Striga asiatica growth and seed production in response to organic and inorganic P - fertilizers
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Date
2014-03
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Abstract
The measures for Striga management are hindered by a unique survival strategy of the weed, whereby
it produces large amount of seeds. Therefore, prevention of further build up of the Striga seed bank
through control measures remains an essential component in Striga control. The influence of
fertilizers on Striga seed production was studied for two consecutive years (2009/2010 and 2010/2011)
at Hombolo Research Station-Dodoma, Tanzania. Farmyard manure (5.9 tons/ha equivalent to 50 kg
N/ha), chicken manure (2.5 tons/ha equivalent to 50 kg N/ha), urea (50 kg N/ha) and triple
superphosphate (TSP) (40 kg P/ha) were tested on sorghum variety Macia in a randomized complete
block design replicated four times. Striga plants supplied with chicken manure, urea and TSP had
significantly fewer Striga capsules per plant than farmyard manure treated and control (without
fertilizer application) plants. However, the mechanism by which phosphorus application reduced
Striga reproduction in the current study is yet unclear. Based on this study, fertilizers have the
potential to reduce Striga reproduction. Even though fertilizers play a significant role in Striga
reproduction, calculations of the seed production per Striga plant indicated that considerable amounts
of seeds were still added to the soil.
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Keywords
Striga asiatica, growth, organic, inorganic, P- fertilizer