Browsing by Author "Lelei, Joyce J."

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    Growth, yield and phosphorus use efficiency of potato varieties propagated from apical rooted cuttings under variable phosphorus rates
    (African Journal of Plant Science, 2021-06-09) Aarakit, Pauline; Ouma, Josephine P.; Lelei, Joyce J.
    This study determined effect of phosphorus (P) rates on growth, yield and phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) of potato varieties propagated from apical rooted cuttings. Experiments were conducted at Egerton University, Njoro and Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research organization, Molo, in a split plot arrangement in randomized complete block design with three replicates. Main plot factors were four potato varieties (Shangi, Dutch Robyjn, Unica and Wanjiku) and sub plot factors were four P levels of triple super phosphate (0, 30, 60, 90 kg P ha-1). Data on growth, yield and PUE of potato were collected. Phosphorus rates had significant effect on plant growth and yield. The interaction effects of P rates and varieties on plant survival, plant height, shoot biomass, number of eyes and tuber size was significant. The interaction of Wanjiku and 30 kg P ha-1 gave the highest shoot biomass of 0.42g per plant and large sized tubers (> 60 mm diameter). The main effects of variety and P rates significantly affected days to physiological maturity and marketable tuber yield. Unica variety showed high P uptake and PUE at both study sites. Apical rooted cuttings and 30 kg P ha-1 is recommended in the study areas with similar agro ecological zones.
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    Performance of apical rooted cuttings of potato grown in Mollic Andosols under different nitrogen fertilization and irrigation regimes
    (Elsevier, 2021-09-13) Satognon, Felix; Lelei, Joyce J.; Owido, Seth F.O.
    Potato productivity (Solanum tuberosum L) is generally influenced by several factors, including water and nitrogen (N), and potato requirement for these factors varies depending on the soil type and potato variety. This research aimed to determine the performance of apical rooted cuttings of potato grown in Mollic Andosols under different nitrogen fertilization and irrigation regimes. The treatments comprised 4 irrigation regimes of 100%, 85%, 75% and 50% of the crop evapotranspiration (ETC), where ETC100% was irrigated based on water depletion in the root zone two days after full irrigation, and 4 nitrogen rates of 0 (N0), 60 (N1), 90 (N2) and 130 kg.ha 1 (N3) applied in splits at 10 (40%), 30 (40%) and 50 (20%) days after planting. The results revealed that the water demand for apical rooted cuttings of potato (ETa) was on average 201.4, 302.1, 342.4 and 402.8 mm under ETC50%, ETC75%, ETC85% and ETC100%, respectively. It was observed that plant height and number of branches significantly (P < 0.001) varied under different N rates with the highest plant height (92.67 cm) and number of branches per potato plant (17) achieved when applying N3. Potato grown under full irrigation (ETC100%) with N3 produced the highest total potato tuber yield (58.28 t.ha 1) and marketable tuber yield (54.21 t.ha 1). The number of tubers per plant statistically reduced as the N deficit increased, with the maximum tuber number, 23, achieved under N3. It was observed that a significant Pearson correlation (r ¼ 0.7***) existed between tuber number and total tuber yield. The maximum harvest index (HI), 57.12 %, was obtained under ETC50% with N3, while the highest tuber dry matter, 30 %, was observed under N3. To achieve a high tuber yield from apical rooted cuttings of potato in Mollic Andosols, this study recommends an irrigation regime of ETC100% and a nitrogen rate of 130 kg.ha 1.