Untitled

FACTORS INFLUENCING ADOPTION OF AGROFORESTRY PRACTICES

Mon, 23 May 2016 00:00:00 GMT

FACTORS INFLUENCING ADOPTION OF AGROFORESTRY PRACTICES MUGURE, AGNES SORRE The Kenyan government has throughout its history come up with ambitious agricultural policies and strategies seeking to enhance agricultural production and performance as a tool to improve the livelihood of majority of its citizens that are rural-based. After nearly 20 years of agroforestry research in the country, smallholder farmers that are often faced with low crop production, soil erosion, scarcity of fuel wood and fodder, would be expected to adopt agroforestry practices. However, there seems to be low rate of adoption. The main objective of the study was to examine factors that influence the adoption of agroforestry practices in Nambale Division, Busia County. More specifically, the study sought to examine the types of agroforestry practices that exist in the area, to assess farmer-oriented factors that influence adoption of agroforestry practices, to examine technical factors (biophysical conditions, tree varieties, skills, knowledge) that influence adoption of agroforestry, to assess community oriented factors (socio-cultural) that influence the adoption of agroforestry practices, and to evaluate the benefits of agroforestry farming practices to households in Nambale Division, Busia County. This study was guided by the Agroforestry Decision Making Theory by Rene Koppelman and James H. French (1996). According to the theory, adoption of agroforestry by farmers at the household level is a decision making process that is influenced by various sets of factors: onfarm and off-farm factors. The target population was the farmers while households were the units of analysis. Purposive sampling was used to select the study area and the key informants, while simple random sampling technique was used to select the 200 respondents that participated in the study. A semi-structured questionnaire, key informant interviews, informal discussions and direct observation were used for data collection. Data was analyzed both qualitatively (through descriptions and narratives) and quantitatively (through descriptive statistics). Results indicated that agrisilviculture, boundary planting and trees in homesteads were the common agroforestry practices; level of education, land ownership, land size, gender and household headship influenced the decision to adopt agroforestry practices; lack of technical information on agroforestry and/or contradicting information, land limit, limited sources of information including low extension services, and lack of seeds also influenced adoption of agroforestry practices at the household level. Results also indicated that belief and use of specific agroforestry species influenced their adoption. Results further showed that most household engaged agroforestry practices for environmental, medicinal, economic and livelihood benefits. The study concluded that although agroforestry benefitted farmers, they would gain more if they improved on the current agronomic practices. The study recommends provision of various information sources to farmers and training on agroforestry practices that would optimize benefits for the households.

EFFECTS OF VARIATIONS IN NUTRIENT CONTENT OF WILD FORAGE AND RAIDED CROPS ON FORAGING BEHAVIOUR OF AFRICAN ELEPHANTS (Loxodonta africana ) IN RIMOI GAME RESERVE, KENYA

Mon, 23 May 2016 00:00:00 GMT

EFFECTS OF VARIATIONS IN NUTRIENT CONTENT OF WILD FORAGE AND RAIDED CROPS ON FORAGING BEHAVIOUR OF AFRICAN ELEPHANTS (Loxodonta africana ) IN RIMOI GAME RESERVE, KENYA KOSKEY, J.A. African elephants (Loxodonta Africana) are known to be crop raiders and feed on large quantities of food. They are also mixed feeders, ingesting both grass and browse in varying proportions. The elephants demonstrate distinct preference for different plant species in the ecosystem. Due to their immense body size, elephants have a key ecological role that is defined by their need for great quantities of food, water and habitat. With continuous loss of habitat, elephants are forced to extend their feeding range depending on the type and quality of available food. Decision to feed on crops outside protected areas was influenced by the nutrients in crops or vegetation outside the protected area. A survey in the conservation area was carried out to find the crop raiding situation. 311 respondents were randomly sampled from the population and snow ball sampling technique used to identify the respondents to be interviewed. Data on preference were obtained by making a systematic record of forage preferred. These data was deduced from records of plants which showed signs of recent elephant use. Debarked, browsed or grazed vegetation were picked with the use of secateurs, identified, tallied and air dried in the field. Twenty five plants were considered for laboratory analysis. Nine nutrients were analysed for, which included: Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Copper, Manganese, Sodium and Neutral detergent fiber. Three samples of each plant were taken and the procedure of Chapman and Pratt (1961) with slight modification was used in the analysis of macro and micro nutrients, while Kejldahl procedure was used in the analysis of nitrogen. Landsat images were down loaded from the global land cover facility using path 169 and row 060. Bands 2, 3 and 4 were clipped to study the area shape file and false colour composite. The area was classified using the Anderson classification scheme based on three classes: trees, woodlands and shrubs. This was done in Arc GIS 9.3 and processed using Erdas imagine 9.2. Statistical analysis was carried out by use of descriptive, ANOVA and regression analyses. The popular form of conflict in this region arises from crop depredatin (52.4%). Results showed that maize (86.5%) was the most raided crop and the most preferred wild forage were Acacia tortilis (22.5%), Balanites aegyptiaca (14.8%), Acacia mellifera (9.6%), Zizyphus mucronata (7.5%) and Acacia brevispica (7.1%). There was significantly positive correlation (R2 >0.45, P < 0.001) between the feeding preference and level of nutrients among plant species. Landsat TM trajectories showed vegetation cover to have declined over the years (Cramer‟s V = 0.3997), indicating that forage availability for elephants was most likely decrease. The major source of human elephant conflict in this region was crop depredation, while Acacia formed the bulk of forage preferred by L. african Africana. The most preferred wild forage was Acacia tortilis, though the bark had high NDF. The vegetation in the conservation area had declined between 1986 and 2006. In this region, the elephant population should be closely monitored to avoid exceeding the carrying capacity and the local authority in charge should institute measures that would encourage the local community to support elephant conservation.

ELECTROCHEMICAL TREATMENT OF TEXTILE DYE WASTE

Mon, 23 May 2016 00:00:00 GMT

ELECTROCHEMICAL TREATMENT OF TEXTILE DYE WASTE MAGHANGA, JUSTIN K. Textile factories such as Rift Valley Textile Limited (RIVATEX) in Eldoret Kenya produce large volumes of wastewater which is alkaline, highly coloured and has high chemical oxygen demand (COD) and can adversely affect human health and aquatic life. Two electrochemical oxidation methods using boron doped diamond (BDD) and stainless steel (SS) anode were investigated for the treatment of such wastewaters. Two dyes widely used at RIVATEX namely; C.I. Reactive Red 76 (RR) and C.I. Disperse Blue 79 (DB) were used as model dyes and the parameters studied were:- applied voltage, dye concentration, supporting electrolyte, current density, surface area to volume ratio, inter-electrode distance, pH and temperature. Treated water was then analyzed for pH, colour, electrical conductivity and chemical oxygen demand. Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) was carried out to characterize SS electrode while UV-VIS was used to study the degradation of dye molecules. The optimum conditions obtained using SS were; potential difference of 10 V, S/V ratio of 16 m2/m3 in RR and 20 m2/m3 in DB, NaCl supporting electrolyte 4g/l and 6g/l in RR and DB respectively, electrode gap of 12 mm and a pH of 6.5. It was found that increasing current density led to a reduction in treatment time and a reduction in COD while increasing temperatures led to reduction in specific energy consumption as well as electrocoagulation time. It was found that DB had a lower specific energy consumption compared to RR. Electrocoagulation with SS anode produced Fe (III) hydroxide coagulant resulting from oxidation of Fe. Dye molecules were destabilized and formed “flocs” which were adsorbed on the surface of coagulant. The optimum conditions for BDD were; pH 8, temperatures below 40 °C, dye concentrations below 10 mg/L, electrode gap of 12 mm, current density of 300 Am-2, 4g/l NaCl (RR) and 2g/l Na2SO4 (DB). Addition of NaCl reduced both degradation time and specific energy more than Na2SO4. Increasing current density enhanced degradation and reduced treatment time by 50 % while high temperatures reduced degradation efficiency. Increasing dye concentration led to increased specific energy consumption and treatment time. RR required lower specific energy and less time for complete mineralization than DB. SEM/EDX studies indicated that the SS electrode was chromic steel that underwent surface corrosion during electrocoagulation process. UV-VIS spectroscopy indicated that decolourization was achieved completely with SS and BDD electrodes. Hydroxyl radicals were developed on the BDD surface and degraded the dye molecule by oxidizing the organic molecule and shifting the absorption spectra from the VIS region. NaCl electrolyte was found to be superior to Na2SO4 in degradation efficiency as high COD removal of 84 – 94 % was obtained at 30 – 60 Am-2 current densities. Treatment of RIVATEX wastewaters required 180 min for 92 % COD reduction; however colour removal was achieved in 20 min. The key parameters in degradation were; pH, supporting electrolyte, current density and temperature. It was concluded that RIVATEX can adopt and use combined textile wastewater treatment technologies for colour removal followed by organic degradation. iv

EFFECTS OF NITROGEN FERTILIZER AND HERBICIDE COATED MAIZE

Mon, 23 May 2016 00:00:00 GMT

EFFECTS OF NITROGEN FERTILIZER AND HERBICIDE COATED MAIZE KIMUTAI, GEOFFREY Striga hermonthica (witch weed) infestation and low soil fertility are two major constraints to maize production in western Kenya. The low inherent soil fertility and poor crop management practices result in subsequent Striga infestation thereby reducing maize productivity and driving several rural households into extreme poverty. Because of this, maize production averages 0.2 to 0.5 tons per hectare which is below the national potential average of 6 tons per hectare. Farmers in the region respond to the problem through various available Striga control methods developed by researchers. For instance, inorganic N fertilizers, resistant/tolerant maize varieties, hand pulling of witch weed, irrigation and use of cover crops have been tried by farmers. Each of these has been done on its own, not in combination with others, no significant effect on witch weed reported. The combination of two or more of these methods can bring a significant reduction of the weed. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of two maize varieties (IR maize and DH04) in combination with inorganic N fertilizer in reducing Striga infestation and seed bank, improving soil fertility and increasing maize yields. Field experiments were conducted in Bondo, Siaya and Vihiga districts, western Kenya for two consecutive seasons (short rainy season, 2011 and long rainy season, 2012). Treatments included two maize varieties (IR maize and dry land hybrid maize (DH04)), two inorganic N fertilizer rates (0 Kg N ha-1 and 60 Kg N ha-1) and two soil fertility status, (low and high soil fertility status). The treatments were arranged in a split-split plot structure in a complete randomized block design (CRBD) replicated 30 times (using farms as replicates). soil fertility status and Maize varieties were assigned to the main and sub plot respectively while N fertilizer rates was assigned to sub-sub plots. Fertilizer N was applied at a rate of 60 kg N ha-1 in split application of 25 kg ha-1 at planting and 35 kg ha-1 at 6 weeks after planting. All treatments received basal phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) at rates of 30 kg ha-1. Results showed that the fertilized plots had significantly (P≤0.05) higher percentage nitrogen over the unfertilized plots in all the sites. In Bondo, Siaya and Vihiga, the percentage increase in total N was by 17%, 13% and 21%, respectively. The fertilized plots with IR maize significantly (P≤0.05) reduced Striga emergence by 38%, 20% and 29% in Bondo, Siaya and Vihiga, respectively. Striga emergence was significantly (P≤0.05) lower in the high fertility soils compared to low fertility soils. Addition of nitrogen fertilizer at 60 kg N ha-1 significantly (p<0.05) increased maize grain yield relative to control in all the sites. IR maize in the fertilized plots significantly (P≤0.05) reduced Striga seed bank density by more than 50% in all the sites across the rainy seasons. Combining resistant/tolerant maize varieties with N fertilizers is an effective strategy of controlling Striga and increasing maize yields in low fertility soils of western Kenya. It is recommended that farmers in western Kenya should practice combinations of IR maize with 60 kg ha-1 of N-fertilizer to reduce Striga density and increase maize grain yield. iii