African indigenous vegetables (AIVs) play an important role in house hold food and nutrition security among many communities in Uganda. However, there is limited information on the value chain. Yet, the contribution...African indigenous vegetables (AIVs) play an important role in house hold food and nutrition security among many communities in Uganda. However, there is limited information on the value chain. Yet, the contribution of AIVs in terms of food and nutrition security is undisputable. A cross sectional survey targeting 60 respondents including farmers, key informants and extension officers was conducted to assess the systems of production system of the AIVs, profile an inventory and diversity of the cultivated AIVs in Agweng sub-county, Lira district. Semi-structured questionnaires and direct field observation were used to gather the necessary data. The findings revealed that AIVs form a very important part of the diets of the local populace both during the normal and off seasons as well as hard times among others. However, a number of constraints were reported to hinder the AIVs value chain including lack of quality seed, competition from exotic vegetables, low market demand, pests and diseases infestation, among others. The most commonly cultivated and consumed vegetables were cowpeas, hibiscus, pumpkins and crotolaria among others. The reasons for cultivation and consumption included source of food, high nutritive value and short maturity period. Other reasons were medicinal, resistance to pests and diseases, source of cash income and resilient to harsh weather conditions. In contrast, lack of quality seeds, bitterness, low market demand and difficulty in preparation contributed to their neglected use. Therefore, in the wake of climate change and variability there is need for deliberate investment to improve adaptability and acceptance of these vegetables. There is also need for sensitization of farmers on the benefits of AIVs, developing an effective means of improved seed production and distribution to replace the farmer-to farmer seed exchange and conservation of AIVs germplasm as the strategies to improve AIVs production in the study area.展开更多
The effect of conservation tillage methods and seeding machines on the soil physical properties, performance of grain drill, wheat yield, and wheat yield components was evaluated. The research was conducted in a split...The effect of conservation tillage methods and seeding machines on the soil physical properties, performance of grain drill, wheat yield, and wheat yield components was evaluated. The research was conducted in a split block experimental design with twelve treatments and four replications, and a local wheat variety (Shiraz) was planted in this study. Main plots were tillage methods including: (1) primary tillage using moldboard plow without moldboard; (2) primary tillage with disk harrow; and (3) primary tillage with chisel plow. Subplots were grain drill types including: (1) planting with Taka grain drill without furrower; (2) planting with Taka grain drill having furrower; (3) planting with Hamadan Machine Barzegar grain drill having furrower and runner opener; 4) planting with grain drill having ripple opener. Parameters including mean weight diameter of clods (MWD), soil bulk density, uniformity of seed planting depth, seed distribution uniformity, seed emergence, crop yield, and crop yield components were measured. SAS software was used to analyze the collected data and the method of benefit to cost ratio was used to compare the treatments from the economic point of view. Results indicated that tillage method had no significant effect (P = 0.05) on the measured parameters. Plant per unit area, seed emergence, uniformity of seed planting depth, and MWD were significantly affected by the grain drill type (P 〈 0.05) while, the type of grain drill had no significant effect on the rest of measured parameters. Taka grain drill without furrower had the highest uniformity of planting depth and proper soil MWD, and grain drill with ripple opener had the highest seed emergence and plant per unit area. Interaction between tillage methods and grain drill types affected the soil MWD, seed emergence, and crop yield (P 〈 0.05) in such a way that the combination of primary tillage with disk harrow and planting with grain drill having ripple opener provided the highest crop yield.展开更多
文摘African indigenous vegetables (AIVs) play an important role in house hold food and nutrition security among many communities in Uganda. However, there is limited information on the value chain. Yet, the contribution of AIVs in terms of food and nutrition security is undisputable. A cross sectional survey targeting 60 respondents including farmers, key informants and extension officers was conducted to assess the systems of production system of the AIVs, profile an inventory and diversity of the cultivated AIVs in Agweng sub-county, Lira district. Semi-structured questionnaires and direct field observation were used to gather the necessary data. The findings revealed that AIVs form a very important part of the diets of the local populace both during the normal and off seasons as well as hard times among others. However, a number of constraints were reported to hinder the AIVs value chain including lack of quality seed, competition from exotic vegetables, low market demand, pests and diseases infestation, among others. The most commonly cultivated and consumed vegetables were cowpeas, hibiscus, pumpkins and crotolaria among others. The reasons for cultivation and consumption included source of food, high nutritive value and short maturity period. Other reasons were medicinal, resistance to pests and diseases, source of cash income and resilient to harsh weather conditions. In contrast, lack of quality seeds, bitterness, low market demand and difficulty in preparation contributed to their neglected use. Therefore, in the wake of climate change and variability there is need for deliberate investment to improve adaptability and acceptance of these vegetables. There is also need for sensitization of farmers on the benefits of AIVs, developing an effective means of improved seed production and distribution to replace the farmer-to farmer seed exchange and conservation of AIVs germplasm as the strategies to improve AIVs production in the study area.
文摘The effect of conservation tillage methods and seeding machines on the soil physical properties, performance of grain drill, wheat yield, and wheat yield components was evaluated. The research was conducted in a split block experimental design with twelve treatments and four replications, and a local wheat variety (Shiraz) was planted in this study. Main plots were tillage methods including: (1) primary tillage using moldboard plow without moldboard; (2) primary tillage with disk harrow; and (3) primary tillage with chisel plow. Subplots were grain drill types including: (1) planting with Taka grain drill without furrower; (2) planting with Taka grain drill having furrower; (3) planting with Hamadan Machine Barzegar grain drill having furrower and runner opener; 4) planting with grain drill having ripple opener. Parameters including mean weight diameter of clods (MWD), soil bulk density, uniformity of seed planting depth, seed distribution uniformity, seed emergence, crop yield, and crop yield components were measured. SAS software was used to analyze the collected data and the method of benefit to cost ratio was used to compare the treatments from the economic point of view. Results indicated that tillage method had no significant effect (P = 0.05) on the measured parameters. Plant per unit area, seed emergence, uniformity of seed planting depth, and MWD were significantly affected by the grain drill type (P 〈 0.05) while, the type of grain drill had no significant effect on the rest of measured parameters. Taka grain drill without furrower had the highest uniformity of planting depth and proper soil MWD, and grain drill with ripple opener had the highest seed emergence and plant per unit area. Interaction between tillage methods and grain drill types affected the soil MWD, seed emergence, and crop yield (P 〈 0.05) in such a way that the combination of primary tillage with disk harrow and planting with grain drill having ripple opener provided the highest crop yield.