Aeschynomene histrix (Joint Vetch) fallow and nitrogen fertilizer effects on Striga hermonthica infestation and maize (Zea mays) productivity in southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria

Ida Usman ,Emmanuel Daniya ,M G M Kolo

doi:10.4314/as.v17i3.1

Abstract

Integration of herbaceous legume Aeschynomene histrixinto the farmers’ cropping system is one viable option that can improve the nutrition of maize ( Zea mays ), increase soil physical, chemical and biological properties which can result in sustainable Striga control and crop productivity. This study was conducted to determine the effects of A. histrix fallow and N fertilizer application on Strigainfestation, growth and yield of maize. The study involved the factorial combination of fallow type: natural fallow (NF) and A. histrix fallow (AF), and inorganic N fertilizer application: 0, 30, 60 and 90 kg N ha -1 arranged in a split plot in a randomised complete block design and replicated three times. Results show that cropping/maize after A. histrix fallow significantly (P < 0.05) delayed Strigaemergence, reduced its virulence on the host crop, increased maize plant height, and grain yield compared to natural fallow. Application of 90 kg N ha -1 delayed days to Striga shoot emergence, reduced Striga damage on host crop, and increased plant height of maize. Heavier and higher grain yield of maize were significantly associated with of 60 kg N ha -1 . Integrating A. histrix fallow rotations with application of 60 kg N ha -1 can provide sustainable Strigacontrol, and A. histrix in combination with 90 kg N ha -1 modest yield of maize. This study has shown that farmers in the southern Guinea savanna location of Nigeria can effectively control Striga and obtain better maize yield by integrating A. histrix fallow with the application of N fertilizer. Keywords: Striga , Aeschynomene histrix , fallow rotation, nitrogen, maize

Highlights

Witch weed (Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth.) is a major biotic constraint threatening the production of several cereal crops, in small-holder farmlands in sub-Sahara Africa (Sjogren et al, 2010; Jamil et al, 2012)
This study has shown that farmers in the southern Guinea savanna location of Nigeria can effectively control Striga and obtain better maize yield by integrating A. histrix fallow with the application of N fertilizer
Striga Infestation The results show that A. histrix fallow caused significantly longer days to Striga shoot emergence compared with natural fallow in the two years of study (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Witch weed (Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth.) is a major biotic constraint threatening the production of several cereal crops, in small-holder farmlands in sub-Sahara Africa (Sjogren et al, 2010; Jamil et al, 2012). Striga infestation and poor soil fertility are among factors that cause severe yield losses in maize production (Sjogren et al, 2010; Kamara et al, 2012; Uzoh et al, 2015). This implies that maize farmlands are faced with a complex of biotic and abiotic problems (Kamara et al, 2012). In Nigeria, over 85% of maize and sorghum farmlands are infested with Striga (Kamara et al, 2012), causing severe yield losses to complete crop failure, and in most cases, farmers are made to abandon such infested land (Kolo and Adamu, 2006; Kamara et al, 2012)

Methods

Results

Conclusion