Termite-Induced Injuries to Maize and Baby Corn under Organic and Conventional Farming Systems in the Central Highlands of Kenya.

John J Anyango,Sibylle Stöckli,Edward N Karanja,Noah Adamtey,Komi K M Fiaboe,Martha W Musyoka,Zipporah O Lagat,David Bautze,Anne W Muriuki,Gladys K Onyambu

doi:10.3390/insects10100367

Abstract

Termite-induced injuries to maize and baby corn were evaluated in on-going comparison experiments on organic and conventional farming systems at two trial sites in the Central Highlands of Kenya (Chuka and Thika). The farming systems were established in 2007 at two input levels: Low input level, representing subsistence farming (Conv-Low, Org-Low) and high input level, representing commercial farming (Conv-High, Org-High). Termite-induced injuries to maize and baby corn, such as tunneling the stem or lodging the whole plant were assessed over two cropping seasons. The lodging occurred exclusively at Thika. It first became apparent in the Org-Low system, with most of lodging occurring during the vegetative stage. Baby corn grown under high input systems showed increasing lodging from the late vegetative crop stage and peaked before the final harvest. Tunneling was recorded at both sites, but was generally below 5%, with no significant differences between the farming systems. Overall, the injury patterns caused by termites appear to be a function of the plant growth stage, termite colony activities, trial site, and the types and levels of fertilizer input. Thus, the management practice used in each farming system (organic or conventional) might have greater influence on crop injuries than the type of farming system itself or the termite abundance within each system.

Highlights

The comparison experiments to generate field data on organic and conventional farming systems were initiated in 2007 in Kenya by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and their local partners, the Institute of Insect Ecology and Physiology and the Kenyan Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO)
Termite-induced injuries in farming systems can be influenced by several management practices associated with different farming systems
The organic high input system had a higher abundance of termites as it provided them with more food sources and preferable conditions

Summary

Introduction

The comparison experiments to generate field data on organic and conventional farming systems were initiated in 2007 in Kenya by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and their local partners, the Institute of Insect Ecology and Physiology (icipe) and the Kenyan Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO). Termites (Isoptera) are a large and diverse group of insects, globally consisting of over 2800 species in about 300 genera. Africa has greater termite diversity than any other continent [2]. There is a distinct dichotomy between termites being depicted as ‘pests’ attacking structural timber, rangelands, crops and trees, and the ecological literature which argues that they provide several ecosystem services [3]. G.W.; Nyeko, P.; Nkunika, P.O.; Sekematte, B.M.; Akinnifesi, F.K.; Ajayi, O.C. Integrating ethno-ecological and scientific knowledge of termites for sustainable termite management and human welfare in Africa.

Results

Discussion

Conclusion