Faculty of Agriculture

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Browsing Faculty of Agriculture by Subject "Agro-ecosystem"

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    Establishing the Contribution of Biogas Fuel Technology in Promoting Sustainable Agro-ecosystems in Malangala Sub-county, Mityana District, Uganda.
    (Uganda Martyrs University, 2010) Nabisawa, Jesca
    NABISAWA JESCA (2010-M152-20042) Establishing the Contribution of Biogas Fuel Technology in Promoting Sustainable Agro-ecosystems in Malangala Sub-county, Mityana District, Uganda. This study is titled: Establishing the contribution of Biogas Fuel or Technology in Promoting Sustainable Agro-ecosystems in Malangala sub-county Mityana district. The objectives were: to assess the potential benefits of using biogas technology, to identify the challenges faced by respondents in adoption and use of biogas technology and, to recommend possible interventions that would improve adoption of biogas technology as a low cost renewable energy. Literature from previous studies and researches conducted by other scholars that have a bearing on biogas fuel or technology as a low cost renewable energy were presented under three sub-headings that were drawn from the study objectives. The tools that were used in collecting data for the study included: an interview guide, a questionnaire, focus group discussions, library search, observations and interviews. The data were collected from a cross section of respondents such as 80 farmers that have and use biogas in their homes, 2 agency officials that promote the technology, 2 community development officers, 2 NAADS coordinators, 3 opinion leaders, 2 local leaders, 4 extension workers, 4 local artisans and 1 natural resource officer from the district. Purposive sampling strategy was used to choose key respondents of the study. Both qualitative and quantitative data were coded and analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and qualitative tools respectively. The study revealed the benefits of using biogas fuel or technology that include: It saves time for cooking, provides energy for both cooking and lighting, promotes good sanitation, no smoke, increases food production, saves money on buying firewood and paraffin, improves dairy production, soil improvement, reduces deforestation, ecosystem sustainability. Despite this, the results indicated that the technology faces a number of challenges for enhanced usage and adoption that included; labour intensive, less waste, lack of skilled personnel on the technology, inadequate lamps, it is not easily socially acceptable by other members in the community, not easy to use both at ago. In conclusion, biogas technology has the potential to highly contribute to socio-economic and environmental improvement of the households in the region and beyond. It also has the potential to mitigate against the negative processes of climate change as well as promoting sustainable long term ecosystems in the community. It was recommended that government should provide financial loans to the potential users who may be unable to raise the initial capital for the construction of biogas digesters. Awareness of value of biogas digesters needs to be addressed by government agencies, sub-county authorities, opinion leaders, agency officers that promote the technology, extension workers using different methods of dissemination, such as electronic and printed media, workshops, field days, demonstrations and farmer to farmer contacts. Key words: Biogas, Fuel, Sustainable, Agro-ecosystem
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    Evaluation of Performance of Carrot under Conservation Agro-ecosystems in Kakiika Sub-county, Mbarara District.
    (Uganda Martyrs University, 2010) Kyomukama, Immaculate
    KYOMUKAMA IMMACULATE (2010-M152-20030) Evaluation of Performance of Carrot under Conservation Agro-ecosystems in Kakiika Sub-county, Mbarara District An on-farm experiment was conducted in Kakiika sub-county, Mbarara District from March to July 2012 to evaluate the performance of carrot under conservation tillage systems with Nantes variety. The experimental design used was Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with one block composed of three plots replicated three times with two treatments and a control. Treatments comprised of Zero tillage and Potholing tillage system. The dug-up field was the control. Crop growth parameters included; the leaf length and plant height whereas the yield parameter included; tuber weight, tuber girth size and tuber length. Results indicated significant difference (P≤ 0.05) in carrot growth and yield in zero tillage and potholing tillage systems as well as the control. However, results did not show significant effect (P≥ 0.05) of tillage systems on tuber girth size and tuber length. The study showed that all treatments significantly affected the leaf length and plant height with crops under zero tillage system growing faster than those under potholing and the dug-up field. The tillage systems significantly affected the weight of carrot tuber with those planted under zero tillage and potholing being more than those in the dug-up field. However, there were no significant effects between the replicates. The study also found out that zero tillage and potholing systems attracted more insects compared to the dug-up field and, therefore, this shows that they have significant impact on biodiversity. In general, the experiment found out that zero tillage and potholing conservation tillage systems can significantly improve growth and yields of carrots. It also revealed that crops under the conservation tillage systems had better resilience in the dry period, due to increased water holding capacity in the soil, compared to the dug-up field. Basing on the findings, the study recommends that more trials need to be carried out on carrots based on conservation tillage systems for longer time with elaborate assessment of the factors at play such as soil nutrient levels and, pests and diseases. Key words: Performance, Carrot, Conservation, Agro-ecosystem
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    An Investigation into Factors that Limit Soil Fertility Management Practices in Nindye Agro-ecosystem.
    (Uganda Martyrs University, 2010) Nakitende, Harriet, Kigozi
    NAKITENDE HARRIET KIGOZI (2010-MI52-20044) An Investigation into Factors that Limit Soil Fertility Management Practices in Nindye Agro-ecosystem This work is presented as a direct outcome of the study on factors limiting improvement of soil fertility in Nnindye Parish Mpigi district. The general objective of the study was to explain why available soil improvement technologies are not contributing to solving the problems of declining soil fertility despite the availability of scientifically proven methods elsewhere. The area has had a number of organisations working towards the development of agriculture. Development projects have continued to sensitise communities on the usefulness of local resources and good agronomic practices in the improvement of soil fertility but with no change in the soil status. Mailo land is a predominant land tenure system in the study area that was predicted to be a hindrance to investing in improving land productivity. This formed the basis for the research to find out the kind of crop enterprises managed under different tenure systems, practiced methods of soil fertility improvement as well as what prevents these methods from achieving good soil fertility. The research took a survey approach using mainly qualitative and quantitative research approaches in which farmers were targeted as the study population. Land tenure types do not determine soil fertility improvement practices except in situations where use was for a specified period of time as the case for rented land where agro forestry and soil bunds cannot be used due to temporary ownership. Farmer practices for soil fertility management ranged from use of natural fallows, recycling of garden wastes, compost, crop rotation, farmyard manure, chemicals, integrated nutrient management and use of soil band. These practices were associated with factors that include land fallowing practices, labour, education, and number of animals kept especially cattle, number of enterprises owned and how farmers judged the level of decline of soil fertility. Factors such as short fallow periods, labour problems, inadequacy of manures, high costs of fertilizers both organic and inorganic and excessive removal of material from gardens prevent applicability of available methods for achieving better soil fertility. Soil management methods that are largely depending on use of other resources are inappropriate for the area. Important recommendations including introduction of improved fallows, development of suitable crop rotations and cropping patterns were suggested. Key words: Fertility, Soil, Management, Agro-ecosystem