Abstract
The effect of integrated use of Calliandra or maize stover with urea on Striga infestation and maize yield components was assessed in a field experiment carried out for five consecutive seasons on a clay loam Ferralsol in western Kenya. Urea and Calliandra or maize stover were combined to supply N at 75 kg ha-1 from both sources in 0:0, 100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80, 0:100 ratios. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 12 treatments replicated four times was used with maize hybrid (WS 502) as a test crop. All the three ear traits (ears per plant, ear length, and ear diameter), kernels per row and grain yields were significantly higher under Calliandra (45 kg N ha-1) combined with urea (30 kg N ha-1) and Calliandra (30 Kg N ha-1) combined with urea (45 kg N ha-1) or maize stover (45 kg N ha-1) combined with urea (30 kg N ha-1) and maize stover (30 kg N ha-1) combined with urea (45 kg N /ha-1). Number of ears per plant was a major yield component and accounted for (R2=0.74) of the variation in grain yield under Striga. Stepwise regression analysis showed ears per plant to be the most important yield component under Striga infestation (R2=0.58) followed by kernels per row (R2=0.38).
Highlights
Striga, commonly known as witchweed, is the most economically important parasitic weed seed plant in the world
60 kg N ha-1 combined with urea at 15 kg N ha-1) (114 plants m-2)
Striga density was higher in the control and in treatments receiving more than 80% of N from maize stover (Table 3)
Summary
Commonly known as witchweed, is the most economically important parasitic weed seed plant in the world. It is a genus of 28 species of parasitic plants that occur naturally in parts of Africa, Asia and Australia. The genus is classified in the family of Orobanchaceae it was earlier placed in the family Scrophulariaceae [1]. Four species of the parasite cause economic losses in cereal crops and these are S. hermonthica (Del.) benth., S. asiatica (L.) kuntze, S. aspera (Willd.) Benth. S. hermonthica is the most widespread and causes the greatest losses
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