Soil moisture stress is a major constraint to the productivity of rice under rain-fed conditions. A study was conducted to establish the effect of moisture stress duration on the growth characteristics and grain yields of rice cultivars, namely Namche-1, Namche-3 and Agoro. Rice plants were subjected to moisture stress at tillering and a thesis in the screen house. Moisture stress at tillering stage caused significant leaf rolling in Agoro than in Namche-3, but at a thesis Agoro was the least (P≤0.05) affected. Moisture stress at tillering and a thesis significantly reduced the number of tillers in Agoro, but not in Namche cultivars. The growth period of Agoro was significantly longer than that of the control when it was stressed at tillering for 15 days, but stressing Agoro at a thesis didn't affect its maturity period. Stressing Namche cultivars at tillering and a thesis increased (P≤0.05) their maturity periods, though these periods were shorter (P≤0.05) than that of Agoro. Grain yields for all the cultivars at tillering and a thesis decreased as the stress period was prolonged. Grain yields of Namche cultivars were higher (P≤0.05) than that of Agoro. Therefore, the growing of Namche cultivars in areas with insufficient moisture for rice production would be appropriate.

A study was conducted at Kyambogo University Farm in randomized complete block design with three replications to assess the effect of NPK (17:17:17) fertilizer on the growth and tuber yields of two newly developed cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) varieties, NAROCASS 1 and NASE 14. Cassava varieties were assigned to the main plots, while fertilizer rates (zero/control, 200, 400, 600 kg/ha) were sub-plots. Fertilizer was applied in two splits, at planting and four months after planting. Fertilizer application significantly (P<0.05) increased the cassava stem heights to first branching and at harvest, and the number of stems per plant when compared with the control treatments. Mean stem heights to first branching and at harvest of plants that received NPK were higher than those of the respective control treatments by 62.8 and 70.5% for NAROCASS 1, and 57.0 and 76.5% for NASE 14, respectively. Fertilizer rate of 400 kg/ha significantly increased the lengths, numbers of tubers and tuber yields per plant when compared with the control treatments. Mean lengths, numbers of tubers and tuber yields of plants that received NPK were higher than those of respective control treatments by 48.2, 36.9 and 68.3% for NAROCASS 1, and 39.9, 50.5 and 67.6% for NASE 14, respectively. Therefore, to achieve optimum tuber yields of newly developed cassava varieties, farmers should integrate NPK fertilizer application into already existing management practices, particularly the use of high quality planting materials and integrated pest, disease and weed management. However, government ministries concerned should ensure that inorganic fertilizers are readily accessible and affordable to farmers.

Cassava/maize intercrops have been reported to be highly productive, mainly because of their different growth patterns. However, there is limited information on the influence of maize planting density in the cassava/maize intercrop on the performance of hybrid maize and improved cassava genotypes in Uganda. Thus, this study determined whether recently released cassava genotypes which are selected on the basis of monocrop performance, would perform equally well when intercropped with hybrid maize varieties. Cassava genotypes NAROCASS 1 and NASE 14 intercropped with Longe 6H maize were evaluated using randomized complete block design and three replications. Treatments were: Sole maize (SM), sole cassava (SC), alternate rows of cassava and maize (1C:1M), and one row of cassava alternating with two rows of maize (1C:2M). Intercropping significantly increased the maize plant heights in the 1C:2M system than in sole maize. Cob length and number of rows per cob decreased as the plant population density increased. Maize grain yield under the 1C:1M system was comparable to that of sole cropping. The 1C:2M system gave significantly reduced grain yields when compared with those at 1C:1M. Cassava root yield decreased in the order (SM>1C:1M>1C:2M). Although the yields of both cassava and maize under sole cropping were higher than their intercrop counterparts, intercropping was more productive than sole cropping as evidenced by the land equivalent ratios.

Aims: To assess the effect of soil moisture stress and nitrogen fertilizer application on the growth characteristics and yield of upland rice cultivars. Study Design: Completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement. Place and Duration of Study: National Crops Resources Research Institute, Namulonge, Uganda between March and July 2015. Methodology: The experiment comprised four nitrogen (N) application levels (0 as control, 40, 80 and 120 kg N/ha) as main plots and four soil moisture levels (25% as control, 15, 10 and 5%) as sub-plots. Results: Plant heights for stressful moisture levels (15, 10 and 5%) at all N levels were lower (P < .001) than those of the control treatments at the respective N levels. Also, rice plants under Original Research Article

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