Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Effects of Maize (Zea Mays L.) Hybrids and Nitrogen Application on Striga Infection and Grain Yield under Natural Infestation with the Parasitic Weed Striga Hermonthica

Reuben Solomon
,
Alpha Y. Kamara
* ,
Abebe Menkir
,
David Chikoye
,
Kamaluddin Aliyu
ORCID logo ,
Temitope Ademulegun
,
Ibrahim Mohammed
,
Abdullahi Tofa
,
Lucky Omoigui
Version 1 : Received: 14 August 2020 / Approved: 17 August 2020 / Online: 17 August 2020 (10:08:51 CEST)

How to cite: Solomon, R.; Y. Kamara, A.; Menkir, A.; Chikoye, D.; Aliyu, K.; Ademulegun, T.; Mohammed, I.; Tofa, A.; Omoigui, L. Effects of Maize (Zea Mays L.) Hybrids and Nitrogen Application on Striga Infection and Grain Yield under Natural Infestation with the Parasitic Weed Striga Hermonthica. Preprints 2020, 2020080357. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202008.0357.v1 Solomon, R.; Y. Kamara, A.; Menkir, A.; Chikoye, D.; Aliyu, K.; Ademulegun, T.; Mohammed, I.; Tofa, A.; Omoigui, L. Effects of Maize (Zea Mays L.) Hybrids and Nitrogen Application on Striga Infection and Grain Yield under Natural Infestation with the Parasitic Weed Striga Hermonthica. Preprints 2020, 2020080357. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202008.0357.v1

Abstract

Low soil nitrogen status of savanna soils in Nigeria contributes to the persistent Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. infestation that limits maize production. The application of nitrogen fertilizer to Striga-resistant hybrids may reduce Striga infection and increase grain yields. This study assessed the performance of maize hybrids at low (30 kg ha-1) and high (120 kg ha-1) nitrogen application under natural infestation with Striga at Kafin Madaki and Tudun Wada in 2014 and 2015. Results showed that the application of nitrogen at 120 kg ha-1 reduced number of Striga plants by 59% compared to application at 30 kg N ha-1 in Kafin Madaki and by 21% in Tudun Wada. Compared to 30 kg N ha-1, the 120 kg N ha-1 rate also reduced Striga damage rating by 22% in Kafin Madaki and by 33% in Tudun Wada across the hybrids. Hybrids 8338-1 (5.3) and OBASUPER 1 (4.3) were the only entries with Striga damage rating greater than 4.5 (SDR > 4.5) when averaged across the nitrogen levels at both locations. Grain yield was 86 and 98% higher in Kafin Madaki and Tudun Wada, respectively when N was applied at 120 kg N ha-1 than at 30 kg N ha-1. The hybrids M1124-3 and M1227-14 produced grain yields that were significantly higher than those of the other hybrids in all locations. The hybrid 8338-1 produced the lowest grain yield across locations. Our results showed that, the application of 120 kg N ha-1 to Striga resistant maize hybrids will reduce Striga infection and increase grain yield.

Keywords

Striga infestation; Striga damage; yield loss; nitrogen application

Subject

Biology and Life Sciences, Agricultural Science and Agronomy

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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