Maize is an important staple crop for millions of people in Sub-Saharan Africa. The crop grows in a wide range of environmental conditions. The present study was performed to analyze the genotype-by-environment (G×E) interaction for grain yield of fourty two single cross hybrids grown in three environments located at different agro-ecological zones of Kenya. The maize genotypes were grown in randomized complete block design with three replicates in 2006 and 2007. Grain yield data of the single cross hybrids was analysed using the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) and GGE biplot methods. The additive main effects and multiplicative interaction model (AMMI) analysis of variance (additive main effects) showed significant effects for genotypes, environment and the genotype by environment interaction. The total proportion contributed by environment and G x E interaction accounted for 78% and 10% of the total variation. The results also showed that 64.5% of the total variation was contributed by the environment while the genotype and interaction was associated with 20.7% and 10.3% of the total variation, respectively. The most stable genotype in the high yielding group in this study was CML312/TZMI 711 (X20), followed by genotypes TZMI 102/CML384 (designated as X33), and CML312/TZMI 712 (X21). The genotype CML312/TZMI 711 (designated as X20) could be used for broad selection since it was found to be the most ideal genotypes with both high mean yield and high stability. In the biplot analysis, X20 was also close to the origin, had the shortest vector from the ATC and with large PC1 scores (high mean yield) and small (absolute) PC2 scores (high stability) implying it had the least contribution to genotype by environment interaction (GEI). Through the stability analysis, the superior genotypes identified could also be used as references for genotype evaluation and also included in further testing in both early and later stages of selection.
This paper explores the implications of Home Based Care on women"s workload in the context of high HIV and AIDS prevalence rates in Zimbabwe as the country has experienced serious health worker migration since 2000. Health worker migration in Zimbabwe as a result of the weak performance of the economy over the years has inadvertently increased women"s workload as more and more people adopt Home Based Care for their terminally ill family members suffering from HIV and AIDS. Home-based care has been one of the most effective community care strategies in Zimbabwe for people living with HIV and AIDS. To explore this state of affairs the paper adopted the theory of reflexive modernity which argues that the progressive freeing of the agency from structure has the effect of releasing people from the inherent constrains of the socio-structural tradition of modernity. The conclusion is that in the Zimbabwean context were women are viewed as the "natural" care givers reflexive modernity may fail to apply as increased health worker migration is increasing women"s workload as more women are involved in Home Based Care in the context of high HIV and AIDS prevalence rates.
Despite widespread food insecurity in Zimbabwe, there is an increasing amount of agricultural land being left fallow for indeterminate periods of time. The objective of the study was to assess the characteristics of vegetation growing in indeterminate fallows in Chivi district in south-central Zimbabwe. One metre by one metre quadrats were used to assess the species composition of herbaceous species while 8 m × 8 m quadrats were used for woody species. Attributes that were assessed included frequency, abundance, density of different plant species from which were computed diversity indices (Shannon-Weiner index and Shannon evenness index). The density, Shannon-Weiner index and Shannon Evenness index, and species richness of the fallow land sites were significantly lower than those of the uncultivated land. However, there were no significant differences among fallow treatments. Species richness, Shannon Index, and Shannon's Evenness Index showed a weak and non significant correlation with length of the fallow period. Woody species, which were cleared during land preparation and repeatedly weeded during the cultivation years were absent in all fallows regardless of the fallow period.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.