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Item Effect of drying techniques on quality of arabica coffee in Elgon region.(Busitema University, 2026) Mutaawe, MouriceCoffee remains the key agricultural product in Uganda's economy and continues to be the primary export item. Even with its economic significance, the crop's productivity and quality remain quite limited. Inadequate post-harvest handling methods significantly lead to a reduction in coffee quality. Nevertheless, insufficient data regarding the impact of drying on quality requires an in-depth investigation. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the influence of different drying techniques on the physical and cup quality attributes of Arabica for improved household income within Elgon region with two specific objectives; i) To assess the effect of various drying techniques on the physical quality attributes of Arabica coffee and ii) to determine the effect of different drying techniques on the cup quality attributes of Arabica coffee. Therefore, this experiment was carried out to determine the effects of drying techniques on quality of Arabica coffee in Bududa district- Elgon region. Accordingly, on-farm processing experiments were conducted at UBORA SPECIALITY CROPS LIMITED laboratory located in Mbale City and Bushika Integrated Area Cooperative in Bududa district from September, 2025 to June, 2026. The study design was completely randomized design CRD with three drying techniques (sun drying, solar drying and mechanical) replicated 3 times giving a total of 9 experimental units. The study indicated that drying technique significantly affected (P < 0.001) the physical and cup quality attributes of Arabica coffee beans. Among the evaluated methods, solar drying produced the best overall physical quality, with higher bean weight (17.4g), better green color (4.6) and improved raw quality (85.5%) compared with sun drying and mechanical drying. The study concludes that solar drying enhanced cup quality by improving acidity, aroma, flavor, body, and overall sensory acceptability, resulting in the highest overall total cup quality score (88. 9%).Thus, promotion and adoption of solar drying technologies among Arabica coffee farmers; coffee farmers and stakeholders because they produced superior physical and cup quality attributes compared with sun drying and mechanical drying.Item Effect of black soldier fly biofertilizer and NPK fertilizer on the performance of maize in Arapai Soroti district and Abizard in Arua district.(Busitema University, 2026) Siraji, AliMaize is one of the global grains third ranked following wheat and rice, which provide food, feed and industrial raw material. Production of maize is mainly affected by pests and diseases, high input costs, changes in prevailing global prices and most importantly declining soil fertility and nutrient depletion. Improved technologies like use of conventional fertilizers have registered minimal success among the rural farming communities due to high prices, inconsistent supply and high rate of adulteration and soil acidification and eutrophication of water streams. Alternatives for nutrient supplementation were being thought of; therefore, this study evaluated the effect of black soldier fly fertilizer and NPK in performance of maize under on-farm conditions in a multilocation trial in Arapai and Abizard. Randomized complete block design was used to lay the experimental plots with four replications. (1) control, (2) combination of BSF 50% N + NPK 50%, (3) sole application of NPK 100% N, (4) sole BSF 100% N and four replications. Our findings showed significant effect in plant height (p < 0.001) in Arapai and Abizard; leaf area (p < 0.001) in both locations, leaf area index was significant (p < 0.001) all locations, stem diameter (p <0.001) and number of leaves (p < 0.043) and grain weight (p < 0.001) and grain yield (p < 0.001), cob length (p < 0.001) and cob diameter (p < 0.001) for combination against other treatments. We conclude that combination performed better than other treatment for all measured parameters except in leaf area where NPK produced larger leaf size. Our results recommend promoting BSF or integration of BSF and NPK to enhance food security and incomes of farmers and above all safeguarding soil health and environmental conservation. Key words: black soldier fly frass fertilizer, soil fertility, grain weight, grain yield, cob lengthItem Influence of storage temperatures on the quality attributes of arabica green coffee beans in Bududa and Mbale districts.(Busitema University, 2026) Musaazi, LawrenceGreen coffee bean quality directly influences its market value and consumer acceptance. The aim of the research was to determine the influence of storage temperatures on the quality attributes of Arabica green coffee beans in the Elgon region. This research was conducted to provide best storage temperatures to eliminate the persistent problem of quality deterioration during storage. The research deign used in this research was the Completely Randomized design using one factor, storage temperature, and five treatments (storage at 10°C, 15° C, 20° C, 25° C and 30°C) storage in peltier refrigerated incubator model Memmert IPP 30 with scale from 0° C to 70° Storage continued for a period of 3 months after which both physical and cup quality levels were determined. The parameters measured were physical quality characteristics (Moisture Content, bean Sizes, 100 Weight, screen size, defects and bulk Density) and sensory characteristics (Acidity, Aromatic intensity, Aromatic quality, Astringency, Body, Bitterness, Flavor, Overall standard) of Arabica coffee. Data were analyzed with analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 5% significance level by using GenStat software 15th version and significance difference data were tested further using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) test to separate the means. The study found that Arabica coffee beans' physical and sensory quality attributes were significantly impacted (P < 0.001) by storage temperatures. On analysis, it was found out that Arabica coffee beans' physical quality attributes were greatly impacted by storage temperature, with 20°C having the best moisture content retention (retained the original 10.5%), maintained good bean size, screen size, low defects, high bulk density and 100 grain weight, it was followed by the control,15°C, followed by 25°C , 10°C and lastly 30°C. Out of all the temperatures tested (10°C, 15°C, 20°C, 25°C, and 30°C), analysis statistically showed that storage at 20°C consistently yielded the highest cup quality results of 92.5%,followed by 15° C at 81.6%,then 25° C at 75.7%,10°C at 67.3% while 30°C had the lowest cup quality of 56.6% . In a similar vein, storage at 20°C produced the best sensory quality, with higher ratings for body, bitterness, flavor, overall standard, acidity, astringency, aromatic intensity, and aromatic quality although it showed a decline of 3.1% from the initial cup quality of 95.6 before treatments. Thus, coffee farmers, processing companies, exporters cooperatives, and warehouse operators should invest in temperature-controlled, well-ventilated storage facilities that can maintain stable temperatures around 20°C for better quality preservation to reduce post-harvest losses that occur especially due to poor storage and maintain coffee quality.Item Effects of farm-made biofertilizers on stem borer prevalence, natural enemy dynamics, grain yield and nutritional status of sorghum.(Busitema University, 2026) Sembera, Yoas JamesStem borer (Busseola fusca) infestation and declining soil fertility are major constraints to sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) production among smallholder farmers in eastern Uganda. This study evaluated the agroecological effects of farm-made biofertilizers prepared from cow dung and forest organic matter on stem borer suppression, natural enemy dynamics, grain yield, and grain nutritional quality of sorghum under field conditions in eastern Uganda. A 2 × 4 x 8 split plot experiment arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications was used across the four sorghum-growing districts, Soroti, Amuria, Katakwi, and Pallisa, where the experiments were hosted. Two sorghum varieties (NAROSORG 2 and Edeidei) were evaluated under eight treatment combinations including solid formulation, liquid soil drench, combined formulations, an untreated control, and a mineral fertilizer (DAP) positive control (CD-S, FO-SC, CD-S-L, FO-S-L, CD-L, FO-L, CON, DAP). Data were analysed using Three-way ANOVA in R, with Tukey's HSD test for mean separation at P ≤ 0.05. The combined cow-dung seed coating plus liquid drench treatment (CD-S-L) consistently outperformed other bio-fertilizer treatments. It recorded the lowest stem tunnel length (32.9 cm) and lowest dead-heart incidence (1.86 ± 0.10 dead hearts per plot), representing approximately 20% and 46% reductions relative to the untreated control, respectively. CD-S-L also significantly enhanced natural enemy diversity (Shannon H' = 1.03 ± 0.04), increasing abundance of spiders, ladybird beetles, and tachinid flies. Location significantly influenced sorghum productivity (P < 0.05). Pallisa recorded the highest grain yield (1,891.30 kg ha⁻¹), dry root weight (8.90 g), dry shoot weight (124.02 g), and total dry matter (132.92 g), while Katakwi produced the highest average panicle weight (301.97 g) and 1000-seed weight (18.34 g). Soroti recorded the lowest grain yield (1,630.28 kg ha⁻¹), whereas Amuria had the lowest dry root weight (4.50 g), dry shoot weight (59.25 g), and total dry matter (63.74 g). Grain yield under CD-S-L (2,118.7 kg ha⁻¹) was 64% higher than the untreated control (1,288.9 kg ha⁻¹), and the treatment recorded the highest grain nitrogen (3.3%) and iron (0.031%) concentrations among biofertilizer treatments. These findings demonstrate that farm-made biofertilizers, particularly combined formulations, can simultaneously improve stem borer suppression, natural enemy activity, grain yield, and nutritional quality. Nonetheless, the study spanned one season restricting what can be concluded on long term microbial persistence alongside soil health results. Nonetheless, the combined cow-dung biofertilizer formulation results present a low cost, viable and agroecologically sustainable option for small holder farmers in Uganda to adopt in and replace synthetic inputs to enhance sorghum production.Item The effects of aloe vera concetrations on the root development of slips of Smooth cayene pineapple variety.(Busitema University, 2026) Hasahya, EstherPineapple (Ananas Comosus) is tropical fruit grown by farmers in Uganda, yet it’s a sluggish and poor rooting crop which results in longer rooting days, and mortality. Synthetic auxin IBA encourages roots growth, but unaffordable to farmers. Aloe vera(aloe barbadensis Miller) is a promising natural rooting enhancer whose effect on pineapple slips has not yet been tested the optimum concentration for better roots, therefore various concentrations of the extract on the root development of pineapple slips (var.smooth cayenne) were assessed in this study. The experiment was conducted in a screen house; water, Aloe vera extract at 25%, 50%, 75% and indole-3-butyric acid were the treatments. About 270 slips was used in a CRD and data collected on Days to root emergency, root length, root number, root colour, fresh and dry weight, and slip survival % after 4, 5, 6, and 8WAP. ANOVA and HSD test for mean separation (p<0.05) and Ordinal logistic regression was used in the analysis. Results showed significant effects (p<0.001) treatments of parameters measured. Root length, 50%Aloe vera and IBA had longest roots (15.74± 0.69 and 15.71±0.60cm, respectively) than the control (10.53±0.28cm).While 75% A.V and IBA had shortest days to root emergence (17.08 ± 0.42 and 16.37± 0.35 days, respectively). In comparison to the control (24.87±1.94), the root number was highest in IBA (38.74± 1.70) and 75% Aloe vera (34.39±2.19). Both 50% Aloe vera and IBA had the highest slip survival %( 82.23% and 84.45%, respectively) compared to control (34.43%), and 50% Aloe vera had the highest dry root weight (2.69±0.60g), exceeding IBA (2.20±0.14 g). Root colour (P<0.019) and length (P<0.001) had Significant treatment ×season interactions. These results evidenced the rejection of null hypotheses and adoption of 50% Aloe vera since it offers greatest balance. Future studies should verify these results in field settings across agro-ecological zones and evaluate long-term effects on fruit quality and developmentItem Comparative effects of organic and inorganic seed priming agents on germination, growth and yield of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).(Busitema University, 2026) Chemutai, KenethSeed priming is a simple and cost-effective pre-sowing technique that enhances germination and early crop performance, however, comparative information on the effectiveness of locally available organic and inorganic priming agents under Ugandan conditions is limited. This study evaluated the comparative effects of organic and inorganic seed priming agents on the germination, growth, and yield of sunflower. Field experiments were conducted at two locations using a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Six seed priming treatments comprising moringa leaf extract, neem leaf extract, urea, sodium chloride, hydropriming, and an unprimed control were evaluated. Germination characteristics, vegetative growth traits and yield components were measured. Data were subjected to combined analysis of variance and linear mixed-effects models, while Pearson correlation analysis was used to determine relationships between seed yield and selected agronomic traits. Seed priming enhanced germination, vegetative growth, yield attributes, biological yield, harvest index, and seed yield compared to the unprimed control. In general, organic priming agents performed better than the inorganic priming agents across the parameters evaluated. Of the various priming treatments evaluated, moringa leaf extract exhibited the best germination percentage (87.0%), vigour index (1096.71), biological yield (7162.73 kg ha⁻¹), harvest index (0.402) and seed yield (2734.00 kg ha⁻¹) followed by neem leaf extract, while urea and sodium chloride showed intermediate performance. The unprimed control recorded the worst performance. Seed yield had positive correlation with germination percentage, chlorophyll content, leaf area index, plant height, head diameter and thousand-seed weight but negative correlation with mean germination time and days to 50% flowering. From these findings, it is clear that seed priming is an important technique that can be used to improve the establishment, growth and yield of sunflower in Uganda. The organic seed priming, especially with moringa leaf extract, outperformed the inorganic priming agents in all the parameters evaluated and thus represents a cheap, sustainable and readily available technique for sunflower production.Item The efficacy of a charcoal evaporative cooler in reducing post-harvest losses and preserving nutritional quality of okra among smallholder farmers in Arapai, Uganda.(Busitema University, 2026) Okello, CharlesPost-harvest losses of perishable vegetables such as okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) remain a major challenge for smallholder farmers in Uganda's Teso sub-region, where losses are estimated at 30-50%. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a locally constructed charcoal evaporative cooler in reducing post-harvest losses and preserving the nutritional quality of okra. A Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with two treatments (charcoal cooler storage and ambient room storage) and three replications was used over a 14-day storage period. Environmental conditions like temperature, physical quality like weight loss and visual quality together with nutritional quality parameters like the phenolic content, antioxidant activity, chlorophyll content and ascorbic acid concentration was assessed at different intervals using standard methods for analysis. Data was analyzed using linear mixed models and the two way ANOVA with repeated measures at α=0.05. the results obtained indicated that the charcoal cooler reduced the internal temperature significantly with an average of 6.430c with it ranging between 5.01-7.170c compared to ambient conditions (F₁,₃₆ = 2456.78, p < 0.0001), hence keeping the temperature within the cooler in a small range of 20.34-22.020c compared to 24.99-27.920c in the ambient storage conditions. The okra stored in the cooler had lower weight loss of 27.49% compared to the ambient conditions that had 78.51% weight loss by day 14 and remained marketable for 9(nine) more days compared with only 3 (three) days under the ambient storage conditions. Nutritional quality was also better retained in the charcoal cooler: phenolic content (69.7% vs 29.6% at day 12; F₁,₂₀ = 198.45, p < 0.0001), antioxidant activity (76.0% vs 29.2% at day 12; F₁,₂₀ = 278.34, p < 0.0001), total chlorophyll content (65.0% vs 24.0% at day 14; F₁,₂₀ = 187.56, p < 0.0001), and vitamin C content (58.9% vs 14.7% at day 12; F₁,₂₀ = 212.34, p < 0.0001). a strong correlation of (r≥-0.932, p<0.01) was found between the physical and nutritional parameters, implying that weight loss weight reduction may serve as a nondestructive indicator for nutritional quality decline. Therefore the study concluded that a charcoal evaporative cooler is an effective and low cost alternative for reducing post-harvest losses while preserving the nutritional quality of okra. The shelf life was extended from 3 to 9days and in the same way improved the retention of bioactive. Evaporative coolers are suitable for smallholder farmers because of its low cost and availability of raw materials for construction, no electricity is required and its construction and maintains is cheap.Item Effect of fermentation dynamics and honey processing on the physical and sensory profiles of arabica coffee.(Busitema University, 2026) Khaboya, AidahCoffee quality results from the complex interaction of genetic potential, environmental conditions, and post-harvest handling. Among post-harvest factors, fermentation critically influences the physical and sensory attributes of Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.). Despite this, the comparative effects of specific fermentation management techniques on final coffee quality remain underexplored. This study evaluated the effects of fermentation dynamics and honey processing on the physical and sensory profile of Arabica coffee sourced from Bududa District, Uganda. A completely randomized design (CRD) with three treatments and three replications was used. Ripe cherries from a single location were harvested, floated for density sorting, and pulped before assignment to one of three treatments: dry fermentation (drained, 48 hours), wet fermentation (submerged, 48 hours), and honey processing (mucilage retained, dried immediately without fermentation).Arabica coffee beans that underwent dry fermentation, wet fermentation, and honey process were cleaned and dried in elevated African drying beds except for the honey process coffee beans that were not cleaned and directly dried. Physical quality attributes tested included moisture content, screen size retention, defects and bean color. Sensory evaluation was done by Certified Q-graders using the Specialty Coffee Association’s standard protocol that evaluates Fragrance/Aroma, Flavor, Body, Acidity, Aftertaste, Sweetness, Clean Cup, and overall Cupping Score. Method of processing had significant impact on the final moisture content (p < 0.001) with honey process having the highest mean value (12.47 %), followed by Wet (11.53%) and Dry Fermentation (11.47%). On the other hand, screen size retention did not show any significant variation among the three treatments (p = 0.222). Total SCA cupping scores ranged between 81.46 and 83.17. Honey process samples achieved a significantly higher overall score (83.17) than Dry (81.46) and Wet Fermentation (81.98) (p < 0.001). Particularly, honey process gave higher attribute scores in Fragrance/Aroma (7.88), Flavor (7.75), Body (7.50) and Aftertaste (7.50). Acidity attribute scores did not have any statistical difference among all the processes(p = 0.213).Honey processing yielded superior overall cup quality, achieving the highest SCA total score and outperforming fermentation methods in key sensory attributes. While physical metrics such as screen retention and acidity were unaffected by the choice of processing, honey processing resulted in a higher final moisture content, emphasizing the necessity for rigorous drying controls to ensure long-term physical and microbial stability. Keywords: Arabica coffee, Post-harvest processing, Honey processing, Fermentation methods, Physical quality, Sensory evaluation, Specialty Coffee Association (SCA).Item Effects of moringa and onion bio extracts on seed germination, growth and yield performance of green pepper.(Busitema University, 2026) Ikawa, MosesGreen pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is an important vegetable crop in Uganda, contributing to household nutrition and farm income. However, poor and uneven seed germination and slow seedling establishment can reduce crop productivity, particularly among smallholder farmers with limited access to affordable seed-priming technologies. This study evaluated the effects of moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf extract and onion (Allium cepa) bulb extract as seed-priming agents on germination, growth and yield performance of green pepper, using 0.5% potassium nitrate (KNO₃) as a conventional chemical priming benchmark and unprimed seeds as the control. The experiment was conducted at Busitema University, Arapai Campus, using seven treatments replicated three times. The treatments were unprimed control, 0.5% KNO₃, 10% moringa extract, 5%, 10% and 15% onion extracts, and a combination of 10% onion and 10% moringa extracts. Germination, seedling vigour, vegetative growth, flowering and yield parameters were assessed. Seed priming significantly (P < 0.001) improved the measured germination, growth and yield parameters compared with the unprimed control. The 0.5% KNO₃ treatment performed best overall, recording 93.00% germination, 6.98 days mean germination time, 14.83 cm seedling length, 21.41 cm plant height, 30.68 leaves plant⁻¹, 44.67 days to 50% flowering, 27.47 fruits plant⁻¹ and an estimated yield of 526.67 kg ha⁻¹. The 10% moringa extract ranked second overall, recording 86.00% germination, 8.30 days mean germination time, 13.20 cm seedling length, 20.46 cm plant height, 29.22 leaves plant⁻¹, 24.40 fruits plant⁻¹ and 396.00 kg ha⁻¹ yield. Compared with KNO₃, moringa achieved 92.5% of its germination performance, 95.6% of its plant height and 75.2% of its estimated yield, while increasing yield by 196% relative to the unprimed control. Among the onion treatments, 15% onion extract produced the widest fruits (9.66 cm) and the highest onion-treatment yield (324.50 kg ha⁻¹). The onion–moringa combination produced intermediate performance and did not show a synergistic advantage over moringa alone. The study demonstrated that although 0.5% KNO₃ was the most effective treatment, 10% moringa leaf extract was the most promising bio-extract and substantially improved green pepper performance compared with the unprimed control. Moringa therefore has potential as a locally available and potentially affordable seed-priming option for smallholder farmers. Further studies should compare moringa extract directly with commercial seed-priming products and evaluate different concentrations, priming durations, cultivars, seasons and locations.Item Effect of supplementing cotton husk with eggshell powder and black soldier fly frass on the performance of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus).(Busitema University, 2026-09-09) Busobozi, PaulOyster mushroom production provides an opportunity to convert agricultural wastes into nutritious food and income for smallholder farmers. This study evaluated the effect of supplementing cotton husk substrate with eggshell powder and black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) frass on the growth and yield of Pleurotus ostreatus. Oyster mushroom was grown on four substrate treatments cotton husk alone (CH), cotton husk + 5% eggshell powder (CHE), cotton husk + 5% BSFL frass (CHF), and cotton husk + 5% eggshell powder + 5% BSFL frass (CHEF) using a Completely Randomized Design with four treatments and ten replicates. Each experimental unit contained 1.5 kg of substrate and was inoculated with 5% grain spawn (75 g per experimental unit). Data were collected over three harvests on time-based parameters (days to pinning and days to harvest), growth-related characteristics (cap diameter, stipe length and stipe diameter), and yield-related characteristics (number of fruiting bodies, fresh weight, dry weight and biological efficiency). Data were analysed using analysis of variance, Tukey’s HSD test, Poisson generalized linear modelling for count data, and Pearson correlation analysis at the 5% significance level. Supplementation significantly affected days to pinning and days to harvest during the later harvests and significantly influenced cap diameter, stipe length, stipe diameter, number of fruiting bodies, fresh weight, dry weight and biological efficiency. CHEF produced the largest overall cap diameter (11.08 cm), longest stipe length (7.55 cm), greatest fresh weight (0.825 kg/experimental unit), dry weight (0.71 kg), and highest biological efficiency (144.96%). CHF produced the highest overall number of fruiting bodies (1,409), compared with 1,061 under CHEF and 502 under the control. Cotton husk alone recorded the lowest overall fresh weight (2.53 kg), dry weight (0.22 kg), and biological efficiency (40.00%). Correlation analysis showed strong positive associations between cap diameter and fresh weight (r = 0.805), dry weight (r = 0.807), and biological efficiency (r = 0.808), while fresh weight, dry weight and BE were almost perfectly correlated. The study concludes that combining eggshell powder and BSFL frass provides the most effective supplementation strategy for improving the productivity and biological efficiency of cotton-husk-based cultivation of P. ostreatus. Key words: Oyster mushroom, substrate, eggshell powder, BSFL frass, Biological Efficiency.Item Efficacy of botanical extracts seed priming on germination, growth and yield performance of red amaranth (amaranthus cruentus).(Busitema University, 2026) Tizoomu, IvanRed amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) is an important leafy vegetable valued for its short production cycle, nutritional value and adaptability. However, poor and uneven germination and weak seedling establishment reduce productivity. This study evaluated the efficacy of botanical seed-priming extracts of Moringa oleifera, Azadirachta indica and Carica papaya on germination, seedling vigor, growth and yield of red amaranth. Germination percentage, mean germination time, seedling vigor, vegetative growth and yield were assessed under laboratory, screen-house and open-field conditions. The results showed that Moringa oleifera produced the highest germination percentage (88.00%), followed by neem (79.50%), papaya (74.75%), water (65.00%) and unprimed seed (44.25%). Moringa also recorded the shortest mean germination time (6.54 days) and the highest seedling vigor index (576.40), while unprimed seeds recorded the longest germination time (14.29 days) and lowest vigor (94.10). The superior germination and vigor obtained from moringa indicate that it was the most effective treatment for improving early seed performance. The positive effects of priming continued into vegetative growth and yield. Moringa-treated plants generally recorded the highest agronomic traits including plant height, leaf number, stem diameter, chlorophyll content and leaf area index. Relatedly in the screen-house , moringa produced the highest yield (5.12 t ha⁻¹), followed by Azadirachta indica (4.16 t ha⁻¹), papaya (3.26 t ha⁻¹), water (1.73 t ha⁻¹) and unprimed seed (1.08 t ha⁻¹). Under field conditions, moringa again recorded the highest yield (5.29 t ha⁻¹), followed by neem (3.97 t ha⁻¹), papaya (2.86 t ha⁻¹), water (1.70 t ha⁻¹) and unprimed seed (1.25 t ha⁻¹). The study concludes that botanical seed priming can improve growth and development of red amaranth, with moringa leaf extract being the most effective treatment, followed by neem and papaya.Item Occurrence of rice blast disease in major rice growing districts in eastern and nortern Uganda.(Busitema University, 2026) Odeke, DanielRice blast disease, caused by Magnaporthe oryzae, remains one of the most destructive constraints to rice production in Uganda, particularly among smallholder farmers. This study assessed the occurrence of rice blast disease in major rice-growing districts of Eastern and Northern Uganda by examining farmers' knowledge, attitudes and management practices, and determining disease incidence and severity across different rice ecologies. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 118 smallholder rice farmers in Pallisa, Tororo, Namutumba, Serere, Iganga, Kaberamaido, Nwoya and Lira districts. Through the utilization of questionnaires that were structured and field assessments that used a W-pattern of sampling as well as a severity scale of disease, data was collected. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, ANCOVA, generalized linear model and correlation analyses were conducted at a significance level of 5% using SPSS. From the findings, 72.9% of farmers could identify the symptoms of blast but 33.1% had received training that is formal about managing diseases. 89.8% of the respondents reported that every season, rice blast occurs. The dominant ecology in production was rain fed lowland (51.7%) which recorded the highest incidence mean of blast (35.1%) with a score of severity of 5.38. The lowest incidence was recorded in irrigated lowland (23.4%). Among the ecologies, blast incidence was significantly different (p=0.002p=0.002p=0.002) and districts (p<0.001p<0.001p<0.001). Iganga recorded the highest incidence (47.7%) while Lira recorded the lowest (15.2%). The incidence of blast was significantly affected by the ecological conditions and the variety of rice. The application rate of nitrogen on the other hand was not a significant predictor after adjustment. In conclusion, the study reports that rice blast remains widely spread in Eastern and Northern Uganda with occurrence of disease being strongly influenced by the ecological of rice and choice of the variety. Recommendations from this study include occurrence of extension strengthening, resistant variety promotion and improvement of productivity of rice among the smallholder farmers.Item Efficacy of vegimax fertilizer on the growth, yield and bioactive compounds of oyster mushrooms.(Busitema University, 2026) Mulago, BrianOyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) production plays an important role in Uganda by providing food, employment and income. However, farmers who grow mushrooms on cotton waste often face slow spawn run, late pin formation, low yield and poor biological efficiency. Although Vegimax fertilizer is commonly applied in horticultural crops, very little is known about how well it works in mushroom production.. This study examined how Vegimax affects growth, yield as well as Bioactive compounds of oyster mushrooms cultivated on cotton waste. Four treatments were used in a Completely Randomized Design: T0 (control), T1 (0.025 mL per 1L), T2 (0.05 mL per 1L), and T3 (0.10 mL per 1L). Each treatment was replicated eight times. The experiment was carried out in controlled condition with a temperature of 25-30 C and 65-70% RH. Data was collected on spawn run, pinning, cap width, stipe length, fresh yield and biological efficiency. Biochemical analysis measured total phenolics content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC), and DPPH radical scavenging activity. A one-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test at (P < 0.05), performed using R statistical software. Vegimax significantly affected growth and yield (P < 0.001). T2 produced the fastest spawn run (19.75 days), earliest pinning (5.38 days), largest caps (8.90 cm), highest yield (1.103 kg), and best biological efficiency (73.50%), compared to the control (0.786 kg, 52.42%) and T1 (0.675 kg, 45.00%). T2 also produced the highest flavonoids (29.42 mg CE/100 g), and it was significantly higher compared to other treatments (p=0.0117). DPPH scavenging activity differed significantly among all the treatments (p = 0.0004), with T3 recording the lowest values (30.22%). Total phenolics content was not significantly affected (p = 0.341). The study concluded that 0.05 mL per 1L Vegimax was the most effective concentration for improving growth, yield, and flavonoids content of oyster mushrooms on cotton waste. Higher concentrations reduced productivity, while lower concentrations gave little improvement. The study recommends that 0.05 mL of Vegimax per litre can be used to enhance mushroom production in 1.5 kg of Cotton substrate. Further research should examine cost-effectiveness and test Vegimax on other crop waste substrates.Item Efficacy of botanical extract seed priming on germination, seedling growth and yield performance of red pepper.(Busitema University, 2026) Mbabazi, BedaRed pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) production in Uganda is constrained by poor crop establishment and low productivity. This study evaluated the effectiveness of botanical seed priming in enhancing the productivity of red pepper, with emphasis on germination, seedling growth, and yield performance. Specifically, the study determined the effect of botanical seed priming on germination and seedling growth and assessed its effect on red pepper yield. The study was conducted under laboratory, screen-house, and field conditions using Moringa oleifera, Carica papaya, and Azadirachta indica botanical extracts, with distilled water and unprimed seeds as controls. The laboratory and screen-house experiments were arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), while the field experiment was conducted using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Botanical seed priming significantly affected several growth and yield-related traits (p < 0.05). M. oleifera recorded the highest plant height (51.42 cm), pod width (1.46 cm), hundred-seed weight (25.64 g), chlorophyll content (56.14), number of branches per plant (3.60), and grain yield (3,015.60 kg ha⁻¹), compared with 45.67 cm, 1.25 cm, 23.85 g, 44.18, 1.62 and 2,498.30 kg ha⁻¹, respectively, under unprimed seeds. Yield was 14.1% higher under screen-house conditions than under field conditions. Grain yield was positively correlated with number of seeds per pod, leaf area index, plant height and number of branches per plant in both environments. The study concluded that botanical seed priming, particularly with M. oleifera leaf extract, improved important growth and yield attributes of red pepper and has potential as an affordable and environmentally sustainable seed treatment for farmers. Further research should optimize M. oleifera extract concentration, soaking duration and application methods, and evaluate the treatment across different red pepper varieties, soil types, agro-ecological zones and seasons. Keywords: Botanical seed priming; Moringa oleifera; Capsicum annuum; germination; seedling vigour; yield performanceItem Effect of tomato stem bending on vegetative growth, root development and yield performance.(Busitema University, 2026) Manyira, EdwardEffect of tomato stem bending on vegetative growth, root development and yield performance. Improving tomato productivity through simple, affordable and sustainable crop management practices remains a major challenge in horticulture, particularly for smallholder farming systems. Although tomato stems naturally possess the ability to produce adventitious roots when buried, the agronomic potential of stem bending at different heights has received limited scientific attention. This study evaluated the effect of stem bending at different heights on vegetative growth, root development, flowering characteristics and yield performance under greenhouse conditions. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four treatments (control, stem bending at 15, 20 and 30 cm) and three replications was used over two experimental periods under greenhouse conditions. Data were collected on vegetative growth, root development, flowering characteristics and yield components, and analyzed using analysis of variances (ANOVA), while treatment means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at p<0.05. Stem bending significantly (p<0.001) improved nearly all measured parameters. The 30 cm stem bending treatment increased the chlorophyll content by 52.21 SPAD units, and leaf area index from 3.62 to 8.73 in both first and second experimental periods. It stimulated extensive adventitious root formation, from 0 to 269.50 roots in experimental period 1 and from 0 to 345.50 roots in experimental period 2, while root length increased from 12.37 to 15.66 cm and 13.05 to 16.56 cm, respectively. The flower production increasing 32.7 to 55.33 and 33.29 to 61.01 flowers per plant, accompanied by flower retention of 68.15% to 86.22%. The 30 cm treatment produced 126.02 fruits per plant with a fruit weight of 90.92 g, total fruit weight of 11.458 kg per plant, and marketable yields of 191.0 t ha-1 and 179.5 t ha-1 across the two experimental periods as compared to control that produced 80.33 fruits per plant with fruit weight of 74.49g, total fruit weight of 6.447kg per plant, and marketable yields of 110.1 ha-1 and 107.5 ha-1 across the two experimental periods. Taken together, the 30 cm stem bending treatment improves root development, vegetative growth and marketable yield of tomato. I recommend further trials using different tomato varieties to stem bending and evaluate stem bending under open field. Key words: Adventitious roots, PADMA F1, Height, Green house, Yield.Item Effectiveness of blending biochar with organic fertilizer on the performance of sweet pepper (capsicum annuum L.).(2026) Aber, Becky BarbraSweet pepper (Capsicum annual L.) is among the horticultural crop which is high-valued with important commercial and dietary benefits, but its output in Uganda remains seriously restricted by soil fertility loss. This study evaluated the effectiveness of blending biochar with organic fertilizer on the growth and yield performance of Super Bell F1 sweet pepper. The experiment was conducted at Busitema University Farm, Arapai Campus experimental fields done during two growing seasons using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four treatments replicated three times: biochar alone, organic fertilizer (decomposed cattle manure) alone, a blend of biochar and organic fertilizer, and an unamended control. Bio char was made from dry maize stalks through pyrolysis, while organic fertilizer was got from decomposed cattle manure. Alltreatment adjustment was applied at 180g per plant (equivalent to 5 t ha). Data collected covered vegetative growth parameters (plant height,stem girth, leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, number of branches) and yield components (number of fruits, fruit length, fruit width, fruit weight, and total yield) and it was analyzed using one-way A NOVA and generalized linear models at α=0.05. The blended treatment regularly produced great results compared to sole applications and the control. In Season 1, the blend resulted in the tallest plants (65.93 cm), largest stem girth (5.01 cm), and greatest leaf area (83.09 cm²) at week 8, with all parameters significantly different from the control (P < 0.05). The blend also produced the highest coverage number of fruits (98.67 fruits) and total yield (25.23 t ha) in Season 1, while in Season 2, the blend attained the highest yield (31.98 t ha) and fruit number (175.30 fruits), significantly exceeding other treatments (P < 0.001). These findings clearly show that blending bio char with organic fertilizer creates an interactive effect that boosts nutrient availability, retention, and uptake, leading to enhanced sweet pepper growth and productivity. The study recommends that smallholder farmers should adopt biochar-organic fertilizer blends as a viable soil fertility management approach. Further research should examine long-term effects, ideal application rates, and financial practicability of this combined technique under diverse sustainable situation.Item Effect of enhanced biochar on growth and yield of padma F1 tomatoes.(Busitema University, 2024) Aanyu, Sarah AsiloCurrent tomato production, productivity and quality have stagnated due to several biotic and abiotic factors. Among the abiotic factors, climate change has caused a lot of changes in the rainfall pattern, temperature, and other climatic conditions with variation in the soil moisture and fertility as the most the devastating conditions. This study therefore sought to determine the effect of enhanced Biochar on growth and yield of Padma F1 tomatoes. An experiment was conducted for two seasons at Arapai campus in a randomized complete block design. The materials used during the experiments were seeds of tomatoes Padma F1, Biochar plain, quenched urine Biochar, beejam, and jeevam, solid and liquid native microbes. The results of the study revealed that on tomato plant height, Treatment T1(quenched animal urine biochar mixed with both solid and liquid native microbes)resulted in the highest average plant height of 58.22 cm, closely followed by Treatment T2(quenched animal urine biochar mixed with jeevam and beejam) at 58cm, Treatment T1(quenched animal urine biochar mixed with both solid and native microbes) resulted in the highest average leaf area of 181.6 cm², followed by Treatment T2(quenched animal urine biochar mixed with beejam and jeevam) with 167.4cm2 .Treatment T1(quenched animal urine biochar mixed with both solid and native microbes) resulted in the highest average number of leaves at 33.33, closely followed by Treatment T2(quenched animal urine biochar mixed with beejam and jeevam) at 32.44 leaves. Treatment T1 (quenched animal urine biochar mixed with solid and native microbes) resulted in the highest average number of branches at 12.94, followed by Treatment T2 (quenched animal urine biochar mixed with beejam and beejam) with an average of 12.11 branches.Analysis on the data of fruit length, fruit diameter, average fruit weight per plant data, yield data showed a significant yield differences (<0.001) were observed across all the treatments in the experiments in all the seasons. The results indicate that the mixture of urine Biochar with native microbes and solid microbes (T1) produced the highest yield and best fruit quality, significantly outperforming all other treatments. T1 achieved the greatest number of fruits per plant, the largest fruit size, and the highest yield (45,977 kg/ha), Urine Biochar mixed with Beejam and Jeevam (T2) also yielded positive results but was slightly lower in productivity compared to T1. Urine Biochar alone (T3) had moderate results, while the control (T4) and plain Biochar (T5) treatments showed the lowest yields and fruit quality. In conclusion, enhanced biochar quenched with animal urine, solid and native microbes positively affects the growth and yield of tomatoes Padma F1.Item Indigenous nutrient supply and fertilizer use efficiency in rainfed lowland rice in eastern Uganda.(Frontiers, 2025) Kyalo, Gerald; Chemining’wa, George; Apunyo, Peter Charles; Nhamo, Nhamo; Wanyama, Ibrahim; Mussgnug, FrankThe yields and supply of rice have continuously remained low despite increase in demand. A study was carried out using Randomized Complete Block Design to determine the indigenous nutrient supply (INS) of lowland rice soils and the nutrient use efficiency of fertilizer in order to develop a site-specific nutrient management option for eastern Uganda. Indigenous nutrient supply was determined by the omission plot technique using five treatments; control (no fertilizer), NPK, PK (-N), NK (-P) and NP (-K) with NPK rates of 58.2 kg N ha-1, 13.2kg P ha-1 and 49 kg K ha-1. A total of 27 omission experiments were set up over a two-year period with each farmer acting as a replicate.The grain yield ranged from 1.1- 8.7 t ha-1 with the mean of 3.8 t ha-1. The full NPK treatment yielded significantly higher than PK and control treatments (NPK plots= 4.83 t ha-1). The yield in NPK treatment was 73, 40, 23 and 25% higher than control, PK (-N), NK (-P) and NP (-K) treatments, respectively. There was no significant difference between treatments for agronomic efficiency of N.The mean RE was 31% N, 9.9% P and 59% K with NPK treatment recording an average RE for N of 46.9%. The RE for P was low at 19% (for NPK), 9.9% (for control and NK), 9.3% for NP and 1.4 for PK. Average IUE was 36.9 kg grain kg−1 N, 270 kg grain kg−1 P and 28 kg grain kg−1 K, respectively. The average indigenous nutrient supplies for nitrogen (INS), phosphorus (IPS) and potassium (IKS) were 52, 9.7 and 87.2 kg ha–1, respectively. The Gross return over fertilizer cost (GRF) for the full NPK treatment was $1,275.3 ha–1 with gains of $270 ha-1 when compared to the control. The calculated respective N, P and K doses were 63, 12.6 and 24.5 kg ha–1 indicating a saving of 49, 74 and 59% on applied NPK respectively. This study has shown that fertilizer use in eastern Uganda is profitable and SSNM has demonstrated big savings on fertilizer N, P and K. KEYWORDS: indigenous nutrient sources, rice, recovery efficiency, internal use efficiency and agronomic efficiency, nutrient sourcesItem Incidence, damage and management of the major pests and diseases of robusta coffee, [coffea canephora (pierre ex a. froehner)] in Uganda.(Canadian Center of Science and Education, 2025) Kyalo, Gerald; Kagezi, Godfrey Hubby; Olango, Nicholas D.; Anyijuka, Mark; Twesigye, Veronica; Musasizi, Jannet K.; Nuwagaba, Dixion; Aijuka, Charlotte; Apunyo, Peter Charles; Arinaitwe, Geofrey; Niyibigira, Emmanuel IyamulemyeBlack Coffee Twig Borer (BCTB), Xylosandrous compactus Eichhoff (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) and Coffee Wilt Disease (CWD) are still the two main biological constraints to Robusta coffee production in Uganda. A rapid assessment survey was conducted in January 2022 in the Regions of Eastern (Busoga), Greater Masaka, Western, South western and Rwenzori to determine the status of pests and diseases in the different regions. A short-structured questionnaire with both open and closed-ended questions was administered to 268 participants that were purposively selected in different regions. At plot level, five coffee plants were selected in each of the sampled coffee farms for observation. The selected stems were checked for infestation by the stem borers and root mealy bugs (evidenced by ants moving up and down the coffee tree). The coffee canopy was divided into 2 imaginary sections—upper and lower to assess damage by leaf skeletonizers, tailed caterpillars, beetles, aphids, mealybugs, lygus, brown eye spot, coffee leaf rust, scales, aphids, berry moth and red blister. In addition, data was collected at field level parameters including: shade intensity, the most common shade trees, weed management and most common weeds (whether grasses, sedges or broadleaved), mulching intensity and mulching material, manuring intensity and common manure used, fertilizer application and type of fertilizer used, presence and type of cover crops, presence of bands and trenches as well as intensity of intercropping and the most common intercrops. Field observations revealed that the Black Coffee Twig Borer (BCTB) was responsible for the drying up of young and old coffee branches across all regions together with Coffee Wilt disease (CWD) to a smaller extent. On average, 9.4% of the primary branches were infested by BCTB. The highest damage levels of BCTB were recorded in Eastern (17.2%) and Western (12.4%) regions. Although, BCTB affected all ages of coffee, young coffee of 2-3 years was most affected. Overall, 3.9% of the sampled coffee trees were infected by Coffee Wilt Disease (CWD), with the highest incidence (8.2%) recorded in Southwestern Uganda. There is need to enhance existing management measures for coffee pests and diseases especially BCTB and CWD. Due to the high levels of spread of BCTB, this will require a community approach to sensitize farmers through meetings and media on the sustainable management of BCTB. There is also need to come up with good dissemination strategies of Coffee Wilt Disease Resistant varieties to aid their uptake and roll out a gap filling programme for coffee trees infected and destroyed by CWD across all regions using CWDr varieties. Keywords: coffee, Black Coffee Twig Borer (BCTB), skeletonizers, Coffee Wilt Disease (CWD), Red Blister Disease (RBD), Coffee Leaf Rust (CLR)Item A comprehensive review of aflatoxin in groundnut and maize products in Africa : prevalence, detection and mitigation strategies.(Wiley, 2025) Akullo, Jolly Oder; Okello, David Kalule; Mohammed, Abdi; Muyinda, Robert; Amayo, Robert; Magumba, David; Gidoi, Robert; Njoroge, Samuel; Mweetwa, AliceAflatoxins are a toxic secondary metabolite, mainly produced by the fungi Aspergillus favus and A. parasiticus. Aflatoxin contamination of food is a global concern, as they are carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic. Groundnuts and maize products are highly susceptible to afatoxin contamination at both pre- and postharvest stages; this leads to a great risk for those countries that rely on these products for food and nutrition security as well as income. Groundnut and maize products have contributed a substantial amount of afatoxin exposure to human and animal health risks, especially in countries that experience tropical climate and recurrent drought, favouring mould developments. Due to the strange health impacts of afatoxin in agricultural commodities, diferent countries have set the acceptable limits for groundnut and maize products, whereas most of the countries use the same limit for both commodities. Detection and quantifcation of afatoxins in groundnut and maize products are mainly through enzyme-linked immunoafnity assay (ELISA) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), among others. However, currently rapid, accurate and cost-efective techniques are emerging to quickly monitor and enforce the regulation limits. Among the widely applied strategies for afatoxin mitigation are biological control including atoxigenic Aspergillus strains, plant extracts, and chemical and physical methods of detoxifcation and decontamination. Afatoxin decontamination using plant extracts is promising for most countries in sub-Saharan Africa owing to the availability, ease of access and afordability; however, there is a need for further screening to isolate the bioactive ingredients. Tis review could provide insight into the researchers, stakeholders and consumers on the prevalence of afatoxin in groundnut and maize products as well as mitigation strategies to improve food safety. Keywords: afatoxin; Aspergillus; carcinogenic; decontamination; food safety; health risk