Response Of Maize To Intercropping Of Soyabean On Striga Hermonthica Control In Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

Field trial was conducted in 2013 cropping season on a naturally heavily Striga infested field at the research farm of Gidan Kwano campus of Federal University of Technology, Minna (Lat 09031’15’’N and Long 6026’15’’E) to determine the effect of spacing and intercropping soyabean on Strigahermonthica control in two varieties of maize (Striga resistant TZL-Compl-syn-STR-W1 and susceptible SAMMAZ 16). The intercropped with soyabean variety Tam 59 and spacing at0 cm, 40cm, 60 cm and 80cm. The experiment was layout in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The results indicate that there was significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in the maize varieties in developing Striga shoot emergence, reducing Striga shoot density per stand and per plot, Striga shoot flowering, and maize syndrome action score. The resistant maize variety was significantly taller (104.18cm at 8WAS) and produced greater 100 grain weight (523.0g), although there were no significant difference in the maize cob weight (876.9 and 854.5g), and maize varieties. There was no significant effect of spacingand intercropping (57.64 and 58.38) on number of days from planting of maize to Striga emergence. At 40cm spacing and intercropping there were significant difference on maize shoot density per stand and per plot (0.67 and 2.17 at 6WAS), Striga shoot flowering and severity score by 58 to 60% compared with 0cm (control) and other (60cm and 80cm), the Striga were significantly reduced, hence less damages. There were no significant difference in spacing and intercropping on maize cob weight, maize grain yield and 100 grain weight.