scholarly journals Assessment of Management Options onStrigaInfestation and Maize Grain Yield in Kenya

Weed Science ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 516-524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred Kanampiu ◽  
Dan Makumbi ◽  
Edna Mageto ◽  
Gospel Omanya ◽  
Sammy Waruingi ◽  
...  

AbstractThe parasitic purple witchweed [Striga hermonthica(Del.) Benth.] is a serious constraint to maize production in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in poor soils. VariousStrigaspp. control measures have been developed, but these have not been assessed in an integrated system. This study was conducted to evaluate a set of promising technologies forS. hermonthicamanagement in western Kenya. We evaluated three maize genotypes either intercropped with peanut (Arachis hypogaeaL.), soybean [Glycine max(L.) Merr.], or silverleaf desmodium [Desmodium uncinatum(Jacq.) DC] or as a sole crop at two locations under artificialS. hermonthicainfestation and at three locations under naturalS. hermonthicainfestation between 2011 and 2013. Combined ANOVA showed significant (P<0.05) cropping system and cropping system by environment interactions for most traits measured. Grain yield was highest for maize grown in soybean rotation (3,672 kg ha−1) under artificial infestation and inD. uncinatumand peanut cropping systems (3,203 kg ha−1and 3,193 kg ha−1) under natural infestation. Grain yield was highest for theStrigaspp.-resistant hybrid under both methods of infestation. A lower number of emergedS. hermonthicaplants per square meter were recorded at 10 and 12 wk after planting on maize grown underD. uncinatumin the artificialS. hermonthicainfestation. A combination of herbicide-resistant maize varieties intercropped with legumes was a more effective method forS. hermonthicacontrol than individual-component technologies. Herbicide-resistant andStrigaspp.-resistant maize integrated with legumes would help reduce theStrigaspp. seedbank in the soil. Farmers should be encouraged to adopt an integrated approach to controlStrigaspp. for better maize yields.

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evans Atuti Atera ◽  
Takashige Ishii ◽  
John C. Onyango ◽  
Kazuyuki Itoh ◽  
Tetsushi Azuma

<p><em>Striga</em> spp. is considered to be the greatest biological constraint to food production in sub-Saharan Africa, a more serious problem than insects, birds and plant diseases. They are among the most specialized root-parasitic plants inflicting serious injury to their host depriving them water, minerals and photosynthate. The greatest diversity of <em>Striga </em>spp. occurs in grassland. However, <em>Striga hermonthica</em> mainly occurs in farmland infecting grasses. The parasite devastating effect is accomplished prior to its emergence from the soil. It may cause yield losses in cereals ranging from 15% under favourable conditions to 100% where several stress factors are involved, thereby affecting the livelihood of millions of resource-poor farmers. Piecemeal approach to address one aspect of <em>Striga</em> problem at a time has been a setback in technology transfer to producers. Future <em>Striga</em> control programs should not be conducted separately, but should rather be conducted in an integrated approach that combines research talents of various institutions. This will facilitate collaborative research and achieve qualitative interaction between stakeholders, which can easily produce reliable technologies that are practical and available to farmers. <em>Striga</em> being a pervasive pest, time is of essence in controlling it. There is an urgent need for the establishment of policies to promote, implement, and ensure a long-term sustainable <em>Striga</em> control program.</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 8460
Author(s):  
Armel Rouamba ◽  
Hussein Shimelis ◽  
Inoussa Drabo ◽  
Mark Laing ◽  
Prakash Gangashetty ◽  
...  

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is a staple food crop in Burkina Faso that is widely grown in the Sahelian and Sudano-Sahelian zones, characterised by poor soil conditions and erratic rainfall, and high temperatures. The objective of this study was to document farmers’ perceptions of the prevailing constraints affecting pearl millet production and related approaches to manage the parasitic weeds S. hermonthica. The study was conducted in the Sahel, Sudano-Sahelian zones in the North, North Central, West Central, Central Plateau, and South Central of Burkina Faso. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and focus group discussions involving 492 participant farmers. Recurrent drought, S. hermonthica infestation, shortage of labour, lack of fertilisers, lack of cash, and the use of low-yielding varieties were the main challenges hindering pearl millet production in the study areas. The majority of the respondents (40%) ranked S. hermonthica infestation as the primary constraint affecting pearl millet production. Respondent farmers reported yield losses of up to 80% due to S. hermonthica infestation. 61.4% of the respondents in the study areas had achieved a mean pearl millet yields of <1 t/ha. Poor access and the high cost of introduced seed, and a lack of farmers preferred traits in the existing introduced pearl millet varieties were the main reasons for their low adoption, as reported by 32% of respondents. S. hermonthica management options in pearl millet production fields included moisture conservation using terraces, manual hoeing, hand weeding, use of microplots locally referred to as ‘zaï’, crop rotation and mulching. These management techniques were ineffective because they do not suppress the below ground S. hermonthica seed, and they are difficult to implement. Integrated management practices employing breeding for S. hermonthica resistant varieties with the aforementioned control measures could offer a sustainable solution for S. hermonthica management and improved pearl millet productivity in Burkina Faso.


Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 485
Author(s):  
Nnanna N. Unachukwu ◽  
Abebe Menkir ◽  
Adekemi Stanley ◽  
Ebenezer O. Farombi ◽  
Melaku Gedil

Strigahermonthica (Del.) Benth is a parasitic weed that devastates cereals in Sub-Saharan Africa. Several control measures have been proposed for the parasite, of these, host plant resistance is considered the most cost-effective for poor farmers. Some tolerant/resistant lines have been developed and these lines display tolerance/resistance mechanisms to the parasite. A series of studies was done to investigate some of the mechanisms through which a resistant (TZISTR1108) and a susceptible (5057) maize line responds to S. hermonthica infestation, as well as the effects of parasitism on these lines. In this study, TZISTR1108 stimulated the germination and attachment of fewer S. hermonthica plants than 5057, both in the laboratory and on the field. In TZISTR1108, the growth of the S. hermonthica plants, that successfully attached, was slowed. When compared to the un-infested plants, the infested resistant plants showed fewer effects of parasitism than the infested susceptible plants. The infested TZISTR1108 plants were more vigorous, taller and resembled their un-infected counterparts. There were substantial reductions in the stomatal conductance and nitrogen content of the 5057 upon infestation. The resistant inbred line showed multiple mechanisms of resistance to S. hermonthica infestation. It thrives better than the susceptible line by reducing the attachment of S. hermonthica and it delays the parasite’s development.


1996 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 157-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana Berner ◽  
Robert Carsky ◽  
Kenton Dashiell ◽  
Jennifer Kling ◽  
Victor Manyong

Striga hermonthica, an obligate root parasite of grasses, Is one of the most severe constraints to cereal production in sub-Saharan Africa. In the recent past, prior to increased production pressure on land, S. hermonthica was controlled in African farming systems by prolonged crop rotations with bush fallow. Because of increasing need for food and concomitant changes in land management practices, however, these fallow rotations are no longer extensively used. Shorter crop rotations and fallow periods have also led to declines in soil fertility which present a very serious threat to African food production. A sustainable solution will be an integrated approach that simultaneously addresses both of these major problems. An integrated programme that replaces traditional bush fallow rotation with non-host nitrogen-fixing legume rotations, using cultivars selected for efficacy in germinating S. hermonthica seeds, is outlined. The programme includes use of S. hermonthlca-free planting material, biological control, cultural control to enhance biological suppressiveness, host-plant resistance, and host-seed treatments.


2020 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 215-228
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Ukaobasi Mbah ◽  
Calistus Keke ◽  
Eme Godswill Ogbonnaya Ogidi

AbstractTwo animal manure sources (swine and sheep / goat manures) each at 5 Mt·ha−1, were applied in mono- and intercropped maize (Zea mays L.) and groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.). A general control (no manure treatment of the component crops was established) for productivity assessment. The trial, conducted at the Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu (04º 30′ N, 06º 45′ E, 150 m above sea level), in the derived savannah plains, Ishiagu, Nigeria in 2012 and 2013 mid-cropping seasons used a randomised complete block design with three replications. It assessed the agronomic performance, cropping system (CS) and plant nutrient (PN) productivity of maize-groundnut in mono-and intercrop as influenced by two animal manure sources. The two-year combined analysis indicated that animal manure sources significantly (P < 0.05) increased growth and yield components of the crop species in the systems. Swine manure application gave the significantly (P < 0.05) highest maize grain yield in both mono- and intercropped strategies in contrast to sheep / goat manure that had the highest grain yield in both cropping strategies in groundnut. The biological and economic productivity indices of the cropping system (CS) and plant nutrient (PN) indicated that the application of sheep / goat manure in the maize / groundnut mixture exhibited greater intercrop advantage whose total CS and PN land equivalent ratios (LERs) were higher by 4.79% and 13.57%, respectively, relative to swine manure application. Therefore, the application of animal manure demands encouragement in maize-groundnut intercrop, especially sheep / goat manure as it enhances crop yield, food security and protein intake of people living in Sub-Saharan Africa practicing different strokes of farming system technology. The results of this study showed that intercropping system exhibited positive growth, yield, biological and economic advantages over monocropping of the component species. The study further indicated that intercropped maize / groundnut that received sheep / goat manure exhibited the highest cropping system and plant nutrient yield advantage and agronomic efficiency compared to swine manure alone under the same environment.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 320-332
Author(s):  
H.K. Prasai ◽  
S.K. Sah ◽  
A.K. Gautam ◽  
A.P. Regmi

Abstract. The adoption of Conservation agriculture (CA) contributes to sustainable production and its advantages include lower inputs and stable yields. This study was conducted in the research field of Regional Agricultural Research Station, Bhagetada, Dipayal, Doti during 2014 and 2015 to identify the effect of CA on grain yield and income of maize in Maize based cropping system. Both conservation and conventional agricultural (ConvA) practices were evaluated on two maize based cropping systems namely maize-wheat-mungbean (M-W-MB) and maize-lentil-mungbean (M-L-MB). For this purpose two maize varieties namely Raj Kumar and Arun-2 were used. The average productivity of maize under M-L-MB cropping system was 1.6% higher (5.75 t/ha) than M-W-MB cropping system (5.66 t/ha). The average grain yield of maize under CA was 16.7% higher (6.15 t/ha) than ConvA (5.27 t/ha). Rajkumar produced 43% higher average grain yield (6.73 t/ha) than Arun-2 variety (4.69 t/ha). The average net benefit was slightly higher (US$ 597.33/ha) under M-L-MB cropping system than M-W-MB cropping system (US$ 573.89/ha). Similarly, the average net benefit from CA was 102% higher (US$ 783.67/ha) than ConvA (US$ 386.79/ha). Rajkumar variety gave 127% higher average net benefit (US$ 813.49/ha) than Arun-2 (US$ 357.81/ha). The average benefit - cost (B:C) ratio of M-L-MB cropping system was slightly higher (1.72) than the average B:C ratio of M-W-MB cropping system (1.70). The average B:C ratio of CA was 42% higher (2.01) than ConvA (1.41). The average B:C ratio of Rajkumar variety was found 33% higher (1.95) than Arun-2 (1.46). The higher grain yield, net profit and B:C ratio were found in CA practices under M-L-MB cropping system and Rajkumar variety. This study suggests that hybrid maize planting and the adoption of M-L-MB cropping system should be used to increase grain yield and economic performance under CA practices.


Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheetal Sharma ◽  
Rajeev Padbhushan ◽  
Upendra Kumar

Over years of intensive cultivation and imbalanced fertilizer use, the soils of the Indiansubcontinent have become deficient in several nutrients and are impoverished in organic matter.Recently, this region has started emphasizing a shift from inorganic to organic farming to managesoil health. However, owing to the steadily increasing demands for food by the overgrowingpopulations of this region, a complete shift to an organic farming system is not possible. The rice–wheat cropping system (RWCS) is in crisis because of falling or static yields. The nations of thisregion have already recognized this problem and have modified farming systems towardintegrated nutrient management (INM) practices. The INM concept aims to design farmingsystems to ensure sustainability by improving soil health, while securing food for the populationby improving crop productivity. Therefore, this paper was synthesized to quantify the impact androle of INM in improving crop productivity and sustainability of the RWCS in the context of theIndian subcontinent through meta-analysis using 338 paired data during the period of 1989–2016.The meta-analysis of the whole data for rice and wheat showed a positive increase in the grainyield of both crops with the use of INM over inorganic fertilizers only (IORA), organic fertilizersonly (ORA), and control (no fertilizers; CO) treatments. The increase in grain yield was significantat p < 0.05 for rice in INM over ORA and CO treatments. For wheat, the increase in grain yield wassignificant at p < 0.05 in INM over IORA, ORA, and CO treatments. The yield differences in theINM treatment over IORA were 0.05 and 0.13 Mg ha−1, respectively, in rice and wheat crops. Thepercent yield increases in INM treatment over IORA, ORA, and CO treatments were 2.52, 29.2, and90.9, respectively, in loamy soil and 0.60, 24.9, and 93.7, respectively, in clayey soil. The net returnsincreased by 121% (INM vs. CO) in rice, and 9.34% (INM vs. IORA) and 127% (INM vs. CO) inwheat crop. Use of integrated nutrient management had a positive effect on soil properties ascompared to other nutrient management options. Overall, the yield gain and maintenance of soilhealth due to INM practices over other nutrient management practices in RWCS can be a viablenutrient management option in the Indian subcontinent.


2015 ◽  
Vol 95 (6) ◽  
pp. 1073-1084
Author(s):  
Baffour Badu-Apraku ◽  
Chabi Yallou ◽  
Muhyideen Oyekunle ◽  
Richard Akinwale ◽  
G. Aweke ◽  
...  

Badu-Apraku, B., Yallou, C., Oyekunle, M., Akinwale, R., Aweke, G. and Kamara, A. 2015. Consistency of performance of early-maturing maize cultivars in Striga-infested and Striga-free environments. Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 1073–1084. Despite the immense potential of maize (Zea mays L.) in savannas of West and Central Africa (WCA), production and productivity is constrained by Striga hermonthica parasitism. Sixteen early-maturing cultivars were evaluated at two locations in Nigeria and three locations in the Republic of Benin from 2007 to 2009 to assess the grain yield, stability and the consistency of the rankings of the cultivars under Striga-infested and Striga-free environments. The combined analysis of variance showed significant (P<0.01) cultivar and cultivar×environment interactions for grain yield and other traits under Striga-infested and Striga-free environments. The test of concordance was significant (P<0.001) for grain yield (W=0.68), number of emerged Striga plants (W=0.74) and Striga damage (W=0.56) under Striga infestation, indicating stability of resistance in the cultivars developed from diverse sources under artificial S. hermonthica infestation across environments. There was high consistency of the rankings of the cultivars for grain yield and other Striga-resistance traits under Striga-infested and Striga-free environments in Benin and Nigeria. The additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) biplot analysis for grain yield revealed POOL15SR/ACR94TZECOMP5-W/ACR94TZECOMP5-W and 2004 TZE-Y Pop DT STR C4 as the most stable cultivars with above-average mean grain yield in Striga-infested environments and they can be combined with other crop management options to control the parasite in the Striga endemic environments. Cultivars TZE Comp 5-W C7F2 and TZE Comp5-Y C6 S6 (Set B) had less Striga damage and number of emerged Striga plants across test environments. These cultivars could therefore serve as unique sources of favorable alleles for improving Striga resistance in maize in different production environments and farming systems.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1371
Author(s):  
Baffour Badu-Apraku ◽  
Oluwafemi Obisesan ◽  
Oluwafemi B. Olumide ◽  
Johnson Toyinbo

Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of night blindness, total blindness, maternal and childhood mortality in developing countries. Drought, low soil nitrogen and Striga hermonthica parasitism are major constraints to maize production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Thus, the development of multiple stress tolerant maize varieties with elevated levels of PVA is an economically feasible approach to simultaneously tackle malnutrition and food insecurity in SSA. The objectives of this study were to determine the gene action modulating the inheritance of grain yield and other traits, group the inbred lines, investigate inter-trait relationships among grain yield and other traits and assess the performance and stability of single-cross hybrids derived from a set of inbred lines under stress and non-stress environments. One hundred and ninety diallel crosses plus six hybrid checks were evaluated under managed drought at Ikenne during the 2016/17 and 2017/18 dry seasons, low soil N conditions at Mokwa and Ile-Ife, Striga infestation at Abuja and Mokwa, and optimal management conditions at Ikenne, Kadawa, Abuja, Bagauda and Mokwa during the 2016 and 2017 growing seasons. Both additive and non-additive gene actions were prominent in the inheritance of grain yield and other measured traits under stress and optimal management conditions. However, additive gene action was preponderant over the non-additive. The PVA inbreds were classified into three heterotic groups with TZEI 25 and TZEIOR 164 identified as inbred testers for heterotic groups 2 and 3, respectively. Plant and ear heights, ears per plant, plant and ear aspects were identified as reliable secondary traits for genetic enhancement of grain yield under both stress and non-stress conditions. Hybrids TZEIOR 4 x TZEIOR 158 and TZEIOR 119 × TZEIOR 158 were outstanding in performance and should be tested extensively for possible commercialization to combat malnutrition and food insecurity in SSA.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Ebanyat ◽  
Nico de Ridder ◽  
Mateete Bekunda ◽  
Robert J. Delve ◽  
Ken E. Giller

Poor soil fertility is a major problem constraining crop productivity in smallholder farms of sub-Saharan Africa due to inadequate nutrient replenishment. Differential management of nutrients creates areas of accumulation and depletion of nutrients within farms with the latter increasing in spatial coverage. Nutrient additions are required to increase crop production in such degraded areas. We used experimental data to evaluate the potential of inorganic fertilizers and organic manures to offset finger millet yield differences or gap between degraded fields and former kraals, which are recognized as niches for obtaining the best yields within the Teso farming system in eastern Uganda. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers were sole applied at 0, 30, 60, and 90 kg ha−1 and in combination (N+P) at equal rates of sole application, and manure (3 t ha−1) supplemented with N (0, 30, 60, and 90 kg ha−1) to degraded fields located in upper and middle landscape positions in Chelekura and Onamudian villages. A second control treatment of finger millet grown on soils of former kraal sites (high fertility niches) was included as a benchmark to evaluate the efficacy of nutrient management options on degraded field. Average grain yield ranged from 404 to 2,026 kg ha−1 and differed significantly (p &lt; 0.001) between villages and seasons. Significant effects (p &lt; 0.05) of landscape position on grain yield were observed only in Onamudian village. Although the treatments significantly increased millet yields on degraded fields above the control, they could not eliminate the yield differences between degraded fields and former kraals. The largest average grain yields on degraded fields were obtained from combined application of N+P resulting in average grain yields of 800 and 1,171 kg ha−1 in Chelekura village and Onamudian village, respectively. These yield responses resulted in only 24 and 43% of yields obtained on former kraal fields in Chelekura and Onamudian, respectively. The physiological efficiencies, agronomic efficiencies, and apparent recoveries of N and P were low; often &lt;25%. Pot experiments conducted in a greenhouse showed that Sulphur (S) and potassium (K) were additional limiting nutrients to N and P for finger millet production in Chelekura and Onamudian and may partly explain the large yield differences of finger millet between fertilized fields and former kraals in the smallholder farming systems. Nutrient management strategies for sustainable millet production in these farming systems need consideration of site-specific nutrient limitations.


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