicator is set and the first target period assessed. In order to verify these results and make the assessment more precise, an additional collection of SOC data and larger scale ground truth is necessary. To nonetheless achieve LD neutrality until 2030, spatial planning should focus on hotspot areas and implement sustainable land management practices.
Effets de la fertilisation et de la date de semis sur des variétés de sorgho à double usage
(Thesis, 2019-12-15) Togo, A.
Le sorgho est une importante culture céréalière à usage-multiple pour les communautés rurales du Mali à cause de ses graines utilisées pour la consommation humaine et de son fourrage utilisé pour nourrir le bétail. Cependant, malgré cette importance, la production du sorgho demeure largement inférieur à son potentiel bien que des avancées significatives ont été récemment réalisées dans le domaine de l’amélioration variétale notamment l’introduction de nouvelles variétés. L’intensification des pratiques agronomiques s’avère une meilleure approche pour accroître de façon significative la production et la productivité du sorgho. De ce fait, un essai a été mis en place à Samanko pour évaluer l’effet de la date de semis et de la fertilisation sur le nombre total de feuille, la hauteur et les rendements grain et fourrage des variétés à doubles usages Soubatimi et Peke. En conséquence, trois types de fertilisation (la fertilisation avec DAP+Urée, bouse de vache et zéro fertilisation) et trois dates de semis (04/07/2019 ; 18/07/2019 ; 02/08/2019) ont été considérés. Le dispositif utilisé était un split-split-plot avec fertilisation comme bloc principal et les dates de semis étaient en sous-bloc. L’analyse des résultats montre que la bouse de vache est la fertilisation qui impacte positivement tous les paramètres étudiés. Pour les 3 types de fertilisation, Peke a produit plus de feuille que Soubatimi, et Soubatimi a eu une hauteur supérieure à celle de Peke. On remarque que lorsque la fertilisation est apportée Peke produit plus de fourrage que Soubatimi et sans fertilisation, c’est l’inverse que l’on observe. Contrairement au fourrage, le rendement grain le plus élevé a été observé avec Soubatimi sous fertilisation. Et sans fertilisation, on observe l’inverse (1117,2 kg/ha pour Peke contre 518,5 kg/ha pour Soubatimi). Par rapport aux dates de semis, on remarque une décroissance du nombre total de feuille du semis précoce au semis tardif de 17% et 19% respectivement pour Soubatimi et Peke. Des résultats similaires ont été obtenus avec la hauteur. On constate aussi que Peke produit plus de fourrage lorsqu’il est semé tôt et son rendement fourrage baisse lorsque le semis est tardif tandis que Soubatimi produit plus lorsque le semis est moins précoce, son rendement fourrage baisse également lorsque le semis est tardif. Le rendement grain le plus élevé pour les 3 dates de semis a été observé avec Peke 1522,6 kg/ha contre 1238,7 kg/ha pour Soubatimi. L’analyse de l’effet de l’interaction des différents facteurs sur les paramètres étudies montre que l’interaction dates de semis x variétés et l’interaction fertilisation x dates de semis x variétés a un impact hautement significatif sur le rendement fourrage (p-val<.001).
Influence du parcage de nuit des bovins sur la fertilité du sol et la productivité du sorgho à Koutiala en zone Mali-sud
(Thesis, 2019-12-15) Kasse, H.
Le maintien de la fertilité des sols est une préoccupation pour les exploitations agricoles en zone Mali-sud. Cette préoccupation est de plus en plus d’actualité avec des exportations d’éléments minéraux parles récoltes. C’est pour contribuer à l’amélioration de la fertilité des sols et la productivité des cultures par le parcage de nuit des bovins au Mali-sud que la présente étude a été initiée. La méthodologie utilisée a d'abord consisté à mener des enquêtes pour comprendre l’intégration de l’élevage dans l’agriculture pour la gestion de la fertilité des sols par exploitation et évaluer la perception des agro-éleveurs sur la pratique du parcage de nuit des bovins au champ. Ensuite un essai agronomique en plein champ a été conduit dans trois villages. Deux facteurs ont été étudiés : la nuitée de 10 Unité Bétail Tropical (UBT) avec 6 niveaux de variation (0N, DAP, 3N, 7N, 10N et 15N) et la densité de semis du sorgho à 3 niveaux de variation (0,75 m x 0,20 m ; 0,75 m x 0,30 m et 0,75 m x 0,40 m). Les traitements étaient disposés en Split-plot dispersés chez 6 agro-éleveurs dont chaque paysan constituait un bloc. Les résultats des enquêtes ont montré que 57,78% des exploitations interrogées pratiquent le parcage de nuit des bovins contre 42,22% dans les trois villages d’étude. Les contraintes à cette pratique sont principalement liées au manque de fourrage, manque de point d’eau, l’insécurité et enfin la rotation du dispositif. Les résultats obtenus de l’essai agronomique en plein champ, montrent que le dépôt direct de déjections de bovin par le parcage est plus élevé avec 15 nuitées faisant une moyenne de 14,4 t/ha, suivi de celui de 10 nuitées et 7 nuitées produisant respectivement une moyenne de 9,6 t/ha et 6,72 t/ha. La plus faible quantité de matière sèche est obtenue avec le parcage de 3 nuitées produisant une moyenne de 2,88 t/ha. Les 15 nuitées ont permis d’obtenir le plus grand rendement en poids paille de 4,43 t/ha suivi des 7 nuitées avec 4,29 t/ha et des 10 nuitées pour 4,16 t/ha. Le plus faible poids paille a été enregistré avec la parcelle témoin (sans parcage) une quantité de 2,79 t/ha. Nous constatons que, plus la durée du parcage est élevée, plus le rendement en biomasse et en poids paniculaires sont significativement importants.
Evaluation of feed resources for local goat production under traditional management systems in Golomoti EPA Dedza and on-station at Bunda Campus, LUANAR, Malawi
(Thesis, 2020-03-15) Mkutche, C.D.
The on-station study was conducted at Sakhula, Bunda College (LUANAR), and on-farm in Golomoti Extension Planning Area (EPA). The objectives of the study were to assess constraints to goat production, to assess pre-weaning body weights of local Malawi goat kids, to analyze the nutrient content of selected tree and grass fodder species and to evaluate effect of feeding goats with Faidherbia albida pods and Gliricidia sepium based supplements on feed intake, growth rate and carcass quality. The results on constraints to goat production and pre-weaning body weights of local Malawi goat kids were based on a survey of 47 and 79 sample households, respectively. In Golomoti EPA, indigenous goat type was dominant (95.74%); natural grass formed a major feed resource (57.40%); the major disease was diarrhoea (59.6%). The majority of farmers (74.5%) had a shelter constructed for goats on the ground level and the main source of water was the river (91.5%) in wet season and (68.10%) in dry season. The on-farm flock monitoring study on birth weight, weekly body weight and pre-weaning average daily gain, used approximately 67 males and 56 females local goats owned by farmers, to evaluate the growth performance of kids grazing on natural forages with no supplementation. The study revealed that under farm condition, average birth weight of male and female local goat kids were; 3.11±0.04 and 2.49±0.05kg, with pre-weaning average daily gain (ADG) of 116.78±2.99 and 115.00±3.39 g/day, respectively. The diets used in the feeding study were; Diet 1= Grazing plus 410g maize bran (MB), Diet 2 = Grazing plus 405g Gliricidia sepium leaf hay plus 410g maize bran (GLM), Diet 3 = Grazing plus dry 405g Faidherbia albida pods plus 410g maize bran (FDM) and Diet 4 = Grazing plus 202.5g Gliricidia sepium leaf hay plus 202.5g dry Faidherbia albida pods plus 410g maize bran (GFM). Diet 1 had the lowest CP (109±1.99 g/kgDM) than the rest of the diets, while Ash, NDF and ADF in supplement diets were highest in diet 4 with 65.0±5.47, 339.0±9.61and 246.0±6.92 g/kg DM, respectively. For the selected common feed stuff, the mean CP content was highest with legumes and browse trees than grasses; 261.5±7.5 and 57±6.12 g/kgDM, respectively. NDF was highest in grasses (717±18.16 g/kgDM) than in legumes (450±56 g/kgDM. In the feeding trial, thirty-two intact local male goats with average initial live weight of 12-15kg, 7-8 months old were used. Eight goats were randomly allocated to each of the four diets. The study revealed that there was a significant (p<0.05) difference on daily supplement intake between diet 1 and the rest of the diets. Goats on diets 2, 3 and 4 had similar (p>0.05) daily growth rate. The supplemented goats attained better skin percentage gain which were 7.57± 0.34 and 5.69±0.24% in diet 4 and diet 2 for on-station and on-farm study than non-supplemented ones 7.15±0.19 and 5.03±0.98%, respectively. The percentage of some GIT and viscera, like heart, spleen and kidney differed (P<0.05) significantly between diets. The pre-dissection carcass measurements and proportions of quarters were affected (P<0.05) by fodder supplementation. Goats under diet 3 and diet 4 had dressing percent of 43.5±0.536 and 44.38±1.8% for on-station and on-farm, respectively. All in all, goats under fodder supplementation had better feed intake, growth rate, improved body condition and better carcass characteristics than unsupplemented goats.
Growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality and profitability of local Malawi goats under pen fattening conditions
(Thesis, 2020-03-15) Chilanga, F.
A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding different fattening diets based on locally available non-conventional feed resources on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality and profitability of local Malawi goats fattened under pen feeding. Fifty uncastrated local Malawi goat weaners (5 – 6 months old) with initial body weight of 11.55 ± 2.04kg were divided into five groups of 10 animals each and randomly allocated to five treatment categories as follows: S = 60% Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) hay + 40% soya bean (Glycine max)-based concentrate; SA = 60% Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) hay + 40% soya bean (Glycine max) and white thorn tree (Acacia polyacantha) leaf meal-based concentrate; B= 60% Rhodes grass hay (Chloris gayana) + 40% baobab (Adansonia digitata) seedcake-based concentrate; BA= 60% Rhodes grass hay (Chloris gayana) + 40% baobab (Adansonia digitata) seedcake and white thorn tree (Acacia polyacantha) leaf meal-based concentrate; and C = grazing only. Animals in S, SA, B and BA were under pen feeding with total confinement for the entire 84 days trial period while those in C were under extensive management. At the end of the feeding trial, goats were slaughtered for evaluation of carcass and meat quality. Pen fed goats on baobab only-based diet had significantly higher daily gains, final weights and total weight gain, and better feed conversion ratio than the rest of the treatments (P < 0.05). Grazing goats had the least daily gains, carcass weight, final weight and total weight gain. Lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) of the meat was higher in goats under baobab-based pen feeding diets as compared to all other diets. Goat meat from the control diet was darker than that from the rest of diets (lowest L*). Estimated gross margins were high in grazing animals followed by baobab only-based pen feeding diet. However, baobab only-based pen feeding diet had the highest estimated net profit. Current findings indicate that pen feeding of local Malawi goats based on locally available non-conventional feed resources like baobab seedcake improves growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and profit.
Economic cost evaluation of selected vegetable post-harvest losses in Babati District Tanzania
(Thesis, 2017-11-30) Mtui, M.A.
Vegetables remain an important source of nutrients in many parts of the world as they contain essential micronutrients, vitamins, antioxidants, and other health-related phytochemicals. They complement staple-based diets. Economically, vegetable production and marketing has a potential of high profit, employment, income generation and increasing commercialisation of the rural areas. However, vegetables are highly perishable and as such most actors in the vegetable value chain incur high post-harvest losses. In Tanzania, research on vegetable post-harvest losses is limited, yet post-harvest loss reduction may substantially contribute to higher returns leading to improving quality of lives of farmers and other actors in the supply chain. The study quantified the economic post-harvest losses of African egg-plant, amaranth and tomatoes along the supply chain, determined the principal causal factors contributing to selected vegetable postharvest losses and the factors influencing the choice of post-harvest handling practices and techniques. A multi-stage sampling design was adopted for the ultimate selection of 200 vegetable farmers, 50 retailers and 50 wholesalers in Babati district. Descriptive statistics was used to determine the economic post-harvest losses of African eggplant, Amaranth and Tomato. The log-linear regression model was used to determine the principal causal factors contributing to vegetables post-harvest losses and multivariate probit model was used to determine factors that influence farmers’ choice of post-harvest handling techniques and practices. Results showed that farm level vegetable post-harvest losses were higher compared to retail and wholesale market levels. This study found that economic postharvest losses incurred per individual per season for Egg-plant were TZS 408,800, TZS 111,650 and TZS 255,000; Amaranth TZS 181,500, TZS 23,650 and TZS 16,800 and Tomatoes TZS 918,500, TZS 237,000 and TZS 182,100 for farmers, retailers and wholesalers respectively. Field pests and diseases, delays in harvesting or selling and poor storage conditions were the principal causal factors contributing to vegetable postharvest losses along the supply chain. Lastly quantity harvested, education level and access to extension services had significant (p<0.1) positive influence on choice of post-harvest handling techniques while household income and farm-size had significant (p<0.1) negative influence. As a result, there is a need for equipped storage facilities, training on vegetable postharvest handling and marketing, and promotion of simple and cost-effective postharvest technologies among the supply chain actors.
Analyzing performances of selected sustainable land management practices in Gina Beret Watershed, North Shoa
(Thesis, 2016-12-15) Tekalign, Y.
The study was conducted at Basona Werana Woreda North Shewa zone. Land degradation, which includes degradation of vegetation cover, soil degradation and nutrient depletion, is a major ecological problem generally in Ethiopia and particularly in the study area. As a response of the ever expanding land degradation, rehabilitation of degraded lands through intervention of Sustainable land management has been practiced in the study area. Despite these efforts, there are no studies in the area, which would provide information on the effectiveness of different intervened sustainable land management practices for further up scaling in the study area. The main aim of the study is to identify, characterize and examine the performance of selected sustainable land management practices in the study area. Selected sustainable land management practices include Tree Lucerne with stone bund, Phalaris with Stone bund, only stone bund, which was introduced in the past three years and area without Sustainable Land Management practice as a control was compared with each other in selected farm lands. All 30 houses hold farmers of the watershed, 5 five key informants and 12 farm lands were selected purposively for the survey and data obtained from agriculture experts of the Kebele. Data collection method include transect work, questionnaire survey, key informant interviews and field observation. Transects were used to collect soil samples and questionnaires to gather the necessary information from the sampled households and key informants. A total of 24 soil samples were taken from selected areas. Six soil samples were taken from each practice site. The samples were compared for selected nutrient. The results of soil chemical property analysis revealed that, the status of soil organic matter, total nitrogen and available phosphorous of the soil with each selected sustainable land management practice showed significant difference. Sustainable land management practices improved farm land soil fertility through maintaining organic matter and plant nutrients and improving soil structure increasing water infiltration and reducing run off. The reason for soil fertility differences may not only be the introduction of set of sustainable land management practices but also to the difference in land management history of the farm lands. The decline in fertility of the soil without the practices may be the removal of plant nutrient by erosion and depletion of soil. The farmers prioritize sustainable land management practices phalaris with stone bund first Tree Lucerne with stone bund second and finally the stone bund are very effective in improving farm land soil fertility. Finally, based on the findings of the study, it has been recommended that farmers has to be encouraged and need to be aware from planning phase to implementation in improving the quality of measures. They have to protect bunds from grazing, practice cut and carry for stall feeding and carry out the maintenance of the structures by themselves. They have to introduce combinations of land management practices with good land management for effective crop land improvement in order to achieve sustainability and food security.
Mapping and quantification of crop livestock interventions in Africa Rising sites of Ethiopian highlands
(Thesis, 2017-05-15) Mulugeta, M.
Agriculture is the backbone of the Ethiopian economy and therefore this particular sector determines the growth of all the other sectors and, consequently, the whole national economy. The agricultural sector contributes 42% to the country’s GDP, on average, crop production makes up 60% of the sector’s outputs whereas livestock accounts for 27% and other areas contribute 13% of the total agricultural value added (CSA, 2015). The sector is dominated by small-scale farmers who practice rain-fed mixed farming by employing traditional technology, adopting a low input and low output production system. RD&E in smallholder agriculture often focuses on specific elements of the farming system, sometimes leading to the introduction of improved agricultural technologies. There has been a plenty of efforts to achieve sustainable intensification in agricultural production, but many efforts fail to map the dissemination of the crop-livestock interventions, to quantify the inputs saved and the extra amount of outputs obtained by the use of improved technologies and to identify the factors affecting the dissemination of the crop-livestock intervention. As a result, this study was conducted with the objectives of mapping the dissemination of the crop-livestock interventions, quantification of the inputs saved and extra outputs obtained and identification of the factors affecting the dissemination. The study was conducted in the eight kebeles of four districts; Lemo from Hadiya Zone, South region; Sinana from Bale Zone, Oromia region; Basona Worena from North Shewa Zone, Amhara region and Endamehoni from South Tigray Zone, Tigray region. In order to generate relevant data, 160 farm households who were participating in the Africa RISING project were selected using multistage sampling technique. This study also showed that potato (ware and seed) varieties introduced by the project propagated within and outside of the intervention locations. Farmers liked potato for its adaptability and high productivity in all four locations. The duality of the function (food and income) of the potato for the smallholders households make it the most disseminating crop across all sites. Potato yield on average was 16 tons per hectare where as the existing national average was 10 tons per hectare. An average yield of wheat was 21.5 quintals per hectare, average barley yield was 13 quintals and average faba bean yield was 14 quintals per hectare. In terms of profitability potato could fetch on average 62713 birr per hectare when the market price is high, but due to the perishability of the potato and market fluctuation, the net return is not consistent. Faba bean returns about 25866 birr per hectare and wheat returns 10187 birr per hectare whereas barley returns on average 3361 birr per hectare. The most important factors affecting the dissemination of the crop-livestock interventions in the study areas are: education level of the farmers in schooling years, technology characteristics of the interventions, farmers’ perception about the yield, and time after the intervention, extension contact and communication channels. Hence, the future crop livestock interventions seeking to achieve sustainable intensification should carefully consider and choose improved agricultural technologies suitable for the particular agro-ecologies and should give due attention for the factors that affect the dissemination of the crop-livestock technologies.
Biomass yield and nutritive value of sweet lupine in mid altitudes of Lemo District, Hadiya Zone, southern Ethiopia
(Thesis, 2017-11-15) Tessema, F.
The study was conducted to determine the biomass yield and nutritive value of sweet lupine varieties in mid altitudes of lemo district, hadiya zone, southern Ethiopia. The study involved a factorial experiment arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments for the study were two sweet lupine varieties (Vitabore (V1) and Sanabore (V2), six levels of Planting spacing (30cmx7cm (S1), 40cmx7cm (S2), 30cmx15cm (S3), 40cmx15cm (S4) 30cmx20cm (S5) and 40cmx20cm (S6) and two locations (Upper gana and Jewe kebeles). Agronomic attributes, yield, chemical composition, and in vitro digestibility values were studied. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and correlation analysis. Sweet lupine varieties in Upper gana kebele gave the highest green forage yield (39.58 t/ha) and forage dry matter (4.84 t/ha) at 30 cm x 7cm planting spacing. Grain yield (GYD) was significantly (P<0.001) affected by location, being 2.98 t/ha at Upper gana, and 2.15 t/ha at Jewe. Vitabor in Jewe kebele gave higher forage DM content (15.63%) while sanabor had higher forage ADF content (38.86 %) in Upper gana kebele. Sweet lupine forage in Jewe kebele gave the highest organic matter (87.01%) and acid detergent fiber (37.50 %) content at stage of 100 % flowering respectively. The effect of location (L), stage of flowering (SF) and planting spacing(S) on sweet lupine forage crude protein (CP) content was highly significant (P < 0.01). Metabolizable energy content of sweet lupine forage was significantly (P < 0.01) affected by both location and stage of flowering. Sweet lupine forage in Upper gana kebele gave the highest CP content (23.11%) while sweet lupine varieties at 50% flowering had the highest forage CP content (23.03%). The highest forage CP content was recorded in sweet lupine which was planted at 40 cm × 20 cm (23.67 %). The highest metabolizable energy content was obtained in Jewe kebele (9.31MJ/kg) and at stage of 100% flowering (9.44MJ/kg). In vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) of sweet lupine forage was highly affected (P < 0.01) by both location (L) and planting spacing (S). Sweet lupine forage gave the maximum in vitro OM digestibility (68.15%) in Upper gana kebele while planting at a spacing of 40x20 cm gave the highest in vitro OM digestibility (69.10%). Sweet lupine grain crude protein (CP) content and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) was highly (P<0.01) affected by location. The highest CP (29.11%) content and IVOMD (80.49%) sweet lupine grain recorded in Upper gana kebele.
Influence of varietal selection and treatments on the nutritive value of selected pulse crop residue
(Thesis, 2017-05-15) Alkhtib, A.S.
The current study was aimed to analyze the utilization of crop residue in the mixed farming systems of Ethiopia, to explore the possibility of improving straw yield and nutritive value of chickpea, faba bean and lentil without compromising grain yield and to identify the effect of dung and wood ash treatments on the nutritive value of chickpea, faba bean and lentil straw. Data on crop residue production and utilization was collected in two highland regions of Ethiopia from 160 households. To assay the varietal variation and food-feed relation in faba bean, 4 improved and released variety and one local variety were planted at the Sinana Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia during 2014-2015 cropping season. To evaluate the variability in grain yield and straw traits in chickpea and lentil, 24 improved varieties and one local variety of each crop were replicated four times in a randomized complete block trial in two locations of Debre Zeit Research Center during the 2013-2014 cropping season. Straw from plots of the local varieties of the trials was used to determine the effect of 4% urea treatment, dung ash treatment (0g ash/L, 100 g ash/L, 200 g ash/L 300 g ash/L) and wood ash treatment (0 g ash/L, 150 g ash/L, 200 g ash/L) on the nutritional value. All straw samples were analyzed for proximate analysis, in vitro organic matter digestibility and metabolizable energy using a combination of Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy and conventional feed analyses methods. Results showed that farmers prefer using crop residue from pulses over crop residue from cereals for livestock feeding purposes. Proportions of cereal and pulse residue used for soil mulch was positively affected by education level of the farmer, distance between homestead and cultivated land, extension service, awareness about soil mulch, slope of cultivated land, participation in farmer-to-farmer extension and crop residue generated in the preceding season. The proportion of crop residue from pulses that was used as feed was positively affected by education level of the farmer, livestock extension service, number of small ruminants and crop residue stack from the previous season. The effect of the variety, location and variety-location interaction on grain yield, straw yield and straw nutritive value was significant in chickpea and lentil. The correlation between grain yield and straw traits of chickpea was weak in all locations. Grain yield of lentil correlated weakly to crude protein and ME in Chefe Donsa while it correlated moderately to crude protein in Zebre Zeit. Grain and straw yields were positively, strongly and significantly correlated in faba bean. Grain yield of faba bean correlated weakly to the nutritive value parameters of straw. Varietal variations in grain yield, straw yield and straw quality traits within its fractions were significant. The botanical structure of faba bean straw can be used as a reliable method for screening faba bean genotypes for straw quality. Urea treatment showed potential to improve the nutritive value of chickpea, faba bean and lentil straw. Dung ash treatment up to 300 g ash/L and wood ash treatment up to 200 g ash/L did not improve the nutritive value of chickpea, faba bean and lentil straw. Integrating straw yield and nutritive value into improvement programs of chickpea, faba bean and lentil could improve the nutrients supply for livestock and increase the amount of cereal straws allocated to soil mulching.

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