TITLE:
Maize-Soybean Integration for Managing Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth in the Sudan Savannah Zone of Ghana
AUTHORS:
Olivia Aguriboba Akanbelum, Israel K. Dzomeku, Julius Yirzagla, Abdul-Karim Alhassan, John Bokaligidi Lambon, Abdul-Wahab M. Imoro, Kwadwo Gyasi Santo
KEYWORDS:
Striga hermonthica, Seed Bank, Afayak, Suicidal Germination
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.14 No.9,
September
27,
2023
ABSTRACT: Field experiments were conducted at Gore near Zebila in Bawku West District
of the Upper East Region of Ghana during the 2015 and 2016 cropping season on four Striga tolerant maize varieties in maize/soybean
integration alongside maize monocrop as a means of managing the devastating effects
of Striga. The study determined the relative Striga tolerance of the maize varieties
in terms of yield and yield components, as well as the most effective intercrop
for the reduction of Striga seed bank.
The treatment differences were not significant (p Striga count and Striga biomass. Similarly, yield components of maize such as height of cob attachment,
cob length, cob weight, 100 seed weight, grain yield, as well as straw weight were
not significantly affected by the treatments. There was no relativity of Striga stress tolerance in terms of yield
and yield components of the four maize varieties. All the entries efficiently tolerated
the biotic stress of Striga and further supported growth and grain yield
equally. There was reduced S. hermonthica seed bank production in the
soil in both cropping systems. The four maize varieties are proven tolerant materials
to Striga infestation and are therefore
recommended for long-term Striga seed
bank depletion in the study area.