Faculty of Agriculture Environment and Food Systems e-Theses Collection: Recent submissions
Now showing items 41-60 of 105
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Integrated soil fertility, residue and tillage management for improved soil quality and maize (Zea mays, L.) production in urban agriculture in Harare and Chitungwiza
(2016-06)Crop production has been affected by poor soil fertility and persistant droughts in urban agriculture (UA) in Zimbabwe. This gave rise to the use of livestock manure and organic municipal wastes as basal fertilizers despite ... -
Perceived local evidence of climate change and variability impacts on natural resources in smallholder communities of eastern Zimbabwe
(2016-06)Declining crop and livestock production due to a degrading land resource base and changing climate among other biophysical and socio-economic constraints, are increasingly forcing rural households in Zimbabwe and other ... -
Identification of molecular markers for screening tobacco germplasm resistant to white mould
(2016-06)White mould is a fungal disease of tobacco and other crops and is caused by Golovinomyces cichoracearum. White mould resistance is introduced into commercial varieties by backcrossing followed by phenotypic selection which ... -
A study of the effects of pruning and deheading on the flowering behaviour of Leucospermum cv. Scarlet Ribbon and Leucospermum Saxosum
(2014-06-27)Leucospermum plants have a relatively short flowering period and peak flowering periods often coincide with low prices on the export market. Two field trials were therefore carried out at Pinfields farm Ruwa, Zimbabwe ... -
Soil organic matter dynamics and crop productivity as affected by organic resource quality and management practices on smallholder farms
(2014-06-26)Crop productivity in low-input agricultural systems is largely a function of the soil’s capacity to hold and release nutrients in soil organic matter (SOM). Although sandy soils on most Zimbabwean smallholder farms ... -
Effect of reduced feeding allowances on the nitrogen retention and growth of indigenous pigs
(2014-06-26)The effect of reduced feeding allowances for pigs was investigated in two trials. Trial 1 was aimed at evaluating the effect of graded levels of energy on the nitrogen balance and growth performance of Mukota pigs. Graded ... -
The role of seed-borne inoculum levels in the development of common bean blight disease (Xanhomonas Axonopodis PV. Phaseoli) on bean in Zimbabwe under smallholder farming systems and evaluation of alternative control methods based on Botanical extracts
(2014-06-26)Field trials were conducted in 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 rainy seasons in Chinyika Resettlement Area (CRA) to determine seed inoculum threshold levels for Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli (Xap) the causative pathogen ... -
Effects of soil fertility management practices on selected soil physical properties, water use efficiency and crop productivity in Murewa smallholder farming area
(2014-06-26)Several studies have been conducted to restore the fertility of degraded soils in sub-Saharan Africa using combinations of inorganic and organic fertilizers. The studies mainly concentrated on nutrient uptake and balances ... -
Impact of Nematode pest management strategies on Nematode communities in tomato production systems in Zimbabwe
(2014-05-23)An analysis of soil nematode communities can be a useful tool for assessing the quality of soils and for the development of biological monitoring systems due to their intimate relationship of nematodes with their surrounding ... -
Crop Residue Management and Termite Prevelance Under Conservation Agriculture in Zimbabwe
(2014-04-24)The challenge of maintaining a permanent soil cover using crop residues under conservation agriculture (CA) among smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe is mainly attributed to competing uses such as livestock grazing the residues. ... -
EXPLORING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DIFFERENT FERTILIZER FORMULATIONS IN ALLEVIATING ZINC DEFICIENCY IN SMALLHOLDER MAIZE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN ZIMBABWE
(2013-10-03)Fertilization of staple cereal crops in smallholder farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa has mostly focused on supply of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), despite the widespread deficiencies of micronutrients ... -
Economics of smallholder tobacco production and implications of tobacco growing on deforestation in Hurungwe district of Zimbabwe.
(2013-09-17)Natural environment is of great importance to both human life and animals. It supports agricultural activities and this calls for environmental conservation and sustainability. However, there are fears that the tobacco ... -
A comparative analysis of maize technical efficiency between a1 resettlement areas and communal areas in Goromonzi District, Mashonaland East Province
(2013-06-04)ABSTRACT This study sought to establish the differences in technical efficiency levels between A1 and communal farmers in Goromonzi District, Mashonaland East Province. Detailed survey data was obtained from 100 farmers ... -
A logit estimation of factors determining adoption of conservation farming by smallholder farmers in the semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe
(2013-06-04)Despite heavy investment made by various organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa, to promote conservation farming, the adoption of this technology remained low. Therefore, this study was carried out to estimate the factors ... -
Estimation of the optimum crop mix given the introduction of chili production and marketing in Goromonzi and Marondera Districts, Mashonaland-East, Zimbabwe
(2013-06-04)Choosing the optimal cropping or enterprise mix has undoubtedly been one of the greatest challenges facing farmers due to multiple objectives such as food security, cash requirements, profit maximization etc. Farmers find ... -
The sustainability of conservation farming in the smallholder farming sector. A case of Guruve communal area in Zimbabwe
(2013-06-04)This study is based on fieldwork conducted in Ward 5 Guruve District of Mashonaland Central, Zimbabwe. Conservation farming (CF) has been widely embraced as an antidote to the perennial food insecurity situation, bedeviling ... -
An estimation of price and non-price factors affecting maize supply response in Zimbabwe
(2013-06-04)Maize is the staple food crop of Zimbabwe and therefore plays an important role in achieving national food security goals. In the past 30 years, the country has experienced both a decline and unstable production in maize. ... -
An analysis of the regional competitiveness of Zimbabwe’s broiler enterprises
(2013-06-04)The purpose of this study was to analyze the regional competitiveness of Zimbabwe’s commercial broiler industry. The study analyzed the country’s broiler production system and compared it with regional broiler production. ... -
Opportunities for increasing household incomes through gardening: a case of Seke communal area
(2013-06-04)Risk from climatic variability is a major limiting factor to agricultural production in Zimbabwe. Vegetable gardening has an important role in agricultural and economic development of Zimbabwe. Vegetable gardening has the ... -
A Socio-economic analysis of factors Influencing jatropha curcas l. adoption by communal farmers in Shamva District of Zimbabwe
(2013-06-04)Jatropha curcas L. or physic nut is a plant that has the potential of reducing rural poverty and increasing fuel supply. Worldwide interest in plant oils commenced when it became evident that fossil fuels were depleting ...
