Nest food provisioning in the Red-capped Lark Calandrella cinerea does not vary with parental sex differences and time of day

The Red-capped Lark Calandrella cinerea inhabits some of the most highly threatened grassland ecosystems in Kenya. Although previous studies have been undertaken on feeding ecology of this species, a knowledge gap still exists in relation to its nest food provisioning behaviour. We studied the food provisioning behaviour of Red-capped Larks in open grassland habitat at Kedong Ranch in Naivasha, Kenya. Observations were completed on 18 active nests for a total of 163 observation hours between 07:00 and 18:00. Results confirmed that nestling diet comprised insect larvae (including caterpillars), grasshoppers, butterflies/moths, ants and beetles. Food provisioning rates for males and females combined, as well as independently, did not vary with the nestling age. In relation to specific prey items, provisioning rates of insect larvae and butterflies/moths during different hours of the day did not vary. However, there was a significant difference in provisioning rates of grasshoppers for the time periods. The findings provide an understanding of food requirements and feeding behaviour of the Red-capped Lark, and therefore are important for predicting how future changes in the availability of food resources could infl uence feeding, reproductive success, and possibly survival of the species.Keywords: Kedong Ranch, lark, grassland, nestling diet, insect

Tree Diversity Effects on Litter Decomposition in an Agroforestry System in a Semi Arid Zone in Juja, Kenya

Plant litter decomposition is an important ecosystem function that aid nutrient cycling in agroforestry system, however it is not clear if the diversity of agroforestry tree species affects rate of decomposition of their resultant litters within the early stage of decomposition. This study was conducted in an agroforestry experimental farm that was established in 2011 in Jomo Kenyatta university of Agriculture and Technology, Juja, Kenya. The site contains four treatments involving seven agroforestry tree species from which eleven combinations was grouped for decomposition process. The decomposition process was studied using the standard litter bag technique and the soil moisture content on each treatment plot was measured to determine its confounding effect on litter decomposition.  The percentage mass loss of litter after 90 days of decomposition was highest in Acacia seyal (48.75%) and lowest in Cordia africana (21.65%). The composite litter decomposes faster than the low decomposing monocultures suggesting synergistic interaction but when the observed and predicted litter mass loss was compared a 100% additive effect was observed. The treatment plots with Faidherbia albida had the highest soil moisture content (42.97%) while the treatment plots with C. africana had the lowest (28.96%). However, effect of soil moisture was not significant on the rate of decomposition (r2=0.046). These findings suggest that litter combination increases rate of decomposition in low decomposing litters and soil moisture effect was insignificant on rate of decomposition, suggesting other factors are contribution to decomposition. Farmers should therefore use different agroforestry species to benefit from the synergy of the different ecosystem function of different tree species such as enhanced decomposition rate from the low decomposing species. Keywords: Agroforestry; Decomposition; Nutrients; Soil moisture; Synergistic

Impure Hydrazone Preparation from Chicken Dung

Hydrazones are strong reducing agents. Some hydrazones like hydrazine are is highly toxic and unstable and are therefore found dissolved in water. Chicken dung contains amines and uric acid that are potential sources of hydrazones. This paper reports on the use of chicken dung as an important raw material for the industrial hydrazones. In this study, we investigated the conversion of amine to amide compounds in chicken dung and later chlorine treatment to produce impure hydrazones. In the preparation, 1.0 kg of the chicken dung was soaked in 2.0 litres of distilled water for fifteen days. After filtration, the leachate obtained was treated with chlorine gas. The chemical conversion of the compounds in the chicken dung leachate before and after chlorination was monitored using FT-IR and MS. A sample of pure hydrazine hydrate was analyzed using the two techniques and the spectra obtained was used as a reference standard.  The findings of this study indicate that chicken dung is rich in amine-containing compounds that can be converted to amide derivatives under ambient conditions. A comparison of FT-IR and MS data before and after chlorination indicated the formation of hydrazones. The findings of this study provide some scientific rationale for using chicken dung as an alternative source of industrial hydrazones. Keywords: Hydrazones, amines, amides, chicken dung. DOI: 10.7176/CMR/12-7-02 Publication date:September 30th 202

Warburgia udandensis – Bioassay of Different Plant Parts Concerning the Antimicrobial Activity

The bark of Warburgia ugandensis is widely used as an herbal medicine in Kenya and other parts of Africa. It is used against stomach-ache, malaria and is active against different bacterial and fungal infections. However, the intensive use of the bark is severely damaging the trees. In our experiments we used different plant parts to find a less harmful and sustainable way of using the tree

Copper extraction by wet chemical method

In many countries large deposits of copper with no locally established copper based industries occur because known methods for extraction are prohibitively expensive and unaffordable. This study reports on an affordable and sustainable method for the extraction of copper. This was achieved through the use of a wet chemical method which makes use of hydrazones prepared in situ from chicken dung leached solution. The method involves the reduction of copper (II) ions leached from copper ore to zero valence using chlorine treated solution prepared from chicken droppings at a temperature range of 60–70 °C. The ore samples were pulverized to 250 micro millimetres and leached with hydrochloric acid to obtain leachate containing copper ions. The dissolved copper was reduced to copper metal and obtained by filtration. It was confirmed by XRFS analysis that, the metal purity was found to range between 60 and 80% depending on the ore used. In another experiment, chicken waste solution was used to extract copper from the ore. To the mixture, chlorine gas was then bubbledthrough a glass delivery tube to prepare the hydrazone in situ at a temperature range of 60–70 °C and a pure copper metal was obtained. The findings from this study have shown that there is great potential for the production of copper at low cost and this could be applied in both small-scale cottage industries and large industries using readily available resources such as chicken dung. Keywords: Hydrazones, In situ, Reduction, Zero valence, Chicken dun

Monitoring the extraction of copper from chicken dung leachate using analuminium electrode as an indicator

Copper is found in several minerals in the earth's crust with varying the elemental and mineralogical composition.Several techniques of extraction have been investigated all in the effort of obtaining a cheaper and viable method.This paper reports on further works done on copper extraction using a wet chemical method. According to the method, reduction of copper (II) ions using hydra zones from chlorinated chicken waste leachate was stoichio-metrically driven. The chicken dung leachate used was an impure bio-material in which the concentration couldnot be determined. It was, therefore, difficult to quantify the stoichio metric ratios of species in that reaction. Thispaper reports on a method of monitoring the extent of copper reduction by chlorinated chicken dung leachate using an aluminum electrode as an indicator. Mineral rocks were obtained from Maragwa Location in Tharaka Nithi County in Kenya. The samples were ground into a fine powder of 250 micro millimeters. The samples were then subjected to mineralogical analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Chemical analysis was done using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and X-rayfluorescence spectroscopy (XRFS). Ground samples were leached using1.0M hydrochloric acid. The resulting leachate was treated with chicken dung leachate prepared from chicken dung in which chlorine gas was bubbled at a constant temperature of 28 C. The pH of the resultant chicken dung leachate was adjusted from 4 to 12 using 1.0 M sodium hydroxide and then used as an electrolyte. An electro-chemical cell was set up consisting of aluminum and graphite rods. The aluminum electrode was found not to corrode at pH above 11 while it was able to displace available copper ions. This property of the aluminum electrode was used to monitor when all copper ions were displaced. The recovered copper was analyzed using XRFS. The copper recovery rate from the samples ranged from 7.0 to 20.0 at level A and 7.4–26.8% at level B with a purity range of 84.9 level A to 88.6% level B. An overall positive potential in the reduction process confirmed the greater the tendency of copper reduction without an external source of electricity. The corrosion of the aluminium electrode in the process was not observed and therefore does not require frequent replacement.Therefore, a large scale extraction process needs to be investigate

A SURVEY OF THE LARGE AND MEDIUM SIZED MAMMALS OF ARAWALE NATIONAL RESERVE, KENYA

ABSTRACT Between March 2005 and February 2006 we surveyed the large and medium sized mammals (>5 kg) of Arawale National Reserve, NE Kenya. Twenty-three mammal species were counted during the period, using ground transects. This included eight species listed in the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Densities and biomass of the larger mammals in the Reserve were generally low as compared to other protected areas in East Africa. There were no seasonal differences in the number of mammals counted, but differences between habitats were highly significant. Despite the low mammal densities, Arawale National Reserve is important for the conservation of threatened species, especially hirola Beatragus hunteri and wild dog Lycaon pictus

Push-pull technology improves carbon stocks in rainfed smallholder agriculture in Western Kenya

Push-pull technology improves agricultural productivity. However, its long-term effect on biomass carbon and soil organic carbon (SOC) is not yet known. The aims of this study were: to assess the effect of push-pull technology on (1) biomass carbon and (2) SOC, considering climatic conditions and the length of time that push-pull had been practiced on a farm; and (3) to establish the relationship between biomass carbon and SOC on farms. Aboveground biomass carbon and SOC were measured on 36 farms in western Kenya, encompassing three contrasting sites (Bondo, Siaya and Vihiga) and six cropping systems (push-pull and five non-push-pull systems). Farms in western Kenya stock between 3.0 ± 0.3 and 4.0 ± 0.4 t C ha−1 in crop biomass and between 24.4 ± 2.1 and 37.0 ± 2.6 t C ha−1 in the soil for those practicing push-pull, and between 1.1 ± 0.3 and 2.1 ± 0.2 t C ha−1 biomass carbon and between 19.2 ± 2.1 and 31.1 ± 1.7 t C ha−1 soil carbon for those without push-pull. There was no correlation between biomass carbon and SOC. Adoption of push-pull offers opportunities to mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration in plants and soils in low-, medium- and high-rainfall environments in both long and short rain seasons