Promoting integrated Striga management practices in maize in northern Nigeria

摘要

Striga hermonthica is a serious parasite of cereals that causes substantial yield losses in savannah zones of much of sub-Saharan Africa. Adoption of integrated control methods involving legume-cereal rotations and the use of resistant host cultivarshas been less than expected. As a result, a participatory research and extension approach has been used to encourage farmer involvement in improving Striga management to promote wider adoption. Integral to the research were two researcher managed "mother" and 155 farmer managed "daughter" trials each learning from the other. In the "mother" trials a Striga tolerant maize cv. Across 97 TZLcomp.l-W, produced higher grain yield, supported fewer Striga plants, and was less damaged than TZB-SR, a susceptiblecultivar widely grown by farmers. Vigour and grain yield of maize was lowest in plots that did not receive N and increased with higher N rates. The incidence of Striga and crop damage was higher where no N was applied and decreased with increased N application. The "daughter" trials, provided opportunity for farmer testing, monitoring and evaluation, with most farmers indicating higher productivity with less Striga using Striga control methods. Net output increased on average by 183 dollar/ha over traditional farmer practices with greatest returns being achieved from a maize/soya-bean intercrop.