Abstract
Striga is one of the biotic constraints limiting the production and productivity of sorghum in tropical Africa, particularly in Ethiopia. A field survey was conducted in the eastern and western Hararghe zones in six districts in the 2019 cropping season to investigate the prevalence and socioeconomic impact of the weed. Random sampling was employed to collect the field and socioeconomic data. Data were collected on Striga counts per meter square and per plant, awareness and impression of farmers, prevalence, management used, severity, and collective actions to manage Striga. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 20. The results showed that two Striga species, Striga hermonthica and Striga asiatica, were observed. However, S. hermonthica was more prevalent than S. asiatica in all the surveyed locations, and its occurrence differed among locations. The maximum levels of S. hermonthica occurrence were recorded at Kile-besidimo (92%), Edobaso (85%), Kufakas (82%), Kotora (80%), Homacho Riana (78%), Bal’ina arba (74%), Dire gudina (72%), Bishan babile (66%), Qufa (65%), Oda Anesso (48%), Ijakechu (45%), Umer kulle (40%), Homacho Eba (38%), and Tofik (35%). Less level of Striga occurrence was recorded at Bareda (29%), Haro Adii (27%), Jiru gemachu (25%), and Homacho dayo (23%) Striga per meter square in assessed fields. S. hermonthica resulted in an estimated yield reduction of 0 to 80% in the surveyed areas. This causes higher economic loss and incurs social instability in the region. According to the farmers, hand weeding, legume intercropping, crop rotation, and resistance varieties were the most popular control measures to reduce Striga infestations. From this survey, it can be concluded that S. hermonthica is easily disseminated by different dispersal mechanisms and the major constraint of sorghum production in both zones. Therefore, it can be recommended that integrated management options be employed to reduce Striga infestation and the socioeconomic impact of Striga in the future.
Highlights
Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is highly adapted to diverse environmental conditions and a vital crop to foods of poor people where drought causes regular failures of other crops in the semiarid tropics [1]
It can be concluded that S. hermonthica is disseminated by different dispersal mechanisms and the major constraint of sorghum production in both zones. erefore, it can be recommended that integrated management options be employed to reduce Striga infestation and the socioeconomic impact of Striga in the future
Sorghum is the most commonly produced among the cereals grown in the surveyed area and a stable food crop for the local people, but S. hermonthica is creating a challenge for sorghum production. is survey indicated that S. hermonthica was distributed over all the surveyed areas
Summary
Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is highly adapted to diverse environmental conditions and a vital crop to foods of poor people where drought causes regular failures of other crops in the semiarid tropics [1]. It is frequently produced by smallholder farmers in Africa [2]. The parasitic weed (Striga) is the main biotic factor affecting the production and productivity of sorghum in Ethiopia [7].
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