Browsing by Author "Gathungu, G.K."

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EFFECTS OF INTEGRATED APPLICATION OF RHIZOBIUM AND PHOSPHATIC FERTILIZER ON GROWTH, NODULATION AND YIELDS OF SOYBEAN IN MERU SOUTH KENYA
(J. Env. Sust. Adv. Res., 2019-10) Mulambula, S.; Gathungu, G.K.; Ndukhu, H.O.; Ogolla, F.O.; ; ;
The cultivation of soybean is increasing in Kenya due to its widespread use in the food and feed industry. Production is, however, constrained by low soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) levels. A field trial was conducted at Chuka University Research farm to determine effects of integrated application of rhizobium and phosphatic fertilizer on growth, nodulation and yields of soybean. Treatments included three rates of Triple superphosphate fertilizer (0, 20 and 30 kgha-1 ), and three rates of rhizobia (0, 100 and 200 g ha-1 ) using two soybean varieties (SB19 and SB24). Each treatment combination was replicated three times in a randomized complete block design in a split plot arrangement and the experiment was repeated once. Data collected included the plant height, number of branches, number and weight of nodules, number of pods, fresh and dry shoot weight and grain yield. The data was subjected to analysis of variance using SAS statistical programme and significantly different means were separated using Tukey’s Studentized range test. It was observed that rhizobia and phosphatic fertilizer had significant effect (p=0.05) on the plant height, number of nodules, fresh and dry weight of nodules and mean number of branches and pods, fresh and dry weight of shoots and weight of seed plant1 . The overall means for plant heights, nodule number, fresh and dry nodule weights, number of branches and pods, fresh and dry weight of shoots and weight of seeds plant1 were 29.35 cm and 26.79 cm, 38.71 and 35.14, 0.51 and 0.38, 5.5 g and 12.54g, 49.13 and 59.18, 77.65 and 90.91, 56.99 and 69.33g, 168.9g and 148.13g for SB19 and SB24 respectively. The SB24 genotype remained significantly superior to SB19, with same treatment levels employed. From the results, it can be concluded that integrated application of rhizobia and phosphatic fertilizer (TSP) has significant effect on growth, nodulation and yield of soybean.
IDENTIFICATION OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS AFFECTING UPTAKE OF BANANA VALUE ADDITION BY FARMERS IN CHUKA SUB-COUNTY, THARAKA NITHI COUNTY, KENYA
(Chuka University, 2021-12-04) Muigai, J.K.; Gathungu, G.K.; Thogori, M
Banana farmers in most parts of the country have not embraced uptake of banana value addition despite its accrued economic benefits and emphasis by stakeholders. A study was done in Chuka Sub-County, Tharaka Nithi County to identify the socio-economic factors affecting uptake of banana value addition by farmers. The study was based on diffusion theory and value-added concept to establish the relationship between farming experience, group membership, access to credit and uptake of banana value addition. It was noted that only 31.9% of farmers uptake banana value addition and there were no banana value addition technologies identified with 35.6% and 64.4% of those who uptake doing banana ripening for sale and bulk packaging respectively. The results (P=0.05) showed that group membership (p=0.019) and access to credit (p=0.004) had a positive and significant effect on the uptake of banana value addition by farmers at varying levels. It was observed that farming experience had a positive effect on the uptake, but was statistically insignificant. The study recommended that; farmers should be encouraged to form cooperatives on value addition and the government and other stakeholders in conjunction with financial institutions need to streamline policies to enhance farmers access credit for effective farming among others