Enhancing Cabbage (Brassica oleraceae Var capitata) Yields and Quality Through Microclimate Modification and Physiological Improvement Using Agronet Covers

Muleke, Everlyne M.; Saidi, Mwanarusi; Itulya, Francis M.; Martin, Thibaud; Ngouajio, Mathieu

doi:10.5539/sar.v3n2p24

Cited by 18 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Besides reduced transpiration rates, existence of a net cover may also have reduced soil evaporation rate under netted areas due to restricted air movement, resulting in higher soil water retention. Findings of the current study corroborate those of earlier studies on spinach (Meena et al, 2014), and cabbage under net covers (Muleke et al, 2014). Among the agro-net covers, soil moisture tended to be higher under coloured-colour net covers than under neutral-colour net covers possibly due to the higher relative humidity levels and lower air temperature recorded under coloured-colour net covers than under neutral-colour net covers that may have contributed to reduced evapotranspiration rate and higher soil moisture levels.…”

Section: Journal Of Agricultural Sciencesupporting

confidence: 83%

Effect of Coloured Agro-Net Covers on Insect Pest Control and Yield of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicon Mill)

Caroline¹,

Saidi²,

Opiyo³

2017

JAS

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Tomato (Solanum lycopersicon Mill) is one of the most important vegetable crops consumed throughout the world; and is rich in important vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Production of the crop in open fields is however constrained by several biotic and abiotic stresses that lead to low tomato yields and quality. This study aimed at determining the effects of coloured agro-net covers on microclimate, pest infestation and yield of tomato cultivar ''Rio Grande''. The study consisted of two trials conducted using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five replications and six treatments. Tomato plants were grown under blue, yellow, grey, white or multi-coloured net covers with a no net cover as the control. Data were collected on microclimate (temperature, soil moisture, relative humidity and photosynthetically active radiation), pest counts and crop yield variables. Net covering modified the tomato crop microclimate with highest temperatures and soil moisture and, relative humidity levels recorded under white (21.03 o C), blue (30.03%) and multi-coloured net covers (76.26%), respectively compared to the no net control treatment (16.32 o C, 14.82% and 64.90%). Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) was lowest under the blue agro-net cover (416.09 µmol m -2 s -1 ) and highest under control treatment (985.00 µmol m -2 s -1 ). Tomato plants grown under coloured-colour nets (yellow and blue) had lower population of silverleaf whitefly, thrips and aphids while mite population was lower under neutral-colour net covers (white, grey and multi-coloured). The neutral-colour net covers (24938.87, 19525.16 and 21541.93 kg/ha) resulted in higher yields compared to coloured-colour net covers (16804.62 and 14551.05 kg/ha). Results of the study indicate that use of agro-net covers especially the neutral-colour net cover can improve microclimate, protect tomato against insect pests and can be considered a viable strategy for tomato production by smallholder growers.

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Section: Journal Of Agricultural Sciencesupporting

confidence: 83%

Effect of Coloured Agro-Net Covers on Insect Pest Control and Yield of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicon Mill)

Caroline¹,

Saidi²,

Opiyo³

2017

JAS

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“…From the current study, higher yields in terms of fruit number and weight was obtained with the use of agronet cover and companion planting with a 35%-51% increase in fruit number under agronet cover alone while combined use of agronet cover and companion planting with a row of basil in between adjacent rows of tomato recorded 72%-86.1% increase in tomato fruit number and 80%-83.5% increase in tomato fruit weight compared with the control. Results of the current study corroborate findings by [45,46] who reported increase in marketable yield by up to 70% in tomato and 58% in cabbage, respectively, and a reduction in non-marketable yield by up to 60% following the use of agronet covers compared to control treatments. Besides the shading effect offered by agronet covers and companion planting, net covers have been documented to modify air temperature and the diurnal temperature range hence providing ideal growth condition resulting to improved yield.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Synergistic Effects of Agronet Covers and Companion Cropping on Reducing Whitefly Infestation and Improving Yield of Open Field-Grown Tomatoes

et al. 2016

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Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) are one of the biggest vegetable crops in the world, supplying a wide range of vitamins, minerals and fibre in human diets. In the tropics, tomatoes are predominantly grown under sub-optimal conditions by subsistence farmers, with exposure to biotic and abiotic stresses in the open field. Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius) is one of the major pests of the tomato, potentially causing up to 100% yield loss. To control whitefly, most growers indiscriminately use synthetic insecticides which negatively impact the environment, humans, and other natural pest management systems, while also increasing cost of production. This study sought to investigate the effectiveness of agronet covers and companion planting with aromatic basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) as an alternative management strategy for whitefly in tomatoes and to evaluate the use of these treatments ontomato growth and yield. Two trials were conducted at the Horticulture Research and Training Field, Egerton University, Njoro, Kenya. Treatments comprised a combination of two factors, (1) growing environment (agronet and no agronet) and (2) companion planting with a row of basil surrounding tomato plants, a row of basil in between adjacent rows of tomato, no companion planting. Agronet covers and companion cropping with a row of basil planted between adjacent tomato rows significantly lowered B. tabaci infestation in tomatoes by 68.7%. Better tomato yields were also recorded in treatments where the two treatments were used in combination. Higher yield (13.75 t/ha) was obtained from tomatoes grown under agronet cover with a basil row planted in between adjacent rows of the tomato crop compared to 5.9 t/ha in the control. Non-marketable yield was also lowered to5.9 t/ha compared to 9.8 t/ha in the control following the use of the two treatments in combination. The results of this study demonstrate the potential viability of using companion cropping and agronet covers in integrated management of B. tabaci and improvement of tomato yield.

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“…Insect proof nets are believed to be a suitable solution to reduce the use of insecticides and to protect vegetable crops from the emergence of new devastating insect pests for which chemical treatments are not effective (Martin et al 2014b). Several studies on cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) in Benin (Martin et al 2006;Licciardi et al 2007) and later in Kenya (Kiptoo et al 2015;Muleke et al 2012Muleke et al , 2014, on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) (Gogo et al 2014a;Saidi et al 2013;Gogo et al 2012), and on green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Kenya (Gogo et al 2014b) have reported the advantage of using insect proof nets to exclude insect pests.…”

Section: Control Of Insect Pests With Protected Cultivationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Protected cultivation of vegetable crops in sub-Saharan Africa: limits and prospects for smallholders. A review

Nordey

Basset-Mens

Bon

et al. 2017

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

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Vegetable production in sub-Saharan Africa faces numerous agronomic constraints that will have to be overcome to feed the increasing population and to fight malnutrition. Technology transfer and the adoption of low-tech protected cultivation techniques affordable for smallholders are believed to be able to meet this challenge. Protected cultivation techniques are a set of agricultural practices aimed at artificializing the crop environment through the use of soil covers and/or plant covers to control pests and climatic conditions. Although protected cultivation techniques may increase the yield and quality of vegetable crops and extend their production periods worldwide, the transfer of these techniques in sub-Saharan Africa raises questions about their agronomical performances, their profitability but also their environmental impacts. Are low-tech protected cultivation techniques adapted to the sustainable production of vegetables by smallholders in sub-Saharan Africa? To answer this question, we present an overview of the agronomic, economic, and environmental performances of low-tech protected cultivation techniques in sub-Saharan Africa as reported in the literature. The major conclusions that can be drawn from the review are (1) low-tech protected cultivation techniques are not suitable in all climatic conditions in sub-Saharan Africa and need to be combined with other methods to ensure adequate pest control, (2) the profitability of protected cultivation techniques relies on the capacity to offset increased production costs by higher yields and higher selling prices to be obtained with off-season and/or higher quality products, (3) breaking with existing cropping systems, the lack of technical support and skills, and the limited access to investment funding are major obstacles to the adoption of protected cultivation techniques by smallholders (4) life cycle assessments conducted in northern countries suggested that more efficient use of agricultural inputs would offset the negative impacts of protected cultivation techniques if they are properly managed, but further studies are required to be sure these results can be extrapolated to sub-Saharan Africa context. (Résumé d'auteur

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Enhancing Cabbage (Brassica oleraceae Var capitata) Yields and Quality Through Microclimate Modification and Physiological Improvement Using Agronet Covers

Cited by 18 publications

References 19 publications

Effect of Coloured Agro-Net Covers on Insect Pest Control and Yield of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicon Mill)

Effect of Coloured Agro-Net Covers on Insect Pest Control and Yield of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicon Mill)

Synergistic Effects of Agronet Covers and Companion Cropping on Reducing Whitefly Infestation and Improving Yield of Open Field-Grown Tomatoes

Protected cultivation of vegetable crops in sub-Saharan Africa: limits and prospects for smallholders. A review

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