Ayor Elizabeth Kudum is a South Sudanese born on 1st January 1987 in Makol-cuei village of Jonglei State. Ayor a graduate of BSC agronomy with a wide-ranging experience in humanitarians aid such as General Food distribution, food security/livelihood, Village Saving and Loans (VSL), Gender and administrative management, demonstrated skills in fieldwork and systems management for internal controls and adherence to food security policies and guidelines, leading accounts staff, coaching and building capacities of junior staff, and working closely with partners and government as well as practical hands-on experience in planning, coordinating and organizational activities.
Work experience, I worked for Catholic Relief Services (CRS) from 2018 to 2022 as a Senior Livelihood officer, Project Assistant; Under Sustainable Agriculture for Economic Resilience (SAFER) FAO Project, and Food Security and Livelihood (FSL) Assistant-Oxfam South Sudan. I have also attended some short courses; security, gender, improved agronomic practices and SMART SKILL by CRS, 2021, trees nursery establishment and Management and Gender Mainstreaming by FAO, Trained on Emergency Market Mapping Assessment (EMMA) by Oxfam South Sudan, Trained on Gender Base Violence case management by Nile Hope Development Forum in partnership with UNICEF, Trained on human rights and gender equality by the human right department UNMISS Bor Jonglei state, Trained on child protection by UNMISS in collaboration with UNICEF in Jonglei State Bor, and Trained in livestock and Agriculture by Borlang research institute in South Africa, 2012.
PUBLICATION
1. Kudum A E., Chemining’wa G N., Kinama J M., Mac D M (2022). Effect of intensity and frequency of leaf harvesting on growth, nodulation, and yield of selected cowpea varieties. East African Journal of Science, Technology, and Innovation 3(3).
Email address (ayorkudum@yahoo.com/ayor87@student.ac.ke), skype Ayor.Kudum2 and mobile telephone +254718426492/+211918439524
Abstract
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is an important crop in South Sudan, however, its low production has been attributed to poor agronomic and leaf harvesting practices which cause a reduction in grain yield and quality because of interference of the source-sink relationship. The objectives of this study were to determine: (i) the effect of leaf harvesting intensity on growth, nodulation, and yield of selected cowpea varieties; and (ii) the effect of leaf harvesting interval on growth, nodulation, and yield of selected cowpea varieties. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) experiment in a 4×3×3 factorial arrangement (comprising intensity, frequency, and variety factors, respectively) was conducted in Bor and Awerial sites in South Sudan. The harvesting intensity treatments comprised control (no leaf harvesting), 20%, 40%, and 60% leaf harvesting, frequency treatments comprised 2, 3, and 4 weeks harvesting intervals while the cowpea varieties comprised improved variety M66 and landraces Lubia and Areng. Effects due to environment, variety, interval, and intensity were significant (p≤0.001) for days to flowering, maturity, number of nodules per plant, pod weight, grain yield, and shoot dry weight. An increase in leaf harvesting intensity (40 and 60% intensities) delayed flowering and maturity, and decreased shoot dry weight, 100-seed weight, grain yield, pod weight, and number of seeds per pod. Harvesting cowpea leaves at 20% intensity in both sites and 40% intensity at Bor resulted in increases in the number of leaves per plant and number of branches per plant compared to all the other treatments. Piece-meal harvesting delayed flowering and maturity, increased dry matter accumulation and reduce the number of nodules per plant. It also increased the number of leaves per plant, number of branches per plant, pod weight and number of pods per plant. Cowpea variety Areng and M66 had higher shoot dry weight, grain weight, grain yield, and the number of nodules, pods, and seeds per plant than variety Lubia. Among the three varieties evaluated for defoliation, variety Areng took a much longer time to flower compared to the other two varieties. A decrease in the dry matter at the flowering stage was less pronounced on variety Areng. Variety M66 accumulated the least dry matter at different intensities and was less suitable for foliage harvesting after flowering. Cowpeas grown at Awerial produced a higher grain weight (0.93-1.04 t/ha) than those in Bor (0.78-0.94 t/ha). Both harvest interval and intensity had a significant effect on growth parameters, yield, and yield components of cowpea varieties. The sensitivity of the varieties to change in the Environment influences the production potential of cowpea varieties. Cowpea variety Areng and M66 are suitable for yield and foliage production with minimal environmental influence.
Important Links
Research Supervisors
Prof. George N Cheming’wa
Prof. Josiah M Kinama
