Intercrops With Trap Crops, Nitrogen Fertilizaiton For Striga Hermonthica (Del.) Benth Control At Niger State

Abstract

Field trial was conducted in the rainy season on a naturally heavily Striga-infested field in Bosso local goverment area in Niger State to determine the effect of intercroppping (soyabean and groundnut) and nitrogen (N) fertiliztion on two varieties of maize (Jo- 98 and local) intercropped with soyabean and groundnut at three level of N application (0, 50 and 100kgNha-1). The experiment was layout in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with three applications. The results indicated that there was highly significant (P = 0.01) effect on the effect of variety and intercropping on the days from planting to Striga emergence, effect of variety and N-rate on number of days from planting of maize to Striga emergence to 50% flowering. The effect of variety and intercropping on the severity of Striga infestation, the effect of N-rate and variety on the severity of Striga infestation, effect of variety and intercropping and nitrogen rate interaction on the severity of Striga infestation. Also, there was significant (P = 0.05) in the effect of intercropping n days to 50% tasseling and height of maize plant at date of first Striga emergence (cm). Effect of variety and intercropping on maize plant at matuirty and dry weight of whole maize plant production (g) at maturity, effect of variety and N-rate on the grain yield and intercropping on number of days from planting to 50% silking and 50% maturity.