The response of legumes to the application of phosphorus was tested in the upper midland 3 agro-ecological zone in a humic Nitisol at Karurina Location of Embu District in the central Kenya region. The legumes tested were Mucuna pruriens, Canavalia ensiformis, Glycine max, Crotalaria ochroleuca and Lablab purpureus. A split plot design was used in which 17 kg/ha phosphorus was applied to half of the plot and the remainder was planted without any P. Nodulation and biomass assessment were conducted at the respective flowering stages for each of the legumes tested. The results revealed that all legume species tested formed effective nodules at either the tap root or the lateral roots. Crotalaria showed the highest level of nodule formation whereas Canavalia formed one or no nodules per plant. Mucuna showed the highest level (4.13 t/ha) of biomass accumulation while Canavalia gave the lowest (0.56 t/ha) amount of biomass. Addition of phosphorus did not affect nodulation or biomass accumulation in any of the legume species tested.
Sorghum is an important food crop in the world that exhibits a predominant role in fulfilling the nutritional requirements, particularly in low‐income group populations of marginal areas in Kenya. It is a principal source of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and crude fibers (CFs), which are important nutrients necessary for human development and health. Reduced tannin in sorghum grains is desirable since it affects the availability of nutrients. This study aimed at assessing the nutrient content in filial generation one (F1) developed between Gadam (sorghum), which is low in tannin and hard coat tannin (sorghum) cultivars. The nutrient content analyses were carried out from samples collected in a completely randomized design experiment. Crude protein (CP) and tannin content were analyzed using the modified Kjeldahl method and vanillin‐HCl methanol method, respectively, whereas moisture, fat, CF, ash, and carbohydrate contents were determined using Association of Official Analytical Chemists methods. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance using R statistical software. Among the F1s, Kari/Mtama‐1 x Gadam recorded the highest CP value of 10.390%. This differed significantly from Gadam x Kari/Mtama‐1 which recorded CP content of 9.770%. Kari/Mtama‐1 x Gadam recorded the highest fat and moisture contents of 2.299% and 8.600%, respectively. The highest CF content of 3.433% was recorded in Gadam x Serena. Gadam x Kari/Mtama‐1 recorded the highest ash content of 1.619%, whereas the highest carbohydrate (84.503%) and tannin content (0.771 mg/g) means were recorded in Seredo x Gadam. Results demonstrated that the choice of maternal and paternal parent influence CP, CF, and carbohydrate contents. Among the F1s, tannin content ranged from 0.106 to 0.771 mg/g compared to 0.953 to 1.763 mg/g recorded in Serena and Seredo (hard coat seeded cultivars). This is an indication that tannin can be downregulated through hybridization.
Gadam cultivar of sorghum has been characterized by low yields compared to the international yield levels of sorghum. In this research, Gadam was crossed with Serena, Seredo, and Kari/Mtama-1 in an attempt to increase yield through heterosis. The objective of this study was to determine the level of compatibility and heterosis in crosses between Gadam and the three sorghum lines in a reciprocal crossing. Gadam was crossed with the three lines and their reciprocals to make six treatments that were subjected to compatibility and heterosis tests. The F1 hybrid lines and their parental controls were sown in a randomized complete block design in three replicates. Compatibility and heterosis data variances were analyzed using R statistical software. The cross between Gadam x Serena, Serena x Gadam and the parent Gadam exhibited moderate mean plant height ranging from 99.5 cm to 120.5 cm. The cross Gadam x Serena recorded a desirable negative mid-parent heterosis of -19.89 and -16.16 for plant height and days to maturity respectively. All F1 hybrids recorded positive mid-parent heterosis for the panicle length, the number of reproductive tillers, a thousand seed weight, and the number of tillers per plant. The crosses Gadam x Seredo, Seredo x Gadam, Gadam x Serena and Kari/Mtama-1 x Gadam recorded significantly lower grain filling percentages compared to their parents. In conclusion, the F1 hybrids differed significantly from their reciprocal crosses especially in days of heading, flowering, and maturity indicating a significant maternal influence in these traits. Also, the mid-parent and better parent heterosis had a nonsignificant difference in quantitative traits assessed except for the plant height and grain filling percentage.
The growth and development of Oxalis latifolia was assessed on outdoor-grown potted plants raised from bulbs. Three main phases of growth appeared to be correlated with major physiological developments in the aerial and subterranean organs. Establishment (weeks 1 -5 ) was characterised by a slow gain in plant dry weight accompanied by high relative growth rate (RGR) values for individual plant organs. The second phase of growth (weeks 6 -12) was reproductive, as stolons grew and initiated bulbils at the apices. Bulbils had the capacity to produce their own shoot system and ultimately some primary bulbils supported secondary bulbils. Dry matter accumulation was in the order : bulbils > peduncles > leaves > petioles > stolons = roots > parent bulb. The RGR of individual plant organs declined together with the net assimilation (NAR) rates and the leaf area ratio of the shoots during the reproductive phase and beyond into the senescence phase (week 13 onwards). The results are discussed in relation to the problem of achieving weed control via cultural and herbicide treatments.
Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) is a highly nutritious legume with good drought tolerance attributes and is therefore a suitable candidate for food and nutritional security especially in drought prone areas. This study was conducted to determine the nutritional and phytochemical composition of seventeen Bambara groundnut landraces that were collected from Vihiga, Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, and Kisumu Counties in Kenya. Prior to characterization, a field experiment was set up in Ishiara Ward in Mbeere North Sub-County in Embu County for two cropping seasons to standardize and multiply the seeds. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replicates. The harvested seeds were analyzed for their proximate, nutritional, and phytochemical composition using standard procedures. The moisture content ranged from 3.47 to 6.24%, total ash from 3.17 to 4.69%, crude protein from 21.18 to 26.00%, and fats from 4.56 to 7.02%. Iron levels ranged from 4.07 to 5.13 mg/100 g, sodium from 25.14 to 129.66 mg/100 g, potassium from 819.34 to 1,131.80 mg/100 g, and zinc from 0.06 to 0.42 mg/100 g. The tannin levels ranged from 0.01 to 0.04 mg/g, saponins from 0.82 to 1.06 mg/100 g, alkaloids from 0.01 to 0.12 mg/100 g, and flavonoids from 4.07 to 8.45 mg/100 g. The landraces BG-125, BS-148, and BS-145 with relatively higher nutrients composition and those with high levels of phytochemicals such as BS-104 and MU-137 are recommended to plant breeders for further selection and production of certified seeds. These selections will also be promoted to the farmers for production through various extension programs.
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