Irish potatoes are an important crop only promoted in cool and high moist conditions of Rwanda. This study explored the productivity of Irish potatoes varieties under increasing nitrogen fertilizer applications in drier agro-climatic conditions of the eastern Rwanda. Potato seeds mass-selected from locally-grown varieties in the region surrounding Kibungo town (-2.160897°, 30.543591°) were planted under rain-fed conditions, during the March to June agricultural season of 2015, in the three experimental farms of the University of Kibungo at Karenge, Mugesera and Rwamagana, respectively located in Kibungo town, 30 km West and 50 km North of Kibungo town. The most performing three varieties were tested again in 2016A season (October to January, 2016) at Kibungo and Rwamagana. For each season, and at each farm, four nitrogen application rates (0, 60, 120, and 180 kg N ha-1) were tested. Phosphate and potash were supplied in sufficient amounts of 150 kg P 2 O 5 ha-1 and 60 kg K 2 0 ha-1 , respectively. No fertilizers were applied on the control treatment. A split plot design and three replicates were used with varieties in main plots and nitrogen in sub-plots. Plant growth rate, shoot counts, tuber calibration, and total and market potato tuber yields were monitored. Four varieties yielded 10 tons ha-1 or more of total potato tuber yields in 2015B season. Three of them, namely Kirundo, Gasore, and Peko varieties, were re-tested in 2016. Over the two seasons, Kirundo variety stood out with 12.8 and 10.5 tons ha-1 of total and marketable tuber yields, respectively. All the varieties significantly responded to nitrogen fertilizer. However, Kirundo variety, respectively yielded 22 tons and 17 tons ha-1 of total and market potato tuber yields under 120 kg N ha-1 during the 2016A season. Irish potato can therefore be grown and produce substantial yield in eastern Rwanda, provided that appropriate nitrogen fertilization and seed quality are available.
The purpose of this paper was to evaluate technical conformity of bench terraces in the Eastern Province of Rwanda. A sample of 180 actual bench terraces from 12 sites located in this Province was tested against technical standards and models provided for by the Ministry of Agriculture of Rwanda and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The results showed that many sites have been constructed with no consideration of these technical guidelines. Terraces were built on land slopes lower or higher than standards while terrace riser slopes above 90% and height above 2.9 m were frequent. Findings indicated weak correlation coefficient (r=0.314), although very significant, between field-measured and Agriculture Organization model-computed vertical intervals, and very weak but significant correlation coefficient (r = 0.194) between terrace measured and model-derived widths. In such circumstances, land terracing might have increased risks of landslide and erosion with no sustainable benefit for soil erosion control and crop production.
Vertical farming implies growing crops in superimposed growth beds. This study assessed the effects of vertical distance between growth beds and growth medium on beans and tomatoes. Three levels of vertical spacing and three levels of growth medium were studied in a split plot design and three replicates. The vertical distance was tested in main plots while the growth medium was tested in subplots. The main plot was a wood-made vertical structure with the ground growth bed and the top bed vertically separated by either 80, 120 or 160 cm. The subplot was a bottom-holed plastic bucket containing a thorough growth mix of loam soil and 0, 40, or 60% added manure (volume/volume). Three buckets were used per growth medium and growth bed, making 6 observations for each factorial combination. Tomato was cropped after bush bean harvest. Maximum bean grain yields were projected for 130 cm vertically spaced beds and for 30% added manure growth medium. Maximum tomato fruit yields should be expected for growth medium containing more than 60% manure and for spacing distance above 160 cm. Vertical farming appeared highly productive with 0.86 kg m -2 of total dry bean grain yield and 14.1 kg m -2 of total tomato fruits from the two beds.
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