Exotic mango varieties can improve the livelihood security and increase profitability of mango growers in Uganda. There are however, several factors like pests, diseases and orchard management practices which limit mango production and productivity. The study sought to investigate farmers' knowledge and perceptions of mango pests and diseases and orchard management practices in West Nile zone (WNZ) of Uganda. Farmers growing exotic mango varieties were selected from six districts namely, Arua, Maracha, Koboko, Yumbe, Moyo and Nebbi in WNZ. Both purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to identify 90 respondents who were interviewed with a semi structured questionnaire. The data was analyzed both descriptively and inferentially. Chi square tests were used to analyze farmers' perception on pests and diseases. Multinomial logit was used to analyze factors influencing choice of orchard management practices. The results showed a significant variation in perception of farmers on incidence, severity and yield loss due to various pests (fruit flies, seed borer, termites, scales and mealy bugs) and, diseases (anthracnose, bacterial black spot, powdery mildew, algal leaf spot and sooty mould). Farmers' choice to take a particular management practice like pruning, spraying, manuring and mulching were influenced by age of mangoes, extension service, education level and sex. It was concluded that many pests and diseases of exotic mangoes existed in WNZ and sound scientific orchard management practices were still lacking among the mango farmers. The study recommended awareness creation on various mango pests and diseases, and capacity enhancement of farmers and extension staff on scientific orchard management practices.
Cassava viral diseases particularly cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) and cassava mosaic disease (CMD) have put pressure on cassava breeders to develop varieties that are resistant/tolerant to them. Several cassava varieties have been rolled out to farmers with the latest being NAROCASS series that are tolerant to these diseases. The yield performance of these new varieties have not been documented in some sub zones like Adjumani district that falls within a major West Nile agro-ecology of Uganda. Therefore this study sought to established yield performances of, reactions to major diseases, and farmers’ preference to these newly released cassava varieties in Adjumani. Results showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences among cassava varieties and experimental sites for all the parameters evaluated. Average yield performance by varieties were in the order of a local cassava—Alifasia (8.7 t/Ha) lowest, NAROCASS 2 (18.55 t/Ha), NASE 14 (33.97 t/Ha), NASE 19 (41.26 t/Ha), and NAROCASS 1 (41.71 t/Ha) highest. CMD foliar symptom was present at all sites on a local cassava—Alifasia, and on NAROCASS 1 in Ayiri parish, Ukusijoni sub-county. CBSD foliar symptoms were observed on off-types (TME 14) in the plot of NASE 14 in Miniki Parish only whereas CBSD root necrosis was observed at all sites on the local cassava—Alifasia, and on NASE 19 in Maaji parish, Ukusijoni sub-county. Cassava root rot disease was localised in Ukusijoni sub-county only. Farmers’ preferences to these newly released cassava varieties were in the order of NASE 19 (40.96%), NAROCASS 1 (24.86%), NAROCASS 2 (15.82.28%), NASE 14 (15.54%), and a Local cassava—Alifasia (2.83%). Result from this study strengthens the information gap in the breeding process towards developing a cassava variety with farmer-preferred attributes, and can also inform the utilisation of these improved cassava varieties in Adjumani district.
Purpose: To evaluate the predictive capacity common procedures for soil P extraction and testing in laboratories in the region.
Materials and Methods: A pot study with treatments viz. soil phosphorus extraction methods (Bray I, Bray II and Mehlich 3), and six P application rates (0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 kg P ha-1). Maize (Zea mays L.) variety Longe IV was the test crop. A Ferralsol from northwestern Uganda (West Nile) was used in this study.
Results and Conclusion: Mehlich 3 correlated most with plant P uptake by presenting the highest correlation coefficient with plant P content (r = 0.254) and a number of leaves per plant (r = 0.733). A strong positive correlation existed between Bray I and Mehlich 3 extractable P values (r = 0.975), suggesting lack of a marked difference between them; implying that either of the two procedures could be applied for soil P extraction in Ferralsols. However, Mehlich 3, being a multi-nutrient extractant, was recommended as the most suitable for P extraction for the Ferralsol used in this study.
Agriculture depends on the ability of seeds to survive until the next planting season under ambient conditions that may be averse to seed quality even when the seed is in a quiescent state. Seed priming invigorates seeds, but the impact on the longevity of seeds has limited its adoption. This study investigated the effect of the storage of primed rice seed on seed viability, vigor, and longevity. Three seed priming methods were employed on the rice cultivar New Rice for Africa (NERICA 4) seeds. Subsequently, the seeds were stored for 120 days at 25 °C and 65% relative humidity, simulating the ambient seed storage conditions of the tropics and sub-tropics. The primed seed recorded increased vigor compared to the non-primed seed until 90 days of storage. However, seed storage for 120 days reduced seed vigor and viability for all the seeds. The results indicated a significant reduction in seed vigor, increased solute leakage, generation of hydrogen peroxide, and accumulation of malondialdehyde after storage. Priming enhances cell membrane integrity and maintains seed vigor in storage at near ambient conditions long enough before reversal of its performance by the storage conditions. This assures that primed seed can either be stored until the following planting season or remain viable in the soil during delayed germination.
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