Tomato is a popular and extensively cultivated vegetable among the economically promising commodities in the horticulture sector in Kenya. It provides a wide variety of nutrients with many health-related benefits.   This study investigated the effect of integration of pruning and earthing up on postharvest. The experiments were carried out in a split-plot arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and in CRD for both field and laboratory work respectively. Fruit yield data was taken after each harvest. The results from the analysis of variance for the effect of factors (earthing up and pruning system) and their combined effect showed that there was a significant effect on the average weight loss percentage and total soluble solids in both cultivations. The treatments had a significant effect on the average weight loss percentage, total soluble solids, and fruit firmness in both cultivations. The highest fruit weight loss percentages were recorded from all stem pruning system with no earthing up. The highest fruit firmness (3.41 N mm-1 in cultivation 1 and 3.24 N mm-1 in cultivation 2) was recorded from a single stem pruning system and earthing up to 30 cm. The highest total soluble solids (TSS) percentage 6.09 % was recorded in both cultivations under a single stem pruning system and earthing up to 30 cm.  To improve tomato postharvest, farmers are encouraged to consider triple stem pruning system in combination with earthing up to level 30 cm.

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Green gram is an important drought tolerant grain legume crop in Kenya. In Tharaka Nithi County green gram is as a major source of food security. Hence, there is need for a cheap and sustainable system of agricultural production is needed to increase its production. The legume/Rhizobium symbiosis in combination with phosphate rock offers a natural system for improving green gram nitrogen fixation. Therefore, this study was aimed at determining the effect of Rhizobium and phosphate rock fertilizer application on growth and yield attributes of N26 and KS20 varieties. The study was carried out at Chuka University Horticultural Research Farm for two seasons, November 2019 to January 2020 and February to April 2020. Factorial experiment of 2x2x2 was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). There were three factors, variety (N26 and KS20), phosphate rock (0 and 30 kg P ha-1) and Rhizobium MEA 716 (0 and 100 g ha-1). The experiment contained eight treatments which were replicated three times. The data was collected fortnightly on four randomly selected plants on parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, branches, pods, total dry biomass, shoot and root dry weight and grain yield. These data was analysed using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS). Significant means are separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD) at probability level of 5%. Results for both seasons indicated that combined application of Rhizobium MEA 716 Rhizobium 100 g ha-1 and phosphate rock 30 Kg ha-1 phosphate under variety  in treatment (R1P1V2) showed significantly (P<0.05) higher  plant height (76.07 cm), number of branches (14.08 plant-1), shoot dry biomass (52.01 g plant-1), root dry biomass (7.60 g plant-1), total dry biomass (146.4 g plant-1), number of pods (84 plant-1) and yield (2158 kg ha-1) compared to variety N26 in treatment (R1P1V1).  Therefore, combination of Rhizobium MEA 716 100 g ha-1 and phosphate rock 30 Kg ha-1 under variety KS20 led to improved growth attributes equally yield components of KS20 variety over N26. From these findings, application of Rhizobium MEA716  at 100 g ha-1, and 30 Kg ha -1  phosphate rock under variety KS20 was recommended for improved and a sustainable green gram production in  the study area.

Green gram is an important drought tolerant grain legume crop in Kenya. In Tharaka Nithi County green gram is as a major source of food security. Hence, there is need for a cheap and sustainable system of agricultural production is needed to increase its production. The legume/Rhizobium symbiosis in combination with phosphate rock offers a natural system for improving green gram nitrogen fixation. Therefore, this study was aimed at determining the effect of Rhizobium and phosphate rock fertilizer application on growth and yield attributes of N26 and KS20 varieties. The study was carried out at Chuka University Horticultural Research Farm for two seasons, November 2019 to January 2020 and February to April 2020. Factorial experiment of 2x2x2 was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). There were three factors, variety (N26 and KS20), phosphate rock (0 and 30 kg P ha-1) and Rhizobium MEA 716 (0 and 100 g ha-1). The experiment contained eight treatments which were replicated three times. The data was collected fortnightly on four randomly selected plants on parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, branches, pods, total dry biomass, shoot and root dry weight and grain yield. These data were analyzed using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS). Significant means are separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD) at probability level of 5%. Results for both seasons indicated that combined application of Rhizobium MEA 716 Rhizobium 100 g ha-1 and phosphate rock 30 Kg ha-1 phosphate under variety in treatment (R1P1KS20) showed significantly (P<0.05) higher plant height (76.07 cm), number of branches (14.08 plant-1), shoot dry biomass (52.01 g plant-1), root dry biomass (7.60 g plant-1), total dry biomass (146.4 g plant-1), number of pods (84 plant-1) and yield (2158 kg ha-1) compared to variety N26 in treatment (R1P1N26).  Therefore, combination of Rhizobium MEA 716 100 g ha-1 and phosphate rock 30 Kg ha-1 under variety KS20 led to improved growth attributes equally yield components of KS20 variety over N26. From these findings, application of Rhizobium MEA716 at 100 g ha-1, and 30 Kg ha -1 phosphate rock under variety KS20 was recommended for improved and a sustainable green gram production in the study area.

No abstract