Browsing by Author "Karanja, Benard K."

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Climate change adaptation of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.): Influence of Biozyme® rate on potato yield, quality and mineral nutrient uptake
(2013-07) Karanja, Benard K.; Isutsa, Dorcas Khasungu; Aguyoh, Joseph Nyamori; ; ;
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important food crop worldwide. Growers prefer potato because of its short growing season and tolerance to poor soils. Growers are using different agrochemicals so as to improve tuber yield, quality and maturity period under erratic and unreliable rain patterns. BiozymeÂ® foliar feed is widely used to hasten maturity and enhance yields of crops. BiozymeÂ® is said to be a storehouse of hormones and nutrients that improve the health of a crop. It contains major hormones along with primary and secondary mineral nutrients. This study determined BiozymeÂ® rate that is lower than the commercially recommended 500 ml/ha to curb overuse and misuse, but still enhance potato tuber yields under climate change deficit rainfall adaptation. The study was set up in split plots arranged in a randomized complete block design, replicated three times and repeated once. Main plots were assigned to two contrasting potato cultivars (Tigoni and Asante), while subplots were assigned to BiozymeÂ® rate (0, 125, 250, 500 and 750 ml/ha). Each subplot was planted with 28 seed potato tubers spaced at 30 cm Ã— 70 cm in four rows. A distance of 1 m separated plots. The 750 ml/ha BiozymeÂ® significantly (P<0.05) increased total potato tuber yields by 3Ã— to 7Ã—, reduced unmarketable tubers by up to 3Ã—, enhanced dry matter by 10% and starch by >2Ã— compared to the 0 ml/ha BiozymeÂ®. The 0 ml/ha BiozymeÂ® produced 2-11 t/ha and 7-14 t/ha in "Tigoni' and "Asante', while the 750 ml/ha BiozymeÂ® produced 25-33 t/ha and 39-43 t/ha in "Tigoni' and "Asante', respectively. The 750 ml/ha BiozymeÂ® also increased leaf tissue N by >1%, P by >100 ppm and K by > 9 ppm in both seasons and cultivars. The difference in performance for 500 and 750 ml/ha BiozymeÂ® was always not significant (P>0.05). Thus, it is not advisable to foliar-feed potato plants using BiozymeÂ® rates eÃ—ceeding 500 ml/ha since this will amount to overuse and misuse and eÃ—acerbate tuber perishability. Slightly lower BiozymeÂ® rates than 500 ml/ha may be recommended to guarantee production of "hardier" potatoes ideal for safe handling
Influence of Biozyme® on chlorophyll content, flowering and physiological maturity of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars
(2013-09-19) Karanja, Benard K.; Isutsa, Dorcas K.; Aguyoh, Joseph N.; ; ;
The study was conducted at Egerton University in 2010/2011 in a split plot experiment, arranged in a randomized complete block design. The research was replicated three times and repeated once. Main plots were assigned to potato cultivars (Tigoni and Asante), while subplots were assigned to Biozyme® foliar feed rates (0, 125, 250, 500 and 750 ml/ha). Each subplot was planted with 28 seed potato tubers spaced at 30 cm x 70 cm in four rows. A distance of 1 m separated adjacent subplots and main plots. During the growth period, data collected included chlorophyll content, flowering characteristics and days to potato physiological maturity which was subjected to analysis of variance and means separated using LSD at P=0.05. Biozyme® application increased the chlorophyll content and flowering characteristics but reduced the days to physiological maturity. The 750ml/ha Biozyme® foliar feed increased chlorophyll content by 19.45spads, number of flowers set by 21.86%and reduced the days to physiological maturity by 21 days as compared to the control rate (0 ml/ha). Increased chlorophyll content and better flowering exhibited by effects of Biozyme® are good characteristics as these parameters impact on poato growth and development that determine potato yield.