Evaluation of organic manure and parkia biglobosa on Striga hermonthica control in Sorghum bicolor

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in a screen house between June and November 2013 at the Research Farm of the Federal University of Technology Minna, which is found on latitude 09 39’N and longitude 06 28’E.Minna lies within the southern guinea savannah zone of Nigeria with a mean annual rainfall of 1300mm and an average monthly temperature of 320.C The objective was to determine the effect of organic manure and Parkia biglobosa pulp powder on Striga hermonthica control in sorghum .The research was a 4×4 factorial experiment in complete randomised design with sixteen treatments in three replications. Treatments consisted of combinations of four levels (0, 40, 80, and 120g/bag) of organic manure and four levels (0, 40, 80, and 120g/bag) of Parkia biglobosa pulp powder used as seed treatment for Sorghum. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design in three replications. The results showed that, Striga emergence varied significantly (p<0.05) throughout the sampling periods. However, the treatments used inhibited the growth of Striga in the presence of Striga resistant sorghum. There were very few Striga emergence in all the treatments, that is the treatments used inhibited their growth. This could be due to non-effective haustrorium attachment to host root. Organic manure at the rate of 120g/bag exhibited the highest plant height and sorghum dry weight. The effect of organic manure and Parkia pulp powder were significant (0<05) on Striga emergence and Striga plant height. The result showed that 120g organic manure and 120g parkia pulp powder and resistance sorghum variety is most effective in inhibiting the growth of Striga. Organic manure and Parkia biglobosa can effectively be used to combat Striga hermonthica in sorghum as the combination of the treatments suppressed more than 75% of Striga hermonthica emergence.