Effects of Organic and Microbial Fertilizers on Striga Hermonthica in Maize

Abstract

to investigate the effect of organic (Elkhairat (T) and Elkhasseb (X)) and microbial (Azospirillin (A) and Phosphobacterin (B)) bio-fertilizers and their combinations on S. hermonthica growth and development in Maize.Results showed that all treatments reduced emergence of the parasite, except inoculation with A which enhanced Striga emergence compared to control. Treating maize plants with Striga, irrespective to treatments reduced maize height as compared with free maize. Plants fertilized with T sustained the highest plant growth at 4 weeks after sowing (WAS). It increased maize height by 79% as compared to infested control. At 6 WAS fertilization with X, B+T and A+B+T were significantly increased plant heights as compared to infested control. Leaf number was affected due to Striga infestation. At 6 WAS, all treatments significantly increased leaf numbers except B, A+B and X as compared to infested control. While at 10 WAS, results showed that only A+B+T was significantly increased leaf numbers compared to infested control. Averaged across all fertilization treatments, maize plants infested with Striga had smaller leaf areas than did uninfected plants. At 6 and 10 WAS, X sustained the highest leaf area index compared to all other treatments. Maize treated with X and A+B+T sustained the highest shoot dry weight as compared to infested control . Maize fertilized with X, A+T and A+X showed the highest root dry weight as compared to infested control.