Browsing by Author "Gathungu Geofrey Kingori"

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Effect of Calcium Chloride, Cytokinin and Abscisic Acid on Growth of Rose Cut-flower (Rosa hybrida)
(Asian Journal of Agricultural and Horticultural Research, 2025-03-18) Mburu Reginah Wakomi; Gathungu Geofrey Kingori; Oloo-Abucheli Grace Opetu; ; ;
Rose (Rosa hybrida) is a popular and extensively cultivated cut flower amongst commodities in the floriculture industry.However, there has been an increase in losses both in quantity and quality of cut roses which has significantly affected the production and return on investment. The highest loss reported has been at 18.87% at the producer level. These losses have been attributed to inadequate adaptability under circumstances involving humidity and temperature extremes, leading to high respiration, rapid cell disintegration and loss of aesthetic value of cut rose. This study therefore, investigated the effect of calcium chloride, cytokinin, and abscisic acid on the growth of tea hybrid rose, Rhodos variety. The study was cultivated over two flushes, August 2023- November 2023 and November 2023-January 2024 in Redlands Roses PLC, in Ruiru, Kiambu County. The field experiment was laid out in RCBD. There were 10 treatments including non- application (control); CaCl2 (250, 500 and 750 mg/L), CKs (150, 250 and 350 mg/L), and ABA (5, 10 and 15 mg/L). Data was collected at seven days’ interval throughout the growth period, starting from 3 weeks after initial bending in flush 1 and after pruning in flush 2. Data obtained was analyzed using SAS version 9.4 and significant means were separated using the Least Significant Difference at ∝=0.05. The analysis of variance for flush 1 and 2 respectively, showed that CKs significantly (p<0.05) increased the number of shoots produced per plant (4.22 and 2.78 shoots), stem length (83.22 cm and 82.56 cm), leaf area (76.67 and 72.44 cm2), number of suckers (17.83 and 15.67), flush days (51.72 and 53.67 days), and chlorophyll content (72.95 and 70.77 SPADS) in cut flowers. On the other hand, the shortest stem length was recorded on plots treated with ABA (68.56 and 68.78 cm), flush days (49.06 and 50.67 days), chlorophyll content (64.74 and 65.13 SPADS) and leaf area (61 and 54.11 cm2). CaCl2 reduced incidences of bent peduncles in flushes one and two (2.07 and 1.13). To improve on the growth qualities (number of shoots produced per plant, stem length, leaf area, flush days, and chlorophyll content) the growers should consider application of cytokinin at 250 mg/L and 350 mg/L. However, application of cytokinin comes with a risk of increased number of suckers. To reduce incidences of bent peduncles, growers should always apply 750 mg/L of CaCl2 before the formation of the flower bud. To reduce the number of flush days in target of a specific market, growers can apply ABA (15 mg/L) at prebloom stage.
Effects of Socio-Economic Characteristics on Choice of Tuta Absoluta Management Methods in Tomato Production in Mwea, Kirinyaga County
(Science Publishing Group, 2024-10-31) Mwaniki Poline Wawira; Gathungu Geofrey Kingori; Njogu Martin Kagiki; Ireri Dave Mwangi
The study assessed the effect of socio-economic characteristics on the management methods of T. absoluta in Mwea, Kirinyaga County. The target population was 2300 open fields and 20 green-house tomato farmers in Mwea. A descriptive research design was used in the study, and a multistage sampling procedure was used to get a sample of 303 respondents. Through a survey, 283 open-field tomato small-scale farmers were randomly interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. Socio- economic and crop protection data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and econometric modeling. The multivariate probit model estimates showed that gender, education, age, land size, household income, and extension significantly affected farmers' choice of pest control methods to manage T. absoluta. The negative coefficients showed that an increase in either one of the socio-economic factors would help increase tomato yields reduced by T. absoluta. The study results encourage small- scale tomato farmers to use other pest management methods, such as crop rotation and weeding, so as not to rely on chemical pesticides alone to control T. absoluta. To learn more about tomato pest management practices, Tomato small-scale farmers should join farmers' groups and organizations. National and County policymakers should adopt policies to encourage integrated pest management methods to avoid excess chemical pesticides in tomato production.
Financial Determinants of Adoption of Agricultural Technologies in Irish Potato Production in Ol Kalou Sub County, Kenya: Application of Multinomial Logistic Regression
(Asian Journal of Research in Crop Science, 2024-10-28) Kihoro David Mwangi; Gathungu Geofrey Kingori; Mwirigi Rael Nkatha; Wairimu Vicky Nyambura
Irish potato is a significant source of food and income for many households worldwide. The demand for the crop has steadily increased around the globe. Kenyan Irish potato farmers have the potential to produce about 30 tonnes per Ha. However, small-scale Irish farmers in the country realize low output ranging from 4-8 tonnes per Ha due to limited uptake of agricultural technologies. This study aimed to analyze the financial factors influencing the uptake of agricultural technologies in Irish potato production in Ol Kalou Sub County. The agricultural technologies under investigation were chemical fertilizer, certified seeds, fungicides, and farm machinery. Production and innovation diffusion theories guided the study. Descriptive cross-sectional research design was used to obtain data from a study population of 21,942 smallholder Irish potato farmers in Ol Kalou Sub County. A multiple-stage sampling technique was employed to give a sample size of 385 respondents small scale Irish potato farmers, where data was collected through a semi-structured questionnaire. Data collected was analyzed using multinomial logistic regression through SPSS version 28 and STATA version 17. The model indicated that off-farm income, access to credit, and production risk had a positive and significant influence on adopting agricultural technologies. Conversely, production cost had a negative and significant influence on the adoption of agricultural technologies, while the availability of subsidies had no significant influence. The Marginal effect analysis showed that the availability of off-farm income increased adoption by 22.00%, the increase in credit increased adoption by 2.00%, the availability of mitigation measures of production risk increased adoption by 19.00%, while the increase in production cost decreased adoption by 7.00%. The study concluded that off-farm income, credit facilities, production risk and cost of production influence the adoption of agricultural technologies. The study recommended that the government should develop policy regulations such as diversification of income, grants that reduce production costs, credit incentives, and crop insurance.
Financial Determinants of Adoption of Agricultural Technologies in Irish Potato Production in Ol Kalou Sub County, Kenya: Application of Multinomial Logistic Regression
(Asian Journal of Research in Crop Science, 2024-10-28) Kihoro David Mwangi; Gathungu Geofrey Kingori; Mwirigi Rael Nkatha; Wairimu Vicky Nyambura
Irish potato is a significant source of food and income for many households worldwide. The demand for the crop has steadily increased around the globe. Kenyan Irish potato farmers have the potential to produce about 30 tonnes per Ha. However, small-scale Irish farmers in the country realize low output ranging from 4-8 tonnes per Ha due to limited uptake of agricultural technologies. This study aimed to analyze the financial factors influencing the uptake of agricultural technologies in Irish potato production in Ol Kalou Sub County. The agricultural technologies under investigation were chemical fertilizer, certified seeds, fungicides, and farm machinery. Production and innovation diffusion theories guided the study. Descriptive cross-sectional research design was used to obtain data from a study population of 21,942 smallholder Irish potato farmers in Ol Kalou Sub County. A multiple-stage sampling technique was employed to give a sample size of 385 respondents small scale Irish potato farmers, where data was collected through a semi-structured questionnaire. Data collected was analyzed using multinomial logistic regression through SPSS version 28 and STATA version 17. The model indicated that off-farm income, access to credit, and production risk had a positive and significant influence on adopting agricultural technologies. Conversely, production cost had a negative and significant influence on the adoption of agricultural technologies, while the availability of subsidies had no significant influence. The Marginal effect analysis showed that the availability of off-farm income increased adoption by 22.00%, the increase in credit increased adoption by 2.00%, the availability of mitigation measures of production risk increased adoption by 19.00%, while the increase in production cost decreased adoption by 7.00%. The study concluded that off-farm income, credit facilities, production risk and cost of production influence the adoption of agricultural technologies. The study recommended that the government should develop policy regulations such as d
Role of Community Participation on Sustainability of Donor Funded Food Security Projects in Tharaka South Sub County, Kenya
(Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology, 2025-05-31) Mutegi Anita Mwende; Gathungu Geofrey Kingori; Sande Anne Andayi
Participatory approach has been embraced globally for most development projects including food security projects implementation in many communities. However, many food security projects lack sustainability and the projects collapse following the exit of the donor funding. This study sought to examine the role of community participation on the sustainability of donor funded food security projects in Tharaka South Sub County, Kenya. Using a descriptive survey design, a sample of 227 respondents was purposively but randomly selected and data on community participation on project sustainability collected using questionnaires and interview schedules. The data collected was analyzed using correlation analysis, frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviation. The findings showed that community participation and sustainability of donor funded food security projects correlated positively. The community involvement especially in at project implementation and monitoring stage enhanced sustainability of donor funded food security projects. It was observed that 85% 9.7% and 5.3% of the respondents contributed manual labour, monetary and technical support, respectively to the donor funded food security projects. Based on the findings, the study recommended that community members be involved in generating project ideas as well as considered in monetary contribution and technical support for the donor funded food security projects. It is necessary to train and empower the community project members on project sustainability. The donors should also consider to continue playing their role in the operation and maintenance of the donor funded food security projects.