A precision nutrient variability study of an experimental plot in Mukono Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Mukono, Uganda

The spatial soil fertility status of a 2.5 ha experimental plot was generated by mapping the soil nutrient concentration and fertility status using GIS kriging technique. The research was conducted in Mukono Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Mukono, Uganda in October 2013. Soil samples across the experimental plot were randomly taken for laboratory analysis of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and the organic matter content. The mean values of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and the organic matter content were 0.16%, 13.7 ppm, 0.44 cmol/kg, 5.35 cmol/kg, 4.83 cmol/kg and 2.78% respectively. The spatial concentration of each element and the organic matter was carried out by the interpolation technique using the 3D Analyst/Raster Interpolation/Kriging Tools while the overlay operations to generate the soil fertility map was carried out using the 3D Analyst/Raster Math Tools in ArcMap. The autocorrelation analysis was carried out using the Spatial Statistics/Spatial Autocorrelation Tools. The autocorrelation analysis indicated N, Ca, Mg and organic matter to be somewhat clustered each with the Moran’s 1 Index of 0.37, P was clustered with Moran’s 1 Index of 0.5while potassium pattern was neither clustered nor dispersed. The spatial soil fertility pattern reflected the distribution of nutrient concentration.Key words: Nutrient variability mapping, Kriging technique, fertility mapping

Dry and wet season performance of selected herbaceous legumes in Uganda

The dry matter production of 9 herbaceous legume species was evaluated over 3 years for their suitability as forage species in the subhumid regions of Uganda. Dry matter production of Centrosema pascuorum (6774), Chamaecrista rotundifolia (Wynn), Clitoria ternatea (9291), Macroptilium atropurpureum (Siratro), Stylosanthes guianesis (Cook), S. guianensis (163), S. hamata (Verano), S. scabra (441) and S. scabra (Seca) was assessed after 3-,6-,9- and 12- weeks regrowth in the wet season and after 6- and 12- weeks regrowth in the dry season. The Stylosanthes species were most productive in both wet and dry seasons. Appropriate seed production technologies need to be developed to make seed available for further studies and for distribution to farmers

Influence of Seed Size on Seed and Seedling characteristics of Centrosema Pubescens

Seed of Centro of different sizes was produced from ungraded seed under three support systems; unstaked, staked and intercropped with cassava. The effect of seed size (as a result of production system) and planting depth on germination rate, germination percentage and seedling vigour were examined during laboratory and screen house experiments. Results showed slight but nonsignificant differences in seedling performance of 100 seeds weighing 2.0 and 2.9 g (from intercropped and staked centro, respectively), while seedling performance of above seeds was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of unstaked centro whose 100 seeds weighed 2.6 g. Positive associations between seedling performance and seed size were also observed. Production of centro seed from cassava supported or staked plants yielded larger seeds size and better seedling performance compared to unstaked growth

Towards sustainable seed production of centro in Uganda

No Abstrac

Influence of Seed Size on Seed and Seedling characteristics of Centrosema Pubescens

Seed of Centro of different sizes was produced from ungraded seed under three support systems; unstaked, staked and intercropped with cassava. The effect of seed size (as a result of production system) and planting depth on germination rate, germination percentage and seedling vigour were examined during laboratory and screen house experiments. Results showed slight but nonsignificant differences in seedling performance of 100 seeds weighing 2.0 and 2.9 g (from intercropped and staked centro, respectively), while seedling performance of above seeds was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of unstaked centro whose 100 seeds weighed 2.6 g. Positive associations between seedling performance and seed size were also observed. Production of centro seed from cassava supported or staked plants yielded larger seeds size and better seedling performance compared to unstaked growth

Influence of seed size on and seeling characteristics of Centrosema pubescens

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Smallholder integrated crop management (ICM) research planning: A case for Mukono and Kayunga districts

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Agronomic evaluation of herbaceous legumes in a subhumid zone of Uganda

Sixteen promising forage legume accessions (15 species) were selected from small plot observation trials for agronomic evaluation over three years in a subhumid zone of Uganda. Macrotyloma axillare (Archer) significantly out yielded all other accessions in terms of annual dry matter production but not in terms of seed production. Stylosanthes guianensis ILCA 163, Clitoria ternatea and Centrosema pascuorum performed best for the tested attributes and were recommended for further agronomic and annual evaluation, albeit their introduction into Uganda is recent

Effect of pre-incubation and incubation conditions on hatchability and chick quality of Kuroiler chickens

A study was conducted to review the effects of pre-incubation and incubation conditions on hatchability and chick quality of Kuroiler chickens. The most important incubation factors that affect hatch time, hatchability and hatch window (temperature, humidity, turning, and ventilation) were reviewed. There was a significant influence (P&lt;0.05) of breeder age on hatchability. Also, there was significance (P&lt;0.05) of breeder age on texture of the egg shell; while there was no significance (P &gt; 0.05) between size of egg and hatch window. The performance of Kurolilers at the end of the rearing period depended, in part, on the quality of day-old chicks at placement. The quality of day-old chicks was highly affected by the incubation conditions, hatch time (which determines the time spent in the hatchery under high temperature and humidity), and handling of chicks after hatch.Key words: Egg shell, hatch handling, hatch time, hatch windo