Browsing by Author "Muoma, John"

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  • Publication
    Publication
    Agronomic effectiveness of water hyacinth-based composts
    (African Journal of Agricultural Research, 2018-09-27) Beesigamukama, Dennis; Katusabe, Alice; Tumuhairwe, John; Muoma, John; Maingi, John; Ombori, Omwoyo; Nakanwagi, Josephine; Mukaminega, Dative
    Because water hyacinth-based compost contains substantial amounts of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) its application can boost crop production. We evaluated the agronomic performance of water hyacinth-based composts using field experiments and five treatments which were; water hyacinth compost made using cattle manure (WH+CM), poultry manure (WH+PM), molasses (WH+MO), water hyacinth alone (WH alone) and the control. The composts were applied at two rates of 3 and 6 t ha-1 using maize (LONGE 4) as a test crop. Grain yields of 6.8 t ha-1 harvested in WH+CM applied at 6 t ha-1 and 6.5 t ha-1 harvested in WH+PM applied at 3 t ha-1 were statistically similar, and were the highest in the experiment. The highest harvest index and agronomic nitrogen efficiency were obtained at 3 t ha-1 from WH+PM (4.57) and WH+MO (42.6 kg kg-1) respectively. Compost formulation WH+PM applied at 3 t ha-1 was the most effective as measured in terms of grain yield and is recommended for application by farmers for good yields of maize crop.
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    Publication
    Belowground Influence of Rhizobium Inoculant and Water Hyacinth Composts on Yellow Bean Infested by Aphis fabae and Colletotrichum lindemuthianum under Field Conditions
    (Canadian Center of Science and Education, 2016-04-22) Naluyange, Victoria; Ochieno, Dennis; Wandahwa, Philip; Odendo, Martins; Maingi, John; Amoding, Alice; Ombori, Omwoyo; Mukaminega, Dative; Muoma, John
    Rhizobium inoculant has been developed for bean production in Lake Victoria basin. Two types of compost have been developed, water hyacinth compost with cattle manure culture (H+CMC) or with effective microbes (H+EM). Influence of Rhizobium and composts on Aphis fabae and Colletotrichum lindemuthianum were investigated in the field. Rhizobium and hyacinth composts increased nodulation (×2 to 5); while Aphis fabae population increased (×2) on Rhizobium-inoculated plants with H+EM. Incidence of C. lindemuthianum was high in Rhizobium-inoculated plants. Plants that received diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer had few nodules, reduced germination, slow growth and low yields. In conclusion, the water hyacinth composts contain beneficial microbes that promote root nodulation by Rhizobium, which is necessary for nitrogen fixation, while enhancing tolerance to aboveground infestations by A. fabae and C. lindemuthianum. We raise questions on our results to stimulate research, considering that bean breeding programs in Africa have mainly focused on microbial pathogens, and not insect pests.
  • Publication
    Publication
    Compatibility of Rhizobium inoculant and water hyacinth compost formulations in Rosecoco bean and consequences on Aphis fabae and Colletotrichum lindemuthianum infestations
    (Elsevier, 2014-04-01) Naluyange, Victoria; Ochieno, Dennis; Maingi, John; Ombori, Omwoyo; Mukaminega, Dative; Amoding, Alice; Odendo, M.; Okoth, S.; Shivoga, William; Muoma, John
    The common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris is an important crop for food security and nitrogen fixation through Rhizobium symbiosis. Commercial Rhizobium inoculants are being promoted to fix nitrogen and enhance bean production in the Lake Victoria basin. Rhizobium symbiosis depends on nutrients, especially phosphorus, which is widely applied as diammonium phosphate (DAP) in the Lake Victoria basin. Water hyacinth, Eichornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms-Laubach (Pontederiaceae) is being developed into compost, with perceived benefits of improving crop production and limiting its disastrous spread in Lake Victoria. High nutrient content in water hyacinth compost can stimulate Rhizobium nodulation and nitrogen fixation, consequently improving plant growth and pest resistance. However, it is not yet established whether Rhizobium inoculants and water hyacinth composts are compatible options for plant growth promotion and pest suppression in beans. A field experiment with two trials was conducted to assess the compatibility of commercial Rhizobium inoculant, DAP, cattle farmyard manure (FYM), and four formulations of water hyacinth compost i.e., water hyacinth only (H), with molasses (H+Mol), cattle manure culture (H+CMC) or effective microbes (H+EM). Rhizobium inoculated plants had high number of root nodules when grown with H+CMC and H+EM. Plants were large in size with short development period when grown with the composts, especially H+CMC and H+EM. Those grown with H+EM produced high number of flowers. Rhizobium inoculated plants had high anthracnose incidence than non-inoculated ones when grown with H+CMC. Those grown with H+EM had low anthracnose incidence, but was high in FYM. During flowering, Rhizobium inoculated plants had higher Aphis fabae population than non-inoculated ones when grown in FYM or without fertilizer. Those grown with H+EM had the lowest A. fabae population. Yields in water hyacinth compost were improved, especially for H+CMC in the second trial. DAP treated plants had more flowers and pods having heavy seeds, with low anthracnose and A. fabae infestations; but had low germination rates that reduced the yields. In conclusion, the commercial Rhizobium inoculant is predominantly compatible with water hyacinth compost formulations containing effective microbes and cattle manure culture, which could enhance tolerance of bean plants to aphids and possibly to anthracnose disease. These two water hyacinth compost formulations need further investigation for their potential in enhancing food production and alleviating the water hyacinth problem in the Lake Victoria basin.
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    Publication
    Metaviromic analysis reveals coinfection of papaya in western Kenya with a unique strain of Moroccan watermelon mosaic virus and a novel member of the family Alphaflexiviridae
    (Springer, 2020-03-09) Read, David Alan; Muoma, John; Thompson, Genevieve Dawn
    Severe mottling symptoms were observed on Carica papaya L. in Koyonzo, Kakamega County, Kenya. Total RNA was sequenced via an RNAtag-seq workflow. Assembled contigs indicated the presence of a divergent strain of Moroccan watermelon mosaic virus (genus Potyvirus) with a complete genome length of 9,733 nt (GenBank accession no. MN418119). Additionally, the complete genome sequence of a novel member of the viral genus Allexivirus was determined (GenBank accession no. MN418120). The genome contains six open reading frames (ORFs) that show varying degrees of sequence similarity to members of the genus Allexivirus; however, it appears to lack an ORF encoding a nucleic-acid-binding homolog. The tentative name “papaya virus A” (PaVA) has been proposed for this virus.
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    Publication
    Response of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Cultivars to Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes [Mart.] Solms) Compost in Kisumu, Kenya along the Lake Victoria Basin
    (Journal of Experimental Agriculture International, 2018-09-06) Kawaka, Fanuel; Ombori, Omwoyo; Maingi, John M.; Amoding, Alice; Mukaminega, Dative; Muoma, John
    Aims: This study aimed at enhancing common bean production among the small holder farmers along the Lake Victoria basin, Kenya through the use of water hyacinth compost.Study Design: Randomized Complete Block Design with a split-plot structure with three replications. The bean cultivars formed the main plots while fertilizers formed the sub-plots.Place and Duration of Study: Field trials were conducted on small holder farms in Kisumu, Lake Victoria basin during the short and long rains in 2012/2013.Methodology: Fresh water hyacinth weeds were cut into smaller pieces and left to completely dry in the sun and allowed to decompose naturally for 45 days. The treatments consisted of control (no fertilizer), water hyacinth compost and diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer (DAP). The fertilizers were applied at the rate of 46 kg ha-1 of DAP or 8 T ha-1 of compost along the rows and thoroughly mixed within the top 15 cm of soil to avoid direct contact with the seeds or the rhizobia inocula.Results: Water hyacinth compost significantly (P<0.05) increased nodulation and improved yield while diammonium phosphate also enhanced yield but suppressed nodulation of the beans. Other agronomic characteristics such as plant height, number of flowers and pods of beans were not significantly (P > 0.05) influenced with the application of either compost or diammonium phosphate.Conclusion: Application of water hyacinth compost has the potential for use as an alternative to expensive inorganic nitrogenous fertilizers in restoring soil fertility and improving bean crop productivity in Kenya.