Browsing by Author "Ekyaligonza, Deous Mary"

Filter results by typing the first few letters
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Impact of integrating annual and perennial legumes under Coffea arabica on sloping land
    (MDPI Company, 2023-01-30) Kahigwa Tibasiima, Thaddeo; Ekyaligonza, Deous Mary; Kanahe Kagorora, John Patrick; Friedel, Jürgen Kurt; Melcher, Andreas; Bwambale, Bosco; Akugizibwe, Edwin; Freyer, Bernhard
    Above-ground biomass cover under Coffea arabica on sloping land is beneficial but difficult to sustain. Interplanting annual and perennial legumes can sustain the above-ground biomass cover, and improve soil fertility, yield, and profitability. This was tested on 26 sloping farms in a four-growing season experiment on undersowing C. arabica with new crop combinations: Mucuna pruriens var. utilis (T1); Millettia dura Dunn (T2); a combination of M. pruriens and M. dura (T3); and the control with a no-cover legume (T4). On each farm, all treatments followed a randomized single-block design. T3 produced 8.7 mt/ha/yr above-ground biomass that was significantly (p < 0.01) higher than other treatments and was increasing with the seasons. Under T3, plant-available nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) increased more than in other treatments. During the fourth season, coffee yield in T3 was 54%, 22%, and 11% higher than in T4, T2, and T1, respectively. The gross profit under T3 was 86% higher than in T4 in the fourth season. This indicates that interplanting a combination of M. pruriens and M. dura under C. arabica on sloping land can sustainably increase above-ground biomass cover, soil’s plant-available N and K, coffee yield, and profitability. Based on the results, the combination of M. pruriens and M. dura is recommended to optimize coffee production under the described conditions.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Re-assembling land degradation: toward a nature-society-inclusive soil erosion management strategy: a case of the Rwenzori region, Uganda
    (Frontiers, 2023-05-02) Kahigwa Tibasiima, Thaddeo; Bwambale, Bosco; Ekyaligonza, Deous Mary; Dietrich, Phillipp; Jumba, Francis; Freyer, Bernard; Kanahe Kagorora, John Patrick
    Tackling land degradation, particularly soil erosion, remains a challenge due to the gap between science, policy, and practice which hampers the adoption of control measures by farmers. Bridging this gap requires understanding land degradation as an assemblage of the natural/biophysical and anthropogenic aspects; but also, rethinking epistemologies that level the grounds between scientists, policymakers, and farmers whose farm livelihoods are at-risk due to soil erosion. This study aimed to clarify how these requirements can be met through the lens of the recently proposed hylomorphic framework. This framework structures, in three steps, the procedure of bridging real-life experiences of farmers at risk of soil erosion with the knowledge of scientists and policymakers through the embracement of diversity in ontological realities and values, self-critiques, and coalescing overlaps in theorizations. We selected a qualitative design as most appropriate using one of the cases—the Rwenzori region—where soil erosion is high. We conducted nine focus group discussions with participants selected purposefully from three stakeholder groups including scientists, policymakers, and farmers. Following the hylomorphic framework procedure, we carried out the content analysis. Drawing on insights from this study, we elaborate on how the hylomorphic framework supports deconstructing land degradation and soil erosion, and also further offers insights into a more nature-society-inclusive soil erosion management strategy.