Browsing by Author "Sylvester Katuromunda"

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Assessing Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture in Kampala, Uganda
(United Nations Environment Programme, 2014) Sylvester Katuromunda; Elly N. Sabiiti; Constantine B. Katongole; Hannington Sengendo; Charles P.K. Basalirwa; Gertrude Atukunda; Sarah K. Nambuubi
Building Urban Resilience : Assessing Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture in Kampala, Uganda
(United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 2014-09) Elly N. Sabiiti; Constantine B. Katongole; Sylvester Katuromunda; Hannington Sengendo; Charles P.K. Basalirwa; Gertrude Atukunda; Sarah K. Nambuubi
Effect of legume foliage supplementary feeding to dairy cattle offered Pennisetum purpureum basal diet on feed intake and manure quality
(National Agricultural Research Organisation, 2012) Sylvester Katuromunda; E.N. Sabiiti; A. Mateete Bekunda
The growing population of dairy cows in urban and peri-urban areas coupled with improvement in feeding is generating more manure, which if properly conserved can become an input to crop/ fodder production. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the method of storing faeces excreted by cows fed on Pennisetum purpureum–legume foliage diets affects the manuring quality of the resultant manure. Four diets comprising sole Pennisetum fodder, Pennisetum + Calliandra, Pennisetum + Centrosema and Pennisetum + Desmodium were fed to cows. Faeces excreted were subjected to four methods of storage for three months as follows: Placing faeces in pits and covering with soil (T1), wrapping faeces in polythene sheets and placing them in pits (T2), placing faeces in pits and leaving the pits open (T3), and stockpiling faeces on open flat ground (T4). Composts derived from faeces subjected to T3 and T4 methods exhibited maturity. Apart from nitrogen in the compost derived from faeces of cows supplemented with Calliandra, the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium concentrations in all the composts significantly declined. Organic matter losses from composts got from T3 and T4 were significantly greater than that of T2. It was concluded that storing cow’s faeces using T3 method would be the most appropriate and low-cost management intervention for improving cattle manure nutrient conservation.
Effect of Supplementary Feeding on the Performance of Ankole x Friesian Crossbred Calves Grazed on Natural Pastures
(Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International, 2017-02) Sylvester Katuromunda; Denis Mpairwe; Elly N. Sabiiti; Ewa Wredle
Aims: To determine the effect of protein supplementation to Ankole x Friesian crossbred calves grazing natural pastures on their growth performance, and the economic viability of supplementation. Study Design: Randomized Complete Block Design. Place and Duration of Study: Kiruhura district in Uganda; September to December 2012. Methodology: Nine weaned crossbred calves aged 5-6 months on each of the five experimental farms were divided into three groups. Each group was randomly assigned one of the three dietary treatments comprising: a control where calves depended solely on pastures, supplementation with homemade concentrate (HMC), or lablab hay (LH). Calves were released daily at 8.00 am to graze till 3.00 pm when those on supplementation were returned to their pens for supplementary feeding; meanwhile the control group was left grazing until evening. Body weight (BW) and body condition (BC) of each calf were recorded at three weeks’ intervals. Financial efficiency of supplementation was estimated using the ratio of total revenue (TR) to total variable cost (TVC). Results: The mean total DMI (kg/day) of calves supplemented with HMC (3.28) and LH (2.94) were higher (P < .001) than that of calves on sole grazing (1.90). The mean daily BW gain (g/day) of calves supplemented with HMC (540) was higher (P = .03) than that of calves supplemented with LH (423) and those on sole grazing (357). The BC scores of calves fed HMC and LH were 4.74 and 4.90 respectively, and were higher (P = .04) than that of calves (4.32) on sole grazing. Returns per unit variable cost of production measured by TR/TVC for calves on sole grazing were 1.30 compared to 1.11 and 0.92 for calves fed LH and HMC, respectively. Conclusion: Supplementing crossbred calves grazing natural pastures with HMC improves their growth performance, but might be uneconomical in the short run due to cost of ingredients.
Optimum Combination of Plant Spacing and Mulching On Productivity of Red-Leaf Lettuce
(African Crop Science Society, 2023-01) Sylvester Katuromunda; P. Namuwulya
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is increasingly a popular vegetable salad, especially in the tropics where it is reputed for providing health benefits such as lowering cholesterol levels, fighting insomnia, preventing growth of cancerous cells and providing antioxidants. In Uganda, its yields are suboptimal, reportedly due to poor agronomic practices. The objective of this study was to determine the optimum combination of planting density and mulching of red-leaf lettuce under Uganda field conditions. A field experiment was conducted at the Agromax Uganda Limited farm in Kampala in 2018. The study involved two treatments, namely mulching using black polythene and varying intra-row spacing (15, 25 and 35 cm), all against inter-row spacing of 40 cm. The treatments were laid out in a split plot arrangement, in a randomised complete block design, with three replications. The main plot factor was mulching; while the subplot treatment was plant spacing. The interaction effect of plant spacing and mulching with polythene was significant (P<0.05) on plant heights, number of leaves per plant, leaf length and breadth, and fresh weight. Mulching at the widest intra-row spacing (35 cm) resulted in shorter plants (22.9 cm) with the highest leaf numbers per plant (23.6), longest and widest leaves (21.8 and 19.5 cm, respectively); and consequently the highest fresh yield (381.3 g m-2). It is, therefore, prudent that this plant spacing and plastic mulching be on a wider scale to validate the results across the country.
Soil Moisture Stress and Nitrogen Supply Affect the Growth Characteristics and Yield of Upland Rice Cultivars
(ScienceDomain International, 2017-01) Emmanuel P. Momolu; Jimmy Lamo; Sylvester Katuromunda
Aims: To assess the effect of soil moisture stress and nitrogen fertilizer application on the growth characteristics and yield of upland rice cultivars. Study Design: Completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement. Place and Duration of Study: National Crops Resources Research Institute, Namulonge, Uganda between March and July 2015. Methodology: The experiment comprised four nitrogen (N) application levels (0 as control, 40, 80 and 120 kg N/ha) as main plots and four soil moisture levels (25% as control, 15, 10 and 5%) as sub-plots. Results: Plant heights for stressful moisture levels (15, 10 and 5%) at all N levels were lower (P < .001) than those of the control treatments at the respective N levels. Also, rice plants under stressful treatments at each N level took longer (P < .001) to mature when compared with the control treatments at the respective N levels. Subjecting rice plants that were supplied with 0 kg N/ha to moisture stress did not significantly (P > .05) affect the number of panicles produced when compared with the control. Under the 40 kg N/ha level, number of panicles produced by rice plants subjected to 15 and 10% moisture stress levels (3.56 and 4.00) were significantly lower than those of the control (6.00). For the 80 and 120 kg N/ha levels, number of panicles decreased significantly at all moisture stress levels when compared with the respective control treatments. Subjecting rice plants to moisture stress at the 40, 80 and 120 kg N/ha levels significantly (P < .001) reduced the grain yield when compared with the respective control treatments. Conclusion: Namche-3 rice cultivar performed optimally when subjected to 15% moisture stress and 120 kg N/ha application rate. Thus, farmers growing Namche-3 rice in areas with limited soil moisture may apply N at 120 kg/ha if they are to realize better grain yields.
Yield Performance of Newly Developed Cassava Varieties in Response to Inorganic Fertilizers
(Canadian Center of Science and Education, 2021-07-22) Sylvester Katuromunda; Benson Ekwaro; Boniface Wanaku
A study was conducted at Kyambogo University Farm in randomized complete block design with three replications to assess the effect of NPK (17:17:17) fertilizer on the growth and tuber yields of two newly developed cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) varieties, NAROCASS 1 and NASE 14. Cassava varieties were assigned to the main plots, while fertilizer rates (zero/control, 200, 400, 600 kg/ha) were sub-plots. Fertilizer was applied in two splits, at planting and four months after planting. Fertilizer application significantly (P<0.05) increased the cassava stem heights to first branching and at harvest, and the number of stems per plant when compared with the control treatments. Mean stem heights to first branching and at harvest of plants that received NPK were higher than those of the respective control treatments by 62.8 and 70.5% for NAROCASS 1, and 57.0 and 76.5% for NASE 14, respectively. Fertilizer rate of 400 kg/ha significantly increased the lengths, numbers of tubers and tuber yields per plant when compared with the control treatments. Mean lengths, numbers of tubers and tuber yields of plants that received NPK were higher than those of respective control treatments by 48.2, 36.9 and 68.3% for NAROCASS 1, and 39.9, 50.5 and 67.6% for NASE 14, respectively. Therefore, to achieve optimum tuber yields of newly developed cassava varieties, farmers should integrate NPK fertilizer application into already existing management practices, particularly the use of high quality planting materials and integrated pest, disease and weed management. However, government ministries concerned should ensure that inorganic fertilizers are readily accessible and affordable to farmers.