Browsing by Author "Mtui, H.D."

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Deriving appropriate pest management technologies for smallholder tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) growers: A case study of Morogoro, Tanzania
(Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences, 2010) Maerere, A.P.; Sibuga, K.P.; Bulali, J.E.M.; Mwatawala, M.W.; Kovach, J.; Kyamanywa, S.; Mtui, H.D.; Erbaugh, M
The current standard farmer practice for insect pests and disease control in tomatoes is routine weekly pesticide sprays which are not always required. Field experiments were conducted at Morogoro, Tanzania to evaluate the effect of seven management practices (sub plots) on pest incidence and yields during May-September 2007 (normal production season) and October 2007 - February 2008 (off-season) using two determinate varieties CALJ and Tanya (main plots) in a RCBD with five replications. Practices involving intercropping with Vigna unguiculata or Cleome gynandra, application of fertilizer or mulch were severely infested by insects particularly thrips (Frankinlla occidentalis) which averaged 30 insects/plant at 64 days after transplanting. The standard and integrated pest management (IPM) practices led to similar low levels of insect pest and disease control though in the IPM only 3 pesticide sprays were applied compared to 10 for the standard practice. In the normal season, disease incidences of early blight (Phytophthrora infestans), late blight (Altenaria solani), leaf spot (Septoria lycopersici) and leaf curl were low (<10%) except for fertilizer and mulch treatment where incidences were close to 50%. The greatest fruit damage (>50%) was ascribed to Helicoverpa armigera. Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus), the most dominant weed, was initially controlled by pre-transplanting application of Round-up® and mulch suppressed the growth of the dominant broadleaf weeds Digera muricata (false amaranth); Amaranthus spp (pigweeds) and Commelina benghalensis (wondering jew). In the normal season, tomato yields with current farmer practice were highest averaging 18.5 t/ha which was not significantly different (P=0.05) from mulch application (14 t/ha) followed by IPM (12.1 t/ha). Similarly, in the off-season crop, yields were highest and similar for mulch and standard practice (4.8 t/ha) followed by IPM (3.4 t/ha). Farmers selected mulch application and IPM for on-farm demonstration to verify production costs and benefits.
Effect of seed treatments and mulch on seedborne bacterial pathogens and yield of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) in Tanzania
(Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences, 2010) Mtui, H.D.; Bennett, M.A.; Maerere, A. P.; Miller, S.A.; Kleinhenz, M.D; Sibuga, K.P.
The study was conducted to assess the presence of seedborne bacteria in four tomato seedlots, the efficacy of seed treatments in reducing bacterial contamination and to determine influence of seed treatment or mulch on crop development and yield. Tomato seedlots were treated using hot water, chlorine, and Ridomil® followed by seedborne bacteria pathogen detection. Seedlings from treated and non-treated seedlots were grown in the field in mulched and non-mulched plots. Results showed that all seedlots assessed were contaminated with Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (CMM), Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (XCV) and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (PST). ‘Tanya G1’, ‘Tanya G2’ (first and second generation farmer-saved seeds respectively) and commercial ‘Cal J’ seedlots were more highly contaminated with XCV than commercial ‘Tanya’ seedlot. ‘Tanya G2’ had the highest PST contamination but did not differ from other seedlots for CMM. Chlorine and hot water significantly reduced bacterial populations on seeds. Ridomil seed treatment did not affect bacterial contamination compared to the untreated control. Marketable fruit yield differed statistically (P = 0.01) for commercial ‘Tanya’ and ‘Cal J’ seedlots. Commercial ‘Tanya’ and ‘Tanya G1’ had higher yields compared to ‘Cal J’ and ‘Tanya G2’. There was no statistical difference (P = 0.05) among seed sources with respect to incidence of blossom end rot (BER) and sunscald disorders. Chlorine and hot water treatments led to higher number of fruits per plant and increased yield compared to Ridomil treatment and the control. Seed treatment had no significant influence on BER. Plants from hot water treatment produced statistically fewer sunscald fruits compared to control, because of more vigorous growth that provided protective shade. The effect of mulch on the yield components and in reduction of sun-scalded fruits was highly significant (P = 0.0001). Seed treatment and mulch therefore can reduce disease infestation and improve tomato yield.
Effects of weaver ants on fruitfly and disease-inflicted postharvest losses of oranges in small-scale farming in Tanzania
(2015) Msogoya, T.J.; Mamiro, D.P.; Mtui, H.D.
The objective of this was to evaluate the effect of African weaver ant (Oecophylla longinoda) on fruit fly disease-inflicted postharvest losses of oranges in small-scale farming in Coast region, Tanzania. The treatments consisted of weaver ant population estimated based on the number of nests (0, 2, 5 and 8) of weaver ants per tree and each was replicated three times. Orange fruits were randomly picked from farmers’ orchards at color breaker stage and were immediately transported and placed on benches in a postharvest laboratory at Sokoine University of Agriculture with average temperature of 19 and 28 °C during the night and day, respectively. Data were subjected to analysis of variance using GenStat Statistical Programme 12th Edition and treatment means separation was conducted based on LSD test at P ≤ 5 %. Results indicated that the incidence of fruit fly infection in orange fruits significantly (P < 0.05) decreased from 0.8 to 0.4 % as weaver ant population increased from 0 to at 2 nests per tree and the average number of pupae per fruit decreased from 0.58 to 0.04, respectively. Similarly, orange fruit decays significantly (P < 0.05) decreased from 20.4 to 10.2 % as weaver ant population increased from 0 to 2 nests per tree. Specifically, the incidence of decays due to anthracnose (Colletotrichium gloeosporioides Sacc.) decreased from 11.1 to 7.8 % and that caused by green moulds (Penicillium italicum Wehmer) decreased from 9.3 to 2.4 % as weaver ant population increased from 0 to 2 nests per tree. It is concluded that two nests of weaver ants per tree is an optimal population for substantial reduction of orange postharvest losses caused by fruit fly and fungal infections. The use of weaver ants can find wide applications in organic farming and small-scale orange farming where pesticide application is unaffordable. As the number of weaver ants per nest may differ, further studies are recommended to determine the actual number of weaver ants that can effectively reduce fruit fly and disease-inflicted decays, particularly in small-scale mixed cropping systems.
Effects of weaver ants on fruitfly and disease-inflicted postharvest losses of oranges in small-scale farming in Tanzania
(1998) Msogoya, T.J.; Mamiro, D.P.; Mtui, H.D.
The objective of this was to evaluate the effect of African weaver ant (Oecophylla longinoda) on fruit fly disease-inflicted postharvest losses of oranges in small-scale farming in Coast region, Tanzania. The treatments consisted of weaver ant population estimated based on the number of nests (0, 2, 5 and 8) of weaver ants per tree and each was replicated three times. Orange fruits were randomly picked from farmers’ orchards at color breaker stage and were immediately transported and placed on benches in a postharvest laboratory at Sokoine University of Agriculture with average temperature of 19 and 28 °C during the night and day, respectively. Data were subjected to analysis of variance using GenStat Statistical Programme 12th Edition and treatment means separation was conducted based on LSD test at P ≤ 5 %. Results indicated that the incidence of fruit fly infection in orange fruits significantly (P < 0.05) decreased from 0.8 to 0.4 % as weaver ant population increased from 0 to at 2 nests per tree and the average number of pupae per fruit decreased from 0.58 to 0.04, respectively. Similarly, orange fruit decays significantly (P < 0.05) decreased from 20.4 to 10.2 % as weaver ant population increased from 0 to 2 nests per tree. Specifically, the incidence of decays due to anthracnose (Colletotrichium gloeosporioides Sacc.) decreased from 11.1 to 7.8 % and that caused by green moulds (Penicillium italicum Wehmer) decreased from 9.3 to 2.4 % as weaver ant population increased from 0 to 2 nests per tree. It is concluded that two nests of weaver ants per tree is an optimal population for substantial reduction of orange postharvest losses caused by fruit fly and fungal infections. The use of weaver ants can find wide applications in organic farming and small-scale orange farming where pesticide application is unaffordable. As the number of weaver ants per nest may differ, further studies are recommended to determine the actual number of weaver ants that can effectively reduce fruit fly and disease-inflicted decays, particularly in small-scale mixed cropping systems.
Potential, challenges and opportunities for promoting integrated agri-aquaculture among vegetable growers and fish farmers in Mvomero district of Morogoro region, Tanzania
(2021) Respikius, M; Ahmad, A.K; Lamtane, H; Mtui, H.D.
Integrated Agri-Aquaculture (IAA) is the integration of fish farming within a broader farming system. Although this system is common in Asia, it is not widely practised in Africa and Tanzania in particular. For many years, lakes, ocean and rivers have been the main source of fish supply in the country. However, the recent upsurge in fish demand coupled with such factors as the use of destructive fishing gears, population growth and poor agricultural practices which lead to pollution and climate change have rendered these sources unsustainable. To increase fish supply, several interventions for promoting fish farming have been implemented. Specifically, IAA is promoted to optimally utilize locally available resources and reduce environmental impacts. However, the main concern is that there has been low yield attained from the IAA contrary to its aim of increasing overall farm yield and income. As a relatively new farming system in the target community, it deemed necessary to explore issues and conditions limiting IAA practice starting with testing its acceptability within the farming communities. The present study analysed the potentials, challenges and opportunities for adopting IAA in Mvomero district of Morogoro region, Tanzania. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from vegetable growers and fish farmers. Findings showed that there was a high level of awareness and interest in IAA among vegetable growers and fish farmers. However, only 14% of vegetable growers practised IAA compared to 75% of fish farmers. Lack of knowledge and quality inputs were the main challenges facing the IAA farming system. The study recommends practical training of vegetable farmers on IAA and Integrated Pest Management aspects as a means of promoting IAA. Efforts for IAA promotion should be geared towards facilitating the formation of farmer groups for peer learning and practising IAA