http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2 2026-05-07T02:29:45Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/4628 Title: A Comparative Evaluation of the Efficacy and Economic Analysis of Coated and Non-Coated Nitrogen Application in Maize (Zea mays L.) at Seed-Co Research Station in Zimbabwe Authors: Kupeta, O’Brian Abstract: Maize (Zea mays L.) top-dressing in both smallholder and commercial production in Zimbabwe is carried out using uncoated nitrogen (N). A study was conducted for two consecutive seasons in 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 at Seed-Co’s Rattray Arnold Research Station and Stapleford Research Centre, Zimbabwe to determine the comparative performance on maize grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency of Polymer coated urea fertilisers against conventional ammonium nitrate (AN) and plain white urea fertilisers. The study also looked at the loss of fertiliser nitrogen via volatilisation and economic advantages of each top-dressing source of nitrogen to maize cropping in Zimbabwe. The top-dressing treatments were; zero N, 69 N kg/ha and 138 N kg/ha. A volatilisation experiment in the lab was carried out using AN Plain white urea, Agrotain coated urea, and NBPT coated urea. The field experiment was laid out as a randomised complete block design (RCBD) and was a 6 x 2 x 2 factorial experiment involving 3 factors. The growth attributes measured were, plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, chlorophyll content, number of days to 50% tasselling, grain yield, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). The results showed that there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in Grain Yield (GY) and NUE between zero N top-dressed plots, half rate (69 kg N/ha) and full rate (138 kg N/ha) top dressed plots. This was attributed to high inherent nitrogen levels in the soil and not to the type of top-dressing fertiliser. Source of N was found to have no effect on chlorophyll levels in the leaf. Nitrogen losses through leaching from the same five top-dressing nitrogen sources were observed to be insignificant (p>0.05) and with no impact on both maize grain yield and NUE across soil depths of 15cm, 30cm and 45cm. The observed low leaching was attributed to high organic matter levels in the soil. Late top-dressing of N was observed to result in higher levels of residual N in the soil at the end of the season. This explains that maize plants also provided a sink for the applied mineral nitrogen and when it is missed during peak demand, there is higher residual N in the soil at the end of the season. Nitrogen volatilisation experiment results from the five top-dressing sources were ranked as follows in ascending order: NBPT urea< Black Urea® < White urea < Agrotain green/red urea < Ammonium nitrate. From the volatilisation experiment it was deduced that coated N delays the rate of N loss by volatilisation. A survey conducted to assess the adoption and cost effectiveness of coated nitrogen fertilisers on the market revealed that lack of product knowledge and related information on the new technologies is leading to very slow adoption and uptake of controlled release/stabilised N fertilisers. Maize farmers need more product information to adopt coated nitrogen fertilisers. 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/4627 Title: The Effect of Planting Depth on the Performance of the Irish Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Variety Larnoma in Nyanga District. Authors: Chingombe, Shadreck Abstract: The Irish Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important tuber crop on a global scale. In Zimbabwe potato ranks the third after maize and wheat and worldwide it is ranked the fourth after maize, wheat and rice. Potato is crucially important to food security in Zimbabwe. The Nyanga highlands are one of the production hubs for Irish potatoes in Zimbabwe but it has been noted that there has been a marked decline in potato yields over the years. The decline in yields is attributable to several factors with agronomic, pests and diseases and general climate change. Among the agronomic factors, the planting depth is a crucial factor in potato production but there is no tested and proven planting depth for the Nyanga area. The study aimed at determining the proper planting depth for Irish Potato variety Larnoma. The study was undertaken at two sites namely; Nyamurindi farm and Muozi farm in the 2019-2020 cropping season. Four planting depths of 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm and 20 cm were used. The trial was laid out in a Randomised Complete Block Design with field slope as the blocking factor. Parameters measured include average tuber weights per plot for large, medium and small sized tubers, average number of tubers per plot for large, medium and small sized tubers, average number of branches per plant, average stem length, percentage emergence, percentage flowering and the percentage of mature foliage at selected intervals until harvest. The data was subjected to Analysis of Variance using MINITAB version16 statistical package. The 5 cm and 10 cm depths had significantly higher rates of emergence compared to the 15 cm and 20 cm depths. The planting depth of 10 cm was noted to be the most suitable in the production of the tubers with the biggest proportion of heavy tubers and the biggest number of tubers per plot. The 5 cm depth and 10 cm depth had significantly earlier emergence and earlier flowering compared to the 15 cm and 20 cm depths. The size of potato tubers is an important quality criterion and it is affected by the planting depth. In this study it was noted that the 10 cm planting depth produced the largest proportion of large sized tubers at both Nyamurindi and Muozi farms. It is recommended that further studies be done in areas which are different from these two for another season in order to validate these results. 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/4626 Title: Exploring the Application of Internet of Things (IoT) in the Private Healthcare Sector: A Case of PSI Authors: Joe, Munashe P. Abstract: This study investigates the adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in the private healthcare sector, focusing on clinics, hospitals, and private practices. It aims to enhance patient outcomes and improve organizational efficiency through IoT integration. Utilizing literature analysis, case studies, and surveys of IT and healthcare professionals, the research identifies benefits, challenges, and effective IoT implementations. The literature review encompasses empirical findings from the past four years, while case studies provide insights into current IoT applications in private facilities. Data collected via self constructed questionnaires will be analyzed using statistical and qualitative methods to reveal patterns and trends. This research contributes to understanding the barriers to IoT adoption, showcases best practices, and proposes strategies to maximize its advantages in private healthcare. The findings will inform governments, health technology vendors, and healthcare facilities in making evidence-based decisions regarding IoT technologies, ultimately enhancing service quality and operational efficiency in the sector. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/4625 Title: The Impact of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) on User Experience and Performance: A Case Study of Family Legacy Mission Zambia (FLMZ), in Lusaka, Zambia. Authors: Chama, Joshua Abstract: In the past few years, there is a new trend has emerged in the IT landscape, the adoption of progressive web applications (PWAs), Most companies are shifting away from native applications to PWAs due to the better user experience benefits they offer. PWAs closes the gap between traditional websites and mobile apps, they provide enhanced and inclusive user experience, offline access, interactivity, and engagement. PWAs are web applications that offer a seamless, app-like experience to users. They combine the best of both web pages and mobile application. The features that PWAs provide offline access, faster load times, and cross device compatibility. Unlike native apps, which require installation from app stores, PWAs are accessed directly through web browsers, eliminating the need for installation and enabling instant access. However, PWAs do have limitations, including restricted access to certain device features and potential performance variations across different platforms. PWAs have changed web development by making web apps work more like mobile apps. They enhance user experiences, provide offline functionality, improve performance, and offer cost-effectiveness 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z