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<channel rdf:about="http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/30">
<title>School of Agriculture &amp; Biotechnology</title>
<link>http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/30</link>
<description/>
<items>
<rdf:Seq>
<rdf:li rdf:resource="http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2727"/>
<rdf:li rdf:resource="http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2724"/>
<rdf:li rdf:resource="http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2723"/>
<rdf:li rdf:resource="http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2722"/>
<rdf:li rdf:resource="http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2721"/>
<rdf:li rdf:resource="http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2718"/>
<rdf:li rdf:resource="http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2716"/>
<rdf:li rdf:resource="http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2705"/>
<rdf:li rdf:resource="http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2704"/>
<rdf:li rdf:resource="http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2699"/>
</rdf:Seq>
</items>
<dc:date>2026-06-05T01:38:04Z</dc:date>
</channel>
<item rdf:about="http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2727">
<title>GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, SOIL PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES, AND NUTRIENT USE EFFICIENCY UNDER INORGANIC-ORGANIC FERTILIZER SUBSTITUTIONS IN MAIZE AND DESMODIUM CROPPING  SYSTEMS</title>
<link>http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2727</link>
<description>GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, SOIL PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES, AND NUTRIENT USE EFFICIENCY UNDER INORGANIC-ORGANIC FERTILIZER SUBSTITUTIONS IN MAIZE AND DESMODIUM CROPPING  SYSTEMS
ODERA, IRINE
Climate change continues to threaten ecosystem functions, and agriculture remains one of&#13;
the major sources of greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions responsible for global warming.&#13;
However, little is known about the quantities and intensities of GHGs from major cropping&#13;
systems in Kenya and, by extension, in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study was aimed to&#13;
quantify GHG emissions - carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O)&#13;
fluxes from soil. It also assessed the optimal organic-inorganic fertilizer substitution in&#13;
maize (Zea mays) and desmodium (Desmodium uncinatum) cropping systems that enhance&#13;
crop yields and lead to reductions in GHG emissions. The static chamber method was used&#13;
from April to November 2024. The experiment consisted of six fertilizer substitution ratios&#13;
(0 0, 25 75, 50 50, 75 25, 100 0, and 0 100% FYM-inorganic N equivalence) arranged in a&#13;
randomized complete block design with four replications. Soil chemical parameters (NH4+,&#13;
NO3−, pH, N, P, and C), plant nutrient uptake, and agronomic and recovery efficiencies&#13;
were assessed. Results showed that desmodium yield responded positively to increasing&#13;
Farmyard manure substitution levels (p &lt; 0.0001), with biomass rising under higher&#13;
organic inputs. Despite these, N2O emission factors and yield-scaled emissions remained&#13;
consistently low across fertilizer treatments, indicating efficient nitrogen utilization and&#13;
minimal gaseous losses. The net global warming potential did not vary significantly among&#13;
treatments. Greenhouse gas intensity declined sharply from the control to the 75,25&#13;
fertilizer treatment, representing approximately a 70% reduction. Maize grain yield was&#13;
highest under the 50,50 (50% FYM, 50% inorganic fertilizer), indicating a strong&#13;
synergistic effect between organic and mineral nutrient sources. Emission factors increased&#13;
by nearly 20% relative to the control. Net global warming potential also increased&#13;
progressively with higher Farmyard manure substitution, showing an approximately 40.7%&#13;
increase. Despite these increases, the 50,50 treatment achieved the most favorable balance&#13;
between productivity and emissions, producing the highest maize yield with comparatively&#13;
lower EF and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI). Combined FYM–inorganic treatments,&#13;
particularly 25,75 and 75,25, significantly improved soil nutrient status, enhanced N and P&#13;
&#13;
uptake, and increased maize and desmodium yields compared to sole applications. FYM-&#13;
rich combinations improved moisture retention and microbial activity, sustaining nutrient&#13;
&#13;
release, while inorganic fertilizers ensured rapid early growth. Intercropping enhanced&#13;
biological nitrogen fixation and nutrient recovery, leading to higher agronomic efficiency&#13;
and resilience under moisture-limited conditions.
</description>
<dc:date>2025-01-01T00:00:00Z</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2724">
<title>MARKET ACCESSIBILITY AND ADOPTION OF IMPROVED INDIGENOUS CHICKEN AMONG SMALL-SCALE FARMERS IN ELGEYO MARAKWET COUNTY: THE CASE OF KEIYO NORTH SUB-  COUNTY, KENYA</title>
<link>http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2724</link>
<description>MARKET ACCESSIBILITY AND ADOPTION OF IMPROVED INDIGENOUS CHICKEN AMONG SMALL-SCALE FARMERS IN ELGEYO MARAKWET COUNTY: THE CASE OF KEIYO NORTH SUB-  COUNTY, KENYA
KANGOGO, LILIAN
Improved indigenous chicken (IIC) is increasingly regarded as a sustainable&#13;
agricultural enterprise with notable social, economic, and environmental benefits. It&#13;
is considered a promising strategy for improving food and nutritional security,&#13;
fostering gender inclusion, and reducing poverty in rural Kenya, particularly in&#13;
counties such as Elgeyo Marakwet. Due to their adaptability, low input&#13;
requirements, and cultural acceptability, IC are well-suited for smallholder farmers.&#13;
However, market access for IIC products remains fragmented and transient. This&#13;
study evaluated the accessibility of IIC markets and adoption levels among&#13;
smallholder farmers in Elgeyo Marakwet County, focusing on Keiyo North Sub-&#13;
County across three topographic zones. A cross-sectional survey design was&#13;
employed, targeting 816 farmers, with 371 sampled using stratified sampling. Data&#13;
were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive&#13;
statistics, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and regression analysis. The&#13;
findings revealed that 76% of respondents had access to breed information, and&#13;
adoption was significantly associated with factors such as education, gender,&#13;
household size, and agriculture-based income. While most farmers practiced regular&#13;
feeding, the high cost of commercial feeds (reported by 68.1%), disease burden, and&#13;
limited veterinary access constrained productivity. Only 45% had direct contact with&#13;
poultry buyers, and market prices varied significantly by location and season. PCA&#13;
results demonstrated a strong relationship between market access and the adoption&#13;
of improved IIC practices, underlining the role of structured markets and extension&#13;
services in enhancing uptake. Economic Resources (β = 0.314) had the strongest&#13;
positive influence, suggesting that farmers with greater financial capacity, land, and&#13;
education were more likely to adopt improved practices. Production Practices (β =&#13;
0.278) and Market Access (β = 0.211) also had significant positive effects,&#13;
emphasizing the importance of technical knowledge and access to reliable markets.&#13;
Disease Control (β = 0.167), though relatively weaker, remained a significant factor,&#13;
highlighting the need for enhanced veterinary extension and vaccination programs.&#13;
Despite the potential of IIC farming to boost household income, nutrition, and&#13;
resilience to climate shocks, barriers such as unstructured markets, limited access to&#13;
market information, and inadequate disease control reduce its effectiveness. The&#13;
study recommends that county governments intensify extension outreach, support&#13;
local feed formulation, improve veterinary services, and structure poultry markets to&#13;
scale adoption and maximize the socio-economic benefits of improved indigenous&#13;
chicken farming.
</description>
<dc:date>2025-01-01T00:00:00Z</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2723">
<title>SPATIOTEMPORAL DYNAMICS OF RIPARIAN GREENHOUSE GAS FLUXES AND SOIL CARBON STOCKS IN THE BURA AND WUNDANYI  CATCHMENTS, KENYA</title>
<link>http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2723</link>
<description>SPATIOTEMPORAL DYNAMICS OF RIPARIAN GREENHOUSE GAS FLUXES AND SOIL CARBON STOCKS IN THE BURA AND WUNDANYI  CATCHMENTS, KENYA
OWUOR, GODFREY
Agropastoral riparian zones are globally linked to increased greenhouse gas (GHG)&#13;
emissions and soil organic carbon (SOC) depletion, but the Kenyan cases are&#13;
underrepresented in global datasets. The study investigated variations in GHG fluxes and&#13;
&#13;
SOC stocks across three livestock production density levels in the Bura and Wundanyi sub-&#13;
catchments. Eighteen (18) riparian sites (high livestock density (HLD n=7), low livestock&#13;
&#13;
density (LLD n=4), and zero density (ZLD n=7) were sampled between 2021 and 2022 in&#13;
2 dry seasons and 2 wet seasons in three topographies [(Upland at &gt;1000 masl), (Midland&#13;
700 - &lt;1000 masl), and (Lowland &lt;700 masl)]. Results from Wundanyi showed higher CH4&#13;
fluxes under HLD, particularly in the midland zones, where emissions reached 302.5 μg&#13;
CH4 m−2 d−1. In contrast, ZLD sites acted as net CH4 sinks. The mean CH4 flux for&#13;
Wundanyi was 30.21 mg CH4-C m−2 d−1. Consistently high CO2 fluxes were recorded in&#13;
Wundanyi with a mean of 900.17 mg CO2-C m−2 d−1. The highest mean was observed at&#13;
the ZLD sites, Upland (1146.75 mg CO2-C m−2 d−1) and Midland (1003.25 mg CO2-C&#13;
m−2 d−1). SOC stocks in Wundanyi averaged 6.91 Mg C ha−1, with higher concentrations&#13;
recorded in Upland areas (8.01 Mg C ha−1). These stocks were greater during wet seasons&#13;
(8.47 Mg C ha−1) and showed an increasing trend with livestock density: 6.67, 7.03, and&#13;
7.40 Mg C ha−1 in ZLD, LLD, and HLD, respectively. In Bura, CH4 fluxes were&#13;
predominantly negative with mean absorptions in Midland LLD and Upland HLD areas (-&#13;
169.27 and -256.63 mg CH4-C m−2 d−1), respectively. CO2 emissions were moderate, with&#13;
a mean of 527.07 mg CO2-C m−2 d−1, remaining &lt;700 mg CO2-C m−2 d−1 across sites and&#13;
livestock systems. N2O fluxes in Bura were moderate, peaking at 155.93 μg N2O-N m−2 d−1&#13;
in Midland zones under HLD. SOC stocks were highest in the Midlands at 8.29 Mg C ha−1,&#13;
with values increasing alongside livestock density (7.13, 7.78, and 9.16 Mg C ha−1 for ZLD,&#13;
LLD, and HLD, respectively. Bura was a strong methane sink, while Wundanyi recorded&#13;
CH4 emissions in grazed areas and net uptake in ZLD. The upland and ZLD areas were&#13;
significant CO2 sources. This study confirms that increasing livestock densities depleted&#13;
SOC stocks with appreciable human disturbance contributions. Livestock production&#13;
densities are dictated by topography, and GHG emissions are often part of natural exchange&#13;
processes. To realise sustainability in livestock systems, sustainable stocking densities,&#13;
protecting riparian strips, and enhancing vegetative cover should be practised. Long-term&#13;
catchment-level research to document seasonal nutrient input-output dynamics would&#13;
improve GHG inventories for sub-Saharan Africa.
</description>
<dc:date>2025-01-01T00:00:00Z</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2722">
<title>ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF HOUSEHOLD INCOME FROM FARM GATE DRY MAIZE GRAIN SALES AMONG SMALL-SCALE MAIZE FARMERS IN KEIYO  NORTH SUB-COUNTY, KENYA</title>
<link>http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2722</link>
<description>ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF HOUSEHOLD INCOME FROM FARM GATE DRY MAIZE GRAIN SALES AMONG SMALL-SCALE MAIZE FARMERS IN KEIYO  NORTH SUB-COUNTY, KENYA
YANO, ANDREW
The growth rate in the agricultural sector has been slow in recent times, as shown in the national&#13;
governments’ bulletins on the performance of various agricultural sub-sectors. Farm gate maize&#13;
prices have been unstable and sometimes fluctuate to levels too low to cover farmers’ production&#13;
costs, sparking much debate. This has exposed maize farmers in Keiyo North Sub-County to&#13;
skewed pricing mechanisms that sometimes work against them. Therefore, this study was&#13;
conducted to examine the economic Determinants of household income from farm gate dry&#13;
maize grain sales among small-scale maize farmers in Keiyo North Sub-County, Kenya. The&#13;
specific objectives were to determine how socioeconomic, marketing, institutional, and pricing&#13;
factors affect household income among small-scale maize farmers. The study was guided by the&#13;
Random Utility Maximization (RUM) theory, and both descriptive and cross-sectional research&#13;
designs were used. Data was collected from a sample of 232 small-scale maize farmers out of a&#13;
target population of 4,107 farmers, using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data collection was&#13;
done with questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Multiple&#13;
Linear Regression was employed to analyze objectives one to four. Descriptive results showed&#13;
that 46.9% of the small-scale maize farmers were aged 41 to 50 years. About 31.13% had&#13;
attained primary education. Further, 41.51% had between 5 and 10 years of farming experience.&#13;
The average land size under maize was 2 acres. The mean annual maize output per acre was 41&#13;
bags, with an average of 33 bags sold. The average price of a 90 kg bag of maize was Ksh 2,993.&#13;
Over half (57.55%) of the farmers belonged to groups, 50.47% had access to extension services,&#13;
67.92% did not access credit, and 78.77% had access to market information. The regression&#13;
analysis on socio-economic factors revealed that age, education level, and land size were&#13;
statistically significant at the 1% level, with positive coefficients of 0.604, 0.782, and 0.308,&#13;
respectively. Farming experience was significant at the 5% level with a positive coefficient of&#13;
0.329. Marital status and family size were significant at the 5% and 1% levels, with negative&#13;
coefficients of 0.281 and 0.098, respectively. The analysis of marketing factors indicated that&#13;
maize output and maize price were significant at the 1% level, with positive coefficients of 0.003&#13;
and 0.015. Regarding institutional factors, group membership, credit access, and extension&#13;
access were significant at the 1% level, with positive coefficients of 2.723, 2.999, and 1.595.&#13;
Pricing factors showed that maize sales and maize price were significant at the 1% level, with&#13;
coefficients of 0.001 and 0.018. Access to market information was significant at the 5% level,&#13;
with a positive coefficient of 0.282. Consequently, the researcher concluded that improving&#13;
farmer education and strengthening household farming skills through extension services would&#13;
increase maize production and, ultimately, household income. Additionally, increasing market&#13;
information would help farmers sell their maize at favorable prices, and allocating more land for&#13;
maize cultivation could boost output, thereby improving farmers&amp;#39; welfare through higher income.&#13;
Improving road infrastructure would also help farmers access markets more easily, lower&#13;
transportation costs, and leave more money in their pockets.
</description>
<dc:date>2025-01-01T00:00:00Z</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2721">
<title>EFFECT OF PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER AND CROPPING SYSTEMS ON RICE BEAN (Vigna umbellata, L.) PRODUCTION IN WESTERN KENYA</title>
<link>http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2721</link>
<description>EFFECT OF PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER AND CROPPING SYSTEMS ON RICE BEAN (Vigna umbellata, L.) PRODUCTION IN WESTERN KENYA
MIGAYA, ERICK
Low soil phosphorus (P) remains a critical constraint to sustainable legume production in&#13;
Western Kenya. Rice bean (Vigna umbellata L.), a resilient and nutrient-rich yet&#13;
underutilized legume, offers opportunities for food security enhancement and soil fertility&#13;
restoration. The crop productivity has been hindered by nutrient deficiencies and&#13;
suboptimal cropping systems. This study evaluated the effect of phosphorus fertilizer and&#13;
cropping systems on rice bean soil fertility dynamics, phenology and yields across three&#13;
agroecological sites; Siaya, Rongo and Kaimosi over two consecutive seasons (September–&#13;
December 2020 and March–August 2021). A split-plot design was used, with cropping&#13;
system (monocrop, conventional intercrop and MBILI) as the main factor and P&#13;
amendments (control at 0 kg P ha−1, FYM at 5 kg P ha−1, combined FYM + inorganic at&#13;
15.5 kg P ha−1, and sole inorganic at 26 kg P ha−1) as the subplot factor, replicated three&#13;
times per site. Data on soil available P, phenological stages, pods per plant, grain yields,&#13;
phosphorus agronomic efficiency (PAE) and harvest index (HI) were collected and&#13;
analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results showed that soil available P was&#13;
highly responsive to P amendments, with 26 kg P ha−1application producing the highest&#13;
levels (up to 8.88 mg kg−1 at Rongo monocrop), while 15.5 kg P ha−1 application&#13;
maintained moderately high levels that balanced immediate nutrient supply with long-term&#13;
fertility. Cropping system effects on soil P were less pronounced, but monocropping and&#13;
MBILI showed slightly greater retention than conventional intercropping. Phenological&#13;
responses were notable: 0 kg P ha−1 plots matured 12–17 days later than 15.5 kg P ha−1 or&#13;
26 kg P ha−1 treatments, with delayed flowering and extended vegetative growth under P&#13;
deficiency. Across sites and seasons, grain yields ranged from 0.24 t ha−1 in conventional&#13;
controls at Siaya to 1.72 t ha−1 under monocrop with 15.5 kg P ha−1 P in Rongo,&#13;
highlighting the clear yield advantage of combined nutrient management in low-P soils.&#13;
PAE varied widely, peaking at 63.42 kg kg−1 under monocrop with fertilizer treatment of&#13;
15.5 kg P ha−1 at Rongo. The PAE was higher under the fertilizer treatments of 5 kg P ha−1&#13;
and 15.5 kg P ha−1 treatments than under 26 kg P ha−1, indicating superior nutrient use&#13;
efficiency with organic amendments. Harvest index values reflected biomass partitioning,&#13;
highest in conventional and MBILI systems (up to 11.10%) compared to 3–4% in&#13;
monocrops. The study concludes that combining organic and inorganic phosphorus sources&#13;
within site-specific cropping systems accelerates phenological development, improves&#13;
nutrient use efficiency and maximizes yield in rice bean production. Extension programs&#13;
should prioritize farmer training on integrated soil fertility management to promote&#13;
organic–inorganic nutrient combinations. These findings provide a framework for&#13;
sustainable intensification of underutilized legumes in phosphorus-deficient soils.
</description>
<dc:date>2025-01-01T00:00:00Z</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2718">
<title>FACTORS DRIVING THE ADOPTION OF IMPROVED CASSAVA CULTIVARS IN TESO SOUTH, BUSIA COUNTY, KENYA</title>
<link>http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2718</link>
<description>FACTORS DRIVING THE ADOPTION OF IMPROVED CASSAVA CULTIVARS IN TESO SOUTH, BUSIA COUNTY, KENYA
’ OBONG’O, ERICK
Cassava&amp;#39;s significance as a food crop is underscored by its ability to thrive in poor soils,&#13;
withstand drought, and tolerate marginal conditions where other crops might fail. Despite&#13;
its recognized importance and the introduction of improved cultivars, cassava output in&#13;
Busia County remains poor. This study analysed the social, economic and institutional&#13;
factors driving the adoption of improved cassava cultivars among 167 smallholder&#13;
farmers in Busia County, Kenya. The objectives of the study were to: document the level&#13;
of adoption of improved cassava cultivars among smallholder farmers in Teso South,&#13;
Busia County; determine the challenges facing cassava production among smallholder&#13;
farmers in Teso South, Busia County; investigate farmers’ perceptions of improved&#13;
cassava varieties among smallholder farmers in Teso South, Busia County and determine&#13;
the social, economic and institutional factors influencing the adoption of improved&#13;
cassava cultivars among smallholder farmers in Teso South, Busia County. Data was&#13;
collected from the sampled farmers using a multistage sampling procedure in six wards.&#13;
A Binary Logit model was used to investigate the effect of the selected social, economic&#13;
and institutional factors on the adoption of improved cassava cultivars. Majority&#13;
127(76.0%) of the respondents indicated that they had not adopted improved cassava&#13;
cultivars on their farms. A high prevalence of pests and diseases (65.9%) constituted the&#13;
major challenge. Education level (p = 0.001), group membership (p = 0.001), and&#13;
extension visits (p = 0.007) are highly significant, with each positively affecting adoption&#13;
rates. Higher income (p = 0.010) also increases the likelihood of adoption. Additionally,&#13;
gender (p = 0.045) and involvement in other farming activities (p = 0.029) are significant,&#13;
indicating that active engagement in farming positively impact adoption. Farmers’&#13;
perceptions through cultivation techniques, input costs, ease of innovation&#13;
implementation and farmers’ opinions through peer experiences significantly emerged as&#13;
practical factors driving adoption. The results revealed that the average farm size in Teso&#13;
South is 2 acres (48.2%), while that set aside for cassava cultivation by households is&#13;
0.25 acres (66.4%). To achieve effective adoption in Busia County, it is crucial to&#13;
develop strategies that create affordable access to improved cassava cultivars. The roles&#13;
of extension agents, along with a solid understanding of adoption theories, constraints to&#13;
adoption, and the determinants of adoption, should be integrated into the social system of&#13;
smallholder farmers through improved institutional support. Policies should be enacted to&#13;
enhance access to affordable inputs, strengthen extension and farmer groups, promote&#13;
gender inclusive interventions, and encourage youth participation to improve adoption&#13;
and productivity in cassava farming. The study acknowledges potential methodological&#13;
limitations such as recall bias and unobserved confounding variables, which may have&#13;
implications for the robustness of the findings.
</description>
<dc:date>2025-01-01T00:00:00Z</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2716">
<title>EFFECT OF MULCHING AS A WEED MANAGEMENT STRATEGY IN FIELD PRODUCTION OF FRENCH BEANS (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) IN KENYA.</title>
<link>http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2716</link>
<description>EFFECT OF MULCHING AS A WEED MANAGEMENT STRATEGY IN FIELD PRODUCTION OF FRENCH BEANS (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) IN KENYA.
AQUINO, CORAZON
There has been a 2% decrease on French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) production in Kenya&#13;
due to factors such as weeds, pests and diseases and the challenge of controlling them using&#13;
chemicals that result in high rejection rate or interception in the export market because of&#13;
chemical residues. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of different&#13;
mulching materials on the growth and yield of French bean cultivars and to determine the&#13;
effect of different mulching materials on weed density. Field experiments were carried out&#13;
in two seasons, long rain and short rain season of 2021 at KALRO Kitale, Trans Nzoia&#13;
county. Season 1 was carried out during long rains of April and June 2021 and season two&#13;
during the short rains of August and October 2021. Black polythene and grass mulch were&#13;
compared with two hand weedings and no weeding in a Randomized Complete Block&#13;
Design experiment with three replications. Data on growth and yield of French Beans were&#13;
collected and subjected to ANOVA using GenStat to determine the significant differences&#13;
between the treatments. The means were separated using Fisher’s protected LSD at 5%&#13;
significance level. Growth and yield of French Beans was significantly influenced by the&#13;
treatments (p≤0.05). Plants grown under black polythene and grass mulch had the tallest&#13;
height and the highest number of leaves and branches as well as number of pods and&#13;
cumulative pod yield as compared to those that were hand weeded and unweeded. The&#13;
highest pod yield of 2138 and 2597 kg/ ha was obtained under black polythene mulch in&#13;
season 1 and 2 respectively. This was significantly higher than that obtained from grass&#13;
mulch, hand weeding and unweeding. In conclusion polythene and grass mulch improved&#13;
growth and yield of French beans and reduced weed density. It is therefore recommended&#13;
that farmers should adopt mulching as a cultural weed management strategy.
</description>
<dc:date>2025-01-01T00:00:00Z</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2705">
<title>Adoption and Barriers to Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies for Food Security in the Lower Nyando Basin, Kenya</title>
<link>http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2705</link>
<description>Adoption and Barriers to Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies for Food Security in the Lower Nyando Basin, Kenya
Raburu, Elizabeth; Kiptui, Mark; Were, Gertrude; Ngode, Lucas; Okoth, Phillip
Climate change is a critical threat to food security, particularly in sub-Saharan&#13;
Africa, where livelihoods are highly dependent on climate-sensitive sectors such as&#13;
rain-fed agriculture and fisheries. In Kenya, the Lower Nyando Basin (LNB)&#13;
exemplifies this vulnerability, with communities facing recurrent floods and&#13;
prolonged droughts that disrupt food production and exacerbate poverty. Despite&#13;
growing promotion of climate-smart practices, evidence on the extent of adoption,&#13;
their effectiveness in improving food security, and the barriers constraining their&#13;
impact at the community level remains limited. This study sought to assess&#13;
household adoption of climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, examine&#13;
their relationship with food security, and identify systemic constraints limiting their&#13;
effectiveness in the LNB. A mixed-methods cross-sectional design was employed,&#13;
combining a household survey of 378 respondents with 12 key informant interviews&#13;
and 10 focus group discussions. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive&#13;
statistics, Chi-square tests, and regression models, while qualitative data were&#13;
thematically analysed and triangulated with survey results to enrich contextual&#13;
understanding. Findings revealed high levels of adaptation, with more than 90% of&#13;
households adopting drought-resistant and early-maturing crop varieties, crop&#13;
diversification, and indigenous seeds. Irrigation, water harvesting, and watershed&#13;
management were also reported, though adoption was constrained by high costs and&#13;
limited technical support. Adaptation was positively associated with improved food&#13;
security outcomes, as households employing multiple strategies reported fewer&#13;
incidences of hunger and more stable food access. However, food insecurity&#13;
persisted, with many households experiencing shortages lasting up to four months&#13;
annually, especially during extreme climatic events. Major barriers included&#13;
financial constraints, high input and irrigation costs, inadequate extension services,&#13;
technical knowledge gaps, and limited participation in adaptation planning. The&#13;
study concludes that while communities in the LNB are proactive in adopting&#13;
climate-smart practices, structural and institutional barriers undermine their&#13;
transformative potential. Addressing these constraints through enhanced financial&#13;
inclusion, participatory governance, improved extension services, and investment in climate-resilient infrastructure will be critical for achieving sustainable food security&#13;
in climate-vulnerable landscapes.
</description>
<dc:date>2026-01-01T00:00:00Z</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2704">
<title>Climate Shocks and Food Security: Community Perceptions of Floods and Droughts in Kenya’s Lower Nyando Basin</title>
<link>http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2704</link>
<description>Climate Shocks and Food Security: Community Perceptions of Floods and Droughts in Kenya’s Lower Nyando Basin
Raburu, Elizabeth; Kiptui, Mark1; Were, Gertrude; Ngode, Lucas; Raburu, Okoth; Obiero, Kevin; Ouko, Kevin
Floods and droughts have intensified across Sub-Saharan Africa,&#13;
undermining food security and rural livelihoods. In Kenya’s Lower Nyando&#13;
Basin (LNB), where households depend primarily on rain-fed agriculture&#13;
and fishing, these climatic shocks are recurrent and highly disruptive. This&#13;
study examined community perceptions of floods and droughts and their&#13;
implications for food security using a mixed-methods design that combined&#13;
a household survey of 378 respondents with 12 key informant interviews&#13;
and 10 focus group discussions. Quantitative analyses employed correlation&#13;
and regression models, while qualitative data provided contextual insights&#13;
into household coping mechanisms. The results indicated that communities&#13;
perceived both floods (84.7%) and droughts (81.6%) to have increased in&#13;
frequency and intensity over the past two decades. Farming, the main&#13;
livelihood and income source (39.6%), was the most vulnerable to climatic&#13;
shocks. Food security outcomes were severely compromised: 77.5% of&#13;
households reported food inadequacy during droughts and 56.9% during&#13;
floods, with shortages lasting more than four months annually for nearly&#13;
two-thirds of respondents. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale&#13;
(HFIAS) further confirmed high levels of deprivation, with households&#13;
frequently reducing meal frequency, consuming less-preferred foods, or&#13;
going entire days without eating. Regression models showed that both&#13;
floods and droughts had significant associations with food adequacy (p &lt;&#13;
0.05), although the explanatory power was modest (R2 = 0.1655 for&#13;
droughts; R2 = 0.1144 for floods). The study concluded that food insecurity&#13;
in the LNB was cyclical and chronic, directly linked to climate shocks. It&#13;
&#13;
recommended investments in small-scale irrigation and drainage, climate-&#13;
smart agriculture, improved post-harvest storage, livelihood diversification,&#13;
&#13;
and gender-responsive social protection to build resilience in vulnerable&#13;
floodplain ecosystems.
</description>
<dc:date>2026-01-01T00:00:00Z</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2699">
<title>Spatial Determinants of Animal Roadkill Occurrence and Hotspots, With Implications for Wildlife Conservation Along Nairobi-Mombasa Highway</title>
<link>http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2699</link>
<description>Spatial Determinants of Animal Roadkill Occurrence and Hotspots, With Implications for Wildlife Conservation Along Nairobi-Mombasa Highway
Kibobi, Peter; Kimanzi, Johnstone; Koskey, Joseph; Wykstra, Mary
The continuous expansion of global road networks, driven by increasing human populations, poses an emerging threat to animal&#13;
populations through vehicle collisions. This study identifies the causal factors and hotspots of animal roadkill along a 72km&#13;
stretch of the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway (from Kyumvi to Sultan-Hamud) and recommends appropriate mitigation measures&#13;
to enhance wildlife conservation. Data on roadkill incidents were collected from 2013 to 2018 through road patrols conducted by&#13;
field scouts. Environmental variables, including water points, corners, vegetation, culverts, migratory routes, settlements, slopes,&#13;
land use, and fences, were gathered using Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. A presence-absence binary logistic&#13;
regression model within a GIS environment was employed to identify significant environmental drivers of roadkill and to map&#13;
hotspots. A total of 408 roadkill incidents (0.944 roadkill km−1 y−1&#13;
&#13;
) were recorded, comprising 51 species from six animal groups.&#13;
Wild herbivores (13 species) and carnivores (14 species) constituted the majority of the documented wildlife, with a density of&#13;
&#13;
0.204 and 0.157 fatalities per kilometre of road per year, respectively. Roadkill incidents for all species combined were signifi-&#13;
cantly higher in areas near migratory routes, settlements, culverts, and corners, while they were lower in grassland, dwarf shrub&#13;
&#13;
grassland, open shrub areas, and near fences. However, the roadkill of different animal groups was influenced by distinct sets&#13;
of factors. Most roadkill hotspots were located between Konza Center and Salama Town, with birds having the shortest stretch&#13;
and herbivores and carnivores having the longest stretches. Roadkill can be mitigated by establishing road signs, fences, speed&#13;
&#13;
bumps, overpasses, and underpasses, and maintaining a cleared vegetation zone along the road. These findings can assist wild-&#13;
life managers and infrastructure engineers in incorporating wildlife welfare and the concerns and attitudes of local communities&#13;
&#13;
when planning and developing linear infrastructure projects.
</description>
<dc:date>2025-06-01T00:00:00Z</dc:date>
</item>
</rdf:RDF>
