Moisture stress and inherent soil fertility caused huge loss in crop production. The use of insitu rainwater harvesting and integrated nutrient management can improve soil health and crop production. The Objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of integrated nutrient management and insitu rainwater harvesting on maize productivity in dry regions of Zimbabwe. Experiment was laid out as a factorial with three main factors which include cattle manure, insitu rainwater harvesting and inorganic manure. Data was collected from harvested net plot to obtain maize grain and stover yields for two growing years. Data was analysed based on analysis of variance using IBM SPSS version 25 and means which were significant different were separated using least significant different. The results show that there was significant different (p<0.001) between all treatments combinations. Results recorded higher maize grain yields from100 kg N/ha + 5 t/ha cattle manure treatments for both seasons. High grain yield of 3.41± 0.042 t/ha was recorded from ZN 100 C 5 treatments during the second year and highest maize grain yield of 3.11 t/ha was recorded in first year. There was significant different (p<0.001) on the effects of combination of cattle manure and inorganic fertiliser alone on maize grain yields. Control treatments recorded lowest maize (1.17 ± 0.031 t/ha) and stover yields of 4.36 ± 0.046 t/ha. Results indicated significant different (p<0.001) on the effects of insitu rainwater harvesting, cattle manure and inorganic manure on maize stover yields. The use of integrated nutrient management and insitu rainwater harvesting has the capacity to increase maize yields and reduce food insecurity in dry regions of most sub-Saharan African countries.
Zimbabwe is among the poorest countries in the world and heavily depends on agriculture for rural livelihoods and income generation. Forests conversion into agricultural land and the use of forest products, in particular fuel wood for the construction of tobacco barns and the curing process has caused destruction to the already depleted forests. The study was carried out in Mutasa District in the eastern highlands, Zimbabwe. Quantitative and qualitative data techniques were used in the study. A total of 60 smallholder tobacco farmers were purposively sampled from a population of 280 tobacco producing households for the survey. The data was collected using a structured questionnaire and direct observations. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Binary logistic. Results show that proximity to the forest (p < 0.001), age of farmer (p = 0.001), agricultural training (p = 0.028) and unavailability of electricity (p = 0.028) were significantly influencing the conservation of miombo woodlands. In the contrary; household size (p = 0.983), level of education (p = 0.525), gender (p = 0.113), unavailability of coal (p = 0.109) and culture (p = 0.078) showed no significant difference in the conservation of miombo woodlands. It is recommended that the government embark on a more vigorous approach in the supply of energy for the curing of tobacco and conserving the existing forests to mitigate effects of deforestation and climate change. Most importantly, smallholder farmers should be educated to use other alternative sources of fuel to promote the regeneration of the already injured woodlands. All stakeholders should be involved in planning and decision making on issues related to forest conservation and technology in tobacco production.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is yet to penetrate Zimbabwean schools. However, several programs in 2009 and 2011 tried to promote the teaching and learning of science and mathematics in schools through new technologies. Based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the study aims to assess the effect of technology self-efficacy and prior ICT experience on Zimbabwean in-service science teachers' acceptance of digital videos in science education as required by the demands of the updated curriculum. Quantitative analysis was used to gather data from sixty-three Zimbabwean in-service science teachers. The study has shown a positive effect on the perceptions of the TAM on both technology self-efficacy and prior ICT experience. The study recommends teacher training in the use of ICT, particularly digital videos for the effective teaching and learning process.
The study was carried out to assess the yield performance of groundnuts grown on ridges and non-ridges by communal farmers of ward 8 in the Guruve district of Mashonaland Central province, Zimbabwe. Interviews, surveys, questionnaires, and observation methods were used for data collection. A sample of 60 respondents was selected from a list of groundnut farmers in the ward. The results showed that 43% of the respondents were growing groundnuts on ridges, while 57% of the respondents were growing groundnuts on non-ridges. No farmers used both farming practices. The results showed that more yield per hectare was obtained by farmers who used ridged farming practices than nonridging techniques. The area planted with groundnuts varied significantly (P<0.001) with the farming practice (ridging and nonridging) and the farming seasons. The rate of adoption of the ridging farming technology was affected by the age of the household head, level of education of the household head, sex, and age of the household head. More females participated in the growing of groundnuts than their male counterparts. In conclusion, groundnut yield was comparatively higher on ridged farming technology than on non-ridging technology; farmers are encouraged to plant groundnuts on ridges to cherish the highest production benefits. However, more training is needed for farmers to take upon new farming technology and regard groundnuts as a cash crop rather than a women's crop as well as to improve the household income.
The purpose of the study was to model the clustering of COVID-19 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. A cross-sectional study design was used to provide a snapshot of the occurrence of COVID-19 in Bulawayo at a particular time. About 246 COVID-19 cases were randomly selected from the list of cases that occurred in Bulawayo as of 1 August 2020. The data was analyzed in ArcGIS using spatial autocorrelation and hotspot analysis. From the observed pattern, the results demonstrated a significant overall spatial autocorrelation and clustering of COVID-19 cases in Bulawayo. The hotspot analysis showed hotspot localities around the Western Suburbs such as Nkulumane, Cowdry Park, and Luveve. These are high-density suburbs, endorsing that pattern of COVID-19 infections is related to the population density pattern in Bulawayo. In conclusion, hotspot areas detected in this study can help identify future infectious disease surveillance.
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