Comparative effectiveness of animal manures on soil chemical properties, yield and root growth of amaranthus (amaranthus cruentus l.)

Pot and field experiments were conducted to compare the effects of dairy cow, goat and poultry manures on soil available levels of N and P and amaranths yield and root growth. The three amendments were applied on Oxisols at 100, 150 and 170 kg N/ha in a split plot design and replicated three times. Pot experiment lasted for one month whereas field  experiment was conducted over three monthly crop cycles. Results of both experiments indicated that applications of the three manures significantly (P goat manure > dairy cow manure. This was largely attributed to differences in total N, total P, C/N and C/P ratios of the amendments. Field experiment results revealed that responseswere highest after the third crop harvest suggesting that mineralization of organic N and P increased with time. Based on fertilizer recommendations of N and P for Southern highlands of Tanzania and the highest rate used in this study (170 kg N/ha), applications of 5.8 tons/ha, 9.8 tons/ha and 13.4 tons/ha of poultry, goat and dairy cow manure will suffice the equirement of 40 kg N/ha and 20 kg P/ha recommended for most field crops

Innovative Strategies for Control of Coffee Insect Pests in Tanzania: A Review

Coffee insect pests are one of the major factors which affect coffee production and quality. globally, coffee insect pests are estimated to cause losses of about 13%. However in Africa, yield losses can be much higher, particularly where Arabica and Robusta coffee are grown for a long time. In Tanzania the major insect pests are white coffee stem borer (Monochamus leuconatus), coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei), Antestia bugs (Antestiopsis spp), leaf miner (Leucoptera spp), green scale (Coccus spp) and mealy bugs (Planococcus kenyae). Minor important pests including yellow headed borer (Dirphya nigricornis), thrips (Diarthrothrips coffeae) and berry moth (Prophantssmaragdina) are reported to vary in crop losses caused. For decades industrial chemicals have been used to control the prevailing coffee insect-pests. But uses of industrial chemicals have been reported to have negative implications to the environment, animals and human health. In the recent years worldwide, efforts have been focused to researching on the sustainable control measures for coffee insect pests. For a period of over ten years Tanzania Coffee Research Institute (TaCRI) has been developing ecologically and environmentally sustainable coffee insect-pests control measures which include; use of bio pesticides, traps, parasites, attractants and biological agents. These technologies are progressively adopted by coffee farmers in the country. The potential of these innovative insect pests control measures and their impacts on management of coffee insect pests are discussed in this review paper

Evaluation of field performance and storage of some tropical short-day onion (Allium cepa L.) cultivars

The storage of bulbs of onion (Allium cepa L.) is very crucial to ensure its availability throughout the year. Experiments were conducted at Sokoine University of Agriculture to evaluate the growth and yield characteristics of some tropical short–day onion cultivars and the storability of their bulbs after harvest. The first experiment in 1994 involved 21 cultivars evaluated for their growth and yield variables. The second experiment, involving six cultivars, was carried out in 1996 and in addition to performance evaluation, the storability of bulbs was investigated. Results showed significant differences among the cultivars in yield, yield components and storability. Granex 429 had the highest yield among cultivars in both trials, but had very poor storability. Serrana and XPH 6074 had long storability and maintained more than 50% of their weight after 5 months of storage. These two cultivars are promising as good sources of genes to incorporate storage traits in other cultivars of onio

EFFECT OF MULCH AND DIFFERENT FUNGICIDE SPRAY REGIMES ON YIELD OF TOMATO (SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM L.) IN TANZANIA

ABSTRACT In many areas in Tanzania, pests management for tomato involves weekly pesticide sprays. The practice poses a threat to the environment and health of consumers. In this study the effect of pesticide spray regimes and use of mulch were evaluated on 'Tanya VF' and 'Tengeru 97' tomato varieties. Field experiment consisting of a 2×2×4 factorial arrangement in a split-split plot design with three replications was conducted at Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro (6 o 05'S, 35 o 37'E and 525m above sea level). Treatment factors comprised two varieties (main plot factor), mulching/number of mulching (subplot factor) and three fungicide spray regimes (sub subplot factor). Results showed that the spray regimes: farmers' practice (FP), Integrated Pests Management (IPM) based on pests scouting, sprays based on manufacturers' recommendation (MR); produced significantly more fruits per plant and higher fruit weight compared to the control. There was no significant difference (p < 0.05) between FP, IPM and MR on fruit yield parameters. The results further revealed that use of mulch significantly led to higher fruit number per plant (p = 0.020). Although average fruit weight was similar (p < 0.05), other marketable fruit yield parameters were statistically different between mulched and non-mulched plots (p = 0.007). 'Tanya VF' had consistently higher yields compared to 'Tengeru 97'. Fungicide sprays were statistically different to the control with respect to blossom end rot (p = 0.002), fruit rot (p < 0.001) and percentage of non-marketable yield (p = 0.001). Mulching significantly reduced American bollworm and blossom end rot (p = 0.012, p = 0.003, respectively). The major contributor to tomato fruit loss was Blossom End Rot (BER) and Fruit Rot for 'Tengeru 97' and 'Tanya VF', respectively. It is evident, therefore, that: a proper combination of tomato cultural management practices can significantly reduce the use of pesticides, and improve tomato fruit quality and marketable yield which would increase profit margin accrued by farmers