Ng'etich Nehemiah Kiptoo
MSc student at University of Nairobi.
Aims of research
The title of my research is "Associated impacts of common weeds on Bt cotton: a case study of Mwea, Kenya."
My research focuses on the effects of weeds on growth and production of genetically modified cotton (Bt cotton) compared with conventional cotton (Hart89M). The research compares the growth parameters such as plant height, leaf diameter, boll counts, the number of attacked leaves and leaf count of Bt cotton and conventional cotton in both weeded and non-weeded plots. The research also focuses on weed biodiversity in the cotton fields.
Objectives
The general objective of the research is to determine the effect of weeds on cotton production and to evaluate the competitive ability of Bt cotton with weeds. The specific objectives of the study will be to:
1. Document weed diversity in the cotton fields.
2. Compare the effect of weeds on Bt cotton and non-Bt cotton production.
By Joy Owango, June 2010.