Different nursery growing systems and growth media improved germination and seedling growth of fever tea (Lippia javanica)

An experiment was set up in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) to examine the influence of nursery growing methods and growth medium on fever, tea germination, and seedling development. Two nursery growth methods (Conventional-CON and Float tray system FTs) and six different growing medium (pine bark, peat moss, coco peat, vermiculite, sand, and cattle manure) were used. ANOVA was used to compare treatment means, and means were separated using the Least Significant Difference (LSD) at a 5 % significance level. The nursery growing method and growth material exhibited a strong interaction regarding the germination index, germination percentage, seedling height, leaf area, root length, density, and final crop stand. The float tray approach yielded the greatest germination index for peat moss and the lowest for cattle manure. In the float tray method, peat moss and coco peat had the highest germination percentages, whereas cattle manure had the lowest. Under the float tray technique, the tallest seedlings emerged in peat moss and the smallest in coco peat. Peat moss had the most leaf area in the float tray system, whereas coco peat had the least in the conventional technique. Peat moss in the float tray system had the highest root length density while coco peat in the conventional technique had the lowest. Peat moss in the float tray system had the highest final crop stand, whereas seedlings in the conventional and float tray systems had nothing. based on the findings, it is recommended that fever tea seedlings be grown on peat moss using the float tray metho

A demographic portrait of urban open field cultivators in Gweru, Zimbabwe

The formulation of effective policies and regulations to regulate urban agriculture in Zimbabwe has to be informed by research. This study sought to provide kernel demographic information to be later used in the formulation of models to investigate the impacts of proposed legislation on urban open field cultivation. A questionnaire driven survey was used to obtain data from 40 cultivators residing in Gweru, Zimbabwe. It was discovered that 58% of field owners were men, with 76% of all field owners being between 25 - 65 years. Children were found to contribute 35% of the labour. The majority of cultivators were formally educated; 15% had tertiary/university education, 5% ‘A’-level, 48% ‘O’-level and 27% primary level education. The study concluded that open field cultivation is a family practice engaged in by all social classes and thus recommended that urban agriculture be legitimized as it is an integral part of Zimbabwean urban lif

Comparisons of sugar blend 1 plus fertilizer over straight fertilizer as basal application on growth and yield of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L).

An investigation to compare sugar blend 1 plus with straight fertilizers (single super phosphate and muriate of potash) as basal fertilizer was carried out at Hippo Valley Estates in the 2012/13 growing season.A 2x3 factorial experiment in a Randomised Complete Block Design with 3 replications was used. The first factor was fertilizer type which consisted of two levels, sugar blend 1 plus and straight fertilizer and the second factor was variety with the following levels N14, Zn10 and Nco376.The results showed that there was no interaction (p<0.05) between fertilizer type and variety on number of sugarcane tillers, stalks, sugarcane height and yield. However, there was significant difference (p< 0.05) between the fertilizer types on number of sugarcane tillers, stalks, sugarcane height and yield. Also varieties had significant difference on yield. Sugar blend 1 plus fertilizer increased the number of tillers, primary stalks, cane height and yield when compared to straight fertilizer. The cane yield in treatments applied sugar blend 1 plus increased by 24% when compared to use of straight fertilizer, from 87.2 to 108.4 tonnes / hectare

Interactive Effects of Tillage and Mulch Type on Soil and Crop Canopy Temperature and Yield of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor, L)

This paper investigates the interactive effects that tillage and mulch types have on soil and crop canopy temperature and the subsequent influence on final grain yields of a sorghum (Sorghum bicolor var rakodzi) crop stand. Two experimental sites, one farmer managed, and the other researcher managed were established in Mbire District of Mashonaland West Province in Zimbabwe during the 2020/2021 Zimbabwean farming season. A 3x4 factorial experiment laid in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications, was conducted to investigate the hypothesis that tillage and mulch have no effect on soil and crop canopy temperatures. Significant interactions (P&lt;0.05) occurred between mulch and tillage types to influence canopy temperature at critical stages of late vegetative and grain filling at 25 and 75 days after sowing, respectively. Mulch and tillage types also interacted significantly (p&lt;0.05) at critical stages of booting and grain filling at 50 and 75 days after sowing respectively to subsequently influence final grain yield. Sorghum straw used as mulch in raised beds resulted in the highest grain yields of 2.89 tons Ha-1.&nbsp; Conversely, lowest grain yields were realized from raised beds with no mulch as 1.89 tons Ha-1. Thus, it was established that tillage and mulch can interact to affect both crop canopy and soil temperature at crop critical stages that will in turn impact on crop final grain yields. Farmers in the semi-arid regions of Zimbabwe are encouraged to be cognisant of this interactive effect to maximise sorghum crop productivity.&nbsp; &nbsp

The Effect of Paclobutrazol Application Time and Variety on Growth, Yield, and Quality of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

An experiment was set up to investigate the effect of time of paclobutrazol application and variety on growth, yield, and quality of potato in a greenhouse at 34∘C (±3) and 21∘C (±3) day and night temperatures, respectively, with 60% relative humidity. The experiment was set up as a 2 × 4 factorial design in a CRD with 3 replications. The first factor was potato variety and the levels were BP1 and Diamond. The second factor was paclobutrazol application time and the levels were 28 (Days After Planting) DAP, 35 DAP, and 42 DAP and no paclobutrazol applied (control). Early application of paclobutrazol reduced stem length, number of tubers per plant, and sugar content of potato; furthermore, it increased starch content and yield compared to late application and no paclobutrazol treatments. Early application of paclobutrazol at 28 DAP is recommended in high temperature zones as it increased the yield by 108% and quality of potato

The effects of trellising methods on determinate tomato varieties' yield in Zimbabwe

Aims: To determine the effect of trellising methods of determinate tomato varieties on fruit diameter, number of fruits per plant, marketable and total yields. Study Design: A 3 x 4 factorial experiment in Randomized Complete Block Design with 3 replications was used Place and Duration of Study: Mutoko district in Zimbabwe between May and October 2013 Methodology: Two factors were studied the trellising method (including staking and weave, single pole staking, caging and the ground culture as control) and the tomato varieties (Roma, Floridade and Rio Grande). The factors were studied concerning their effect on yield amount. Results: Significant difference was found (P≤0.05) due to the trellising method, whereas the caging caused the highest results (number of fruits per plant, marketable and total yield amount). Additionally, species variability plays important role in determination of yield quality as found for Roma one as compare to the other ones Not only the trellising method alone is affecting the yield,but the suitability of the species to the trellising method, and the one which has the highest results was Roma when compared to Floridade and Rio Grande. Conclusion: The caging method resulted in an increase in yield. Despite any trellising method used, trailing increases the amount of marketable tomatoes. These results, however, need further studies to validate reliability

Participatory Exploration of the Heterogeneity in Household Socioeconomic, Food, and Nutrition Security Status for the Identification of Nutrition-Sensitive Interventions in the Rwandan Highlands

Food insecurity and malnutrition are challenges in rural Rwanda that are presumed to be affected by differential household socioeconomic status, but the relationship between food and nutrition security and socioeconomic status is not well-understood. We used a participatory and multidisciplinary study comprising nutrition survey, focus group discussion (FGD), detailed household/farm characterization, and interviews to construct a participatory household typology and to determine differences in the socioeconomic, food, and nutrition security status of 17 households representing the identified household types in Nyabihu District of Western Province. Strategies to improve household food and nutrition security were identified by the case study households themselves. During the FGDs, it was hypothesized that financial, physical, and natural capitals varied, resulting in high, medium, and low resource endowed households, abbreviated as HRE, MRE, and LRE, respectively. The HRE households had the most educated household heads, largest landholdings (~1 ha), and highest agricultural biodiversity and total farm income per annum. This probably resulted in better diets for women, children higher household food consumption relative to the other households. In contrast, the LRE households were the least food-secure, with poor household food consumption and low dietary diversity across seasons, probably due to limited physical and economic access to food. However, anthropometry of women and children did not differ with household type. Half of the children were stunted, including some from the more food-secure HRE households. Undiversified, nutritionally inadequate diets and bouts of illness likely contributed to chronic malnutrition in children. Making agricultural programs more nutrition-sensitive, creating diverse employment opportunities, and sensitizing communities to nutrition and adequate feeding practices of children could complement the interventions identified by households to improve their food and nutrition security.</p