Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 11: 584 - 593. Published October 31, 2008.
Reducing Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. incidence on maize (Zea mays L.) using Mucuna–maize rotation
Shave P. A*, Avav T*^, Kalu B.A** and Ekefan E.J*
*Department of Crop and Environmental Protection, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria.
**Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Science, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To explore the potential of using Mucuna to improve soil fertility and reduce the incidence of Striga hermonthica using Mucuna- maize rotation without additional inorganic fertilizer application.
Methodology and results: In 2005, 10 Mucuna accessions [M. cochinchinensis, M. georgia, M. ghana, M. jaspaeda, M. pruriens IRZ, M. pruriens var utilis, M. rajada, M. veracruz (black seeded), M. veracruz (mottle seeded), and M. veracruz (white seeded)], were planted and left on a Striga-infested field throughout the year. In 2006, a Striga susceptible open pollinated maize variety, TZERS-W, was planted on the Mucuna plots without inorganic fertilizer. A plot with conventional recommended rate of inorganic fertilizer and a plot without fertilizer application and without Mucuna were included in the design as controls. Germinability, nodulation, leaf area index, dry matter, ground cover and canopy persistence differed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) between the Mucuna accessions with M. cochinchinensis, M. veracruz (black seed) and M. veracruz (white seed) being the best three. There were no significant differences in maize growth and yield attributes between the plots with Mucuna and the conventional fertilizer plots. Maize grain yields from the plots with Mucuna: M.cochincninensis (3.2 tha-1), M. georgia (1.9 tha-1), M. ghana (2.7 tha-1), M.jaspaeda (2.8 tha-1), M. pruriens IRZ (3.1 tha-1), M.pruriens var utilis (2.6 tha-1), M.rajada (2.0 tha-1), M. veracruz (black)(3.1 tha-1), M. veracruz (mottle)(2.6 tha-1), M. veracruz (white)(2.4 tha-1) and plots with inorganic fertilizer (2.6 tha-1) were significantly (P ≤0.05) higher than in plots without fertilizer (0.50 tha-1). The mean Striga shoot count (4.6 shoots m-2) in plots with Mucuna at harvest did not differ significantly from the plots with fertilizer treatment (5 shoots m-2), but were significantly different from plots without fertilizer and Mucuna (10 shoots m-2). The weed biomass was significantly lower (137 gm-2) in plots with Mucuna compared to 275 gm-2 in plots with fertilizer and 550 gm-2 for plots without fertilizer and Mucuna.
Conclusion and application: Resource-poor farmers in the sub-humid savanna can achieve sustainable maize production by rotating the crop with Mucuna to increase soil fertility and cost effectively reduce Striga infestation.
Key words
Striga incidence, maize production, Mucuna-maize rotation, sub-humid savanna
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