Feedback: Experts answer your questions on issues affecting your livestock and crops

Effective control of pests, diseases
What chemical would you recommend for killing pests and micro-organisms in the soil before planting water melon? And how is it applied?
Wahome

Thank you, Wahome. First of all, micro-organisms in the soil tend to be beneficial as most of them help in soil decomposition and aeration. 
They may include bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, protozoa and nematodes.
I will focus on nematodes as some tend not to be beneficial to the plants; basically they are microscopic worms that live around or inside the plant. 
Some nematodes are predators while others are beneficial, eating pathogenic nematodes and secreting nutrients to the plant.
For elimination of the nematodes, you can drench nematicide in the soil. There are other methods that include solarisation, which involves covering moist soil with a polythene paper for around eight weeks. 
For the pests, most appear or rather occur after crop establishment, or if there are weeds in the farm before crop establishment. 
To control the pests, after the crop is established/after germination, you need to monitor or scout after the melon. 
During the early stages, you need to check out for cut worms and control them. Later on check for aphids, which are vectors of mosaic viruses, fruitfly, caterpillars and mites. 
-Grace Ruiru
Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University.

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Effective control of pests, diseases
How to completely eliminate pests, nematodes in soil
For elimination of the nematodes, you can drench nematicide in the soil. There are other methods that include solarisation, which involves covering moist soil with a polythene paper for around eight weeks. 
For the pests, most appear or rather occur after crop establishment, or if there are weeds in the farm before crop establishment. 
To control the pests, after the crop is established/after germination, you need to monitor or scout after the melon. 
During the early stages, you need to check out for cut worms and control them. Later on check for aphids, which are vectors of mosaic viruses, fruitfly, caterpillars and mites.
-Grace Ruiru
Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University.

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The best crops to cultivate in Mwea
What are the best crops to cultivate in Mwea, Mbeere South? The soil is black cotton, very waterlogged during rains, cracks up during dry weather and no available water for irrigation.
James

Mwea is a locality that is well known for rice production. The soils and the weather are well adapted for its production all year round. 
However, a variety of other crops can also thrive in the black cotton soils. These include cotton, wheat, watermelon and green grams. 
Your challenge may happen during dry seasons. Since there is no water for irrigation, make use of the rainy seasons. 
For instance, you could dig ponds, which will be filled in the rainy seasons. This may be costly but the benefits will be marvelous as you will be guaranteed of production throughout the year and enjoy the financial benefits that will come with the high constant yields.
-Sillus Oduor,
Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University

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Where to get tissue culture bananas
Please assist me to know where I can get tissue culture bananas for planting. 
Acleus Joe Chitechi

Tissue culture is done for a specific purpose, for which the crop is intended. For instance, banana can be tissue-cultured for Ripening (varieties like Giant Cavendish, Gold finger, Vallery, Kisii sweet, Williams hybrid, Chinese dwarf and Grand naine). 
The Cooking types include Kisii matoke, Ng’ombe, Uganda Green, Solio, Ishighame and Nusu Ng’ombe. 
There are those types for Dual purpose. They can be used be used for both ripening and cooking and they include Fhia and Muraru. 
Tissue culture banana seedlings can be obtained from Kalro (Coffee Research Institute) [email protected]. 
A great advantage of tissue culture bananas is that they are diseases and pest-free.
-Sillus Oduor,
Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University

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I need advice on eucalyptus trees 
I have four acres of land in Nyeri near Kagumo High School where I have planted some coffee trees halfway, the rest is idle. I work in the city and intend to plant eucalyptus trees. Is it advisable?
Kariuki James

Hello, James. It is recommended to have trees around coffee bushes to provide shade and mitigate against excessive temperatures and heat stress, which are responsible for flower and fruit abortion and also some tend to be beneficial to the coffee as they give nitrogen.
When considering the kind of tree to plant, it should be one that does not compete with the coffee for nutrients and for other resources as this will lower the productivity of the coffee plants. 
Also consider the type of rooting system of the trees. They should not also be planted close to the coffee bushes. 
Once you have the trees established and mature, the leaves fall and rot and provide organic matter. 
The organic matter improves the soil texture and water retention and hence help in retention of moisture in the soil, which is required by the coffee.
Some of the recommended tress are Cordia Africana. Cordia is a leguminous tree whose leaves make for good mulch. 
Moringa Oloifera, which is a medicinal tree, with lots of health benefits, has calcium and potassium properties. 
Gravellia Robusta should be planted a bit far from the coffee due to its roots. Whistling pine can also be planted at the borders.
Kenya Forest Service recommends that eucalyptus should not be planted in riparian or marshy areas, wetlands and near a water body. 
The trees should not be planted near buildings or on road reserves as the branches and stems of some species easily break off. 
It is good to plant eucalyptus in areas that have been degraded by soil erosion, marginal lands, waterlogged areas (to drain the area) and areas with saline soils. 
The trees also act as windbreakers on large farms. Avoid growing eucalyptus trees in areas with low rainfall as they will compete with other crops for water and also produce toxic substances (allelopathy) which will hinder the growth of other crops.
-Grace Ruiru,
Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University.

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How to sweeten watermelons
I am farming watermelons in Embu, which are one-month-old now. Is there a substance that is applied to these plants to make the fruits sweet or the sweetness in the melons is just natural?
Wahome 

The sweetness of the watermelon is also influenced greatly by the climate. Hot weather tends to contribute to the sweetness of the crop because watermelon is a warm season crop and also requires plenty of sunlight. 
For sweetening, you need foliar application of micronutrients, especially boron, once the fruit has set. 
Two weeks before the fruit is ripe, stop watering because the less water it gets the better as this will increase the sugar content and sugar concentration in the fruit, making it sweeter. 
When you start picking the watermelons, only pick the ripe ones because they don’t continue to ripen after picking.
-Grace Ruiru,
Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University.

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Where can I get quality button mushroom?
I am urgently looking for a farmer who has high quality button mushroom in Nairobi and its environs.
Nduta Mwangi

You can try Mushroom Kenya (Organic farmers market). Their contact is 0735 803 239 or supermarkets like Naivas Supermarket, Westlands branch.
-Carol Mutua
Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University

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Use of mucuna beans as goat feeds
Hello, I rear dairy goats and pigs. Please help me know how to use mucuna beans as goat feeds. 

How do I prepare the feed and in what proportions do I mix with other ingredients before serving? I rear pigs under bed system. 
Where can I get IMO (indigenous micro-organism) or if you can link me to a farmer who is practicing this rearing system?
Kizito Nicholas 
Dairy goat production is a profitable business since goats feed on less feed materials compared to cows and their milk per litre is expensive than cow milk. 
They require a good nutrition plan, clean water, proper housing and security. Mucuna beans can be used as a supplement on the dairy feed given to goats. 
About rearing insects as a protein source for pigs, Egerton University is training people on black soldier fly production. Reach out to me through [email protected]
-Dennis Kigiri, Department of Animal Science, Egerton University.

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On goat rearing
I'd like to rear Toggernburg goats and I live in Nakuru North District. Can you please advise on where to get them and if they can do well in the area?
Rahab Njeri Mwangi

Toggenburg is a Swiss breed of dairy goat, meaning it is kept for milk. Goat milk has many nutritional and health benefits. Occasionally, Egerton University sell them. 
They are adapted to calm environments.
-Dennis Kigiri, Department of Animal Science, Egerton University.