Overview

The department focuses on utilizing scientific principles to advance the art of field crop production including forage and fodder crops. The broad–based curriculum prepares the graduates for a wide range of career options such as research, training and public sector.

Below is a list of the modules offered by the department.

1. Shimelis H. and Gwata ET. (2013). Potential of Vernonia (Vernonia galamensis) as an Industrial Crop in Africa. In: A. Goyal and M. Asif (eds). Crop Production. Intech, Riyeka, Croatia. ISBN 980-953-307-799-9. In press.

2. Madzivhandila, T, Ogola, J.B.O, and Odhiambo, J.J.O. (2012). Growth and yield response of four chickpea cultivars to phosphorus fertilizer rates. Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment 10 (3 & 4): 451-455.

3. Ogola, J.B.O., Orawo, A.O. and Ayieko, W.O. (2012). Assessment of factors affecting the farmer demand for seed potato in Nakuru District, Kenya. African Journal of Agricultural Research 7(23): 4151-4157.

4. Thangwana, M.N. and Ogola, J.B.O. (2012). Yield and yield components of chickpea (Cicer arietinum): response to genotype and planting density in summer and winter sowings. Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment 10 (2): 710-715.

5. Ogola, J.B.O. and Mathews, C. (2011). Adaptation of cassava (Manihot esculenta) to the dry environments of Limpopo, South Africa: growth, yield and yield components. African Journal of Agricultural Research 6 (28):6082-6088.

6. Ogola, J.B.O., Ayieko, W.O., Orawo, A.O. and Kimani, F.W. (2011). Analysis of Fertilizer Use in Potato Production in Nakuru District, Kenya. African Journal of Agricultural Research 6 (16):3672-3677.

7. Kimurto P.K., Gottschalk, K., Kinyua, M.G., Ogola, J.B.O., Towett, B.K. (2010). Crop conceptual model for predicting productivity of bread wheat in semi-arid Kenya. Agricultural Engineering International: CIGR Journal 12 (3):25-37.

8. Mabapa, M.P., Ogola, J.B.O., Odhiambo, J.J.O., Whitbread, A. and Hargreaves, J. (2010). Effect of phosphorus fertilizer rates on growth and yield of three soybean (Glycine max) cultivars in Limpopo Province. African Journal of Agricultural Research 5 (19):2653-2660.

9. Odhiambo, J.J.O, Ogola, J.B.O, and Madzivhandila, T. (2010). Effect of green manure legume – maize rotation on maize yield and weed infestation levels. African Journal of Agricultural Research 5 (8):618-625.

10. Kimurto, P.K., Ogola, J.B.O., Kinyua, M.G., Macharia, J.K. and Njau, P.N. (2009). Physiological traits associated with drought tolerance in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under tropical conditions. South African Journal of Plant and Soil 26 (2):80-90.

11. Mzezewa J and Gwata ET. (2012). The nature of rainfall deficit at a typical semi-arid tropical ecotope in southern Africa and options for sustainable crop production. In: (eds) Peeyush Sharma and Vikas Abrol. Crop Production Technologies. Intech, ISBN 978-953-307-787-1. pp. 93-112.
12. Gwata ET (2010). Potential impact of edible tropical legumes on crop productivity in the small-holder sector in Sub-Saharan Africa. J. Food Agric. Environ. 8: 939-944.
13. Gwata ET and Siambi M. (2009). Genetic enhancement of pigeonpea for high latitude areas in Southern Africa. Afr. J. Biotech. 8: 4413-4417.
14. Gwata, E T & E C Kunjeku. 2012. Evidence for the potential production of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) in the Limpopo river basin in Southern Africa (accepted for publication in African Journal of Agricultural Research (IN PRESS)
15. Kunjeku, E C & E T Gwata. (2011). A preliminary survey of insect species occurring at the reproductive stage in pigeonpea grown in Limpopo (South Africa). Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment: 9: 988- 991.
16. Kunjeku, E C & LL Maliwichi. (2009).
Oyster Mushroom Cultivation for Resource-poor Farmers in Southern Africa. Chapter 5: in Poverty in Africa. (Ed. Thomas W Beasley). Nova Science Publishers Inc. New York. pp133 – 155.

The following is a list of staff members in the Department of Horticultural Sciences.