Intercropping maize with grain legumes for &lt;I&gt;Striga&lt;/I&gt; control in Zimbabwe

Musambasi, D; Chivinge, O.A.; Mariga, I. K.

doi:10.4314/acsj.v10i2.27549

Cited by 15 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…These results corroborate earlier findings from on-station studies conducted at icipe-Thomas Odhiambo Campus in western Kenya that reported effective control of striga by greenleaf desmodium (Khan et al, 2006b;Midega et al, 2010), and thus contribute to the accumulating body of knowledge of the importance of intercropping with desmodium in smallholder cereal farming systems in the region. It is noteworthy that the number of striga plants that emerge represents an unknown and often variable percentage of the total number of striga plants that actually parasitize the host's roots (Musambasi et al, 2002). Moreover, germination and emergence of striga varies from season to season, depending on weather conditions (Doggett, 1988).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate-adapted companion cropping increases agricultural productivity in East Africa

Midega

Bruce

Pickett

et al. 2015

Field Crops Research

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a b s t r a c tProduction of cereals, the main staple and cash crops for millions of farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is severely constrained by parasitic striga weed Striga hermonthica, stemborers and poor soil fertility. A companion cropping system known as 'push-pull' overcomes these constraints while providing additional soil fertility and forage grass benefits to smallholder farmers. To ensure the technology's long-term sustainability in view of the current and further potential aridification as a consequence of climate change, drought-tolerant crops, Brachiaria cv mulato (border crop) and greenleaf desmodium (intercrop), have been identified and incorporated into a 'climate-adapted push-pull'. The aims of the current study were to evaluate effectiveness of the new system (i) in integrated control of striga and stemborer pests and (ii) in improving maize grain yields, and to evaluate farmers' perceptions of the technology to assess potential for further adoption. 395 farmers who had adopted the technology in drier areas of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania were randomly selected for the study. Each farmer had a set of two plots, a climateadapted push-pull and a maize monocrop. Seasonal data were collected in each plot on the number of emerged striga plants, percentage of maize plants damaged by stemborers, plant height and grain yields. Similarly, farmers' perceptions of the benefits of the technology were assessed using a semi-structured questionnaire. There were highly significant reductions in striga and stemborer damage to maize plants in the climate-adapted push-pull compared to the maize monocrop plots: striga levels were 18 times lower and stemborer levels were 6 times lower. Similarly, maize plant height and grain yields were significantly higher. Mean yields were 2.5 times higher in companion planting plots. Farmers rated the climate-adapted push-pull significantly superior in reducing striga infestation and stemborer damage rates, and in improving soil fertility and maize grain yields. These results demonstrate that the technology is effective in controlling both weeds and pests with concomitant yield increases under farmers' conditions. It thus provides an opportunity to improve food security, stimulate economic growth, and alleviate poverty in the region while making agriculture more resilient to climate change.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate-adapted companion cropping increases agricultural productivity in East Africa

Midega

Bruce

Pickett

et al. 2015

Field Crops Research

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“…Weed growth in MB and MBB was similar to sole crop maize agreeing with Gomez and Gurevitch (1998) who found that maize–soybean intercropping compared with sole maize did not affect weed growth but that weed growth was affected by crop plant density. Weeds in maize cropping systems, however, were less compared with sole‐cropped bean in 1997, apparently because of weed suppression by maize, reducing the labor required for manual weed control in smallholder systems (Musambasi et al, 2002). Eliminating one weeding from crop operations is of major significance for smallholder farmers because of the great labor savings which could be invested elsewhere.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Intercropping of bean and maize is common for increased productivity and suppression of weeds. Various studies show that intercropping is beneficial in increasing land productivity (Ebwongu et al, 2001), light interception (Ennin et al, 2002), income (Tsubo et al, 2004), weed suppression (Musambasi et al, 2002; Getachew et al, 2007; Odhiambo and Ariga, 2001; Alemu et al, 1987), and insect pest management (Belay et al, 2009; Nampala et al, 2002).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Weeds are commonly more suppressed by crop competition with intercropping compared with sole cropping (Getachew et al, 2007; Moynihan et al, 1996; Odhiambo and Ariga, 2001; Salomon, 1993). Striga ( Striga asiatica L.) plants were 79, 55, and 59% fewer at 8, 10, and 12 wk after crop emergence, respectively, with maize–cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata L.) intercrop compared with sole maize (Musambasi et al, 2002). Baldev et al (2004) reported that intercropping significantly reduced weed population and dry matter compared to pearl millet ( Pennisetum glaucum L.) sole crop.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Maize–Bean Intercrop Weed Suppression and Profitability in Southern Ethiopia

Workayehu

Wortmann

2011

Agronomy Journal

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Cereal-legume intercropping oft en results in increased productivity, weed suppression, and N supply. Th e agronomic and economic benefi ts of maize-bean (Zea mays L. -Phaseolus vulgaris L.) intercropping were studied for 5 yr in a complete factorial with: 0, 1, and 2 weedings (W0, W1, W2); and single (MB) and double (MBB) rows of bean alternated with one row of maize. Sole crop maize and bean were included. Weed infestation in intercrop was 30% less compared with sole crop bean but with inconsistent diff erences across years. Weed biomass was 13% less with MBB compared with sole-cropped maize. Ears m -2 were 55% more in seasons with better rainfall compared with 1999 and 16% more with W1 or W2 compared W0. Mean maize grain yield was 3.74 Mg ha -1 . Weeding frequency (WF) eff ect on maize grain yield was inconsistent across years but yield was 75% more with W2 compared with W0. Overall, maize grain yield was 19% more with MB compared with MBB but the eff ect was signifi cant in 1997 only. Mean bean yield was 1.07 Mg ha -1 and was inconsistently aff ected by treatments across years. Bean yield was on average 52 and 67% more with W1 and W2, respectively, compared with W0, and 35% more with MB compared with MBB. Intercropping resulted in land equivalent ratios (LER) of 1.0 to 2.4 with a WF eff ect. Mean net income (NI) was greatest with MB and W1. Overall, intercropping suppressed weeds and was more productive and economical than sole crop production.

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“…Weeds are generally considered to interfere negatively with agriculture and a large number of studies are dedicated to the development and application of technologies geared towards the eradication of weeds and their negative eVects on crops (Chivinge 1990;Chatizwa and Vorage 2000;Gatsi et al 2001;Rambakudzibga et al 2002;Musambasi et al 2002). However, not all weeds are detrimental.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Diversity of coevolved weeds in smallholder maize fields of Mexico and Zimbabwe

2008

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Theory and empirical data suggest the areas of origin of a crop to be the general area of origin of its coevolved weeds. These longer evolved weeds would have an advantage over species with a shorter evolutionary time and migrate more successfully. We seek to identify patterns by comparing two regions with a shared crop, similar physiographic traits, but little direct contact, one of which is the area of origin of the crop. We compared the diversity of the maize weed Xora and its edible components between two rural villages each of Oaxaca, Mexico, and Honde Valley, Zimbabwe, using vegetation sampling, interviews and participatory observation. The Mexican Welds had higher species richness and diversity than the Zimbabwean ones. Species richness and densities were higher in the villages that receive more rainfall. Mexican Welds had a mainly native weed Xora with almost 80% American species and very few of African origin, whereas Zimbabwe had 32% of American and 50% of African origin. The regions shared seven American species and one of African origin. American/Mesoamerican agrestal weeds appear to be more successful in maize. Subsistence farmers in both study areas consumed about 19 edible weed species of which four were common to all villages. Our results also suggest that the presence of 3-4 species of edible weeds per Weld may be a general pattern in the maize-based systems, and that people not necessarily want or need more, so usefulness-at least as an edible plantwould have a limited inXuence on migration success.

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Intercropping maize with grain legumes for <I>Striga</I> control in Zimbabwe

Cited by 15 publications

References 0 publications

Climate-adapted companion cropping increases agricultural productivity in East Africa

Climate-adapted companion cropping increases agricultural productivity in East Africa

Maize–Bean Intercrop Weed Suppression and Profitability in Southern Ethiopia

Diversity of coevolved weeds in smallholder maize fields of Mexico and Zimbabwe

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