Purpose To evaluate the production and the quality of seedlings of different pepper genotypes produced on millicompost as an organic substrate. Method Three experiments were carried out, one for each pepper genotype (ENAS-5007, ENAS-5031 and ENAS-5032) in which three substrates were evaluated: 100% Millicompost (S1); Millicompost MIX (50% millicompost + 50% powdered coconut fiber) (S2) […]
Purpose Raw and composted oil-cakes of neem, madhuca and simarouba were evaluated for their effect on plant growth, yield, and management of Alternaria tenuissima leaf spot disease, and rhizosphere microorganisms in chilli crop. Method The oil-cakes were composted in simple pits containing a mixture (6:1:1) of individual oil-cake, soil and rice straw. Growth promotion and […]
Purpose Agronomic and environmental reasons force farmers to know the total P concentration of composted cattle manure. Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy seems proper to obtain such information. For logistic reasons (carriage, storage, field application, etc.), a dry matter characterization is also needed. Method Thirty samples of feedlot compost at different stages of stability and maturity were […]
Purpose Increase in global population and food demands have necessitated the need to enhance the health status of agricultural soils to overcome retrogresses in crop yields. Thus, amply use of animal manures is critical to improving low fertility status that characterised most agricultural soils in the tropics. Method This study investigated the effects of various […]
Purpose Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is becoming more popular as an efficient biotechnological procedure for upcycling agricultural by-products into valuable human food. This study looked into the possibility of employing banana residue (BR) and sorghum stalks (SS) as localized feasible rice straw (RS) substitutes for cultivating P. ostreatus. This has the potential to improve the […]
Purpose The objective of this study was to evaluate soybean production and nutrient availability in the soil using doses of organic fertilizer formed from chicken carcasses, compared to the use of mineral fertilizer. Method The evaluated treatments, produced from chicken carcasses, were calculated to provide 0, 30, 60, 90, 120 kg ha-1 of P2O5, that […]
Purpose This study evaluated the response of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum var. Red chili) towards cow vermicompost application under field conditions. Method Cow vermicompost was supplied in four levels (0, 5, 10, and 15 t ha-1) across the two growing seasons in 2017 and 2018. Results Vermicompost application significantly increased the plant height, internode distance, […]
Purpose Food insecurity and poverty are common challenges in arid and semi-arid regions. Diversification into low input agriculture like mushroom cultivation can help address these challenges. However, recommended mushroom substrates in Kenya (rice and wheat straws) are not widely available cheaply. Crop residues found in semi-arid areas can serve as alternative substrates, but their efficiency […]
Purpose Phosphorus (P) is one of the key elements in the agricultural sector, allowing improved production yields. Phosphate rock is a natural source of phosphorus; however, its low reactivity limits the release of P available to plants in the short term, conditioning its application in a direct way. Research was conducted to determine the effect […]
Purpose Undecomposed rice straw incorporated into the soil can negatively impact rice growth, but it is also an important source of soil carbon. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the addition of weeds that naturally grow in rice paddy ecosystems could accelerate the decomposition rate of rice straw. The microbes that contribute […]
