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Effect of Ratooning and Nitrogen Application on Lint Yield and Quality of Cotton Varieties in Central Kenya

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Effect of Ratooning and Nitrogen Application on Lint Yield and Quality of Cotton Varieties in Central Kenya EFFECT OF RATOONING AND NITROGEN APPLICATION ON LINT YIELD AND QUALITY OF COTTON VARIETIES IN CENTRAL KENYA BY JULIUS MAINA KARUMA MACHARIA A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AGRONOMY DEPARTMENT OF PLANT SCIENCE AND CROP PROTECTION FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI © 2013 DECLARATION This thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other university. Signature…………………………………... …………..……………………. Julius Maina Karuma Macharia Date This thesis has been submitted for examination with our approval as the university supervisors: Dr. George N. Chemining’wa Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection University of Nairobi. Signature………………………………… Date………………………….. Dr. Josiah Kinama Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection University of Nairobi. Signature…………………………… Date……………..…………….. ii DEDICATION To my beloved wife Emily and my son Dan who gave me all the support and encouragement that l needed during the time of doing this work. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My sincere gratitude goes to my supervisors Dr. George N. Chemining’wa and Dr. Josiah Kinama of the Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Nairobi, for their guidance, supervision and valuable advice during the entire course period. I thank the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture for sponsoring this study through the Cotton Development Authority (CODA) and the Kenya Agricultural Research institute (KARI). I am grateful to Director KARI, for granting me leave to undertake the study. Many thanks go to Centre Director KARI-Mwea for ensuring smooth flow of the funds and provision of the necessary physical infrastructure. I am grateful to Prof. Florence Olubayo, former Chairman, Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection and Prof. Mary Mburu, former Agronomy Unit Head, for making the necessary arrangements for the study at the University of Nairobi. My colleagues at Mwea offered me a lot of support. I am particularly indebted to Bernard Mutugi Ngari and Washington Kouko for their assistance in editing the thesis and P.M. Karichu for his contribution in data collection and analysis. iv TABLE OF CONTENT DECLARATION ................................................................................................................ ii DEDICATION ................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...............................................................................................iv TABLE OF CONTENT ..................................................................................................... v LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... x LIST OF APPENDICES ...................................................................................................xi ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... xv CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................ 1 1.1: History of cotton production in Kenya ........................................................................... 1 1.2: Statement of the problem and justification ..................................................................... 6 1.3: Objectives of the study .................................................................................................... 7 1.4: Hypothesis ....................................................................................................................... 7 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................... 8 2.1: The importance, botany and ecology of cotton ............................................................... 8 2.2: Cotton varieties and the recommended agronomic practices in Kenya ....................... 12 2.3: Cotton pests and their management .............................................................................. 15 2.4: Effect of ratooning on seed cotton yield and quality ................................................... 23 2.5: Factors affecting quality of lint and seed cotton ........................................................... 26 2.6: Effect of soil fertility on seed cotton yield and quality ................................................. 30 CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHODS ................................................. 35 3.1: Experimental Site ......................................................................................................... 35 3.2: Experimental Design, Treatments and Crop Husbandry .............................................. 37 3.3: Data Collection ............................................................................................................. 40 3.3.1: Cotton growth ............................................................................................................ 41 v 3.3.2: Pest incidence ............................................................................................................. 42 3.3.3: Seed cotton yield and quality ..................................................................................... 43 3.4: Data analysis ............................................................................................................... 440 CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS ......................................................................................... 45 4.1.0: Effect of variety cut height and nitrogen application on growth of ratoon cotton ..... 45 4.1.1: Effect of variety and cut height on plant height of ratoon cotton .............................. 45 4.1.2: Effect of nitrogen application on plant height of ratoon cotton ................................. 48 4.1.3: Effect of variety, cut height and nitrogen on the number of sprout cotton stems ...... 48 4.1.4: Effect of variety and cut height on plant count of ratoon cotton ............................... 50 4.2.0: Effect of variety, cut height and nitrogen application on pest incidences in ratoon cotton.............................................................................................................. 53 4.2.1: Effect of variety and cut height on aphid (Aphis gossypii) counts in ratoon cotton .. 53 4.2.2: Effect of nitrogen application on aphid (Aphis gossypii) incidences in ratoon cotton .......................................................................................................................... 55 4.2.3: Effect of variety and cut height on red spider mite (Tetranychus species) incidences in ratoon cotton .......................................................................................................... 55 4.2.4: Effect of variety and cut height on bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) incidences in ratoon cotton .......................................................................................................... 57 4.2.5: Effect of variety and cut height on mealybug (M. hirsutus) incidences in ratoon cotton ......................................................................................................................... 57 4.2.6: Effect of variety and cut height on stainer (Dysdercus species) incidences in ratoon cotton ......................................................................................................................... 58 4.2.7: Effect of variety and cut height on thrips (Frankliniella species) incidences in ratoon cotton............................................................................................................... 59 4.3.0: Effect of variety and cut height on seed cotton yield and quality .............................. 59 4.3.1: Effect of cotton variety and cut height on seed cotton yield ...................................... 59 4.3.2: Effect of cotton variety and cut height on lint percentage and lint yield ................... 63 4.3.3: Effect of cotton variety and cut height on percent of grade ‘AR’ seed cotton .......... 65 vi CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION ..................................................................................... 66 5.1 Effect of cut height and nitrogen application on growth of ratoon cotton varieties HART 89M, F962 and A540 ....................................................................................... 66 5.2 Effect of cut height and nitrogen application on pest incidences in ratoon cotton varieties HART 89M, F962 and A540 ........................................................................... 68 5.3 Effect of cut height and nitrogen application on yield and quality of seed cotton and lint in ratoon cotton varieties HART 89M, F962 and A540 .......................................... 72 CHAPTER SIX: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................. 78 6.1: Conclusions ................................................................................................................... 78 6.2: Recommendations ........................................................................................................ 81 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 84 APPENDICES .................................................................................................................
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