MANAGEMENT OF WITCHWEED (Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth) IN PEARL MILLET (Pennisetum glaucum L.) R.Br. WITH ORGANIC SOIL AMENDMENTS SOURCED FROM NEEM TREE (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.)
MANAGEMENT OF WITCHWEED (Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth) IN PEARL MILLET (Pennisetum glaucum L.) R.Br. WITH ORGANIC SOIL AMENDMENTS SOURCED FROM NEEM TREE (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.)
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Date
2007-02
Authors
YAR'ADUA, ABDULLAHI AHMAD
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Abstract
This research was conducted in order to investigate the potentials of managing
Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth., the noxious parasitic weed of cereal crops, with
soil amendments derived from fruits of neem tree (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.).
Effects of amending Striga-infested plots with the neem treatments (at 0, 0.5, 1.0,
2.0, 4.0, 6.0 and 8.0 kg/m2) on emergence and biomass accumulation in S.
hermonthica, on the germination, growth and grain yield of pearl millet grown on
Striga-infested plots and on soil physico-chemical properties (short term effects)
were investigated. Experiments were conducted using randomized block design
with 4-5 replications, under field conditions at five locations in Katsina (13° 47;N &
7° 08'), Nigeria, during the 2001, 2002 and 2003 rainy seasons. Long term effects of
neem residues on soil physico-chemical properties, and on the growth and grain
yield of millet (Pennisetum glaucum), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) (two common
hosts of Striga hermonthica), cowpea (Vigana unguiculata), and groundnut (Arachis
hypogaea) (two common mixed-cropping components in cereal-legume mixtures)
were also compared with neem-free controls using student t-test at two locations in
Katsina, during the 2004 rainy season, under field conditions. The neem treatments
were found to completely inhibit Striga emergence at 8.0kg/m2. However at 2.0-
4.0kg/m2, the neem treatments supported more Striga emergence than the control
treatment, and at these concentrations neem appeared to have conferred tolerance
to the neem-treated plants, as far as Striga syndrome and grain yield were
concerned. Neem treatment at 8.0kg/m2 was the most suppressive treatment
against Strigs emergence and germination of millet seeds that were sown at the
time of amending the soil. However, millet seeds sown two weeks after amending
the soil germinated and grew well in all the neem-amended plots, including
8.00kg/m2. Yield and yield components of neem-treated millet plants at 6 -8kg/m2
were significantly improved when compared with the control treatments, or other
neem treated plots. Continuous deposition of neem residues into the 20 year old
neem shelterbelts was not found to significantly affect the germination of the tested
cereal and leguminous crop seeds. However, growth vigor of neem treated millet
and sorghum seedlings were initially depressed, before stabilization of the rains,
after which the entire test crop seedlings significantly (P=0.001-0.01) recorded
accelerated growth and rapid biomass accumulation, at all locations. While neem
treatment was significantly better than control in enhancing panicle biomass
accumulation and grain yield in neem treated sorghum and millet (P= 0.001-0.5);
the same treatment however, significantly suppressed pod-biomass accumulation
and shelling percentage of neem-treated cowpea, while neem-treated groundnut
was not significantly affected. Neem was also found to be significantly better than
control in improving soil physico-chemical properties within a period of 2 0 years.
Proportion of clay and silt, total nitrogen and organic matter in the neem treated
soils were increased, while soil acidity was significantly reduced. Neem residues
added to the soil through biomass transfer were not found to significantly affect soil
physico-chemical properties within three month after application.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE
POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF DOCTOR OF
PHILOSOPHY IN CROP PROTECTION
DEPARTMENT OF CROP PROTECTION,
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA,
NIGERIA.
FEBRUARY, 2007
Keywords
MANAGEMENT,, WITCHWEED,, (Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth), PEARL,, MILLET,, (Pennisetum glaucum L.), ORGANIC,, SOIL,, AMENDMENTS,, SOURCED,, NEEM,, TREE,, (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.).