Effects of Organic and Microbial Fertilizers on Striga Hermonthica in Maize

Osman A G,Hassan M M,Rugheim A M E,Babiker A E,Abdelgani M E

doi:10.13189/ujar.2013.010202

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted at the Environment and Natural Resources Research Institute, NCR, Sudan to investigate the effect of organic (Elkhairat (T) and Elkhasseb (X)) and microbial (Azospirillin (A) and Phosphobacterin (B)) bio-fertilizers and their combinations on S. hermonthica growth and development in Maize. Results showed that all treatments reduced emergence of the parasite, except inoculation with A which enhanced Striga emergence compared to control. Treating maize plants with Striga, irrespective to treatments reduced maize height as compared with free maize. Plants fertilized with T sustained the highest plant growth at 4 weeks after sowing (WAS). It increased maize height by 79% as compared to infested control. At 6 WAS fertilization with X, B+T and A+B+T were significantly increased plant heights as compared to infested control. Leaf number was affected due to Striga infestation. At 6 WAS, all treatments significantly increased leaf numbers except B, A+B and X as compared to infested control. While at 10 WAS, results showed that only A+B+T was significantly increased leaf numbers compared to infested control. Averaged across all fertilization treatments, maize plants infested with Striga had smaller leaf areas than did uninfected plants. At 6 and 10 WAS, X sustained the highest leaf area index compared to all other treatments. Maize treated with X and A+B+T sustained the highest shoot dry weight as compared to infested control . Maize fertilized with X, A+T and A+X showed the highest root dry weight as compared to infested control.

Highlights

Maize (Zea mays L.) is widely cultivated throughout the world and greater weight of maize is produced each year than any grain, the United States produced 40% of the world's harvest
At 6 weeks after sowing (WAS), Striga was observed in all treatments except A+X treatment
Maize treated with the combinations between A+B showed adverse effects on Striga emergence

Summary

Introduction

Maize (Zea mays L.) is widely cultivated throughout the world and greater weight of maize is produced each year than any grain, the United States produced 40% of the world's harvest. World wide production was 817 million tones in 2009 – more than rice (678 million tones) or wheat (682 million tones) (1). Maize yield is very low, due to constraints of nutrient depletion, loss of organic matter and poor and erratic rainfall. Maize production is negatively influenced by the incidence of pests and diseases and increasingly by the parasitic weed Striga. The genus Striga (Orobanchaceae, formerly Scrophulariaceae) is one of the most important biotic constraints affecting crop production. Yield losses in staple cereal crops damage by Striga varied from a few percentages up to complete crop failure depending on factors such as crop species, level of infestation rainfall pattern and soil degradation (2). Br.) Maize (Zea mays (L.)) and rice (Oryza sativa (L.)), whereas S. gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke attacks crops such as cowpea Striga is most severe in low moisture and low soil fertility

Objectives

Methods

Results