Influence of seed bed preparation on morphometric characteristics of Eragrostis superba, Cenchrus ciliaris and Enteropogon macrostachyus in southeastern drylands of Kenya

Abstract: 
This study compared over a 6-month period effects of tractorploughing and hand-clearing seedbed preparation on morphometric characteristics of three arid and semi-arid grass species, namely; Eragrostis superba Peyr, Cenchrus ciliaris L and Enteropogon macrostachyus (Hochst ex A Rich) Monro ex Benth. Seedling mortality was significantly higher under handclearing than tractor-ploughing. Tractor - ploughing also gave better growth, and biomass yield.
Cette étude a comparé les effets sur une période de 6 mois de labour au tracteur et de préparation de pépinières sur les caractéristiques morphométriques de trois espèces d’herbes arides et semi-arides, à savoir; Eragrostis superba Peyr, Cenchrus ciliaris L et Enteropogon macrostachyus (Hochst ex A Rich) Monro ex Benth.La mortalité des semis était significativement plus élevée en labourant à la main plutôt qu’avec un tracteur. Le labourage à l’aide d’un tracteur a également donné une meilleure croissance et un rendement en biomasse.
Language: 
English
Date of publication: 
2010
Country: 
Region Focus: 
East Africa
University/affiliation: 
Collection: 
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Licence conditions: 
Open Access
Access restriction: 
Form: 
Printed resource
Publisher: 
ISSN: 
E_ISSN: 
Edition: 
Extent: 
913-917
Notes: 
 
"The 2010 RUFORUM Biennial Conference was the second in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholers in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. This record contains an extended abstract accepted under the theme agronomy".