Browsing by Author "Kawaka, Fanuel"

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    Assessment of heavy metal concentrations in urban grown vegetables in Thika Town, Kenya
    (Academic Journals, 2012-02) Kiende, Judy Inoti; Kawaka, Fanuel; Orinda, G. O.; Okemo, P. O.
    Consumption of leafy vegetables grown in urban areas contaminated with heavy metals is a major source of health problems for both humans and animals. This study was conducted to analyze the heavy metal levels in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) and spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) grown in Thika town. Heavy metal concentration was analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. The mean concentrations of lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) in all the samples were more than the maximum permitted concentrations while there was no evidence of copper (Cu) contamination. Heavy metal uptake differences by the vegetables were attributed to plant differences in tolerance. Further Lead (mgkg-1) concentration in the vegetables was above the maximum limit of 0.3 mgkg-1 accepted for human health by World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Due to increased consumption of vegetables by urban communities, we suggest that it is important to treat industrial effluents which are significant sources of heavy metals and phyto-extract excess metals from polluted environments to reduce health risks.
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    Consumer Attitudes and Perceptions on Consumption of Edible Insects among Communities in Western Kenya
    (Plos One, 2025-02) Owidi, Emmah; Asoka, Gilbert; Waga, Eric; Ochieng, Alfred; Kawaka, Fanuel
    Edible insects are a highly sustainable and nutritional food source despite their low consumption in many communities. This study evaluated consumer attitudes and perceptions on consumption of edible insects in western Kenya. Eight focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted in four rural and four urban markets in Kisumu and Vihiga counties. The FGDs were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic content analysis. A total of 59 respondents consisting of 27 male and 32 females participated in the FGDs. The results showed higher acceptability and consumption of edible insects in rural areas compared to urban centers. The most popular edible insects were flying termites, grasshoppers, soldier termites and locusts. Consumption of these insects was mostly determined by their perceived high nutritional value, pleasant taste and familiarity as food sources. Seasonal capturing of the insects, especially during off-season also contributed to their low consumption. Respondents’ willingness to taste insect-based products was based on curiosity, packaging and familiarity with the product forms. These results suggest that there is need for interventions that promote public awareness and enhance the availability of edible insects and insect-based products, to support wider acceptability and consumption.
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    Effects of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes [mart.] solms) compost on growth and yield of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) in Lake Victoria Basin
    (European International Journal of Science and Technology, 2014) Osoro, Newton O.; Kawaka, Fanuel; Naluyange, Victoria; Ombori, Omwoyo; Muoma, John O.; Amoding, Alice; Mukaminega, Dative; Muthini, Morris; Maingi, John M.
    Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) has become a problem in water bodies all over the world. Various methods have been used to eradicate the macrophyte but with little success. The weed has high content of the nutrients absorbed from its environment. Hence there is need to assess the potential of utilizing the weed for commercial purposes such as compost to substitute the use of inorganic fertilizers which contributes to climate change. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of water hyacinth compost prepared using different treatments on the growth and yield of common beans. Field experiments were carried out at Otonglo Division in Kisumu County (Kenya) and greenhouse experiments were carried out at Kenyatta University. The water hyacinth compost was prepared using effective microorganisms (EM) solution, cattle manure and molasses separately as starter cultures for composting. The effect of compost on crop production was assessed by applying the compost to common beans (Rose coco) on separate growth pots in the greenhouse and plots in the field respectively. The treatments applied included compost prepared with EM (8.837 g/pot), compost prepared with cattle manure (8.837 g/pot), compost prepared with molasses (8.837g/pot), diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer (70.7 mg N/pot), inoculum (beans treated with Rhizobium leguminosarum strain 446) and control. For the field experiments, water hyacinth compost was applied at a rate of 5000 kg ha-1 and DAP at 40 kg N/ha. The experiments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with six treatments and three replications for each treatment in the greenhouse and five treatments replicated four times in three farmers’ fields. Application of water hyacinth compost and DAP significantly (p ≤ 0.05) influenced the growth of common beans. The best performance of Rose coco plants in terms of dry weight, root dry weight, number of nodules per plant, nodule dry weight and root collar diameter was recorded when the soil was amended with water hyacinth compost prepared with EM (WHE). Yield parameters such as 100 seed weight, grain yield and stover weight were significantly (p < 0.05) influenced when the soil was amended with various treatments. It can therefore be concluded that water hyacinth which is locally available and in large quantities (especially in lake Victoria) can be composted to prepare organic fertilizers and effectively used as an organic soil amendment to restore soil and increase common beans production.
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    Symbiotic Efficiency of Native Rhizobia Nodulating Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in soils of Western Kenya
    (International Scholarly Research Notices Volume 2014 (2014), Article ID 258497, 8 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/258497, 2014) Ombori, O.; Maingi, J.M.; Kawaka, Fanuel; Dida, Mathews M.; Osoro, N.; Opala, Peter A.; Muthini, Morris; Muoma, John; Amoding, Alice; Mukaminega, Dative
    This study was conducted to determine the abundance and symbiotic efficiency of native rhizobia nodulating common bean in Kisumu and Kakamega, Kenya. Soil sampling was carried out in three farms that had been used for of growing common bean for at least two seasons and one fallow land with no known history of growing common bean or inoculation. Abundance of soil rhizobia and symbiotic efficiency (SE) were determined in a greenhouse experiment. Native rhizobia populations ranged from 3.2 × 101 – 3.5 × 104 cells per gram of soil. Pure bacterial cultures isolated from fresh and healthy root nodules exhibited typical characteristics of Rhizobium sp. on yeast extract mannitol agar media supplemented with Congo red. Bean inoculation with the isolates significantly (p < 0.05) increased the shoot dry weight, nitrogen (N) concentration and content. The SE of all the native rhizobia were higher when compared to a reference strain, CIAT 899 (67%) and ranged from 74% to 170%. Four isolates had SE above a second reference strain, Strain 446 (110%). Our results demonstrate the presence of native rhizobia that are potentially superior to the commercial inoculants. These can be exploited to enhance bean inoculation programmes in the region