Combined control of Striga hermonthica and stemborers by maize– Desmodium spp. intercrops

• Published in: Crop protection Vol. 25; no. 9; pp. 989 - 995
• Main Authors: Khan, Zeyaur R., Pickett, John A., Wadhams, Lester J., Hassanali, Ahmed, Midega, Charles A.O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-09-2006
• Subjects: boring insects; Control; corn; Cowpea; cowpeas; Desmodium; Desmodium uncinatum; grain yield; Intercropping; Maize; pest control; plant pests; Stemborer; Striga; Striga hermonthica; Vigna unguiculata; weed control; Zea mays; Kenya; Africa; Control; Intercropping; Striga; Cowpea; Maize; Desmodium; Stemborer
• ISSN: 0261-2194; 1873-6904
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cropro.2006.01.008

The African witchweed (
Striga spp.) and lepidopteran stemborers are two major biotic constraints to the efficient production of maize in sub-Saharan Africa. Previous studies had shown the value of intercropping maize with
Desmodium uncinatum in the control of both pests. The current study was conducted to assess the potential role of other
Desmodium spp., adapted to different agro-ecologies, in combined control of both pests in Kenya. Treatments consisted of intercropped plots of a
Striga hermonthica- and stemborer-susceptible maize variety and one
Desmodium sp. or cowpea, with a maize monocrop plot included as a control.
S. hermonthica counts and stemborer damage to maize plants were significantly reduced in maize–desmodium intercrops (by up to 99.2% and 74.7%, respectively) than in a maize monocrop and a maize–cowpea intercrop. Similarly, maize plant height and grain yields were significantly higher (by up to 103.2% and 511.1%, respectively) in maize–desmodium intercrops than in maize monocrops or maize–cowpea intercrops. These results confirmed earlier findings that intercropping maize with
D. uncinatum effectively suppressed
S. hermonthica and stemborer infestations in maize resulting in higher crop yields. They also demonstrate that the other
Desmodium spp. assessed in the current study have similar effects as
D. uncinatum, indicating comparable phytochemical and other relevant attributes in these species. Overall results indicate the suitability of the
Desmodium spp. for the control of both
S. hermonthica and stemborers in maize.