Seed Management and Quality of Farmer Saved Seeds of Bambara groundnut from North Western, Northern and Eastern Uganda

M Obura,G Oballim,F N.W Maina,V.E Anjichi,J O Ochuodho

doi:10.4314/gjas.v56i1.1

Abstract

 Bambara groundnut (BG) is a protein and energy-rich legume crop of African origin with the potential to contribute to food and nutrition security. There is limited information on seed management and quality of farmer saved seed of BG in Uganda. This study was conducted to investigate seed management practices and evaluate the quality of farmer saved seed from Uganda. Four hundred BG farmers were chosen using purposive sampling and information gathered on their seed management. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview the farmers. Seed colour and size determination, standard germination and electrical conductivity tests were done on seed samples collected from farmers. Results from survey revealed that farmers recycled seeds for more than 4 years (39.2%) and maintained mostly single landraces (52.5%). Seed was sun-dried on the ground (81%), stored in gunny bags (93.5%), and threshed mostly by hand (52.0%). Collected landraces had varied seed coat colours and significantly differed at p = 0.05 in their seed sizes, final germination percentage (FGP), electrical conductivity (EC), germination velocity index and seedling vigour index II (SVI-II). Local Bam landrace recorded highest SVI-II (485.3) and EC (0.52MSg-1) while TVSU 688 landrace recorded the highest FGP (96.0%) and lowest EC (0.06MSg-1).

Highlights

This study revealed that seed size was positively correlated with seedling vigour index II, indicating a higher vigour for those seedlings arising from large seeds
Bambara groundnut landraces obtained from farmers were evaluated to establish their seed quality in relation to farmers’ practices
The landraces TVSU 688, TVSU 759 and AbiBam 003 showed relatively good seed quality in terms of germination capacity and electrical conductivity except, TVSU 759 whose Electrical conductivity (EC) did not seem to correspond to the good germination

Summary

Introduction

Verdc) is an annual legume belonging to the family Fabaceae (APG IV, 2016). It is considered a food security crop because of its drought tolerance and ability to perform better than other crops in poor soils (Effa & Uko, 2017; Tsoata et al, 2016; Anchirinah et al, 2001), yet it is one of the underutilized African legumes (Harouna et al, 2018). M. Obura et al (2021) Ghana Jnl. Agric.

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Discussion

Conclusion