Effects of weeding regime and soyabean intercropping on Striga hermonthica (DEL.) Benth. And performance of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor. (L.) Moench)

Abstract

Field trial was conducted during 2015 rainy seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Crop Production, Federal University of Technology Minna, to evaluate the effects of weeding regime and soyabean intercropping on Striga and performance of sorghum. It was a 2 x 5 factorial experiment with ten treatments all laid out in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Manual weeding was carried out at 15, 30, 45 and 60 days after sowing. The sorghum varieties used were short kaura (resistant) and local red sorghum (susceptible) with soyabean (TGX 1448-E) for intercrop. Results showed that manual weeding at 15 days after sowing and sorghum-soybean intercropping significantly (p<0.05) delayed days to Striga shoot emergence than other treatments. The resistant varieties significantly delayed Striga emergence compared to the susceptible varieties. Manual weeding at 15 days after sowing and sorghum-soybean intercropping significantly (p<0.05) reduced Striga shoot per plot than all other treatments. The resistant variety (short kaura) significantly (p<0.05) recorded fewer Striga shoot compared to susceptible local red sorghum variety. Manual weeding at 15 days after sowing and sorghum-soybean intercropping had tall sorghum plant than other treatments. The resistant sorghum variety plant height was not statistically different from the local red sorghum (susceptible variety). Manual weeding at 15 days after sowing and 30 days after sowing significantly (p<0.05) suffered less attack by Striga compared to other treatments. Therefore the manual weeding at 15 days after sowing gave the best result in terms of less Striga attack, taller plant height which could translate into higher sorghum yield.