Suppression of Striga hermonthica on Sorghum Using a Cowpea Intercrop

Abstract

Intercropping with a spreading type of cowpea was studied as a technique for the control of Striga hermonthica on sorghum in northern Cameroon. Alternate rows of cowpea did not reduce Striga density but planting the cowpea and sorghum in the same row, in the same or alternating hills, reduced Striga density and numbers of Striga per sorghum stand. Yields of sorghum grain in the same-row planting treatments were not significantly less than sole sorghum yields, and 200 to 700 kg ha~' of cowpea grain was produced. Alternating stands of sorghum and cowpea within the same row gave the best yield of sorghum and greater reduction of Striga. Production of mature Striga with capsules decreased with increasing cowpea ground cover, so that while cowpea may not reduce Striga emergence, it may hinder Striga development, possibly reducing the Striga seed bank over time.Inhibition de Striga utilizando caupi RESUMEN En el norte de Camenin se estudio la siembra simultanea con un tipo de caupf que se disemina, como tecnica para el control de Striga hermonthica en el sorgo. Hileras alternadas de caupf no redujeron la densidad de Striga, pero la siembra de caupf y sorgo en la misma hilera, en la misma aporcadura o en aporcaduras alternadas, redujo la densidad de Striga y la cantidad de Striga por planta de sorgo. Los rendimientos de grano de sorgo en los tratamientos de siembra en la misma hilera no fueron significativamente inferiores a los obtenidos con sorgo solo, y se produjo entre 200 y 700 kg ha~' de grano de caupf. La siembra de plantas alternadas de sorgo y caupf en la misma hilera produjo mejor rendimiento de sorgo y mayor rotation de Striga. La production de Striga madura con capsulas disminuyo con la mayor diseminacion del caupf sobre el suelo. Por lo tanto, si bien el caupf puede no reducir la emergencia de Striga, sf puede impedir su desarrollo, posiblemente reduciendo el branco de semillas de Striga con el transcurso del tiempo.

Release of cowpea line IT99K-494-6 for yield and resistance to the parasitic weed, Alectra vogelii Benth. in Malawi

“…The A. vogelii may be managed through trap crops (false hosts) such as dolichos bean, cotton, okra, sunflower, pea and faba bean (Parker and Riches, 1993;Kabambe et al, 2008b). The same crops are trap crops for managing S. asiatica when grown in rotation or intercrops with cereals (Kabambe et al, 2005;Parker and Riches, 1993;Kabambe et al, 2002;Kabambe et al, 2008b;Parkinson et al, 1987;Carsky et al, 1994). By providing Alectra-resistant legume varieties to farmers, their choice to incorporate legumes in the farming systems improves.…”

Effects of wheat-canola intercropping on Phelipanche aegyptiaca parasitism

“…Using trap crops to deplete soil seed banks of parasitic weeds has been reported in several studies (Carson et al 1989;Linke et al 1993;Parker and Riches 1993;Kliefeld et al 1994;Carsky et al 1994;Muscolo et al 2001;Abebe et al 2005;Babaei et al 2010;Ghotbi et al 2012). Most of broomrape traits were reduced more in response to wild wheats compared to cultivated wheats.…”

Allelopathy as protectant, defence and growth stimulants in legume cereal mixed culture systems

“…Most farmers in Africa intercrop maize, sorghum and millet with legumes to increase crop production and achieve greater marginal revenue. These intercrops have been reported to reduce the infection by S. hermonthica due to underground interaction (Carson 1989;Carsky et al 1994;Oswald et al 2002;Hooper et al 2009). Similarly, growing sorghum in a mixture with cowpea, green gram and crotalaria (Crotalaria ochroleuca G. Don), as well as maize with crotalaria, significantly reduced Striga populations (Khan et al 2007).…”