Transcript COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND VETERINARY SCIENCES …

FAITH MUMBUA MALUKI
A22/0087/2009
PROJECT PROPOSAL: IN PARTIAL
FULLFILLMENT OF THE AWARD OF BSC.
AGRICULTURE (CROP SCIENCE).
EFFECT OF MICROCLIMATE MODIFICATION
ON TOMATO(Lycopersicon esculentum) SEED
GERMINATION AND SEEDLING VIGOUR.
SUPERVISOR: DR KINAMA
INTRODUCTION
 Horticulture, is
the largest agricultural subsector, has
recorded a remarkable export-driven growth in the past
decade and, contributes 33 per cent of the GDP and 38
per cent of export earnings (GoK, 2010).
 Tomato growing is one of the most promising areas for
horticultural expansion and development in Kenya
especially for small- scale growers who currently number
over 120,000 farmers across the country with holdings of
less than one acre. (Sssejjemba, 2008).
PROBLEM STATEMENT
 Unfavorable
soil temperature is amongst the
major factors that contribute to poor
germination, growth and quality of tomato
(Solanum lycopersicum) seedlings in tropical areas
(Gogo et al., 2012).
 Natural temperature changes play a dominant
role in controlling the temperature range over
which germination may occur in seed
populations of species that exhibit seasonal
dormancy patterns. (Probert, 2001)
JUSTIFICATION
 Temperature
is the single most important factor in
the regulation of the timing of germination, because
of its role in dormancy control and/or release, or
climate adaptation. (Hartman et al., 1997)
 Modification of the crop microclimate through
natural shading influences soil temperature and this
will have an effect on germination and performance of
tomato seedlings in the field for small- scale farmers
who have inadequate resources to construct a
greenhouse and want to improve their living
standards.
OBJECTIVE
Main Objective:
 To determine the percentage germination of Rio Grande tomato
variety under open field nursery management.
Specific Objective:
1.
To investigate the effects different percentages of shading on soil
temperature.
2.
To determine percentage germination in the field under different
shading percentages and soil temperature.
3.
Determine seedling strength and performance under different soil
temperatures.
HYPOTHESIS
Null Hypothesis
 Modification of soil temperature influences
tomato seed germination.
Alternative Hypothesis
 Soil temperature has no effect on tomato seed
germination.
METHODOLGY
Experimental site:
 The on-station study will be conducted at Kabete Field Station of
the University of Nairobi, located about 10 km north of Nairobi. The
station is about 1940 m above sea level and is located on latitude 1°
15’ Sand longitude 36° 41’ E (Sombroeket al., 1982).
Experimental design:
 The experiment is to include five treatments which are laid out in a
complete randomized design (CRD) as follows:
 T1: Full shading at 10 cm
 T2: 75% shading at 7.5 cm
 T3: 50% shading at 5 cm
 T4: No shading (Control)
 The shading is applied the day of planting.
Materials
 :Tomato seeds (Riogrande),Wooden pegs, Dry grass as shading
material, Soil Thermometer (Gardeners soil thermometer, Brannam
thermometers, England.), Hoe, Watering can (3.5 litres).
DATA COLLECTION:
1.
Taking temperature readings:
 The bulb or sensing part of the thermometer will be placed at
the intended seeding depth of 3cm. The bulb should be in firm
contact with the surrounding soil.
2.
Germination
 Data will be collected every three days after planting.
 Eight lines will be used in each plot for data collection.
3.
Seedling Vigour
 Ten randomly selected plants will be used in each plot for data
collection 5-6 weeks after planting. The following parameters
were recorded:
 Plant height, root length, number of branches and number of
leaves per plant.
DATA ANALYSIS:
 The data recorded on various parameters will be subjected to
Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) method to determine the
difference between different treatment and their interactions.
While Least Significant Difference (LSD) test was used to
determine mean differences at 5% level of significance.
(Kwanchai and Arturo, 1984).
 Statistical software Genstat, 13th edition (SP2) will be applied
for calculating both ANOVA and LSD.
BUDGET
PARTICUL
ARS
Seeds
UNIT
UNIT COST
TOTAL
2 packets
350
700
1/2 bag
100
100
Land
Preparation
2
500
1000
Planting
1
500
500
Watering
5
500
2500
2 pieces
400
800
1
400
400
Tomato
Compost
Manure
Labor
Literature, Report
Documentat Printing
ion and
Information
Miscellaneou
Stationary
s
TOTAL
6000
WORKPLAN
ACTIVITY
STAGE
Land
Preparati
on
Primary
Procurem
ent of
Inputs
Planting
Weeding
Data
Collection
Data
Analysis
Report
Writing
Report
Submissio
Secondar
y
Januar Februar March
y
y
April
May
REFERENCES

Elisha O. Gogo, Mwanarusi Saidi, Francis M. Itulya,Thibaud Martin,and Mathieu Ngouajio.
HortTechnology (June 2012) Microclimate Modification Using Eco-friendly Nets for Highquality Tomato Transplant Production by Small-scale Farmers in East Africa.

GoK, (2010). National Horticulture Policy. Nairobi. Kenya.

HT Hartmann, DE Kester, FT Davies, RL Geneva. Plant Propagation: Principles and Practices.
6th ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1997.

Henk W. M. Hilhorst and Bruce Downie (1995).Primary dormancy in tomato (Lycopersicon
esculentum cv. Moneymaker): studies with the sitiens mutant- Journal of Experimental
Botany,Vol. 47, No. 29 KARI, 2005. KARI-Thika, Priority setting document. 4, pp. 89-97,
January 1995.

Kwanchai A. Gomez and Arturo A. Gomez (1984). Statistical Procedure for Agricultural
Research. Printed by John Wiley and Sons, 2nd Edition.

The Organic Farmer Knowledge a must for greenhouse farming October 12th, 2011
edition.

Robin J. Probert (2001).The Role of Temperature in the Regulation of Seed Dormancy and
Germination. Seed Conservation Department, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Wakehurst
Place, Ardingly, West Sussex, UK.

Ssejimbe. (2008) Value Chain Analysis Kenya and Uganda. Uganda