Vol. 17 No. 1
Intercropping different legumes for striga (Striga hermonthica del benth) management and enhancement of sorghum productivity in north west Ethiopia
Author(s): Z. GEBREMEDHIN, G. ALEMAYEHU AND D. AYALEW
Abstract: The dry land zones of Africa sorghum production are seriously constrained by Striga. Despite the numerous ways of Striga control available, sorghum production in North Gondar, Ethiopia is below its potential. A research at Gondar Agricultural Research Center in 2017-2018 was done to evaluate different legumes in sorghum for S. hermonthica control and inter-cropping on system productivity. Four legumes (soybean, haricot bean, mung bean, and cowpea), along with their sole and sole sorghum was laid in RCB design with three replications. Striga count and dry matter, Sorghum yield, and its components were highly significantly (P < 0.01) affected: Striga count and dry matter in sole sorghum and sorghum/cowpea were (314.65, 83.38gms) and (91.1, 31.31gms), respectively, grain yield of sole sorghum and sorghum/cowpea was statistically at par 4.34t and 3.39t ha-1, respectively. Significantly greater mean LER, 1.45, and 1.34 was in, sorghum/cowpea and sorghum/soybean, respectively. The highest mean GMV and MAI at LER (1.46) were 89,352 and 27,826, respectively were in sorghum/cowpea intercropping. This result indicates intercropping sorghum with legume crops gave high yield advantage and land productivity. The present investigation revealed that cowpea is the best legume for striga management in sorghum and can be recommended for the area.
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