Abstract:
Passion fruit has emerged as an important high value horticultural crop in Kenya. The yellow
passion has gained wide adoption in Mbeere district due to its apparent adaptation to the hot
arid conditions and a ready market for the fruit. Nevertheless, the current production levels of
yellow passion fruit are low due to poor agronomic management, declining soil fertility levels
and erratic rainfall patterns. Analysis of soil and assessment of plant behavior under varying
amount of nutrients is requisite in optimization of nutrient requirements for passion fruit
plants. In addition, based on the fact that each nutrient has a specific role in the physiological
functions of plants, imbalances often result in characteristic symptoms, which permit the
identification of the cause of the disorder. To establish the correct cause of the disorders
requires knowledge of the symptoms and its cause which should be determined in both open
and controlled experiments. The primary objective of this study is to assess water and
nutrient management of yellow passion fruit grown by farmers in Mbeere District. The study
will also carry out morphological characterization to determine the genetic structure of the
cultivated populations to identify promising parents that can generate hybrids with favourable
characteristics such as drought tolerance. The study will set up on-farm experiments with
selected farmers in Mbeere District and a control experiment under greenhouse conditions at
Kenyatta University. Active participation of the farmers will be encouraged with part of the
data collection being carried out by the farmers themselves. The results will contribute to
increased efficiency in resource utilization, enhanced production and profitability of yellow
passion value farming.
